RTHK: Anger as Iran woman dies after morality police arrest

A young Iranian woman who fell into a coma after being arrested in Tehran by the notorious morality police died on Friday, state media and her family said, with activists urging those responsible for her "suspicious" death be brought to justice.

Mahsa Amini, 22, was on a visit with her family to the Iranian capital when she was detained on Tuesday by the police unit responsible for enforcing the Islamic republic's strict dress code for women, which include the compulsory wearing of the headscarf in public.

"Unfortunately, she died and her body was transferred to the medical examiner's office," Iranian state television reported.

Persian-language media, including the Iran Wire website and the Shargh newspaper have quoted her family as saying that the previously healthy Amini had been rushed to hospital in a coma a few hours after her arrest and had now died.

It is not yet clear what happened between her arriving at the police station and her departure for hospital. The 1500tavsir channel, which monitors violations in Iran, said she had suffered a blow to the head.

Images posted on social media showed crowds gathering outside the hospital where she was being treated and police trying to disperse the dozens who had gathered. People were also shown angrily shouting anti-regime slogans later in the evening in Tehran.

"The circumstances leading to the suspicious death in custody of 22-year-old young woman Mahsa Amini, which include allegations of torture and other ill-treatment in custody, must be criminally investigated," Amnesty International said.

"The so-called 'morality police' in Tehran arbitrarily arrested her three days before her death while enforcing the country's abusive, degrading and discriminatory forced veiling laws," it added.

"All agents and officials responsible must face justice."

US President Joe Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, denounced her death.

"We are deeply concerned by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was reportedly beaten in custody by Iran's morality police," he tweeted on Friday.

"Her death is unforgivable. We will continue to hold Iranian officials accountable for such human right abuses."

Also on Twitter, Prominent Iranian lawyer Saeed Dehghan described Amini's death as a "murder", saying she had suffered a blow to the head which had caused the base of her skull to fracture.

State television broadcast images on Friday purportedly showing her falling to the ground inside a large hall full of women while arguing with one of the female instructors about her dress.

In a statement on Friday, Tehran police insisted "there was no physical encounter" between officers and Amini.

It said Amini was among a number of women who taken to a police station for "instruction" on the dress code on Tuesday.

"She suddenly fainted while with other visitors in the hall," the statement said.

Earlier, President Ebrahim Raisi ordered the interior minister to open an inquiry into Amini's case.

The head of the New York-based Centre for Human Rights in Iran, Hadi Ghaemi, described her death as a "preventable tragedy".

"The government in Iran is responsible. She was arrested under the guise of the state's discriminatory forced-hijab law and died in state custody," he said.

Amini's death comes amid growing controversy both inside and outside Iran over the conduct of the morality police, known formally as the Gasht-e Ershad (Guidance Patrol).

In July, a video of a woman standing in front of one of the force's vans pleading for her daughter's release went viral on social media.

The veiled woman kept holding on to the van as it pulled off, only being thrown clear after it gathered speed.

Also in July, a young Iranian woman, Sepideh Rashno, disappeared after becoming involved in a dispute on a Tehran bus with another woman who accused her of removing her headscarf.

She was held by the Revolutionary Guards and appeared on television in what activists said was a forced confession before being released on bail in late August.

Activists accuse Iran of being in the throes of a major crackdown that is affecting all areas of society, including a new push against the Bahai religious minority, death sentences for gays, a surge in executions and arrests of foreign nationals.

Raisi plans to travel to New York for the UN General Assembly next month where he is set to face intense scrutiny over Iran's human rights record.

"Raisi will be given a platform in New York to freely address the world while his government criminalises free speech and stamps on human rights at home," said Ghaemi. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2022-09-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: Algernon Yau attends ASEAN forum

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau today attended the sixth Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers - Hong Kong, China Consultation in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Mr Yau and Minister of Commerce of Cambodia Pan Sorasak co-chaired the consultation to discuss issues relating to the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement and the Investment Agreement between Hong Kong and ASEAN.

The conclusion of the two agreements is a strategic move in unlocking huge economic potential and injecting new impetus for our long-term and sustainable trade and economic development, Mr Yau said.

ASEAN is Hong Kong's second largest partner in trade in goods and third largest partner in trade in services. Mr Yau stressed the strong ties between the two sides and said he looks forward to establishing a closer partnership and even stronger bonds in regional co-operation.

Additionally, he appealed for ASEAN member states' continued support for Hong Kong's early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Such member states welcomed the city's request and readiness for the launch of substantive accession discussions between RCEP members and Hong Kong.

The commerce chief also met ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Satvinder Singh to update him on Hong Kong's preparatory work in seeking early accession to the RCEP.

Moreover, he held bilateral meetings with Mr Sorasak and Vice Minister of Trade of Indonesia Jerry Sambuaga to exchange views on issues of mutual interest.

Yesterday, Mr Yau paid a courtesy call on Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian, and met Constitutional Council of Cambodia Chairman Ek Sam Ol as well as representatives from local Hong Kong business association in Phnom Penh to brief them on Hong Kong's latest development.

Furthermore, he had a bilateral meeting with Vice Minister for Commerce of Thailand Sansern Samalapa before attending the gala dinner of the ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting in the evening.

This story has been published on: 2022-09-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to uphold the Shanghai Spirit, strengthen unity and cooperation, and promote the building of an even closer SCO community with a shared future.



Xi made the remarks while attending the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO, during which he delivered a speech entitled "Ride on the Trend of the Times and Enhance Solidarity and Cooperation to Embrace a Better Future."

In the speech, Xi pointed out that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Guided by the two founding documents, the SCO has succeeded in exploring a new path for the development of international organizations, and there is much to be drawn upon from its enlightening practices, including upholding political trust, mutually beneficial cooperation, equality, openness and inclusiveness, and equity and justice. These five points fully embody the Shanghai Spirit, namely mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development, said Xi.

To promote the building of an even closer SCO community with a shared future, Xi called on SCO members to enhance mutual support, expand security cooperation, deepen practical cooperation, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges and uphold multilateralism.

Leaders of SCO member states signed and released the Samarkand Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

At the meeting, several statements and documents were issued on protecting international food and energy security, tackling climate change, and keeping supply chains secure, stable and diversified; a memorandum of obligations on Iran's SCO membership was signed; the procedure for Belarus' accession was started; MOUs granting Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar the status of SCO dialogue partners were signed; agreement was reached on admitting Bahrain, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Myanmar as new dialogue partners; and a series of resolutions were adopted, including a Comprehensive Plan for the Implementation of the SCO Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation for 2023-2027. It was decided at the meeting that India will assume the SCO rotating presidency for 2022-2023.
Arizonas plan to install electric-vehicle chargers along interstate highways in the state  including Interstate 19 between Tucson and Nogales  has been approved by federal regulators, allowing the state to start spending about $77 million in federal funding.

The Arizona Department of Transportation submitted its draft proposal to the Federal Highway Administration in August and received approval this week, along with 34 other states that had submitted EV plans.

ADOT said $11.3 million in funding was made available immediately, and another $16.3 million is expected in October to start implementing the plan.

The money will fund EV charging infrastructure along roadways designated as alternative fuel corridors, currently identified as all five of the federal Interstate Highways throughout the state  Interstates 8, 10, 15, 17, 19 and 40  which account for more than 20% of all the vehicle miles traveled in Arizona, ADOT says.

ADOT in its original EV plan had designated I-19 only as a proposed alt-fuel corridor, but added it as a designated EV route along with the others after soliciting public comments on the plan.

Other non-interstate corridors will be determined and included in the plan in future years, and the plan will next be updated in August.

Overall, $76.5 million has been allocated for this program in Arizona over the next five years through the recently enacted federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

ADOT says its next step is to solicit and award contracts to upgrade existing stations as well as develop new locations along designated alternative fuel corridors.

Advertising for bids to upgrade existing stations will begin in the spring, followed by bid solicitations in next fall for new construction. The plan calls for stations to be no more than 50 miles apart wherever possible.

In many cases, stations will be located where there is already infrastructure in place, such as truck stops, roadside lodging, restaurants and shopping centers, ADOT said.

Here's why gas prices are varying so wildly in Tucson For Star subscribers: It might be worth driving a little further for gas in the Tucson area, as the range of prices has widened to as much as 90 cents per gallon.
A forensic expert testified that Maribel Gonzalez may have been suffocated, despite the lack of any signs of physical injury to her body.

Dr. Jennifer Chen was the 11th witness to testify in the states case against Christopher Matthew Clements, a convicted sex offender who is facing kidnapping and first-degree murder charges in 13-year-old Maribels 2014 death.

Clements, 40, is four days into his trial on charges of kidnapping and murdering Maribel. He faces a second trial in February in connection with the kidnapping and death of 6-year-old Isabel Celis, who went missing from her bedroom in 2012.

Days after Maribel's body was discovered in an Avra Valley desert area on June 6, 2014, a Pima County medical examiner ruled that her cause of death was homicide by unspecified means. This determination was based largely on the circumstances, Chen said Thursday.

The medical examiner who conducted Maribels autopsy has since retired, but Chen, a forensic pathologist with the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, reviewed the records and said she agreed with the previous findings.

The circumstances are suspicious and show evidence that there was an attempt to conceal the body, Chen said, adding that Maribel was found without clothing or shoes. The body was covered by two tires, and other branches and plant debris was also placed above the tires. (And she was) located in remote desert area that would be very difficult to walk to.

Chen said that while the cause of death homicide by unspecified means is no longer commonly cited and instead is now referred to as an undetermined cause, that doesnt change the findings or the circumstances. She also told the jury Thursday that undetermined causes of death are not uncommon, especially in Arizona.

Neither are suffocation deaths without any detectible injuries, according to Chen.

Especially in a person this age, Chen said, adding that when a person is younger, all the structures in their body are more pliable and dont show injury as easily as if theyre older or more brittle.

In addition, the muscles in Maribels neck showed signs of decomposition, which could obscure any injuries to the area, Chen said, adding that it doesnt take a substantial injury to cause suffocation.

(A person can) cause death without actually compressing the airway or breaking any bones in the neck, Chen said. A lack of oxygen can occur when the blood vessels are compressed enough to stop blood flow to your brain.

Chen said the medical examiners office was not able to rule out the possibility that Maribel was strangled to death, reiterating that many suffocation deaths have no findings at autopsy.

Defense questions

During his cross examination, Clements defense lawyer, Joseph DiRoberto, questioned Chen whether it was possible Maribel died from a condition called Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood.

But Chen said there was no evidence of that and shes never heard of a case of it that occurred under similar circumstances to Maribels death.

After consulting briefly with Clements, DiRoberto asked Chen if she had ever heard of a case of a sudden, accidental death where a person who is with the victim then conceals the body in an attempt to avoid getting in trouble or being blamed.

Ive never had a case where the body was transported to another location, Chen said.

Chen did say later that if she didn't know the location and details of how the body was discovered, she could not have determined the cause of death to be homicide.

Cell phone evidence

On Friday, cell phone tracking expert Sy Ray testified about Clements' movements the night of Maribel's disappearance.

Ray, a former law enforcement officer, now owns ZetX, a company that developed software which compiles cell phone data and uses it to map individual phones' movements.

Using his program, WiFi data and GPS data provided by At&T, Ray said he was able to track the movement of Clements' cell phone on the night of June 3 and morning of June 4, 2014.

Ray used a map overlaid with Clements' cell phone's locations to show jurors how the phone traveled from his house and around town, then back to his home before it headed north on Interstate 10. From midnight to roughly 2:30 a.m., the phone pinged off cell towers in the Avra Valley area that covered the location where Maribel's body was eventually found.

Ray told jurors that based on the various towers it connected to during that time, he believed "the device was traveling during a good portion of the time."

From there, the phone was turned off for four hours, with no location available until around 6:45 a.m., when it came back onto the network on a tower near Speedway and I-10. Shortly after, Clements' cell phone showed that he had likely returned home.

The timeline provided by Ray's analysis of Clements' phone data lines up with Clements' ex-girlfriend's testimony the day before about his whereabouts on the night of Maribel's disappearance.

DiRoberto questioned the accuracy of Ray's findings, pointing out during cross examination that the cell towers Clements' phone pinged off of in the Avra Valley area could have covered hundreds of square miles of terrain.

While Ray said that was true, he pointed out it was not physically possible for Clements' phone to have "wandered" those hundreds of miles.

'Maybe I have, maybe I haven't'

Also on Friday, jurors watched a recording of Clements' nearly hour-long interview with Pima County Sheriff's Detective Miguel Flores, who was assigned to Maribel's case for its entirety.

Flores interviewed Clements on Aug. 15, 2017, after he'd been identified as a suspect while assisting another law enforcement agency on an unrelated investigation.

Earlier that year, Clements led investigators to the area of Avra Valley and Trico Roads, walking them to within a few feet of where Maribel's body had been discovered, and commenting that the area looked familiar. At that time, the location of where Maribel's body was found had not been released to the public.

During the interview, Flores and Clements went back and forth for several minutes about if he knew Maribel or had ever seen her before.

"I dont know. Maybe I have, maybe I havent," Clements said with a chuckle at one point.

Clements repeatedly asked why the detectives were talking to him and how his name was linked to Maribel's case. When detectives asked where he lived and worked at the time of her disappearance, Clements laughed at them, sitting back in his chair.

Eventually, he contended that Maribel's name did sound familiar, saying he pays attention to the news. Detectives pushed forward, asking if they had any reason to investigate him for sexual assault of Maribel.

"I'm not involved with anybody's murder, that's one thing I can say with clarity," Clements said. "I havent killed anybody, I havent raped anybody, I havent done anything of the above. But the kind of questions you're asking me? Im not stupid, either. You wouldn't be asking that question unless you had a reason to."

After much back and forth, officers eventually convinced Clements to submit a DNA sample, promising him a cigarette if he complied. They were able to collect the cheek swab without incident.

As the video played in the courtroom, Maribel's mother, Valerie Calonge, kept her eyes trained on the television screen above.

Clements focused intently on the notepad in front of him, scribbling with his pen.

The trial will resume Tuesday in Pima County Superior Court, with Flores' testimony scheduled to continue. The trial is expected to run through the end of the month.
PHOENIX  Top House Democrats want an investigation into allegations a lawmaker made disparaging comments about a colleague from Tucson.

The claims by Rep. Alma Hernandez, D-Tucson, about Rep. Brian Fernandez, D-Yuma, are being referred to House attorneys, House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding said Friday.

The House of Representatives has a clear policy on workplace harassment that gives zero tolerance to this type of behavior, said Bolding, D-Laveen. Pursuant to this policy, these allegations will be taken seriously (and) properly investigated.

In an open letter Friday, Hernandez said Fernandez referred to her multiple times in insulting and profane terms about her weight.

She said he also told other lawmakers and lobbyists attending a rural transportation conference this week in Yuma that he hates me. Hernandez, who was not at the conference, said she learned of comments from other legislators who were there.

What is most embarrassing is he did this with Republican members (legislators) thinking they would engage, she said.

Fernandez, for his part, said what Hernandez is alleging never happened.

I did not make the statement being wrongly attributed to me, and I dont condone it, he said in a statement to Capitol Media Services.

Fernandez took a dig at Hernandez for seeking an investigation based on what she said others at the conference told her.

If there is a lesson to be learned here, its that one should always be skeptical of secondhand gossip and that kindness is always the better choice, he said.

Hernandez said the veracity of her claim can be verified by other lawmakers who attended the conference. But she provided no names of anyone who would speak on the record now, before they are interviewed by House investigators.

She did not file a complaint with the House Ethics Committee. That would have triggered a formal process, with public hearings and the ability for her and Fernandez to present evidence and witnesses, something she said is not necessary.

Democratic leadership is already doing so, she said.

Less clear is what Hernandez wants to happen.

While an apology is a start, it is far from what Brian owes to every single woman in this caucus and in this party, she wrote.

Whats more, our party leadership must seek a punishment, Hernandez said. But she did not say what form that would take and declined to provide specifics to Capitol Media Services.

At one point in her letter she mentioned the possibility of censure. At the very least, she said, Fernandez should take a sensitivity training.

Hernandez will be returning to the House in January. There were only two candidates this election in her district, both Democrats, for the two House seats.

Fernandez was named to the House last year by the Yuma County Board of Supervisors to fill out the two-year term of his mother, Charlene. She resigned to take a job in the Biden administration.

He ran unopposed in the August primary for the state Senate. But he will face off in November against Republican Gary Garcia Snyder.

Hernandez mentioned Charlene Fernandez in her letter, praising her as someone who has fought these battles, as a woman, as a person of color, and as someone who grew up fighting for every opportunity.

He knows better, Hernandez wrote. I can promise you that he would never use this language on his mother or sister. The result would be far worse than censure.

LGBTQ support focus in Arizona schools chief debate Republican Tom Horne called QChat, a site that is accessible from Arizona Department of Education website, "harmful." Incumbent Kathy Hoffman, a Democrat, said it is a helpful resource.

Arizona lawmaker drops bid to limit recording of police For Star subscribers: The new state law that was challenged in court would make it a crime to record police activity within eight feet of an officer.
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is trying a new legal theory to combat Biden administration border policies: a claim the president wants to encourage illegal migration to grow the U.S. population.

Brnovich argues the administration is acting illegally by failing to consider the impact of those migrants on Arizona.

His new claim, like prior efforts, centers around the administrations decision to cease border wall construction and also to end the remain in Mexico policy of dealing with asylum seekers. The latter determination was affirmed earlier this year when the U.S. Supreme Court said it was within the power of the administration.

But Brnovich is now going after those decisions with a new hypothesis: President Biden and the Department of Homeland Security never considered the environmental impacts of those actions, including population growth, he said.

This action challenges defendants persistent failure to analyze, as federal law mandates, the entirely predictable and foreseeable environmental impacts of population growth caused by defendants policies of increasing the population of the United States through immigration, the Republicans lawsuit said. The additional costs of housing, educating, providing healthcare, and other social services places burdens on the state of Arizona as a consequence of defendants actions.

Brnovich contends none of this is by accident.

Since his presidential campaign, President Biden and his administration have prioritized migration and population growth, he said. From the earliest days of his administration, defendants have sought to further these policy priorities by enacting a program of lax border enforcement and encouraging increased immigration through administrative action.

Brnovich said the administration knew its programs would cause a surge in migration and only sought to manage the pace of the swell.

As evidence, he cited comments last year by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas telling would-be migrants, We are not saying, Dont come,  saying instead We are saying, Dont come now. 

In effect, the Secretary Mayorkas inadvertently said the quiet part loudly: Defendants do not wish to avoid radically increased immigration; they merely wish to manage the swiftness if the increase, Brnovich said.

The attorney general claims its part of population augmentation policies of the Biden administration.

For example, he cited Title 42. That was the Trump-era policy that allowed the government to exclude migrants without travel documents due to health risks of COVID-19.

Brnovich said the Biden administration decided to exempt 250 migrants each day from the policy.

He also said federal agencies are detaining fewer migrants than ever, including migrants with serious felony convictions.

And he again cited the decision by Biden, newly sworn into office, to halt border wall construction.

The new legal filing comes months after U.S. District Court Judge Dominic Lanza tossed out a bid by Brnovich to immediately force the Biden administration to resume construction of the border wall.

Lanza said there is no legal basis to Brnovichs claim that the decision to halt construction first required the federal government to conduct a study to determine the environmental impact of the policy change. The judge said such challenges cannot be brought under the National Environmental Policy Act.

And in a sometimes sharply worded 32-page ruling, Lanza said the arguments by Brnovich linking border wall construction and illegal immigration are both legally and factually flawed. He said the attorney general failed to show any actual link between the issues.

Brnovich initially sought review of that ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. But he dropped that claim earlier this month, telling the appellate judges he instead will try to make the case to Lanza with new evidence, resulting in the new claim.

Lanza has set no date for a hearing.

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Abraham Hamadeh, the GOP candidate for Arizona attorney general, has said that to know him, you have to know his family.

That makes his campaign pretty confusing.

Hamadeh has defined himself as a candidate who wants to secure the Arizona-Mexico border against illegal crossings. But he is also the son of a father who was in this country illegally when Hamadeh was born.

Court records from 1996 show that it was Abraham Hamadehs birth in Chicago, in 1991, that likely saved his father from deportation back to Syria. Hamadeh appears to be, in pejorative parlance, an anchor baby whose birth allowed his parents to stay in the country, despite being here illegally, and later become American citizens.

Thats fine with me, but is it OK with his supporters  or with him?

Hamadeh, a graduate of the UA law school, probably wouldnt have won the Republican primary if he werent endorsed by Donald Trump on June 14. Hamadeh was just one candidate among six Republicans, some quite qualified, when Trumps endorsement elevated him, leading him to win 34% of the Aug. 2 primary vote to second-place finisher Rodney Glassmans 24%.

The Donald Trump who made the difference for Hamadeh is, of course, the same Donald Trump who, when president, banned travel and refugees from Syria and pursued eliminating birthright citizenship for people like Hamadeh, the children of people in the country illegally.

This knot of seeming contradictions takes some effort to untangle. But its possible to pull a string here, undo a loop there and make some sense of the young candidates stands in the context of his personal story.

Overstays vs. border crossings

How, for example, could a man whose parents were in the country illegally when he was born demand that we punish those crossing the Mexican border today, as Hamadeh has? Would he want the same for his parents back in the day?

Part of the explanation, I suspect, is that some people think of those who overstay their visas as a different class of unauthorized resident. In fact, many times they are of a higher socioeconomic status  they were able, after all, to get a visa to enter the country.

But for decades, people who overstay their visas have also been a large proportion of the unauthorized population of the United States. In fact, in some recent years, more people have overstayed their visas in the USA than have crossed our borders illegally.

Of course, its not as visible when a hundred separate visitors from, say, the Philippines, stay past the terms of their six-month visas as when a hundred Venezuelans cross the Mexico border in a group.

In the case of Hamadehs father, Jamal Hamadah (whose last name is spelled differently from his sons), he arrived in New York City on May 28, 1989, with permission to stay six months, till Nov. 27 that year, court documents show. Like millions of other foreign travelers, before and after him, he didnt leave. Hamadah and his wife stayed, went into the jewelry business in Chicago and had two children who were American citizens by virtue of their birth.

The elder Hamadah was also criminally charged, then had charges dismissed, in an alarming crime: A conspiracy to fire-bomb a Chicago synagogue. I hesitate to mention that arrest, because the charges were dropped, others were convicted of the crime, and Hamadeh the candidate was three years old at the time. But those charges likely led to Hamadahs later detention for immigration violations, as the Chicago Reader reported in a detailed 1996 story.

In May 1996, Hamadah filed a lawsuit demanding his release in part because he had two U.S. citizen children, one of them the current candidate for attorney general. He eventually won the right to stay.

Asked by the Arizona Republic about the situation, Hamadeh told the Phoenix newspaper in a statement: my parents proudly came to the United States LEGALLY in 1989 and were rewarded for waiting in line LEGALLY with U.S. citizenship in 2007 and 2009 by the United States Department of State.

In truth, his parents experience shows the messy reality of many families immigration cases, in which people live here in limbo and struggle to avoid deportation. Hamadehs parents were in the same gray area that millions of people live in who cross the border illegally, or who seek asylum and wait years for a decision to be made.

Syria to America

Now, one might also expect a son of Syrian immigrants to be less solicitous of Trump, who infamously stopped the resettlement of refugees from that countrys civil war in the United States and banned travel from the country. But of course Hamadehs family came to the USA 28 years before that happened, in a period of relative stability in Syria, at a midpoint in the 30-year rule of Hafez al-Assad.

Hamadehs family was not civil war refugees like more recent arrivals here. Beyond that, Syrias political system has long been an authoritarian one centered on the wishes of the dictator  now Bashar al-Assad, the son of the previous dictator  and his family. Thats not so unlike the Trump form of rule, or at least the one he aspired to.

So, even in a context of Syrian political culture, an alliance with Trump actually makes sense rather than being contradictory to recent events.

But the simplest explanation of all may simply be to ignore Hamadehs immigrant origins and view him as an American and a Republican who has evolved with the times. Hamadeh donated $250 to Jeff Flakes campaign in 2012 and $1,000 in September 2017, when Flake was already hated by much of Arizonas GOP base as a RINO  Republican In Name Only.

In 2017, Hamadeh donated in September, shortly before Flake dropped out of the race for re-election  recognizing he could not win the primary  and, crucially, after Flake had published a book that was a sharp critique of Trumpism. Hamadeh still donated generously.

Four years later, Hamadeh was a candidate himself, in an Arizona GOP that had lurched further toward Trump. It probably shouldnt be surprising that he went where the votes were, demanding harder-line border policies and claiming the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. (It wasnt.)

Winning Trumps endorsement also apparently involved a bit of trickery.

Hamadehs campaign finance records show that on March 21, 10 days before a quarterly campaign finance reporting deadline, Hamadehs brother Waseem loaned the campaign $1 million. As a result, Hamadehs March 31 campaign finance report showed a cash balance of about $1.1 million on March 31.

The campaign paid that $1 million back to Waseem Hamadeh on April 4, but the return of the loan wasnt reflected until the July 15 campaign finance reports  a month after Abraham Hamadeh had won Trumps endorsement. It looks like a clever maneuver, though Hamadeh has insisted it was completely innocent.

Hamadehs origins aside, he knew where the votes were in the Republican primary and how to win Trumps favor.

Ironically, though, his success so far shows what new American families can achieve, even if they spend time in the country illegally, fighting deportation.
LONDON  U.S. President Joe Biden has arrived in London to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth II.

The president was expected to sign the official condolence book and attend a reception Sunday at Buckingham Palace hosted by King Charles III before attending the queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday.

Biden is among many world leaders traveling to the United Kingdom to honor Queen Elizabeths long reign. Biden and first lady Jill Biden were greeted at the airport by U.K. Ambassador Jane Hartley, Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jennifer Tolhurst and others.

After the queens death, Biden issued a proclamation directing that all American flags be flown at half staff as a mark of respect for the memory of Queen Elizabeth II until sunset on the day of her interment. Before coming to London, he spoke with the king to offer his condolences and went to the British Embassy as well.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS:

 The queen's eight grandchildren stand vigil beside her coffin Saturday evening

 Queen's death both a challenge and a reprieve for new UK Prime Minister Liz Truss

 US-UK relations enter new chapter as new PM, king settle in

 Crowds paying respects to queen boost London tourism amid slump

 Queen's death triggers media bonanza that has been at work for decades

 In Yemen, queen's death recalls oppression under British colonial rule

 Once home to a princess, Malta remembers a queen

 Find more AP coverage here: https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:

LONDON  The daughters of Prince Andrew and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, say in a touching statement that they will miss their Grannie, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and thanked her for her support.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie wrote: We, like many, thought youd be here forever. And we all miss you terribly. You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever.

The sisters, who issued their statement before standing vigil Saturday evening at the queens coffin with all of te queens eight grandchildren. They added they were happy that the queen, who died Sept. 8 at age 96, is reunited with her husband, Prince Philip, who died last year.

They say: Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters and were so very proud of you. We know that dear Uncle Charles, the king, will continue to lead in your example as he too has dedicated his life to service.

LONDON  All eight of Queen Elizabeth IIs grandchildren stood in silent vigil beside her coffin early Saturday evening.

King Charles IIIs sons, William and Prince Harry, were joined by Princess Annes children, Zara Tindall and Peter Philips; Prince Andrews daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie; and the two children of Prince Edward  Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

William, now the heir to the throne, stood, his head bowed, at the head of the coffin and Harry at the foot. Both princes, who are military veterans, were in uniform.

Mourners continued to file past in silence as the grandchildren stood vigil.

Harry, who served in Afghanistan as a British army officer, wore civilian clothes days ago during the procession of the queens coffin from Buckingham Palace because he is no longer a working member of the royal family. But the king requested that both his sons wear their military uniforms at the Westminster Hall vigil.

LONDON  U.S. President Joe Biden headed to the United Kingdom on Saturday to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth II at a time of transition in US-UK relations, as both a new royal and a new prime minister are settling in.

The hawkish approach of new Prime Minister Liz Truss to Russia and China puts her on the same page as Biden. But the rise of Truss, 47, who once called the U.S.-U.K. relationship special but not exclusive, could mark a decidedly new chapter in the trans-Atlantic partnership.

Biden and Truss had been set to meet Sunday, but the prime ministers office said Saturday they would skip the weekend hello, opting instead for a meeting at the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday.

LONDON  The line for people with disabilities and mobility issues who want to pay their last respects to Queen Elizabeth II as her coffin lies in state has been closed.

The government announced Saturday afternoon that the queue has reached full capacity and is now permanently closed.

It says that all time slots have been allocated for those who are entitled to join the accessible queue which is for people who have a disability or condition that means they cannot line up for extended periods of time. It is separate to the main queue, which remains open with waiting times around 13 hours.

The queen, who died Sept. 8 at age 96 after 70 years on the throne, is lying in state at the Houses of Parliament until early Monday morning, hours before her funeral.

LONDON  British Prime Minister Liz Truss has met her counterparts from Australia and New Zealand who have arrived in town ahead of Queen Elizabeth IIs state funeral on Monday.

Truss met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Premier Jacinda Ardern at the governments Chevening country residence outside London on Saturday.

Ardern said the talks would focus on the queens death and King Charles III, as well as the war in Ukraine and the U.K.s free trade agreement with New Zealand.

Truss meeting with Albanese will likely also touch on trade. The Australian leader signed a condolence book for the queens family with his partner, Jodie Haydon. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also signed the book.

LONDON  While thousands of mourners line up along the River Thames to pay their last respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, others are already staking out prime viewing locations in the heart of London for the late monarchs funeral on Monday.

Shirin Thorpe, 62, from Sevenoaks south of the English capital, arrived Thursday and was camped out Saturday near Westminster subway station. Its near the historic hall where the queen is lying in state and Westminster Abbey, where her funeral will be held.

She says, Theres going to be millions of people here and we didnt want to miss the chance.

Thorpe and her friends are well prepared for a few nights of camping amid cold temperatures: Theyve brought inflatable mattresses, sleeping bags, winter coats and battery packs to keep gadgets running. They have hung Union Jack flags from security barriers and added a photograph of Elizabeth.

While the sun was shining Saturday, Thorpe says shes ready to brave worse weather should it come.

She says, Were tough women like the Queen.

LONDON  King Charles III is making an unannounced visit to greet people waiting to file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II.

Charles and his son, Prince William, shook hands and thanked mourners in the miles-long queue near Lambeth Bridge on Saturday.

Charles has made several impromptu walkabouts since he became king on Sept. 8, in an attempt to meet as many of his subjects as possible.

Thousands of people are lining up to see the queens coffin in Westminster Hall, despite waiting times of 16 hours or more.

LONDON  King Charles III is spending much of the day meeting dignitaries who have arrived in London for his mothers funeral on Monday.

On Saturday morning, he held an audience at Buckingham Palace with the countrys military chiefs, who have provided thousands of armed forces personnel to take part in the pageantry surrounding Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral as well as helping line crowd-packed roads and performing other ceremonial duties.

In the early afternoon, the king was holding a reception for Governors General of the Realms  the monarchs representatives in the U.K.s former colonies ranging from Antigua and Barbuda to Tuvalu.

And later in the day, Charles was meeting prime ministers including Justin Trudeau of Canada, Anthony Albanese of Australia, Philip Davis of the Bahamas, Andrew Holness of Jamaica and New Zealands Jacinda Ardern.

WINDSOR, England -- Hundreds of troops from the British army, air force and navy have taken part in the first full rehearsal of the procession that will bring the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II to its final resting place.

With troops lining The Long Walk, a picturesque path leading to Windsor Castle, the thumping of drums echoed as marching bands walked ahead of a hearse early Saturday.

On Monday, they will do the same, only surrounded by thousands of people expected to travel to Windsor for a final farewell to the queen, who died last week at age 96.

Her funeral is to be held at Westminster Abbey on Monday before some 2,000 guests, including visiting heads of state. After the church service, the late queens coffin will be transported through the historic heart of London on a horse-drawn gun carriage.

It will then be taken by hearse to Windsor, where the queen will be interred alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died last year.

Some people who wont be in Windsor on Monday decided to wake up early to watch Saturdays rehearsal.

Local resident Katharine Horsfall said she set her alarm for 3:15 a.m. She said: I think it will be an amazing tribute to the queen, a great send off, with all the pageantry that she so well deserves.

BEIJING  China announced Saturday that Vice President Wang Qishan would attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II as the special representative of President Xi Jinping.

A group of British legislators sanctioned by China have expressed concern that the Chinese government has been invited to the funeral. One told the BBC the invitation should be rescinded because of human rights abuses in the treatment of the Uyghur ethnic group in Chinas far-western region of Xinjiang.

Wang, who is close to Xi, was a member of the ruling Communist Partys all-powerful, seven-member Politburo Standing Committee from 2012 to 2017. During those years, he led a crackdown on corruption that has been one of Xis signature initiatives as Chinas leader.

Wang was named to the largely ceremonial post of vice president in 2018 and often attends events on Xis behalf.

TOKYO  Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako left for Britain on Saturday to attend Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral to pay respects to her and the British royal family who considered as a model for Japans monarchy in modern history.

The decision for the emperor and empress to attend the queens funeral underscores the importance and the deep bond between the royal families. Traditionally, a Japanese emperor stays away from funerals except for those of their own parents because of a cultural belief based in the Shinto religion that considers death impure.

Former Emperor Akihito, as crown prince, attended the Queens 1953 coronation and her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Queen Elizabeth visited Japan in 1975.

Naruhito and Masakos trip to Britain is their first as the Emperor and Empress. The Queens invitation for them to visit following Naruhitos 2019 ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne had to be postponed due to the pandemic.
PHOENIX  A group of residents and business owners just east of downtown has filed suit seeking a declaration of public nuisance in hopes the city will enforce laws in an area where several hundred unsheltered people have set up camp.

Theres no accountability, theres no standard, theres no enforcement of law, and people are being subjected to living conditions that are truly not acceptable, said Karl Freund, the CEO of Kenneth James Realty, whos involved in the lawsuit and owns a warehouse near the area.

Freund said he wants the city to enforce the existing laws in the books. Were not asking for anything other than that.

Ilan Wurman, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said those laws deal with drug use, domestic violence, fires, public urination and defecation, and environmental laws.

The lawsuit filed last month in Maricopa County Superior Court identifies an area bounded by Seventh and 15th avenues, Van Buren and Grant streets, particularly a section known as the Zone. Tents line the streets, trash is scattered throughout, and many broken bicycles fill a camp in the area. The suit alleges that Phoenix has created a policy of concentrating its homeless population in plaintiffs neighborhood.

Freund said his goal is to seek more law enforcement when it comes to mental health services and drug usage.

Were just throwing money at the problem, he said. I dont think that is a solution.

Wurman said his clients are not seeking compensation or to overturn a 9th Circuit Court decision that has been applied to Arizona. The 2018 decision involved an Idaho case in which a federal appeals court ruled it was unconstitutional to criminalize sleeping in public, especially if no shelter beds are available.

The city of Phoenix has used this relatively narrow ruling to completely abdicate its responsibility over the homelessness crisis, Wurman said.

The only law that cant be enforced right now because of the 9th Circuit decision is you cant send them to jail for sleeping at night if there are insufficient shelter beds.

The number of people experiencing homelessness has grown dramatically within the past few years. More than 9,000 people were experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County as of January, according to the annual Point-In-Time homeless count. Overall, homelessness rose 22% from 2020 (the count was suspended in 2021 because of the pandemic). The unsheltered count increased 34%, and the sheltered count went up 9%.

Although the lawsuit names the city, other organizations not involved in the lawsuit are working to combat homelessness in the area. Human Services Campus, a Phoenix nonprofit of 16 partner organizations committed to ending homelessness, last month restarted its Project Connect events, which bring housing, medical and employment services to hundreds of people in need.

Anthony Gray, 44, said the Zone is not how youre supposed to live. He attended Project Connect for the first time, on Aug. 30.

Its good for the community  because it helps people  not push them away, he said.

The plaintiffs support such efforts as Project Connect, which they say are necessary to helping unsheltered people. But they want the city to do more.

Phoenix officials declined to comment on the pending litigation but pointed to several efforts it has underway related to homelessness and affordable housing.

In the past fiscal year, the city dedicated nearly $50 million to solutions that include shelters, mental health services and increased affordable housing, city spokesperson Kristin Couturier said. Phoenix spent more than $23 million on services related to homelessness solutions in fiscal year 2020-21, doubling its funding. The city also developed a Strategies to Address Homelessness report and approved an additional $70.5 million dollars in federal pandemic relief funds for affordable housing and homelessness programs.
CATOOSA  Young female campers were treated to an unexpected bit of drama decades ago when Hugh Davis was handling rattlesnakes during an educational demonstration.

One of the rattlers struck and bit Davis.

His wife, Zelta, responded by plunging a knife into the wound and administering first aid.

Hugh recovered (deaths from rattlesnake bites are rare; by 1960, he had been fanged four times) and built his wife a gift that keeps on giving.

Its a whale of a gift. Really.

The Blue Whale, a popular Route 66 roadside attraction in Catoosa, was constructed by Hugh and presented to Zelta as a 34th anniversary present in 1972, which means the gift is 50 years old.

The Blue Whales 50th birthday bash will take place 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept 24, and will feature appearances by author/actor/Route 66 enthusiast Michael Wallis and Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears creator Muriel Fahrion, an artist who designed custom merch available at the Blue Whales gift shop.

Live music, food, vendors and kid-friendly activities will be part of the celebration, which benefits the Johnnie Marshall Memorial Scholarship Fund. Marshall was a Catoosa teacher. After her death, a group of former students chose to honor her memory by creating a scholarship initiative.

The birthday bash will result in a bigger crowd than usual at the Blue Whale, but its not unusual for the blue guy to draw a crowd. A count of vehicles on Sept. 9 revealed 27 automobiles and three motorcycles in the Blue Whales parking lot. The cycle riders were doing the Route 66 thing. A person behind the wheel of a parked car (Virginia plates) seemed to be catching a travel nap while the person in the passenger seat pored over a map.

We see everybody from all over the world here every day, Blue Whale park director Liz Huckleby said. Its pretty amazing, really.

Countries listed on the first few pages of the gift shops guest book: Scotland, Denmark, South Africa, Portugal, Sweden, Spain.

The Blue Whale had to make a significant comeback to regain its status as a must-stop spot on the Mother Road. Catoosa has plans to add new amenities, according to city manager John Blish. Before going there, lets start with the creators story.

Animal lovers

Hugh Davis, an Eagle Scout by age 14, got turned on to nature through scouting.

The Tulsa Zoo was founded in 1927, the year before he graduated from Central High School. His father, a highway patrol officer, died in a traffic accident around the time he graduated.

Hugh joined the workforce and spent 37 years at the Tulsa Zoo, including 35 as director. His unofficial title was adventurer. He embarked on global expeditions to explore the animal kingdom and he brought critters back to the Tulsa Zoo.

The lead paragraph of a 1960 Tulsa World feature story on Hugh talked about him eating the warm heart of a lion so as to immunize himself against fear during an African expedition. In the same story, he talked about photographing sharks underwater near Central America.

Sharks usually wont attack unless there is blood in the water, Hugh said in the story. Sometimes they resent a commotion. I remained still.

Hugh found Zelta closer to home. They met at a street dance in Collinsville.

Boy, I want her for my collection, he recalled in a 1982 Tulsa World story. I was always looking for specimens for the zoo.

He said that in front of Zelta. Both laughed.

Hugh and Zelta were married in 1938. She came to share Hughs enthusiasm for animals. A 1960 story said she developed into an expert snake catcher/handler who helped with milking rattlers for venom. Why? Hugh ran a rattlesnake dairy of about 3,000 snakes during World War II. They milked venom so anti-toxins could be created for members of the armed forces training in southwestern states.

Hughs rep as a snake man made him the guy to summon if you had a snake problem. He once got a call from a woman who said one of her chickens was in trouble. The chickens leg slipped through the bottom of the henhouse. A snake bit the chicken and wouldnt let go. Hugh crawled under the henhouse and emerged with a black snake in each hand.

In 1946, Hugh was accused of going into an area outside Okeene and capturing 114 rattlers for the Tulsa Zoo three days before Okeenes annual rattlesnake hunt. The hunt was a dud that year.

Hugh resigned from the Tulsa Zoo in 1966 amid questions about finances and missing specimens. Following an investigation, the Tulsa Tribune wrote this: Hugh Davis, a cantankerous, soft-hearted animal lover, not only didnt steal from Mohawk Park Zoo, but he pumped $4,000 of his own money into its operation. But hes a lousy bookkeeper. That, in essence, was the finding of an eight-month probe which carried the former zoo keeper near the brink of financial ruin but cleared his name.

You cant take the zoo out of Hugh. He invested his time in developing property in Catoosa to educate people about nature and animals. He built an ark (animal reptile kingdom), a two-level hotspot for birthday parties and other events. An alligator ranch and natures acres (with live gators, a snake pit and a prairie dog village) were among attractions. Then came the anniversary gift.

Blaine Davis, in a 2014 Tulsa World interview, said it took his father two years to build the Blue Whale for his mother. Hugh logged 2,920 hours of labor on the project.

Of course, when he first started it, she didnt know what it was going to be, Blaine said. After a while, she could tell it was going to be a whale. She was always very fond of whales. I dont think my mother ever saw a live whale, ever.

The Blue Whale (80 feet long, 15 feet high, 10 feet wide) was constructed on a pond on their property, and the swimming hole was available for the public to enjoy. According to Blue Whale lore, no one was seriously injured, no one sued and no one was bitten by a snake.

The Blue Whales first chapter ended when the attraction closed in 1988. The public lost whale access and animals lost two of the best friends they ever had. Hugh died in 1990 and Zelta died 11 years later.

Hugh once said this about his wife: She doesnt even allow kids to kill wasps or a mosquito. If its a red wasp, we do, but if its a dobber, we dont. Theyre the first cliff dwellers. They are perfect home builders. If they are left alone, they wont bother anybody.

Return to glory

If you visit the Blue Whale now, you might survey the area and come to the realization that someone has made it a priority to restore the park to glory.

That someone is the City of Catoosa, which purchased the park in April of 2020 and understands the value of being home to one of Americas top 50 roadside attractions (per a Time Magazine list in 2010).

Its a lot better since we have cleaned it up, Blish said. We are adding new features every month, it seems like.

Blish said the city is working on getting walking paths completed. He talked about plans for a camping area in a wooded area west of the Blue Whale and a waterfall on the northwest edge of the pond. How far down the road? The goal is to have the Blue Whale in peak condition before a Route 66 centennial celebration in 2026.

The Blue Whale fell into a state of neglect and was vandalized after its closing in 1988. Beginning in 1995, three local Chamber of Commerce presidents  Dean Miller, Dr. Bob Shoup and Lon Godwin  made the Blue Whales preservation a priority during their terms of office, according to pamphlet information at the Blue Whale gift shop, and they received help from local businessmen who swam there as kids. Hampton Inn chipped in to help fund renovations 20 years ago, and volunteers kept the Blue Whale going.

Moving forward, a new twist is the Blue Whale has a park director. Huckleby, hired by the City of Catoosa in February, called the Blue Whale awesome.

I grew up here, she said, referring to nearby Claremore. I was a photographer before I did this and I started photography young. Where I started my photography was driving up and down these roads taking pictures of abandoned things. I never took pictures of this because it was so overgrown, but I just slowly fell in love with the Blue Whale and Route 66 and the Blue Whale through that, just learning the history.

Huckleby said the Blue Whale was so grown over while closed that you couldnt walk around the property.

Its a great turnaround to see the city now own it and want to revitalize it, she said.

A maintenance team helped Huckleby prepare for a March 19 grand opening. She scavenged for local artists with Blue Whale products that could be sold at the gift shop.

Huckleby previously worked for Mary Beth Babcock at Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios on 66 (I went to the School of Mary Beth Babcock) and learned to source locally, when possible. One of the local artists, Rosemary Daugherty of Moonlight Art Factory, dropped off a fresh supply of Blue Whale paint-by-number kits during a recent visit.

I just basically want to run a really great merch booth for the Blue Whale, she said. I always say he is like a rock star. We dont have to do media. We dont have to do a lot of marketing. People just come. But they all want something that shows they were here.

Huckleby said she has been at the Blue Whale when its snowing and amid torrential rains  and people still show up from all over the world every day.

Among reasons why there were 27 vehicles in the parking lot on Sept. 9: A homeschool group visited the Blue Whale for a picnic after a field trip to the Port of Catoosa.

Its just kind of an iconic Route 66 stop, Heritage Homeschool Friends board member Gloria Moses said while exploring the property with children. Its a neat, unusual thing that you cant find anywhere else.

A 9/11 family recently visited while touring fire stations across the country. It was their way of honoring firefighters. A couple of cops from Boston checked out the Blue Whale about an hour later.

Sometimes visitors hail from right around the corner.

I go out there quite often, Blish said. Even though it is close to the highway, at certain times of the day it is pretty peaceful out there.
A Tulsa man was killed Friday morning in a collision with a tractor-trailer in western Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported.

The collision occurred on a gravel roadway at the intersection of Ellis County Roads 191 and 59, about 10 miles east of Arnett in Ellis County.

William H. Braudrick, 80, was driving a 2011 Ford Fusion when the crash happened. He was pinned in his vehicle and died at the scene, troopers said.

The other driver, a Shattuck man driving a 2013 Freightliner, reportedly was not injured.

Braudricks passenger, a 76-year-old woman from Vici, was stable when she was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital by helicopter, the OHP reported.

Troopers said they were still investigating what caused the collision.
Frederick Douglass once said there is no progress without struggle, but Philonise Floyd is tired of struggling.

Nobody should have to beg for justice, he said.

The brother of the late George Floyd, a man whose murder by police in Minnesota in 2020 ignited a burgeoning racial justice movement, shared the sentiment during a livestream Friday in commemoration of the sixth anniversary of Terence Crutchers fatal shooting by a Tulsa police officer.

Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons said Floyds sentiment was spot on.

Yes, were resilient, he said of himself and other activists. But we are humans, and we are tired, and we deserve justice without having to expend so much energy.

The pair joined two other panelists calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to reopen the case into Crutchers death.

The Crutcher Family is owed an unbiased and objective investigation by the Department of Justice, read a video compilation shown before the virtual talk.

The moment of silence and virtual lunch conversation was one of several events the Terence Crutcher Foundation planned for and by the community to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the unarmed fathers killing and build community power to affect true change within the city of Tulsa and across the nation.

The foundation aims to create just and liberated communities free from racial violence and harm, working to shift the narrative that Black men are bad dudes and that Black people more broadly are inherently bad.

The phrase was what a Tulsa police officer in a helicopter could be heard uttering while watching over the soon-to-be fatal traffic stop on Sept. 16, 2016: Looks like a bad dude, too. Could be on something.

Then-Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby had stopped to investigate Crutchers vehicle, which was abandoned in the street on 36th Street North near Lewis Avenue, while on her way to another call that evening. She shot him after he walked toward his vehicle, not heeding her instructions to stop, and appeared to be attempting to reach inside, she has said.

Shelby was charged with first-degree manslaughter less than a week after the shooting, and eight months later, in May 2017, a Tulsa County jury deliberated nine hours before finding her not guilty. She later left the Tulsa Police Department.

In addition to Floyd and Solomon-Simmons, founder and executive director of Justice for Greenwood, the livestream, which began at noon on the Black Wall Street Times Facebook page, featured Tiffany Crutcher, Terence Crutchers twin sister and executive director of the Terence Crutcher Foundation; and national civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

After a 30-second moment of silence, the two attorneys thanked both family members for their perseverance in giving a voice to their loved ones after their respective deaths, encouraging them not to let hope fail.

I am expecting a miracle of justice for Terence Crutcher, Crump said. I know God is in control.

Tiffany Crutcher noted the somber anniversary, saying that even though its been six years, it doesnt get any better.

Just seeing Terences children and my father have to still stand and speak out six years later, I get a little bit emotional, she said.

Terence Crutcher Jr., Terence Crutchers son, along with several of his family members, spoke to the Tulsa City Council on Wednesday to advocate for police accountability.

A civil case filed in the matter has been ongoing for three years, Tiffany Crutcher said, and she chalked up the matter to a white supremacist tactic.

To those people who are trying to wait us out, we will not rest, she said. We will continue to stand.

Viewers were encouraged to share the organizers message on social media with the hashtags #Terencecrutcher and #Justice4Terence as well as email kristin.clarke@usdoj.gov, urging the Department of Justice to reopen the case.

The commemoration weeks final event is a Day of Service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the 36th Street North Event Center, 1125 E. 36th St. North.

The event will have family-friendly activities, free food trucks, a DJ, a resource fair, voter registration tables and a water bottle drive for the Tulsa Day Center as well as water relief efforts in Jackson, Mississippi.
 Flash

Discord between U.S. Republicans and Democrats is exploding over migrants sent from the country's southern border states to cities in the northeast.



Two buses from Texas dropped off over 100 migrants outside U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., Thursday morning.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has chartered buses to transport migrants from Texas to the U.S. capital since April, said that the latest group of individuals came from Colombia, Cuba, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, and Venezuela.

A Republican, Abbott accused U.S. President Joe Biden and his deputy, Harris, of "ignoring and denying the historic crisis at our southern border, which has endangered and overwhelmed Texas communities for almost two years."

Biden, a Democrat, criticized Abbott and other Republican governors Thursday evening over the relocation of migrants, saying that they are "playing politics with human beings, using them as props."

"What they're doing is simply wrong," Biden told attendees at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Gala. "It's reckless. And we have a process in place to manage migrants at the border."

Abbott added New York City and Chicago as additional drop-off locations last month. His "busing strategy" has sent over 10,000 migrants to what Republicans call "sanctuary cities."

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has made a similar move and bused thousands of migrants to states and cities run by Democrats over the past few months.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, another Republican, sent two planes of migrants to Martha's Vineyard, an island in Massachusetts, on Wednesday.

"In Florida, we take what is happening at the southern border seriously," DeSantis tweeted Thursday. "We are not a sanctuary state, and we will gladly facilitate the transport of illegal immigrants to sanctuary jurisdictions."

Massachusett Governor Charlie Baker announced on Friday a new shelter at Joint Base Cape Cod "for the approximately 50 migrants who arrived in Martha's Vineyard this week."

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, took a shot at DeSantis over the flights of migrants to Martha's Vineyard, tweeting on Thursday that "exploiting vulnerable people for political stunts is repulsive and cruel."

California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried have suggested separately that they would ask the U.S. Department of Justice to look into DeSantis over the migrants sent to Massachusetts.

U.S. federal agents have made about 1.82 million arrests at the country's southern border so far this fiscal year, according to figures released by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection last month.
Dispatched by an emergency meeting of concerned citizens in 1902, Dr. Sam Kennedy led a small group of Tulsa men into the dusty countryside to look for a team of surveyors.

News had reached town that the MKT railroad was charting a new route from southeast Kansas to Oklahoma City. And Kennedys men found the surveyors working 7 miles east of Tulsa, about where Mingo Road runs today.

Somehow they induced the railroad employees to come into town, where a homemade feast was prepared in their honor.

There was considerable speech-making, with Tulsa citizens doing nearly all of it, according to the memoirs of J.M. Hall, a merchant who was one of the citys earliest pioneers.

Tulsa had sprouted alongside the Frisco railroad in the 1880s. But now the town, with a population still under 2,000, wanted a second railroad to give it an advantage over Sapulpa and other rival communities.

The MKT, however, saw no reason to go out of its way for such a small and relatively insignificant place. The surveyors had simply been instructed to chart the most convenient route for building the new railroad.

But after Tulsas banquet, the crew suddenly became convinced that the most convenient route just happened to run through town. And they drew the railroad map accordingly.

Of course, when MKT executives heard about the unauthorized changes, they fired the surveyors and moved their construction plans back to the original route, bypassing Tulsa.

To build their line on this survey meant death for the struggling town, Hall wrote in his memoirs, published in 1927 as a book called The Beginning of Tulsa.

Luckily, the citizens werent ready to pass out or give up, Hall reported.

Kennedy, a doctor who had moved to Tulsa in 1891, led a delegation to St. Louis, where he managed to arrange a meeting with the railroad president.

Armed with the surveyors report, Kennedy argued that a route through town would avoid steep grades and allow trains to run more efficiently, according to City on the Plains: A History of Tulsa, written in 1972.

But George Mowbray, a retired Methodist minister who was part of Kennedys delegation, interrupted the discussion to try a different kind of persuasion.

Tulsa business leaders would give the railroad $12,000 and provide a right-of-way through town for no cost, he said.

It wasnt unusual for railroads to receive financial incentives, but Mowbrays offer seemed particularly generous for such a small town, according to City on the Plains.

The first MKT trains arrived in Tulsa a year later, followed by the Midland Valley Railroad in 1904, also after the town provided a cash incentive for extending the line. Thats how Tulsa became a transportation hub just in time to capitalize on the Glenn Pool Oil Boom that started in 1905.

More than a century later, Tulsa still has to compete with rival communities. And financial incentives can still make the difference.

City councilors, for example, recently took the first steps toward creating a tax increment finance district to bring a Scheels sporting goods store to Woodland Hills Mall.

More than just a store, a Scheels location includes aquariums, arcade games, indoor Ferris wheels and other attractions to create a shopping destination that can draw traffic from hours away.

If it takes a few incentives to bring that kind of economic development to town, Tulsa has done it before.

Tulsa World Scene podcast: Route 66's Blue Whale in Catoosa turns 50.
As researchers tracking the national rise of educational gag orders, we were alarmed when Oklahoma legislators passed House Bill 1775, an attack on free speech and inquiry in schools and universities.

Laws and policies restricting teaching topics such as race, gender, American history and LGBTQ+ identities are now in force in 19 states.

Research released by PEN America last month showed that 36 states introduced 137 gag order bills this year, a 250% increase from 2021. Of those, seven became law, which is an improvement from the 12 passed last year. However, this years laws are more extreme in their prohibitions, more punitive in enforcement and more likely to restrict higher and common education.

Among all those laws, Oklahoma stands out. The recent state Board of Educations enforcement of HB 1775 goes beyond the educational censorship imposed on schools nationally.

By downgrading the accreditation of Tulsa Public Schools and Mustang Public Schools for alleged violations, the board broke new and troubling ground. By wielding censorious punishments on school districts, students and teachers for imagined violations, it has undermined educational freedom on an unprecedented scale.

While any gag order passed into law is damaging, the boards actions create a broader chilling effect making it even more difficult for educators to discuss complex and challenging ideas.

HB 1775 prohibits teachers from attributing bias, blame or guilt based on race or sex and restricts teaching that could make a student feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex.

The law does not prohibit general reflections on implicit bias or factual statements about racial inequality. It does not prevent teachers from merely discussing issues that may make students feel uncomfortable.

However, the maximalist interpretation championed by the state Board of Education goes beyond the laws text and imposes exactly these restrictions.

Teachers unable to state facts or are regulated by whether a student happens to experience discomfort are teachers in name only. By establishing this disturbing precedent, the board has paved the way for districts across the country to follow suit.

In other states, weve seen how the consequences of gag order laws can cascade far beyond what a bill actually intends.

Administrators in Tennessees Collierville school district removed 327 books from library shelves featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes in part because of a states educational gag order. Though, that law applies only to curricula, not to school libraries.

In Williamson County, Tennessee, a lawsuit seeks to ban a widely-acclaimed language arts curriculum. Similarly, the America First Policy Institute  a conservative nonprofit founded by President Donald Trump campaign consultants  tried to force a district in Iowa to cancel a course where students would select their own readings. The group argued the students might pick divisive ones. That reasoning falls outside the bounds of the states gag order law.

The Oklahoma School Boards decisions have sent shock waves through the states public school system.

For example a Norman high school English teacher resigned after a parent complained about her sharing a link to the Brooklyn Public Librarys UnBanned Books program. Education Secretary Ryan Walters said she should lose her teaching certificate.

Having tracked the proliferation of national educational gag orders, we see a real danger that public officials in other states may lift Oklahomas blueprint and impose their own broad interpretations of already censorious legislation to chill classroom speech.

Jeremy C. Young is senior manager of free expression and education at PEN America. Jeffrey Sachs is a political scientist at Acadia University and a research consultant at PEN America.
Oklahoma has more people working now than ever before, and the states unemployment rate remains at or near historically low levels.

That sounds like good news, but looking behind those numbers tells another story. We dont have enough people in the workforce.

Anecdotally, employers are saying they have job openings they cannot fill. A number of other statistics shows why.

The states labor force participation rate is just 60.8%, 35th lowest in the country. Thats down from 65.5% in 1986 and far lower than the 64.2% recorded in 2009.

The reasons vary, and many of them are caused by the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A number of workers who were once part of the labor force suffer from the effects of long-COVID, a condition in which lingering symptoms of the disease persist for months.

Nearly half a million Oklahomans are experiencing long-COVID, just shy of 40% of those who contracted the disease. As much as 15% of unfilled jobs can be attributed to the effects of long-COVID.

A growing scarcity of child care is keeping many parents from working. Child care costs are also rising, meaning those who are willing to work cannot afford to take a job and place their children in child care.

Remote work options are growing, but again, a section of the population is being left behind. Broadband access is limited in some parts of the state, which keeps those remote work jobs out of reach. Oklahoma ranks 43rd nationally in broadband access, with just 48% of rural households having broadband connectivity.

A growing number of retirees, plus those otherwise disabled, also keep some people from filling jobs.

This isnt an irreversible slide. To our north, Kansas has a workplace participation rate of 66.4%. Demographically speaking, Kansas isnt that much different from Oklahoma. If Kansas can achieve this, so can we, and we could stand to learn from what Kansas is doing right.

The passage of House Bill 3363, the Oklahoma Broadband Expansion Act, should help. The bill will leverage federal money to offer broadband access to 95% of the state by 2028.

The state is also working on a pilot program to train people for remote work.

Oklahoma must also continue to pursue criminal justice reform. The state has one of the highest incarceration rates in the nation, depleting the number of people who could be filling jobs now if they werent behind bars. Diversion programs and alternative sentencing can keep potential wage-earners in play.

The state must redouble its efforts to improve the health of its people. Oklahomas sky-high rankings in lung and heart disease need to be addressed, as many chronically ill people cannot work.

Finally, we must invest in schools. Public education, CareerTech and higher education need more resources so employers can be assured of a talent pool that is available to meet their needs.

These are big tasks, but they need to be done. Our economy cannot compete unless a greater share of us is ready to meet the challenges of the modern workplace.
More than 30 Vietnamese exporters of pangasius to the U.S. continue being subject to different anti-dumping tax rates of up to US$2.39 per kilogram, according to the latest conclusion from the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC).

The DOC has recently issued the final conclusion from the 18th anti-dumping tax administrative review (POR18) for the August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021 period on Vietnamese pangasius.

In this review, the DOC has maintained the anti-dumping duties applicable to Vietnamese companies based on the results of the preceding review (POR17).

Accordingly, two Vietnamese enterprises will be subject to respective anti-dumping duties of US$0.00 per kilogram and $3.87 per kilogram, one company is imposed with a separate tax rate of $1.94 per kilogram, and 32 other companies will be given a national tax rate of $2.39 per kilogram.

During the POR18 review, the DOC also determined that one Vietnamese exporter was not eligible for a separate tax rate of $1.94 per kilogram, so it must be subject to the above national tax rate.

Currently, the DOC is receiving the applications for the 19th review (POR19) for the period from August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022 for Vietnamese pangasius and basa fish.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade said it will coordinate with the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnamese pangasius and tra fish exporters, and the U.S. side to monitor and update information necessary for dealing with relevant issues to ensure Vietnamese exporters legitimate rights and interests.

During the first eight months of this year, Vietnam earned over $1.8 billion worth of pangasius and tra fish exports, up 81 percent from a year earlier, according to official figures.

China and the U.S. remains Vietnams biggest importers of pangasius and tra fish, with their import values of the two items from Vietnam reaching nearly $500 million and $421 million during the period, respectively.

Despite being imposed with U.S. anti-dumping duties since 2003, many large Vietnamese pangasius and tra fish producers and exporters have managed to enjoy a tax rate of $0.00 per kilogram through the past reviews to continue boosting exports to this large market.

The anti-dumping tax was first mentioned in the U.S. in its tax legislation in 1916.

After joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995, the U.S. issued anti-dumping and anti-subsidy regulations two years later, providing for application of anti-dumping duties and relevant investigation processes.

An anti-dumping inquiry is considered for launch after a domestic enterprise submits to competent American authorities an appeal for investigation of certain imported commodities that are alleged to cause unfair competitions affecting domestic production.

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Vietnam will strive to have at least two million businesses by 2030, Tran Tuan Anh, head of the Party Central Committees Economic Commission, said, adding that the legitimate interests of enterprises must be guaranteed.

The commission had a working session with the business community on Thursday, aimed at promoting the role of the businesses in the industrialization, modernization, and international integration process.

The number of businesses in Vietnam has tripled over the past decade, Pham Tan Cong, chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said at the event.

The country currently has about 860,000 enterprises, creating jobs for 14.7 million workers, Cong continued, adding that the business sector contributes over 60 percent of Vietnam's gross domestic product (GDP) and about 70 percent of state budget revenue.

However, there is still a lack of connection and common strength in the business community, while many businesses and entrepreneurs have been found running illegal operations.

The country also failed to meet the target of reaching one million enterprises in 2020, Cong elaborated.

In order to develop a stronger business community in the coming time, Cong suggested that authorities continue perfecting the legal system in a way that encourages businesses to comply with regulations and prevents them from running illegal operations.

Tran Tuan Anh from the Economic Commission agreed that there must be a specific legal framework, mechanisms, and policies in the context of rapid international integration.

The commission will listen to proposals of businesses and ensure their rights and legitimate interests, the official continued.

One of the tasks in the socio-economic development strategy for the 2021-30 period is to develop the countrys private sector in terms of both quantity and quality.

Authorities encourage the establishment of private economic groups with strong potential as well as regional and international competitiveness.

Vietnam will strive to have at least two million businesses by 2030, Anh stated, adding that the private sector will contribute about 60-65 percent of the nations GDP.

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Check out the news you should not miss today:

COVID-19 Updates

-- Vietnams Ministry of Health reported 3,080 COVID-19 cases on Friday, raising the national tally to 11,454,079, with 10,508,736 recoveries and 43,137 deaths.

Politics

-- Vietnamese State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on Friday for a number of international scientists and Nobel laureates who are in Vietnam to attend the Science, Ethics and Human Development conference within the framework of the 13th Meet Vietnam program.

Society

-- Police in Hanoi on Friday arrested a 29-year-old man for stabbing another man to death in the capital city earlier this week over love conflicts.

-- More than 500 workers staged a stoppage at a technology company in Phu Tho Province, northern Vietnam on Friday to demand higher wages.

-- The Peoples Court in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday conducted a trial against a man who stole multiple drain hole covers on the newly-inaugurated Thu Thiem 2 Bridge in May.

-- Doctors at K Hospital in Hanoi said on Friday that they had successfully removed a skin tumor on the left hand of a 107-year-old patient who was diagnosed with skin cancer one year ago.

-- Three people were injured after a scaffold collapsed at a kindergarten construction site in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam earlier this week.

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Individuals across Vietnam are eagerly seeking out ways to have their Facebook accounts verified in order to promote themselves or their brands.

Facebook account verifications are booming in Vietnam, with dozens of services popping up to help individuals meet the criteria for verification on the social media platform.

Getting verified

K., a well-known expert in the communications industry, had spent years attempting to get his Facebook account verified to no avail before seeking out a service that claimed to help users get Facebooks famed blue checkmark next to their names.

Since I was acquaintances [with the people who ran the service], I only paid VND15 million (US$638). They got my account verified in just two weeks, K. said.

As demand for these services increases, so does the number of providers, with many claiming a 95 percent success rate in getting accounts verified and others promising lifetime guarantees and full refunds if they cant get an account verified.

The cost of these services ranges from VND20 million to VND200 million ($845 to $8,445), depending on the status of a customers account.

Thanh Binh, a social media expert who works for a Ho Chi Minh City-based Facebook account verification service, explained that the ease of getting someone verified is completely dependent on a users number of followers, interactions, popularity, and the number of articles written about the users.

The price a service charges a customer is totally dependent on these factors.

"The biggest cost is for the articles that need to be published about an account holder because it usually takes six to 12 articles," Binh explained.

"Increasing the number of followers and meeting other criteria also effect the cost, so customers are charged on a case-by-case basis.

According to Binh, it is easiest to get accounts verified for celebrities because they typically already meet most of the criteria.

"In other cases, it costs between VND20 million and VND200 million," Binh said.

The demand for Facebook verification has also led to scammers posing as verification services. Photo: Tu Trung / Tuoi Tre

A grey market for blue checkmarks

A google search for these blue tick services pulled nearly over 105 million results, illustrating just how large the market has become.

According to D., who works for one such service, many of these verification companies work under sales-based commission model, with salespeople attempting to rein in customers by promotion and advertising services.

"For each successful contract, a low-level salesperson can earn VND5-10 million ($212-424)," D. explained, adding that he himself averages three customers per week, with each contract ranging from VND100 - 200 million ($4,248 - 8,496).

"If everything goes well, my monthly profit sits between VND600 million ($25,488) and VND1 billion ($42,480)," he said.

With such huge profits, its no surprise that dozens of these services now exist across Vietnam.

Of course, its also no surprise that Facebook has begun scrutinizing verified accounts and, occasionally, revoking such verifications, leaving users who paid a big sum for such services.

Exploiting the market

The demand for Facebook verification has also led to scammers posing as verification services.

Phan Van Tri, a resident of Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, was recently charged by the Binh Thanh District police with "using a computer network, telecommunication network, and electronic devices to appropriate the assets of others."

Posing as an account verification service, Tri and his accomplices would ask victims to provide personal information such as the name of the account, password, email address, and a photo of an ID, claiming these were all necessary for the verification process.

Using this information, Tri and his accomplices would log into a victims account and send messages to the accounts friends asking to borrow money.

Their operation was so sophisticated that they could even use tools to impersonate the holder and make video calls to the victims Facebook friends.

Then, using the victims personal information, the group would open bank accounts with similar names to the victim so that the victims Facebook friends wouldnt suspect the scam when they transferred money.

Binh Thanh District police claimed that at least 20 individuals had fallen victim to Tri and his accomplices.

An investigation into the case is ongoing.

Getting a blue checkmark There are three ways to get a Facebook account verified . The first way is to do it yourself. After logging into your account, visit Facebooks verification section and provide the required personal information. . The second option is to buy an already verified Facebook account. . The final option is to use third-party services. This is the most popular option. Such service providers are well-versed in the account verification process and know different tactics to help an account meet Facebook's verification standards.

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Police in the southern Vietnamese province of Binh Duong arrested the 42-year-old owner of the karaoke venue in Thuan An City, where an inferno had killed 32 people earlier this month, for an investigation into the case, a source told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Friday.

Le Anh Xuan, 42, living in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City that borders Binh Duong, has been kept in temporary custody for four months and prosecuted for violating fire prevention and fighting regulations.

The Peoples Procuracy of Binh Duong approved these prosecution and detention orders.

Police officers also searched Xuans residence.

The arrest came ten days after a fire broke out at around 8:15 pm on September 6 at An Phu karaoke parlor in Thuan An City, for which Xuan had received a business license in 2016.

Around 60 customers and employees were inside the three-story parlor at the time.

Investigations showed that the fire started from a short circuit at the ceiling of the second floor, then empty, and spread to the third floor.

Many people had to jump off a balcony on the second floor to get to safety while dozens were injured and 32 people died.

It took rescuers one day to take all the bodies out of the scene.

All past inspections concluded that the parlor satisfied fire safety standards.

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Former Game of Thrones actor John Bradley, best known for playing Samwell Tarly, is joining Joanne Froggatt in the Australian crime thriller, North Shore.

The six part drama from Cold Feet creator Mike Bullen is being produced for Paramount+.

Set on and around Sydney Harbour, North Shore follows the clash of cultures when British and Australian detectives team to solve a complex murder mystery, and uncover a conspiracy with international political consequences.

The series centres on Max Wylie (Bradley), a British detective who, offside with his colleagues, is seconded to Australia to observe the investigation into the suspicious death of a young woman, the daughter of a British cabinet minister.

When Max travels to Australia his life is at a crossroads. His boss doubts Max is a team player and questions whether he has a future in the police, and his wife is contemplating calling time on their marriage.

Froggatt will play Abigail Crawford.

Deadline reports production begins in mid-October in Sydney, produced by Beach Road Pictures, the production company set up by former Playmaker bosses David Maher and David Taylor. North Shore writer Bullen executive produces with Maher, Taylor and Di Hadden. Gregor Jordan is directing.
Reboots really shouldnt be as good as the new Netflix take on Heartbreak High.

Its the best YA Australian show in years and worthy of carrying the brand which resonated around the world in the 1990s.

Some shows work because of the writing, the direction or the cast, but here theres a synergy that combusts on screen to elevate the show to the next level.

Set once again in Hartley High (and filmed in a Maroubra high school as the original), this melting pot of defiant, working class kids ricochets in all kinds of anarchic, omnisexual ways.

The centre of the universe is no longer Nick (as famously played by Alex Dimitriades) but Amerie (Ayesha Madon), a brash, loud teen who has fallen out with her bestie Harper (Asher Yasbincek).

Both are behind an incest map mural mapping out who-has-hooked-up-with-whom (shades of The L Word right there), spilling on everybodys secrets like a sordid Bridgerton gossip sheet. Its a scandal to rival Knox Grammar, with a veritable dynamite stick lit under the school social structure.

Amerie has managed to piss off most of her classmates in one fell swoop, and her chance to land class heartthrob Dusty (Josh Heuston) is slipping further from view.

That map is real dog, man. I just think you need to do some work on yourself away from us, teen lesbian Sasha (Gemma Chua-Tran) tells her.

If anybody is in her corner its the street-smart, non-binary teen Darren (James Majoos) whose single parent wants them to spend more time with their father (original cast member Scott Major returning). Darren is also having secret sex with Ca$h (Will McDonald), struggling with his identity.

Proud Bundjalung boy Malakai (Thomas Weatherall) is also drawn to Amerie as she deals with school humiliation, rejection from Harper and little attention from Dusty.

Not to be forgotten is school principal Woodsy (a scene-stealing Rachel House) who clutches her tiny pooch while snapping orders to keep the kids in line, the school funded and cool teachers like English teacher Jojo (Chika Ikogwe) to academic curriculum.

There are also further parents and guardians to be found, such as one played by Ben Oxenbould and a grandmother with attitude played by fantastic veteran Maggie Dence.

This ensemble is on fire and they make this series sing.

Ayesha Madon is bolshy, funny, and a loveable geek in Amerie, who handles the scenes of vulnerability and resistance with ease. James Majoos is an absolute find as Darren who, like Glees Kurt Hummel manages to rise above the pedestrian beige of the world around them, with a biting quip or an insight beyond their years.

We are beautiful exquisite jellyfish. Of course they saw us, they purr.

Thomas Weatherall is also solid as the quiet, handsome Malakai who you know Amerie needs to connect with.

The beauty of this set-up is theres a tapestry of storylines yet to emerge from the talented ensemble, including autistic teen Quinni (Chloe Hayden) chasing Sasha, or Ca$h fitting in with alpha-male mates as they break the law.

Creator Hannah Carroll Chapman and writers Megan Palinkas,Matthew Whittet, Marieke Hardy, Meyne Wyatt, Thomas Wilson White and Natesha Somasundaram have packed a punch into this reboot. They tackle sexuality, consent, peer group pressure, self esteem, inclusion, rejection, family and more.

It bounces along with energy from directors Gracie Otto, Neil Sharma, Jessie Oldfield and Adam Murfet, crackling with a cool soundtrack, and dripping in colour from its production design and costume.

As it nails the language of Gen Z kids, it never loses the blunt Australian flavour for which the original became so famous.

Sure, its no longer the unspeakable romance between the originals teacher and student (how did we ever see that as romantic?), but this Heartbreak High deserves to be seen by fans of Sex Education, Heartstopper, Euphoria and those missing Puberty Blues.

Everything just clicks. An inspired reboot that warrants an early renewal, please.

Heartbreak High is now screening on Netflix.
Dan Evans Credit: PA Images

Dan Evans gave Britain the perfect start to their must-win Davis Cup clash against the Netherlands in Glasgow with a straight-sets victory over Tallon Griekspoor.

Wednesdays narrow loss to the USA at the Emirates Arena left Leon Smiths side almost certainly needing to win their remaining two group matches to book their place in the last-eight shootout in Malaga in November.

Evans, who lost a high-quality clash with the USs Tommy Paul, was tested by Griekspoor on the very slow hard court but was the stronger in the big moments in a 6-4 6-4 win.

The Brit had to maintain his focus and wait for an opening with his Dutch opponent really dialled in on serve.

It was an important win for Evans, who has suffered a number of narrow losses in Davis Cup, and he said: Its an amazing atmosphere, I love playing in Britain, especially here in Glasgow. It was an amazing match. Im just pumped to get through for everybody else.

He served incredibly well. Its sometimes frustrating. I thought I did well keeping calm and getting through.

The start to the tie was again a sombre affair, with a minutes silence before the national anthems and a lone piper providing the only background music.

According to the Daviscup.com report: For long periods in the opener Evans was hanging in rallies as Griekspoors greater power allowed him to dictate. But having escaped a lengthy game seven without bring broken, the Briton promptly broke in the next game to lead 5-4 and, spurred on by a comment from the Dutch fans, served out a well-managed opener.

Evans was warming to the task now, but it was clear he knew the stakes  the 32-year-old was left hopping in frustration when a net cord from the Dutchman dribbled over when a break point looked on the cards.

Griekspoor remained a threat  the slow conditions allowed him to follow the ball into the net time and again, and he showed fine touch around the net  but a fizzing cross-court pass from Evans saw him down 0-40 at 3-3, the crucial break coughed up at the third attempt as the Briton arrowed a backhand winner down the line.

Story continues

All the British team spoke on Wednesday about how different they had found it from a normal Davis Cup atmosphere despite the efforts of the enthusiastic crowd, who again gave noisy backing.

Evans is ranked 23 places above Griekspoor but the Dutchman has climbed into the the top 50 this season on the back of a remarkable unbeaten run of 28 matches at the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022.

Griekspoor used his extra power, particularly on the forehand, to press Evans in a long eighth game but the British number two held firm and then took his opportunity in the next game.

He managed to keep Griekspoor at arms length, saving the only break point he faced in the second game of the second set, before breaking again in the seventh game and taking his third match point.

READ MORE: Neal Skupski added to Davis Cup Team

The article Dan Evans gives Great Britain perfect start in crunch Netherlands clash appeared first on Tennis365.com.
Photograph: Realimage/Alamy

Drinking plenty of tea  at least four cups a day  can help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, research has found.

Chinese academics behind the findings say that four or more cups of tea daily can lower the risk by 17% over 10 years. Our results are exciting because they suggest that people can do something as simple as drinking four cups of tea a day to potentially lessen their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, said Xiaying Li from the Wuhan University of Science and Technology in China, the lead author.

The protective effect may be even greater if people put milk in their tea, Li said. Although she and her seven co-authors did not investigate the effect of milk in tea as part of their work, previous studies have shown that dairy products can also have an anti-diabetic effect.

I think the milk would make the effect of tea on diabetes stronger. That is, tea would be more effective with milk in, Li said.

She will present the findings on Sunday at the European Association for the Study of Diabetess annual meeting, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Related: How to cure type 2 diabetes  without medication

The researchers undertook a meta-analysis of 19 previous studies into tea drinking and diabetes which involved almost 1.1 million adults in eight countries in America, Asia or Europe, including one conducted in the UK. They found a significant linear association between drinking black, green or Oolong tea  a traditional Chinese tea  and a reduced risk of becoming diabetic.

Compared to non-tea drinkers, people who drank one, two or three cups a day had a 4% reduced risk but those who consumed four or more cups daily were at 17% less risk. The effect was consistent across both sexes.

Asked why tea might protect against diabetes, Li said: It is possible that particular components in tea, such as polyphenols, may reduce blood glucose levels, but a sufficient amount of these bioactive compounds may be needed to be effective.

About 4 million Britons have been diagnosed with diabetes. Of those, about 90% have type 2, which is associated with unhealthy lifestyles, especially being overweight. The others have type 1, an autoimmune condition that is not associated with lifestyle and is usually diagnosed in childhood. Although the findings have not appeared in a medical journal they were peer reviewed by the Stockholm conference organisers.

Li said that while the findings are observational and do not prove that tea drinking causes the lower risk of type 2 diabetes, they believe it is likely to contribute.
FILE PHOTO: The EDF logo at the company's headquarters in Paris

PARIS (Reuters) - France on Saturday denied reports that state-controlled utility EDF had warned Italy it may halt its power exports to the country and reaffirmed its commitment to "solidarity" with its neighbors as Europe grapples with an energy crisis.

Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported earlier on Saturday that Italy had received written notification from EDF regarding a potential two-year halt on power exports as part of France's energy-saving plans.

A spokesperson for Italy's ministry of ecological transition later confirmed the newspaper report.

"French authorities deny this information and reaffirm their commitment to reciprocal electricity and gas solidarity with all of our European neighbors," the French Ministry of Energy Transition said in a statement.

An EDF spokesman also denied that the group had warned Italy of a possible suspension of its power exports to the country.

Asked about la Repubblica report, a spokesperson for the Italian Ecological Transition Ministry confirmed a communication to the ministry, adding that "the problem has been known for months due to France's problems with its nuclear power plants".

"Obviously it is not certain that this will happen, but to be prepared, the ministry technicians have been working for months on different scenarios," the spokesperson told Reuters.

France has for years helped to underpin Europe's electricity supply, providing about 15% of its total power generation.

France accounted for about 5% of Italy's annual electricity consumption in 2019, according to Eurostat data.

But this year France has become a net power importer as its own production of nuclear energy hit a 30-year low due to a wave of repairs at the country's nuclear plants.

European countries are in the grip of an energy crisis triggered by a plummet in Russian natural gas supplies in the wake of the Ukraine conflict.

In an effort to increase gas savings, Italy's government said it would aim to reduce heating by 1 degree Celsius in public and private residential buildings in the second half of 2022, while cutting heating duration by one hour a day.

(Reporting by Benjamin Mallet in Paris and Giselda Vagnoni in Milan; Writing by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Helen Popper)
ruth bader ginsburg

Getty Images Ruth Bader Ginsburg

A few lucky bidders now own recent pieces of U.S. history.

Several items owned by the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg were sold Friday at auction for a total of nearly $517,000. Among those items was RBG's iconic judicial collar, made of glass beads, which fetched a sum of $176,775, per the Associated Press.

But the neck wear was just the highest price point among the items sold at the Bonhams-conducted auction, which also included a $20,400 gavel, a $10,837.50 pair of opera glasses, a $12,750 shaw, a $16,575 pair of black gloves and a $12,750 pair of cream gloves.

RELATED: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Art, Mink Coat, Ashtrays and Other Personal Items Up for Auction

Some of Ginsberg's other collars now belong to the Smithsonian after her family donated them, the AP reports. The gold collar was the first time one has been sold at auction, and it was previously expected to sell for a house estimate of $5,000.

All proceeds from the sale will fund a new endowment for SOS Children's Villages, which is the world's largest organization dedicated to children who are without or at risk of losing parental care.

The auction also featured a 1994 issue of PEOPLE Magazine with Julia Roberts on the cover that included the news story of RGB's court appointment. The justice held onto it in her chambers with a blue sticker marking the page of her interview, per the auction website. It sold for $510.

RELATED: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Tombstone Revealed One Year After Her Death

"RBG meant so much to so many people," said daughter-in-law Patrice Michaels, who is part of the organization's advisory board, in a video shared by SOS Children's Villages. "But I think my favorite part of all of this is how much her endowment for SOS Children's Villages is going to mean for people who never even met her or knew who she was."

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Outside of her items finding several new homes, Ginsburg  who died in September 2020  is also being honored with a Navy vessel taking her name. It will be known as The U.S.N.S. Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO 212), the Navy announced in April.

The ship will be part of a class of replenishment oiler ships that will carry fuel to the Navy's operating carrier strike groups, and will also be honoring the late Rep. John Lewis.

"As Secretary of the Navy, it is my aim to ensure equality and eliminate gender discrimination across the Department of the Navy," Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said. "She [Ginsburg] is instrumental to why we now have women of all backgrounds, experiences and talents serving within our ranks, side by side with their male Sailor and Marine counterparts."
The Prince and Princess of Wales at the Army Training Centre Pirbright (Peter Byrne/PA) (PA Wire)

The Prince of Wales has said the Queen will be looking down on her funeral service.

William and his wife Kate, the Princess of Wales, visited Army Training Centre Pirbright in Surrey on Friday afternoon where they spoke with Commonwealth troops participating in the procession on Monday.

Speaking to military personnel from Australia, Canada and New Zealand, who have been rehearsing this week, the pair also told of how strange it has been going from the Queens Platinum Jubilee to her funeral in a matter of months.

William, talking with troops from Australia, was heard saying the difference between the celebrations in June and the funeral preparations shows the highs and lows of it all.

Meanwhile, Kate, who was speaking with Canadian military personnel, said: Going from that (the Jubilee) to this in a few months is very strange.

She was also heard discussing lack of sleep with the troops.

William was heard speaking with troops from the New Zealand Defence Force about how the Queen would be keeping an eye on Mondays proceedings.

Greg Gifford, 31, told the PA News agency: One of the key things I took away from what he said was how the Queen will definitely be looking down on the whole funeral service.

He said she would be interested in the detail of the soldiers, how the drill is carried out, its precision, our dress, things like that.

The couple also watched a traditional haka performed by 25 troops from the New Zealand Defence Force.

There were 64 members of the Canadian Armed Forces and 28 members of the Australian Defence Force at the centre.

The troops are in the UK because they are involved in the procession during Mondays service, alongside British soldiers.

They are being accommodated at Pirbright until the funeral and are rehearsing their roles in the ceremony, with practice marches occurring across the site.

Corporal Kyle Kajari, of the Canadian Ceremonial Contingent, took part in the recent Jubilee and spoke with William about the Queen.

Story continues

He said: This week weve been practicing parades, drills, all that jazz to make sure we are ready for the funeral this Monday.

I feel very honoured and very privileged to represent my unit in the procession.

Cpl Kajari went on: (William) was asking how we felt about Monday coming up, my response to him was sorry for your loss.

He talked about how hes mourned and how many people feel like theyve lost a grandmother and how important she was to the country and the Commonwealth.
Liz Truss is set to meet three more world leaders, including her Irish counterpart, as hundreds of dignitaries from across the globe descend on London to pay their respects to the Queen.

The talks may be casual, portrayed by No 10 as chats rather than formal bilateral sessions, but the Prime Ministers meeting with Taoiseach Micheal Martin comes against a backdrop of political tensions over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

She had been due to meet US president Joe Biden, a milestone of her early premiership, but the talks were cancelled on Saturday, with a full bilateral meeting scheduled instead for Wednesday, when they are set to be in New York for the UN General Assembly.

In addition to Mr Martin, Ms Truss will meet Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and Polish president Andrzej Duda in Downing Street on Sunday.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau signs the book of condolence at Lancaster House (David Parry Media Assignments/PA)

The weekends talks with world leaders are being framed by No 10 as chats to offer condolences over the Queens death, during which politics is likely to come up.

Mr Martin has met Ms Truss in person briefly since she became Prime Minister earlier this month.

They were seated next to one another during a memorial service for the Queen at St Annes Cathedral in Belfast on Tuesday.

The meeting with Mr Martin comes as Britain is expected to push ahead with legislation to give ministers the power to scrap parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which was jointly agreed by the UK and EU in order to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.

Both the EU and Ireland claim Britains move to unilaterally revise the post-Brexit treaty would breach international law.

Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin (Liam McBurney/PA)

The issue is expected to ramp up ahead of a deadline at the end of October to form a new Northern Ireland Executive, which the DUP has so far blocked in protest over the protocol.

The PM kicked off her meetings with world leaders on Saturday, speaking to her counterparts from New Zealand and Australia.

The talks were held at the Governments Chevening country residence, rather than Chequers, which is said to be undergoing routine maintenance work after Boris Johnsons exit.

Story continues

Ms Truss will also have an audience with the King at Buckingham Palace on Sunday, before attending his reception for visiting heads of state.

At 8pm, she will observe a minutes silence with the country to mourn the Queens death and reflect on her life and legacy.

People have been invited to mark the occasion privately at home, on their doorstep or street, or at community events and vigils.
The leaders of Turkey and India both called on Putin to end the war in Ukraine at an international summit on Friday, with the Russian President vowing to end the conflict "as soon as possible."

During a two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit with eastern allies in Uzbekistan, Vladimir Putin promised his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi that he would do everything he can to end Moscow's assault on Ukraine.

I know [where] you stand on the conflict in Ukraine and the concerns that you have repeatedly voiced, he told Modi. We will do all we can to end that as quickly as possible."

"Regrettably, the other side, the leadership of Ukraine, has rejected the negotiations process and stated that it wants to achieve its goals by military means on the battlefield, he added.

Ukraine, for its part, has blamed Russia for the current failure to bring a non-violent end to the war.

After seven months of war, Putin is seeking new trade agreements following a raft of Western sanctions that have hit Russia's economy hard. However, Russia's premier is facing a difficult political situation, with his partners expressing their concerns about the ongoing conflict.

"Our age is not that of war," said Indian Prime Minister Modi. "And we have spoken many times on the phone that democracy, diplomacy and dialogue, all of these things are likely to have an impact on the world."

However, Putin also spoke to reporters Friday after attending the summit and said the liberation of Ukraine's entire eastern Donbas region remained his country's main military goal and that he sees no need to revise it.

We arent in a rush, he said, adding that Moscow has only deployed volunteer soldiers to fight in Ukraine.

Some hardline politicians and military bloggers in Russia have urged the Kremlin to follow Ukraine's example and order a broad mobilisation to beef up the ranks, lamenting the country's manpower shortage.

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Putin also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday to discuss bolstering economic cooperation and regional issues, including a July deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations on Ukrainian grain shipments.

Erdogan called for an end to the war in Ukraine "as soon as possible through diplomatic channels."

During a meeting with China's leader Xi Jinping on Thursday, Putin thanked his Chinese counterpart for his balanced position on Moscows invasion of Ukraine, while promising him explanations in the face of his concerns -- without specifying what exactly they were.

This was Xis first trip abroad since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is aimed to help strengthen his stature as a major leader ahead of a Chinese Communist Party congress in October, during which he will seek a new term.
1. Thursday

"The second line is really faint," I said. "Maybe I'm imagining it."

"I can see it," said one friend to whom I texted the image.

"It's like a pregnancy test," said another. "You can't be 'a little bit' Covid-positive."

"Take another home test," they suggested. I took another one, a different brand. This one too had the faintest of faint positive lines, if I squinted at it just right.

My kid had been diagnosed with Covid a few days prior. His symptoms were dramatic and immediate. I wore my best KN95 masks indoors, turned the air filter up to high, opened windows... but I knew there was a risk I might come down with it too. I went to the testing center and they swabbed my nose. When the call came, I was already resigned to what I didn't want to be true.

2. Friday

If one is a congregational rabbi, ten days before Rosh Hashanah is not a great time to come down with Covid. (No time is ideal, but this might be the worst time of year to be sick in this line of work.) A flurry of emails set Plan B and Plan C into motion in case they are needed. Plan A is still that I will co-lead services... and I have no way of knowing whether I'll be up to doing so.

"It's Schrodinger's Rosh Hashanah," I quipped to a friend. Either I'll be up to it, or I won't. Either I'll be recovered, or I won't. Maybe I'll be onsite for Rosh Hashanah, recovered. Maybe I'll be online, still symptomatic. Maybe I'll be in bed. There's no way to know. Dear God: I know that Mystery is a truth of the universe, but did You have to bring that home to me so palpably right now?

Because of my history of strokes and heart attack, my doctor got me in for an infusion of monoclonal antibodies. The infusion center reminded me of my mother. (Back in the early days of her mycobacterial lung infection, they tried treating it with infusions, and I went with her a few times.) A room full of recliner chairs. A television -- on, inevitably. At least it was playing food tv.

To my surprise, there was no IV. Instead a nurse pushed one syringe of the stuff into an IV port on my hand and flushed it with saline. Then they observed me for an hour, taking my vitals every fifteen minutes. I read more of Michael Twitty's new book Koshersoul, which is tremendous, as I expected it to be. Then they sent me home with instructions to rest and hydrate.

3. Saturday

So far my experience of Covid is like a really nasty flu. Unpleasant, but not unlike illnesses I've had before. I know what fever and chills are, and body aches. I know how to get electrolytes into me, and microwave soup, and wrap up in a blanket. To nap when my body asks for sleep. To watch comforting, familiar television that isn't taxing to my tired brain. We all know this drill.

The difference with this one is that sometimes it lingers. And we won't know whether that's my path until it either is, or isn't. Multiple studies have shown that women are more likely than men to develop Long Covid. Some say that resting a lot, during the initial illness phase, helps to forestall it. Clearly rest is important once one has it, if one gets it. I don't want to get it.

I learned this summer that heart attacks often manifest differently in women than in men. Women are 5x more likely than men to have MINOCA, but some (male) doctors have been dismissive of my experience. How many (male) doctors dismiss Long Covid, too, because it impacts women more than it does men? I could rant about medical sexism, if I had the energy. (I don't.)

And, most likely I will be fine. It's a good opportunity to meditate on fragility and mortality. It's also no fun. I'm deeply grateful for vaccines, and boosters, and monoclonal antibodies: none of these was available when the pandemic started. And... I know that not everyone can get the antibodies. Not everyone can take days off from work to rest and heal. I know how lucky I am.
Originally from the mountainous provinces of Cao Bang and Lang Son in northeast Vietnam, the specialty has been brought to Hanoi and becomes a change of pace for the morning.

Instead of being made of beef or chicken like the usual Pho (Vietnamese traditional noodle soup with beef or chicken), the Pho vit uses fragrant roasted duck pieces with glossy red skin.

Meticulous cooking method

Originating from the mountainous provinces, Pho vit has gradually won the heart of Hanoian. Photo: Jenna Duong/Hanoi Times

Similar to Hanois specialty of Pho bo- noodle soup with beef or Pho ga- noodle soup with chicken, Pho vit uses large and flat rice noodles, accompanied by attractively presented small roast duck pieces with glossy brown skin, and embellished with thin duck sausage slices.

According to Phi Linh, a chef of Pho Vit Lang Son in Tran Duy Hung Street, removing the characteristic odor of this bird is the most important step when cooking Pho vit.

After being cleaned, the duck is washed with alcohol to remove odors. The skin is smeared with a golden sauce from honey or malt mixed with soy sauce, he told The Hanoi Times.

The duck belly is filled with stuffing, sewn up and marinated for a few hours to absorb spices before being roasted. The finished product has a mouth-watering brown color, he added.

Secret ingredients

In order to add more flavor to the dish, the broth of Pho vit is the stock from boiling duck and stewing pork bones with onions, ginger, and other secret ingredients.

Unlike Hanoi beef noodle soup, which is loved by many thanks to its clear broth, Lang Son duck noodle soup is darker and oil-shiny. Still, this dish does not cloy diners appetite but brings a completely new flavor, combining fragrant mac mat or Clausena Indica leaves and greasy roast duck.

Pig bones are stewed for hours on low heat, resulting in a broth that has a natural sweetness and fragrant flavor while the broth still remains clear. Theres no need to add monosodium glutamate or other additives to the broth to enhance the taste, Linh said.

The Pho vit can be served in either sweet-and-sour cucumber salad or pickled bamboo shoot with mac mat fruit. Photo: Jenna Duong/Hanoi Times

Before being served to diners, each bowl of Pho vit is added with a spoonful of dark water taken from a separate bowl. This water is decanted from the belly of each roasted duck, having absorbed spices stuffed inside such as mac mat leaves, onions, lemongrass, garlic and soy sauce. Many diners feel that Pho vit bowls are flavorful thanks to the addition of this special spice.

The final step is sprinkling some green scallions and beansprouts on top to add a strange flavor to the dish. Diners can enjoy Pho vit with lemon, bamboo shoots soaked in chili vinegar as well as raw vegetables.

Win the heart of the gourmet world

For many Hanoians, having a piping hot bowl of Pho vit, which is served with scallions and beansprouts is the best way to start a new working day. However, many people choose the dish as a special treat for the weekend.

If traditional Pho bo can be found everywhere in Hanoi, duck noodle soup is quite difficult to find. Chef Phi Linh in Tran Duy Hung Streets Pho vit store believed that there are less than 30 restaurants serving the specialty in town.

Another popular Pho vit restaurant in the capital is a small one at No 193 Trung Kinh Street, Cau Giay District. The owner is a native of Cao Bang. The restaurant is simple without even a signboard, but still always crowded with diners from very early morning until 10-11am.

Tuoc Dao, a regular customer of the restaurant, shared that he comes here every weekend. This dish tastes really different. The crispy roast duck is soaked in a rich broth, creating a very delicious flavor. There is also duck sausage here, which will make you addicted after one try, he told The Hanoi Times.

The special food is prepared with exotic ingredients and spiced up with a dedicated balance of herbs, spices, and salts. Photo: Jenna Duong/Hanoi Times

The price of Pho vit starts at VND35,000 or US$1.5 and VND50,000 or $2.14 per bowl for children and adults respectively. In addition to the main dish, the restaurant also offers pork legs and free green tea so that diners wont get fed up.

For another option of the specialty of Cao Bang province at the restaurant, the diner can either try the mixed sweet-and-sour Pho vit or Banh cuon Cao Bang - Cao Bangs steaming rice pancake.

The mixed sweet-and-sour Pho vit is prepared with similar ingredients to normal Pho vit, but added with some fried onion and sweet-and-sour fish sauce. Meanwhile, the broth is served as an additional dish.

Meanwhile, Banh cuon Cao Bang is different from normal Hanois Banh cuon. Instead of sweet-and-sour fish sauce, the steamed rice crepes from Cao Bang Province are served with broth made of pigs bones accompanied by minced pork paste, steamed egg and spicy salted bamboo shoots.

Similar to Pho vit, the price of Banh cuon Cao Bang is at $2.14 per portion at the restaurant.

Another specialty from the mountainous province of Cao Bang has become a familiar breakfast for Hanoi people. Photo: Kieu Giang/Hanoi Times

Apart from these dishes, dinners who enjoy their breakfast at the eatery also have a chance to try some other Cao Bang provinces specialties such as Banh gai or black glutinous rice cake, chestnut as well as buy some vermicelli and dried bamboo shoots.

Source: Hanoi Times
HA NOI  Dozens of top graduates and excellent students have been awarded scholarships by the Germany-based ao Minh Quang Foundation.

The outstanding students were honoured at an awarding ceremony held by the Viet Nam National Academy of Music (VNAM) in Ha Noi, on Wednesday.

ao Minh Quang Foundation granted awards to nine graduates from the different departments of the VNAM including violin, piano, and bamboo flute.

Forty students also received scholarships from the foundation.

The foundation was established in Germany in 2016 to develop co-operation between Viet Nam and Germany especially in the fields of education and training, sustainable agricultural development, music and culture.

"Awards and scholarships from the foundation are meaningful to the VNAM's students," said Le Anh Tuan, the VNAM's director at the ceremony. "This will encourage students to gain achievement in their study. The foundation has also made a contribution to boosting the relationship between Viet Nam and Germany."

This year, the departments' top graduates and 40 students received VN5 million (over US$200) whilst the academy's top graduate was granted VN10 million.

"I'm moved and honoured to be one of the outstanding students to receive a ao Minh Quang Scholarship," said Vuong Tuan Anh, a bamboo flute student from the Traditional Music Department. "This is the second time I have received the scholarship and I will make great effort to gain high achievement with my studies."

At the ceremony, talented students and pupils from the University of Social, Scienties and Humanities and Trung Vuong Secondary in Phu Tho Province also received awards and scholarships from the foundation.

Since its establishment, the foundation has granted billions of ong to students and teachers to foster a spirit of study, overcoming difficulties and rising in learning and life.

The incentives are implemented through financial aid in the form of partial scholarships for a certain period of time to students and graduates along with Viet Nam-Germany concerts and cultural exchange projects between the two countries.

It also promotes scientific exchanges between Viet Nam and Germany by providing financial support for research activities in Germany.

"I love music and culture," said ao Minh Quang, who is living in Germany. "Music brings joy and strength to me helping me to overcome difficulties in life. I want to contribute to encourage cultural and musical exchange between Vietnamese and Germans." - VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Prime Minister Vu uc am on Friday asked ministries and agencies to closely cooperate with Ha Noi Peoples Committee to address problems faced by public administrative service users.

Once the problems were solved, people could save time and costs when they applied for public administrative services while State employees could have more time and opportunities to understand people, am said.

am who is also deputy chairman of the National Steering Committee on Digital Transformation met with the citys authorities on Friday to examine the implementation of the population database, e-identification, and e-authentication for the national digital transformation project.

am said that thanks to favourable conditions, Ha Noi was chosen as a model to implement the project launched early this year.

The city needs to make efforts and complete the projects targets, am said, adding that departments and agencies in the city must coordinate closely with each other to overcome difficulties during the project implementation.

Deputy Chairman of Ha Noi Peoples Committee Le Hong Son said that the city issued implementation plans with specific goals and solutions.

Son said that citizens could use 21 out of 25 essential public services integrated on the National Public Service Portal, the City Public Service Portal and public services portals of ministries and agencies.

The city has restructured the electronic process and completed the integration of three online public services on the City Public Service Portal including the registration of birth, marriage, and death.

The city also used data from the National Database on population to handle administrative procedures for citizens.

The citys departments and agencies prepared conditions for technical infrastructure, information technology and software, and restructuring to receive and handle essential public services on the Public Service Portals according to the roadmap of Project 06.

The city has updated nearly 13.6 million records on COVID-19 vaccinations.

Approximately 4.4 million health insurance card holders in the city had their information updated on the national database, so they can use citizen identification for medical examination and treatment.

As many as 503 medical examination and treatment facilities can use citizen identity cards to search for medical examination and treatment history.

As a result, citizens have used their citizen IDs for medical examination and treatment at medical facilities a total of 56,710 times.

As of August 15, the city has updated information on 473,000 workers and employers facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 441,000 of them received support worth a total VN392.4 billion.

Son also pointed out difficulties during implementing the project including peoples limitations in using and applying information technology, connection issues among databases and data systems or slow equipment procurement.

As per Project 06, this year, the old and new versions of citizen IDs will be integrated, enabling the e-identification of all citizens.

The connection and sharing of data between the national population and tax databases has been completed in the first quarter of 2022, while personal papers, including health insurance cards, driving licences, job licences, and vaccination certificates, will be integrated into the citizen IDs and the e-identification app VNEID. In 2022, e-authentication will be used for all information provided on the citizen IDs and VNEID.

In the 2023-25 period, e-identification and e-authentication are expected to be applied to all people conducting administrative procedures at one-stop-shop offices at all levels.

Meanwhile, in 2022-2023, the e-identification and e-authentication system will be upgraded, completed and applied in e-transactions serving socio-economic development.  VNS
Waco Mayor Dillon Meek and McLennan County Judge Scott Felton found themselves on the same cheerleading team Thursday, discussing good things going on locally. They said economic development is booming, with companies the past 21 months announcing they will invest $657 million on new projects totaling 1.75 million square feet and creating 1,400 new jobs.

But with interest from new businesses intensifying, the city and county must keep the workforce trained and able to fill positions when they are created. The community leaders agreed funding a multimillion-dollar industrial training center on land owned by the Waco Industrial Foundation would help. Texas State Technical College in Waco is leading efforts to get it built and would own and operate it.

Private businesses would play a crucial role in its success. Felton said efforts are underway to secure donations of equipment and training curriculum.

Felton and Meek spoke to about 200 people attending the State of the City & County Luncheon held at The Baylor Club in McLane Stadium. They said the Waco City Council and McLennan County Commissioners Court each lowered the tax rate for the new budget year that begins Oct. 1. The county adopted its no-new-revenue rate, while the citys rate is almost 12% higher than its no-new-revenue rate.

Felton said the county budget includes a 9% cost-of-living pay increase for county employees, while Wacos features a 6% average salary boost.

The county will spend about $39 million to create a judicial center in the old jail next to McLennan County Courthouse downtown. Financing will come from the nearly $50 million it received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, as well as from existing bonded indebtedness. The county also has allocated American Rescue Plan money to nonprofits such as Meals on Wheels and Friends for Life, to local volunteer departments and to water-related infrastructure projects.

The county is advertising for a construction manager-at-risk to oversee the county jail conversion that creates space for courtrooms, jury rooms, the district attorneys office, the district clerks office and justices of the peace. The project also includes renovations of 9,700 square feet of the Courthouse Annexs third floor.

Meek said the city allocated $85,000 for a program aimed at getting feedback from builders, contractors and developers on the citys permitting process.

We want to make it as simple and efficient as possible, Meek said.

He said Waco is enjoying outstanding job creation, but workforce development, financial security for residents and affordable housing remain issues to be addressed and championed in coming years.

Meek said quality of life projects include plans for a performing arts center somewhere downtown, possibly at Franklin Avenue and University Parks Drive; a new Eastern Little League ballpark; and continued efforts to revitalize Lions Park, a community asset that fell into disrepair and has been leveled to make room for a new attraction still in the planning stage.

Another project would convert the Bledsoe-Miller Community Center at 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to the Bledsoe-Miller STEM & Arts Cultural Center, with STEM short for science, technology, engineering and math.

The city has begun advertising for professional design services related to the Bledsoe-Miller project, according to the local office of the Associated General Contractors of America.
Jesus Rodriguez spent the days before Mexican Independence Day perfecting his chiles en nogada game.

The co-owner of the new Bombones Mexican Cuisine restaurant in downtown Waco roasted giant poblano peppers and stuffed them with a mixture of ground meat, fruits and spices.

He peeled and ground walnuts and mixed them with goat cheese and sherry for a white sauce he poured over the chiles. Then he garnished the whole thing with ruby-colored pomegranate pieces and green parsley. The result: the red, white and green of the Mexican flag, waiting to be savored.

That process is based on a 200-year-old recipe for chiles en nogada, the national dish of Mexico, which is as daunting to make as it is delicious to consume. Rodriguez made the recipe 10 times before rolling it out Friday, known in his native Mexico as Dia de la Independencia. He and co-owner Selina Perez will offer the dish through Saturday at the restaurant at 12th Street and Washington Avenue, where they specialize in authentic regional Mexican cuisine.

Rodriguez said he wanted to get the dish right before introducing the piece of Mexican heritage to Waco.

More important, he wanted to do his mama proud.

His mother, Juana Rodriguez, started Mexican food restaurants in Mt. Calm and Elm Mott, and she would make chiles en nogada at home every September.

It was a special occasion. We knew we were going to eat good, he said. No matter how hard I tried to replicate that, Ill never be able to get that flavor profile. Shell write down recipes, but Ill never be able to get her flavor.

Bombones, which opened in August in the renovated former Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home building, aims to expand Waco diners horizons beyond Tex-Mex into the diversity of Mexican cuisine, the owners said.

We wanted to give Waco a cultural connection as far as our Mexican culture, said Perez, who oversees front-of-house operations. Theres a variety on our menu, from Oaxaca, from Puebla. We want to keep it as close to the culture as we can and make sure it comes out warm and fresh. We love it when someone says, Its like being at my grandmas house.

Perez is a Hillsboro native whose family is from the Central Mexican state of San Luis Potosi. She and Rodriguez worked together in food service management years ago and decided to partner in their own venture, she said.

Rodriguez was born in the state of Mexico near Mexico City. He moved to Central Texas at age 4 with his family, attending school in Crawford and West while learning from his mother in the kitchen.

My mom is the one who inspired all the cooking, he said. I came from a family of six. Her being able to cook with so little resources, to cook for a big family with very simple ingredients, thats the thing that stuck with me.

Rodriguez honed his cooking skills at restaurants such as Moroso Wood-Fired Pizzeria and learned the financial and management side of the business at chain restaurants before plunging into restaurant ownership.

In a town full of Tex-Mex and taco stands, Bombones aims to stand out as a sit-down restaurant with homemade tortillas and hard-to-find specialties prepared to order. Those include tortas ahogadas, which is a juicy carnitas in a roll; or huaraches, a long piece of blue-corn flatbread topped with beans, meat, queso fresco and Mexican cream.

The dinner menu includes ribs in a chile verde sauce and Veracruz-style fish with capers and olives. Specials have included chipotle meatballs and chicken in green mole with pumpkin seeds. Future specials will include cochinita pibil, an orange-flavored pork dish from the Yucatan, as well as aguachile de sirloin, a steak chopped and marinated with lime, onions and peppers.

Rodriguez said he believes he is the first Waco restaurant to offer chiles en nogadas, a storied dish that supposedly originated in the city of Puebla between Mexico City and Veracruz.

Legend has it than a convent of nuns in Puebla prepared it on Aug. 28, 1821, in a feast for Mexicos first emperor, Gen. Agustin de Iturbide, though some historians say the concept dates back much earlier, according to a Sept. 7 Washington Post article.

Rodriguezs version uses roasted peppers instead of battered ones and is stuffed with a picadillo of ground beef, apple, peach, potato, carrot, garlic, onion and cumin.

The flavors are very strong, he said. They stay on your palate for a while. A lot of people come in and say, this is Mexican food.
Lots of household problems and accidents happen due to plain old goof-ups.

Heres a rundown of the most common issues or maintenance you might easily miss and a few annoyances you can take care of quickly.

Follow these tips so youre not the goof.

Fixing a clogged garbage disposal

Heres one goof you can prevent by making sure it never happens. Most garbage disposal clogs are caused by fibrous foods, grease and fat, eggshells, too much pasta, or nonfood items like tabs and rubber bands.

Clearing out a clogged disposal unit is best left to a pro plumber, but you can approach it as a DIY job if you take careful precautions:

 Turn off the power to the unit. Unplug it if possible.

 Never, ever place your hand into the grinding chamber, even if the power is off.

 Use a flashlight to look inside the disposal for visible blockage. Use tongs or a similar tool to remove any blockage.

 If you cant see anything inside, look underneath your sink. In the center on the bottom of the disposal, insert a quarter-inch hex wrench into the hole. Work it back and forth until you can turn it in a full circle. Look inside and remove any object with tongs.

 If a hole is not present at the bottom of the disposal, use the tongs or a broom handle in the sink hole to work the blades back and forth. Check again for obstructions.

 Check for the reset button on the bottom of the disposal. When you find it, push the button to reset the garbage disposal.

If these steps dont help, call an appliance repair pro for assistance.

Noisy cabinets and doors

This is less of a goof than a hassle, but youll undoubtedly appreciate getting rid of it. Newer soft-close hinges and drawers have been offered in recent kitchen cabinets, but homes before the 2000s wont have them. But if youre tired of the constant noise when kids are ransacking the cabinets looking for snacks, you can address the problem without breaking the bank and overhauling your whole kitchen.

Cabinet noises happen because theres nothing but a wood door or drawer hitting the face frame of the cabinet. Many cabinets have rubber bumpers on their edges, but these wear off over time.

The easiest solution is to purchase self-adhesive bumpers and apply them to each corner, minimizing clanking.

You can also add soft-close dampers to the hinges and frames. This requires a little more cost and effort with a screwdriver.

The most complex approach is to install soft-close hinges and drawer glides, which make them perfectly smooth and silent. This approach requires the most money and effort, but its well worth it.

Childproofing

You can hire a childproofing pro to entirely go over your home at an average of $400. But you can also take steps to make your home as safe as possible.

You already know to set up baby gates and place childproof plugs in electrical outlets and latches on drawers and cabinets to keep out little fingers. But dont overlook choking hazards, either. Keep children away from drawstrings on window shades  or upgrade to string-free shades. Use toilet locks, pool fencing and other water-hazard protections to protect against drowning.

Heavy appliances and furnishings are among the most dangerous factors for small children. Use metal brackets, anchors or specialty straps to secure furniture to the wall. This particularly applies to bookcases  a significant tipping hazard for kids prone to climbing.

Get scratches out of hardwood floors

Here's a fix for a goof thats already happened. Scratches can seriously tarnish the beauty of your hardwood floors and furniture, but there is a way to disguise them  with a walnut.

Simply crack the meat of a walnut in half and run it over the scratch from several angles. Rub it with your finger, then wipe away the excess. The walnut oil will work into the damage and restore the color.

Its not a flawless fix, but its a budget-friendly, easy and effective way to restore wood floors.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man who disappeared from a residential center while serving time for federal gun charges has been sent back to prison.

During a hearing Friday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids, Judge Linda Reade imposed a one-and-a-half year prison sentence for Steven Joseph Peterson as she revoked his supervised release.

Peterson, 42, was originally sentenced to prison for carrying a firearm in 2015 despite a prior manslaughter conviction. After he was released from prison, he was sent to the Waterloo Residential Facility.

In April 2020, he checked out of the facility to begin a new job in Cedar Falls. But he never arrived at the job, and he never returned to the facility.

While he was on the run, he allegedly passed stolen checks at Waterloo businesses, according to court records.

Waterloo police caught up to him in June 2021, and he was held on parole violations and new fraud charges for the stolen checks.

Petersons first major run-in with authorities came in 1997 when he was accused of stabbing 83-year-old Howard Smith to death. He was ultimately convicted of manslaughter in the slaying.
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP)  Stillman College's first female president, Cynthia Warrick, has announced plans to retire after leading the Tuscaloosa, Alabama-based historically Black college for five years.

Stillmans Board of Trustees has launched a national search for Warricks replacement. The college plans to find her successor by the June 30, 2023, end of Warricks contract.

Warrick, 68, said she is choosing to retire because she wants to relax and spend more time with family, especially her grandchildren. She plans to return to her hometown of San Antonio.

Warrick was named Stillman's seventh president in April 2017. She was originally appointed as an interim president but said the role began to feel like a mission she was called to fulfill, The Tuscaloosa News reported.

I ... didnt expect to be here this long," Warrick said during a news conference to announce her plans. But you know, the job called me, God called me and we were able to accomplish miracles. Believe me, we were able to accomplish a lot in a short period of time ... Im ready to pass the torch on to the next person to take up the race.

When she arrived, Stillman was at a critical point financially and academically, Warrick said.

I was tasked with a real challenge, and my husbands a finance guy and he said, Youll be home in three months. It was just that bad, Warrick said. But I figured God didnt send me here to close the college down. And we were going to do what we had to do, to make sure that the college was going to be strong again and flourish. And now, after five and a half years, were there.

According to a news release, Warrick is leaving Stillman debt-free after $40 million in debt has been either paid off or forgiven.

The college has gone through some very rocky times and she has been the anchor that has kept us on track. She has raised the brand of the institution and enhanced the colleges reputation, said Donald Comer, chair of the school's board.

The school was founded in 1876 and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA. Warrick, who previously served as interim president at South Carolina State University and Grambling State University, said she will continue to play a role at Stillman after her departure.

I will cherish the outpouring of support from the local community, the state and the alumni that has contributed to the success that we have achieved during my tenure, Warrick said. Stillman is now a place where a new president can build on the teaching, research and the community service that we established in the past five years.
Authorities responded to a call Friday morning of a body found in rural Worth County.

According to Worth County Sheriff Dan Fank, a resident called to report they had discovered a body in the Shell Rock River while on a regular morning walk near the intersection of 390th Street and Raven Avenue, southeast of Kensett.

Fank said the deceased is a woman and that a tattoo on her body was aiding in identifying her. He believed an identification would be forthcoming.

The area in which the woman was found was a shallow portion of the river with no trail access to the water. Fank said it was not yet determined how long the woman had been in the river, but he did not believe her body had traveled downstream.

Fank said the woman's body was being transported to the state medical examiners office for an autopsy, and the Department of Criminal Investigation was called to assist in the investigation.

The Department of Natural Resources could be seen kayaking the general area of the discovery, looking for additional evidence. A drone was also deployed by the sheriff's office to observe and take photos of the area.

Iowa State Patrol and Worth County Emergency Management also assisted at the scene.
What? Really? Who would have thought that the USA even could have helped?

Thus, US producers of shale gas and oil will not be able to increase the supply of energy resources to the European Union this winter, wrote the Financial Times. A shill publication for the USA government

The United States cannot produce more. There will be no help. Neither from gas producers, nor from oil producers, says Wil Van Lo, head of investment firm Quantum Energy Partners, according to the economic publication.

The article also expresses that USA shale companies have actually increased energy exports to Europe, but now these volumes have almost reached their peak and are nowhere even close to enough fuel to even make a difference

My question is, How could anyone even have thought that the USA could and would help Europe in energy?

Just a continuation of the self inflicted suicide by the EU, with its best buddy the USA, helping knot the noose

WtR
 Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine (September 17, 2022)

Part 1 (read Part 2)

 The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

 The enemy involved 2 companies supported by 9 tanks and 16 armoured combat vehicles from 28th Mechanised Brigade made an unsuccessful attempt to launch an offensive near Pravdino (Kherson region).

 Within several hours, Russian Armed Forces have eliminated over 120 Ukrainian servicemen, 7 tanks and 13 combat infantry vehicles.

 Russian Aerospace Forces, missile troops and artillery have launched massive fire attacks at the units and reserve forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

 High-precision attacks have resulted in causing casualties of over 140 Ukrainian servicemen, 5 tanks and 14 units of military equipment from 46th Airmobile Brigade near Bereznegovatoye and Velikoye Artakovo (Nikolayev region) and 24th Mechanised Brigade near Bezymennoye (Kherson region).

 High-precision attacks launched by Russian Aerospace Forces at the provisional bases of Kraken nationalist group, 92nd Mechanised and 81st Airmobile brigades near Dvurechnoye, Shevchenkovo and Kupyansk (Kharkov region) have resulted in the elimination of over 50 nationalists, as well as of more than 10 units of special military equipment and motor vehicles.

 Concentrated fire attacks launched at the combat positions of 58th and 93rd mechanised infantry brigades near Zaytsevo (Donetsk Peoples Republic) have resulted in the elimination of over 230 Ukrainian servicemen, 10 tanks and 23 armoured combat vehicles.

 Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have neutralised 5 AFU command posts near Piskunovka, Seversk, Novoukrainka and Artyomovsk (Donetsk Peoples Rrepublic), Kamyshevakha (Zaporozhye region), as well as 53 artillery units, 117 AFU manpower and military equipment concentration areas.

 4 missile, artillery armament and munitions depots have been destroyed near Zolochev (Kharkov region), Kirovo (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Omelnik and Veselyanka (Zaporozhye region).

 Air defence facilities have shot down 8 unmanned aerial vehicles near Pokrovskoye, Berestovoye, Kodema (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Verbovoye, Pologi (Zaporozhye region), Novovoskresenskoye, Chkalovo (Kherson region) and Komsomolskoye (Nikolayev region).

 Moreover, 25 projectiles launched by HIMARS and Olkha MRLS have been destroyed in air near Novaya Kakhovka and Kherson.

 In total, 293 airplanes and 155 helicopters, 1,973 unmanned aerial vehicles, 375 air defence missile systems, 4,998 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 837 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 3,393 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 5,640 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

#MoD #Russia #Ukraine #report

@mod_russia_en

 Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine (September 17, 2022)

Part 2 (read Part 1)

 Kiev regime has recommenced its provocations aimed at creating a possible technological disaster at Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.

 Over the past 24 hours, 2 artillery attacks launched at Volna suburban settlement and an electrical substation located near the power plant have been recorded.

 A total of 15 artillery projectiles have been launched from the area of Nikopol (Dnepropetrovsk region). The AFU artillery units have been neutralised by a counter-attack.

 The radiation environment at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant remains normal.

#MoD #Russia #Ukraine #report

@mod_russia_en

WtR
 Top News Today

 The bases of 28th AFU Mechanised Infantry Brigade, the headquarters and the training base of AFU South Special Operations Centre in Nikolayev region, the provisional bases of 66th AFU Mechanised Brigade and Kraken nationalist group in Kharkov region, as well as the positions of 80th AFU Airborne Assault Brigade in the Donetsk Peoples Republic have been destroyed by high-precision attacks.

 The attacks have resulted in causing casualties of over 400 Ukrainian servicemen, more than 20 units of armoured and motor vehicles. Over 3,000 munitions for rocket-propelled and gun artillery of various calibres have also been destroyed.

 Pacific Fleets nuclear missile submarines and Bastion coastal missile system crews practice launching Granit and Oniks cruise missiles at a seaborne target amid high latitudes within Umka 2022 arctic expedition.

 CSTO Monitoring Missions forward group arrives in Armenia.

 Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers and Tu-22M3 long-range bombers carry out scheduled flights in Far East.

 Russian Defence Ministry has published footage of Western MD Mi-35 multi-purpose attack helicopter crews, Nebo-SVU radar crews and Central MD air defence command post, as well as of Airborne Troops quadrotors and artillery in combat action within the special military operation.

#MoD #TopNews #Russia #Ukraine

@mod_russia_en

WtR
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Hundreds of Hong Kong residents are lining up in front of the British Consulate General for hours each day to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II, leaving piles of flowers and handwritten notes
Bank fees have fallen during the pandemic, but that hasnt stopped consumers from spending huge sums on these added expenses. Dubbed junk fees by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), bank fees drain tens of billions of dollars from American households each year. 



They run the gamut from charges for not having enough cash in your bank account to charges for withdrawing money from an out-of-network ATM. In 2019, overdraft and non-sufficient funds revenue hit an estimated $15.47 billion, according to the CFPB.

But there is some good news: According to Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate, bank fees, while still as ever present as they have been, ... are also more avoidable than ever before.

If youre looking to reduce overdraft fees, monthly maintenance charges or fees for withdrawing cash, there are ways to do so  and they dont require finding a new financial institution. Heres how you can avoid the most common bank fees. 

1. ATM fees 

Withdrawing money at ATMs is all about convenience, which is why so many consumers go to the nearest location, even if its not in their banks network. Sure, withdrawals are free at your banks ATMs, but if you need cash in a pinch and there are none nearby, the fees for using out-of-network ATMs can add up. To avoid these fees, do the following: 

Stay in network. There are tens of thousands of ATMs around the country in some of these networks, says McBride. Locating them is easier than ever these days. A quick check of your banks website or mobile app should yield a list of nearby ATMs. Also, some online banks that dont have their own ATMs will reimburse you for any ATM fees you incur. 

There are tens of thousands of ATMs around the country in some of these networks, says McBride. Locating them is easier than ever these days. A quick check of your banks website or mobile app should yield a list of nearby ATMs. Also, some online banks that dont have their own ATMs will reimburse you for any ATM fees you incur.  Get cash back at the point of sale. When you use your debit card at a store checkout and get cash back, youll avoid a visit to an ATM and thus a potential fee. If there are no nearby ATMs and youre in need of cash fast, consider taking out a larger amount so you have it on hand and dont get hit with another fee should you need more cash soon after, says Poulomi Damany, general manager of money and tax at Credit Karma. 

Keep in mind that the average cost of an out-of-network ATM transaction is currently $4.66, according to a recent Bankrate study, the highest its been since 2019. Meanwhile, the average ATM surcharge on non-customers reached $3.14 per transaction, which Bankrate said is a record high.

2. Overdraft fees

Overdraft fees can be a drain on your bank account. For many people, they create a never-ending cycle of bounced checks and extra fees, which is one of the many reasons these fees get so much scrutiny from government watchdogs and consumer advocates. After all, overdraft fees tend to penalize customers with limited financial resources, creating obstacles for them to overcome. 
The American Association of Retired Persons is seeking volunteers to help senior and low-income New Mexicans file taxes this year, according to a news release.

This is the 50th year that AARP has run the Tax-Aide program. On average, AARP assists about 30,000 New Mexican seniors with their taxes.

Volunteers start training in January, and will start helping prepare taxes in February. Besides looking for volunteers to help prepare taxes, theyre also looking for volunteers willing to set online appointments, aid taxpayers in gathering their documents, assist with tax site technology. AARP is also looking for Tax-Aide volunteers who speak a second language.

Sandra Mills, a volunteer with AARP Tax-Aide who has worked with the program for 22 years, said that last year, the program helped more than 7,000 low-income New Mexicans  regardless of age  receive government rebates, even though they dont have a federal filing requirement. This year, she said, theres an additional oil and gas rebate that some New Mexicans may qualify for.

Call 1-888-227-7669 or visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaide to register to volunteer.
After one of Meow Wolfs founders died suddenly at the age of 37, employees of the artist collective mourned by creating a memorial archway made of steel and wood.

They metaphorically walked through it, as if transformed by this moment in time, says Julie Heinrich, Meow Wolf chief of staff and executive director of the companys new foundation. They painted it, they built it and then they burned it, with a ceremony as well.

Thats what I mean about art being a beautiful language when there are no words.

Heinrich joins the Santa Fe-based arts company during a time of exploding growth. It opened locations in Denver and Las Vegas, Nevada, last year, and recently announced it was opening two permanent exhibitions in Texas.

Heinrich was a consultant to Meow Wolf on the planning of its new fundraising foundation for about a year, and then was named to head the operation in April.

The timing was perfect; she was longing to grow the next stage of my career, and she was longing to return to New Mexico.

The Colorado native had been living in Washington, D.C.  she is married to U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich  and working as a senior vice president at Weber Shandwick, a communications, marketing and consulting firm. Heinrich believes in Meow Wolf and the power of art to bring people together and to find solutions to global issues, as well tending to the smaller, more personal ones, such as grieving a lost colleague.

You could say that Heinrich has her own artistic talents. She has played clarinet, guitar, piano, xylophone and has now turned her attention to the ukulele. She also dances and sings, but adds, I do not perform.

There is, though, a bit of performance art in Heinrichs background. She was once an elf at Santas Workshop at the foot of Pikes Peak in Colorado.

The reason why thats funny is because I was 6-foot tall at the time, when I was 17, she says. I served ice cream all day long, including bubble gum ice cream. It was blue, and it had gumballs in it. It was the worst.

What are your plans for the Meow Wolf foundation?

First and foremost, well be seeking partnerships, looking for grantees in the states where were doing business. We will expand giving there. The Meow Wolf brand has captured so much imagination and interest from others, that Im also receiving inquiries from these other large, global foundations who want to partner with us. Im not sure where thats going to lead yet, but its an exciting conversation to be having. We will focus on arts and culture, looking at where it intersects with environment, education, equity or some combination of those areas. Were exploring the healing capacity of art and how we can build creative economies. We are at such an interesting time in the companys growth, and Im blissfully happy to be a part of it.

Why did you leave Washington, D.C., for New Mexico?

Our kids were still young when he (husband) was elected to the U.S. Senate, so we decided it made sense to move there. Otherwise, he was going to miss out on their childhood. And so we put the kids in school out there. I worked at a global communications, marketing and consulting firm in Washington, D.C. But New Mexico is and always will be home. Weve always had a house here (Albuquerque). My older son and I came home at the beginning of the pandemic, which I think encouraged many of us to rethink our lives and analyze what made us happy. We thought, Maybe well stay a couple of months, but then we just never returned to D.C. He decided he wanted to go to UNM.

Was there a moment when the decision crystalized for you?

It was a night of the full moon, and we went out to Ojito (Wilderness Area), to a spot where there are just beautiful petroglyphs nearby and then you have the sandstone formations at night, which look kind of strange and other-worldly and eerie. And I saw that full moon and I thought, Ah. I dont think Im leaving.'

What do you do in your free time?

I love music and dance. I would say thats how I not only express my creativity  that has historically been where I find my healing and personal therapy.

What professional mistakes have you made and what did you learn?

I am sure I have made numerous mistakes, as we all have, over the course of my career. I would say early, maybe in my 20s, I maybe was too naive and too critical of others and hurt someones feelings. I learned from that experience that I would choose a more diplomatic path in the future. It impacted me enough to know I didnt want to do that again.

What are your pet peeves?

My pet peeves are probably shared by most parents of teenagers. The dishes dont get done unless I ask. The backyard, the mess from the dog, does not get picked up unless I ask. The normal pet peeves of parenting.

What do you think has made you successful?

The capacity to be a strong listener. Id like to think that my dad gave me a strong sense of humor. I dont think Im necessarily funny, but I love to laugh. My mom shared that sense of attention to detail. And shes also incredibly optimistic. I start from that spot, of seeing the best in people.

Has it been difficult to establish a career and reputation in your own right, when your husband is a U.S. senator?

I actually had a politically focused career before my husband did  a brief window of time when he was Julies husband instead of me being his wife. In the workplace, I dont tend to bring him up unless I have a reason to do so, because I want people to know me first and know the ways that I contribute. I think inevitably they figure it out, but I try to bring my authentic self to work. But I dont necessarily think thats a different person from the one I bring to the campaign trail. I think like most busy people you just do the best you can to balance the responsibilities between work and between officialdom and campaign events and just try to serve as many people as possible with an open heart.

THE BASICS: Julie Heinrich, 50, born in Boise, Idaho, raised in Woodland Park, Colorado; married to U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich since 1998; two sons, Carter, 19, and Micah, 15; one dog, Ella, and one cat, Opal; bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, 1993, and various technical certifications.

POSITIONS: Meow Wolf chief of staff and executive director of the Meow Wolf Foundation, since April 2022; senior vice president and vice president, Weber Shandwick, 2014-2022; head of digital media and project management, Mid-Region Council of Governments, 2006-2013; digital media director, city of Albuquerque, 2000-2006; chief communications officer and deputy communications officer, under then-Mayor Jim Baca, 1997-2000.

OTHER: Past board member of AMP Concerts, Explora Science Center and Childrens Museum, La Montanita Co-op and Rio Grande chapter of the Sierra Club; persistent political campaign volunteer since 2003.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Las Vegas is rebounding from a wildfire-fueled water crisis, thanks to a new treatment system and a respite from monsoon rains.

A $2.25 million pre-treatment plant went online at Storrie Lake earlier this month.

That system is now treating water and directing it to the citys Bradner Reservoir.

The Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire burned large swaths of the Gallinas watershed west of town.

Las Vegas receives almost all of its municipal supply from the watershed.

Following intense rainstorms over the burn scar, the city could no longer divert and treat ash-laden, debris-filled water from the Gallinas River.

At the peak of the crisis, on Sept. 2, Las Vegas had only about 21 days before the city was completely out of stored water.

Mayor Louie Trujillo said residents are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

We are working around the clock to make sure that faucets never go dry, Trujillo said.

Utilities director Maria Gilvarry said a recent break in monsoon storms has reduced turbidity and pollution in the river enough so that the city can also treat some river water.

The measures have allowed the city to build up a 34-day water supply in Bradner Reservoir.

Storrie Lake could provide an additional 120 days of water.

Even though the city is starting to replenish its water storage, officials are still encouraging residents to conserve water.

The city distributes water supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to more than 1,000 households each week.

City Manager Leo Maestas said Las Vegas is searching for long-term solutions to avoid a similar water crisis in the future.

We have engineers looking at what it would take to get a state-of-the-art facility that can not only treat brackish water, but also effluent water and the turbid water thats coming down the river, Maestas said.

The treatment system was paid for with state emergency funds.

State Engineer Mike Hamman has restricted irrigation water diversions out of Storrie Lake to help preserve the Las Vegas supply.

Hamman said this week that the state is helping negotiate an agreement between the city and the Storrie Lake Water Users Association during the water crisis.

The pipeline they use to both fill and pull out water from Storrie Lake can only be used one way now, because the treatment system will be pushing water back to Bradner Reservoir for final treatment and placement into the city system, Hamman said.

The system can no longer be used to fill Storrie Lake.

New Mexico is seeking federal reimbursement for money spent on the Las Vegas treatment system and the costs of replenishing supply for farmers and ranchers that irrigate out of Storrie Lake.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Opening day of the next legislative session is in four months.

But its been quite a week in the New Mexico Senate  where a legal clash erupted over the handling of a sexual harassment complaint, the president pro tem called on a committee chairman to resign and the chairman reported her to the FBI.

At the center of the storm is Democrat Daniel Ivey-Soto, the Senate Rules Committee chairman who was accused by a lobbyist earlier this year of sexual harassment, which he denies.

He announced in a letter to the Journal this week that an investigation into the complaint against him had concluded without a recommendation of discipline.

Ivey-Soto also accused Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, a fellow Albuquerque Democrat, of threatening to leak a confidential report on the investigation unless he agreed to step down from his committee post  a charge she denies.

Ivey-Soto said Friday he reported Stewart to federal law enforcement earlier this week, sought out agents who handle public corruption and completed a 30-minute interview with the FBI.

I believe clearly what she did was wrong, Ivey-Soto said, and it was so wrong that it very well could rise to being criminal.

Stewart called it silly. She wants Ivey-Soto to resign as a committee chairman, she said, but only because some lawmakers and others say they arent comfortable participating in meetings he presides over, not because shes trying to strike a deal.

Its just ridiculous, Stewart said. I didnt threaten him.

She acknowledged having passed on a message from a third-party to a colleague of Ivey-Soto stating that someone wanted him to step down or the report would be released.

But she said she was passing along a message as a sort of mediator, never had access to the report herself and didnt release it.

It wasnt my idea, Stewart said, and, of course, I didnt have any control over the report.

In any case, she said, she plans to consult with colleagues about whether to remove him as chairman of Senate Rules or a second committee he presides over, the New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee.

The FBI doesnt confirm or deny investigations. Neither Ivey-Soto nor Stewart said they had heard from law enforcement since Ivey-Soto talked to an agent Thursday.

Ivey-Soto is one of the most prominent members of the Senate and is especially influential on election legislation.

In February, lobbyist Marianna Anaya released an open letter accusing Ivey-Soto of sexual harassment and abusive behavior as she sought his support for a voting rights bill before his committee. She also said he had groped her in 2015 when she was a young congressional staffer.

Ivey-Soto denied the allegations, and Anaya filed a complaint under the Legislatures anti-harassment policy, triggering a confidential investigation and secrecy rule that prevents her from speaking about the case further.

Anaya this week filed a lawsuit challenging the confidentiality law. Her attorney, Levi Monagle, contends it abridges her free speech rights.

Meanwhile, Ivey-Sotos announcement that the investigation was over turned out not to be the last word.

The Santa Fe Reporter, a weekly newspaper, obtained the confidential special counsel report, which recommended probable cause on two of Anayas allegations against Ivey-Soto. It also outlined a previously unreported incident in which he was accused of pinning a woman to a couch after a consensual encounter turned non-consensual.

Ivey-Soto called the allegation false. He also said the special counsels report left out material facts and its recommendations werent endorsed by the legislative subcommittee that evaluated it.

Democratic members of the Senate are set to meet privately later this month as a caucus.

Whether that deepens or helps resolve the clash isnt clear.

Im sad that so much energy and oxygen have been spent on this issue, Ivey-Soto said.

Stewart, in turn, said the Democratic caucus is healthy and ready to make wise decisions on how to handle the influx of state revenue amid an oil boom. Changes to the harassment policy and confidentiality law are also on the agenda.

The caucus has been working together great, Stewart said. We have one or two rogue senators  that doesnt mean the caucus isnt working together.
Dr. Ariana Barkley has been hired by the Pediatric Neurosurgery Division at the University of New Mexicos School of Medicine.

Barkley, who was born in Port of Spain and raised in Ontario, attended the University of Pennsylvania school of medicine before completing a residency at the University of Washington Neurological Surgery Program and a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship at Childrens of Alabama. Barkley will treat a wide range of issues, including brain tumors, cerebral aneurysms, hydrocephalus, epilepsy and spina bifida.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

The city of Albuquerque is adding another 10 operator positions at its Emergency Communications Center in an attempt to rectify what the police chief said are sometimes unacceptable call wait times.

Currently only about 80% of local 911 calls are answered within 15 seconds, Albuquerque Police Department officials said Friday. The industry standard is to answer 90% in that timeframe.

Officials acknowledge there are occasions when it can take much longer  particularly when multiple people witness the same incident and they each dial for help separately.

The average wait time for 911 is currently 16 seconds, the department reported Friday, while the 242-COPS non-emergency line wait time is 1 minute 47 seconds.

A lot of these calls are answered rather quickly (but) I still have concerns. We know its unacceptable that sometimes there are outliers when people are put on hold for 40 minutes, Police Chief Harold Medina said in a virtual media briefing Friday. We need to correct that.

With his department still hundreds of officers short of its budgeted number, the chief said it would apply some of those salary savings to add 10 new call-takers.

Thats on top of the 75 current positions. Of those, 74 are filled, though 16 are either just exiting, or still in, training. It takes about five or six months from hire date to have someone certified and answering calls, APD Deputy Chief J.J. Griego said.

The department has worked to smooth the path and make the job more attractive. Operator base salaries recently increased to $50,565 annually from about $44,000 and there is a $1,500 hiring bonus.

Whereas operators once had to attend training in Santa Fe, APD and Central New Mexico Community College collaborated to create an Albuquerque-based academy. Griego said the city also has shortened training in relatively inconsequential ways  removing, for example, lessons on the history of 911  and reevaluated who is qualified for the work.

One of the requirements is two-way radio experience  we look at that very broadly, he said. If someone has worked in the fast-food industry and worked in a drive thru, thats a two-way radio, but sometimes people dont necessarily recognize it as such.

The city has seen 911 call volume rise 17% over the past two years to 459,720, according to data provided by APD, though the non-emergency calls have declined by 9% to 527,472 in the same span.

While operator staffing has improved over the last year, the city remains short of dispatchers with 12 of the 42 positions currently empty. Dispatchers make more and often come from the operator ranks, and Griego said the city cannot absorb losses among the call-takers.

As we get fully staffed, we will be able to do that, he said.

Griego said residents can help ensure existing staff is used most efficiently by not calling 911 unless it is a life or death emergency or when a serious crime like burglary or auto theft is in process. Other matters should go through 242-COPS. Officials also encourage witnesses not to call en masse during the same emergency, saying that can jam up the system.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

The 27-year-old man who was shot and killed by three Albuquerque Police Department officers at a West Side gas station late last month had given the officers a magazine and told them he had a gun in the trunk of his car before he was shot, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in 2nd Judicial District Court.

My understanding is that he lawfully owned the weapon , said attorney Taylor Smith, who is representing Keshawn Thomas family. Its also my understanding that he always kept the gun and magazine separate from one another  like a responsible gun owner would.

Thomas family has filed a lawsuit against the city alleging it has not produced records requested under the Inspection of Public Records Act. Smith said he has also been retained to investigate for a wrongful death lawsuit.

The shooting was the 12th by APD officers this year. Out of those cases, seven people were killed and one was injured. In the remaining shootings the officers missed but in one case it turned out a man had killed himself before they fired.

All shootings by law enforcement in Bernalillo County are investigated by a Multi-Agency Task Force. APD typically does a media briefing in the weeks following shootings by its officers.

The city will respond in court to the lawsuit, said APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos. We plan to have a news conference next week to provide preliminary results from the investigation, including video.

August shooting

The entire encounter  from when officers arrived on the scene to when they fired shots  lasted about five minutes, according to a warrant to search Thomas car that was filed after the shooting.

Around 11:15 p.m. Aug. 28, officers were called to a Valero gas station on Coors, near Quail NW, because the clerk reported a car had been parked in one of the gasoline bays for about four hours, according to the affidavit.

When the officers arrived they found Thomas in his 2022 green Dodge Challenger.

In a briefing at the scene hours after the shooting, Chief Harold Medina said the officers thought Thomas may be intoxicated and passed out. He said the officers had Thomas step out of the car and he started to smoke a cigarette so they asked him to move away from the gasoline.

Medina said that at some point Thomas re-entered the vehicle and some kind of confrontation occurred between the officer and the individual and multiple officers fired shots.

According to the search warrant affidavit, the clerk told investigators she saw the officers talking with a man, later identified as Thomas, on the sidewalk for several minutes.

The officers walked the individual back to his vehicle where she observed the individual start the vehicle (this was indicated to her by the headlights coming on), a detective wrote in the affidavit. A few minutes later (the clerk) heard gunshots. Thomas was taken to the hospital, where he died.

The detective reviewed the lapel camera footage of the shooting and said that during the encounter the officers told Thomas he appears intoxicated and needs to call for a ride.

He said Thomas handed the officer a magazine and told them he had a gun in the trunk.

The suspect enters his vehicle and is observed reaching around the seat and console area, the detective wrote in the affidavit. Officers tell the suspect to get his cellphone and exit the vehicle. One officer standing near the drivers side door, walks up to the driver side of the vehicle and yells gun approximately three times before all three officers fire their weapons at the suspect.

The officers told APD dispatch that after the shooting they removed a firearm from Thomas person and placed it in the trunk of his car.

The return and inventory on the search warrant states that the detective found a projectile, magazine, and firearm accessories in the car.

Records request

The day after Thomas was shot, his mother filed a records request asking for audio, video, photographs, Computer Aided Dispatch records, reports, and all written communication within APD about the incident or about press releases.

She received a reply saying it was excessively burdensome and broad and the City Clerks Office requested an additional reasonable period of time.

Smith said he has received audio CADs from dispatch but they were incredibly hard to hear. He filed the lawsuit on Tuesday asking the city to produce the rest of the records and for damages, costs and attorney fees.

In the days after Thomas was shot, his friends and family held a vigil and protest at the gas station, calling for an end to police violence.

Smith said Thomas had a younger brother who spoke at the vigil, saying he was a great older brother who always made time for him and would come home so they could play video games together.

Thomas grew up in Albuquerque, graduated from Del Norte High School in 2013 and attended Central New Mexico Community College off and on from the 2013 fall term through the 2017 spring term, majoring in welding. Smith said he was working nights.

In an obituary, Thomas family said he brought a smile to everyone who crossed his path and loved being a son, big brother, boyfriend and friend.

He had a big heart, always making everyone around him laugh, the obituary states. He was a humble person with a beautiful spirit. He loved sports, music, movies, family get-togethers, fishing, and traveling. He always tried to do the right thing.
EDITORS NOTE: The Albuquerque Journal continues its participation in a series of stories on the Colorado River as the 100th anniversary of the Colorado River Compact approaches.

PEACH SPRINGS, Ariz.  Garnett Querta slips on his work gloves as he shifts the big rig he is driving into park. Within seconds, he unrolls a hose and opens a hydrant, sending water flowing into one of the plastic tanks on the trucks bed.

His timer is set for 5 minutes, 20 seconds  when the tank will be full and hell turn to the second one.

Water pulled from the ground here will be piped dozens of miles across rugged landscape to serve the roughly 700,000 tourists a year who visit the Grand Canyon on the Hualapai reservation in northwestern Arizona  the tribes main source of revenue.

Despite the Colorado River bordering more than 100 miles of Hualapai land in the canyon, the tribe cannot draw from it. Native American tribes in the Colorado River basin have inherent rights to the water, but the amount and access for a dozen tribes has not been fully resolved for decades.

The 1922 Colorado River Compact that divided water among states did not include a share for tribes. Now that the river is shrinking because of overuse, drought and human-caused climate change, tribes want the federal government to ensure that their interests are protected.

A water settlement pending in Congress would give the Hualapai Tribe the right to draw river water, plus $180 million to pipe it to tribal communities and the main tourist center at Grand Canyon West.

It was the best of a bad deal, said Phil Wisely, the tribes public services director. And the thing is, I dont think we could get a better deal, especially now.

The Colorado River can no longer meet the needs of the 40 million people and $15 billion agriculture industry that depend on it. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation recently announced that Arizona, Nevada and Mexico would see deeper cuts to their water supply in 2023. The agency also is asking seven Western states to find a way to conserve more.

Longstanding rights

The 29 tribes in the Colorado River basin are, in fact, among the rivers most senior water rights holders, a determination often tied to the date the federal government established a reservation. Tribal water rights  once fully resolved  could add up to about one-quarter of the rivers historic flow, according to the Water & Tribes Initiative.

Unlike other water users, tribes dont lose access to water when they dont use it. A 1908 U.S. Supreme Court decision known as the Winters Doctrine says tribes have the right to enough water to establish a permanent homeland. Often, tribes give up potentially huge water claims in exchange for an assured supply and federal funding to deliver it.

To the northeast of Hualapai, the Ute Indian Tribe has Colorado River tributaries flowing on its reservation east of Salt Lake City. While the tribe has secured some rights, not everyone agrees on how much more it should receive, delaying a settlement for decades.

Ute leaders say theyre tired of reiterating that the federal government needs to protect tribal interests.

Until you start to deal with the inequities or the injustice, you can never really have any momentum going forward, said Shaun Chapoose, chairman of the Ute Business Committee.

The situation of both the Hualapai and the Ute Indian Tribe highlights the frustration of Native American leaders across the basin that, though their rights may not be quantified, they are real.

Other tribes that have secured water rights have pitched in to help their neighbors amid the prolonged drought by conserving water in key reservoirs along the Colorado River.

But Jay Weiner, who represents tribes in water settlements, said it would be unjust to continue to rely heavily on tribes when they havent had access to the water as long as states have.

The tribes have already front-loaded and sacrificed by the fact that the basin has been able to use huge amounts of water that tribes have rights to over the past 100 years, Weiner said.

In a statement to the Associated Press, the Interior Department did not say how tribal water rights, which are federal rights, would be protected as the rivers flow decreases. It said it is working with tribes affected by drought.

Hauling water

Quertas job is a grind, but hes well-suited for it  analytical, quick and goal-oriented. He takes meticulous notes on water levels and quality as he fills tanks that ensure tourists at Grand Canyon West have water.

The truck takes a beating on the gravel and dirt road on multiple round trips of more than 30 miles most days. Querta keeps tools on hand for minor repairs. Major ones or illness can put him out of commission.

Once hes filled the tanks on the truck bed, the water is sent through a pipeline from just outside Peach Springs to Grand Canyon West. The tourist center is crucial. Revenue from it funds tribal programs for the elderly, public works, the cultural center, scholarships and other social services. The main attraction is the Grand Canyon Skywalk  a horseshoe-shaped glass bridge that gives tourists a view of the Colorado River 4,000 feet below.

The tribe has long planned to expand Grand Canyon West with a store, a fire and police station, housing and an elementary school to serve tribal members who ride a shuttle up to a five-hour round-trip daily from the Peach Springs area to their jobs there.

But, without a secure source of water for Grand Canyon West, it wont happen, said tribal Chairman Damon Clarke. Under the settlement pending in Congress, the tribe would be responsible for infrastructure to deliver water.

One of the biggest things with our settlement is hope for the future and getting this not for us at this time, but for the generations ahead, Clarke said.

One reason the Hualapai Tribe did not prioritize discussions on water rights long ago is that tribal members believed that water came with their land, said Rory Majenty, board chairman of the Grand Canyon Resort Corp. that oversees Grand Canyon West.

We took things for granted, he said. Like you knew you were going to eat, you knew the sun was going to come up.

The settlement has its critics, including Hualapai rancher Clay Bravo. He said the tribe should wait, negotiate a better deal and develop groundwater resources at the same time. Hes not satisfied with a lower priority water right that he equates to crumbs.

Even with secure water rights, tribes cannot always fully put the water to use because they lack infrastructure. A pipeline eventually will reach the southwestern portion of the Jicarilla Apache Nation in New Mexico through another tribes water settlement to boost economic development in the region.

Jicarilla Apache has leased water it already has access to for energy production, recreation and conservation, and to benefit threatened and endangered fish.

The Colorado River Indian Tribes, whose reservation sits along the river bordering Arizona and California, does not have the legal authority to lease its water, though a bill is pending in Congress to authorize it.

Its our sovereignty and beneficial rights of our water  the full beneficial rights of our water, said tribal Chairwoman Amelia Flores. We want to lease, we dont want to sell our water, and thats the difference.

What is just?

The Ute Indian Tribe wants that same ability. The tribe asserts rights to 550,000 acre-feet. (An acre-foot is enough water to serve two to three U.S. households annually). A 30-year-old settlement recognizes about half of that.

Utahs position is that is the number were comfortable with, and we think that does more than enough to satisfy the claims of the Utes, said Utah deputy state engineer Jared Manning.

But the tribe hasnt ratified the settlement as it was presented in Congress. The Utes have sued in federal court over access to water.

A judge ruled in one case last year that the tribe waited too long to bring some of its claims against the federal government and Utah, but the case isnt over.

Daniel McCool, professor emeritus at the University of Utah, said the larger question is whether the Ute Indian Tribe has been treated justly and whether funding for water diversions have been on par with non-Native American interests.

Theres a reason why the tribe doesnt have much water and why almost all the water in the region is being used by white people, said McCool, who studies tribal water rights. Look at who got the money, the Central Utah Project. Who got the water? Ask yourself that and ask, does this look fair to you? 

Its a question tribal members have posed for decades, whether the first inhabitants of whats now the U.S. should have anything but the oldest, most secure water rights. Inevitably, others will lose water theyve grown accustomed to using as tribes gain access to it.

The argument from the other side is that it is capitalism, free enterprise. Thats where they got us. Ownership is where its at. Until you have a piece of paper, its not yours, Majenty said.

The Associated Press, Albuquerque Journal, The Colorado Sun, The Salt Lake Tribune, The Arizona Daily Star and The Nevada Independent are exploring the pressures on the Colorado River in 2022.
Authorities say a fight at a girls 18th birthday party in Santa Fe a week ago ended in more than 60 bullets being fired  some that struck three 16-year-olds and two adults and sent crowds running.

Witnesses told police the fight sparked between the girls ex-boyfriend and new boyfriend and police say at least three guns were fired, including one that accidentally discharged into a mans foot.

The Santa Fe Police Department said the SWAT team arrested Jonathan Romero, the ex-boyfriend, on Friday at his home in Algodones.

The 20-year-old was booked into the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center on several counts each of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of abuse of a child and one count of negligent use of a weapon. It is unclear if he has an attorney.

Santa Fe police said they executed a search warrant at Romeros home and another at a home in Santa Fe but the department did not say what was recovered. It is unclear if anyone else will be charged in the incident and a SFPD spokesperson could not be reached Friday afternoon.

Police responded on Sept. 11 to reports of gunfire at a remote home west of Cerrillos and Interstate 25, according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in Magistrate Court. Five people, including two teen girls and a teen boy, were hospitalized with gunshot wounds and police found 66 bullet casings of three different calibers.

The girl whose birthday was being celebrated told police her ex-boyfriend, Romero, had shown up to the party and at some point pulled out a gun and fired up to 20 rounds at a crowd of 30 to 40 people.

Witnesses told police the girl tried to kick Romero out when there was drama with her new boyfriend and shots were fired. One adult and the three teens who were shot said they were running away when they were hit.

The fifth victim told police he was at the party when he saw his friend had pulled a gun out because other people at the party had their guns drawn out. The man said he tried to take the gun from his friend when it accidentally went off  shooting the man in the foot.

After (the man) was shot in the foot other individuals with firearms began shooting, according to the affidavit.

Santa Fe police are asking any witnesses or anyone with information on the case to contact Detective Javier Vigil at 505-955-5412 or jjvigil1@santafenm.gov.
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The European Commission adopted a European Media Freedom Act, a novel set of rules to protect media pluralism and independence in the EU. The proposed Regulation includes, among others, safeguards against political interference in editorial decisions and against surveillance. It puts a focus on the independence and stable funding of public service media as well as on the transparency of media ownership and of the allocation of state advertising. It also sets out measures to protect independence of editors and disclose conflicts of interest. Finally, the Act will address the issue of media concentrations and create a new independent European Board for Media Services, comprised of national media authorities. The Commission also adopted a complementary Recommendation to encourage internal safeguards for editorial independence.

Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Vera Jourova, said: We have seen over the past years various forms of pressure on the media. It is high time to act. We need to establish clear principles: no journalist should be spied on because of their job; no public media should be turned into propaganda channel. This is what we are proposing today for the first time ever: common safeguards to protect media freedom and pluralism in the EU.

Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market, added: The EU is the world's largest democratic single market. Media companies play a vital role but are confronted with falling revenues, threats to media freedom and pluralism, the emergence of very large online platforms, and a patchwork of different national rules. The European Media Freedom Act provides common safeguards at EU level to guarantee a plurality of voices and that our media are able to operate without any interference, be it private or public. A new European watchdog will promote the effective application of these new media freedom rules and screen media concentrations so they do not hamper plurality.

No political interference, no spying, stable funding

The European Media Freedom Act will ensure that media  public and private  can operate more easily across borders in the EU internal market, without undue pressure and taking into account the digital transformation of the media space.

Protection of editorial independence  the Regulation will require Member States to respect the effective editorial freedom of media service providers and improve the protection of journalistic sources. In addition, media service providers will have to ensure transparency of ownership by publicly disclosing such information and take measures with a view to guaranteeing the independence of individual editorial decisions.

 the Regulation will require Member States to respect the effective editorial freedom of media service providers and improve the protection of journalistic sources. In addition, media service providers will have to ensure transparency of ownership by publicly disclosing such information and take measures with a view to guaranteeing the independence of individual editorial decisions. No use of spyware against media  the Media Freedom Act includes strong safeguards against the use of spyware against media, journalists and their families.

 the Media Freedom Act includes strong safeguards against the use of spyware against media, journalists and their families. Independent public service media where public service media exist, their funding provided should be adequate and stable, in order to ensure editorial independence. The head and the governing board of public service media will have to be appointed in a transparent, open and non-discriminatory manner. Public service media providers shall provide a plurality of information and opinions, in an impartial manner, in accordance with their public service mission.

where public service media exist, their funding provided should be adequate and stable, in order to ensure editorial independence. The head and the governing board of public service media will have to be appointed in a transparent, open and non-discriminatory manner. Public service media providers shall provide a plurality of information and opinions, in an impartial manner, in accordance with their public service mission. Media pluralism tests  the Media Freedom Act requires Member States to assess the impact of media market concentrations on media pluralism and editorial independence. It also requires that any legislative, regulatory or administrative measure taken by a Member State that could affect the media is duly justified and proportionate.

 the Media Freedom Act requires Member States to assess the impact of media market concentrations on media pluralism and editorial independence. It also requires that any legislative, regulatory or administrative measure taken by a Member State that could affect the media is duly justified and proportionate. Transparent state advertising  the Media Freedom Act will establish new requirements for the allocation of state advertising to media, so that it is transparent and non-discriminatory. The Act will also enhance the transparency and objectivity of audience measurement systems, which have an impact on media advertising revenues, in particular online.

 the Media Freedom Act will establish new requirements for the allocation of state advertising to media, so that it is transparent and non-discriminatory. The Act will also enhance the transparency and objectivity of audience measurement systems, which have an impact on media advertising revenues, in particular online. Protection of media content online  building on the Digital Services Act, the Media Freedom Act includes safeguards against the unjustified removal of media content produced according to professional standards. In cases not involving systemic risks such as disinformation, very large online platforms that intend to take down certain legal media content considered to be contrary to the platform's policies will have to inform the media service providers about the reasons, before such take down takes effect. Any complaints lodged by media service providers will have to be processed with priority by those platforms.

 building on the Digital Services Act, the Media Freedom Act includes safeguards against the unjustified removal of media content produced according to professional standards. In cases not involving systemic risks such as disinformation, very large online platforms that intend to take down certain legal media content considered to be contrary to the platform's policies will have to inform the media service providers about the reasons, before such take down takes effect. Any complaints lodged by media service providers will have to be processed with priority by those platforms. New user right to customise your media offer  the Media Freedom Act will introduce a right of customisation of the media offer on devices and interfaces, such as connected TVs, enabling users to change the default settings to reflect their own preferences.

The proposal is accompanied by a Recommendation setting out a number of voluntary best practices collected from the sector and geared at promoting editorial independence and greater ownership transparency. The Recommendation provides a toolbox of voluntary measures for media companies to consider, such as the conditions for independent creation of editorial content, through empowering journalists to participate in crucial decisions for the functioning of media outlets, to strategies for ensuring long-term stability of news content production.

A European watchdog for media freedom

The Commission proposes to set up a new independent European Board for Media Services comprised of national media authorities. The Board will promote the effective and consistent application of the EU media law framework, in particular by assisting the Commission in preparing guidelines on media regulatory matters. It will also be able to issue opinions on national measures and decisions affecting media markets and media market concentrations.

The Board will also coordinate national regulatory measures regarding non-EU media that present a risk to public security to ensure that those media do not circumvent the applicable rules in the EU. The Board will also organise a structured dialogue between very large online platforms and the media sector to promote access to diverse media offers and to monitor platforms' compliance with self-regulatory initiatives, such as the EU Code of Practice on Disinformation.

Next steps

It is now for the European Parliament and the Member States to discuss the Commission's proposal for a Regulation under the ordinary legislative procedure. Once adopted, it will be directly applicable across the European Union. The Commission will encourage discussions, notably as part of the European News Media Forum, on voluntary practices by media companies linked to the accompanying Recommendation.

Background

Independent media are a public watchdog, a key pillar of democracy, as well as an important and dynamic part of our economy. They are crucial in forming a public sphere, shaping public opinion and holding those in power to account. On a global scale, the European Union remains a stronghold for free and independent media.

At the same time, there are increasingly worrying trends across the EU. The Commission has been closely monitoring all those developments through the Rule of Law Report and other tools such as the Media Pluralism Monitor. Challenges identified by the previous Rule of Law reports have led to several EU initiatives, including a recommendation on the safety of journalists and measures to address abusive lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP).

The European Media Freedom Act was announced by President von der Leyen in her 2021 State of the Union Address. It builds on the Commission's rule of law reports and the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive, which provides for EU-wide coordination of national legislation for audiovisual media. The act also builds on the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA), as well as the new Code of Practice on Disinformation. It is part of the EU's efforts in promoting democratic participation, addressing disinformation and supporting media freedom and pluralism, as set out under the European Democracy Action Plan.

This proposal complements the recently adopted Recommendation on the protection, safety and empowerment of journalists and the Directive to protect journalists and rights defenders from abusive litigation (anti-SLAPP package). The Media Freedom Act also works in tandem with initiatives related to viability, resilience and digital transformation of the media sector adopted under the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan and revised copyright rules. The proposal is based on extensive consultation with stakeholders, including a public consultation.
ICRA highlighted that GDP growth is expected to double to ~8.0% in Q2 FY2023 from 3.8% in Q1 FY2023, when compared to the pre-Covid levels of 2019, even though a normalising base is expected to moderate the year-on-year (YoY) growth performance (to 6.5-7.0% from 13.5%, respectively).

Ms. Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist, ICRA Ltd said: Indias economic activity rebounded in August 2022, as evidenced by a pick-up in the ICRA Business Activity Monitor to 114.1 in August 2022, from the five-month low of 113.5 in July 2022. Moreover, the YoY growth of the ICRA Business Activity Monitor rose to 11.4% in that month from 10.9% in July 2022, with an underlying improvement in nine of the 16 constituent indicators. Encouragingly, the index was a robust 16.6% higher than the pre-Covid levels in August 2022, the highest in FY2023 so far. This was also the widest expansion since the pandemic started, with as many as 11 indicators reporting volumes above their pre-Covid levels.

The ongoing decline in global commodity prices offers some relief for business margins, and the sustained recovery in services demand and signs of inventory build-up prior to the festive season are encouraging. However, the YoY lag in kharif sowing and flagging external demand imbue some caution into the near-term outlook. On balance, we project the GDP expansion at 6.5-7.0% for Q2 FY2023, a base-effect led moderation from 13.5% in Q1 FY2023. Crucially, GDP growth is expected to rise to ~8.0% in Q2 FY2023 from 3.8% in Q1 FY2023, when compared to the pre-Covid levels of 2019, which is a more tangible signal of the ongoing, yet uneven recovery, Ms. Nayar added.

The momentum of economic activity widened in August 2022 amid some moderation in rainfall, easing of supply-side issues like semi-conductor availability for the auto sector, and pre-festive accumulation of inventories, even as the slowdown in external demand continued to act as a dampener. In YoY terms, the performance of nine of the 16 high frequency indicators, including the generation of GST e-way bills, production of motorcycle and passenger vehicles (PV), vehicle registrations, consumption of finished steel, petrol and diesel, improved in August 2022 relative to July 2022. After easing for two consecutive months, the ICRA Business Activity Monitor rose by 0.6% in August 2022, better than the month-on month (MoM) trends seen in August 2021 (+0.2%) and August 2019 (-3.0%).

The early data for September 2022 is mixed so far. The all-India electricity demand witnessed a healthy surge in September 1-13, 2022 owing to the moderation in rainfall in the early part of the month. However, the average daily vehicle registrations have recorded a sharp MoM decline of ~7% in September 2022, so far. While the registrations are expected to pick-up during the Navratri season, the onset of 15-day Shradh period is likely to constrain overall retail volumes in the month.

ICRA is cautiously optimistic that the pre-festive stocking implied by the record-high generation of GST e-way bills in August 2022 is an indication of a revival in confidence and imminent improvement in demand for goods. This, in conjunction with the favourable impact of the softening commodity prices, is a positive development ahead of the festive season.

The ICRA Business Activity Monitor is a composite indicator that comprises auto production (two-wheelers and PVs), vehicle registrations, output of Coal India Limited, power generation, rail freight traffic, non-oil merchandise exports, cargo handled at major ports, consumption of petrol and diesel, finished steel consumption, generation of GST e-way bills, domestic airline passenger traffic, aggregate deposits and non-food credit of scheduled commercial banks.
Engineers day is observed to commemorate the great work of engineers and to encourage them for more astounding innovation. JK Lakshmi Cement took this opportunity and launched a digital film to honor all the engineers who are the engine of our nation.

Conceptualized by JK Lakshmi Cement and BC Web Wise, the film celebrates the minds behind every foundation of India - The Engineers.

The brand strongly believes that if there is a will to make things possible, there is always an engineer making that dream come true.

Its their immense effort that builds a nation and keeps its foundation stronger for centuries to come.

Through the brands point of view and an energetic narration, the film salutes the incredible diligence of every engineer who, in one way or the other has contributed to the making of our nation.

JK Lakshmi Cement takes pride in celebrating their spirit to churn out innovation every moment of their lives for delivering remarkable infrastructural results.
Zee Telugu never seizes to amaze its viewers by doing the unthinkable. This has been proven yet again as it ups the promotional game for its upcoming fictional shows -- Padamati Sandhyaragam, Ammayigaru, and Subhasya Seeghram -- with a musical concept promo featuring superstar Mahesh Babu and his daughter, Sitara. The promo sees the duo give a glimpse of the three fiction offerings along with the cast of the respective shows, and what stands out throughout is their loveable father-daughter chemistry and extraordinary screen presence of poised and charming Sitara. While the content of the promo makes it a must-watch, its high production values, music director Vishal Chandrashekhars extraordinary composition, and SP Charans mesmerising vocals, gives the audience no less than a movie experience.

The promo raises the expectations on the three upcoming fictional shows, the first show to go on-air is Padamati Sandhyaragam, touted to be one of the fewest Telugu fictional shows to have been shot abroad. The fiction offering, which is high on emotions, is the story of Janaki, living in India belonging to a family of traditional beliefs, opening the door to her sisters modern & westernised daughter. This contrast takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride of emotions while the cast  Jayashree, Sai Kiran, and others  do justice to their roles. The show is sure to keep audiences hooked to it right from Day one as it launches on September 19 (Monday) at 8 pm.

While the other two shows will launch shortly after Padamati Sandhyaragam, and their storylines are equally engaging. Ammaryigaru, featuring Nisha Milanaa and Anil Allam, brings out the tale of a father and daughter where the girl is longing for her fathers affection. Similarly, Subhasya Seeghram, featuring Krishnapriya Nair, is the story of a second daughter from a middle class household, who emerges as a saviour for her family.

Needless to say, the Mahesh-Sitara promo establishes the storylines of these three fiction offerings perfectly well and surely keeps you waiting for their launches.

Sharing his thoughts on this one-of-a-kind collaboration, Mahesh Babu, actor, said: Every story, in my opinion, has a soul and an audience. Therefore, it is important to give them unique treatments while presenting it to the world. The stories of these upcoming Zee Telugu shows struck me as being relatable to its audience, sincere, and heartfelt when I heard them. Collaborating with ZEE Telugu to give these shows a special launch makes me happy and doing that with my daughter Sitara, even happier. I wish the three teams every success and luck, and I send my best wishes to the entire Zee Telugu team.

Anuradha Gudur, Chief Content Officer, Zee Telugu, said: Our association with Mahesh Babu had been a successful one in the past, and given that our latest collaboration is quite a unique one, we are excited to witness how it will be received by the audience. With Mahesh Babus appeal with the masses and Sitaras cuteness coming together, we are sure it will reach our viewers and will take our upcoming serials to greater heights. Hoping our viewers will embrace these exciting fiction offerings from Zee Telugu as they have always been doing.

With Padamati Sandhyaragam launching on September 19 at 8PM, there is a slight change in the telecast timings of Oohalu Gusagusa Lade and Mukkupudaka. While Oohalu Gusagusa Lade will entertain you at 12:30 pm, Mukkupudakas slot has been shifted to 1 pm.
Elections navigate the political pulse of India, and hold the loudest debates in every Indian household. Gujarat, being no exception, is very fond of elections. With the upcoming assembly election, News18 Gujarati is slated to cover the mood of the common Gujarati about political parties with a mega campaign MAHASANGRAM. Starting in September 2022, the campaign will run for 120+ days with 532+ episodes and 8+ lives shows featuring many live shows on the upcoming election in Gujarat.

Mahasangram will feature numerous programs formulating into three broad categories. It will start with four flagship properties, which will present four unique shows, namely Satta No Sangram, Samrangan, Otla Parisad, and Chakrvyuh Ma Chehro. Satta No Sangram will showcase the anchors visiting different cities, towns, and villages of Gujarat with exclusive debates featuring local leaders of various parties presenting the point of view of the voters. This half-hour show will run for 70 episodes on weekdays. Taking over the weekends will be Samrangan, a one-of-a-kind live debate show featuring leaders of the ruling party and opposition in front of voters, held across 8 major cities of Gujarat, namely Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Baroda, Surat, Rajkot, Jamnagar, and Junagadh, with each episode focusing on the voters of a particular city.

On Otla Parisad, three female anchors will speak with one leader of each political party in a detailed discussion on different issues. This half-hour show will run for 16 episodes on weekends. Lastly, Chakrvyuh Ma Chehro will bring out the party manifestos and vision of major political leaders for the upcoming elections. This will be an hourly interview that will run for 10 episodes and will go on air on weekends.

The shows will feature interactions of voters with leaders, live debates, Q&A with the MLAs, and interviews with prominent political leaders of the state. It will also have travel shows named Bullet Yatra, Chai Pe Charcha, and Tamaro Jillo Tamari Vaat with reporters traveling state-wide to understand voters' moods and presenting in-depth analyses. Finally, it will have five special election programs. They are Dharasabhyo nu Sarvaiyu  a show on MLA analysis, Rajyog  a show predicting and revealing fortunes of each MLA, Netaji Rubaru  an insightful show on leaders performances during elections, Netaji No Rapid Round  a Q&A show with leaders, and Yuva Mut  a show highlighting youth's perspective about the election and their favorite leaders.

With these three categories, the brand will also feature special segments showcasing the voters' expectations for the next election. By bringing exclusive coverage from all corners of the state, News18 Gujarati will conclude the campaign with detailed reporting on polling and counting days.

Mahasangram is Co-Presented by Parul University and Tirupati Oil and Co-Powered By Jainson Cables
News18 India presents Karmyogi as Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 72 on September 17. A 30 min documentary Karmpath will be a part of the exclusive Karmyogi programme.

The programming will cover the key highlights of the day.

On this momentous occasion, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park to release the Cheetahs.

The Cheetah Reintroduction Project, or "Project Cheetah," has been launched by India and Namibia under the direction of Prime Minister Modi with a view to preserving India's biodiversity and habitat while also repopulating its cheetah population.

The Cheetahs from Namibia will be released in Kuno National Park by Prime Minister Modi at approximately 10.45 AM IST.

At 12 PM IST, Prime Minister Modi will then take part in the SHG Sammelan. Thousands of female Self Help Group members will attend this event (SHG).

In addition, as part of the PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Prime Minister Modi will open four centres for the development of skills among Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG).

News18 Indias programming has always been well received by the viewers because of its innovative and engaging formats.

Watch Karmyogi on 17th September only on News18 India
BEIRUT, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The leader of Lebanon's powerful Shiite party Hezbollah warned on Saturday that Hezbollah will not allow Israel to extract oil and gas from the Karish field before the completion of maritime border demarcation with Lebanon.

"Hezbollah has sent Israel a warning message behind the scenes saying if the extraction from the Karish field begins, the problem with Lebanon has started," Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech.

"As a result, there has been a public clarification from the Israelis that what is happening is not oil and gas extraction or pumping, but the preparation of pipelines," he added.

Noting Hezbollah's "calm approach" over the past weeks for a chance for negotiations to succeed, Nasrallah said the United States and Israel are aware of its seriousness in its warnings.

"The threats of the enemy will not affect Hezbollah. We are not part of the negotiations, but we keep pace with the negotiations carried out by the Lebanese state. Our eyes and missiles are on the Karish field. If confrontation is imposed on us, it is inevitable," he added.

Lebanese authorities are trying to end a dispute with Israel over maritime borders, which has escalated since Israel on June 5 sent a vessel to the Karish field, which Israel claims is within its economic zone and Lebanon claims in disputed waters.

Israel previously announced that it plans to extract gas from its disputed area with Lebanon as early as September, prompting Hezbollah to threaten attacks if Israel proceeds without first resolving the maritime border dispute with Lebanon. 
Ive always detested people who make facile comparisons of anything that goes on in the U.S. to the manifold horrors of Nazi Germany. The freedoms and privileges weve enjoyed in this extraordinary nation made even the worst problems weve experienced pale in comparison to the brutality and death perpetrated by the Third Reich. To my mind, drawing parallels between them is a cheap, insulting, and wholly illegitimate way of gaining quick attention.

However, the MAGA+FASCIST= JANUARY 6th phony equation now emanating from Joe Biden and his party -- even going to the obscene length of enlisting the recent solemn remembrance of the 9/11 nightmare -- oblige me to ask the readers indulgence while I tread upon my own rule.

The Dems comparisons of January 6th to 9/11 would be merely preposterous if it were not so morally disgusting; their strained attempts to make the D.C. riot of January 6, 2021 and the resulting trespasses upon the Capitol building into a seminal, earth-shaking event require them to take mendacity to new depths.

In fact, there is an historical event thats somewhat closer to the mark, but its one that every Democrat would be loath to recognize: for purely naked political purposes Biden and many Democrats are trying to make January 6th into some poor facsimile of the Reichstag Fire.

On February 27, 1933, not quite a full month after Adolf Hitler was legally appointed Chancellor of Germany, the huge Reichstag building, home to the nations parliament, burned to the ground. While its never been proved conclusively, its strongly suspected that the Nazis themselves arranged the fire (Herman Goering in particular is thought to have been complicit) in order to create a crisis that would allow Hitler to justify a further and more complete seizure of power. German communists seeking to also ignite a coup were to blame for the fire according to the Nazis, and Hitler came down upon them like a ton of bricks. Ironically though, it was not a German, but a young Dutch communist, Marinus van der Lubbe, who was quickly apprehended, convicted and executed for the crime. His actual guilt has always been a matter of controversy, and Germanys modern-day government saw fit to issue him a posthumous pardon.

Taking full advantage of the shock the fire caused upon the sensibilities of ordinary, order-loving Germans, emergency decrees were quickly issued by the Hitler and his cabinet. In March the resituated parliament, bullied and intimidated by the Nazis, passed the notorious Enabling Act, rubber-stamping the suspension of the right of assembly, press freedom, and the ability to protest; effectively obliterating the Weimar Republic and clearing the way for absolute dictatorship.

Hastily built concentration camps were soon filled with German communists, along with other undesirables and perceived enemies of the Reich. We all know the succeeding chapters to that terrible story.

While we can rejoice in the fact that such extreme measures are presently unthinkable in America, Joe Biden, whether by his own design or adhering to a script fashioned by sharper minds, has chosen to employ the autocrats tactic of marginalization of large segments of the American population; an action which, as history shown again and again, can be the first step in a tragic spiral of violence and destruction.

Furiously attempting to defend their disastrous energy, spending and border blunders threatening genuine economic hardship in the coming months, Biden and his handlers now deem it no longer sufficient to address critics as mere political opponents. Desperately seeking to avoid a Democrat wipeout in November, Bidens extreme language and almost hysterical mien betray his dire need for dangerous enemies; imagined swarms preparing to storm the gates of American democracy. Believe what Biden is peddling and hes facing a dilemma worse than Lincolns in 1860. After all, the Confederates only wanted to go their own way; these Maga-Fascists seek to blow up Washington itself, and nearly did on January 6th!

Make no mistake: you neednt be a red-hatted, wildly cheering rally attendee driving around with Trump flags hanging from your pick-up to appear in Joe Bidens black book. Hes purposefully made his lines of demarcation unclear, so its reasonable to assume that even people whose only offense was marking that little oval next to the name Trump are nevertheless suspected of being potential recruits to the insurrectionist battalions that Joe pictures forming up for battle.

Hes proven to be a lying, mean-spirited wannabe tyrant; but one lacking in the oratorical skills or charisma necessary to persuade other than blind ideologues or lying opportunists to his side.

But awkward and inept as he may appear, Biden has succeeded in being not just incompetent, but also terrifying. Hes clearly been prodded over a line in American politics that other, more sentient leaders respected. Almost all presidents, responding to the exigencies of practical politics, are obliged at times to attack -- sometimes ferociously -- opponents whom they see as doing harm to the nations interests. Donald Trump was certainly not shy in that respect.

However Biden, in his blind, bumbling, way, has considerably widened the field of fire, putting half the nation in his sights.

We are left to wonder if the Blood Red Broadcast of September 1st is just another example of the empty-headed hackery that has so typified Bidens career. Or was Bidens elevation meant to be a sedative, a familiar, if not quite soothing face as others shepherd us toward a CCP-like new era of government intrusion and thought control?

The federal bureaucracy has grown so large and unaccountable that what once would have been passed off as clownish blathering cannot so easily be dismissed. The recent revelations that the FBI ran legal interference for the Biden family graft machine, along with the news that 87,000 (possibly armed) IRS agents are being added to Deep State rolls, only heighten the unease of many average citizens.

Or perhaps all this is merely preparation for the coming indictment of Donald Trump.

There are clearly some within the Biden orbit who wish to provoke a violent response to something -- anything -- so long as it gives them the necessary excuse to invoke the powers of the state to suppress and intimidate opposition.

If indeed the MAGA gambit is the opening move of a power grab, where is the defensive position upon which we can plant our flag and say enough? Were not insurrectionists of any kind; were not agents of rebellion or internet conspiracy theorists concocting ridiculous scenarios. As Biden contemptuously reminds us, we have no F-15s.

But every day were confronted with more and more evidence that our government cares little about anything other than preserving its own power, and gives little thought to retaining the consent of the governed thats always been the centerpiece of our national existence.

The U.S. Constitution is what we must jealously guard in these dangerous times. We must insist, even at the risk of our safety and liberty, that it be strictly obeyed. All the MAGA BS aside, its not really Trump whos the target (something he himself has asserted), or even his supporters. Its the Constitution theyre truly after; so long as its respected and in force, it stands in the way of the anarchy and societal restructuring for which the Dems are ultimately angling. Our founding document is our rock, our substitute for a monarchy, and it must be defended to the bitter end, as some in the past would die for their King or Queen. It must never be tossed aside or corrupted.

The Weimar Germans also had a constitution that secured personal rights and freedoms. But it was new to them; they had little experience with it. They lacked the confidence in it to properly guard it against Hitlers assaults.

We have the benefit of over two centuries of living, guided by the magnificent framework devised by those imperfect geniuses. Were equally fortunate that even at this perilous moment, a great deal of whats ailing can still be addressed at the ballot box.

Image: Public Domain
On Monday, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called Iran's latest demands in the on-again, off-again nuclear negotiation, "a step backward," making a deal "unlikely." The Iranians want the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to shelve its investigation into Iran's undeclared uranium enrichment activities and figured they could get the U.S. to cave, as it did when John Kerry was leading the U.S. negotiating team in 2015.

Team Biden desperately wants the deal to go through, despite all the insistence from Tony Blinken that the U.S. will only agree to a deal that benefits U.S. national security. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy thinks he knows why.

"Are they trying to get Iranian oil back into the market to try to lower the gas price based on stopping production in America?" he asked Maria Bartiromo on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures.

Noting that the administration "has not briefed anyone" on the negotiations, despite numerous reports that a deal is just "days away," McCarthy pointed out that lifting sanctions on Iran and immediately releasing nearly $100 billion frozen oil money would only encourage more Iranian terrorism around the world. In addition, he said, Democrats believe a dramatic drop in gasoline prices would increase their chances in the midterms.

Israel has been observing the body language in Washington with increasing trepidation. On Monday, Israeli interim Prime Minister Yair Lapid reportedly provided hot new intelligence on Iran's nuclear program to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz -- information so sensitive that it apparently caused Germany, France, and the United Kingdom to issue a statement expressing "serious doubts" over Iran's sincerity in the ongoing negotiations.

"We gave information to the Europeans that proved that the Iranians are lying while talks are still happening," an Israeli official told the Times of Israel.

Israel attempted unsuccessfully to discourage the Obama administration from concluding the initial nuclear agreement in 2015, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveling to Washington, D.C., to address a joint session of Congress to make the case against the deal.

On April 30, 2018, it was again Netanyahu who convinced President Donald Trump it was time to make good on his campaign promise to end "the worst deal ever" and withdraw U.S. support from the Iran nuclear agreement, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Program of Action (JCPOA).

In a press conference in Tel Aviv at the time, Netanyahu revealed that Israel's Mossad had broken into a warehouse in Tehran and stolen thousands of documents from Iran's secret nuclear weapons program, some of which Netanyahu described in detail. "Netanyahu's revelation provided concrete evidence that the Iranians had failed to comply with the terms of the deal -- and in fact showed that they had never intended to comply," former Trump senior aide Jared Kushner writes in his new memoir.

It's truly astonishing that any analyst capable of reading at a 6th-grade level could conclude any differently, and yet the pro-Tehran lobbyists in Washington and their consorts in the media continue to lie, claiming Iran is not a threat.

Information on Iran's nuclear weapons intentions has been publicly available for over thirty years. I was involved in the early 1990s in making some of it public in a ground-breaking report for the Simon Wiesenthal Center. The Iranians predictably howled, calling the report Zionist propaganda and me an Israeli spy during a live segment on ABC Nightline.

As I recount in a new memoir, And the Rest is History, when I offered to Iran's then United Nations ambassador, Kamal Kharazi, to lead a team of non-governmental experts to Iran to investigate -- and potentially whitewash Iran -- he brushed it aside. "Mister Timmerman, if you come to Iran we will keep you for a very long time," he said.

Today, the International Atomic Energy Agency, under its formidable chief, the Italian Raphael Grossi, is refusing to back away from demands that Iran explain past nuclear weapons research and the presence of traces of weapons-grade uranium at supposedly civilian production sites. In June, the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors passed a motion censuring Iran for its non-cooperation. Predictably, Russia and China abstained.

The IAEA has been asking -- begging -- the Iranians for years for "technically credible explanations" to whitewash the evidence of nuclear weapons activity. The fact that the Iranian regime can't even provide that should be a clear indicator of their intent.

The Israelis continue to provide information from Iran's secret Nuclear Archive to governments and researchers. Their most recent revelation involves photographs of a fourth underground site used in "explosive testing of nuclear weapons components." They also produced a table detailing 192 underground tests.

These are not the activities of a country seeking to build nuclear power plants. But the Biden administration remains hell-bent on concluding a deal. And it's all about the oil.

Ship-tracking firms estimate that Iran has stockpiled anywhere from 60 to 93 million barrels in crude oil and condensate in tankers in the Persian Gulf, off Singapore, and near China, Bloomberg reported recently. That oil "could be swiftly dispatched to buyers in the event an agreement gets hammered out," Bloomberg added.

While it could take weeks or even months for Iran to find buyers and insurance to move all that oil to markets, nevertheless it represents an enormous surge in global oil supplies -- nearly half of what the U.S. pledged to release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserves.

The SPR releases are widely credited with bringing oil prices down over the past three months, with gasoline now at $3.70/gallon on average nationwide, instead of well over $5.00

But the SPR releases are currently scheduled to end in mid-October -- just three weeks before election day.

What better time for Iran to flood world oil markets than now? In addition to the surge of Iran's offshore stockpile, a new nuclear deal would allow Iran to return as a "normal" exporter, increasing the flow of Iranian oil "by between 500,000 bpd to 1 million bpd," according to analysts.

That would likely drive the price per barrel back into the $65 range -- and remove a big pocketbook issue Republicans had been hoping to use in November. It's hard to imagine a more cynical motive for recklessly endangering U.S. national security.

Ken Timmermans 12th book of non-fiction, And the Rest is History: Tales of Hostages, Arms Dealers, Dirty Tricks, and Spies, was recently released by Post Hill Press. Timmerman was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 and has covered the Middle East for 40 years.

Image: RawPixel
The politicization of the education system has destroyed parent-teacher relations. Instead of encouraging healthy communication among parents, teachers, and administrators, public school officials have continued undermining parental rights and implementing their own political ideologies into coursework. Teachers unions work to vilify concerned parents and label them as "extremists" for showing up and trying to be involved in their children's educational process.

Sixty-eight percent of parents surveyed by The Learning Heroes expressed concerns about politicians making curriculum decisions. Eighty-two percent of parents recently admitted in a Harris Poll that they are willing to change their political affiliation over educational policies. Trust in the public education system has dropped to a second all-time low, and conservative and moderate teachers recognize this. They are leaving left-leaning in favor of private schools, microschools, and homeschooling options.

I have been homeschooling my children for over 10 years now. My family was forced out of the public education system when the district that served us lost its accreditation. I also work as an English teacher at our local co-op.

I do not have an education degree, but I have worked in professional writing for over a decade. My lengthy experience working with various genres has offered just as much credibility as any teaching certificate. Instead of learning from someone who has only been trained to teach, my students are gaining insider knowledge from someone who writes for a living. In exchange, I am rejuvenated with hope for the future as I teach creative writing to upper elementary students and also high school journalism.

Being in charge of educating a group of students is important work. Critical thinking and unbiased teaching methods are my baseline. I consider these to be the most important principles of exchanging information (and education is nothing more than a sophisticated exchange of information). It is easy work when helping ten-year-old children decide what kind of monster to put in their fairy story, but it is more difficult in my journalism class.

Each week, I bring in articles to share with my students before we move on to our writing exercises. Sometimes I work to display examples of great writing; others, I'm presenting what not to do to your reader. I like to offer a healthy mixture of seriousness, professionalism, satire, and inspiration, but above all, I wish to be politically unbiased.

During our lessons, I have no intention of instructing my students on how or what to think of any given subject. Instead, our classes are based on inquiry, exploration, and self-expression. There is nothing I love more than to hear students describe their own independent thoughts.

I also know that I have a responsibility to my students. I am being trusted by the other adults in my community to help educate their children. While their children may be "my students," they do not belong to me in any capacity.

This is where many alternative school teachers' opinions differ from that of current public school educators. As the debate over how and when identity politics should be taught rages on, some teachers have declared, "I'm your mom now" to LGBT students who do not feel accepted by their parents.

That sentiment may be figurative, but our country is experiencing a serious youth mental health crisis. Students are more confused than ever. They are struggling with various internal issues, and educators who overstep their boundaries, or even pretend to have any legal claim over children, are sometimes doing more harm than good.

It is my job as an educator to be understanding, honest, and unbiased. I can be caring without trying to replace a child's mother. I can offer support without encouraging children to join movements or become activists. Too many educators in the public education system cannot fathom this. They believe that it's impossible to be apolitical.

This philosophy was recently described by former high school English teacher Summer Boismier. She opposed her Oklahoma City school policy, which restricts politically divisive materials from being discussed into the classroom. Instead of contacting her union representative or local lawmakers, or appealing to parents, she took it upon herself to give students access to books that are not allowed in school.

Instead of organizing an independent student book club  with the approval of parents  she decided that what she wanted for these children was what mattered. It wasn't a matter of responsibility to the community, or her class; it was a selfish matter of getting her way. She decided that her beliefs were more important than state guidelines, which were passed by government officials who were elected by the people to represent the people.

Whether she agreed with the policy or not, she decided to distribute unapproved content to minors without parental consent. This is the major issue for those who continue walking away from the education system. This is why parents are not supporting teachers  because teachers are not supporting them or their wishes.

When I stand before my students, I don't just think of their needs, but also their families' needs. Their parents chose to homeschool for their own reasons, and everyone's story is personal. Some of my students are disabled; some have behavioral issues. Despite this, I enjoy educating each and every one of them because I know that I am just one small component of their education and all of the various influences they will experience in their lives.

Instead of selfishly impressing my politics, my religion, and my view of how a society should run, I never forget my place. I know that I am providing a service. Parents text and email me with questions, concerns, and words of encouragement. We communicate well because we work together for the benefit of the children.

It is this mutual respect that helps breeds a positive community atmosphere. Having that support makes it easier to want to openly teach all sides of an issue in order to give students the freedom to choose what they believe. They discuss what they've learned with their parents and then return with more interest.

Showing both sides of a story is an important aspect of my journalism class. I use both liberal and conservative perspectives to help students discuss their thoughts and figure out who they are. Instead of telling them to get upset about injustice, I let the events we read about speak for themselves. Most often, these teenagers aren't sure what to think. They're young and just realizing the many shades of life.

Any teacher can work to build strong relationships with parents and students without recruiting them for political battles. It all starts with recognizing and respecting the responsibility that all educators have to families. If teachers want more support, they need to focus on imparting knowledge instead of creating more unemployed activists. Everything else falls into place once students are allowed to view the world without being told how to see it or what lens to view it through.

Jessica is an education news reporter for Go 2 Tutors, homeschooling mother of four, and author of Homeschooling on a Budget. Her work has been featured by The Epoch Times, The Federalist, The New American, Evie Magazine, The St. Louis Post Dispatch, and many more.

Image: jarmoluk via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Democrats are in a panic after the September 1, 2022 report of student test scores which show school closures during the pandemic wiped out 50 years of academic progress in America.

In 2022, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) administered the National Assessment of Educational Progress, usually referred to as the "nation's report card," in math and reading for nine-year-old students to determine the academic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Across long-term trend reading and mathematics, there were no increases in scores for any of the selected student groups compared to 2020, only declines or stagnant scores for nine-year-olds.

In math, there was a first time ever drop for nine-year-olds since the test began in 1973. Their reading scores dropped the most since 1990. Between 2020 and 2022, average reading scores for nine-year-old students dropped five points and math scores dropped seven points.

The learning loss was most severe among low-performing and minority students, which widened between 2020-2022 when schools were closed and students learning online from home. Black students lost 13 points in math and white students lost five point -- a difference of 8 points. This widened the black score gap from 25 points in 2020 to 33 points in 2022.

Reading scores remained steady in city schools while those for suburban schools declined eight points, narrowing the gap between the two. Scores for students in the West region did not change significantly.

Although $130 billion from the American Rescue Plan pushed by the Biden administration was allocated for the reopening of schools and social and emotional learning (including Critical Race Theory training for teachers), data from national and state tests show that elementary students are showing recovery in reading and math but middle school students are showing little to no recovery.

Recovery efforts have been impeded by increasing student mental health problems, student absenteeism, and staffing shortages as well as classroom disruptions and behavorioral problems.

Except for hiring more staff, the other issues are being ignored by the Biden administration. In a statement addressing the NAEP results, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said,

Our top priority remains to make sure states, schools, and districts are using these funds on strategies we know work like well-resourced schools, high-dosage tutoring and enriching afterschool programs -- and directing the most resources towards students who fell furthest behind. We must repair the damage done by Donald Trumps mismanagement of the pandemic -- and we will.

What needs to be addressed is why schools were shut down in the first place and then remained shut down even into 2021 when student infection rates were not found to be a significant problem.

According to a policy brief by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty in November 2020, a study of nearly 200,000 students in 47 states showed little evidence that schools served as superspreaders. Schools throughout Europe reopened, while ours remained shuttered. Even Chinese schools were open. Private schools continued teaching safely, while public school students were forced to stay home.

In his press statement, Cardona blamed the Trump administration for the school shutdowns, "Todays data confirm the significant impact the prior Administrations mismanagement of the pandemic has had on our childrens progress and academic wellbeing."

However, the Wisconsin brief concluded that partisanhip and union presence were the main drivers as to whether a school reopened.

Districts with a teachers union were more likely to go virtual than districts without a teachers union; Districts with a higher percentage of votes for President Trump in 2016 and 2020 were more likely to open, while those with a higher percentage for Hillary Clinton were more likely to remain shuttered; The per-capita rate of COVID-19 cases in an area was not significantly predictive of whether a school district would reopen or not; and As the percentage of students in a district who are low income increases, so does the likelihood that the district will have chosen virtual education for the fall.

In 2020, teachers ' unions membes held sickout strikes to prevent schools from opening in various cities. The Chicago Teachers Union claimed that the reopening of schools was "rooted in sexism, racism, and misogyny."

A March 2022 interim report by Republicans on the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis found that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allowed the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the second largest teacher's labor union in America, to help write key sections of the 2021 COVID-19 guidelines to determine whether and how long schools should be closed and in-class instructin restricted. Key officials of the union backed Democrats in the 2020 elections.

The loss of 50 years of academic progress because of school shutdowns will cost the U.S. economy trillions of dollars.

In a study about Philadelphia and surrounding suburb districts, Penn Wharton Budget Model reported that by March 2021, black students in grades K-5 had incurred a 11.9 percent loss in lifetime income from school closures while white students had lost 10.4 percent.

A 2020 report by economists Hanushek and Woessmann that evaluated the economic impact of remote learning for developed nations suggests that K-12 students will earn 3% less over their lifetimes. This translates into an annual GDP that is, on average, 1.5% lower for the remainder of the century.

For the U.S., a loss of 1.5% in future GDP because of learning loss over one-third of a year could cost the economy $14.2 trillion. Learning loss for two-thirds of a year could mean an economic loss of $28 trillion.

The economists warned that the economic costs could be higher with permanent losses if the school fail to return to better performance levels than those in 2019.

With some schools closing even now in 2022, we can expect even greater academic and economic losses.

Early in our nation's history, Americans were the most literate in the world. By 2019 the U.S. had gone "from being the worlds best educated workforce to the least well educated in the industrial world -- an existential crisis." At that time the average American high school graduates were two-and-a-half years behind those in top-performing countries. This low education level of American workers has been estimated to cost the American economy $2 trillion annually. With the lastest learning loss and its impact on our economy, America is in very deep trouble.

The blame for the failure of our public schools to instill a proper education lies directly with the Democrat party that has been in control of education for decades.

To contact: Carole H. Haynes, chaynes@drhaynesreportcom

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One hundred sixty years ago today, a savage dawn to dusk battle occurred in the rolling countryside of western Maryland. The great Civil War historian, Bruce Catton, wrote that the Battle of Antietam produced, the decisive victory of the warone [sic] of the great, decisive victories in American history.

By the late summer of 1862, prospects for preservation of the Union looked bleak. The Federal campaign to control the Mississippi River had floundered, and the Confederates were invading Kentucky and Maryland. Great Britain and France readied to recognize the Confederacy.

The invasion of Maryland by the Army of Northern Virginia posed the gravest threat to the Union. Under the command of General Robert E. Lee, this army in midsummer threw back the attempt to take Richmond, and in late August, routed Union forces at the Second Battle of Bull Run.

General Lee now sought a decisive victory on Union soil. He and his army believed they could whip any Union force sent against them. Lee especially believed he could defeat General George B. McClellan, the overly cautious (and delusional and paranoid) commander of the Army of the Potomac. Lee had come close to destroying this army outside Richmond.

By great fortune, Confederate campaign plans fell into McClellans possession on September 13, when McClellan (commanding over 85,000 men) had advanced to Frederick, Maryland. At the time, Lees army of 41,000 men was widely scattered. As a precaution Lee had posted small blocking forces at the gaps in South Mountain, a mountain ridge twelve miles west of Frederick.

Knowing Lees plans gave McClellan the confidence to quickly move against the gaps. On September 14, McClellan drove the Confederates from South Mountain.

But rapidity by The Young Napoleon could last only so long. McClellan returned to advancing cautiously. He believed Lee had 120,000 men under his command. This delusion  which so grievously hampered McClellan outside Richmond  would now befoul his decisions at Antietam.

McClellans advance forced Lee to try to concentrate his army before Union forces could defeat them in detail. Lee commanded his units to make for the town of Sharpsburg, adjacent to Antietam Creek, which lay about five miles west from South Mountain.

Lee had chosen a good, but not ideal defensive position. He had placed his army with its back to the Potomac River, and only one fordable exit was available for retreat. Furthermore by the morning of September 16, Lees army was still not fully concentrated. General A.P. Hills division remained at Harpers Ferry, seventeen miles away, and two other of Stonewall Jacksons divisions were en route.

McClellan threw away September 16, when he had over 73,000 men available to attack while Lee had no more than 25,000 at hand. Lees lines would have probably cracked like an eggshell. The Army of Northern Virginia, heart and soul of the Confederacy, would have been taken off the board. Along with its stellar commanders of Lee, Jackson, Stuart, and Longstreet.

The Young Napoleon finally attacked at dawn on September 17. That morning, Lee had 37,000 men present. A dreadful three-act play ensued.

Act I (early morning) involved the Miller cornfield, the Dunker Church, and woodland on the northern side of the battlefield. Unbelievably fierce fighting resulted in over 10,000 casualties. Union forces came close to breaking Jacksons line, but McClellan committed his divisions piecemeal. This allowed Lee and Jackson to beat back each attack separately.

Act II (mid morning) involved a sunken country lane in the center of the battlefield. The dirt farm road provided a natural fortress for the Confederates and allowed them to mow down attack after Union attack. Blue clad bodies piled up on the field before the lane.

Union troops finally flanked the lane and their enfilade fire returned the favor of slaughter. The enfilade fire and a misunderstood command caused the surviving Confederates to abandon the lane. (The corpse-filled stretch ever after was known as The Bloody Lane.)

Now came a moment of supreme opportunity. The Confederate center was broken. No reserves remained for Lee. The Confederates were reduced to generals manning field pieces and wielding muskets.

McClellan had 30,000 uncommitted men available to administer the coup de grace. He hemmed and hawed. Incredibly he was worried about a massive Confederate counterattack. In the end, Young Napoleon did nothing.

Act III (afternoon) involved an arched stone bridge over Antietam Creek on the southern end of the battlefield. General Ambrose Burnside was tasked with carrying the bridge (later named for him) and attacking Lees denuded right wing. The first two assaults on the bridge failed. Early afternoon, the whiskey inspired men of two regiments took the bridge and the overlooking bluff. Another attack succeeded crossing further downstream.

Again ignoring the military dictum reinforce success, McClellan did not send in his reserves. For a while it looked like Burnside (who McClellan despised and mistrusted) would not need help. Against desperate but badly outnumbered opposition his corps steadily advanced towards Sharpsburg and the vital Boteler's Ford. If Burnside reached the ford, Lees army was trapped.

On this day of outlandish drama, Act III properly closed with the most far-fetched scene of all. Driven by the sword prodding General A. P. Hill, a Confederate division, completed their forced march from Harpers Ferry. With complete surprise the division smashed into the flank of Burnsides corps and drove it back to the arched bridge. At the last second, Union victory was snatched away.

Sunset blessedly brought an end to the carnage. Over twenty-two thousand Americans had been killed or wounded (the highest single day toll, before or since, in the nation's history). But as the sound of battle faded away, the survivors became all too aware of other noise. The cries of the wounded filled the night air.

McClellan (who should have been hung from a sour apple tree) did not attack the next day, although his army now outnumbered the battered Army of Northern Virginia two and a half to one. During the night, Lee withdrew to Virginia.

Tactically, the Battle of Antietam was a draw. Yet the battle, however botched, proved a strategic victory for the Union  and for the beleaguered Lincoln Administration. Lees invasion of Maryland had been repelled, and the threat of foreign intervention reduced.

An act of ultimately far greater importance took place five days later. President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which on January 1, 1863, would outlaw slavery in Confederate-held territory. It also allowed Blacks to join the Union army. Lincoln had waited since July for a Union victory, any victory, to make the proclamation.

The proclamation fundamentally changed the Union cause. As Bruce Catton wrote:

It finally determined that the Civil War was not merely a war for reunion but also a war to end human slavery; turned it from a family scrap into an incalculable struggle for human freedom, and thus made it a fight in which no civilized outsider could possibly intervene.

Such became the abiding legacy of the slaughterhouse Battle of Antietam.

Image: David Mark from Pixabay, Pixabay License, free for commercial use, no attribution required
BEIJING, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the general debate of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly from September 18 to 25, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced Saturday.

According to Mao, on the margins of the general debate, Wang will host a ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, attend the meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations and the dialogue of foreign ministers of China and the Quartet of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), hold a group meeting with the foreign ministers of the Troika of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Wang will also have bilateral meetings with the UN Secretary-General, the President of the 77th session of the General Assembly and the heads of delegation or foreign ministers of some countries, Mao said. 
Texas's Gov. Greg Abbott got the ball rolling with his decision to bus illegal aliens to America's foremost sanctuary cities. And Florida's Gov. DeSantis has taken it to 11 by flying more of the migrants to America's foremost elite sanctuary cities, such as Martha's Vineyard.

For Democrats, it's not a one-day story, but an ongoing can of whoopass.

It comes after months of Democrats controlling the narrative about the border surge  from the press doing softball interviews with migrant-inviting Joe Biden, his do-nothing "border czar" Kamala Harris, and derelict Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to phony political "narratives" about Border Patrol agents using "whips" on illegal border-crossers to ignored stories about migrant crime and costs on border cities, midnight flights of migrants to cities around the country, the nightmare of socialism in places like Venezuela, and the swing of south Texas's fed-up Latino voters to the Republicans. Now it seems that Abbott and DeSantis have seized the narrative back.

That's because the hits just keep coming for the open-borders Democrats with this bid to make every sanctuary state a border state. Every one of them makes Democrats look like asses.

Here's a point-by-point summary from events in just the past day now.

Start with NBC swamp thing "journalist" Chuck Todd. According to Fox News:

NBC's Chuck Todd asserted Thursday that it was "inhumane" to send illegal immigrants to Martha's Vineyard because, in his view, the location "doesn't have any infrastructure."

Todd's point about "infrastructure" is an authentic "talking point" repeated by the White House, Democrat officials in big cities where illegally present migrants are being transported, and local officials on tony Martha's Vineyard, who are shipping the migrants out so as not to turn their streets into the apocalyptic migrant scenes now seen in El Paso. Claims not to have "infrastructure" are ridiculous, given the amount of cash shoveled out by the federal government for "infrastructure" on all fronts. What everyone can see they are saying is, they don't want their streets flooded with illegals any more than Texas and Florida do. Their claims that Texas and Florida somehow have the "infrastructure" to handle two million illegal border-crossers into their states  particularly with news stories rolling out about El Paso and the Del Rio sector  are laughable. We all know what they are saying with this Beltway talking point: let the border states with all their abundant infrastructure (except a border wall) eat cake.

This is far from the only self-own. Let's move onto the rich Democrats who inhabit the tony enclave of Martha's Vineyard itself, seat of the DeSantis flights of indigent and illegal migrants. According to Breitbart News, citing a report from Telemundo,

[a] Spanish TV reporter for Telemundo said Martha's Vineyard residents privately admitted to not wanting migrants on the island. Speaking outside St. Andrew's church where the 50 migrants that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) shipped up to the elite liberal vacation spot, Cristina Londono Rooney of Telemundo said that residents refused to be interviewed on camera about their displeasure with the situation for fear of appearing "inhumane." ... "There are also others who blame the Biden Administration, saying it's their fault, they don't want the migrants here. But they don't want to speak on-camera, either because they don't want to be depicted as inhumane."

The old lefty fear of losing "respectability" by being called a "racist" and "xenophobe" seems to be making the rich liberals there camera-shy. Why the hell aren't these people on camera? And why aren't they changing the law about sanctuary cities and states, which brought them this state of affairs? They're against open borders but just can't bear the thought of being called "racist" by some leftist ignoramus. Being New Englanders, they appear to value their Puritan hypocrisies. The whisperings, in light of what the border states have endured for these two Biden years of surges into border states, is simply laughable.

It gets even more embarrassing for Democrats, now that one of them has let the truth slip out about what leftists really think about illegal migrants. According to the Daily Caller:

NBC News deleted a tweet that compared immigrants to trash in light of the recent movement of several dozen illegal immigrants to Martha's Vineyard Friday. The outlet shared its article on Twitter about Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis sending 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard as part of a state project relocating migrants to sanctuary cities. The tweet included a quote from a refugee foundation leader which compared the relocation of immigrants to throwing one's own trash in different areas. "Florida Gov. DeSantis sending asylum-seekers to Martha's Vineyard is like 'me taking my trash out and just driving to different areas where I live and just throwing my trash there,' a founding member of a foundation that helps refugees says," the tweet read.

So DeSantis's bid to bring the open border to the sanctuary states is now trash disposal? Not even the meanest Republican talks like that. Apparently, this Democrat, who's listed as a migrant advocate, was trying to pin something on DeSantis. All he did was reveal what leftists really think of migrants, covering both NBC and himself with, to put it delicately, trash. Chalk up another revealed embarrassment for Democrats.

Then there's Joe Biden himself, who piously intones, in another talking point, about Republicans "playing politics" with the transport of illegal migrants to sanctuary states. According to Fox News:

During an address at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute gala, Biden accused Republicans of "playing politics" and using migrants as "props" after dozens of migrants were sent to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts and to Vice President Kamala Harris' residence in Washington, D.C. "Republicans are playing politics with human beings, using them as props. What they're doing is simply wrong, it's un-American, it's reckless," Biden said Thursday.

Playing politics? This from the president, who's been flying illegal border-crossers in the dead of night into red cities and states to change their voting patterns? Speaking of politics...

The "reckless" claim, from the man who turned the U.S. border over to the control of Mexico's cartels and human-smuggling rackets, is another self-own. Perhaps he should ask the relatives of the 50-some migrants who died in the truck in San Antonio as a result of his open-borders policy about the word 'reckless.'

It's all exposed hypocrisies, and since they are so obvious, it's all embarrassments, one after another. It is indeed a can of whoopass for them, because the embarrassments aren't stopping. Gov. DeSantis seems to know how they work and how to take them out through the potent vehicle of ridicule. That's a great big political feather in his hat. DeSantis got them on the run now, exposing them as naked, letting us know "who they are."

Image: Mike Mozart via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
It is both sad and humorous to watch self-righteous people from sanctuary cities whine when they are confronted with a small sample of what border cities and citizens deal with every day, for decades  but even more so over the past 21 months, given the Biden/Harris disastrous free-for-all.

Mayors and governors in these "sanctuary" jurisdictions have always said how valuable immigrants are, yet they complain when their domains receive a fraction of the influx. They say they aren't prepared to shoulder the burden, but then they also say the illegals pay for themselves.

They griped because they weren't given notice that a few dozen migrants would soon arrive. Well, what about the poor border cities? Are these East Coast elites so removed from reality as to believe that those areas were given a head count of how many illegal aliens would be entering our country because of Biden's disastrous open border policies?

I haven't heard a single left-wing outlet or political figure say a word about Biden's inhumane policies, and how many people are dying, being raped, or being trafficked by the cartels. Somehow  miraculously  the media and other Democrats have never described Biden's disastrous border policy as being "inhumane."

When Biden flew illegals around the country and dropped them off, there was no notice. The media, Hollywood, and other Democrats didn't say a word about that being inhumane or unfair. Newsom didn't accuse the Biden administration of kidnapping. Lori Lightfoot didn't call anyone in the Biden administration racist.

But when Republican governors send 50 people to a rich sanctuary city like Martha's Vineyard, there is feigned outrage. These extravagantly wealthy self-styled humanitarians can't handle 50 illegals, but struggling border towns are supposed to handle thousands every day?

While children and others are trafficked, raped, and worse, the Biden administration continually declares that the border is secure, and the lies are met with near silence.

The media, Hollywood, and other Democrats continuously complained, pretended to care, and reported about the border when Trump was in office, but as soon as Biden opened up the border and made the cartels grossly rich, they developed laryngitis. They rarely said a word, no matter how many people died and how many border towns were devastated. They didn't care about crime.

As a helpful hint, here are some things that the media and other Democrats support that are 100% more inhumane than sponsoring the airfare for a few illegals to one of the ritziest vacation locales in the country:

Aborting fully developed babies up through nine months. Withholding health care from babies who are born alive during botched abortions. Democrat governors like Cuomo forcing nursing homes to take in sick patients. (As Cuomo was doing this, the media, Fauci, and others were mostly cheering how great he was.) Keeping kids locked out of school at the behest of political supporters and making them wear masks despite no scientific evidence that masks work. Keeping children, especially minorities, from going to school in Washington, D.C. if they don't get a vaccine that doesn't prevent the virus. Firing people who didn't get the vaccine  I thought Democrats cared about privacy and that people, especially women, had the right to do whatever they wanted with their bodies! Letting career criminals roam the streets by supporting soft-on-crime D.A.s and no bail laws. Essentially cheering as cities were destroyed and people, including cops, were killed and injured by violent leftist groups in 2020. Many in the media applauded this violence and even described it as "mostly peaceful." Democrats, including Kamala Harris, supported releasing the violent criminals from jail to further destroy the cities. Forcing girls to share locker rooms and compete with males. I thought they cared about girls' privacy and rights! Destroying the fossil fuel industry and devastating the poor, the middle class, and small businesses with high prices despite having zero scientific evidence that crude oil or coal causes temperatures to rise and climate change. The entire Biden family abandoning a child Hunter fathered. They have never even visited the child, and now Hunter is asking to reduce his child support payments. Most of the media don't care about the child or all the kickbacks the Bidens pocketed from foreign countries. They care about this child as much as they cared about all the women Bill and Hillary physically and mentally abused and sought to destroy.

So I hope DeSantis, Abbott, and other politicians at the border continue to ship illegals to self-righteous sanctuary cities. Maybe someday the media and other Democrats will actually care and start following the laws Congress passed, instead of repeating talking points as they troll for votes.

Image: Twitter video screen grab.
On Tuesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham unexpectedly came out as an ostensibly pro-life leader when he announced that, if Republicans take Congress, he plans a bill banning abortions across America after the fifteenth week of pregnancy. For Democrats, the effect was electric. They framed the issue as a total abortion ban and sent their campaigns into overdrive. Conservatives, however, were perplexed for both practical and constitutional reasons. I'm perplexed for one very specific reason: the proposed law does almost nothing to stop abortions in America. So what's going on?

Graham's presentation regarding the abortion bill made two good points. First, he noted that America's policy of unlimited abortions is an outlier around the world. Kathleen Brush has all the details supporting that statement. Around the world, most countries stop abortions when the pregnancy is between 12 and 15 weeks along. China is the exception, being more aligned with the pre-Dobbs situation in America  namely, unlimited abortion.

Second, Graham noted that, if surgeons perform prenatal operations on the fetus, starting at 15 weeks, they use anesthetics because the fetus can feel pain. Logically, the fetus experiences pain when it's aborted. So, again, Graham had some good points to make.



Image: Lindsey Graham. YouTube screen grab.

According to CNN, Graham made the presentation because he thinks the bill is a policy issue that will rally conservatives before the election. That's absolute horse pucky. The bill has completely galvanized Democrats who are already calling it an "abortion ban," even though it's not (more on that in a minute). It's fundraising gold for them and will see a lot of people  especially women, who are often single-issue voters  head to the polls to shut down any Republican candidates.

Republicans are confused. They get that there are three reasons the proposal is a fake:

First, as Glenn Reynolds explains, the Dobbs decision says the federal government has no say in abortion matters. It's purely a states' rights issue. Graham is making a promise to take a step that is denied to Congress ab initio.

Second, even if a Republican Congress votes for and passes the bill (despite lacking the power to do so), there's no chance that Joe Biden will sign it into law. Without a supermajority (and that won't happen), Biden can veto the bill, and there's nothing the Republicans can do.

Third, and this is the really sneaky one, the bill will almost completely undercut Dobbs. Currently, thanks to abortion being returned to states, local communities can enact (and have enacted) laws that virtually end abortion. Whether or not you agree with that, that's how our constitutional system is supposed to work. If there were a federal law allowing abortion up to 15 weeks, that would vitiate those state laws.

Some might counter that lives that will no longer be saved in anti-abortion states would be set off by the hundreds of thousands saved in states that currently have unlimited abortion access. On average, it would be a good thing.

Wrong! And this is where Lindsey Graham is a real weasel.

Second- and third-trimester abortions shock the conscience because third-trimester babies are totally viable, and many second-trimester babies are viable as well. Nevertheless, while they are useful for pointing out abortion's barbarism, these late-term babies don't account for most abortions.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, 94.6% of all abortions in America happen by the 15th week of a woman's pregnancy. In America in 2020, there were 930,160 abortions. If Graham's 15-week ban had been in place in 2020, approximately 879,931 of those abortions would still have occurred. In other words, the 15-week ban Graham proposes will do almost nothing to stop the carnage.

So roughly two months before the midterm elections, Lindsey Graham, with great fanfare, proposes an "abortion ban" that (a) galvanizes the Democrats, (b) is unconstitutional, (c) cannot get a presidential signature, and (d) does almost nothing to stop the Holocaust of infants in America. What the heck kind of a game is he playing?

Think about this: Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell is peculiarly unwilling to help MAGA candidates. Voters want them, but Mitch McConnell doesn't. With a nod to John Milton's Paradise Lost, I suggested that McConnell might prefer ruling in Hell over serving in Heaven; that is, he'd rather be Senate minority leader than risk getting ousted from that position by a MAGA Republican majority.

I wouldn't be surprised if Lindsey Graham, although not the majority leader, also prefers the way things are compared to the way they could be if the MAGA team triumphs. He'd be a much less important senator with a more conservative Senate.

So either Graham has a Machiavellian plan to maintain Republicans' majority status, or he's a fool. And I really don't think Graham's a fool.
The latest chapter in the ongoing violence in Chicago comes from a CEO who can't find people to work in his restaurants. Check this out:

McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski has big concerns about surging crime in Chicago, where the fast food giant is based, saying it is impacting the company's restaurants and making it harder to recruit corporate talent. Crime is "seeping into every corner of our city," Kempczinski said during an event at the Economic Club of Chicago Wednesday. "Everywhere I go, I'm confronted by the same question these days  what's going on in Chicago? While it may wound our civic pride to hear it, there is a general sense out there that our city is in crisis." Kempczinski said that McDonald's (MCD) restaurants in the city are suffering, noting that there are about 400 of the chain's locations across Chicago. "We have violent crime that's happening in our restaurants we're seeing homelessness issues in our restaurants. We're having drug overdoses that are happening in our restaurants," he said. "So we see in our restaurants, every single day, what's happening in society at large." The Chicago Mayor's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kempczinski's remarks.

Concern, Mr. Kempczinski? More like scared to death that they may go to work and get killed in the many skirmishes in Chicago.

So what is the invisible governor of Illinois doing about this? He is declaring an emergency and calling on the National Guard because migrants are showing up from Texas. Chicago is a killing field every weekend  people are getting killed, children as well  but Governor Pritzker wants to show he is tough because a busload of basically harmless people show up in his primary city.

In the meantime, if you are traveling through the Windy City and you see those legendary arches, don't stop to get a burger. It may be closed, or no one will be on duty. It's living in Chicago 2022, a city that has turned over control of its streets to criminal elements. Just ask the CEO, who can't find people to flip those burgers!

PS: Check out my videos and posts.

Image: McDonald's.
Washington, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser has been vociferously complaining recently about the influx of asylum-seekers utilizing homeless shelters and other city services since Texas started busing migrants to the Capital City. Bowser called the migrant issue "significant" and said she is urging a coordinated federal response to the crisis. She is further claiming that migrants are being "tricked" into boarding buses to Washington. Bowser called for a coordinated response from the Biden administration to deal with the situation, prompting Fox News host Pete Hegseth to note the irony, as that is what Republicans have been calling for since Biden took office and did away with many of Donald Trump's border security policies.

Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker recently went so far as to issue an emergency disaster proclamation after hundreds of asylum-seekers arrived in Chicago via bus from Texas.

New York City mayor Eric Adams recently said the city is at a "breaking point" due to thousands of migrants who have been sent by bus from Texas in recent weeks. Really? The city survived the pandemic lockdowns and 9/11, which knocked down the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and killed nearly 3,000 people, but a few thousand illegal aliens are on the verge of destroying it? How does Adams think border states like, say, Texas feel, dealing with the influx of hundreds of thousands of illegals each year under the Biden administration  of the more than 5 million who have entered the United States since Biden took office?

Incredibly, Washington, D.C. and New York are self-proclaimed sanctuary cities (for illegals)  and Illinois touts itself as a sanctuary state.

They're not particularly good at being sanctuaries, are they? Busing immigrants to Florida, sending them back to Texas, etc., and publicly proclaiming: "Crisis! We can't handle them! You must deal with them, not we!" Hypocrisy, thy name is Democrat. In this case, as in others, they are decrying the inevitable results of their own policies and blaming everything on Republicans.

I can declare my abode a "sanctuary" for homeless crack addicts or fired CNN employees, but if I forcefully send them elsewhere when they show up, it doesn't mean much, does it? No, this is just another hollow gesture from a group of hypocritical, virtue-signaling empty suits  entitled wannabe heroes drunk on power.

Would that there were a sanctuary city  or state  for conservatives. And those of us sick of Democrats' prevarication, projection, gaslighting, hyperbole, hypocrisy, and hoaxes.

Image via Public Domain Pictures.
In my mid-20s, I became a Believer, and with that, the scales fell from my eyes, and the lens through which I viewed the world became radically different from what I'd always known. I'd gone to university, so clearly I was intellectually superior, and therefore what else could I be but a chic "progressive"? But please don't worry  I never voted until I became a conservative.

However, after absorbing the material that accompanies "higher education," I was left almost entirely incapacitated regarding my ability to critically think. I now knew that abortion was wrong, but I couldn't develop an apologetics argument to defend my position in a secular world. I now understood that the tremendous sacrifice of the Founding Fathers was not because they were compassionate "liberals," but rather because they held Judeo-Christian principles so dear that they were willing to die for them  but at that time, I couldn't articulate any of my new thoughts.

So I went online, and I stumbled upon American Thinker  a conservative website with prolific output. Over the summer of 2016, I consumed countless posts (perhaps thousands), all of which became crucial in the development of my critical and political brain. Understandably, American Thinker and its contributors hold a very special place in my heart.

But yesterday, in response to a piece I'd written on the "porn literacy" programs in Idaho  a piece I subsequently posted to social media  a woman unknown by me ignored the merit and case presented in the blog, and simply sent me a link to some rinky-dink fact-checking website, declaring American Thinker to be a "questionable" source. The site was so obscure that I was actually surprised she considered it a legitimate defense of her position. After all, regardless of political views, American Thinker is an established outlet with frequent contributions from high-profile writers.

As seconds ticked on, I went from my initial shock to amusement, and then it hit me: why is the left so obsessed with third-party "fact-checking" bureaus?

Presumably, this woman didn't like the content of my post  she sent a follow-up note from the AP "fact-checker" (which at least has some legitimacy) telling me the information itself was false. However, none of my facts were out of order, and I hyperlinked everything directly to the "porn literacy" material in question. But for some reason, instead of utilizing the direct links I provided, she likely hopped on a left-wing search engine to look up American Thinker and called it a day. She'd done her due diligence, and without missing a beat, she forwarded me the results, and I'm assuming she genuinely believed she'd made a compelling point. Truly, it was bewildering.

We live in an era of decadence. Decadence purchased with blood, unbelievable sacrifice, and tremendous sorrow. And living in decadence, we want for nearly nothing  everything comes so conveniently.

Just as I was when I was incapable of critical thought, so are most Democrats and leftists now. We see it all the time: they scream "my body, my choice" as they acknowledge that the unborn is distinct from the mother, but then when it comes to the jab, then it's your body, their choice. Or how about this: the borders are secure, and cartel activity is limited to drug-running, but DeSantis is the real human-trafficker. The list is truly endless.

Arguing with leftists is like trying to pin down a drop of water, and their arguments are defined by speciousness and fallacy. So often they truly can't see the irony or hypocrisy. Simply put, leftist thought is defined by the absence of critical analysis.

When you've been anesthetized into avoiding intelligent thought, thinking becomes a burden. It's simply easier to remain stagnant than exercise a muscle that's atrophied, ergo, remaining ignorant equates to supreme laziness.

And there we arrive at our answer: ignorance goes hand in hand with apathy, and so it's no surprise that the most ignorant of Americans love an "impartial service" that further removes any impending threat of being forced to think for themselves.

In honor of today, I'll close with a quote by the Apostle of the Constitution:

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.

Image: Free image from Pixabay, no attribution required.
The Washington Times broke a story on Thursday that deserves much more attention than it got: according to both current and former rank-and-file FBI agents, Joe Biden is so desperate to prove that White supremacists are a huge threat to America that he's been pressuring agents to make up cases (something that may explain the FBI-inspired Gretchen Whitmer "kidnap plot" in Michigan). The whistleblowers are anonymous, so this story is still an allegation, but it's certainly consistent with the administration's racial obsessions, the dearth of actual White supremacists, and the endless list of leftist hoaxes to offset that dearth.

According to the Washington Times:

Rank-and-file FBI agents are accusing the Biden administration of exaggerating the threat of White supremacists and pressuring agents to cook up domestic terrorist cases involving racist extremists. Current and former FBI agents told The Washington Times that the perceived White supremacist threat is overblown by the administration. They said top bureau officials are pressuring FBI agents to create domestic terrorist cases and tag people as White supremacists to meet internal metrics. "The demand for White supremacy" coming from FBI headquarters "vastly outstrips the supply of White supremacy," said one agent, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "We have more people assigned to investigate White supremacists than we can actually find."

These as yet unproven allegations are entirely consistent with a few things we've noticed recently. There was that FBI chart labeling anyone with a Gadsden Flag or Betsy Ross flag, among other common symbols associated with America, as a potential White supremacist. Also, prominent people in the administration, from Biden on down, constantly insist that White supremacy is the worst threat to Americans' safety and well-being. Here are just a few examples:

April 28, 2021: Biden says that "White supremacy is terrorism."

May 12, 2021: Merrick Garland tells Congress that White supremacists are "the most dangerous threat to our democracy."

June 15, 2021: The White House issues a "fact sheet" claiming that White supremacy is one of "the two most legal elements of today's domestic terrorism threat[.]"

May 17, 2022: Biden blames White supremacy for a shooting in Buffalo, N.Y.

September 14, 2022: Biden says "White supremacy is the greatest terrorist threat to our Homeland today."

The problem for Democrats is that, while there are always going to be fringe haters, some of whom do awful things, there is no White supremacist movement in America. The Democrats' racist glory days in the 1920s, when they were able to gather as many as 50,000 Klansmen to march on Washington, D.C., are gone:



Image: The Klan marches on Washington, 1926. Library of Congress.



Image: The Klan marches on Washington, 1926. Library of Congress.



Image: The Klan marches on Washington, 1928. Public domain.

The same Washington Times article notes that the FBI denies the whistleblower claims, while Brian Levin, an academic who specializes in "hate and extremism," claims that anti-Black crimes (i.e., White supremacist crimes) are on the rise. That may be, but it's still not the scourge the Democrats want it to be.

According to the FBI's own data, in 2020, the last year for which there are data, out of a nation of 331,893,000 people, there were 2,871 anti-Black incidents. (We're assuming for purposes of these calculations that these were all real crimes, not hoaxes.) Crimes based upon a person's race, nationality, religion, etc., are vile, but 2,871 is 0.0009% of the American population. We're not talking about a widespread problem.

In fact, proportionally, Jews are much more likely to be the victim of hate crimes. Demographic information shows that there are 6,588,000 Jews in the population, compared to 40,610,815 Blacks. In other words, the Jewish population is around one sixth of the Black population. However, when it came to hate crimes in 2020, with 683 antisemitic crimes, Jews experienced hate crimes at a rate of about one fourth the number of crimes against Blacks. With that disproportion, why isn't the administration railing against antisemitism?

Democrat politics are destroying the Black community, whether by shipping in illegal aliens to compete for jobs, destroying the family unit, dramatically increasing crime risks for Blacks, or feeding racial paranoia with lies about White supremacists. The Democrats, though, still need Black votes (the illegal aliens haven't yet been given citizenship and suffrage), so they must create an enemy tworse than the damage Democrats have caused.

The scariest enemy is, of course, the mythical "White supremacist." The only problem is that demand far exceeds supply. And that's how we end up with the believable allegations that the FBI is doing the Biden administration's bidding by forcing rank-and-file agents to beef up the White supremacist statistics, even if they have to make up things to do so.
On Friday, the Fifth Circuit released its decision in NetChoice v. Paxton, a case a trade association representing the big social media companies filed against a new communications law in the State of Texas. The law held that social media companies cannot censor views with which they disagree (invariably, views opposing Democrat actions and ideas). The tech companies argued that it violated their corporate free speech right to censor people on their platforms. The Fifth Circuit strongly disagreed, striking a huge blow in favor of Free Speech in America.

Tech companies used to be free speech zones. However, once they inveigled just about everyone in America away from their usual means of communication and onto their platforms  that is, getting them away from the traditional public square in favor of their own squares  the companies began to clamp down on any speech with which they disagreed. Over the years, they've disagreed with (and censored) people supporting Trump, opposing the Russia hoax, challenging the COVID narrative (everything from masks to hydroxychloroquine to lockdowns), opposing the transgender fiction, and wanting to learn about Hunter Biden's hard drive, to name just a few disfavored views.

BREAKING: I just secured a MASSIVE VICTORY for the Constitution & Free Speech in fed court: #BigTech CANNOT censor the political voices of ANY Texan! The 5th Circuit reject[s] the idea that corporations have a freewheeling First Amendment right to censor what people say. pic.twitter.com/UijlzYcv7r  Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) September 16, 2022

As you've gathered, the censorship flowed only one way: Big Tech silenced anything that challenged a Democrat narrative. We've since learned that this was not a coincidence. Aside from their own loathing of all things Republican, the tech companies took marching orders from the federal government, whether it was working with the White House directly (which allowed the White House to bypass the First Amendment), believing the FBI's false claim that Hunter Biden's hard drive was Russian disinformation, or (possibly) spontaneously passing private messages to the FBI. Mark Zuckerberg also spent $400 million privately funding election officials, dangerously blurring the lines between ostensibly impartial government agencies and private monies and has made clear that he intends to game future elections.

Texas decided to challenge the way the tech tyrants used their supremacy over the public square to silence speech. The Legislature enacted H.B. 20, a statute regulating social media platforms with more than 50 million monthly users (in other words, the big guys, like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube).

The statute holds that these social media platforms are common carriers, affecting the public interest and having control over the marketplace of ideas. As such, says that statute, these platforms may not censor viewpoints, either by preventing people from expressing their viewpoints or preventing them from seeing others' viewpoints  provided that the views expressed do not violate laws (child sexual exploitation, threatening violence, etc.). From a free speech perspective, it's a very good law.

The tech companies had different ideas. In NetChoice v. Paxton, acting through trade associations, they argued that free speech has a very different meaning from actually allowing American citizens to speak freely in the internet arena, which has become the 21st-century public square. The tech plaintiffs advanced the novel theory that the constitutional right to free speech enshrined in the First Amendment includes an unwritten corollary that corporations controlling the public's means of communication have the right to silence such speech.

The court's decision is 113 pages long, so I haven't read it in any detail yet. As Reason noted, however, the introduction goes a long way to summing up just how good a ruling it is:

The implications of the platforms' argument are staggering. On the platforms' view, email providers, mobile phone companies, and banks could cancel the accounts of anyone who sends an email, makes a phone call, or spends money in support of a disfavored political party, candidate, or business. What's worse, the platforms argue that a business can acquire a dominant market position by holding itself out as open to everyone  as Twitter did in championing itself as "the free speech wing of the free speech party." Blue Br. at 6 & n.4. Then, having cemented itself as the monopolist of "the modern public square," Packingham v. North Carolina, 137 S. Ct. 1730, 1737 (2017), Twitter unapologetically argues that it could turn around and ban all pro-LGBT speech for no other reason than its employees want to pick on members of that community, Oral Arg. at 22:3922:52. Today we reject the idea that corporations have a freewheeling First Amendment right to censor what people say. Because the district court held otherwise, we reverse its injunction and remand for further proceedings.

That's exactly the right argument  and I say that with no small amount of smugness, because it's what I've been saying for years. Presumably, the tech companies will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. However, the tightly argued logic I've seen as I've leafed through it, along with the incontestable constitutional principles and the uncontested facts, strongly militates in favor of the Fifth Circuit's position  that is, if one has any interest in maintaining America as a nation in which we honor the People's inherent rights as set out in the Constitution's first ten amendments.

Image: Ken Paxton's proud tweet. Twitter screen grab.
Is it "cruel" to send illegal aliens to Martha's Vineyard, as press secretary Karine Jeanne-Pierre says? Was it also cruel when the Biden administration sent illegals from the border to red states?

What is the difference in the level of cruelty between liberals sending their illegals to red states and conservatives sending theirs to blue states and cities, or is it cruel only when conservatives do it? Liberals are on board for virtue-signaling diversity (and the crime) that comes of illegal immigration so long as it is NIMBY. Does cruelty accrue only when Democrats are hurt? "If you prick us [conservatives], do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?" (Act III, scene I , Merchant of Venice). A little Shakespearean realism is in order here.

How did the geese of Democrat enclaves such as Martha's Vineyard conclude that they must be immune to their own policies? Perhaps it is because we have a two-tier law-making process? Democrats vote for policies that only conservatives must honor. To make a list of Democrat hypocrisies would take too much space and is generally futile in getting their attention, so suffice it to say that the squealing sound you hear is that of upbraided liberals having to acknowledge that their own policies not only don't work, but can be turned back on them. The satisfied chuckling you hear is that of myriad conservatives finally getting to watch liberals realize that they cannot slap a woman and then cry, "I was drunk."

The NIMBY phenomenon has finally struck on the port side of our politics: Democrats are faced with blackouts in California because of their own ridiculous energy policies. San Francisco is seeing huge increases in violent crime, and suddenly the geese are seeing that liberal policies alone account for this. After decades of decline, affected blue cities are reaching critical mass  enough so that those who live in these places are seeing why it's happening: liberalism.

Several businesses are failing or going broke because of their woke liberal policies and politics. Businesses should not fold politics into their products and services, but they felt pressured by the racists (the anti-white, anti-America crowd) to jump aboard the train to Wokestan, and now they are suffering for it. Bed Bath & Beyond, Starbucks, Netflix, PG&E, Procter & Gamble, CNN, Disney, and other companies are just a few who are either closing up shop or are suffering from their misplaced largesse. The very people cheerleading this toxic liberalism, especially the virtue-signaling open borders crowd, are now being hurt and are hilariously blaming conservatives, who wouldn't enact such policies if their pancreas was being ripped out.

The clucking sound you hear are chickens coming home, and I expect to hear much more of it as conservatives use liberalism against liberals, then challenge them to give a good reason why the conservatives shouldn't use it as well. If the policies are good ones, they're good for the geese and the ganders.

There seems to be a burst of conservative courage coming from certain corners of our government recently. I encourage its continuance because I often enjoy schadenfreude. Or just plain vindication will do. We on the right have been wondering for decades how the left can enact these policies and expect no problems from them. Finally, we get to see them stewing in their own juices, shrieking like scalded cats.

It remains to be seen if the policies causing these rampant problems will be fixed, or will the liberals double down, as is their wont? They do not seem to learn easily, so it's a crap shoot which it will be. I call upon all conservative governors to take liberals at their word regarding the benefits of their sanctuary city, so long as the alleged benefits accrue in their sanctuary cities and not in our law-abiding ones.

Image: Twitter video screen grab.
NANNING, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ding Xue, a representative of DeARANCHY, a skincare brand from the Republic of Korea (ROK), has been running around at the ROK pavilion during the ongoing 19th China-ASEAN Expo.

The expo, which opened on Friday and runs until Sept. 19, spotlights the theme -- "Sharing RCEP New Opportunities, Building a Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area." It is currently being held in Nanning, capital city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

"This is the first time for us to participate at the expo. All our products are imported from the ROK. After the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), import tariffs have been lowered accordingly, which has increased our price competitiveness," Ding said.

This is the second time the ROK is serving as a special partner at the China-ASEAN Expo, a status which has attracted many ROK companies to the 2022 exhibition. The ROK also served as a special partner in 2015.

According to Lee Youn Sik, deputy director of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency Guangzhou office, products from 127 ROK enterprises are on display at this year's expo.

"Guangxi is the only region in China connected with ASEAN both by land and sea. More ROK companies hope to explore business opportunities in ASEAN countries by participating in the China-ASEAN Expo," noted Lee.

"The free trade agreements between the ROK, China and ASEAN have given strong support to regional economic cooperation. And the RCEP, which all three parties have joined, came into force at the beginning of this year, providing broader opportunities for regional multilateral cooperation," said Ahn Duk-geun, the ROK's trade minister, in his speech at the opening ceremony of the expo.

The landmark RCEP is the world's largest free trade deal to date. The RCEP countries account for roughly 30 percent of the world's gross domestic product and population. Over 90 percent of trade in goods among approved member states will gradually become tariff-free.

Since it came into force on Jan. 1 this year, the agreement has delivered trade dividends, boosted the foreign trade of member countries and expanded the circle of regional economic and trade cooperation.

"RCEP is a win-win for all of us. It will expedite regional economic integration, attract investment, and expand market and supply chains amid an uncertain global economic outlook. Since the entry into force of the RCEP, Thai and Chinese entrepreneurs are reaping mutual benefits as a consequence," said Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai.

Under the framework of the RCEP agreement, Thai exporters had applied for RCEP certificates of origin worth 204 million U.S. dollars from January to April this year. Thailand had imported goods with a total value of 72.3 million U.S. dollars by utilizing the preferential policies under the RCEP agreement during the same period.

The RCEP has also brought tangible benefits to companies in Guangxi, a vital gateway for exchange and cooperation between China and the ASEAN.

According to data provided by Nanning Customs, in the first eight months of this year, Nanning Customs had issued a total of 1,165 RCEP certificates of origin with a value of 541 million yuan (about 78 million U.S. dollars). In August alone, Guangxi's trade with RCEP partner countries reached 32.14 billion yuan, an increase of 22.7 percent year on year.

"This agreement (RCEP) offers local businesses wider market access and the opportunity to improve regional supply chains and diversify their respective production networks, while helping to reduce the cost of doing business," said Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, while delivering a speech at the opening ceremony via video-link. 
The chief executive of Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland has said she is hugely honoured and privileged to be attending the Queens state funeral.

Jane-Claire Judson will be part of the 2,000-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey on Monday.

The Queen was patron of Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland for 70 years and had a long association with the organisation and the work it carries out.

Ms Judson told the PA news agency: I think the feeling is one of being hugely honoured and privileged to be able to take part in something that is very sombre, but is also very important to such a large number of people.

And I do feel very privileged that I am able to do that on behalf of Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and all of our staff and volunteers.

The Queen was our patron, so for us its extremely special and important to pay our respects.

So from that perspective, its both sad but also an opportunity to celebrate her life and all the support that she gave to the charity.

Ms Judson said the Queens consistent support was something that has been valued by the organisation.

The Queen herself was hugely passionate and committed around public service and volunteering, she told PA.

Were one of Scotlands largest volunteering charities, so it meant a lot to our volunteers to have that recognition, that support.

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland was one of 60 recipients of the Queens Diamond Jubilee Volunteering Award in 2012, one of the highest awards given to volunteer groups in the UK.

Ms Judson said the opportunity for the organisations volunteers and service users to meet the Queen at that time was so valuable and gave them memories people will keep with them forever.

She added: That sense of connection and recognition, the support from Her Majesty the Queen, was incredibly important to the organisation.

The 70 years that she engaged with the organisation, you know, that thread of support, consistent support, is definitely something that we valued and will miss.
A man who has contributed to life-saving work in the west of Scotland says he was taken aback when he received an invitation to the Queens state funeral.

Stuart McLellan, from Renfrewshire, was made an MBE in the Queens Birthday Honours in June.

He is one of nearly 200 people from the June list to have been invited to attend her state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday.

Its a massive occasion, Mr McLellan told the PA news agency. I was actually quite taken aback when I got the phone call to ask if I would like to be part of it.

Its a sad occasion Im in a lot of organisations that the Queen has been sovereign head of, Ive never had the opportunity of meeting the Queen, but the fact that Ive actually been included as one of the last MBE recipients under the Queen has been pretty remarkable.

Im delighted to be included. I think itll be a sad occasion, but itll be nice to be part of a historic event.

Stuart McLellan, right, and Ross Nelson received the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2018, before being made MBEs in June (Stuart McLellan/PA)

Mr McLellan and his friend Ross Nelson both received an MBE earlier this year after setting up the Neilston and Uplawmoor Community First Responder group.

Theyre volunteers that respond to life-threatening emergency calls, Mr McLellan explained.

In 2018, we got the Queens Award for Voluntary Service, which is the equivalent of an MBE for voluntary groups. I got nominated for an MBE following that.

Mr McLellan has also secured hundreds of thousands of pounds in recent years to fund vital life-saving equipment and resources for remote communities in the west of Scotland.

My family live in Campbeltown in Argyll and Bute, Mr McLellan said. They needed a helipad, and the community had been trying for years to get it, so I managed to do a business case and get them funding from the Help Appeal, which is the County Air Ambulance Trust.

I got them 270,000 for a 24/7 hospital helipad, which is now saving lives daily.

He added that work has just started on securing a helipad for residents of Islay, based at the islands hospital.
BEIRUT, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon on Saturday started implementing its plan to return 15,000 Syrian refugees monthly to their homeland, Elnashra news website reported.

Syrian refugees wishing to return home will be transported by the buses sent by the Syrian government, according to Elnashra.

The process will take place in cooperation with the Lebanese General Security Directorate and the Lebanese Red Cross, which will escort them to the Masna'a crossing between Lebanon and Syria under the supervision of the UN Refugee Agency.

The first convoy plans to depart in 10 days, according to Elnashra.

"If no obstacles rise, the Lebanese General Security Directorate can organize the return of 200,000 Syrians within approximately a year," it added.

On July 4, Lebanese Minister of the Displaced Issam Charafeddine announced that the Lebanese government would secure the return of 15,000 displaced Syrians monthly to their homeland.

Lebanese authorities said Lebanon would implement its plan regardless of the international position on this matter as the presence of a significant number of refugees weighs heavily on the country's economy which is already mired in an unprecedented crisis.

Lebanon hosts the world's largest number of refugees per capita, with a government estimate of the Syrian refugees in the country at 1.5 million. 
The final public service for royal family members to say goodbye to the Queen before her burial will be held at St Georges Chapel in Windsor.

Located at the top of the Long Walk in the Berkshire town, the hallowed establishment will host a televised committal service at 4pm on Monday.

St Georges Chapel is steeped in royal history, and it is where the Queen bid farewell to her beloved husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, in a Covid-secure funeral like no other last year.

(PA Graphics)

Following the Queens funeral on Monday, the coffin will be taken to the chapel by state hearse in slow procession.

The King and members of the royal family will take part in centuries-old traditions and say their final goodbyes before the private burial.

Prime ministers from Commonwealth countries, and past and present members of the Queens household will be among the congregation in the chapel.

The Dean of Windsor will conduct the service, with prayers said by the Rector of Sandringham, the Minister of Crathie Kirk and the Chaplain of Windsor Great Park.

The Queen saying goodbye to her husband at his funeral in St Georges Chapel in April 2021 (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The chapels choir will sing, and after the penultimate hymn, the imperial state crown, the orb and the sceptre will be moved from the Queens coffin to the altar.

After the final hymn, the King will place the Queens Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin, while the Lord Chamberlain breaks his Wand of Office and places it on the coffin.

The Dean of Windsor will say a psalm and the Commendation while the Queens coffin is lowered into the royal vault.

After this, the Sovereigns Piper will play a lament and the Archbishop of Canterbury will pronounce the blessing, before the congregation sings the national anthem.

Guests sitting in St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 (Danny Lawson/PA)

The Queen attended a multitude of services at the chapel, including many Christmas Day and Easter celebrations, as well as several major family occasions.

These included the confirmation of the then-Duke of Cambridge in 1997, and the weddings of three of her grandchildren  Peter Phillips, the Duke of Sussex, and Princess Eugenie  before Philips funeral in 2021.

St Georges Chapel is also the resting place of 10 monarchs.

The remains of Henry VIII and the beheaded Charles I are entombed there, along with the bodies of the Queens parents, George VI and the Queen Mother.
Politics is set to return in full force following the Queens funeral, with ministers outlining support for businesses and plans to see the NHS through the winter, before the Chancellors mini-budget rounds off the week.

Normal activity in Westminster has been put on hold since the monarchs death, with business in both Houses halted for the official period of mourning.

It is expected that MPs will return to the Commons on Wednesday, following the state funeral on Monday, where those who wish to do so can take a new oath or affirmation to the King.

The PA news agency understands that Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg will also set out further details of the Governments plans to help firms through the energy crisis.

Heath Secretary and deputy prime minister Therese Coffey is expected to outline her vision to see the NHS through the winter months on Thursday.

Newly installed Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

Chancellor Kwasi Kwartengs highly-anticipated mini-budget will then be delivered on Friday September 23.

The Times reported that the new No 10 chief of staff, Mark Fullbrook, gave a flavour of the PMs ambition to officials in Downing Street on Tuesday, saying she wants to turn a two-year administration into a seven-year administration.

The newspaper also suggested Mr Kwarteng will push ahead with plans to scrap the cap on bankers bonuses, although PA understands the move remains under consideration, with no final decisions taken at this stage.

Last week Liz Truss announced her proposals to tackle sky-high energy bills and ease the cost of-living crisis, with a focus on capping prices and boosting domestic supplies.

The news of the multibillion-pound package was immediately overshadowed by the death of the Queen, leaving various questions about how it would be funded and what other measures might accompany it.

The Prime Ministers two-year plan will save the typical household around 1,000 a year from October and protect billpayers from further expected rises over the coming months.

We're sharing some important information about the Energy Price Guarantee. The October price cap set by @ofgem was due to be 3,550 for an average household. Under the Energy Price Guarantee, it will now be 2,500. Check our factsheet for more: https://t.co/GcMiTJMidF pic.twitter.com/4CtKktMDcX  Dept for BEIS (@beisgovuk) September 17, 2022

For businesses and other non-domestic users such as schools and hospitals, which have not been covered by the existing price cap, a six-month scheme will offer equivalent support.

After that there will be ongoing help for the most vulnerable industries, with a review in three months time to decide where the support should be targeted.

Under the energy price guarantee, bills for the average household will not exceed 2,500 at any point over the next two years.

But the exact nature of the equivalent offer for businesses remains unclear.

Mr Rees-Mogg is understood to be primed to set out further information from Wednesday.

Downing Street had promised that more details about the support were due next week, alongside a pledge to backdate energy costs for companies if there is a delay in getting the complex new scheme off the ground.

The Telegraph reported that the assistance for businesses could take the form of a blanket discount on energy bills, with a fixed reduction to the rate they currently pay per kilowatt hour.

This would differ from the set-up for households, whereby the price suppliers can charge customers for units of gas or electricity will be capped by the Government.

New Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

Meanwhile, sources said Mr Kwarteng is reviewing the current fiscal rules  which include that debt should be on course to fall as a share of national income in 2024-25  given the severity of the economic shocks faced by Britain and the implementation of the energy crisis package.

Further details will be provided in due course, it is understood.

The window of opportunity for Mr Kwartengs so-called fiscal event has been highly constrained, with politics paused following the Queens death and the PM expected to fly to New York for the United Nations General Assembly following the funeral on Monday.

MPs had been due to break for the conference season on Thursday, but will now be asked to sit a day longer to make time for the mini-budget on Friday.

A parliamentary business paper also suggests MPs will consider a motion on Thursday proposing that the Commons returns from the conference recess early, on October 11.
Mourners squealed, cheered and broke down in tears after meeting the King and the Prince of Wales at close quarters during their surprise appearance at the public queue in central London.

Hundreds of people who had been waiting for more than 10 hours to see the Queen lying in state were warmly greeted by Charles and William beneath sunny skies on Lambeth Palace Road.

The royals arrived unexpectedly at around 12.30pm, sending shockwaves through a tired and bedraggled crowd waiting to pay their respects to the Queen.

Mourners reach to shake the hand of King Charles (Aaron Chown/PA)

As they emerged, people surged towards the metal barriers, keen to share a few words with the King and the heir to the throne.

Catherine Padbury, 28, broke down in tears, and the Prince of Wales paused to shake her hand and check on her welfare.

Miss Padbury, who was with her parents Laraine, 59, and David, 64, all from Colchester, Essex, told the PA news agency: I just got completely overwhelmed that they came out to speak to us because theyre mourning themselves, and to come out and spend the time talking to us just means so much.

Catherine Padbury (Laura Parnaby/PA)

I think he (William) saw that I was crying, paused and asked how the night was, checked that I was OK and asked who I was with.

Fighting back tears, she added: I hope that its some comfort to them as well, when they see how much everyone loved Her Majesty.

Emma Parrish, 28, who was with her friend Bex Mould, 34, said it was a moment they would remember forever and said Charles made a quip about holding them up in the queue.

Emma Parrish and Bex Mould (Laura Parnaby/PA)

Ms Parrish, an e-learning content creator from Frome in Somerset, told PA: We were literally at the barriers.

He (Charles) was taking his time and actually apologised for holding us up, which was really sweet  really cute and funny.

It was just a wonderful moment. Well remember it forever.

She praised the royals for actually taking the time to look right into our eyes and have an actual moment with each person.

The Prince of Wales meets members of the public in the queue (Aaron Chown/PA)

Ms Mould, a teacher from Warminster in Wiltshire, added: Were yet to pay our respects to Queen Elizabeth II, so to have been in the presence of a past monarch, a present monarch, and then a future monarch, is quite something to behold.

On a day like this when the sun is shining, I feel dumbfounded.

She added: I said to Prince Charles that his mother would be proud of him, because Ive been watching him ever since last Thursday and I just think hes doing miraculously whilst dealing with grief.

He said back, We were lucky to have her for 70 years.

Karen Redford, 55, a former combat medic and police officer who was wearing several medals for her service, said meeting the royals was very emotional.

Karen Redford (Laura Parnaby/PA)

Ms Redford told PA: The monarchy is of major importance to me, and always has been.

Ive never been this close to either of them before.

To see Prince William that close has just blown my mind. Im a little bit shocked.

Carol-Anne Watson, 67, a retired nurse from Peterborough, said she expressed condolences to William, and described meeting him as overwhelming.

No matter how long weve queued, it just gives us an amazing end to the day  and its not over yet, she said.
The Queens state funeral will remember the late monarchs place in history, with the personal sorrow of a grieving family at its heart, the Dean of Westminster has said.

The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, who will lead the ceremony, said the scale of the service on Monday was almost unprecedented, even for Westminster Abbey  the scene of so many royal milestones throughout history.

Its on a scale that even Westminster Abbey doesnt often do, he said, adding it would be a wonderful mixture of great ceremony and some very profound but very ordinary words.

The Dean of Westminster during an interview in The Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster Abbey (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Hundreds of people have been involved in the preparations inside the gothic church, working through the night as they put in 19 and 20-hour shifts to stage the historic ceremony.

Some 2,000 people will flock to the abbey, with presidents, prime ministers, kings and queens among 500 dignitaries travelling across the world to be there, as millions watch the events unfold on television.

The Dean said: The business about it being a state funeral is really important. Its meant to be visual. Its meant to be grand.

Were supposed to be reminding ourselves of this extraordinary woman who so often took us down through the register, gave us herself, her character.

He added: Part of this is about remembering her significance, her place in history, her place in the nation and Commonwealth.

But its a funeral. Its for a grieving family. Thats really important, personal sorrow at the heart of this.

He summed up the Queens funeral as a service of grief, thanksgiving and hope.

Westminster Abbey (PA)

With the long-held London Bridge plans for the aftermath of the Queens death having finally come into play, the Dean admitted there had been some challenging moments and changes required.

As you work it through, there come moments where you have to recognise no, that doesnt work in the way we thought it would, he said.

There have been some challenging moments where weve had to adapt.

There are some people who are working 19-hour days, 20-hour days at the moment, and one of the striking things is just how good they have been, when theyre very tired and been positive and making adaptions happen.

The Dean revealed how the flowers destined to decorate the abbey were sent away after failing to get through the strict security checks.

There was a wonderful moment when I had flower arrangers waiting in the abbey, and no flowers, because, quite properly, the police didnt recognise what the van was and the flowers were sent back, he said.

It was, he said, a huge privilege to be leading the service.

Theres a sense of responsibility that goes with it and just now and again, theres a sort of sense of panic, but this place is good at what we do so well be fine, the Dean said.

The coffin of the Queen (Chip Somodevilla/PA)

The Queen maintained a close connection with the abbey, which is a Royal Peculiar and subject only to the sovereign and not any archbishop or bishop.

The Dean said: For an awful lot of my colleagues, this is really quite personal We welcomed Her Late Majesty a number of times.

So a lot of my colleagues know her, respect her, admire her, miss her now. So theres something about doing something for her.

He spoke of the Queens deep connection with the abbey, telling how it was where she made the promises that defined her life being both married and crowned in the ancient surroundings.

The Dean said: I was really moved by the fact that she would talk about how important the abbey was to her.

This is the place where she made promises that defined her life.

This is the place where she married the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947, this is the place of her coronation.

The Queen at her coronation (PA)

The Queens is the first funeral of a reigning king or queen to be held in Westminster Abbey since George IIs in 1760.

The Dean was speaking in the abbeys historic wooden panelled Jerusalem Chamber, where Henry IV died in 1413 and Henry V became king.

The Queen saw her daughter, the Princess Royal, marry Captain Mark Phillips in the church in 1973, and her second son, the Duke of York, wed Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

In 2011, her grandson, William, now the Prince of Wales, exchanged vows with Kate Middleton, now Princess of Wales, as millions watched across the globe.

The church was also a reminder of the loss of her mother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and former daughter-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Queen Mothers funeral was held at the abbey in 2002, five years after Dianas.

The Dean said the service would remember the Queens place in history (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The gothic church  whose official title is the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster  has been the coronation church since 1066.

The Queens was the 38th.

It is also the final resting place of 17 monarchs, including Charles II and Elizabeth I.

Steeped in more than 1,000 years of history, Benedictine monks first went to the site in the middle of the 10th century.

The present church, started by Henry III in 1245, is one of the most important gothic buildings in the country, with the medieval shrine of Anglo-Saxon saint Edward the Confessor still at its heart.
The Queens grandchildren will stand guard around her coffin in London on Saturday, hours after their parents held an emotional vigil in the Palace of Westminster.

Notably, the Duke of Sussex will join his brother the Prince of Wales in wearing uniform in Westminster Hall, ahead of the Queens state funeral on Monday.

Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, has previously been denied the chance to wear his military uniform as he publicly mourns, because he is no longer a working royal.

But royal sources say the King has decided his youngest son can wear uniform for the vigil, saying he will stand at the foot of the coffin, with William at the head.

Despite being a former Army officer, Harry has been in civilian dress for official events, including walking behind his grandmothers coffin on Wednesday when it was carried to Westminster Hall for lying in state.

William will be flanked by his cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Philips, while Harry will be with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with Lady Louise Windsor and her brother Viscount Severn at the middle of the coffin.

The King, the Earl of Wessex and the Duke of York hold a vigil beside the coffin of their mother (Daniel Leal/PA)

On Friday evening, the Queens children  Charles, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex  took part in their own vigil.

The King, Anne, Andrew and Edward had solemn looks on their faces as they stood vigil around their mothers coffin, with their heads bowed throughout as members of the public filed slowly past them.

It comes as final preparations are under way for the funeral on Monday, with politicians and royal dignitaries from around the world expected to arrive throughout the weekend.

On Saturday, Prime Minster Liz Truss will meet the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand  Anthony Albanese and Jacinda Ardern  at the Governments Chevening country residence, a No 10 spokesperson said.

Charles will also meet chiefs of staff at Buckingham Palace on Saturday and visit police headquarters to thank the emergency services for their work in planning the funeral.

Members of the public in the queue at Southwark Park in London (Ian West/PA)

On Sunday, Ms Truss will meet Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Canadian premier Justin Trudeau, Polish President Andrzej Duda and US President Joe Biden at Downing Street.

She will have an audience with the King before attending his reception for visiting heads of state at Buckingham Palace on Sunday.

Charles concluded his tour of the home nations on Friday, starting his day with a visit to Wales, after trips to Northern Ireland and Scotland in recent days.

Meanwhile, thousands of people continue to queue to see the Queens coffin lying in state, with some facing more than a day in line.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'S LYING-IN-STATE QUEUE UPDATE, 1:15AM, 17 SEP The queue is near total capacity with a wait time of at least 25 hours Please do not travel to join the queue Check back for updates in the morning pic.twitter.com/3bLTgIfgHu  Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) September 17, 2022

Early on Saturday morning, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sports queue tracker warned people not to travel to join the back of the queue, but it changed the guidance at 8am saying the line had reached Southwark Park with wait times at least 24 hours.

Those inside Westminster Hall were briefly shocked on Friday night when a man was arrested after moving out of the queue to approach the Queens coffin.

Metropolitan Police said the incident occurred around 10pm, as the live feed from inside the hall cut away for a brief period.

A statement from Scotland Yard said: Around 22:00hrs on Friday 16 September officers from the Mets Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command detained a man in Westminster Hall following a disturbance.

He was arrested for an offence under the Public Order Act and is currently in custody.

Two thousand people will gather inside Westminster Abbey in London on Monday for the Queens funeral.

(Hannah McKay/PA)

Some 800 people, including members of the Queens Household and Windsor estate staff, will attend the committal service afterwards at 4pm in St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle.

After the funeral, the King and members of the royal family will walk behind the Queens coffin to Wellington Arch when it leaves Westminster Abbey, before it is driven to Windsor on the state hearse.
The Queen was grandmother to eight grandchildren, who all held a deep respect and admiration for their Granny.

Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn will all honour the late monarch with a vigil around her coffin on Saturday.

The Queen with three of her grandchildren  Zara Phillips, Prince William and Peter Phillips, on board Britannia in 1985 (Ron Bell/PA)

William once said: She may be my grandmother, but she is also very much the boss.

The Queens experience and unprecedented knowledge of royal matters meant she was well placed to offer advice to the younger members of the family as they navigated their way through life in the monarchy.

Ahead of Williams 2011 wedding, the Queen told him to bin a list of 777 dignitaries, governors and others he was given as potential guests, as it contained no-one he knew.

The Queen with her daughter-in-law the Countess of Wessex (centre) and granddaughter Lady Louise Windsor at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2011 (Steve Parsons/PA)

William told author Robert Hardman: I rang her up the next day and said Do we need to be doing this? And she said No. Start with your friends first and then go from there. And she told me to bin the list.

She made the point that there are certain times when you have to strike the right balance, and its advice like that which is really key, when you know that shes seen and done it before.

But the Queen was also a stickler for tradition and she remained set on customs and procedures, as well as matters that affected the future or workings of the institution.

William had wanted to wear his RAF uniform to his wedding, but the Queen insisted he wore his red tunic of the Irish Guards as Colonel of the regiment  his most senior military role.

William, in his red tunic, and his new bride Catherine in front of the Queen on his wedding day (Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA)

I was given a categorical no, youll wear this, William said.

He added: That no is a very good no. So you just do as youre told.

When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wanted to step down as senior royals, carry out royal duties but still earn their own money, the Queen remained firm  there would be no half-in, half-out role for Harry and Meghan.

In the end, after a Megxit crisis summit, they quit as senior working royals completely and moved to California.

Harry and the Queen during a reception to meet teams of wounded servicemen and women (Yui Mok/PA)

Harry was devastated when the Queen subsequently stripped him of his honorary military roles.

Whereas some flexibility could have allowed Harry to keep the posts, it was another illustration of the Queen keeping rigidly to rules and tradition.

But Harry had a great affection for the Queen.

They once appeared in a spoof video together to promote the Invictus Games, with the Queen dismissing a challenge from the then US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle with Oh really, please.

Unfortunately for you @FLOTUS and @POTUS I wasn't alone when you sent me that video   H.https://t.co/sjfSQvkzb6  The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) April 29, 2016

Harry echoed Williams thoughts, saying in 2016: I still view her more as the Queen than my grandmother. You have this huge amount of respect for your boss and I always view her as my boss.

He described his respect for her, with Meghan saying how wonderful the Queen was, in the same Oprah interview in which they accused the royal family of racism.

In his tribute after her death, Harry told of his precious earliest childhood memories with the Queen and described how she hugged his children  Archie, three, and Lilibet, 15 months.

The Princess Royals daughter Zara Tindall was close to her grandmother, sharing a love of horses and riding.

The grandchildren would greet the Queen with a kiss on both cheeks followed by a curtsey or a bow.

The Queen greets her granddaughter Zara Phillips (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Zara once said: I curtsey to her every time I see her.

The thing with my grandmother is she is still my grandmother and shes very approachable, but shes also from an era where that was how it was done.

All the grandchildren have fond memories of family summers spent with the Queen at Balmoral, Christmases at Sandringham and visits to Windsor.

Peter Phillips, the Queens eldest grandson, said, to mark the Queens 90th birthday: We had a lot of fun and there was a lot of space for kids to run around in and it wasnt just us, it was the Waleses (William and Harry), Freddie and Ella Windsor and the Gloucesters, he said.

So there was quite a gang of us growing up in that age and it was a lot of fun. We caused quite a bit of mayhem and chaos.

The Queen watches a fireworks display on her 80th birthday with four of her grandchildren  William, Peter Phillips, Zara Phillips and Harry (John Stillwell/PA)

The Queen adopted a no-nonsense attitude with her grandchildren.

William has described how he and his cousin Peter got an almighty bollocking from the Queen after their antics with a quad bike at Balmoral.

He said: We were chasing Zara around, who was on a go-cart, and Peter and I managed to herd Zara into a lamppost and the lamppost came down and nearly squashed her.

I remember my grandmother being the first person out at Balmoral running across the lawn in her kilt, (she) came charging over and gave us the most almighty bollocking, and that sort of stuck in my mind from that moment on.

In a 1992 BBC documentary, the Queen was seen telling Eugenie Ow  thats my foot youre standing on, when the two-year-old trod on her shoe as the Queen led her grandchildren out on their ponies at Balmoral.

When William became boisterous and prone to tantrums as a young child, the Queen was not amused and is said to have told the Prince and Princess of Wales that Williams behaviour had to stop.

The Queen urged Charles and Diana to deal with Williams behaviour as a youngster (PA)

Eugenie has described the Queen as invincible when supported by her late husband the Duke of Edinburgh.

Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and her brother Viscount Severn, 14, live in Bagshot Park, Surrey, not far from the Queens Windsor Castle home, and spent many hours regularly visiting the late monarch.

Their father the Earl of Wessex said in his tribute that he had taken huge pleasure in seeing our James and Louise enjoying the places and activities that their grandparents loved so much.

Edward added: Given that my mama let us spend so much time with her, I think she also rather enjoyed watching those passions blossom.

Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor after the Trooping the Colour ceremony in 2019 (Victoria Jones/PA)

Lady Louise, who is studying English at St Andrews University and who bears a strong resemblance to the Queen as a child, is a skilled carriage-driver, following in the footsteps of her grandfather Philip.

The Queens grandchildren produced a large gaggle of great-grandchildren for the monarch.

They are Savannah and Isla Phillips, Prince George of Wales  a future king, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis of Wales, Mia, Lena and Lucas Tindall, Harrys children Archie and Lili Mountbatten-Windsor, Eugenies son August Brooksbank, and Beatrices daughter Sienna Mapelli Mozzi.

When the Queen met great-grandson George soon after he was born in 2013, it was the first time in almost 120 years that a reigning monarch had met a future king three generations ahead.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh surrounded by seven of their great-grandchildren at Balmoral Castle in 2018.  The Duchess of Cambridge pic.twitter.com/xMmbzfDHwL  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 14, 2021

William described her as a wonderful great-grandmother to his children and a role model for the rest of their lives.

The Waleses children called their great-grandmother Gan-Gan.

She would always leave a small gift in their room whenever they came to stay.

Lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic meant the Queen was separated from her wider family for many months.

A touching family photo of the Queen and Philip surrounded by seven of their great-grandchildren at Balmoral was shared in 2021 following the dukes death.

..and here's a close up of the first in a series of three official photographs released today to mark #Queenat90 pic.twitter.com/i9kqsYzmDk  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 20, 2016

In 2016, the Queen was pictured by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz with five of her great-grandchildren and her two youngest grandchildren.

The Queen sat with a young Charlotte on her lap, and Mia Tindall, then two, was proudly holding the Queens famous black handbag.
The Queens eight grandchildren together staged a heart-rending evening vigil around their beloved grannys coffin ahead of the final day of the lying in state.

The Prince of Wales, at the head of the coffin, with his brother the Duke of Sussex at the foot, both in the Blues and Royals No 1 uniform, stood with their heads bowed in her honour in sombre silence in the vast Westminster Hall.

Future king William was flanked at the corners by his cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Philips.

The grandchildren walking in formation to their vigil (Aaron Chown/PA)

Harry was between Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with 18-year-old Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn  the Queens youngest grandchild who is just 14  at the middle on either side of the coffin.

Mourners filing past slowed almost to a stop to look upon the younger generation of the royal family as they stood in the spotlight, united in grief for their grandmother but maintaining their composure  just as the Queen was famed for  throughout.

The grandchildren, invited by the King, had wanted to pay their respects as their parents had done the evening before.

It is the only time Harry, who was stripped of his honorary military titles by the Queen post-Megxit, will be seen in military dress at ceremonial occasions as he mourns the Queen, having been given permission to do so by his father the King.

The Countess of Wessex looked grief-stricken as she watched her children Lady Louise and James take on the difficult role.

Viscount Severn and Princess Eugenie during the vigil (Aaron Chown/PA)

Eugenie closed her eyes as the cousins remained stock still with their heads bowed, staring downwards.

Beatrice and Eugenie just an hour before had paid an emotional tribute addressed to the Queen, saying: Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters.

The sisters, in a written message, thanked their grandmother for making us laugh, for including us, for picking heather and raspberries, for marching soldiers, for our teas, for comfort, for joy.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex watching the vigil (Aaron Chown/PA).

The princesses said they missed the Queen terribly and thanked her for being the loving hand on our backs leading us through this world, adding: We, like many, thought youd be here forever.

With just two days until the Queens state funeral, William and the King went on a walkabout on Saturday afternoon to greet mourners in the queue for the lying in state, after Charles was given a tour of the Metropolitan Police Service Special Operations Room.

Hundreds of people in line at Lambeth, south London, cheered and applauded, with William and Charles shaking scores of hands and the prince discussing how long people had waited and whether they were able to keep warm.

The Prince of Wales meets members of the public in the queue (Aaron Chown/PA)

Several people cried after meeting William, and one woman told him: Youll be a brilliant king one day, while another told Charles the Queen would be proud of him.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex also met well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace.

Edward told the crowd: I know that my mother would really appreciate this fantastic support.

The King greeting people in the lying in state line (Aaron Chown/PA)

With world leaders and dignitaries from around the world arriving throughout the weekend, the King embarked on a host of diplomatic duties as head of state.

He held audiences with five prime ministers  Canadas Justin Trudeau, Australia leader Anthony Albanese, The Bahamas Philip Davis, Jamaican PM Andrew Holness, and New Zealands Jacinda Ardern.

He also staged a palace lunch for governors-general from the Commonwealth realms, where he was joined by the Princess of Wales, the Prince of Wales and the Queen Consort.

Kate was seen deep in conversation with Camilla during royal engagement.

The Queen Consort and the Princess of Wales during a lunch held for governors-general of the Commonwealth realms at the Palace (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The princess, who had her hair down, wore a long three-strand pearl necklace and pearl earrings  both of which were a gift from the late Queen.

At Westminster Abbey, final preparations are being put in place ready for the funeral on Monday.

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, who will lead the ceremony, said the service would be a wonderful mixture of great ceremony and some very profound but very ordinary words.

Its on a scale that even Westminster Abbey doesnt often do, he said.

Hundreds of people have been involved in the preparations inside the gothic church, working through the night as they put in 19 and 20-hour shifts to stage the historic ceremony.

The Dean said: The business about it being a state funeral is really important. Its meant to be visual. Its meant to be grand.

He added: Part of this is about remembering (the Queens) significance, her place in history, her place in the nation and Commonwealth.

But its a funeral. Its for a grieving family. Thats really important, personal sorrow at the heart of this.
KYIV (Reuters) -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia on Friday of committing war crimes in Ukraine's northeast and said it was too early to say the tide of the war was turning despite rapid territorial gains by his forces this month.

The Ukrainian leader also told Reuters in an interview that the outcome of the war with Russia, now in its seventh month, hinged on the swift delivery of foreign weapons to his country.

He compared the situation in newly liberated areas of the northeast "to the bloody soap opera after Bucha", a town near Kyiv where he accused Russian forces of committing numerous war crimes in the first phase of the war. Moscow denied the charges.

"As of today, there are 450 dead people, buried (in the northeastern Kharkiv region). But there are others, separate burials of many people. Tortured people. Entire families in certain territories," Zelenskiy said.

Asked if there was evidence of war crimes, he said: "All this is there... There is some evidence, and assessments are being conducted, Ukrainian and international, and this is very important for us, for the world to recognise this."

The Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Zelenskiy's new allegations.

Russia regularly denies targeting civilians during what it calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine and has said in the past that accusations of human rights abuses are a smear campaign.

Ukraine's President Zelenskiy speaks during an interview in Kyiv

The governor of Kharkiv region, Oleh Synhubov, told reporters on Friday at one of the burial sites in the city of Izium that some bodies exhumed there had been found with their hands tied behind their backs.

Moscow has not commented on the mass burial site in Izium, which was a Russian frontline stronghold before Ukraine's counter-offensive forced its forces to flee.

NO EARLY END TO WAR

Friday's interview took place in the president's office in the heavily-guarded government district, which is now like a citadel for Zelenskiy and his advisers. Sandbags were piled up in the windows of the building's labyrinthine, dimly-lit corridors.

An air raid siren - used to warn of the danger of incoming missiles - sounded in Kyiv shortly before the interview.

Zelenskiy, who visited Izium on Wednesday, repeated his appeal for Western countries and others to step up weapons supplies to Ukraine.

"We would want more help from Turkey, We would want more help from South Korea. More help from the Arab world. From Asia," he said.

Zelenskiy also cited "certain psychological barriers" in Germany to supplying military equipment because of its Nazi past but said such supplies were vital for Ukraine to defend itself against what he called Russian "fascism". He has often accused Berlin of dragging its feet over providing arms.

He lauded Ukraine's rapid counter-offensive but played down any suggestion that the war was entering some kind of end game. "It's early to talk about an end to this war," he said.

Zelenskiy said he would only support the idea of reopening Russian ammonia exports through Ukraine, an initiative proposed by the United Nations, if Moscow handed back Ukrainian prisoners of war to Kyiv.

Speaking in Uzbekistan on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin brushed off Ukraine's counter-offensive with a smile, but warned that Russia would respond more forcefully if its troops were put under further pressure.

Zelenskiy said he had been convinced that foreign weapons supplies to Ukraine would have fallen if Kyiv had not launched its counter-offensive and that the territorial gains would impress other countries.

"I think this is a very important step that influenced, or will influence, the decisions of certain other countries," he said.

Asked on the 205th day of the war if he ever got a chance to relax, Zelenskiy said: "I'd really want the Russians to relax".
Chinese representatives will be able to attend the Queens lying in state along with the rest of the dignitaries invited to her funeral, the UK Parliament has suggested.

But it is understood the countrys ambassador to the UK is still not welcome on the estate.

It was expected the Chinese official delegation would be barred by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle from entering Westminster Hall to view the late monarchs coffin.

But asked if it had been banned, a Parliament spokesperson told the PA news agency on Saturday that heads of state  or their representatives  who are invited to the funeral are also welcome at the lying in state that precedes it.

According to Erskine May  known as the bible of parliamentary procedure  Westminster Hall is under the joint control of the Lord Great Chamberlain and the Speakers of both the Commons and the Lords.

The Parliament spokesperson said: The head of states (or their representatives) who have been invited to attend the state funeral in Westminster Abbey are also invited to attend the lying in state in Westminster Hall.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is not scheduled to attend the Westminster Abbey service on Monday, instead sending his deputy, Wang Qishan.

Two sanctioned Tory MPs, Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Tim Loughton, had been raising concerns about the delegations possible attendance, arguing it was extraordinary it had received an invitation.

Last September, Sir Lindsay and his counterpart in the upper chamber, Lord McFall, blocked the Chinese ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, from visiting Parliament.

The Commons Speaker argued at the time it would not be appropriate for the ambassador to meet at the Commons while seven British parliamentarians remain sanctioned.

Six months earlier, China imposed sanctions on seven parliamentarians, also including Tory MPs Tom Tugendhat, Nusrat Ghani and Neil OBrien.

They are all vocal critics of Beijing, having spoken out against the treatment of the Uighur people in Xinjiang.

It is understood the Chinese ambassador is still not welcome in Parliament.
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively with daughters James Reynolds and Ines Reynolds attend the ceremony honoring Ryan Reynolds with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on December 15, 2016 in Hollywood, California

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Family comes first for Blake Lively.

The actress, 35, revealed she's expecting her fourth baby Thursday during an appearance at the 10th Annual Forbes Power Women's Summit, wearing a form-fitting dress that hugged her baby bump. Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds are already parents to James, 7, Inez, 5, and Betty, 2.

"She happens to be a really attentive mom. Her kids are her first priority over everything," a source tells PEOPLE. "You never would think that Blake Lively, this superstar and beautiful woman, would be this regular person who cooks dinner every night and takes care of the family but she is really wonderful with the kids."

"She wants to be that old-fashioned kind of mom," the insider continues, "when the kids are out or sleeping that's when she makes time to do work stuff."

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RELATED:Blake Lively Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby No. 4 with Ryan Reynolds  See Her Baby Bump!

During a conversation at the event, Lively talked about being a creative woman who is also a businesswoman.

"I just like to create. Whether that's baking or storytelling or businesses or humans, I just really like creating," she joked, laughing along with the audience.

She shared that it's important for her three daughters to "see that you don't have to choose one or the other."

"I don't need them to choose to be a businesswoman or a mom. They can be both or neither, but I just want for them to see that anything is possible."

Lively went on to explain that because she's "so obsessed with my family," she tries to only take on projects that she can "really believe in."

"I'm very into product development. If I can't create it, I don't want to be a part of it, just because there's so many great things out there," she said of her considerations, adding, "I want to create something that is missing and I love for my kids to see that across all areas."
JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Four cases of avian flu, or bird flu, were confirmed among the endangered penguins at Boulders Penguin Colony in Cape Town, News24, a local news website reported on Saturday, citing a clinical veterinarian.

As of Friday, there had been four confirmed cases and another seven suspected cases, said Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) management.

Once seabirds show symptoms of bird flu, they usually die soon afterward, News24 reported, quoting Dr David Roberts, a clinical veterinarian at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob) as saying.

The flu strain is the same as the one detected in seabirds in the Western Cape last year. That outbreak saw thousands of birds die in vulnerable colonies. Now, conservationists worry the same fate could await the endangered penguins, if no quick action is taken.

Roberts said that it could also pose a significant risk to breeding colonies if there is an outbreak in endangered species, like the African Penguin, Cape Cormorant and Cape Gannet.

The outbreak of bird flu last year killed an estimated 230 African penguins, said Roberts.

"At the peak of the outbreak, more than 500 affected birds were collected per day. The population-level effect was of an unprecedented scale, and approximately 15 percent of the South African population of Cape cormorants died from avian influenza in less than four months," he said.

The outbreak devastated the endangered Cape cormorant population in the Western Cape, resulting in the deaths of 24,000 birds. The worst-affected area was Dyer Island off Gansbaai, home to a Cape cormorant breeding colony.

According to Roberts, the actual number of deaths was likely to be far higher. Before the outbreak, there were an estimated 57,000 Cape cormorant breeding pairs in South Africa. However, the population had dropped by 50 percent over the last 30 years.

Bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza virus. Strains of the influenza virus primarily infect birds. 
ST. LOUIS (AP)  A federal jury on Friday convicted a former star of the St. Louis-based reality TV show Welcome to Sweetie Pies of arranging the shooting death of his nephew.

The jury deliberated about 17 hours over three days before reaching its verdict in the murder-for-hire case against James Tim Norman, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. He was charged with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Norman and his nephew, Andre Montgomery, both starred in the long-running OWN reality show about a popular soul-food business founded in the St. Louis area by Robbie Montgomery  Normans mother and Andres grandmother.

Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty but Norman could be sentenced to up to life in prison. Sentencing is set for Dec. 15.

Federal prosecutors said Norman, 43, hired two people to kill the 21-year-old Montgomery on March 14, 2016, then tried to cash a $450,000 life insurance policy taken out on his nephew months earlier.

Defense attorney Michael Leonard said after the verdict that he and Norman were extremely surprised and disappointed in the outcome of the case. He said they plan to appeal and that Norman continues to be optimistic that he will eventually prevail.

Leonard said the testimony during the trial of two co-conspirators was shown to be extremely non-credible. And he said Norman testified well during the trial, noting he was not cross-examined.

U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming said she was very, very pleased with the verdict but that her office would make no further statements until after the sentencing.

During closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Angie Danis said Norman was the architect of the plan to kill Montgomery.

This plan doesnt exist but for Tim Normans greed, Danis said.

Leonard argued in his closing argument that the murder plot presented by prosecutors was a made up theory.

Prosecutors said Norman paid $10,000 to an exotic dancer, Terica Ellis, to lure his nephew to the site where he was shot and paid $5,000 to Travell Anthony Hill to shoot Montgomery.

Ellis and Hill both testified for the prosecution in the case. They have both pleaded guilty to participating in the scheme.

In testimony during the trial, Norman said he helped his nephew move to St. Louis about 18 months before he was killed and supported him financially because he was trying to watch out for Montgomery. He said he sought to be a father figure to his brother's son.

Former Sweetie Pies employees and other character witnesses testified that Norman and his nephew had a close relationship.

Danis said all the testimony from the scheme's co-conspirators was backed up in trial by texts, call records and location data.

She said Norman created an image of being a mentor and a father figure to all these people, but its fiction.

Leonard said during his closing argument that Ellis testified to get a shorter sentence and said Hill admitted he was a heavy drug user and that he was hopped up on drugs that day.

Norman testified Tuesday that he took out the life insurance policy on his nephew to give a longtime customer of the family restaurants, Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam, some business.

Yaghnam pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and wire fraud in the case.

Montgomery left St. Louis after at least $220,000 in cash, jewelry and other items were stolen in a June 2015 burglary at Robbie Montgomerys home.

Norman told jurors he and his mother hired a private investigator to find and confront his nephew about the robbery but he had no intention of hurting him.
On a recent episode of "Influencers with Andy Serwer," Deborah Liu explained why she left a successful position as vice president of Facebook App Commerce to join Ancestry.com as CEO.

I had talked to several companies about different roles as a CEO and, and when I got the call about Ancestry, it felt really right telling your family story, Liu told Yahoo Finances editor-in-chief. "I'm very close to my family, even though I grew up really far away from them. We were half a world away. I live in a country away from most of my family. And so really, capturing your family story, telling your family history is such an important part of my own life."

Ancestry.com gives consumers in-depth information about their lineage and DNA. The company, which is headquartered in Levi, Utah, maintains a robust database of over 30 billion records online and has over 22 million people in their DNA network. It also reports over $1 billion in annual revenue. The company's largest competitors include FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage, and 23andMe.

An employee of Ancestry.com spits demonstrates how to process a DNA kit at the 2019 RootsTech annual genealogical event in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S., February 28, 2019. REUTERS/George Frey

Before joining Ancestry, Liu spent over a decade at Facebook (META), where she served as vice president of Facebook App Commerce, among other positions. During her time at the company, she spearheaded both Facebook Pay, an online system that allows users to send or receive money through the social media channel and Marketplace, the company's platform for connecting consumers and businesses.

It was an incredible adventure, I think the thing I learned the most is that, you know, a small group of people who really care about a product or a problem can solve so many things, Liu shared. And whether that's within a company or outside of a company, is a technology has the opportunity to connect a billion people to buy from their local community.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, social distancing spurred Liu to re-evaluate her priorities. She decided to join Ancestry, despite her success at Facebook.

I just knew that this was the opportunity for me, because I think especially during COVID, we realized just how important our family was when we couldn't see them anymore. We couldn't connect with them when they're sick, Liu said. And, you know, it's one of those things where it was a reminder that what we have in life is our health, our family, our friends, and those are more important than other things.

Among several services, Ancestry offers users a direct-to-consumer DNA test. The user orders the kit, submits a spit sample, and receives a comprehensive analysis of their genomes in return. They can then learn what countries or regions their ancestors come from.

This is a company that's really dedicated to that and truly capturing your own family story, but to share with your own family and to have, you know, a history for your children and your grandchildren as well, Liu remarked.

Liu, who previously told MSNBC that she experienced racist bullying growing up in South Carolina, also recognized that, like Facebook, Ancestry had the potential to bring people together.

"I also think it's really important that we realize that we're more interrelated than we think, Liu reflected. Looking at your ancestry, your DNA, you realize that we are one human family, and you know, seeing the connections you have with people who don't necessarily look like you, but are part of who you are. That is an incredibly powerful message that I hope people will see.

Dylan Croll is a reporter and researcher at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @CrollonPatrol.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis broadcast his national ambitions this week by taking credit for a flight that sent undocumented immigrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard, making him the latest conservative lawmaker to protest the rise in illegal immigration by shipping border crossers to a liberal state.

The governor's stunt may have broken the law, and spurred locals to assist the migrants. Its nonetheless likely to strengthen his position as former president Donald Trumps most formidable rival in 2024 among Republican primary voters. DeSantis has attracted national attention for championing his state's so-called don't say gay law and for downplaying the risks of COVID-19.

But it's his fundraising prowess that perhaps cements his standing as the primary Trump alternative. After years of diligently gathering checks, the Florida governor is now on the cusp of a major milestone. He is set to soon take the mantle of having raised the most money of any candidate for governor  ever.

Thats according to data from OpenSecrets.org that goes back decades.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks after the primary election for the midterms during a rally in Tampa in August. (REUTERS/Octavio Jones)

The DeSantis story is more about a politician who's using his state campaign to be a test site for a potential presidential run," Sarah Bryner, the director of research and strategy at OpenSecrets, told Yahoo Finance on Friday.

DeSantis has structured his fundraising in a new way, directing donors both to his campaign committee and his political action committee. The PAC has been successful, Bryner notes, because it has no contribution limits.

The biggest checkbooks on Team DeSantis

Plenty of wealthy donors have taken full advantage of that quirk in campaign finance laws.

A key donor is Citadel CEO Ken Griffin. The hedge funder has backed DeSantis for years, giving $5 million for his current campaign on top of contributing $5.75 million in 2018.

Griffin declined to list DeSantis as his favorite candidate during a May appearance at the Milken Institute Global Conference. However, he conceded that DeSantis has done a lot of things right when it comes to preparing for 2024.

Griffin also said at that appearance that he didnt appreciate the governor's recent campaign against the The Walt Disney Company (DIS) over his opposition to the state's anti-gay law. It can be portrayed or feel or look like retaliation, Griffin said.

Citadel CEO Ken Griffin speaks at the 2022 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California in May. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)

According to the latest data, DeSantis has raised over $174 million since he took office. That's much more than he is likely to need to hold his seat, where he enjoys a polling edge against Democratic rival, Charlie Crist. While this money is ostensibly being raised for the upcoming governor's race, it's clearly aimed at 2024  and whatever DeSantis doesn't spend can be saved for the future.

The biggest contributor on record is Robert Bigelow. The owner of the Budget Suites hotel chain has written exactly one check so far this election cycle: $10 million to the DeSantis PAC. Bigelow has bestowed his fortune on a range of unlikely causes, from UFO-hunting to "consciousness studies" to inflatable space habitats, according to Forbes.

Another mega-donor is Richard Uihlein and his wife, who have chipped in $1.2 million. Uihlein, worth an estimated $3.9 billion, gave Trump money during the 2020 contest, according to Federal Election Commission data, but hasn't given to the former president since then. Still, he's backed an array of Trump-aligned candidates such as Herschel Walker in Georgia and Blake Masters in Arizona this year.

Plenty of other big names grace the DeSantis donor database. Notable financial figures include Charles B. Johnson of Franklin Resources ($594,919 since 2019); Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus ($500,000), hedge funder Paul Tudor Jones ($400,000), and more.

Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus during a ribbon cutting ceremony in 2005. (Barry Williams/Getty Images)

DeSantis has already set the fundraising record among non-self-financing governors and willI likely soon surpass the totals achieved by Meg Whitman in California and Jay Pritzker in Illinois in recent years. Those two billionaires spent millions of their own money on their respective campaigns

DeSantis and Trump building their war chests

The Florida governor has also gotten notice, but not yet any money, from another key GOP bankroller. Billionaire Peter Thiel, the key Trump donor in 2016 who sat out the 2020 presidential race, said at a recent conservatism conference that DeSantis is probably the best of the governors in terms of offering a real alternative to California, Insider reports.

Neither Trump nor DeSantis has yet declared plans to run for president in 2024, though Bryner notes they're both building their campaign war chests and may end up competing for donors in 2023.

Then-President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis participate in a "COVID-19 Response and Storm Preparedness" event in Belleair, Florida in 2020. (REUTERS/Tom Brenner)

Trump is handily beating DeSantis in nearly every poll, which can be far from a reliable indicator this far ahead of an election. The former president has maintained his usual bravado in the face of the possible challenge.

Asked about potential competition from DeSantis, Trump told Yahoo Finance in an interview last year: I'd beat him like I would beat everyone else.

Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

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The King and the Prince of Wales have greeted mourners in the queue for the Queens lying in state.

Hundreds of people in line at Lambeth, south London, cheered and applauded as Charles and William emerged on Saturday afternoon, before the pair thanked those waiting to pay their respects to the late monarch at Westminster Hall.

One woman offered the King condolences as he shook her hand, and another shouted: I cant believe this.

Dozens shouted hip hip hooray as Charles and William moved down the line, stopping for a few moments with each person.

Several people called their friends and relatives on the phone to tell them what they had just witnessed.

William shook hands with well-wishers (Aaron Chown/PA)

Others also shouted God save the King and God save the Prince of Wales as each passed.

William could be heard discussing how long people had waited and whether they were able to keep warm.

Several people cried after meeting him, and one woman told him: Youll be a brilliant king one day.

Charles left before William, both of them in cars surrounded by police vehicles.

Meanwhile, the queue for the lying in state began to grow in Southwark Park, with a steady stream of mourners continuing to join the end of the line.

The sign at the mouth of the queue told mourners it will be a 14-hour wait minimum, which was generally greeted by relief by well-wishers, with one group cheering as they walked past.

It came after the King thanked emergency service staff for their work during the mourning period.

The King thanked emergency service staff (Carl de Souza/PA)

Charles met Londons Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and was briefed by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors and Commander Karen Findlay, who are leading police operations around London ahead of and during the funeral of the Queen.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman and mayor of London Sadiq Khan were also present.

Early on Saturday morning, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports queue tracker warned people not to travel to join the back of the lying in state queue.

Sadiq Khan was present (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

It changed the guidance at 8am saying the line had reached Southwark Park with wait times at least 24 hours.

Although it was a very bright morning in central London temperatures remained cool, particularly in the shade, at around 12C.

Alfie, 11, from Lancashire, wore his Scouts uniform complete with Platinum Jubilee badge, to join the queue for the lying in state.

His grandmother, Karen Todd, said: Alfie really wanted to pay his respects to the Queen, and he wanted to come in his Scout uniform to honour her.

And we came because its a momentous occasion and a moment in history. Theyll always remember this for the rest of their lives, so weve only got this one opportunity.

Temperatures were cool this morning (James Manning/PA)

Later, the Queens grandchildren will stand guard around her coffin.

William will be joined by his brother the Duke of Sussex in wearing uniform at Westminster Hall.

Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, has previously been denied the chance to wear his military uniform as he publicly mourns, because he is no longer a working royal.

But royal sources say the King has decided his youngest son can wear uniform for the vigil, saying he will stand at the foot of the coffin, with William at the head.

William will be flanked by his cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, while Harry will be with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with Lady Louise Windsor and her brother Viscount Severn at the middle of the coffin.

William will stand guard around the Queens coffin (Aaron Chown/PA)

On Friday evening, the Queens children  Charles, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex  took part in their own vigil.

It comes as final preparations are under way for the funeral on Monday, with politicians and royal dignitaries from around the world expected to arrive throughout the weekend.

On Saturday, Prime Minster Liz Truss will meet the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand  Anthony Albanese and Jacinda Ardern  at the Governments Chevening country residence, a No 10 spokesperson said.

On Sunday, Ms Truss will meet Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Canadian premier Justin Trudeau, Polish President Andrzej Duda and US President Joe Biden at Downing Street.

She will have an audience with the King before attending his reception for visiting heads of state at Buckingham Palace on Sunday.
While the people of Jackson, Miss., were enjoying their first full day with drinkable water in seven weeks, the states governor celebrated being far away from the troubled capital.

Ive got to tell you, it is a great day to be in Hattiesburg, Gov. Tate Reeves said Friday, speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for a private equities firm. Its also, as always, a great day to not be in Jackson.

Reeves, a 48-year-old Republican who came to office in 2020, resides in the governors mansion in Jackson.

I feel like I should take off my emergency manager director hat and leave it in the car and take off my public works director hat and leave it in the car, he added.

For the first time since July, Jackson residents were told Thursday that a boil-watery advisory had been lifted following two days of successful testing of the citys water supply.

Hard rains and floods are blamed for crippling the citys primary water treatment center in August. Reeves declared a state of emergency on Aug. 30. President Biden followed suit, declaring the situation a federal emergency.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announces the state-imposed boil-water notice has been lifted in Mississippi's capital city after nearly seven weeks, during a Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, news conference in Jackson, Miss.



Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announces the state-imposed boil-water notice has been lifted in Mississippi's capital city after nearly seven weeks, during a Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, news conference in Jackson, Miss. (Rogelio V. Solis/)

An emergency water pump eventually helped get water moving again roughly a week later. The governor credited local, state and Federal workers for making crucial repairs to the damaged O.B. Curtis Water Plant in the Jackson metropolitan city of Ridgeland, Miss.

Sen. Cruz admits he made a mistake by flying to sunny Cancun as Texas shivered in the dark

Cloudy water weeks earlier had led to a boil-water notice for many of the citys 160,000 residents  more than 80% of whom are Black. Jackson residents have blamed the state for neglecting their citys infrastructure needs as a matter or racial inequity.

Jackson Native Halima Olufemi told NPR boiling water before drinking it in her hometown has been a tradition passed on through several generations.

It was a way of life, the 45-year-old Magnolia Stater said.

Charles McCaskill, 68, calls out his thanks to members of the Mississippi Students Water Crisis Advocacy team who delivered two cases of water to his south Jackson, Miss., home, on Sept . 7, 2022.



Charles McCaskill, 68, calls out his thanks to members of the Mississippi Students Water Crisis Advocacy team who delivered two cases of water to his south Jackson, Miss., home, on Sept . 7, 2022. (Rogelio V. Solis/)

Some Jackson residents reported brown liquid flowing from sinks and faucets in recent weeks. Hundreds of National Guardsman distributed bottled water to locals throughout the crisis.

WAPT reports that Jackson city officials recommend residents let their faucets run for several minutes to clear out sitting water in pipes.
White House officials say the meetings do not signal a breakthrough in negotiations with Russia for the release of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden met Friday with family members of WNBA star Brittney Griner and another American detained in Russia, Paul Whelan, the first face-to-face encounter that the president has had with the relatives.

In a statement after the meetings, which were held separately, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden stressed to the families his continued commitment to working through all available avenues to bring Brittney and Paul home safely.

He asked after the well-being of Elizabeth and Cherelle and their respective families during this painful time, Jean-Pierre said. The President appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Brittney and Paul from those who love them most, and acknowledged that every minute they are being held is a minute too long.

President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Still, administration officials have said the meetings were not an indication that negotiations with Russia for their release have reached a breakthrough.

Earlier Friday, John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said that Russia has not responded to what administration officials have called a substantial and serious offer to secure Griner and Whelans release.

The president is not going to let up, Kirby told reporters. Hes confident that this is going to remain in the forefront of his mind and his teams mind, and theyre going to continue to work as hard as they can.

Griner has been held in Russia since February on drug-related charges. She was sentenced last month to nine years in prison after pleading guilty and has appealed the punishment. Whelan is serving a 16-year sentence on espionage-related charges that he and his family say are false. The U.S. government regards both as wrongfully detained, placing their cases with the office of its top hostage negotiator.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken took the unusual step of announcing two months ago that the administration had made a substantial proposal to Russia. Though he did not elaborate on the proposal, a person familiar with the matter has said the U.S. has offered to release convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

The administration carried out a prisoner swap last April, with Moscow releasing Marine veteran Trevor Reed in exchange for the U.S. releasing a Russian pilot, Konstantin Yaroshenko, convicted in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

Jake Sullivan, the presidents national security adviser, participated in both meetings. Biden sat down with Elizabeth Whelan, the sister of Paul Whelan. Then the president met with Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner, as well as the players agent, Lindsay Colas, according to the White House.

Cherelle Griner thanked Biden for the meeting in a statement late Friday.

It was an honor to speak with him directly about the Brittney we know and love, and to thank him for the Administrations efforts to secure her release. she said. Ive felt every minute of the grueling seven months without her. I look forward to the day my wife is back home.

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A California man admitted to sending death threats to Merriam-Webster employees over the dictionarys definition of gender in a vicious anti-trans rant that forced the company to temporarily close its offices in Massachusetts and New York for five days nearly a year ago.

Jeremy David Hanson, from Rossmoor, Calif., pleaded guilty last week to making threats to commit anti-LGBTQ violence against several individuals and businesses, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Walt Disney Company.

The 34-year-old was arrested in April and indicted by a grand jury two months later. He pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mass. to one count of interstate communication of threatening communications to commit violence, a federal crime.

He also pleaded guilty to another count charging the same offense, which had been initially filed in the Eastern District of Texas, targeting the president of the University of North Texas, Justice Department officials said in a statement Wednesday.

Authorities say that in early October 2021, employees at the Merriam-Websters headquarters in Springfield, Mass., received several threatening messages and hateful comments showing clear anti-transgender bias.

According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 2 Hanson allegedly used the handle @anonYmous to post the following comment on the dictionarys website definition of female: It is absolutely sickening that Merriam-Webster now tells blatant lies and promotes anti-science propaganda. There is no such thing as gender identity. The imbecile who wrote this entry should be hunted down and shot.

A California man pleaded guilty on Sept. 8, 2022 in federal court in Springfield, Mass. to making threats to commit anti-LGBTQ violence against Springfield-based Merriam-Webster, Inc. and others.



A California man pleaded guilty on Sept. 8, 2022 in federal court in Springfield, Mass. to making threats to commit anti-LGBTQ violence against Springfield-based Merriam-Webster, Inc. and others. (Jenny Kane/)

On another occasion, Hanson allegedly used the websites contact us page to post the following threat: You (sic) headquarters should be shot up and bombed. It is sickening that you have caved to the cultural Marxist, anti-science [transgender] agenda and altered the definition of female as part of the Lefts efforts to corrupt and degrade the English language and deny reality. You evil Marxists should all be killed. It would be poetic justice to have someone storm your offices and shoot up the place, leaving none of you commies alive.

In another message shared via the contact us page, Hanson allegedly threatened to bomb your offices for lying.

As part of his plea agreement, Hanson also admitted to sending threatening messages to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a New York rabbi, as well as professors at Loyola Marymount University.

In a sworn statement, he admitted that he often selected his targets based on peoples gender, gender identity and/or sexual orientation, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins.

Jeremy Hanson is now a convicted felon after admitting to making hate-fueled threats of violence related to the LGBTQ+ community, Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division, said Wednesday in a news release.

U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled his sentencing for Jan. 5, 2023. The charge of interstate transmission of threatening communications can lead to a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.
Chinese President Xi Jinping this week declared his country the leader not just of the world but of socialist nations as he criticized other nations that abandoned socialism for the "Western model."

"Many developing countries look at China with envy and want to learn about our governance experience. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has become the standard-bearer of 21st-century socialist development," Xi wrote in an article published Wednesday in Qiushi, the partys most authoritative theoretical journal.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) met this week in Uzbekistan to further solidify ties between Asian nations that seek to curb Western influence on the continent, but it coincides with the run-up to the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party on Oct. 16, during which the party will confirm Xi for an unprecedented third term, the South China Morning Post reported.

"The Eurasian continent is home to us all," Xi said in his speech in Uzbekistan. "Upholding its peace and development is the shared goal of countries both in our region and the world at large, and the SCO shoulders an important responsibility in meeting this goal."

US-CHINA EXPERTS WARN OF BLOODY AFFAIR FOR BOTH SIDES IF WAR WERE TO START

Both the article and speech seek to lay out Xis vision for his nation. He claimed that China has the "responsibility, capability and confidence to make historic contributions to the progress of scientific socialism" as the nation charts its own course.

"Our destiny lies in the path we select. If we take the wrong path, we will not achieve our goals and may even break the great rejuvenation of Chinese civilization," Xi wrote.

IRAN TO JOIN RUSSIA, CHINA-LED GROUP IN BID TO DODGE WESTERN SANCTIONS: REPORT

He insisted that Chinas success "proves" that "socialism is not dead" and prevented a "long dark age."

"Just imagine this: had socialism failed in China, had our communist party collapsed like the party in the Soviet Union, then global socialism would lapse into a long dark age," he wrote. "And communism, like Karl Marx once said, would be a haunting specter lingering in limbo."

PUTIN SAYS THE US AND WEST ARE FAILING, CLAIMS FUTURE LIES IN ASIA

In his speech to the SCO, Xi pointed to five "practices" the member states needed for continued "success": Political trust, "win-win" cooperation, equality among nations, openness and inclusiveness and equality and justice. The SCO, started by China and Russia, this year approved Iran's application to become a member state, while China continues to downplay its actions against its Muslim Uyghur population.

But it was the goals for future endeavors that warranted the most attention, namely the "need to expand security cooperation" to deal with the "complex and challenging development environment both at home and abroad."

"The Global Security Initiative put forward by China is to address the peace deficit and global security challenges," Xi said. "It calls on all countries to stay true to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture."

"We welcome all stakeholders to get involved in implementing this initiative," he urged.
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on Russia and other members of a regional grouping to support each other in preventing foreign powers from instigating "colour revolutions" - popular uprisings that have shaken former Communist nations - in their countries.

Speaking in Uzbekistan at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a security grouping led by China and Russia, Xi said member countries should support the efforts each other have made to safeguard their own security and development interests.

Xi did not mention Ukraine, which Russia invaded in February in what Russian President Vladimir calls a "special military operation" to protect Russian speakers from "genocide" by Ukraine's government, a claim rejected by Ukraine.

He also said that China will train 2,000 law enforcement personnel from member countries over the next five years and set up a training base focusing on anti-terrorism work.

Related video: Vladimir Putin acknowledges Xi Jinping's Ukraine war concerns

He invited member countries to sign up to China's Global Security Initiative, a concept he proposed in April which includes the idea that no country should strengthen its own security at the expense of others.

China will provide 1.5 billion yuan ($214 million) worth of grain and other emergency aid to developing countries, Xi said, adding that the Chinese economy is resilient and "full of potential".

China's economy narrowly escaped a contraction in the April-to-June quarter, hobbled by COVID-19 lockdowns of cities, a deepening downturn in the property market and persistently soft consumer spending.

($1 = 7.0133 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Yew Lun Tian and Ryan Woo; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Two Colorado parents say they want prosecutors to file criminal charges after their 22-year-old son was fatally shot by police during an apparent mental health crisis in June.

Body-camera footage released this week shows police breaking Christian Glass' car window and a Clear Creek County sheriffs deputy firing five rounds at Glass while he was inside his car.

The incident happened after Glass called 911 for roadside assistance in the small mountain town of Silver Plume, Colorado, roughly 45 miles west of Denver.

The case is renewing calls from advocates that police must prioritize de-escalation when responding to mental health crises, instead of reacting with force.

Context: Advocates say police are not best suited to handle the myriad mental health-related calls they receive  calls that advocates say are dialed in to law enforcement because mental health services are so lacking.

Up to 50% of fatal encounters with law enforcement involve someone with a mental illness, a 2016 study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine estimated.

In Denver and New York, behavioral health specialists are sent to 911 callers facing crises that police may not be trained to address or could even exacerbate.

What happened in June: After Christian Glass' June 11 death, the Clear Creek County Sheriff's office issued a news release saying that Glass was shot after he became argumentative and uncooperative and tried to stab an officer when police broke a car window to grab him.

But body-cam footage shows Glass pleading with officers and at one point offering to disarm himself by throwing his knives out of his car window.

What's happening now: Colorado's Fifth Judicial District, which includes Clear Creek County, said it is investigating the case along with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. They plan to eventually issue a report on the shooting or present the case to a grand jury, which would decide if indictments should be issued.

Christian Glass, right, sits with his father, Simon Glass, in Colorado on March 11, 2021. Family members are asking for accountability in the death of Christian Glass, a 22-year-old Colorado man who was shot by police earlier this year after calling 911 for roadside assistance. Christian Glass's parents believed officers escalated a situation that could have been handled differently, and hope the district attorney will bring criminal charges.

Advocates say de-escalation was needed

Police haven't said if any behavioral health specialists were called for Glass.

Use-of-force and de-escalation experts who reviewed the footage said the case is an example of when a behavioral health specialist or crisis response team  programs becoming increasingly popular across the country  may have helped de-escalate the situation and avert Glass death.

There are some real red flags that suggest potential problems, said Seth Stoughton, a former police officer and leading use-of-force expert who reviewed portions of the footage. Stoughton testified in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the police officer who murdered George Floyd.

Siddhartha Rathod, the attorney for Christian's parents, Simon and Sally Glass, said Glass had no history of mental illness.

Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, has proposed legislation aimed at helping more police departments create and fund teams that pair police officers with mental health workers.

The effort would use existing COPS grants  Community Oriented Police Services funding  that can be used for a wide variety of local police efforts. Much of the money is available to help communities hire more officers or improve school safety.

What happened the night of June 11?

Body-camera footage shows a sheriffs deputy firing five rounds at Christian Glass after shooting him with bean bag rounds and shocking him with a stun gun.

The footage shows Glass refusing to come out of his car while also telling police hes terrified" and making heart shapes with his hands to officers. At one point, he also can be seen praying with folded hands and saying, Dear Lord, please, don't let them break the window.

When the officers did break the window, Glass seemed to panic and grabbed a knife.

Police then shot Glass with bean bag rounds and shocked him with a stun gun before the young man twisted in his seat and thrust a knife toward an officer, the footage showed. Then one officer fired his gun, hitting Glass. The recordings then show Glass stabbing himself before he died.

An autopsy report released by the family's attorney found Glass had THC, a .01% blood alcohol concentration, and amphetamine in his system, the last of which Rathod said is likely from an ADHD prescription for Glass.

Christian was experiencing a crisis, and he called 911 for help, Rathod said. And yet these officers busted out Christians window, shot him six times with bean bag rounds, Tased him multiple times from two Tasers, and then shot him five times.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation handles police shootings, including the Glass case, but the family wants prosecutors to file criminal charges, Rathod said.

Attorneys Qusair Mohamedbhai, left and Siddhartha Rathod take questions during an emotional news conference in Denver on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.

Family demands accountability

At a tearful press conference Tuesday, Christian's mother, Sally Glass, displayed a pendant of Jesus recovered from her sons car engraved with the words, Pray for us.

We have to pray for us in America to make this a less violent country, Sally Glass said. I think a lot of people now would agree that there is a systemic problem with policing: Its too aggressive. They escalate at every opportunity, and it looks like they are spoiling for a fight. ... They should be protecting us, not attacking us.

Simon and Sally Glass comfort each other during an emotional news conference in Denver on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. They are calling for accountability after police shot and killed their 22-year-old son, Christian Glass, after he called 911 for roadside assistance in the Colorado mountain town of Silver Plume in June. The Glasses say their son was having a mental health episode, and police needlessly escalated the situation.

Glass said her son was petrified and paralyzed by fear the night he was killed.

I have a hole in my heart, and it will be there until the day I die, Glass said.

Contributing: Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY; Associated Press.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New footage shows police in Colorado fatally shot a man who was in mental health crisis
by Xinhua reporter Wang Jiangang

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The drought situation in Somalia is very critical and some 1 million people, including children, women, and elderly people, are displaced by the drought, Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, Somali president's special envoy for drought relief, has said.

"They don't have food. They don't have water. They don't have health care. We are facing the greatest humanitarian catastrophe in the last two decades," Warsame told Xinhua in an interview on Thursday ahead of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.

"We are knocking on every door to get that support" to help several million Somalis who are struggling to survive, said Warsame.

According to the United Nations, the worst famine of the 21st century is unfolding in the Horn of Africa. For months, a climate-change-fueled drought of historic proportions, coupled with other factors, has caused severe food shortages in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.

Four consecutive failed rainy seasons have threatened millions with food insecurity in the Horn of Africa country. "If the fifth rainy season fails in October, we are knocking the door of famine," the special envoy said.

With the help of the international community, Warsame said 68 percent of Somalia's 2022 humanitarian response plan had been funded. "But still, the gap is huge," he said.

On his country's resources and advantages, Warsame said Somalia is "the land of resources," including farming, fishery, renewable energy and even "entrepreneur skills of the communities."

"But we cannot take that advantage, and we cannot realize that potentiality because we are facing a dire situation caused by the drought" and the destruction of extremists, he added.

According to Warsame, Somalia's government is coordinating efforts to respond to the humanitarian situation, allocating resources, easing access, implementing tax exemption and expediting customs clearance for humanitarian delivery.

"We are trying to create a conducive environment where the international community and donor community can provide assistance," he noted.

"We are appealing to international community and particular community to pay attention (to our plight), to support and fund the humanitarian response plan that the government of Somalia has developed," said the special envoy. 
First Lady Jill Biden speaks with Mario Lundes of Homeboy Industries during her visit to the nonprofit rehabilitation and reentry organization on Friday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Mario Lundes greeted First Lady Jill Biden at the Homeboy Industries bakery Friday afternoon eager  but nervous  to share his redemption story.

"Its hard, but if I did it, they can do it too, Lundes said.

For the last 11 years he's worked for the renowned Los Angeles social enterprise, which provides rehabilitation and reentry services for thousands of people formerly incarcerated or affiliated with gangs. It's helped him find "light at the end of the tunnel" after serving time, said Lundes, who now works as a substance abuse disorder intake coordinator.

"It was an honor to meet her and welcome her to the Homeboy bakery," he said. "I told her a little about what they do back there.

Biden's visit was brief, stopping by for a tour of the nonprofit's bakery and cafe after speaking earlier in the afternoon at a nearby fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee, but she said she was glad she could get there.

Jill Biden's tour of Homeboy Industries came years after then-Vice President Joe Biden visited the nonprofit in 2015. "There's a relationship between the Bidens and Homeboys," said Emily Chapa, a case manager. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

"Ive heard so much about this place," Biden said after listening to stories from other "homies" and helping make a few pastries. All it takes is for one person to believe in you."

President Biden visited the organization in 2015 when he was vice president, something Emily Chapa remembered fondly as she and others gathered outside the Homegirl Cafe in Chinatown to watch Jill Biden's motorcade drive off.

"I truly believe that we have a friend in the White House," said Chapa, who works in case management for the nonprofit. They know about us; it feels like they respect what we do. Theres a relationship between the Bidens and Homeboys.

Homeboy Bakery and Homegirl Cafe are two of Homeboy Industries' sprawling social enterprises, which center on an 18-month rehabilitation program that helps people reenter the workforce with job training and wraparound services.

Founded by Father Gregory Boyle more than three decades ago, the nonprofit now serves hundreds of trainees in Southern California every year.

Homeboy really represents that hope that people can change their lives, and for the first lady of the United States to come to us, and be part of our community  its just thrilling for all of us here, in particularly our trainees," said Tom Vozzo, chief executive of Homeboy Industries.

Homeboy is 90% privately funded, Vozzo said, but local and federal government support can make a big difference. The nonprofit was recently awarded a $2-million U.S. Department of Labor grant aimed at supporting young people who have gone through the criminal justice system, and the Biden administration has recently touted "incarceration to employment" as a priority.

Theyre here and theyre trying to put more money into workforce development for people that have been previously incarcerated, and thats the population we serve," Vozzo said. "Having a consistent set of government contracts will enable us to serve that many more people.

Eugene Walker, Homeboy's workforce development manager, told the first lady about mentoring others now going through what he did, making the transition from prison through Homeboy's training program.

What is the secret sauce? We build relationships," Walker told Biden. "We meet you where youre at. The magic of Homeboys happens everyday.

Chapa wasn't able to talk to Biden, but she said it still meant a lot to her knowing the first lady came and heard from some of the "people on the margins" Homeboy aims to serve.

"The things that we stand for, that are in our mission," Chapa said, "its nice to see some of those same policies and beliefs are with a president and people that are in these positions.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Three South Florida men face possible life prison sentences after being accused by federal agents of holding Cuban migrants hostage in a Hialeah stash house in exchange for $15,000 from their loved ones.

The men even threatened to leave the migrants in the middle of the ocean if family or friends didnt come through with the ransom, according to the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the Hialeah Police Department.

A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted Didier Perez Perez, Lester Leyniel Soca Diaz and Yoandy Alonso on several felony charges, including conspiracy to harbor and transport migrants for profit and hostage taking. The latter charge has a maximum penalty of life behind bars.

A judge ordered all three men held in federal detention until their trials.

The migrants were brought by smugglers to the Florida Keys on a speedboat in August. Two of the victims told agents there were about 15 people on the boat.

A friend of one of the victims called the police on Sept. 2, a day after that person was contacted by the men and told the victim would be held captive until the ransom was paid, according to a Sept. 6 FBI complaint filed in federal court.

The friend was told to meet one of the hostage takers at a gas station in Miami-Dade County. There the person was met by a man driving a Slingshot car who was wearing sunglasses and an American flag face mask, according to the complaint.

The man drove the friend to a vacant parking lot, where a white Chevrolet Impala was parked. Inside the car were the victim and two other hostage takers, the complaint states.

The friend told agents there was a firearm in the front seat of the car. The hostage takers said that if the money wasnt paid the next day, they would either leave the victim in the middle of the ocean or return him to Cuba.

After the friend contacted the police, agents had the person make a recorded phone call in which the person offered $5,000 and a gold chain worth $2,000 in lieu of the total $15,000 ransom. The hostage taker agreed, and said they could make the exchange at a Hialeah parking lot.

That afternoon, the friend and an undercover officer went to the parking lot where the victim, Soca Diaz and Perez Perez were sitting in a Chevy Suburban SUV. The friend opened the door, and one of the men said to get the money, and he would release the victim.

Police and agents then rushed the car, arrested Soca Diaz and Perez Perez and rescued the victim, according to the complaint.

Meanwhile, other agents were staking out the house in Hialeah where the victim reported being held. They saw four people, who turned out to be Cuban migrants, being loaded into a van.

As the van backed out of the driveway and began to head away from the house, cops pulled it over and arrested the driver, Yoandy Alonso, according to the complaint.

The case unfolded as South Florida is experiencing its highest influx of Cuban maritime migration in nearly a decade. Many of the people are coming on makeshift rafts and fishing boats, but many others are being smuggled into the country.

Federal agents arrested two Bradenton men earlier this week on smuggling charges after stopping them at sea off Key Largo transporting 17 people from Cuba.

This is also not the first time in recent months that smugglers have been holding migrants hostage in stash houses for ransom. In August, Homeland Security Investigations agents pulled over a windowless van and found five people from Cuba inside.

The van had just left a stash house in Opa-locka, agents said. Like in this case, the migrants were brought by go-fast boat to the Florida Keys before being taken to the mainland and held for $15,000.

Lawyers representing Soca Diaz did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Michael Mirer, attorney for Perez Perez and Frank Schwartz, attorney for Alonso, declined to comment.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have traded barbs in recent months. (Associated Press)

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday challenged his Florida counterpart, Ron DeSantis, to a televised debate, escalating his criticism of Republican governors' mass transport of migrants to liberal bastions as "reprehensible" and possibly illegal.

"Hey [DeSantis], clearly you're struggling, distracted, and busy playing politics with peoples lives," Newsom tweeted Friday afternoon. "Since you have only one overriding need  attention  let's take this up & debate. Ill bring my hair gel. You bring your hairspray. Name the time before Election Day."

On Wednesday evening, DeSantis sent a group of around 50 migrants by plane to Martha's Vineyard, a Massachusetts playground for wealthy liberals. On Thursday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott bused a group of nearly 100 migrants to Vice President Kamala Harris' residence in Washington, D.C., ramping up a tactic that GOP governors have turned to in recent months to protest illegal immigration.

"Like millions of Americans, I have been horrified at the images of migrants being shipped on buses and planes across the country to be used as political props," Newsom said in a letter Thursday to U.S. Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland, urging the Department of Justice to investigate DeSantis' actions.

Some of the migrants said they had been falsely told they would be transported to Boston, where they could receive work authorizations, Newsom said.

When asked about the letter during an event Friday, DeSantis responded with a quip about Newsom's hair.

"I think his hair gel is interfering with his brain function," he said.

Newsom took the opportunity to lay down his challenge to DeSantis, sharing an August tweet in which former CBS News anchor Dan Rather raised the idea of a potential prime-time debate between the two governors, both thought to be harboring presidential ambitions.

"Ratings I bet would be huge. Who would have the courage to show up?" said Rather, who published an article Friday calling DeSantis' and Abbott's migrant transports "a shameful stunt."

DeSantis had not responded publicly as of Friday evening.

For months, Newsom has made a habit of contrasting California's policies with those of Texas and Florida.

This summer, his reelection campaign ran a television ad in Florida slamming that state's restrictive abortion policies and a law that forbids instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

I urge all of you living in Florida to join the fight, or join us in California, where we still believe in freedom  freedom of speech, freedom to choose, freedom from hate and the freedom to love," Newsom said in the ad.

Newsom has repeatedly denied that he is considering a presidential run, but many political watchers are skeptical, especially as he sets his sights on DeSantis, a potential 2024 GOP candidate.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LONDON (AP)  All eight of Queen Elizabeth II's grandchildren stood in silent vigil beside her coffin Saturday, capping another huge day in which thousands came to pay their respects. Mourners huddled in a line that snaked across London, enduring the city's coldest night in months and waits that stretched up to 16 hours.

Authorities warned that more chilly weather was expected Saturday night. Tonights forecast is cold. Warm clothing is recommended, the ministry in charge of the line tweeted.

As U.S. President Joe Biden and other world leaders and dignitaries flew into London ahead of the queen's state funeral on Monday, a tide of people wanting to say goodbye streamed into Parliaments Westminster Hall for another day Saturday. That's where the queens coffin is lying in state, draped in her Royal Standard and capped with a diamond-studded crown.

The numbers of mourners have grown steadily since the public was first admitted on Wednesday, with a queue that snakes around Southwark Park and stretches for at least 5 miles (8 kilometers).

Honoring their patience, King Charles III and his eldest son Prince William made an unannounced visit Saturday to greet people waiting to file past Elizabeths coffin, shaking hands and thanking mourners in the queue near Lambeth Bridge.

Later, all the queen's grandchildren stood by her coffin. William and Prince Harry, Charles' sons, were joined by Princess Annes children, Zara Tindall and Peter Philips; Prince Andrews daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie; and the two children of Prince Edward  Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

William, now the heir to the throne, stood, his head bowed, at the head of the coffin and Harry at the foot. Both princes, who are military veterans, were in uniform. Mourners continued to file past in silence.

Harry, who served in Afghanistan as a British army officer, wore civilian clothes earlier in the week as the queens coffin left Buckingham Palace because he is no longer a working member of the royal family. He and his wife Meghan quit royal duties and moved to the United States in 2020. The king, however, requested that both William and Harry wear their military uniforms at the Westminster Hall vigil.

Before the vigil, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie issued a statement praising their beloved grannie.

We, like many, thought youd be here forever. And we all miss you terribly. You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever, the sisters wrote.

People queuing to see the queen have been of all ages and come from all walks of life. Many bowed before the coffin or made a sign of the cross. Several veterans, their medals shining, offered sharp salutes. Some people wept. Others blew kisses. Many hugged one another as they stepped away, proud to have spent hours in line to offer a tribute, even if it lasted only a few moments.

Overnight, volunteers distributed blankets and cups of tea to people in line as temperatures fell to 6 degrees Celsius (43 degrees Fahrenheit). Despite the weather, mourners described the warmth of a shared experience.

It was cold overnight, but we had wonderful companions, met new friends. The camaraderie was wonderful,'' Chris Harman of London said. It was worth it. I would do it again and again and again. I would walk to the end of the earth for my queen.

People had many reasons for coming, from affection for the queen to a desire to be part of a historic moment. Simon Hopkins, who traveled from his home in central England, likened it to a pilgrimage.

(It) is a bit strange, because that kind of goes against my grain, he said. Ive been kind of drawn into it.

Saturday's vigil followed one on Friday in which the queens four children  Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward  stood vigil at the coffin.

Edward said the royal family was overwhelmed by the tide of emotion that has engulfed us and the sheer number of people who have gone out of their way to express their own love, admiration and respect (for) our dear mama.

On Saturday, the new king was holding audiences with incoming prime ministers, governor generals of the realms and military leaders.

The Metropolitan Police arrested a man Friday night during the viewing for a suspected public order offense. Parliamentary authorities said someone got out of the queue and tried to approach the coffin.

Tracey Holland told Sky News that her 7-year-old niece Darcy Holland was pushed out of the way by a man who tried to run up to the coffin, lift up the standard and try to do I dont know what. She said police detained the man in two seconds.

The lying-in-state continues until early Monday morning, when the queens coffin will be borne to nearby Westminster Abbey for a state funeral, the finale of 10 days of national mourning for Britains longest-reigning monarch. Elizabeth, 96, died at her Balmoral Estate in Scotland on Sept. 8 after 70 years on the throne.

After the service Monday at the abbey, the late queens coffin will be transported through the historic heart of London on a horse-drawn gun carriage. It will then be taken in a hearse to Windsor, where the queen will be interred alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died last year.

Hundreds of troops from the British army, air force and navy held an early-morning rehearsal Saturday for the final procession. As troops lined the picturesque path leading to Windsor Castle, the thumping of drums echoed in the air as marching bands walked ahead of a hearse.

London police say the funeral will be the largest single policing event the force has ever handled, surpassing even the 2012 Summer Olympics and the Platinum Jubilee in June celebrating the queens 70-year reign.

___

Follow AP coverage of Queen Elizabeth II at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi planned to visit Armenia this weekend to demonstrate support for the country amid its conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan, Politico reported.

Pelosi was headed to Armenia after traveling to Berlin to attend the G-7 Speakers Summit, two people familiar with the visit told Politico. Fellow California congresswoman Rep. Jackie Speier was with her. They were to meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the capital of Yerevan.

Armenia and Azerbaijan negotiated a ceasefire that took effect Wednesday evening local time after fighting killed more than 150 soldiers from both sides.

The two countries have engaged in a conflict for decades over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is part of Azerbaijan. But ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia have controlled the territory since a separatist war ended in 1994.

Russia had announced a ceasefire it brokered on Tuesday, but violence resumed shortly after.

Azerbaijan retook control of parts of Nagorno-Karabakh during a six-week war in 2020 before Russia negotiated a peace agreement. More than 6,700 people were killed in the fighting.

Drew Hammill, Pelosis deputy chief of staff, did not confirm the trip when reached for comment, saying We do not confirm or deny international travel in advance due to longstanding security protocols.

A spokesperson for Speier did not immediately return a request from The Hill for comment.

Speier serves as co-chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus. She is one of a handful of Armenian-American members of Congress, according to Politico.
Editors note: This story contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault and abuse.

Federal prosecutors have revealed more about their case against Roger Golubski in the hopes of keeping him detained before trial, including the accounts of seven other women who brought allegations against the former Kansas City, Kansas, detective.

In a 25-page motion for pre-trial detention, prosecutors on Friday provided graphic details of the accusations from two women, one of whom was a minor at the time, that led to Golubskis arrest. They also included claims made by seven other unnamed victims, all women who say Golubski raped them or tried to while acting under the color of the law.

Detention is necessary because clear and convincing evidence establishes that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of other people or the community, federal prosecutors wrote.

Golubski, 69, was charged with six counts of depriving the civil rights of two women in the federal indictment unsealed Thursday. The former officer, who retired in 2010 as a captain, is accused of sexually abusing and kidnapping those two women from 1998 to 2002.

The former cop pleaded not guilty Thursday. His lawyer did not respond to an email seeking comment on the detention motion Friday.

Prosecutors provided more details about the alleged rapes of the two women, whose accounts are outlined in the indictment. One was a teenager when she was abused by Golubski, she said, and feared he could shoot her. The other woman, Ophelia Williams, who has gone public with her allegations, said Golubski told her she would never be found if she reported him.

The seven other victims, whose allegations have not led to charges, described encounters with Golubski that ranged from the 1980s until as recently as 2004. He allegedly cornered and threatened them all, sometimes displaying his police badge and gun.

One woman, identified as Other Victim 1 in court papers, alleges she met with Golubski in his office sometime in the mid-1980s as she sought help with a traffic ticket. She accepted an invitation to have lunch, she said, during which Golubski allegedly made sexually suggestive comments and offered to take her to a motel. Prosecutors allege the cop offered her money when she declined.

She thought Golubski was driving her back to her house when he pulled into a cemetery instead and began fondling her, the woman told investigators. He then allegedly demanded she provide oral sex before reaching toward his holstered gun.

After allegedly raping her, Golubski drove her out of the cemetery, dropped her off miles away from her house and told her to remain silent about what occurred, prosecutors say.

They will believe me before they will ever (expletive) believe you, the then-officer allegedly said.

Another victim told investigators she was walking home with groceries in the mid-1980s when Golubski pulled up in his vehicle and offered her a ride. She refused at first, she said, but got in after Golubski flashed his badge.

He allegedly drove her to a cemetery as well, fondled her breasts and began masturbating as the woman tried to escape the car  only to find it was locked. Golubski then grabbed her by her neck and forced himself on her, according to court papers.

She was dropped off at her apartment, the woman recalled, and warned not to say anything.

The third victim was in her early 20s when she walked to a nearby park after having an argument with her boyfriend. She said Golubski drove up to her, identified himself as an officer and showed his badge. She felt safe getting into his car at first, prosecutors say.

She described being driven to a small field before Golubski demanded she perform oral sex. She feared being hurt or killed in the dark, secluded place and was raped by him as he told her not to fight, prosecutors allege.

The woman visited Truman Medical Center and a rape kit was used. When medical staff there called the police for her to file a report, she left terrified before they arrived. She recalled seeing Golubski again two months later, and told him she was keeping quiet. She feared for her safety and worried that Golubski would put a case on her brother, according to prosecutors.

In 1990, another woman reported meeting with Golubski as her husband was the target of a criminal investigation the detective was leading. She told prosecutors Golubski sexually assaulted and raped her periodically between the mid-1990s through 2004.

She said he threatened to take away her children if she ever told anyone.

The woman moved away and did not see him again until she was in the hospital more than 10 years later, prosecutors allege. She recalled Golubski visited her room and said: Long time no see, an event that terrified her enough to change hospitals.

Also in 1990, another alleged victim said she was 18 when Golubski visited her home as part of an investigation. She said he came back on several occasions to meet her there, until one day he brought her to a restaurant and put his hand on her thigh.

Golubski allegedly asked her if she had ever been with a white guy. She felt pressured to go out with him because he was a cop, the woman said, and he eventually pressured her for sex.

After (Other Victim 5) declined, those close to her began getting into trouble with police, prosecutors wrote in the motion.

During a visit to the police station two or three years later, the woman told investigators Golubski lifted her dress, held her thighs and aggressively attempted to perform oral sex on her. She said she pushed him away and resisted until Golubski eventually let her leave.

In 2004, a sixth alleged victim reported Golubksi visited her home while investigating a drive-by shooting. A few days later, as she was driving to work, Golubski allegedly pulled her over and told her he knew her sons were involved with criminal activity and threatened to arrest her unless she had sex with him.

She refused, she said, and was told by Golubski that he would take her sons down, according to prosecutors. She also alleged KCKPDs internal affairs office told her they could do nothing about her report because it was her word against his.

She described other instances where she was harassed, saying Golubski taunted her after arresting her brother a little more than a year later.

Also in 2004, prosecutors allege Golubski called a seventh victim after seeing her booking photograph and asked her to meet him at the city courthouse.

The woman said he escorted her into an empty office building, identified himself as the KCKPD homicide captain, and offered to help her out with a local prosecutor on a criminal case. He then tried to kiss her and started touching himself, she told investigators.

As she fought off his advances, she said, Golubski only stopped after a person knocked on the door.

He told (Other Victim 7) that if she told anyone, she would end up in the morgue, and he would cover it up, prosecutors wrote.

Legal arguments

Golubski, who retired from the police force in 2010 and has never been convicted of a crime, made his first court appearance Thursday,

Tom Lemon, Golubskis court-appointed defense attorney, advised the judge of concerns about Golubskis physical health, suggesting the court should take those factors into account while weighing the possibility of detaining him until trial.

Prosecutors, however, believe Golubski is more dangerous  not less  today.

While Golubskis charged crimes occurred decades ago, he has demonstrated a continued pattern of engaging in predatory behavior and implicit and explicit threats, prosecutors wrote, referencing the account of the woman who alleges Golubski visited her in the hospital years after assaulting her.

The defendants victims live in fear because he has used his position of power to terrorize and traumatize them, the prosecutions motion says, adding: He has spent decades lording his power over his victims and the community by demonstrating how unbound by legal limits he feels.

The detention hearing is scheduled for Monday afternoon at the federal courthouse in Topeka.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis latest stunt to embarrass President Joe Biden  in advance hopes of replacing him in the Oval Office  was to dump immigrants stopped at the Southern border in a fancy community in New England that was not expecting or prepared to house them.

What a hoot, political supporters say. What a clever maneuver, governor. Actually, its as clever as it is cruel.

DeSantis is using and humiliating vulnerable human beings, people who risked their lives to escape their homeland for America, to make a political point  and further his presidential ambitions. After all, he couldnt buy better press nationwide.

In a statement, the governor explained his actions: States like Massachusetts, New York and California will better facilitate the care of these individuals who they have invited into our country by incentivizing illegal immigration through their designation as sanctuary states and support for the Biden administrations open-border policies.

Florida, he said, will not tolerate it.

Enter this insulting relocation, cranked into gear Wednesday and financed by a state where hundreds of thousands of immigrants have found refuge since the 1960s and where they have led, and continue to lead, productive lives.

The first group of some 50 refugees in the offensive program had their flights to Massachusetts paid for out of Floridas $12 million allotment to scare away undocumented immigrants, approved by the Legislature this year. Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez alluded to the program several weeks ago in a radio show, creating a backlash in Miami, home to so many immigrants from Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia and Nicaragua, when she touched the third rail and said that Cubans, too, would be shipped North.

Lets hope that backlash turns into pure outrage that Florida is joining Texas and Arizona in using human beings as pawns for political gain. It seems no coincidence that these immigrants were dropped into a swanky community where Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama own property.

The stunt is generating national coverage for the governor. Photos show the immigrants, including families and children, being greeted by surprised townspeople. The Vineyard had no idea these immigrants were coming. Marthas Vineyard News reported the community had to scramble to open a church to house the refugees  more mercy shown there than the received in Florida.

How cruel to put any human beings in such a predicament.

These immigrants had no idea they were political pawns. It appears that at the border, once paroled, they were told by Florida border officials sent there that they would be given housing and jobs and food in a sanctuary city, but not in Florida.

At a Thursday news conference in Niceville in Floridas Panhandle, a smug DeSantis said those favoring sanctuary communities would get a taste of their own medicine.

Florida is more than happy to facilitate transport to those areas, he said.

Every immigrant in Florida should remember the pain of their first days in America. How heartbreaking it would have been to be used as a pawn by a heartless politician.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that Ukraine has found torture chambers where civilians were abused in areas of the Kharkiv region recently liberated from Russian occupation.

Zelensky said in an address that officials found premises where civilians were kept, including seven citizens of the Republic of Sri Lanka who were students at the Kupyansk Medical College. The group of Sri Lankan citizens are now receiving medical care, Zelensky added.

This comes on the heels of Zelenskys announcement on Thursday that Ukraine had found another mass burial site near Izyum, with more than 440 graves. Zelensky noted on Friday that there was evidence that Russian soldiers shot at the buried just for fun.

Russia has repeated in Izium what it did in Bucha, Zelensky said. And now we have just begun to learn the full truth about what was happening in Kharkiv region at that time.

Mass burial sites were found in Bucha, a town north of Kyiv, after Russian forces withdrew from the area earlier this year. Ukrainian troops have recovered more than 2,000 square kilometers of territory seized by Russia in the war since launching a major counteroffensive at the beginning of the month, including Izyum, which Ukraine liberated last week.

The United Nations said on Friday that it plans to send investigators to Izyum to examine the mass burial site, a move that Zelensky commended.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Prime Ministers meeting with US president Joe Biden on Sunday has been cancelled.

The leaders will instead attend a full bilateral meeting at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, No 10 said.

The PM will still meet Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and Polish president Andrzej Duda in Downing Street on Sunday, as planned.

Downing Street would not provide further details on why the meeting with Mr Biden had been cancelled.

This weekends talks are being framed by No 10 as chats, rather than formal bilateral sessions, with politics likely to feature.

The meeting with Mr Biden would have taken place against a backdrop of disputes over the Northern Ireland Protocol and difficulties working towards a trade deal with the White House.

US president Joe Biden (Henry Nicholls/PA)

The leaders will instead have their first in-person talks when Liz Truss takes her own trip across the Atlantic to New York for the 77th session of the UN General Assembly next week.

A US official in London confirmed that Mr Biden and his wife, Jill, will still attend the Queens funeral on Monday.

Ms Truss is also expected to hold a call with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, on Saturday evening.

She spoke to the UAE president and ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in the morning, when he expressed his condolences following the death of the Queen, Downing Street said.

There have been no other changes to the weekends arrangements.

It comes after Ms Truss met Australian PM Anthony Albanese and New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern at the Governments Chevening country residence on Saturday.

Today Jodie and I signed the condolence book at Lancaster House. In this time of great grief, we are thankful to be here paying our respects to the Queen for her services to duty, faith, family and the Commonwealth. pic.twitter.com/YF2cWvapxW  Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) September 17, 2022

In advance of her talks with Ms Truss, Ms Ardern said the Queens death and new King would be the focus of conversation, and they were also likely to discuss Ukraine and the UKs free trade agreement with New Zealand.

It was thought the meeting between Ms Truss and Mr Albanese may also touch on trade, with the countries last year signing a deal estimated by the Government to be worth 2.3 billion to the UK economy.

When his British counterpart won the Tory leadership contest earlier this month, the Australian PM tweeted: I look forward to a continued constructive relationship and friendship between our nations and people.

Mr Albanese also signed the condolence book at Lancaster House with his partner, Jodie Haydon, during his visit to the UK.

He tweeted: Today Jodie and I signed the condolence book at Lancaster House.

In this time of great grief, we are thankful to be here paying our respects to the Queen for her services to duty, faith, family and the Commonwealth.
Liz Truss is primed to hold the first of her confirmed head-to-heads with world leaders as they make the trip to the UK for the Queens funeral.

The Prime Minister will speak with her counterparts from New Zealand and Australia on Saturday, with the conversations framed by No 10 as chats rather than formal bilateral meetings.

Downing Street suggested they would be an opportunity for condolences over the Queens death, with politics likely to come up.

The first of the weekends meetings will be based at the Governments Chevening country residence, rather than Chequers, which is said to be undergoing routine maintenance work after Boris Johnsons exit.

Ms Truss will see New Zealands premier Jacinda Ardern and Australian leader Anthony Albanese on Saturday.

Ms Ardern has said the Queens death and new King will be the focus of conversation, with the pair also likely to discuss Ukraine and the UKs free trade agreement with New Zealand.

Paying our respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. May she rest in eternal peace. pic.twitter.com/kAE28ZU9uo  Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) September 16, 2022

But all will be within the context of the week of mourning that the UK is currently in.

The conversation between Ms Truss and Mr Albanese may also touch on trade, with the countries last year signing a deal estimated by the Government to be worth 2.3 billion to the UK economy.

When his UK counterpart won the Tory leadership contest earlier this month, the Australian PM tweeted: I look forward to a continued constructive relationship and friendship between our nations and people.

Ms Truss also has a packed diary on Sunday, with plans to meet US president Joe Biden, Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Canadian premier Justin Trudeau and Polish leader Andrzej Duda in Downing Street.

Ms Truss previously met Mr Biden as foreign secretary, but this will be their first in-person conversation since she became Prime Minister.

It will take place against a backdrop of disputes over the Northern Ireland Protocol and difficulties working towards a trade deal with the White House.

The controversial post-Brexit treaty is also likely to come up when she speaks to Mr Martin, amid strained relations between the two countries over the trading arrangements.

Meanwhile, the Chinese foreign ministry has confirmed the countrys vice-president Wang Qishan will attend the state funeral on Monday, rather than leader Xi Jinping.

He is not expected to be among those to meet Ms Truss during the visit.
Kabul, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Afghans gathered in front of the former Afghanistan Human Rights Commission office in capital Kabul Saturday to protest against the U.S. recent announcement regarding transferring a part of Afghanistan's national reserves to a trust in Switzerland, calling the full release of the assets.

Holding placards and banners, the protesters chanted anti-U.S. slogans, blaming the United States for the ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis in Afghanistan.

The protesters demanded the immediate, full release of Afghanistan's central bank reserves.

"Today, we protest in front of the Human Rights Commission building. U.S. should immediately unfreeze Afghanistan's money," LaLa Agha, one of the organizers, told Xinhua.

Rafeuallah, another participant, who is a shopkeeper, said, "U.S. should immediately return our money."

The protesters issued a declaration at the end of the demonstration, accusing the U.S.-led forces of war crimes and atrocious killing of innocent Afghan men, women and children. In the declaration, protesters also asked for the immediate and full unfreezing of the more than 9 billion U.S. dollars and trial of soldiers who have committed war crimes.

Following the withdrawal of the U.S.-led forces from the Asian country, Afghanistan's assets worth more than 9 billion U.S. dollars were frozen by the United States as part of its sanctions on the new rulers of the war-torn country.

The U.S. government announced Wednesday that the 3.5 billion USD of Afghan central bank reserves it had frozen will be transferred to a newly-established "Afghan Fund" in Switzerland. 
A veteran Kuwaiti diplomat has recalled his fondest memories with the Queen over three decades of formal friendship.

Khaled Abdulaziz Al-Duwaisan, 75, the longest-serving ambassador to Britain, said he loved the Queen for her energy, knowledge and sense of humour.

Speaking with the PA news agency from his home in Kuwait on Friday, Mr Al-Duwaisan said he met the monarch on more than 150 occasions, with the final time being for her Platinum Jubilee this summer.

The Queen greeting Mr Al-Duwaisan at a St Pauls Cathedral service in February 1996, before dedicating a memorial to British servicemen who were killed in the Gulf War (PA Archive/PA)

Reflecting on this encounter, the recently-retired ambassador said: I cant believe that at this age, her mind, her body, her sense of humour  she was wonderful.

On a personal level, she liked me. I love her of course.

Mr Al-Duwaisan, who joined Kuwaits Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1970, recalled their first meeting in 1993 when he was just months into the job as a London-based ambassador.

Mr Al-Duwaisan giving a speech during the Easter Banquet hosted by Lord Mayor of the City of London (Yui Mok/PA)

Due to royal protocol, his diplomats had to ensure they never turned their back to the Queen, which involved them walking backwards while wearing a traditional mens cloak, known as a Bisht.

Mr Al-Duwaisan said: I had about seven diplomats with me, and all of them were wearing the robe  the big robe taller than them  because this is our system.

I was afraid that if they go back they will fall, and it would be embarrassing.

The veteran ambassador said that after some discussion, he found a way for the men to manoeuvre safely around the Queen. She liked it, he said.

Mr Al-Duwaisan was later invited for a dinner at Windsor Castle with his wife, where he sat beside the Queen.

I will never forget that she has a system in the past, to invite the ambassador to stay in Windsor Castle, so I went with my wife at five oclock at the reception and private dinner, he said.

I was on her right. So we talk about a lot of things, of course they told me not to talk about politics.

We had a long conversation about her children, going to Kuwait  and the Kuwaitis who are coming to England.

Mr Al-Duwaisan during the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in June 2019 (Victoria Jones/PA)

I said to her, thats because the relation between our two countries is very close  very, very close.

She showed me a big sword given to King George V from the Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jaber, the father of the current emir, he added.

I feel sad now to remember all this with Her Majesty the Queen, but I say to myself, this is life, she lived a good life, she lived a long life.

Britain will not be the same as when she was in power.

Mr Al-Duwaisan speaking at the Easter Banquet at Mansion House in the City of London in April 2022 (Victoria Jones/PA)

In 1995, the Queen made Mr Al-Duwaisan an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

He became Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in 2003, a role which has seen him advise more than 750 newly-arrived heads of mission about diplomatic life in London.

Mr Al-Duwaisan said the Queens death has been felt deeply in Kuwait, with many official buildings bearing the British flag to mark her passing.

He said the monarch provided a sense of stability and fostered an important relationship between the UK and Kuwait during years of turmoil in the country, including through the Iraq invasion in 1990.

The King, who was then the Prince of Wales, meeting Mr Al-Duwaisan during a reception on Horse Guards Parade (Christopher Radcliffe/PA)

Britain sent its largest single deployment of troops since the Second World War to defend the nation, at around 35,000 servicemen and women.

Western powers also feared Iraq would invade Saudi Arabia and seize the regions oil supplies.

Kuwait became a British protectorate in 1899, and in 1961 it gained independence.

Mr Al-Duwaisan met King Charles III on several occasions, including three times in Kuwait, and he believes the future will be good under his reign.


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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The Human Rights Defender of Armenia published an Ad Hoc Report on the consequences of Azerbaijani military attack on Armenia.

The Defender has presented and analyzed the war crimes committed by the Azerbaijani military forces, she has presented the facts on displaced persons; on targeting the emergency medical vehicles and journalists; violations of child's rights and the rights of persons with disabilities, the Human Rights Defenders Office said in a statement.

The report also depicts evidence about targeting the civilian population and vital civilian infrastructures as well as other material and environmental damages.

The facts about torture and ill-treatment of Armenian soldiers as well as humiliation of Armenian dead soldiers by Azerbaijani military forces are analyzed in the non-public part of this report. Those facts also are sent to the respective international organizations and actors.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. More than 10 Armenian servicemen were taken captive by Azerbaijan during the September 13-14 Azerbaijani attack. The picture is obscure, it could change. I cant give any other information regarding identified captives, the spokesperson of the Armenian representation to the ECHR Hasmik Samvelyan told ARMENPRESS.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has requested Azerbaijan to provide information by September 22 about the 1 identified (as of September 13) Armenian captive and the remaining unidentified captives seen in footages.

On September 13, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched a major attack on Armenia from several directions, bombarding both military and civilian infrastructures with rocket-artillery and drone strikes.

Azerbaijan halted its attack in the evening of September 14 after a ceasefire was reached following the involvement of the international community.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia launched a platform for registering essential needs for providing urgent support to citizens who have been temporarily displaced as a result of the Azerbaijani large-scale attack on Armenia.

The ministry will collect the needs of citizens in need and will forward the data to governors offices and local-self government authorities.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a phone talk with President of the European Council Charles Michel, the Prime Ministers Office said.

PM Pashinyan presented details on the situation resulting from the Azerbaijani aggression against sovereign territory of Armenia, underscoring the fact that tension remains on the borders.

Michel reiterated readiness to contribute to dialogue and peace.

Various issues related to the resolution of the situation were discussed.
A flood-affected woman cooks on the outskirts of southwest Pakistan's Quetta on Sept. 16, 2022. At least 37 more people were killed and 92 others injured in heavy monsoon rain-triggered flash floods in Pakistan, the country's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said. According to a report released by the NDMA on Friday evening, 16 children and seven women were among those newly killed in separate flood-related incidents. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 37 more people were killed and 92 others injured in heavy monsoon rain-triggered flash floods in Pakistan, the country's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said.

According to a report released by the NDMA on Friday evening, 16 children and seven women were among those newly killed in separate flood-related incidents.

The total death toll in Pakistan from this season's monsoon rains and floods since mid-June has risen to around 1,545 along with 12,850 injured, the NDMA said.

Additionally, 1.92 million houses in total have been destroyed, while an estimated 935,795 livestock animals have perished in the rains and subsequent floods across the country, it said.

Rescue and relief operations by the NDMA, other government organizations, volunteers and non-governmental organizations were underway in the flood-hit areas. 

Flood-affected people are seen on the outskirts of southwest Pakistan's Quetta on Sept. 16, 2022. At least 37 more people were killed and 92 others injured in heavy monsoon rain-triggered flash floods in Pakistan, the country's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said. According to a report released by the NDMA on Friday evening, 16 children and seven women were among those newly killed in separate flood-related incidents. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

Flood-affected children are seen at a makeshift shelter on the outskirts of southwest Pakistan's Quetta on Sept. 16, 2022. At least 37 more people were killed and 92 others injured in heavy monsoon rain-triggered flash floods in Pakistan, the country's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said. According to a report released by the NDMA on Friday evening, 16 children and seven women were among those newly killed in separate flood-related incidents. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

A flood-affected man is seen outside his makeshift shelter on the outskirts of southwest Pakistan's Quetta on Sept. 16, 2022. At least 37 more people were killed and 92 others injured in heavy monsoon rain-triggered flash floods in Pakistan, the country's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said. According to a report released by the NDMA on Friday evening, 16 children and seven women were among those newly killed in separate flood-related incidents. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi is leading a Congressional delegation to Armenia to highlight the strong commitment of the United States to security, economic prosperity, and democratic governance in Armenia and the Caucasus region, the Speakers office said in a press release.

Speaker Pelosi is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Armenia since the Republic achieved its independence.

We are proud to travel to Yerevan following the 2019 passage of House Resolution 296, introduced by Chairman Adam Schiff, which recognizes the murder of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide, and following President Biden becoming the first president to formally acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. It is the moral duty of all to never forget: an obligation that has taken on heightened urgency as atrocities are perpetrated around the globe, including by Russia against Ukraine.

Speaker Pelosi continued, Our Congressional delegations visit to Armenia is a powerful symbol of the United States firm commitment to a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Armenia, and a stable and secure Caucasus region. In working meetings with government leaders, civil society members and members of the security establishment, we will convey the strong and ongoing support of the United States, as an OSCE Minsk Chair and longtime friend to Armenia, for a lasting settlement to the conflict in Nagorno Karabakh.

Our distinguished Congressional delegation members have been proud and longtime champions of Armenia, Speaker Pelosi concluded. Congresswomen Anna Eshoo and Jackie Speier bring a personal commitment to this fight, as proud Armenian Americans and as Californians, home to Americas largest Armenian population. Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey is the longtime Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues. Our delegation looks forward to productive meetings that will continue to strengthen our partnership with the Republic of Armenia and advance our values and interests in the region.

The Members of the delegation are:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Chairman Frank Pallone, Chair, Energy and Commerce Committee; Co-Chair, Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Chair, Subcommittee on Health, House Energy and Commerce Committee; Member, Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues

Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Chair, Subcommittee on Strategic Technologies and Advanced Research, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Chair, Subcommittee on Military Personnel, House Armed Services Committee; Co-Chair, Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. After the Azerbaijani attack on Armenia, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar said all allegations of human rights abuses and war crimes need to be investigated and perpetrators brought to justice.

Back in Brussels after urgent meetings in Baku, Yerevan and also Vienna. Difficult and sometimes emotional exchanges. Lots of challenges remain but hope that ceasefire will hold. Need to return to negotiations.

Disturbing reports of crimes & violence targeting civilians during the latest fighting. Cases from the past also need to addressed, but can in no way be a justification. All allegations of human rights abuses & war crimes need to be investigated & perpetrators brought to justice.

The EU remains engaged at the highest level and our aim continues to be to help Armenia and Azerbaijan achieve a comprehensive and sustainable agreement that will ensure a stable, secure and prosperous South Caucasus, Klaar tweeted.

During the latest Azerbaijani attack on Armenia, the Azerbaijani troops committed war crimes and atrocities, such as deliberate bombings of peaceful settlements and mutilation of the bodies of killed servicemen.
No handshake or conversation between Modi and Xi, China promises to back India's SCO presidency

NEW DELHI: In a veiled pointer at Pakistan at the Shanghai Cooperation Summit (SCO) Summit at the Uzbek city of Samarkand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday pitched for better connectivity and full transit rights within countries of the eight-nation grouping that comprises both the South Asian nations.

In a comment that is being seen in the backdrop of the actions of China and Pakistan in recent years that led to increased conflict with New Delhi, Modi said, India supports greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO members.

Referring to the Covid pandemic and the Ukraine conflict and crisis that has caused obstacles in global supply chains resulting in a unprecedented global energy and food crisis, Modi said that the SCO must make efforts to develop reliable, resilient and diversified supply chains in our region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that a possible solution to the global food crisis was to promote the cultivation and consumption of millets, a superfood of which India is the leading global producer. He also advocated an SCO millet food festival.

Speaking of India as a manufacturing hub and pointing to the success of start-ups, the Prime Minister announced that the country was ready to share our experience with SCO member countries by establishing a new special working group on start-ups and innovation. He said India would take the initiative for a new SCO working group on traditional medicine.

At the SCO Summit, Modi participated in both the restricted meeting of the eight member-nations and the extended meeting of SCO nations and observer/guest nations. Chinese President Xi Jinping, meanwhile, congratulated India on assuming the next SCO Presidency (on a rotational basis) and said China will support India during its Presidency.

Modi and Xi were seen standing next to each other in a group photo of leaders at the extended meeting but there were no reports of any handshake or conversation between them.

The strong pitch, meanwhile, by Modi for full transit rights is being seen as a pointer at Pakistan which has consistently been a stumbling block for connectivity within near-defunct south Asian grouping SAARC and has also blocked the land route for export of Indian goods to Central Asia that led to Indias connectivity push to Central Asia via the Iranian sea-port of Chabahar.

In his address at the SCO Summit, Modi said, India supports greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO members. The pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine caused many obstacles in global supply chains, due to which the whole world is facing an unprecedented energy and food crisis. SCO must make efforts to develop reliable, resilient and diversified supply chains in our region. This will require better connectivity, as well as it will be important that we all give each other full right to transit.

PM further said, We are making progress on making India a manufacturing hub. India's young and talented workforce makes us naturally competitive. India's economy is expected to grow by 7.5 percent this year, which will be the highest among the world's largest economies. ... Today, there are more than 70,000 start-ups in India, of which more than 100 are unicorns. Our experience can also be useful for many other SCO members. For this purpose, we are ready to share our experience with SCO member countries by establishing a new special working group on start-ups and innovation.

The Prime Minister said, The world faces another major challenge today  and that is ensuring the food security of our citizens. One possible solution to this problem is to promote the cultivation and consumption of millets. Millets are a superfood that has been grown for thousands of years, not just in SCO countries, but in many parts of the world, and is a traditional, nutritious, and low-cost alternative to dealing with the food crisis. The year 2023 will be celebrated as the UN International Year of Millets. We should consider organizing a 'Millet Food Festival' under the SCO.

He added, India is today one of the most affordable destinations for medical and wellness tourism in the world. ... We must increase cooperation on traditional medicine among SCO countries. For this, India will take the initiative for a new SCO working group on traditional medicine.
From health camps to administration of Covid vaccines and booster doses, the party leaders will also be

New Delhi: The BJP will celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 72nd birthday on September 17 by holding a fortnight-long "seva" campaign, reaching out to the "poor and downtrodden and improve their quality of life". From health camps to administration of Covid vaccines and booster doses, the party leaders will also be "adopting" patients suffering from tuberculosis. The BJP leaders will be organising these events in all the 964 districts of the country. The party will also organise "swacchta abhiyans" across the country as part of the campaign.

Giving details of the campaign BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said the campaign will start on September 17 and conclude on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Singh said the primary objective of the fortnight-long campaign is to "reach out to the poor and downtrodden and improve their quality of life".

As part of the campaign, the workers of the saffron party will organise "unity in diversity" festivals in all districts and send out the message of "Ek Bharat, Shresth Bharat" (One India, Great India) to the people.

As part of these festivals, the BJP functionaries will identify a state different from their own and adopt its language and culture for a day. The party will also distribute aid and assistive equipment among the "divyangs" and also promote khadi products.

"The welfare of the poor and downtrodden is the focal point of the welfare schemes of the government led by Mr Modi," Singh said.

The party has formed an eight-member panel led by Mr Singh to monitor the campaign.

The BJP has been celebrating Mr Modi's birthday as "Seva Diwas" (Day of Service) for years by organising welfare activities across the country for a fortnight.
On his part, Rahul catches up on his gym regimen when yatris take a break. In addition, he gives his them tips on improving their speed

There was palpable relief in the Rahul Gandhi camp when the Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by the Congress scion, took a days break last Thursday after covering 150 km in a week. This is because the yatris, handpicked to accompany the former Congress president on his five-month walkathon, are having a tough time keeping pace with their leader. To make matters worse, Rahul Gandhi wants to set off on the yatra at 6 am and not 7 am as decided earlier. He has further suggested that they cover more than 25 km per day. Needless to say, no one has the courage to tell him that they are already exhausted and are finding it difficult to keep up this punishing schedule. On his part, Rahul Gandhi catches up on his gym regimen when they take a break in the evenings. In addition, he gives his fellow yatris tips on improving their walking speed. The first lesson is: get good walking shoes.

Meanwhile, the Bharat Jodo Yatra did not get off to a flying start for the firebrand former JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who was inducted into the Congress with great fanfare. Under the impression that he is high up in the Congress Partys pecking order, Kanhaiya Kumar was unhappy when he was not seated on the dais when Rahul Gandhi addressed a public rally to kickstart the yatra from Kanyakumari. According to reports from the venue, when the young leader found himself in the same enclosure as other junior party members, Kanhaiya Kumar made a dash towards the dais. When stopped at the barricade by the security personnel, Kanhaiya Kumar jumped over it to get close to the party leadership. But clearly, he did not bargain for the rough treatment meted out to him by the security men on duty. He had to be rescued by party members in the audience. A chastened Kanhaiya Kumar later made a statement by participating in the yatra in his chappals while the others wore fancy walking shoes.

As the process for the election of a new Congress president gets underway, speculation about the next party chief has intensified. Working on the assumption that Rahul Gandhi is not interested in his old job, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot tops the list of contenders for this post. Mr Gehlot is seen as the chosen one following reports that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had asked him to take on this responsibility. However, theres a twist in this tale. Mr Gehlot is apparently not keen on moving out of his home state and leaving the field open for his bete noire, Sachin Pilot, though he will eventually abide by Sonia Gandhis decision. Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Mukul Wasnik, another Gandhi family loyalist, has now raced ahead, especially after he was divested of the charge of Madhya Pradesh. Mr Wasnik was among the 23 Congress leaders who had appended their signatures to a letter to Sonia Gandhi pressing for a more effective leadership and an organisational overhaul. Mr Wasniks inclusion in the list of pro-changers had come as a surprise but he soon returned to the party fold. It is believed Mr Wasnik was actually a mole in the dissident camp. Senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge is also a strong possibility.

If the Congress is in the throes of a discussion on its next president, the Bharatiya Janata Party is not far behind. BJP president J.P. Naddas three-year term ends early next year and though the party constitution allows two consecutive terms for the president, there are murmurs about a possible change. These internal conversations may be linked to the year-end Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls as Mr Nadda could well be considered for the chief ministers post in his home state. There is also talk that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, who call the shots in the government and the party, would prefer that either environment minister Bhupendra Yadav or HRD minister Dharmendra Pradhan take over the reins of the party. Both Mr Yadav and Mr Pradhan are hot favourites of the two leaders. Their rise in the party has been meteoric, having been entrusted with important assignments. It is to be seen if the partys ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, is in agreement with a change of guard.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis decision to personally release the eight cheetahs brought from Namibia in Madhya Pradeshs Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary created major logistical difficulties for the organisers. The sanctuary has only one guest house but with the Prime Minister coming for the release, close to 300 hundred people, all VIPs, confirmed their presence for the programme. With no place to accommodate them, the organisers decided to pitch tents for their stay. And this entailed the cutting of a large number of trees. Not just that, but trees were also chopped to make a helipad to enable Mr Modis helicopter to land. Clearly, a far cry from the Prime Ministers emphasis on conservation.
Everything was screaming commoditisation of relationships and personal memories

If parentese, a sing-song speaking style adopted by parents, has recently been declared as a universal feature of all human societies, based on an analysis of 1,615 voice recordings in 18 languages from 410 parents, then family photographs share the same status  they have been the carrier of human emotional history and the way we look at ourselves and others cutting across borders and speech.

The family album is the most cherished granth of every family. A storehouse of photographs of all sizes, colours and events, it is like the traditional Bhanumati ka Pitara, from which the magician keeps taking out an endless series of rabbits, each representing a memory. I have vivid recall of my father, glimmer of pride in his eyes, archiving family photographs in a beautiful pearly album with red roses engraved on it lovingly. On thick black paper, every photo took its assigned position duly guarded by four triangular shaped golden brackets. These golden marshals carefully held the black-and-white photographs in place and perfectly bracketed it inside a chronology. Each black sheet was followed by a translucent white one so that the photographs would not stick to one another. But this is exactly what they did in our minds. Framed memories frequently impinged upon each other.

As adults, we could not help noticing a timeline of events but at the same time there was familial politics of intimacy and affection shamelessly glaring at us. There was a pattern, in which age, sex and hierarchy each played a role. The firstborn (my sister) and the first son got the maximum attention and shared pride of place, leaving the middle ones in the middle, or rather in the corner. Even the second son remained in the shadow!

The heady cocktail of the 3Fs  Family, Food and Festival remained incomplete without the visual treat of Fotoo. Which too often turned into a roller-coaster of nostalgia, with family members popping colourful Parle Poppins of memory, replete with smiles, laughter, pain, anger, regrets, affection and what not. If one particular picture is a source of pleasure to one member, it might trigger a flashback of hurt for another. A blamegame might begin. Sometimes, starting with a simple comment or a harmless nudge, it snowballs into a volatile situation in which positions will be taken in different rooms and corners of the house while the history of the family flooded the corridors taking the form of arguments, emotions and tears. Thank God, this pilgrimage to the family album always happened after a sumptuous feast, otherwise the festivities might have turned into a fiasco.

Unlike the ever-available camera in todays era of selfies, every photograph required preparation in the early days, as well as imagination and props which ultimately became a story stored in the memory card of the family members. Why was one family member not there? Why were we wearing those traditional dresses? Why is one laughing and the other looking gloomy? In fact, my father used to be the director of the photographic stories. He would carefully select the background and the things to be kept in the front like flowers or a globe or a gigantic flying eagle. We would suppress our giggles, poke each other, and change our expressions, and lo and behold, an ideal family photo would be dished out. Given the limited number of frames in each reel, every effort was made to capture a perfect happy moment, the Kodak moment, so to speak. The wait for the final print and the first look of the photographs was priceless. It was a far cry from today when we have digital cameras with instant view, unlimited clicks and infinite filters  it has all become so monotonous! There is no nostalgia. Rare moments are now everyday affairs.

Seeing the family photographs in those days used to be a personal show and tell session where every picture mirrored a part of our souls. In one of the photographs, my daughter, then just a three-year-old child, is helping her dadijaan make dumplings for the traditional Mughlai mutton dish, akhti. It has become difficult to even utter the word akhti in our house today without remembering my late mother-in-law. My daughter, her dadi and akhti have all merged into a single frame.

What if there are no framed memories or family photographs? What if you lose them in a fire or riots? And to make matters worse, have to prove your existence to deserve the sanctified status of a citizen? Loss of identity can reduce you to a mere refugee, stranded on the threshold of life. May be, that was the reason why 90-year-old Reena Varma went back to Pakistan on July 20 to connect with the memories of her family.

But why would anyone put their family photos on display and in a marketplace? Granted, the currency there is only approval ratings. No, I am not talking about todays picture-perfect pouting families on social media. When I went to the Jew Market in Kochi, I was puzzled to see sepia-coloured vintage photographs of families in the shops there. It was also in Kochi that I mistook a pre-wedding shoot for a film shooting. It was unknown territory for me and I was surprised at the amount of time, money, and attention spent on the location and clothes of the would-be family. Everything was screaming commoditisation of relationships and personal memories.

One last question! How many of you actually take a print of photographs? None? Well, perhaps, just one then, for the picture to be displayed on the day of death ritual. Thus it is that Neena Kulkarni, a middle-aged character in the Marathi movie, Photo Prem, embarks on a journey to find one perfect photo meant to be used after her death. No doubt, we live in the digital dark age, as commented by scientists.
Bureaucrats ave become yes men, willing to do whatever is required to win approbation, so that their careers are not jeopardised

These days one often sees groups of retired bureaucrats writing letters in protest of policies which they believe are inimical to the national interest. This is a good thing. But I often wonder why, with a few honourable exceptions, the bureaucracy as a class when in service acquiesces so effortlessly with decisions of politicians which are blatantly illegal or undesirable.

There was a time when bureaucrats could fearlessly give their political masters impartial advice on what is the correct thing to do, and senior politicians would appreciate them for this, even if that advice was not to their liking. No longer. A new atmosphere of sycophancy has possessed us, where bureaucrats appear to be more concerned about the dividends of loyalty, than doing their duty. They have become yes men, willing to do whatever is required to win approbation, so that their careers are not jeopardised.

It is difficult to say who is more to blame: politicians or bureaucrats. Certainly, a certain breed of politicians, who respected officers for their integrity and courage of conviction, is fast becoming extinct. Equally, officers have been willing to kneel when they were asked only to bend. This has resulted in a convenient condominium where both politicians and bureaucrats are happy: one gets the unconditional servitude they believe is their due, the other gets rewards such as lucrative postings and a successful career. Officers who dont play this game  and they are by far a miniscule minority  are made to suffer the consequences: frequent transfers, enquiries, delay in promotion, and sidelining to unimportant posts where they can languish in anonymity.

This proclivity to blindly venerate power and the powerful at the small price of compromising ones own principles has made sycophancy into a fine art. The words chamcha and maska are understood all over India. Those who seek to benefit by enhancing their proximity to power must outdo competitors in the ability to say the right thing, at the right time, with the right degree of exaggeration and deference so as to leave no doubt about their abject loyalty and the unquestioned primacy of the benefactor.

The body language of the chamcha, and that of the patron, have become part of a carefully choreographed and well-established code of behaviour, that is determined by the differences in the status of people within the hierarchical order. Chamchagiri is not expected to be subtle. It must be obvious and excessive. The benefactor will not be embarrassed to hear it. The supplicant will not be uncomfortable in voicing it. Sycophants justify this as a necessity, for have not our Vedic poets said, even the gods cannot resist praise? As usual, Tulsidas puts his finger on the pulse: Samrathakarnahin dosha gusain, ravipaavaksursari ki nahin: The powerful can have no faults; they remain as pure as the sun, the fire and the Ganga. One has only to see the behaviour of most bureaucrats in the presence of a minister, or senior executives in the private sector with the boss, or people in general in superior-subordinate relationships, to realise how true this is.

As a child I remember hearing a popular story about a king and a wazir. The king was tired of eating baingan, eggplant. One day he told his wazir that eggplant was an absolutely useless vegetable. The wazir agreed wholeheartedly, emphatically decrying the poor vegetable, and fully supporting the kings view. A few days later, the raj vaid met the king and spoke about the excellent health benefits of eggplant. Now the king recommended the vegetable to his wazir. The wazir couldnt agree more. The eggplant was veritably the king of vegetables and extremely good for ones health, he said. Suddenly, the king remembered that on the last occasion the wazir had roundly condemned the vegetable. With anger he asked how he could maintain two absolutely contradictory points of view. The wazirs answer came from generations of distilled wisdom. He said: My Lord, I work for you, not for the eggplant. What good would it do to me if I disagree with you and agree with the eggplant?

Sometimes folk tales can elucidate the truth far more convincingly than carefully-worded theories. The wazir did not think he was doing something morally wrong by changing his views to agree with the king. His amorality was based on the expedient but pragmatic perception that the power of his position was more important than the strength of his convictions. This clarity is based on the fact that to most Indians private knowledge is never expected to come in the way of public posturing. In such a milieu, only an error of cognition, avidya, is culpable. And failing to cultivate an obvious focus of power, such as the king, would be avidya of a very high order.

Alas, such an approach makes most of us prostrate before any edifice of higher authority. The edifice must be visible. The power it radiates must be manifest. The benefits it bestows must be self-evident. If these conditions are met, principles are easily sacrificed on the altar of personal benefit.

Politicians expect their bureaucrats to be suitably servile, but themselves are unbelievable servile before their political superiors. Their future depends on the approval of the leader. Like the wazir, they change like chameleons to endorse what the leader thinks is right. It is a stifling sycophantic milieu where unquestioned and embarrassingly emphatic praise of the leader, even giving him divine status, has become the norm.

For a democracy, the dominance of unprincipled yes men is a very worrying situation. It leads to unchecked power, wrong decision making, and venality and corruption. Ultimately, the common citizen suffers. It is for this reason, that in the Arthashastra, Kautilya repeatedly stresses that the senior advisers guiding the king must be people of the highest integrity, chosen for their merit and capable of stating their views fearlessly. Such wisdoms seem to have become irrelevant today, conveniently forgotten in favour of an amoral worldly wisdom. It is time to seriously introspect and restore the moral fibre of our nation. Unfortunately, the political class has to take the lead, and that is unlikely to happen.
by Melani Manel Perera

The court summoned him to appear for Oct. 14, following a complaint filed by Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando and Jesudasa Ganesan, who had her leg amputated in the attack. The former head of state faces charges of negligence for ignoring alert reports.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - A court has placed former President Maithripala Sirisena on "suspicion" of involvement in the 2019 Easter massacres, one of the darkest and most painful pages for Sri Lankan Christians. Yesterday the Colombo Fort Magistrate - upholding a complaint filed by private individuals - served a summons on the former head of state, whose interrogation is scheduled for Oct. 14.

The magistrate upheld a complaint filed by Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando and Jesudasa Ganesan, who suffered serious injuries, including the amputation of a leg, in the April 21 attack three years ago at St. Anthony's Church in Kochchikade, Colombo. For the judge, the complaint has a legal basis and provides for the former president to be placed on the register of suspects.

According to the prosecution, Maithripala Sirisena was allegedly guilty of "negligence" in the performance of his duties while serving at the time of the events as president and defense minister of Sri Lanka. Hence the decision to prosecute him under Section 298 of the Penal Code.

In the days leading up to the attack, he allegedly received intelligence information warning of a possible Easter attack. Nonetheless, Sirisena did not take any preventive action or arrange for heightened security measures, guilty of "negligence" in the performance of his duties.

Commenting on the news, Fr. Jude Chryshantha of the Communications Center of the Archdiocese of Colombo points out that there were no countermeasures in spite of repeated warnings. "The Security Council," the priest recalls, "had repeatedly received alerts regarding threats of attack toward those who, according to the Islamic concept of jihad, should be targeted and killed because they did not profess the Muslim faith. Other reports referred to exhortations to carry out terrorist attacks. Nevertheless, [the institutional leadership] neglected their responsibilities, even though they knew this attack was going to happen they did not take any steps to foil it."

Nothing was done to protect the churches, unlike the Indian High Commission around which a security cordon had been set up. And at a time when the possibility of an attack was now certain, Maithripala Sirisena "thought it best to leave for Singapore for personal matters."

Fr. Chryshantha concluded "We consider him guilty and denounce him, because he in fact allowed the attack. Thus the former president has received a notice of indictment and a warrant to appear before the court on Oct. 14. We hope justice will be served."
by Stefano Caprio

The death of Gorbachev and Queen Elizabeth, the Pope in Central Asia, the war in the Caucasus and the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Xi Jinping's trip: all events that evoke the end of a era, to make way for a world as yet to be described.

The last few days have seen a series of events, some of great international resonance, others more local or minor, but all traversed by a very relevant common thread, because they help to form the impression that a historical era is indeed ending, to make way for a world yet to be described. It is difficult now to apply comprehensive and agreed definitions to the transition we are experiencing; after all, historians know well that any definition is purely formal and didactic, and rarely corresponds to the reality of the facts: the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the Short Century, and so on, are all high school textbook titles. The world of human beings is far more complex and varied.

The death of Gorbachev and the Queen

Within a week of each other two of the most symbolic heads of state of the twentieth century, who represented the two empires of East and West, the Eurasian-collectivist and the Atlantic-liberal, have passed away, summing up in themselves the hopes and contradictions of both sides that have oriented the consciences of generations up to the present in a binary pattern. Right and left, communism and capitalism, Christianity and atheism, dictatorship and democracy, reform and stagnation, and many other simplistic categories have made it possible to live in an understandable way, making consequential and predefined field choices, without the anguish of not having one's own specific identity and community of belonging, as is happening for those born in the 21st century.

Queen Elizabeth had to deal with a delicate family situation, that of the marriage of her son, the current King Charles III, to the "people's princess" Diana Spencer, which lasted from 1981 to 1996, with the woman's resounding death the following year having somehow marked the end of the sacred nature of the British monarchy. There had certainly been no shortage of family and court scandals in the royal past, but they concerned the internal balances of the sacred caste of power. The affair of Charles and Diana, on the other hand, inaugurated the public appropriation of the affairs of the House of Windsor, nullifying the chasm between the throne and the people, the "disintermediation" now customary in anyone's life, which allows with a click of a mouse to feel equal to any monarch or star in the firmament.

Elizabeth had somehow managed that transition, engaging her iconic figure to keep alive the memory of a world now dissolved, and which the day after tomorrow will be permanently buried. Gorbachev came to power in 1985, flanking in the collective imagination Diana and the other great interpreter of the end of that world, the sainted Pope John Paul II. The informational opening of glasnost, which lifted the iron curtain on the Soviet world, was his only real reform, given the total economic-political failure of perestroika. The Polish pope also toppled many barriers that still kept the figure of the Roman pontiff in an unattainable empyrean, becoming the first true "media pope," picking up the inspiration of John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church's openness to the world, now irreversibly exalted by his Argentine successor.

Pope Francis' trip to Asia

If Wojtyla came "from a distant country," Bergoglio came to the Vatican "from the end of the world," the first non-European and non-Mediterranean pope, the great revolution in contemporary Catholicism. And the current decade of Francis' pontificate increasingly turns the Church "outward" toward the peripheries of the world, freeing itself from the burden of earthly compromise and taking to extremes the end of its temporal power, which formally occurred only a century and a half ago. An important time, but not yet decisive for universal history. The trip to Kazakhstan was undoubtedly among the most symbolic of this epochal passage, reflecting and redefining the concluding phase of the triumphant Wojtylian papacy, which had visited the ex-Soviet countries most closely linked to Russia to demonstrate the victory of faith over atheism, after having had to give up setting foot in the strongholds of Moscow and Minsk.

Between 2000 and 2001 John Paul II had gone to Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia and Kazakhstan, the very lands now claimed by Putin's neo-imperialism to defend itself against the "invasion of the West," of which the Polish pope was the charismatic leader. Pope Bergoglio appeared anything but an "invader," traipsing through the ultra-modern palaces of Astana as Wojtyla himself had done 20 years ago, both fatigued by age and the physical ailments of the final phase of their respective pontificates, thus accentuating the "fading" effect of these historical transitions. No more domination of religion, but dialogue with peoples and cultures, in Asia where Christians have never laid down the law. No more war of the West against atheist devils and then fundamentalist devils, as in John Paul's 2001, but invocation of peace for Ukraine and the whole world in Francis' new "welded pieces" world war of 2022.

Between triumphalism and pleas for forgiveness, revival of mission and ecumenical openings, from the Assisi prayer of 1986 to the Nur-Sultan Congress of 2022, the figures of the two most media-savvy popes in history seem to be much more closely juxtaposed than a "twentieth-century" vulgate that pits the traditionalist against the progressive tells us. Yet another factor intersects in this double Eurasian prophecy: the Polish pope then experienced the pain of the closure to dialogue of the most important and influential Church after Rome, the Moscow Patriarchate, and the Argentinean, who had reconnected with it, had to note with dismay the re-emergence of "militant Orthodoxy" in tones worthy of the Crusades, he too disappointed by the impossibility of traveling to Moscow and embracing again his "hermano" Kirill, as in the days of the Cuban illusion.

The Kazakh Congress of Religious Leaders presented a further paradox: the frostiness and hostility of the Moscow representatives, with the absence of the Patriarch and the Soviet ritualism of the delegation led by Metropolitan Antonij, was counterbalanced by the great affability and fraternal spirit of the representatives of Islam, with whom Francis is achieving great results in interreligious dialogue. Thus, the great war with Islamic terrorism seems to be over, giving way to that of Orthodox imperialism. An anecdote that underscores the grotesque dimension of the situation that has been created was the question from the Kazakh foreign minister during the preparatory meetings for Francis' trip, "Will the pope celebrate Mass in the square in the Christian rite, or in the Muslim rite?"

The war in the Caucasus and the Ukrainian counteroffensive

While the Pope was present in Kazakhstan, two events of war have in turn provoked mixed reactions and opposing emotions. The eternal conflict between Azerbaijanis and Armenians over the mountainous Nagorno Karabakh area resumed violently, just when a final peace agreement seemed close. At the same time, the Ukrainian army astonishingly deceived the Russian invader by attacking it where it did not expect, and regaining in a few days much of the land it had occupied in six months.

The Caucasus is symbolic border land between Europe and Asia, as indeed are the disputed parts of Ukraine around the Black Sea. In addition, Azerbaijanis and Armenians have represented the conflict between Christians and Muslims since ancient centuries, but today they also represent opposing inverse sides: Yerevan is pro-Russian, while Baku is the main alternative for Russian gas supplies to Europe. So too, it is difficult to assess the Ukrainian rematch, which seemed impossible and inadequate, while most were only waiting for Kiev's surrender so that world peace could be celebrated again, and now instead there are fears for Russia's future, as Putin's collapse and demise would open unpredictable and perhaps even more catastrophic scenarios than the current ones.

XI Jinping's trip

Against this backdrop, the Chinese president made his first trip abroad since the two-year Covid period, setting foot in Nur-Sultan just as the pope was celebrating (in Latin) the Mass of Central Asian Catholics. XI Jinping then triumphantly traveled to Samarkand, placing great emphasis on the Shanghai Cooperation meeting, one of many Asian acronyms that had so far produced little effect on geopolitics and the world economy. Now China seems to want to take over the imperial legacy that America is renouncing, especially after its withdrawal from Afghanistan a year ago, and that Russia is failing to reaffirm, as was evident from Putin's mournful expression in the ritual photos with China's big brother.

Will China dominate the world in the coming era? Will Europe be able to reassert its historical centrality as conservative parties seem to rise to power from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean? Many other questions arise, and just as the Kazakh capital seemed to be the center of the world, in Brussels President Ursula von der Leyen again condemned the war in Ukraine, "a war against our energy, our economies, our values." A war to be fought with the weapons of faith, as Pope Francis preaches, to become "messengers of peace."

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KATHMANDU, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 people were killed and five others missing in landslides overnight in Nepal's Achham district, a local official said on Saturday.

Incessant rainfalls from Friday morning triggered landslides during the night, which swept away houses in three different parts of the district in far-western Nepal.

"The rescue teams have recovered the dead bodies of 17 people and rescued 11 injured people from the scenes," Min Raj Acharya, an official from the district, told Xinhua.

"The search for five missing people is ongoing," he added, noting that the army and the police have been mobilized for the rescue operations.

Of the injured, three were in serious condition and they have been airlifted for treatment in the neighboring province, Acharya said.

As a mountainous country, Nepal is prone to natural disasters like landslides and flash floods during the monsoon season. 
As of March this year, various countries, including members of the European Union, the U.S. and the UK, started seizing assets of these Russian oligarchs known to be associates of Putin. The idea behind the sanctions was that putting pressure on the billionaires and effectively cutting short Putins money supply would convince (force?) him to end the war.Legally speaking, there is no precedent for seizures of this magnitude and on such a large scale. So the immediate effect of sanctions was that many of those multi-million assets that were frozen or downright seized ended up in storage, with local governments paying for their maintenance. Because there is no legal framework, governments cant sell these assets yet  as of the time of press, the only seized superyacht to sell is Axioma , a $75 million beauty once owned by oil magnate Dmitry Pumpyansky, seized in Gibraltar and auctioned off so a bank could recoup a defaulted loan.This means that, after a very enthusiastic and enthusiastically-applauded wave of sanctions, there are now billions of dollars worth of yachts, superyachts and megayachts slowly bobbing away in docks or put into dry-docking, eating up millions of dollars a month in taxes and maintenance fees. Thats taxpayers money , just to be clear.But they might not stay put for much longer: in what could be an emerging trend, oligarchs are fighting back, whichever way possible. Weve already seen Alisher Usmanov trying to get back his seized $600 million megayacht Dilbar, by asking the Council of the European Union to overrule sanctions . Weve also heard that the same Pumpyansky may be acting through an interested third-party to get Axioma back , because the rumored buyer is actually a longtime business partner of his. Alexey Kuzmichev is also shooting his shot.In March, two of Kuzmichevs yachts were frozen in France, in Cote DAzur and Cannes. La Petite Ourse and La Petite Ourse II are small vessels, especially compared to the gigantic Dilbar, measuring 26.23 meters and 17 meters (86 feet and 55.7 feet), respectively. Together, theyre priced under $100 million, and theyre being held by the French government because Kuzmichev, who is worth $6.8 billion, is one of Putins closest associates and one of the most powerful men in Russia.Philippe Blanchetier, Kuzmichevs attorney, has filed a lawsuit against the French government, arguing that the billionaire should be allowed to use his own yachts if he wanted to. Frozen property means that the asset cant be sold off or rented, but can still be used for personal use  and Kuzmichev has other assets that he still uses this way, including real estate and an entire fleet of cars. By comparison, a seized asset is one over which the original owner no longer has any right.If you own an asset for your personal use, like a yacht, you have the right to make use of it even though it's frozen, Blanchetier tells Reuters . I don't know why one should make a difference when it's a yacht.The attorney elaborates more on the topic to Bloomberg , saying that what the French government is doing is legal heresy. Immobilizing a ship isnt a freezing measure; its like a seizure, he explains. You can no longer move the ship; youre dispossessed of the ship.To neither media outlet does Blanchetier acknowledge the fact that, while a car can be used for the purpose of fleeing and evading authorities, a yacht  even one of a comparatively smaller size  can go farther than any automobile. It can also disappear more easily, and is harder to intercept and stop.Despite their smaller size, neither of the Ourse-s is what youd call a boat. Both ships were delivered by Wally, on an in-house design and naval architecture, with the second delivery being a smaller take on the first one. La Petite Ourse was completed in 2014, and offers accommodation for 10 guests and five crew. It is a luxury lightweight yacht with a semi-displacement hull, and twin diesel Caterpillar engines that take it to a top speed of 15 knots (17.2 mph / 27.8 kph). At a speed of 10 knots (11.5 mph / 18.5 kph), range is of 3,000 nautical miles (3,452 miles / 5,556 km).The verdict in Kuzmichevs legal action will be heard on October 5. Whatever it is, it will definitely set a precedent for these unprecedented legal measures
The 2015 Breakout we have here looks like it could easily scare some soldiers off the battlefield, though, if only someone decided to weaponize it. And its all owed, mostly, to the incredible-looking paint that wraps around the entire thing.The hue is called Gunship Gray and was applied onto the two-wheeler by a French custom shop called Melk , which specializes first and foremost in paint jobs. Melk says the choice of color for this build was meant to purify the Breakout as much as possible, and for what its worth, its a stunning choice, made even more exciting by the careful use of black on things like the background for the front LED light, upper fork tube, and license plate.The paint was not the only modification made to the Breakout, and some other, aftermarket pieces of hardware made it onto the machine as well. Things like an Arlen Ness air filter and mirrors, adjustable lowering kit, or Thunderbike mini LED indicators, they all work together with Harley-supplied bits (footpegs, pedal pad, grips, and selector) to make for a very convincing build.To top it all off, Melk went for a custom exhaust system, slapped to one side of the bike for better breathing and a more pronounced sound.The unnamed Harley-Davidson Breakout (we nicknamed it Gunship for the obvious reasons) is bike number six in the shop's portfolio, and it's still listed on its website . Sadly, with no mention of how much it cost to make, or any hints of its current whereabouts.
EV

A driver of a Honda Accord has been caught keying a Tesla in a Costco parking lot. It happened in Sunnyvale, California. The recording shows a man returning with groceries and putting them into his car. He was careful not to scratch his vehicle or the American-madeat first, as any normal person would do.But after putting everything inside his Honda, the guy took the empty shopping cart and spent some time in front of the parked Tesla . From the looks of it, he seems to be struggling with fitting it properly between the EV and other cars. Even though theres no front angle, the suspicion that he used the cart to damage the front bumper could easily be drawn from what you can see down below. The Model 3 appears to be shaking in the footage.Moreover, the Redditor that published the video online says the owner found the right corner of the front bumper with deep scratches on it which werent there previously.After leaving the empty shopping cart, the guy uses his bracelet to key the front passenger door. He then hops on into his vehicle and drives off as if nothing happened.Fortunately, Teslas very useful camera system managed to record everything. But the malevolent man didnt have a visible front plate. The victim had the footage, but there was no easy way to identify the person who vandalized the EV.According to a post on Reddit, the owner of the Model 3 already filed a report to the local Police, but they wanted to help the officers with the whole process and asked for help on the popular forum Reddit. It took half a day, but people worked together and eventually found out the VIN which, subsequently, led to figuring out the license plate number. All these new details have been shared with law enforcement.But some other forum users agree with the Honda driver and blame the Tesla owner for a sloppy parking job. But its safe to say that vandalism isnt justified in this care or any other instance, for that matter.Now its up to the Police to deal with the culprit.
The first generation of the ekranoplan was internally named Korabl Maket, which would translate to ship maquette, or prototype. Not quite an aircraft or a watercraft, it was a Ground Effect Vehicle. It was also dubbed the Caspian Sea Monster . Back then, the infamous arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was taking place. Bragging rights were at stake for whoever had the better machinery capable of annihilating each others country.One such example was the dreaded Hiroshima K-19 nuclear submarine that suffered a reactor coolant malfunction while performing drills in the North Atlantic Ocean. Twenty-two members of the crew had to sacrifice their lives in order to fix the malfunction. Otherwise, that reactor, along with a second one and three nuclear warheads, could have gone off to devastating global consequences.However, the Cold War kept marching on, and thats why the Caspian Sea Monster was born. Even after fifteen years of testing, the first generation vehicle (Korabl Maket) did not get the green light to join the service. This is how the second-generation Lun-class MD-160 came to be. Redesigned , this titan-sized war machine was fitted for anti-surface combat, equipped with six missile launchers.Like the first model, this wasnt designed to fly at high altitudes either. It was meant to quickly travel below the radar if this was ever the case. It used what is called the ground effect to maintain its very low altitude by means of aerodynamics. The design of the ship created an air cushion under its wings that didnt allow for the behemoth to either sink or take flight.This, in turn, is what made the ekranoplan go extremely fast. It was equipped with eight Kuznetsov NK-87 turbofan engines, each developing 28,700 lbf of thrust or 26,098 horsepower. The entire thing produced 208,784 hp. That meant the Lun-class MD-160 reached speeds of 342 mph (550 kph). Just imagine seeing the 242 ft 2 in (73.8 m) long monster with a wingspan of 144 ft 4 in (44 m) going at almost half the speed of sound. Now thats a sight to behold
ADAS

Just a little over a decade ago, driver-assistance systems were being democratized. They were being installed on cheaper cars and were offered mostly to help drivers navigate boring parts of the roads like highways with speed limits. But things are changing, and the basic lane-keeping assist system or the traffic-sign recognition one is being replaced by a suite of advanced driver-assistance systems () which could one day enable real self-driving.Autonomous cars do not exist yet. Teslas Full Self-Driving Beta (or Autopilot for highways), Fords BlueCruise, or the Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot are not Level 5 automation systems. The driver is required to remain focused and ready to take over. Even Waymos driverless taxis can be wirelessly controlled by humans in case their systems fail. Were not there  yet.But with the development of numerous ADAS and a race between major carmakers to prove theyre the best in this department, some (if not most) consumers have been left behind. The majority of those who enjoy testing out these technologies are also interested in other software-related things or have some knowledge about the digital era. Other drivers, however, might feel left out. Some might even consider this progress useless because they might like driving themselves all the time.A Policygenius survey conducted on a sample of 1,500 adults from the U.S. that are 18 or older revealed that 76% of those asked would feel less safe driving or riding in a car with self-driving features. Similarly, Americans dont like the thought of knowing autonomous cars are on public roads  73% said theyd feel less safe.Since the company that paid for the survey is also an insurance provider, it asked those surveyed if owners of cars with self-driving features should pay more. The majority (62%) answered yes.Americans would also not pay more for self-driving features  79% said no. Some carmakers increased the prices for their ADAS systems, while others explore subscription-based plans. Maybe that's not such a great idea, after all.But theres some confusion as well. People questioned about who should be held responsible in case a car with active self-driving features causes a crash are divided on the matter equally  50% would blame the human behind the wheel, while the other half would hold the automaker accountable. In reality, the driver is always responsible. There are some small exceptions . But to exonerate the driver, an investigation that proves the system is solely at fault must happen.Carmakers have a lot more work to do if they want to gain Americans' trust in self-driving cars.
kWh

Just a little over a month after it confirmed the production start of power swap stations in Europe, NIO announced that it is delivering the first units to Germany. Many have expected the UK or Norway to be among the markets that will benefit from NIOs increased European presence, but it looks like the company wants to compete with Tesla and other legacy carmakers that are just kickstarting their venture into the all-electric world.NIOs power swap stations are a real, trialed, and tested alternative to charging networks. Whereas a newer Tesla Model S would need around 30 minutes to reach almost an 80% state of charge starting from 0%, NIOs solution provides owners with a fully charged battery in just three to five minutes. And thats available for the Gen 2 stations. The Gen 3 will do everything even faster, the company promises.Moreover, the whole process is done automatically. The information regarding how many batteries are available at the swapping station is available in the built-in navigation. All the driver has to do is confirm theyre ready, and the car will park itself. The process will begin after the vehicle is in position.NIO chose Hungary as the place where it will manufacture its power swap station kits and itll also create a research and development center in that small country in Central Europe. The sound diplomatic relations between China and Hungary have laid a solid foundation for business cooperation, said NIO Co-founder and President Qin Lihong.NIO battery swaps are free of charge in China. In Europe, however, customers pay a fee of 10 ($10) and 0.20 ($0.20) for everythe battery has. Most buyers went for the 100-kWh units, so the total amount comes in at around 30 ($30). In comparison, Tesla 's Supercharging costs approximately 0.57 per kWh.NIO customers can also choose to buy their vehicle with a battery and pay for the whole thing, or they can opt-out and keep the battery under a subscription program.
A member of the Mexican National Guard participates in the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

MEXICO CITY, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212th anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities.

Mexicans gathered around the capital city's main square, Plaza de la Constitucion, to watch a military parade and aerial show commemorating the start of the 1810 independence movement.

Participating in the parade were 7,380 National Guard troops, 2,108 Army troops and 1,057 Navy personnel, as well as 111 aircraft from the three branches of the Armed Forces.

The guests of honor at Mexico's celebrations were the former presidents of Uruguay and Bolivia, Jose Mujica and Evo Morales, respectively.

On the eve of the Independence Day, Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador gave the traditional Grito de Independencia, or Cry of Independence, from the balcony of the National Palace.

With more than 100,000 people gathered at the main square, the president led 20 cheers, including a call for the "death of corruption, classism and racism."

It was a special evening for Mexicans after two years of muted celebrations due to COVID-19. Celebrations included performances by the popular musical group Los Tigres del Norte and fireworks. 

A paratrooper performs during the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Honour guards participate in the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks during the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Members of the Mexican National Guard participate in the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks during the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Honour guards participate in the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Soldiers participate in the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Aircrafts perform during the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (C) attends the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Cadets of the Heroic Military Academy participate in the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Aircrafts perform during the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

A helicopter of the Mexican National Guard performs during the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Members of the Mexican National Guard participate in the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

A helicopter carrying a national flag flies during the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Aircrafts perform during the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Members of the Mexican National Guard participate in the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Members of the Mexican National Guard participate in the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales (R) reacts during the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Members of the Mexican National Guard participate in the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Soldiers participate in the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

Members of the Mexican National Guard participate in the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)
The collapse of Porsche's talks with Red Bull is a significant blow for the manufacturer but could represent good news for another. There are still some hopes that the German team's proposed entry can be salvaged for 2026, but it's much easier said than done. The most significant complication is on the engine side, and Porsche is very short on time to find a solution. Meanwhile, the end of its own negotiations with Red Bull opens the door for an old favorite to agree on a possibly official return to the pinnacle of motorsport.Red Bull is committed to creating its new powertrains divisions entirely independently of any possible manufacturer partnership. As a result, they invested a massive sum of money into building a bespoke facility with the best equipment and staff Red Bull could find. However, the Austrian team was still open to partnering with an engine manufacturer, but only on its own terms.When it was leaked that Porsche was putting in place the necessary paperwork to green light a 50% buy-in to Red Bull F1 operation, it was clear that negotiations on a much bigger scale than had initially been perceived."The premise was always that a partnership would be based on an equal footing, which would include not only an engine partnership but also the team. This could not be achieved," was written in a Porsche statement. "With the finalised rule changes, the racing series nevertheless remains an attractive environment for Porsche, which will continue to be monitored."From the Porsche official statement, we could see that buying offer for the Red Bull F1 team was very serious. So how did things go that wrong? From expectations within the F1 paddock that the Austrian team and Porsche could announce a partnership as early as the Austrian Grand Prix at the start of July to this massive collapse of negotiations?Many suggest that the FIA's slow process in finalizing the 2026 power unit rules was essential in making the negotiations go cold. Red Bull decided it wasn't willing to sell anything, whether we were talking about the advanced technologies or the powertrain department. In the end, all they wanted was engine branding, leading to Porsche withdrawing from negotiations entirely. But what are Porsche's options now?As we know, the German giant was the first and most public new supporter of F1's new direction, so of course, Liberty Media will do anything to keep Porsche around. But how exactly will they do that? They need a route onto the grid, with buying into an existing team looking like the only option. However, the only serious team to buy into now is Williams, a lower midfield team representing the perfect long-term project. Plus, the team is owned now by a businessman and an investor, and these kinds of people are always looking for profit.Still, we have one more emerging theory. Porsche could potentially join forces with Andretti Autosport, considering the two companies have already made a deal to work together in Formula E. Plus, Andretti Autosport is another company that wants to enter the world of F1. However, a prominent manufacturer is desired over another private team.The consequences for Red Bull are not as severe as you might imagine. The F1 team has everything it needs to build its own engine on paper. In reality, producing a top-class power unit in a short period of time (until 2026) will still be a considerable challenge. As a result, they are open to exploring more.Now that the Porsche talks have ended could help Honda to return as an official partner. Besides, the two companies have enjoyed an excellent time together, and Red Bull will use engines designed and created by Honda until 2025. While people like Christian Horner said that the powertrains would not depend on other potential partnerships, a giant like Honda could improve the engine parts in a big way.
The general idea of the tabletop exercise , as NASA called it at the time, was to see if an asteroid, detected about six months prior to impact, could be stopped in its tracks. As it turned out, no technology currently available, not even nuclear devices, would be able to stop it. In the exercise, the asteroid eventually fell in Europe, making a mess of Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria.Since then, nothing really interesting has happened on this front. Sure, on September 26, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test ( DART ) spacecraft will slam into a distant asteroid called Dimorphos, and then well know if the theory of changing a space rocks trajectory by hitting it really hard can become a reality.But even if DART is successful, it all boils down to how much advance warning we have. Remember, NASA demonstrated that not even six months are enough to get something together and stop a potential extinction level event from happening.There must be ways, though, we could do that, if only someone could think about them. Luckily for our descendants, someone did earlier this year, and NASA recognized the merits of the idea by giving them an Innovative Advanced Concepts ( NIAC ) grant.That someone is Philip Lubin from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and that something hes proposing is called PI - Terminal Defense for Humanity. Or, in the scholars own words, a practical and effective method of planetary defense that allows for extremely short mitigation time scales if required.The idea relies on an array of small hypervelocity kinetic penetrators that pulverize and disassemble an asteroid or small comet. Because small hypervelocity kinetic penetrators sounds a bit too academic, well call them space bullets from now on.These space bullets are not meant to nudge an asteroid away, but literally, shatter it to bits. They could be launched into orbit, or where ever theyre needed, by means of SpaceXs Falcon Heavy and Starship, or with the help of NASAs own Space Launch System ( SLS ).Space bullets and their launch vehicles could be pre-positioned either here on Earth, or up there on the Moon. Also on the Moon, complementing the existing hardware on Earth, specialized stations would constantly be on the lookout for spaceborne threats.Lubin does not detail what the bullets will be made of, or how large, but they should be low-cost, have high effectiveness, and made using existing technologies and materials. Most importantly, they should be effective both against threats detected long in advance, and against the asteroids that have sneaked past all the eyes looking at the sky, and got within hours or less of us before being spotted.When shot against distant targets, the projectiles would split the asteroid into bits that would most likely miss Earth, eventually.The ones detected in close proximity will also be neutralized, but for the same to happen to their remains, our atmosphere will have to step in and play its part as well and burn the fragments before they reach the surface. Lubin envisions these projectiles as being capable of creating fragments of a maximum of 10 meters (33 feet) in diameter, which the atmosphere should burn with ease.Were told asteroids in the multi-hundred-meter diameter class would be easy pickings for these space bullets, as even if they would not be capable of completely eliminating the threat, theyd still significantly dimmish the impacts effects.The scientist behind this still-in-the-works idea even did some math on how a space bullet would affect its target. He found theyd be effective even against a 50 meters (164 feet) in diameter asteroid (about half the size of the one that exploded over Tunguska in 1908), spotted with just five hours before impact. In case of an asteroid less than half that size, even an intercept two minutes before impact would be enough.When it comes to larger asteroids, a rock one km (0.62-mile) in diameter would also be stopped, provided we see it 60 days before it destroys large parts of our planet.The idea is still in its early stages, and a lot of work needs to be done before something truly tangible could result from it. But, provided a space rock doesnt end us in the decades ahead, we just might become the first species that we know of capable of protecting itself from asteroid extinction.
The Humvee influence is obvious, though. The Toyota Mega Cruiser can be mistaken from a distance for the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). Fewer than 3,000 units were manufactured and were used mainly as personnel and equipment carriers. Like with the Humvee and the Hummer H1, a small batch (around 133 units) dubbed BXD20 was sold to civilians. However, many were bought by the military or Japanese authorities.Estimates indicate that maybe fewer than 900 examples of the military BXD10 version are still in use today. The BXD20 supply is no doubt even scarcer. This makes the Mega Cruiser one of the rarest vehicles one could buy today and certainly one of the least known vehicles that Toyota built. Thats why seeing one at auction is an event, especially when that example has a story.This Mega Cruiser selling at a Lloyds auction in Australia is the military version and was reportedly imported into the country for filming the 2021 film Godzilla vs. Kong. After the filming, the Mega Cruiser ended up at the now-closed Tank Ride in Queensland and is now proper museum material. It is fully functional, though, as youd expect from a reliable Toyota built in 2000.The Mega Cruiser comes with air conditioning onboard for the passengers's comfort. It flexes a 15B-FTE 4.1-liter diesel engine delivering 151 horsepower to its portal axles through a Japanese-built Aisin four-speed automatic transmission and a two-speed center differential lock . The BXD10 features four-wheel steering, which gives it a small turning circle, despite being more than 200 inches (5.1 meters) long.Two feet (61 cm) of ground clearance ensure that no obstacle is too big to pass . Its impossible to register in Australia, though, or at least very complicated to have it street-legal. According to The Drive, the same Toyota Mega Cruiser was offered for sale in the past, with an asking price of 100,000 AUD (67,200 USD).
NHTSA

In June 2021, when the Product Safety Committee decided to recall no fewer than 5,092 units of the compact utility vehicle, Volkswagen Group of America was aware of 31 vehicles that exhibited the stalling condition.After issuing a stop-sale order in August 2021, the German automakers North American division took until October 2021 to come up with the remedy. Campaign 22V-687 serves as an extension of 21V-615 that weve just covered, and the report filed with thelists only two vehicles.The subject vehicles - 3VVYX7B26NM021138 and 3VVJX7B25NM021505  were produced on July 30th, 2021, and August 9th, 2021. Said vehicles were not reached/repaired in internal actions in VWM as per said report. We dont know what actually happened, but we do know that Volkswagen de Mexico took the blame for it because the Taos is assembled in Puebla.Whatever may have happened, affected customers will be notified of Volkswagens oversight on November 11th. The engine control unit software will be updated free of charge. Volkswagen further notes that the updated software version was introduced in production in calendar week 36.2 of 2021, which means September 2021. Curiously enough, the previous recalls NHTSA report says calendar week 42, which converts to October 2021.Twinned with the China-spec Tharu, the Volkswagen Taos has entered the 2023 model year with a starting price of $24,155, excluding destination charge. Only three grades are available to configure, all of them equipped with a 1.5-liter TSI four-cylinder turbo that belts out 158 force-fed ponies.
FILE - European Commissioner for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova speaks during a media conference at EU headquarters in Brussels, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. The European Union unveiled Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 plans for new laws that it said will help protect media freedom and independence in the 27-nation bloc, as concern mounts about the dangers of political influence in several member countries. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)
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Dr. Haney told the Washington Post, What is happening in Texas seems to me to be not just an illusion, but from an educational point of view, an outright fraud. His closing sentence in the studys summary stated: The Texas `miracle is more hat than cattle.

He published widely on testing and assessment issues in scholarly journals such as the Harvard Educational Review, Review of Educational Research, and Review of Research in Education and in wide-audience periodicals such as Educational Leadership, Phi Delta Kappan, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. He also served on the editorial boards of Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice and the American Journal of Education and on the National Advisory Committee of the ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation.

Dr. Haney was born in Texas and raised in Michigan but lived most of his adult life in Jamaica Plain and Westminster, and most recently, in Orleans, Massachusetts. He earned a B.Sc. degree in biochemistry from Michigan State University (1968), and an Ed.D. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Following a stint with International Voluntary Services, Inc., a U.S.-based, private, nonprofit organization that placed American volunteers in Third World countries development projects, Dr. Haney served as a civil servant for the Royal Lao government, the ruling authority in the Kingdom of Laos from 1947 until the communist seizure of power in December 1975. During his free time, he photographed and interviewed many Laotian civilians who had survived the secret and illegal Vietnam-era American bombing of their country between 1964 and 1973. He wrote about these atrocities in his own pamphlet, "They Survived," and contributed both to congressional investigations and to the work of a nonprofit, Legacies of War, to deliver justice for these brutalities. He returned to Laos in 1975 to help friends and colleagues escape prior to the communist takeover.

It was the drawings of the U.S. bombings by Laotian refugees that inspired Dr. Haney to utilize illustrations in education evaluation.

Dr. Haney served as a board trustee at Westminsters Forbush Memorial Library from 2003 until 2019. As board chair for three years, he supervised the expenditure of a bequest directed to undertake significant landscape improvements. A remembrance on the librarys website noted that Dr. Haney was committed to the conservation of the fine arts collection and to diversified public programming, and his insightful suggestions, wit and sense of humor will be missed by all who worked with him.

Walt was the epitome of the Vietnam War era activist who maintained his principles of social justice and his distrust of government agency objectives, self-serving reports, and self-appointed spokespersons, throughout his professional lifes work, said Larry Ludlow, a Lynch School professor and a former MESA department chair. His well-known, oft-cited, and highly regarded Myth of the Texas Miracle, is a classic in advocacy research that puts the lie to the misunderstood adage `numbers dont lie.

His passion for basic human dignity and equality are evidenced in his long-record of distinguished research conducted personally and supervised as a dissertation director; the extensive congressional testimony he offered on numerous occasions; the novel research methodology he pioneered in using student drawings to reveal their educational experiences, and perhaps most important in the long-run, the purposes and goals of education he advocated in the classroom to three decades of educational researchers and policy-makers committed to ensuring our nations students receive the highest quality education our system can deliver.
Myanmars junta has banned domestic and international humanitarian NGOs, as well as United Nations relief agencies, from traveling to six townships of Rakhine state, aid workers said Friday.

A staffer with an international NGO, who declined to be named for security reasons, told RFA Burmese that the organization had received a letter from the Rakhine Ministry of Security and Border Affairs on Thursday explaining that it had been immediately barred from traveling to the townships of Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Mrauk-U, Minbya and Myebon. RFA Burmese is part of Radio Free Asia, an online news service affiliated with BenarNews.

The letter said permission to travel to the six townships in Rakhine is restricted, but it didnt say for how long, the staffer said.

Usually they would give some explanation, such as for security reasons, but this letter didnt say why  we are not allowed to distribute basic food items anymore. This includes U.N. agencies, NGOs and all INGOs (international NGOs).

U.N. agencies and international humanitarian organizations operating in the region were not immediately reachable for comment and no public statements had been issued in reaction to the order at press time. Some international NGOs confirmed the travel ban to RFA, but asked that their organizations not be named, citing fear of repercussions from junta authorities.

Hundreds of refugees who have fled recent fighting between the military and the ethnic insurgent Arakan Army are living in camps in the six townships and depend largely on the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Food Program, and other international organizations.

Soe Naing, who oversees the Tein Nyo Refugee Camp in Mrauk-U, told RFA that the ban would cause significant difficulties for people sheltering there, as they have few other sources of aid and the military regime has not provided them with any assistance.

We rely mainly on ICRC support in our camp, he said. The Department of Resettlement and Rehabilitation hasnt given us any support for more than six months, saying that it has not received permission from higher-level authorities. These refugees are already in a dire situation and blocking aid will make the situation far worse.

More than 900 families comprising more than 4,000 people are currently living in Tein Nyo refugee camp, he said.

Meanwhile, the junta has yet to approve the distribution of more than 55,000 bags of rice for Rakhine war victims donated in November 2021 by Yohei Sasakawa, the chairman of Japans Nippon Foundation and the Japanese government's special representative for national reconciliation in Myanmar, sources said.

Attempts by RFA to contact the junta spokesman for Rakhine state for comment went unanswered on Friday.

More than 40,000 refugees displaced by fighting between the military and the Arakan Army from 2019 to 2020 are still living in 143 refugee camps in Rakhine, while another 10,000 have been displaced from Rathedaung, Mrauk-U, Maungdaw and neighboring areas since the resumption of fighting in July.

The RFA Burmese Service produced this report.
Guards escort the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II during a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall in London, Wednesday. On Friday, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly claiming all funeral services in the U.K. have been canceled on Sept. 19, the day Queen Elizabeth II is set to be buried.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Eagle columnist Carole Owens writes: "Dictators all operate with a rigid hierarchy, subordination of the individual for the perceived good of the nation, strong regimentation of society and the economy, and harsh punishments. First, these folks must normalize meanness  bullying, name-calling, defaming, accusing and threatening."
'I AM WATER'

'I AM WATER' billboard art campaign aims to get people talking about the decline of drinkable water
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Tony Dobrowolski's main focus is on business reporting. He came to The Eagle in 1992 after previously working for newspapers in Connecticut and Montreal. He can be reached at tdobrowolski@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6224.
A Pittsfield woman is accused of intoxicated driving after she crashed her car head-on into another vehicle on a New York interstate, injuring two.
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Amanda Burke is Cops and Courts Reporter for The Berkshire Eagle. An Ithaca, New York native, she previously worked at The Herald News of Fall River and the Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise.
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Scott Stafford has been a reporter, photographer, and editor at a variety of publications, including the Dallas Morning News and The Berkshire Eagle.
The Australian dollar is trading at multi-year highs against the pound, euro and New Zealand dollar. That will help offset the coast of soaring airfares and inflation when travellers spend their cash overseas.

The Australian dollar is buying about 58 pence  the strongest it has been against pound for five years. At the start of the year, it was buying 53 pence.

Our dollar is riding high against the pound, euro and NZ dollar Credit:Bloomberg

One Australian dollar is buying about 67 euro cents, close to its five-year high in August. It was 64 euro cents at the start of the year.

The dollar as also at about $NZ1.12  another five-year high.
After four days on the run, Thomas Myler, a suspect in Mondays fatal Brisbane stabbing, was arrested overnight after police tracked his car before cornering him and his girlfriend in a house.

However, the hunt continues for the fourth and final outstanding suspect  24-year-old Kyle Martin, who police believe is still in the area.

Levi Johnston (inset) was stabbed to death outside a gym in the Brisbane suburb of Mansfield on Monday. Credit:Nine News

Levi Johnston, 23, was allegedly ambushed outside the Goodlife Health Club in Mansfield by four men in two vehicles at 1pm on Monday.

The attackers allegedly rammed Johnstons Mercedes-Benz as he was leaving the gym car park, smashed his drivers side window with a crowbar, and pulled him from the car.
Police are searching for a man who brazenly sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl at an Atwell park on Thursday, and have urged anyone with information to come forward.

Between 7.30pm and 8.30pm, a man driving a white Holden Commodore sedan picked up the teenager near the Harvest Lakes Shopping Centre.

He then drove the victim to Harmony Oval and, after the pair exited the vehicle and walked onto the oval, he sexually assaulted her.

Sex Assault Squad Detective Sergeant Kylie Dugan said the victim was deeply distressed.

Its quite a brazen incident thats occurred, she said.
Paul Keatings assistant treasurer has called on the Albanese government to scrap tax cuts scheduled to come into effect in 2024, saying Labor was forced into backing them by a Coalition scare campaign.

George Gear, who was a Labor MP throughout both the Hawke and Keating governments, and served for three years as assistant treasurer, said Labor only saw it necessary to back the stage three tax cuts after being targeted in a scare campaign during the 2019 election.

George Gear, who served as assistant treasurer under Paul Keating, says voters would forgive the Albanese government if it scrapped the stage three tax cuts. Credit:Tony McDonough

Not out of conviction, Gear told The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age. It was forced on them by an opponent who had no vision for the future  just a lot of pork-barrelling and a scare campaign.

The Coalition mounted a successful campaign at the 2019 election against Labors agenda to oppose the stage three tax cuts and reform negative gearing, capital gains tax and franking credits. Labor last year reversed its position under Anthony Albanese and vowed to keep the tax cuts in place.
Australia should ban Russian tourists from visiting the country and reopen its embassy in Kyiv, Ukraines Ambassador to Australia has declared.

At least four European countries  Poland and the three Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania  this month began steps to ban Russians from visiting their countries on tourist visas.

Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko says Australia should ban Russian tourists. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko said Australia should adopt a similar approach as a way to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putins regime. The call has been rejected by the federal government but backed by the opposition.

Russian people are accountable for this war ... So they have to bear the responsibility, Myroshnychenko said.
Crossbench MPs have declared there are still major sticking points with the federal governments proposal for a national corruption watchdog as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tries to avoid breaking a key election promise to legislate the body by the end of the year.

The crossbench MPs are worried Labors integrity commission will not be broad enough to go after corrupt union officials and businesspeople who seek to influence the government, as well as a lack of protection for whistleblowers, and independent funding.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says passing the legislation by the end of this year will allow the body to be operational by mid-2023. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

After the government introduces the legislation next week, it will be sent to a joint select committee of parliament to review, with the crossbench to use that time to try to convince Labor to address their outstanding concerns.

The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age can reveal the government will look to set a date for the parliamentary committee to report back before the final sitting fortnight begins on November 21, giving it enough time to pass the legislation by the end of the year. According to both government and crossbench sources, it is likely they will settle on a reporting date in mid-November.
Silverchair bass player Chris Joannou and his wife Karissa have bought luxury acreage north of Coffs Harbour for $3.2 million, making them neighbours to singer-songwriter Wendy Matthews.

The couples newly acquired four-hectare property now ranks among the most expensive sales in Sapphire Beach and includes a four-bedroom house, heated swimming pool, a guest house, garaging for 10 cars and what the marketing described as the ultimate man cave.

The Sapphire Beach acreage bought by Chris Joannou neighbours a property owned by Wendy Matthews. Credit:Domain

Joannou and his fellow Silverchair bandmates, Ben Gillies and Daniel Johns, were barely teenagers in 1992 when they formed grunge band first known as Innocent Criminals and shot to rock stardom two years later on the back of their song, Tomorrow.
Cheetah populations in most countries are declining. An exception to this is South Africa, where the cats have run out of space. Experts hope that Indian forests could offer these cats space to thrive. There are currently a dozen cheetahs in quarantine in South Africa, and they are expected to arrive at the Kuno National Park soon. Earlier this month, four cheetahs captured at reserves in South Africa were flown to Mozambique, where the cheetah population has drastically declined. Loading Some experts are more cautious. There could be cascading and unintended consequences when a new animal is brought to the mix, said Mayukh Chatterjee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. For example, a tiger population boom in India has led to more conflict with people sharing the same space. With cheetahs, there are questions about how their presence would affect other carnivores like striped hyenas, or even prey like birds.

The question remains: How well its done, he said. Ravi Chellam, a wildlife biologist and conservation scientist based in the southern city of Bengaluru said they will face risks from other predators including feral and domestic dogs, said. India currently just does not have sufficient habitats for establishing a free-ranging population of cheetahs, Chellam said. Introduction of African cheetahs is not a national conservation priority, the risk is not worth taking. The initial eight cheetahs from Namibia will be quarantined at a facility in the national park and monitored for a month to make sure theyre not carrying pests. Then they will be released into a larger enclosure in the park to help them get used to their new environment. The enclosures contain natural prey  such as spotted deer and antelope, which scientists hope theyll learn to hunt  and are designed to prevent other predators like bears or leopards from getting in.

The cheetahs will be fitted with tracking collars and released into the national park in about two months. Their movements will be tracked routinely, but for the most part, theyll be on their own. The reserve is big enough to hold 21 cheetahs and if they were to establish territories and breed, they could spread to other interconnected grasslands and forests that can house another dozen cheetahs, according to scientists. There is only one village with a few hundred families still residing on the fringes of the park. Indian officials said theyd be moved soon, and any livestock loss due to cheetahs will be compensated. The project is estimated to cost $US11.5 million ($17.13 million) over five years, including $6.3 million that will be paid for by state-owned Indian Oil. [India] just does not have sufficient habitats for establishing a free-ranging population of cheetahs ... the risk is not worth taking. Ravi Chellam, a wildlife biologist and conservation scientist The continent-to-continent relocation has been decades in the making. The cats that originally roamed India were Asiatic cheetahs, genetically distinct cousins of those that live in Africa and whose range stretched to Saudi Arabia.

India had hoped to bring in Asiatic cheetahs, but only a few dozen of these survive in Iran and that population is too vulnerable to move. Many obstacles remain, including the presence of other predators in India like leopards that may compete with cheetahs, said conservation geneticist Pamela Burger of University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna. It would be better to conserve them now where they are than to put effort in creating new sites where the outcome is questionable, she said. Dr Adrian Tordiffe, a veterinary wildlife specialist from South Africa associated with the project, said the animals need a helping hand. He added that conservation efforts in many African countries hadnt been as successful, unlike in India where strict conservation laws have preserved big cat populations. We cannot sit back and hope that species like the cheetah will survive on their own without our help, he said.
Hong Kong: Hundreds of Hong Kong residents are lining up in front of the British Consulate General for hours each day to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II, leaving piles of flowers and handwritten notes.

The collective outpouring of grief after her death last week is perhaps the most ardent among the former British colonies, where mourning has been generally subdued. Its seen by some experts as a form of dissent against increasingly intrusive controls by communist-ruled Beijing, which took over the territory in 1997.

A woman lays flowers as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II outside the British Consulate in Hong Kong. Credit:AP

Some Hong Kongers are nostalgic for what they view as a past golden age under Britains not entirely democratic colonial rule, when the city of about 7 million people gained stature as a world financial center and tourism destination.

The Queens death has sparked a flurry of interest in British memorabilia, among other things.
China did not duplicate Western models of democracy, but created its own, the State Council said. It all boils down to whether the people can enjoy a good life. They argued what defined democracy was not whether one person had one vote, but whether the government fulfilled promises and enforced the rule of law. Loading There is no fixed model of democracy, the State Council said. Whether a country is democratic should be acknowledged by the international community, not arbitrarily decided by a few self-appointed judges, referring to American-led multilateral groups such as the Quad, Five Eyes and the G7. In a message designed to appeal to other autocratic governments seeking democratic clout, the State Council said as a populous country long plagued by weak economic foundations, China had to strike a balance between democracy and development. One could be sacrificed for the other when circumstances required.

The priority always rests with development, which is facilitated by democracy and in turn boosts the development of democracy. The advisers acknowledged that in Chinas version of democracy there were no opposition parties, but argued that Chinas political party system is not a system of one-party rule. The [Communist Party] is the governing party, and the other parties accept its leadership. They cooperate closely with the Communist Party and function as its advisers and assistants. In China, villagers can vote in local elections for Communist Party candidates. Those local representatives then vote for the leaders above them at the regional level, a pattern that is repeated all the way up to the National Peoples Congress. This model, Xis advisers said, avoided the Wests weaknesses of politicians acting in their own interests or those of their parties, showering campaign promises while campaigning, breaking them once elected, and fuelling division in society.

This is most encouraging to developing countries and greatly enhances their confidence in developing their own democracy, the State Council said. Chinas new approach to democracy represents a significant contribution to international politics and human progress. But there was a problem. Chinas Constitution describes it as a dictatorship. Xis advisers had to work out how to marry democracy and dictatorship for an international audience. Democracy and dictatorship appear to be a contradiction in terms, but together they ensure the peoples status as masters of the country, they said. A tiny minority is sanctioned in the interests of the great majority, and dictatorship serves democracy. Mao had a formula for this tiny minority: 95 per cent of people are good, 5 per cent are bad  including the activists and agitators that resisted one-party rule. The white paper did not mention Maos other formula: Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun or the sworn loyalty of the Peoples Liberation Army to the party, not the country.

When they say, the democratic peoples dictatorship, what they mean is that the party exercises dictatorship on behalf of the people, as opposed to the people, who include bad elements, says Linda Jaivin, an Australian sinologist and author of The Shortest History of China. In Chinese communist conceptions of the people, those loyal to the party and its aims get to be represented by the party, which means the party speaks in the name of the people, not that it has to listen to majority opinion. Sinologist and author Linda Jaivin Credit:Anthony Johnson Fellow Australian sinologist Geremie Barme lauds the ingenuity of former Chinese leader Deng Xiaopings rebranding of socialism with Chinese characteristics a term that has now been slapped across Chinas economic, business and democratic theory. It really stems back to that brilliant and very simplistic innovation, he says. As soon as they came up with that concept, that such and such a thing can be rebranded with Chinese characteristics, then it allows every other thing to be rebranded and reformulated according to the national situation and traditions of China.

Jaivin spoke alongside Barme at the Sydney Opera Houses Antidote Festival last Sunday. The pair met and married in China (and are now divorced), but after decades of studying its language, culture, and politics, both are alarmed at the direction taken under Xi, the Chinese president who has purged his rivals, rapidly expanded state control and crushed Chinese civil society. Loading The danger is that when you do that through a personality cult and the suppression of all dissenting views, then ultimately history turns on you, says Jaivin. Hes got a messianic sense of mission, says Barme. He is named as really the alpha and omega of the Chinese people  the solution to all of their problems. Barme first met Xis father Xi Zhongxun in 1981 when he was working on Dengs special economic zone in Shenzhen. By 1983 Xi the younger would become the secretary of Zhengding County in Hebei, his first step towards becoming a key member of the next generation of Chinese leaders.

Ive always been aware at some point, this group, who became particularly activist teenagers early in the Cultural Revolution, will be in a position to inherit power. The majority of them went on to carve up the country and become Chinas wealthy billionaires. A few of them decided to pursue politics. They are now the standing committee of the Politburo. Barme says Chinas civil society, academics and progressive thinkers have watched on with despair as their country has become more nationalistic, sensitive and insular under the rule of Xi and the children of the Cultural Revolution. It was such a welcome relief when you had Donald Trump in power in the United States because now you can all understand how educated sensible Chinese people feel about their government, he says. Xi, who, unlike Trump, rules without the threat of a direct democratic election, now has unparalleled power at home. Chinese media reports suggest the 69-year-old is likely to be named as either the Peoples Leader or Chairman at the National Party Congress on October 16.

But he faces trouble overseas, where Chinas growing aggression towards Taiwan, bellicose diplomatic rhetoric and COVID-19 response have isolated it from advanced economies. Chinas push to rebrand democracy is part of its global outreach campaign to developing countries that feel isolated by the West. It has found some sympathetic ears at home and abroad. Chinas civil society, academics and progressive thinkers have watched on with despair as their country has become more nationalistic, sensitive and insular. Democracy cannot be reduced to what Americans call liberal democracy, University of Sydney politics professor John Keane told China Daily earlier this month. The Chinese mode of government contains democratic qualities that should not be dismissed. There is a very strong sense in the political system, that power ultimately rests in the hands of the people. Any government attempt to violate that principle will end badly.

Keane listed village elections, online question and answer sessions and an app that allowed residents to monitor and report on the quality of their water as democratic innovations. So-called Western democracies have their own system and China has its own democracy system, says Wang Huiyao, the president of the Centre for China and Globalisation. China is so big, the largest communist country and the worlds second-largest economy. Western countries are not doing that well. I can see if this is not properly explained people feel threatened. Despite Wangs optimism after three years of COVID-19 controls, Chinas economy is struggling more than its leaders would like it to be. The Communist Party has up to 100 million members and most of those have partners, parents or children associated with their party status. Up to a quarter of China, if not more, is directly linked to the party and benefits from its rule, says Barme.

They are acutely aware of the symbolism of Chinas 20th Party Congress for building confidence in the partys mission. When you look at the way the Communist Party has handled history from the beginning. Its a series of erasures. They erase the partys own mistakes and boost its accomplishments, says Jaivin. Theyre very aware of the history of the Soviet Union and its collapse. Soviet leaders Vyacheslav Molotov, Nikita Kruschev and Joseph Stalin in 1934. Credit:Life Magazine In 1956, at the Soviet Unions 20th Party Congress, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev denounced former dictator Joseph Stalin for his cult of personality and reign of terror. Stalin had died three years earlier, but the speech sent shockwaves through Eastern Europe. By the 1980s, the flow-on effects of the speech had created the conditions for glasnost, the policy of transparency introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s that eventually led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the collapse of communist rule in Moscow. For the first time, with glasnost, people had a very clear perspective on all the mistakes and all the horrors inflicted on the people of the Soviet Union by the party. They thought why the hell are we run by a communist party that has been so economically incompetent and politically cruel?
John Warren (date of birth: n/a) Queen Elizabeth with racing manager John Warren Credit:AP Netflixs third season of The Crown featured the Queens close bond with Lord Porchester (Porchey), a childhood friend (his family home was Highclere Castle, best known as the setting for Downton Abbey) who became her racing manager for 30 years. After his death in 2001, the earls son-in-law John Warren took over the role and became the Queens trusted bloodstock and racing adviser. Over the years Warren has accompanied the Queen in the royal box or in the parade ring at Epsom, Ascot and to the Royal Windsor Horse Show. He was made a commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 2022. Sir Jackie Stewart (date of birth: 11/6/39) Sir Jackie Stewart in the Royal Box at Wimbeldon Credit:AP

Among the more surprising members of the Queens inner circle, the British motor racing star was close enough to the monarch that she made a rare appearance in 2019 at his birthday lunch at the Royal Automobile Club in Londons Pall Mall. His wife Helen is godmother to Princess Annes daughter Zara Tindall, and Sir Jackie  the Lewis Hamilton of his day  was a regular guest at Sandringham for shoots with the royals. He was on the guest list for Prince Philips 2022 memorial service at Westminster Abbey. Lady Pamela Hicks (date of birth: 19/4/29) With gilt-edged royal ties since birth, Lady Pamela is the daughter of Louis, Lord Mountbatten, and the great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She is also second cousin of the Queen, first cousin of the late Duke of Edinburgh and a grand-niece of the last empress of Russia. One of Princess Elizabeths bridesmaids, Lady Pamela was with her in Kenya when George VI died in 1952 and later accompanied the Queen on multiple royal tours as a lady-in-waiting. Her fashion designer daughter India Hicks was a bridesmaid to Lady Diana Spencer at her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles. Edward Young (date of birth: 24/10/1966) Sir Edward Young, right, the Queens principal private secretary, with Prince Michael of Kent at Royal Ascot in 2011. Credit:Getty Images

Behind the scenes, Sir Edward was pivotal to the smooth running of the Queens affairs. As Private Secretary to the Sovereign, he is the senior operational member of the Royal Households of the United Kingdom. A former international banker, corporate affairs specialist and political adviser, he started working for the royal family in 2004. As deputy private secretary, he had a key planning role in the Queens historic visit to the Republic of Ireland in 2011 and asked Her Majesty to take part in the James Bond video which opened the 2012 London Olympics. Princess Alexandra of Kent (date of birth: 25/12/36) Sixth in line to the throne at birth (she is now 57th), Princess Alexandra is another of the Queens bridesmaids and cousins. Sharing family history, memories and dress sense over eight decades, the women forged their long relationship in the 1940s when Alexandras family home Coppins in Berkshire was the setting for the courtship of the then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Appearing in the documentary Princess Alexandra: The Queens Confidant, royal expert Hugo Vickers said: The most successful members of the family are the ones who do not compete with the Queen but who are supportive of her, and shes very much in that category. Paul Whybrew (date of birth: 1959) Paul Whybrew, the footman who caught the palace intruder, pictured behind the Queen in 1986. Credit:AP

A longtime holder of the title of the Queens most beloved aide, Whybrew is Page of the Backstairs but is best known as Tall Paul, to set him apart from his former colleague Small Paul Burrell (Princess Dianas butler turned reality TV contestant.) Whybrew was the duty footman who helped apprehend Buckingham Palace intruder Michael Fagan in 1982. He had a starring role in the James Bond video for the London Olympics Games in 2012, walking with his boss and Daniel Craig, and is known to be companion to Her Majesty in her downtime, including when she watches TV. The Queen adores Paul, said a former palace aide. He is the perfect calming presence. Sophie Wessex (date of birth: 20/01/1965) Sophie the Countess of Wessex (left) and Queen Elizabeth II at the races in 2018. Credit:AP Of all the Queens daughters-in-law  Diana, Camilla, Fergie  Prince Edwards wife Sophie is closest to her. The former PR executive drove to Windsor every few days after Prince Philips death to spend socially-distanced time with the Queen. If she couldnt make the trip, she phoned every day. The monarch talks to Sophie in the way she used to talk to Princess Margaret, a royal aide said. According to royals expert Marlene Koenig, the hardworking mother-of-two is beloved by the Queen for having superstar qualities without the flashing light bulbs and other sources have called her the Queens secret weapon and rock. Sir Huw Thomas (date of birth: 25/02/58)
Ambuja Cements, which has been acquired by the Adani family, has called for an extraordinary general meeting with its on October 8.

In the EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting), Ambuja Cements will seek shareholders' approval for the appointment of and others on the board and a Rs 20,000 cash infusion in the company through preferential allotment of warrants.

Ambuja Cements has sought approval for allotment of preferential allotment of 47.74 crore warrants at a price band of Rs 418.87 to Harmonia Trade and Investment Ltd, a promoter group entity, totalling Rs 20,001 crore in one or more tranches.

The warrant holder would pay a minimum amount of Rs 104.72, around 25 per cent of the issue price at the time of subscription, and a further payment of Rs 314.15 at the time of exercise of the rights to convert in equity shares.

Ambuja Cements, which also owns 50.05 per cent in ACC Ltd, has called for an EGM of the "scheduled to be held on Saturday, October 8, 2022" with 12 resolutions seeking various approvals as the appointment of Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani, his son Karan Adani, two directors and four independent directors on the board.

On Friday, Adani Group announced the completion of the acquisition of Ambuja Cements and ACC for a total consideration of USD 6.5 billion which includes the buyout of Swiss major Holcim's stake in the two firms and subsequent open offers to minority .

The conglomerate named its founder chairman as the head of Ambuja Cements. It has also appointed his son Karan Adani and M R Kumar representing Life Insurance Corporation on the board of the company.

Besides four independent directors, Maheswar Sahu, Rajnish Kumar, Ameet Desai and Purvi Sheth, Ambuja has also appointed independent directors and sought shareholders' approval through a special resolution.

On Friday, after Adani's takeover, the two cement firms ACC and Ambuja Cements had announced the resignation of their board of directors, including the CEOs and CFOs.

It named Ajay Kumar as the new CEO of Ambuja Cements in place of Neeraj Akhoury, and Sridhar Balakrishnan for ACC.

N S Sekhsaria, the person who founded Ambuja Cements and was on the board for more than 20 years, has now been designated as chairman emeritus. He had remained as its non-executive chairman even after the sale of the company to Holcim.

Besides, Ambuja Cements and ACC are also changing the financial year of the company from January-December to April-March format. Ambuja has sought approval for change in the Articles of Association of the company, in the meeting which would be held virtually through video conferencing.

Moreover, it has also changed the registered office address to Ahmedabad-based Adani Corporate House.

The acquisition of the two cement firms is the largest ever buyout in the infrastructure and materials sector so far in the country and also the biggest acquisition by Adani.

The Adani family, through their special purpose vehicle Endeavour Trade and Investment Ltd, completed the acquisition after completing the transaction with Swiss firm Holcim and an open offer, as per a statement.

Adani Group chairman had earlier described cement as an exciting business, with headroom for growth in India.

The combined market capitalisation of Ambuja Cements and ACC Ltd is USD 19 billion as of date.

Currently, Ambuja Cements and ACC have a combined installed production capacity of 67.5 MTPA.

Aditya Birla group firm UltraTech leads the cement sector with an installed capacity of 119.95 MTPA.

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Uday Umesh Lalit urged graduates on Saturday to devote their time and energy to legal-aid work.

Speaking at the ninth convocation of University Odisha here, Lalit called upon the graduates to have absolute passion for the profession and show compassion for people of the country.

The CJI said that during his association with the Legal Services Authority for over a year, he observed that the legal aid work in the country faced neglect at times. Lalit did not elaborate further, but urged the young graduates to devote their time and energy to legal aid work.

"Hereafter, the society will be looking forward to your contributions at every juncture," the CJI told the students.

He stated that the profession of law has been one of the frontrunners when it comes to keeping civil rights intact.

"History of every society, every country shows that legally-trained minds have been beacons, path breakers and centres of attraction when it comes to raising voice against any kind of injustice," Lalit said.

"Even many freedom fighters and founding fathers of the Constituent Assembly were from your profession," the CJI said.

He added that they were the ones who tried to shape the destiny of the country.

A total of 221 graduates were awarded degrees on the occasion.

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Communal tension gripped a village here after a 20-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries sustained in an attack on Monday allegedly by two men during a molestation attempt. She died on Friday at her home, said.

The woman was allegedly attacked by two Muslim youths with sharp edged weapons.

After her death, added charges of culpable homicide to the original FIR, which was filed after the incident.

A outpost in-charge has also been suspended for not heeding to the family's complaint, in which it had alleged that the woman was molested.

"Section 324 of IPC (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 304 of IPC (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) have been added following the police investigations into the case and girl's death on Friday, and that the two accused have been arrested," Kheri police said in a press statement on Saturday.

Police said they came to know about the distortion in the FIR after a video of the family members alleging so surfaced on the social media.

"Through social media on Saturday, it came to their notice that the family members alleged distortion of their complaint, following which the concerned outpost in-charge has been suspended," police said.

They said that the investigation of the case has been assigned to Additional Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar Singh.

The mother and the elder brother of the dead girl had on Friday accused two youths of attacking her with a sharp edged weapon after their molestation attempt.

After the incident on September 12, an FIR was filed against the two youths on the complaint of the victim's mother.

The two were booked under sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

Meanwhile, heavy police force has been deployed in the village after the family members and the villagers staged a protest demanding swift justice.

Additional SP Arun Kumar Singh, DSP Gola Rejesh Kumar, and other authorities rushed to the village and pacified the agitating villagers, assuring them of effective action.

Authorities after hectic negotiations persuaded the family to allow the body to be taken for post mortem examination, police said.

Further action would be taken after the post mortem report, they added.

Two sisters were raped and their bodies hanged from a tree after their murder in the same district on Wednesday.

Six people have been arrested so far in connection with those murders.

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Lt General V K Saxena on Saturday inaugurated a community policing initiative here aimed at spreading awareness about various schemes of the among people.

Saxena inaugurated the 'We Care' initiative at an event organised at Kartvaya Path at India Gate on the occasion of 'Sewa Diwas', which is being celebrated to mark 72nd birthday of Prime Minister .

The aim of this initiative is to spread awareness among people about different schemes of the to maintain coordination and establish a police-public interface, an official statement said.

Under the 'We Care' initiative, all DCPs will hold community policing activities in their respective areas on every Saturday and Sunday for the next three months, the statement said.

They will also arrange visit of school children and RWA members to the police stations at 30 selected locations and interact with them through quiz sessions and by disseminate information through community discussion, the statement stated.

Saxena underlined the importance of people-police interface to achieve the goals of preventive and humane policing.

He expressed hope that community interaction events, which will also include rendition by the police band, will attract students, Resident Welfare Association (RWA), senior citizen and others.

The LG said community outreach initiatives like these help in providing protection to children, women, senior citizens and foreign tourists, the statement said.

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External Affairs Minister will pay an 11-day visit to the US beginning Sunday to attend the UN General Assembly and participate in meetings of Quad, and several other key groupings.

He is also scheduled to hold talks with US Secretary of State and other senior officials of the Biden Administration.

Jaishankar will be in New York from September 18 to 24, while he will visit Washington DC from September 25 to 28, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

In New York, the external affairs minister (EAM) will be leading the India delegation for the "high-level week" at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), it said.

The theme of the 77th is "A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges."



Jaishankar's address at the session is scheduled in the forenoon of September 24.

"In keeping with India's strong commitment to reformed multilateralism, the EAM will be hosting a ministerial meeting of the G4 as well as participating at the High Level Meeting of the L 69 Group on "Reinvigorating Multilateralism and Achieving Comprehensive Reform of the UN Security Council," the MEA said.

While G4 comprises India, Brazil, Japan and Germany, the L.69 group consists of developing countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Small Island Developing States with a focus on reforms of the UN Security Council.

To commemorate and showcase Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Jaishankar would be addressing a special event 'India@75: Showcasing India UN Partnership in Action' on September 24, which would highlight the country's development journey and its contributions to South-South Cooperation, the MEA said.

The event is expected to be addressed by the President of the 77th UNGA, along with Foreign Ministers of several member states, and the UNDP Administrator.

The MEA said Jaishankar "would also be participating in plurilateral meetings of the Quad, IBSA, BRICS, India -- Presidency Pro Tempore CELAC, India-CARICOM and other trilateral formats, such as India-France-Australia, India-France-UAE and India-Indonesia-Australia."



The IBSA is a forum which brings together India, Brazil and South Africa.

The (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) has emerged as a key grouping.

The meeting is expected to be attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

The MEA said Jaishankar will also have bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of the G20 countries and UNSC member states, amongst others.

The external affairs minister is also meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the 77th President of the UN General Assembly Csaba Korosi.

After completion of the UNGA-related engagements, Jaishankar will visit Washington DC for bilateral meetings with US interlocutors.

"His programme includes inter alia, discussions with his counterpart Secretary of State Antony Blinken; senior members of the US Administration, US business leaders, a round-table focused on S&T and interaction with the Indian diaspora," the MEA said.

"The EAM's visit would enable a high-level review of the multifaceted bilateral agenda and strengthen cooperation on regional and global issues to further consolidate the India-US strategic partnership," it said.

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A special Investigation Agency (NIA) court here has permitted activist and five others, arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist link case, to have a telephonic conversation with family members for three minutes.

The accused are currently in judicial custody and lodged at Taloja Jail in Navi Mumbai.

Their plea for making telephonic calls was allowed by special court judge Rajesh J Katariya on Friday. The details were made available on Saturday.

The accused are permitted to have a telephonic conversation with their family members for three minutes keeping the speaker on in the presence of escorts, the court said.

In a related development, two of the accused activists told the court on Friday that the prosecution had not supplied cloned copies of the electronic devices, seized from them, as directed earlier by the court.

They submitted that the matter is being delayed as copies are not supplied to them.

The special public prosecutor submitted that the procedure for preparing clone copies is going on.

The court said the prosecution should ensure the clone copies are supplied to the accused persons at the earliest.

The concerned officer shall remain present before this court with information on how much time would be required for supplying the clone copies to all the accused, it said.

The court also said that medical treatment provided to the accused Vernon Gonsalves shall continue as per the medical advice from state-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai and medical reports shall be filed on record.

The activist has been admitted to the hospital since September 8 where he is undergoing treatment for dengue.

Another accused activist Sudhir Dhavale has filed an application in the court, seeking action against the prison medical officer and the jail authorities for allegedly not providing medical attention to him.

An application was also filed before the court by an accused for the initiation of a contempt proceeding against prison authorities.

The court has directed the prosecution to file its say on all the pleas.

The court is likely to begin hearing the discharge pleas filed by the accused on September 23.

The Elgar case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave, held at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017, which police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial located on the city's outskirts.

One person was killed and several others were injured in the violence.

The case, in which over a dozen activists and academicians have been named accused, was initially probed by the Pune police before it was taken over by the NIA.

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As the door of its cage slid open, the first of the eight cheetahs brought to Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park hesitated for a moment or two before stepping out onto the grass.

It then ran, came to a halt near a tree and scanned the surroundings, its new home 8000 km away from its native Namibia, by turning the neck in every direction.

The moments were captured by TV cameras and also by prime minister Narendra Modi who clicked pictures with his DSLR camera from the high dais above the cage from which the cheetah had emerged into a special quarantine enclosure.

At around 11.30 am, Modi operated a lever to release three of eight cheetahs brought to India from Namibia as part of a project to revive the population of the animal which became extinct in India 1952.

After spending a month in the quarantine enclsoure, the eight cheetahs -- five female, three male -- will be shifted to an acclimatization enclosure within the national park where they will stay for up to four months before being released in the wild.

In his speech after releasing cheetahs, prime minister Modi cautioned that they need time to get used to their new surroundings before people can see them in the wild.

"Cheetahs are our guests; we should give them a few months to make Kuno National Park their home," he said.

The KNP, spread over 700 sq km, is situated on the northern side of Vindhyachal mountains. It derives its name from the Kuno river, a tributary of the Chambal.

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India and are expected to formulate a plan of action for strengthening bilateral cooperation in different areas and projects, including the west coast refinery project, an official statement said on Saturday.

The issue will come up during the meeting between Commerce and Industry Minister and Minister of Energy of Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Salman on September 18-19.

They would co-chair the inaugural ministerial meeting of the Economic and Investments Committee.

The two ministers are expected to discuss the progress made under the various joint working groups of the economic and investment committee, the commerce ministry said.

"Both sides are expected to formulate plan of action for further strengthening bilateral cooperation in an array of priority areas and projects, including the West Coast Refinery Project, Trans-ocean grid connectivity, Green Hydrogen, Food security, energy security and pharmaceuticals," it said.

They may also accelerate progress on the announcement made by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, during his visit to India in February 2019, of investments worth USD 100 billion in India, it added.

This committee, it said, is one of the two ministerial verticals established under the framework of the India- Strategic Partnership Council, which is headed at the highest level by the Prime Minister of India and the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

India is the second largest trade partner of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia is India's fourth largest trade partner.

India's imports from Saudi Arabia stood at USD 34 billion in 2021-22, while exports are aggregated at USD 8.8 billion.

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The police have nabbed an Afghanistan national and his aide along with 1.3 kg and 1.308 kg caffeine. The market price of the seized is estimated to be in crores of rupees, the police said.

ACP Manoj Kumar told IANS that the accused have been identified as Nisaar Ahmed, an Afghan national, and Afitikul Sheikh, a resident of West Bengal.

The police got a tip-off about the presence of the accused in where they were staying as paying guest for the past few months, running a drug smuggling racket in Delhi-NCR.

"The police along with a duty magistrate raided the spot and nabbed the two criminals along with the contraband," the ACP said.

Kumar said Afitikul Sheikh was staying in the PG accommodation for the past few months, while Nisaar Ahmed was staying with him for the past one week.

The accused were produced before a court on Friday which remanded them to police custody.

"Nisaar was staying in Delhi's Jangpura area before. His visa has also expired. During the remand period, the police will try to ascertain the source of the contraband from the accused," he added.

--IANS

str/arm

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Amid the ongoing spate between and in the custody case, the Gauhati high court on Friday while hearing a petition filed by the government directed the government to allow the team to inspect Srivilliputhur temple Joymala.

Earlier this week, the Assam government filed a petition in Guwahati High Court seeking the custody of Joyamala, a temple that the state had given to on lease.

The court directed the Tamil Nadu chief secretary, additional chief secretary, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), and the DGP to permit the team from Assam to visit the temple where Joymala is kept and also directed to provide adequate security to the team.

"The court issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government to provide arrangements for the team of Assam who is staying in Chennai to inspect the health condition of Joymala and other eight elephants," Advocate General of Assam Devajit Lon Saikia told ANI.

The development came a day after the Tamil Nadu government refused to return the elephants it had taken from Assam.

Tamil Nadu additional advocate general J Ravindran told a bench of justices M Duraiswamy and Sunder Mohan of Madras high court that the state government has no plans of sending back Joymala to Assam.

Notably, the Assam government moved to the Gauhati High Court following the reports of torture on elephants and sought the direction to bring back the elephants, especially temple elephant Joymala which the state had given to Tamil Nadu on lease.

This controversy started after the animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) released a video, claiming that Joymala was being subjected to cruelty at a temple in Tamil Nadu. However, the Tamil Nadu government dined these accusations.

The Ministry of Environment and Forest endorsed Tamil Nadu's claim that Joymala is doing well."Several disturbing videos of Joyamala are being circulated on social media recently, but these videos are old. The latest inspection report issued on the matter shows that the elephant is doing well now and is in healthy condition. The present team taking good care of Joymala," the Ministry tweeted.

Meanwhile, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest of the Assam state MK Yadava said that Tamil Nadu, in a letter, admitted that Joymala was tortured but her health is now fine.Assam claims it had leased nine elephants, including Joymala, to Tamil Nadu.

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The steel city of Jamshedpur is all set to have air connectivity under the Union government's scheme soon, said a senior official of Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district.

Air services between Jamshedpur-Kolkata and Jamshedpur-Bhubaneswar are likely to be launched from October 30 with a nine-seater aircraft from Sonari aerodrome, Additional District Magistrate (Law and Order), Nandkishore Lal said on Friday.

Deputy Development Commissioner Saurabh Sinha and Lal along with aerodrome officials, fire department officers, Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee representatives and Traffic Deputy SP Kamal Kishore held a meeting over the issue and discussed security and fire safety arrangements.

"We have trained 49 security personnel to be deputed at the aerodrome and 12 of them have already started providing their services," the officer added.

Earlier, airlines, including MDLR, Vayudoot and Deccan Airways, had launched flights to nearby cities, such as Kolkata and Ranchi from Sonari aerodrome, with small aircraft, but later they stopped services.

Reestablishing air connectivity with Jamshedpur has been a long-pending demand from businesses in the area as well as the state government.

Meanwhile, the BJP claimed that the proposed launch of air services from Jamshedpur was the outcome of a meeting between Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and its state spokesperson Kunal Sarangi, over the issue recently.

On the sidelines of the inauguration of Deoghar airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 12, Sarangi had said he submitted a memorandum to Scindia, urging him to start air service with charter planes under the government's Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme from the steel city till a big airport would come up.

Jamshedpur is Jharkhand's industrial capital and it is necessary to have air facilities in the era of globalisation, Sarangi said.

Referring to a proposed new airport at Dhalbhumgarh, about 55 kms from here, under Ghatsila Sub-division, Sarangi said a memorandum of understanding between the Airport Authority of India and the Jharkhand government was signed to construct an airport in 2019 but no progress has been made as yet.

The foundation stone of Dhalbhumgarh airport was laid in January 2019.

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The government will celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday on Saturday by launching a 15-day health campaign focusing on screening and creating awareness about non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Starting Saturday, the campaign will culminate on October 2 on Gandhi Jayanti.

State Health Minister K. Sudhakar said the initiative, which will be launched in the presence of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, is aimed at creating awareness among the people about non-communicable diseases, from children to elderly citizens.

Speaking during a video conference with district health officers and top officials of the Health and Medical Education Department on Friday, Sudhakar gave instructions to the officials to focus on screening of various health parameters and diseases during the 15-day campaign at all health facilities, from primary health sub-centres to super-speciality hospitals.

The campaign will also push for children's vaccination, increase the rate of vaccination for the booster dose of Covid-19 which is currently at 20 per cent, encourage blood and organ donation, distribute Ayushman Bharat Arogya cards and raise awareness about the importance of general check-ups and regular testing for non-communicable diseases.

"There is very little awareness among people about many diseases, government schemes and testing facilities at PHCs. A person might feel that he is fit, but awareness needs to be created so that people get tested for diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Awareness must also be created about the facilities provided by the government at the health centres," Sudhakar said.

Sudhakar also instructed the officials to ensure that people are screened for NCDs during the 15-day campaign. Additionally, he told the officials to set targets for each ASHA worker to convince and bring in people to get screened for each disease.

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Live news updates: has put a hold on a proposal moved at the by the US and co-supported by India to designate Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Sajid Mir, one of India's most wanted terrorists and the main handler of the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks, as a global terrorist. Mir is one of India's most wanted terrorists and has a bounty of $5 million placed on his head by the US for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Prime Minister will launch the National Logistics Policy (NLP) on Saturday at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. According to the Prime Minister's Office, the need for a national policy was felt since the logistics cost in India is high compared to other developed economies.

Secretary-General has called for global solidarity, collective action, commitment and mutual trust on the occasion of the International Day of Peace, which falls on September 21. "As we meet today (to mark the International Day of Peace), peace is under assault -- across regions, countries and communities," he told an annual peace bell ceremony on Friday.

"The poison of war is infecting our world, jeopardising the lives of millions, turning people against each other, pitting nation against nation, eroding security and well-being, reversing development."
A special court on Saturday remanded an Afghan and two others to 10-day custody of the Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the September 2021 seizure of worth Rs 21,000 crore from Mundra port in Gujarat's Kutch district.

The trio were arrested by the NIA from Delhi and produced before the court of special judge Subhada Baxi in Ahmedabad, which sent them to 10-day remand as against 20-day custody sought by the probe agency, special public prosecutor Amit Nair said.

At least 24 accused have been arrested so far in connection with the drug haul, Nair said.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had seized 2,988.21 kg of at Mundra Port on September 13 2021. The contraband was exported from Kandahar in Afghanistan, through the Bandar Abbas Port of Iran, was concealed as "semi-processed talc stones".

The case was handed over to the NIA, which found that a similar consignment was shipped in June 2021 through the port involving the same supplier and receiver.

The June consignment was received and stored in a warehouse in Delhi for further distribution in Delhi and Punjab. The two offences were connected and are being investigated together.

The three accused, Ishwinder Singh, Jasbir Singh, and Rahmatullah, were produced in court on Saturday.

Jasbir was arrested in Delhi by the NIA for allegedly renting a warehouse to store semi-processed talc. He is a peddler, Nair said.

When interrogated, Jasbir alleged that Ishwinder had supplied him with the suspected narcotics to be stored in the rented warehouse. Ishwinder's questioning led to the arrest of Rahmatullah who was found in possession of 3 kg of the drug at his residence, Nair said.

The NIA had recently filed a chargesheet against 16 people, including 11 Afghan nationals and an Iranian citizen, six of whom were shown as wanted.

They were charged under sections of the Indian Penal Code, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the official said.

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President left for on Saturday to attend the state funeral of and to offer condolences on behalf of the Indian government.

Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 at her summer residence Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, will be laid to rest at Westminster Abbey on September 19.

"President emplanes for London, United Kingdom, to attend the state funeral of H.M. and offer condolences on behalf of the Government of India," the Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted along with a picture of Murmu.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had visited the British High Commission here on September 12 to convey the country's condolences.

India had also observed a day of mourning on Sunday.

In the 70 years of reign of Queen Elizabeth II, India-UK ties have evolved, flourished and strengthened immensely.

She played an important role in the welfare of millions of people around the world as Head of the Commonwealth, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said in a statement.

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Chief Minister will on Saturday launch the MSME Policy-2022 with a vision to set up 20,000 new MSME units with a total investment of Rs 10,000 crore and creating jobs for 1 lakh people.

Gehlot will launch the new policy in presence of Industries Minister Shakuntala Rawat and other dignitaries on the MSME Day.

The policy proposes to give a relaxation of five years in approvals and inspections for setting up and promotion of the MSME units, an official statement said.

In the 2019 policy, the relaxation period was three years, it said.

In the last four years, over 37.33 lakh people have got jobs in the micro, small, and medium enterprises, or the MSME sector, and its contribution to the GDP has been estimated to be 24.50 per cent.

In the financial year 2021-22, the total export of MSME industries was 72,000 crore.

The new policy is being brought to increase the contribution of MSMEs in the state's Gross Domestic Product (GSDP), as well as exports, the official statement said.

Under this policy, the government will seek to create a favourable regulatory environment for the MSME units and also extend more financial and technical assistance to the entrepreneurs.

The Chief Minister on Saturday will also release a new Handicrafts Policy to encourage manufacturers.

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Chief Minister on Saturday said Haryana has become a preferred destination for investors across the world and lauded workers for their efforts in making the state self-reliant in the manufacturing sector.

The workers and labourers have reinforced the government's efforts in bringing about "incomparable developmental change" in the state, the chief minister said.

"With the help of these workers, we have become self-reliant in the manufacturing sector," he said.

The chief minister was speaking as the chief guest at the Rajkiya Shramik Divas programme organised on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti at Leisure Valley Grounds of Sector 29, Gurugram on Saturday.

Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Rao Inderjit Singh and Haryana Minister of Labour & Employment Anoop Dhanak were present as special guests at the function.

Khattar also made a number of announcements for welfare of the workers/ labourers and their families.

Congratulating the workers present at the state-level function on Lord Vishwakarma Jayanti, the chief minister said, "You have made significant contributions in the progress of the state. The Haryana government is responsible for your family's education, health and employment. For your cooperation at every level, work is being done to benefit you by implementing the schemes through the Department of Labour."



He said free health services would now be provided to the workers at ESIC hospitals as well as at the health centres of the state government in coordination with the central government.

"The country's first skill development university at Dudhaula in Palwal district of Haryana was also named after Lord Vishwakarma," Khattar said.

"Today is also the birthday of Karmayogi Prime Minister of the country, Narendra Modi, and on behalf of the people of the entire state, I congratulate him and also wish him good health so that he can take the country forward to new heights," the BJP leader said.

He said that through 550 Antyodaya Melas, 30,000 people have been provided opportunities to set up self-employment by identifying the workers engaged in the unorganised sector.

The chief minister made a number of announcements for the welfare of workers and their families at the function. These included Chief Minister Family Health Test Scheme for free medical checkup of labourers and their families once a year, opening of 200 Shram Yogi Clinics in the state for cashless health checkup of workers, providing 100 ambulances with Advanced Life Support (ALS) facility for workers, starting 44 mobile medical vans for general checkup and X-Ray.

The Building Construction and Workers Welfare Board would be a guarantor for the applicant to provide loan facility to Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCWs) to set up self-employment under the Mukhyamantri Antyodaya Parivar Utthan Yojana, he announced.

Besides, the chief minister announced that the financial assistance of Rs 2.5 lakh given to the family in case of death at workplace will be raised to Rs 4 lakh.

It was announced to double the financial assistance given in case of disability in case of accident at the workplace. At the same time, 100 canteens will be opened where labourers will get food at Rs 10 across the state under the Antyodaya Aahar Yojana.

The chief minister also announced to increase the financial assistance given to the differently-abled students from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per month besides giving Rs 2500 per month to children suffering from thalassemia.

He said a policy has been formulated to provide employment to local youth in industries and children of migrant families residing in Haryana for more than five years would also get the benefit of this scheme.

Fifteen entrepreneurs were awarded Haryana State Safety, Welfare and Health Awards at the function. In addition, Shram Awards were given to 20 workers. Among these, one Chief Minister's Shram Ratna Award, one Haryana Shram Bhushan Award, 13 Haryana Shramveer Awards and five Haryana Shram Veerangana Awards were given.

Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Rao Inderjit Singh, Haryana Minister of Labour & Employment Dhanak, and additional Chief Secretary of Labour Department Rajashekhar Vundru also addressed the gathering.

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Prime Minister on Saturday said he enjoys the blessings of lakhs of mothers and described as his biggest strength and inspiration.

Addressing a convention of self-help groups at Karahal in Sheopur district after releasing three of the eight cheetahs flown in from Namibia earlier in the day into a special enclosure at the Kuno Park, PM Modi said his mother would be very much pleased with the outpouring of blessings from .

The prime minister said if he is not occupied with anything important he prefers to celebrate his birthday with his mother, who lives in Gandhinagar, to seek her blessings.

PM Modi also said normally he doesn't remember his birthday, but on Saturday he was blessed by lakhs of women, which will make his mother very happy.

Just now, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar spoke about my birthday. Normally, I don't remember it. If not engaged with anything important I prefer to seek my mother's blessings on the occasion; today so many mothers of Madhya Pradesh have blessed me, Modi, who turned 72 on Saturday, told the large gathering of .

Modi said his mother will be very happy to see that he was blessed by a large number of women.

The prime minister released three of the eight cheetahs into a special enclosure at the KNP under the ambitious reintroduction project, seven decades after the fastest land animal went extinct in the country. The rest five cheetahs were released by Union environment minister Bhupendra Yadav and other leaders.

Modi said cheetahs were brought to the KNP as the country has a lot of faith in local people. He said he was confident that people will ensure the protection and conservation of cheetahs and not break his trust in them.

In his address, the prime minister asked people to stand at their place to welcome cheetahs and as a mark of respect for the people of Namibia for fulfilling the long-pending wish of Indians.

Referring to women's power, the prime minister said irrespective of the field, if women's representation is increased, success is guaranteed. He cited the example of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Swacch Bharat Abhiyan became successful as it was led by women, he said.

The prime minister said his government has made all kinds of efforts to strengthen women's SHGs in the last eight years.

"Today, over eight crore women are associated with SHGs and the government aims to get at least one woman from each poor family on SHGs," the PM said.

"To ensure the role of women in the rural economy and to explore new possibilities for them, the government is continuously working. Products made by them are being provided to a larger market through the 'One-district-one-product' scheme," PM Modi said.

He said September is being observed as the nutrition month and due to India's efforts, the United Nations has decided to observe 2023 as the year of coarse cereals.

The prime minister said the Centre has decided to serve at least one dish made from coarse cereals to the visiting foreign dignitaries.

He said women's empowerment ensures that their role in society is also strengthened.

Observing that his government has opened all doors which were earlier closed for women, the prime minister said, "Today, daughters are not only taking admission in Sainik schools but are also joining armed forces and becoming commandos".

There has been a massive difference between India in the last century and the present Naya Bharat in the form of women's power, Modi said.

"In the New India, women are flying their flags high from Panchayat Bhavan to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the PM said apparently referring to Droupadi Murmu joining the office of President in July.

Women all over - mothers and sisters - are my strength and inspiration, he said.

He praised SHGs in Madhya Pradesh for planting 10 lakh saplings on Saturday, which he said, "reflects their commitment towards the environment".

The prime minister said SHGs have now become national-level help groups as they are committed to playing an important role in making a developed and aatmanirbhar (self-dependent) India.

On the occasion, he launched skill centres for women and handed a cheque of Rs 10 lakh to a woman member of Maruti Nandan SHG.

Madhya Pradesh governor Mangu Bhai Patel, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar, and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also spoke on the occasion.

Chouhan said with the arrival of cheetahs in KNP, land rates have gone by 20-25 times. He said the arrival of cheetahs will generate employment and boost tourism in the area.

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EU- funded Electrification Financing Initiative (EDFI ElectriFI) signed a microgrid debt facility with Systems to drive net-zero economic growth in 80 new communities in .

Systems, operator of the largest fleet of solar-hybrid microgrids across rural Asia and Africa, will electrify 80 additional communities in India with USD 6 million in new debt financing from the EDFI ElectriFI, read Husk Powering Possibilities press release.

The 80 solar microgrids will benefit an estimated 60,000 people and connect nearly 10,000 new customers. It will allow Husk to double its customer base of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which drive rural economic activity but still rely heavily on polluting and expensive diesel generation.

The new microgrids will displace a significant amount of diesel generators, avoiding the equivalent of 11,640 tons of CO2 added.

Besides providing to the communities, Husk's platform strategy to address the entire rural energy ecosystem offers access to productive and lifestyle appliances, allowing customers to purchase affordable, modern and efficient appliances for both business and home use.

The long-term USD 6 million debt financing is one of the largest investments in the microgrid industry by EDFI ElectriFI. It is a clear indication that investing in leading developers like Husk allows de-risking financing facilities to scale the market at speed, added the release.

This investment complements Husk's largest-ever local currency debt financing in the microgrid industry from the India Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), announced earlier this year.

Prior to the EDFI ElectriFI debt, already had about 150 net-zero microgrids in operation in India. Husk is also present in Nigeria, with plans to further expand in Sub-Saharan Africa.

"The EDFI ElectriFI debt will enable Husk to become EBITDA positive before the end of 2022, and demonstrates our increased ability to absorb larger amounts of long-term, low-cost debt, which is necessary to scale microgrids profitably. More importantly, we will be achieving a net zero, broad-based economic impact on businesses and households in rural India, and help MSMEs double their income through reduced energy costs," said Manoj Sinha, co-founder and CEO, Husk Power.

"Minigrids are at the heart of EDFI ElectriFI's strategy. We have been following Husk's progress in the last years with attention and are very pleased to add this leading developer to our portfolio. The new facility will enable the company to reach the next stage of growth, achieve profitability and create long-term impact in rural India," said Corentin Billiet, ElectriFI Senior Investment Officer, EDFI Management Company.

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Union Minister has said there is need to reduce costs in the country, which is higher than that of China, the US and European countries.

The idea is to make waterways as a popular mode of transport for passengers and goods as this will help in bringing down the import cost of petrol and diesel, which is around Rs 16 lakh crore for the country annually, he said.

"Our first priority is waterways, second railways, third road and lastly aviation. Bringing down costs will help in generating employment in the country," he said at a programme organised by Young Indians and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India on Friday evening here.

cost in India as a percentage of GDP is 16 per cent, which is very high, he said, adding that it is ten per cent in China, and nearly eight per cent in the US and Europe.

Gadkari, the minister of road transport and highways, said the Prime Minister Gati Shakti programme will help in coordination among various departments, and a common right of way will be developed.

"There is a need to connect rail and road transport with the waterways," Gadkari said.

More use of sustainable fuel, such as bio-diesel, bio-CNG, will help substitute imports of petrol and diesel, he said.

He also stressed on the need for more cultivation of sugarcane and bamboo for production of cost-effective fuels like ethanol and bio-ethanol, Gadkari said, adding that the move will curb pollution.

The minister said the government wants a corruption-free system, which helps in fast-track decision making.

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Prime Minister on Saturday launched the National Policy (NLP) that aims to not only promote seamless movement of goods across the country, but also improve its competitiveness of Indian goods in domestic as well as global markets.

To ensure quick last mile delivery, end transport-related challenges, save time and money of the manufacturers, prevent wastage of the agro-products, concerted efforts were made and one of the manifestations of those efforts is todays National Policy, Modi said.

According to the Prime Minister, the policy "has not come out of the blue and there are eight years of hard work behind it". To improve connectivity, the government has been doing systemic infrastructure development through schemes such as Sagarmala, Bharatmala, Dedicated Freight Corridor.

Today, the total capacity of Indian ports has increased significantly and the average turn-around time of container vessels has come down from 44 hours to 26 hours. Through waterways, we can do eco-friendly and cost-effective transportation. For this, many new waterways are also being built in the country, he said.

Modi further said that the adoption of technology has been strengthening the logistic sector. For instance, e-sanchit has been enabling paperless export-import trade processes, and faceless assessment in customs has been rolled out. Similarly, e-way bill and FASTag are also common in highways to improve the efficiency of the sector. Only after doing so much, we have come out with a National Logistics Policy, he explained.

An umbrella policy for the has been in the works for around three-four years. It was felt that the logistics cost in India is high compared to other developed economies. Indias logistics cost as a proportion of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is believed to be around 13-14 per cent. The government now aims to bring it down to single digits as soon as possible.

Efficiency in logistics can also increase a country's exports, boost domestic manufacturing and make India a more attractive destination for global investors.

The policy has been brought in tandem with the Prime Minister's ambitious GatiShakti national master plan that was launched to build robust infrastructure, fill the missing gaps in logistics and draw more investments into the country.

The Prime Minister also launched the Unified Logistics Interface Platform ULIP that will bring all the digital services related to the transportation sector into a single portal, freeing the exporters from a host of very long and cumbersome processes. A new digital platformEase of logistics Services or E-Logshas also been launched., through which industry associations can take up any issues pertaining to operations and performance with the government. A complete system has also been put in place for the speedy resolution of such cases, he said.

Some states such as Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh have already formed their logistics policy. Logistics policies of 13 states are still in the draft stage.

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of CII, said that besides improving ease of doing business, and ease of living, the policy, along with other pillars of PM Gati-Shakti has the potential to usher in an unprecedented era of ease of moving in the country, ensuring speedier and seamless movement of cargo and people across modes of transportwater, air, roads, railways.

Reduced logistics cost and increased logistic efficiencies will energise the economy across sectors in multiple ways and take us many steps closer to emerging as a global manufacturing powerhouse, Banerjee said.
on Saturday asked to exercise restraint as tensions escalated in frontiers over the use of artillery guns along the borders by its forces which killed a Rohingya child and wounded several others in the past several days.

does want war, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told reporters here when asked for comments on the security forces actions on the borders, frightening both Bangladeshis and Rohingyas who took refuge in makeshift camps in the neighbourhood.

Kamal said would inform the United Nations if does not end the firing near the Bangladesh border as "we have repeatedly warned Myanmar through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but they did not heed the warnings".

He said Bangladesh wanted to resolve issues with Myanmar peacefully and expected the neighbour to realise their mistake and refrain from doing anything in future that impedes bilateral relations.

"As we do not want conflict, our efforts are underway to find a peaceful solution with Myanmar. We will do everything, Kamal said, attributing Myanmar actions to its internal conflicts with rebel groups like the Arakan Liberation Army.

"Sometimes a good relationship was seen between Myanmar and the Arakan Army, sometimes it turned into war, for reasons unknown to us. But definitely their war should remain within their boundaries," he said.

Kamal said Dhaka was observing that Myanmar forces were engaged in near identical conflicts with their own rebel groups in India's Mizoram borders and frontiers with Thailand and China but conflicts in their country (Myanmar) should remain within their borders.

He said Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is keeping a strict vigil on the situation on the frontier with Myanmar to prevent influx of people from the neighbouring country.

"Our Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) never wants war, we want a peaceful solution. Let their internal conflict keep within their boundaries. We are always protesting what is happening in our soil from outside," he said.

The minister's comments came a day after one teenage Rohingya boy died and six people, including a Rohingya child, sustained critical injuries in firing and mortar shelling from across the Myanmar border in Gumdhum area of Bangladesh's southeastern Bandarban district on Friday.

On the same day, a Bangladeshi youth was injured and lost one of his legs in a landmine explosion along the Headmanpara border area.

Reports from the borders said Bangladeshis as well as Rohingyas, who fled their homeland in the Rakhine state on the other side of the frontier to take refuge in Bangladesh were passing days in fear in view of indiscriminate gunfire while bullets and mortar shells often continued to land inside Bangladesh.

Officials said BGB stepped up patrols and surveillance ever since two unexploded mortar shells from Myanmar landed in Bangladesh territory on August 28.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already summoned the Myanmar envoy to Dhaka thrice over the issue.

Bangladesh currently offers refuge to over 1.1 million Rohingyas as a ruthless Myanmar military cleansing campaign in August 2017 forced their influx to the country.

Dhaka earlier said it hoped that repatriation of the Rohingya would start later this year, but experts said the clashes between the Myanmar military and rebels indicated that the conditions did not exist for the Rohingya to agree to return to their homeland.

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has put a hold on a proposal moved at the by the US and co-supported by India to designate Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Sajid Mir, one of India's most wanted terrorists and the main handler of the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks, as a global terrorist.

It is learnt that Beijing put a hold Thursday on the proposal moved by the US and co-designated by India to blacklist Mir under the 1267 Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council as a global terrorist and subject him to assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.

Mir is one of India's most wanted terrorists and has a bounty of USD 5 million placed on his head by the US for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

In June this year, he was jailed for over 15 years in a terror-financing case by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan, which is struggling to exit the grey list of the FATF.

Pakistani authorities had in the past claimed Mir had died, but Western countries remained unconvinced and demanded proof of his death. This issue became a major sticking point in FATF's assessment of Pakistan's progress on the action plan late last year.

Mir is a senior member of the Pakistan-based LeT and is wanted for his involvement in the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Mir was LeT's operations manager for the attacks, playing a leading role in their planning, preparation and execution, the US State Department has said.

Last month, had put a hold on a proposal by the US and India at the to blacklist Abdul Rauf Azhar, the brother of Jaish-e Mohammed (JEM) chief Masood Azhar and a senior leader of the Pakistan-based terror organisation. Abdul Rauf Azhar, born in 1974 in Pakistan, was sanctioned by the US in December 2010.

Beijing, an all-weather friend of Islamabad, has repeatedly put holds on listings to blacklist Pakistan-based terrorists under the sanctions committee of the UN Security Council. In June this year, had put a hold, at the last moment, on a joint proposal by India and the US to list Pakistan-based terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki under the 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

Makki is a US-designated terrorist and brother-in-law of Lashkar-e-Taiba head and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed. New Delhi and Washington had put a joint proposal to designate Makki as a global terrorist under the 1267 ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council but Beijing placed a hold on this proposal at the last minute here.

The State Department had said that Mir has been a senior member of LeT since approximately 2001. From 2006 to 2011, Mir was in charge of LeT's external operations and planned and directed various terrorist attacks on behalf of the group. Additionally, Mir allegedly conspired to commit a terrorist attack against a newspaper and its employees in Denmark between 2008 and 2009.

For his role in the Mumbai attacks, Mir was indicted in the United States in April 2011. In August 2012, the US Department of the Treasury designated Mir as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. As a result of this designation, among other consequences, all property and interests in property of Mir that are subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with Mir.

Mir is on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists List. He is believed to reside in Pakistan, according to information on the State Department website.

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announced Saturday that Vice President Wang Qishan would attend the funeral of as the special representative of President Xi Jinping.

A group of British legislators sanctioned by have expressed concern that the Chinese government has been invited to the funeral. One told the BBC the invitation should be rescinded because of human rights abuses in the treatment of the Uyghur ethnic group in China's far-western region of Xinjiang.

Wang, who is close to Xi, was a member of the ruling Communist Party's all-powerful, seven-member Politburo Standing Committee from 2012 to 2017. During those years, he led a crackdown on corruption that has been one of Xi's signature initiatives as China's leader.

Wang was named to the largely ceremonial post of vice president in 2018 and often attends events on Xi's behalf.

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on Saturday hailed the full lifting of a US embargo on the ethnically divided island nation as a milestone reaffirming increasingly tighter bilateral bonds that serve to bolster stability in the turbulent east Mediterranean region.

The Cypriot Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Cyprus-US strategic partnership aims at creating the necessary conditions for regional security and stability.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement that Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined met the conditions to allow for exports, re-exports and transfers of defense articles .. .for the fiscal year 2023.

The US will assess annually whether complies with conditions for the embargo lift, including implementing anti-money laundering regulations and denying Russian military vessels access to ports for refuelling and servicing.

Cyprus barred Russian warships from using its ports in early March following the invasion of Ukraine.

The conditions are enshrined in the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act that the US Congress passed in 2019.

The Act underscores US support for closer ties among Greece, Cyprus and Israel based on recently discovered offshore gas deposits.

The US enacted the embargo in 1987 to prevent a potential race from harming peace talks with the country's breakaway Turkish Cypriots. Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup aimed at union with Greece.

Barred access to US weapons, Cyprus turned to Russia to procure Mi-35 attack helicopters, T-80 tanks and Tor-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems.

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Chancellor Olaf Scholz is putting billions of euros of public money on the line to keep running as Moscow cuts off energy supplies, in a high-stakes gamble that risks tensions with his pro-market coalition partners.

The decision to seize control of Russian oil major Rosneft PJSCs German oil refinery assets is likely just the first step in an overhaul that could see Berlin pressured to take over a big chunk of the in Europes largest economy, with consequences for years to come.

German taxpayers may also be left with potentially uncapped liabilities to maintain the supply of natural gas and electricity after Russia indefinitely stopped deliveries through the main Nordstream 1 pipeline earlier this month.

Scholzs strategy adds pressure on the countrys finances at a time when already risks tipping into recession as Russian President Vladimir Putin uses energy to punish economically for supporting Ukraine. The experiment also raises questions over his vision for the economy and tests his relationship with the business-friendly Free Democrats that form the government alongside his Social Democrats and the Greens.

is at the sharp end of the energy crisis rippling through after decades of dependence on cheap imports of Russian oil and gas. Berlin has long promised a transition toward cleaner energy to power its industrial machine but has waited in vain for companies to engineer change, while the country has also turned its back on nuclear power.

Across the Rhine, the French government has lined up 12.7 billion euros ($12.7 billion) to cover the renationalization of Electricity de France SA and other possible operations, and this week outlined price caps to help households next year that will cost the power company 29 billion euros in lost earnings from its nuclear reactors. Frances Finance Ministry has argued the state is best placed to carry out the decades-long investment program required to cut dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Responsibility for shifting to renewable energy sources, while securing enough oil and natural gas deliveries from alternative suppliers to keep the lights on and factories humming, will also now land squarely on the shoulders of Scholz and his government.

The nationalization of fossil energy companies is a necessary evil or a bitter pill that Germany has to swallow because we slipped into the fossil energy crisis through our own fault, said Claudia Kemfert, head of the energy, transport and environment department at economic research institute DIW Berlin.

If we had consistently implemented the energy transition, we wouldnt have to nationalize any fossil energy companies today.

Scholz, who as Angela Merkels finance minister was instrumental in convincing his predecessor to lift Germanys debt brake to shield consumers and companies from the fallout of the Covid pandemic, insists he doesnt believe in nationalizing industry except in exceptional circumstances.

His latest moves will set alarm bells ringing in many parts of Germany, however, not least in the offices of his pro-market finance minister, Christian Lindner. The leader of the Free Democrats (FDP) may see himself forced to ditch his promise to return to the constitutions strict borrowing rules next year.

The government is also in advanced talks to nationalize Uniper, one of Germanys biggest gas importers, and in separate negotiations to take a minority stake in VNG, another big gas importer, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Asked about nationalization plans at an FDP event in Oldenburg on Friday, Lindner said the basic convictions hadnt changed, pointing to the fact the government just sold its full stake in Deutsche Lufthansa AG after bailing it out with 9 billion euros during the pandemic.

Read more: Germany Sells Full Stake in Lufthansa at $760 Million Profit

Now, in the time of crisis, we have to make decisions in order to avert structural economic disruptions, and that is what we are doing, he said, adding that the government had made provisions for everything.

The Rosneft move was in the works for weeks, with officials aware of the risk it could anger Putin and trigger an escalation in the energy crisis, two people familiar with the decision said on condition of anonymity. The Nordstream 1 stoppage removed this need for caution, they said.

If Russia decides to retaliate and stop oil deliveries to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline, officials in the chancellery are now confident of finding alternative supplies.

A senior government official said on condition of anonymity that there is no way round taking over a very large majority stake in Uniper, which its chief executive said is racking up losses of as much as $100 million a day. These were not calculated in an initial bailout agreement sealed with Unipers Finish parent company, Fortum Oyj, in July. There is still no agreement on the main conditions in sight, the official added.

Meanwhile, Polands government and its biggest oil company, PKN Orlen SA, are in talks about boosting cooperation with and potentially buying a stake in Germanys Schwedt refinery, according to a senior cabinet official.

--With assistance from Petra Sorge, Kamil Kowalcze and Zoe Schneeweiss.
Landlocked faces many issues related to trade as it has to cross or Pakistan to reach water ports as the seaports accelerate the rate of trade and act as an inhibitor in trade cost.

Mirza Ahmad Ebrahimi, a PhD research scholar writing in Khaama Press in an op-ed page analysed Afghanistan's two options, Chabahar or Karachi seaport.

Chabahar seaport via was found to be the utmost sustainable one as a trade route. To connect with Iran's Zabul province for smoothing and accelerating goods movement, the Delaram-Zaranj Highway with a 218 km roadway in the Nimruz province was designed and constructed by the government of India at the request of and cost USD 175 million.

Zabul province in is well-connected by road to the Port of Chabahar. It is one of the busiest roads in Afghanistan and provides an important trade route between Afghanistan, Iran, and the rest of Asia, said Ebrahimi.

Chabahar road is much shorter and more stable than any of the routes in Pakistan, making it perhaps the most efficient means that Afghan traders can reach the final destination for their exports, where 80 per cent of Afghanistan's cargo traffic now lies.

Furthermore, the Chabahar route paves the opportunity to access two countries' markets with a population of 1.4 billion rather than one country with a population of 200 million people.

Since the port begin its functioning, Afghanistan's dependency on Pakistan decreased significantly, and the trade with Pakistan fell to USD 500 million in 2018 compared to USD 2.5 billion, reported Khaama Press.

Meanwhile, Chabahar Port, located in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, is the lifeline Afghanistan needs to reinvigorate its trade potential. In the meantime, such trade opportunity cuts costs and leads to greater revenue for economic empowerment and integration which help in the county's prosperity and stability, said Ebrahimi.

Iran and India constructed a multimodal system, and overall, the routes provide a 60 per cent reduction in shipping costs and a 50 per cent reduction in shipment time between Afghanistan-India and other Central Asian countries.

Afghan traders have responded with enthusiasm to Chabahar's reliable trade and transit offerings. Iran and India have provided as lucrative a deal as possible to Afghan traders and at the initial stage provided a 30 per cent discount in customs tariffs, 50 acres of land for Afghan investment, and free cooling storage facilities reported Khaama Press.

The is intended to have a nominal capacity of 86 million tons by 2024, and Afghanistan intends to have a considerable stake in these operations. Afghanistan's strongest prospect for a brighter future is greater trade through the .

Moreover, Afghanistan's main export items are agricultural products which India is the largest market for it, especially, since the market potential is high in Mumbai and Gujarat where Chabahar has direct shipping to these states.

(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.)
launched missile attacks on military sites in the Syrian capital of Damascus, the Syrian national TV reported.

The missile attacks took place on Friday midnight, Xinhua news agency reported.

The report said the Syrian air defences were triggered by the attacks, shooting down a number of the Israeli missiles. Explosions were heard at Damascus.

The attacks also targeted the southern countryside of Damascus, the report said, without providing further details.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said the attacks targeted the countryside of Damascus and the Sayyida Zainab area, where Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based Shia movement and party, is present.

--IANS

int/khz/

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Prime Minister on Friday paid floral tributes to the first President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, who died in September 2016.

Modi, who arrived in Samarkand on Thursday night to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, visited the grave of Karimov here.

During his visit to in 2015, Prime Minister Modi had presented Karimov a specially commissioned reproduction of Khamsa-i-Khusrau by the great 13th century sufi poet Amir Khusrau who was born in Uttar Pradesh and whose father hailed from .

Written in Persian, and profusely decorated and illuminated with various colours including gold and ultramarine, the work is a part of the manuscripts collection of the National Museum, Delhi.

(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.)
Russia's setbacks and stretched resources in Ukraine show its forces are incapable of achieving President Vladimir Putin's initial aims in invading the country as things stand now, the Pentagon's intelligence chief said on Friday.

We're coming to a point right now where I think Putin is going to have to revise what his objectives are for this operation, Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director of the Defence Intelligence Agency, told an intelligence and national security conference outside Washington.

Because it's pretty clear right now that he's ... not going to be able to do what he initially intended to do.

Putin sent troops into neighbouring Ukraine in February with what US officials say was the objective of unseating Ukraine's Western-friendly government.

Ukrainian forces drove Russian fighters from their positions around Ukraine's capital earlier in the war. And Russia suffered another major setback last week, when a Ukrainian counteroffensive forced its troops back from large swaths of Ukraine's northeast.

The Russians planned for an occupation, not necessarily an invasion, and that has set them back," Berrier said, citing Putin's reluctance so far to fully mobilise Russian forces to get more manpower into the fight.

US President Joe Biden and other administration officials have taken care not to call Russia's latest retreat a Ukrainian victory or turning point in the war, and analysts caution it's impossible to assess what may lie ahead.

He's coming to a decision point," Berrier said of Putin. "What that decision will be we don't know. But that will largely drive how long this conflict lasts.

Berrier spoke at a panel with other senior officials at the intelligence community's Intelligence and National Security Summit at National Harbour in Maryland just outside Washington.

Asked about concerns that Putin could unleash weapons of mass destruction if he's thwarted on the battlefield by US and NATO-backed Ukrainian forces, CIA Deputy Director David Cohen said, I don't think we should underestimate Putin's adherence to his original agenda, which was to control Ukraine. I don't think we've seen any reason to believe he has moved off that.

Nor should the US underestimate Putin's risk appetite, Cohen said. Putin and his officials early in the war made allusions to Russia's nuclear arsenal and to massive retaliation in warning NATO not to get involved in the conflict.

"That being said, we have not seen concrete evidence of planning for the use of WMD,'' Cohen said. The more likely form of any Russian retaliation against the United States would be more attempts at interfering with the US political system, other security and intelligence officials said.

Separately, in a major regional summit in Uzbekistan on Friday, Putin vowed to press the attack on Ukraine and warned that Moscow could ramp up its strikes on the country's infrastructure if Ukrainian forces target facilities in Russia.

The conference included the leaders of China, India, Turkey and several other countries.

Putin said the liberation of Ukraine's entire eastern Donbas region was Russia's main military goal and that he saw no need to revise it.

We aren't in a rush, the Russian leader said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The secretive sale of Russian diamonds, worth hundreds of millions of dollars every month, is fracturing the global trade that stretches from cutting factories in to luxury stores on New Yorks Fifth Avenue.

Many in the industry refuse to deal in Russian gems following the invasion of Ukraine and after mining giant Alrosa PJSC was hit with US sanctions. But theres a handful of Indian and Belgian buyers who are snapping up large volumes at lucrative terms, getting to pick and choose the they need while others stay away.

The deals are happening quietly, even for the famously secretive diamond world.

And while theyre not breaching sanctions, there are other risks to consider  heavyweights like Tiffany & Co. and Signet Jewelers Ltd. dont want Russian that were mined since the war began, and suppliers say they are worried about losing crucial contracts by dealing in Alrosa gems.

The sales present a problem for any attempts at a boycott: once stones enter the supply chain they can become near-impossible to track. are sold in parcels of similar sizes and qualities  there are about 15,000 different categories  and can be retraded and remixed multiple times before ending up in an engagement ring or pendant.

Western retailers trying to avoid Russian gems are also concerned about securing enough diamonds, especially the small and cheaper types that Alrosa specializes in. The company accounts for about a third of rough diamond supply, and any Russian stones mined before the war are essentially all used up.

Some big European luxury brands have asked Alrosas rival, De Beers, to increase sales to suppliers they trust, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing private information. The company has made some efforts to do so, but has little extra to sell, the people said.

As Russian supplies divide the diamond world, much of the tension is focused in the midstream, a vast network of mostly family-owned businesses that cut, polish and trade the worlds precious stones  many of them in India  and provide the link-up between mining companies and jewelry stores.

In Surat as Global Fractures Under Sanctions Pressure

Diamonds at a diamond market in Surat, Gujarat, India. Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg

Before Russias invasion of Ukraine, Alrosa sold to more than 50 such customers every month. Sales froze up initially after the invasion but have now returned to near-normal levels.

But its happening very quietly. Before the war, the company ran 10 sales a year out of its Antwerp, Belgium, sales office based on a set calendar, and published the results afterwards. Alrosa has now stopped publishing any information on its sales or financial performance.

Most of the Indian midstream is still avoiding Russian purchases because of the risk that they lose western customers as a result, according to people familiar with the matter.

The US in particular is a crucial market  50% of all polished diamonds are sold in the country, ranging from luxury pieces worth tens of millions to stones that sell for less than $200 at retailers like Walmart Inc.

While diamonds are a discretionary luxury for the people who buy them, the business itself is an economic bedrock for the major cutting and trading hubs. The roughly supports an estimated one million jobs in India, where the government has pushed to keep business flowing. Belgiums Prime Minister has also reiterated the countrys position that Russian stones should not be sanctioned  more than 80% of rough diamonds are traded through its port city of Antwerp at some stage.

For now, the vast majority of Russian stones are going through about 10 buyers. Indian companies Kiran Gems and Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt are the two largest buyers, according to people familiar with the matter.

Kiran and SRK did not respond to emails and calls seeking comment. Spokespeople for Alrosa and De Beers declined to comment.

After the Russian diamonds are cut and polished, the assumption is that they will end up in jewelry for like China, Japan and India. Those three countries together account for about 30% of global demand and  unlike western retailers  are happy to receive Russian production.

However, the opaque nature of the with its long and convoluted supply chain means that Russian stones are likely to end up in western as well.

A diamonds origin is clear at the start of the chain when it is issued a certificate under the Kimberley Process, which was designed to end the sale of blood diamonds that financed wars in the 1990s.

But after that, things can get murky. Parcels of gems are often intermingled at trading houses, and the original certificate will be replaced with mixed origin documentation, making it near-impossible to keep track of where Russian diamonds are eventually sold.

Alrosa PJSC Reveals Its Largest Pink Diamond And Main Sorting Center

Rough diamonds on a sorting table in Moscow. Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg

While the fear of alienating western companies is the biggest obstacle for most in the industry, the practical difficulties in buying from are also a deterrent.

Following the US sanctions, most European and Middle Eastern banks have withdrawn from funding purchases from Alrosa, which previously sold almost all its diamonds in US dollars. That leaves a few Indian banks that have become more comfortable in recent months with how to facilitate transactions in other currencies, primarily euros and rupees.

In one sign of ongoing wariness, IndusInd Bank Ltd., one of the biggest financiers of Indias diamond buyers, has been requiring customers in those deals to sign waivers acknowledging theyre responsible if any transactions are frozen, according to people familiar with the situation.

A spokesperson for IndusInd said the bank is compliant with domestic as well as trade sanctions inter alia not undertaking transactions with sanctioned entities/individuals.

For those who are still willing to buy, Alrosa is offering perks including unusual flexibility, although its kept pricing overall on par with De Beers.

Normally, customers are expected to take a pre-agreed assortment of diamond parcels. Now, the company is allowing buyers to handpick their packets, which means they can select diamonds that are in short supply or the ones that are likely to yield the best profit. In a reflection of the shifting structure of the industry, its also looking at establishing more permanent sales offices in India.
Ukrainian authorities have carried out mass exhumations of more than 440 bodies buried in a forest located at the edge of Izyum city, recently liberated from Russian occupation, a media report said on Saturday.

Around 100 Ukrainian emergency service workers wearing blue plastic coverings dug the earth, opening makeshift graves, the BBC report said, adding they are now trying to ascertain the cause of death.

Olexander Ilyenkov, prosecutor of the Kharkiv region where the city is located, believes war crimes had been committed.

"In the first grave, there is a civilian who has a rope over her neck. So we see the traces of torture. Some of them were killed, some were tortured, some were killed because of Russian Federation air and artillery strikes" he told the BBC, adding that almost everyone died because of Russian soldiers.

journalists were brought in to witness the mass exhumations at the burial ground which contained rows of graves, marked by crude wooden crosses.

According to the BBC report, names were written on few of the grave, but most were marked only by a number.

Police have put the number of graves at 445, but the exact number was still not clear as some of the graves contained more than one body.

Prosecutors have said some were killed by Russian shelling and others were victims of an airstrike on an apartment block in March, in which 47 people were killed.

In a social media post on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said "the whole world should see this".

"A world in which there should be no cruelty and terrorism. But all this is there. And its name is Russia. More than 400 bodies were found at the mass burial site in Izyum. With signs of torture, children, those killed as a result of missile attacks, warriors of the Armed Forces of .

"Russia leaves only death and suffering. Murderers. Torturers. Deprived of everything human. You won't run away. You won't hide. Retribution will be justly dreadful. For every Ukrainian, for every tortured soul," Zelensky said in the post.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned "in the strongest possible terms" what he described as the "atrocities" committed in Izyum, the BBC reported.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called the development "horrifying" and said: "We're going to continue to actively support efforts to document war crimes and atrocities that Russian forces commit in and to assist national and efforts to identify and hold Russians accountable."

The city of Izyum, invaded in April, was used by Russia as a key military hub to supply its forces from the east.

--IANS

ksk/

(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.)
Investigators searching through a mass burial site in have found evidence that some of the dead were tortured, including bodies with broken limbs and ropes around their necks, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy said Friday.

The site near Izium, which was recently recaptured from Russian forces, appears to be one of the largest of its kind discovered in .

Zelenskyy spoke in a video he rushed out just hours after the exhumations began, apparently to underscore the gravity of the discovery. He said more than 400 graves have been found at the site but that the number of victims isn't yet known.

Digging in the rain, workers hauled body after body out of the sandy soil in a misty pine forest near Izium. Protected by head-to-toe suits and rubber gloves, they gently felt through the decomposing remains of the victims' clothing, seemingly looking for identifying items.

Associated Press journalists who visited the site saw graves marked with simple wooden crosses.Flowers hung from the markers on some of the graves, and some bore people's names.

Before exhumation, investigators with metal detectors scanned the site for explosives. Soldiers strung red and white plastic tape between the trees.

Zelenskyy said hundreds of civilian adults and children, as well as soldiers, had been found tortured, shot, killed by shelling near Izium's Pishchanske cemetery.

He cited evidence of atrocities, such as a body with a rope around its neck and broken arms. In another sign of possible torture, one man was found with his hands tied, according to Serhiy Bohdan, the head of Kharikiv police investigations, and Ukraine's commissioner for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets.

Zelenskyy, who visited the Izium area on Wednesday, said the discoveries showed again the need for world leaders to declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to press on with the war despite Ukraine's gains and warned that Moscow could ramp up its strikes on the country's vital infrastructure if Ukrainian forces target facilities in Russia.

Speaking to reporters Friday after attending a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Uzbekistan, Putin said the liberation of Ukraine's entire eastern Donbas region remained Russia's main military goal.

We aren't in a rush, the Russian leader said, adding that Russia has only deployed volunteer soldiers to fight in .

Ukrainian forces gained access to the site near Izium after recapturing the northeastern city and much of the wider Kharkiv region in a lighting advance that suddenly shifted the momentum in the nearly seven-month war. Ukrainian officials also found evidence of torture elsewhere in the region.

The U.N. human rights office said it would investigate, and the human rights group Amnesty International, said the discovery of the mass burial site confirmed our darkest fears.

For every unlawful killing or other war crime, there must be justice and reparation for victims and their families and a fair trial and accountability for suspected perpetrators, said Marie Struthers, the group's director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The majority of the people buried at the site were believed to be civilians, but a marker on one mass grave said it contained the bodies of 17 Ukrainian soldiers.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the war continued to claim lives and wreak destruction.

Ukraine's presidential office said Russian shelling killed five civilians and wounded 18 in a 24-hour span. Missile strikes were also reported, with Zelenskyy's hometown of Kryvyi Rih among the targets for a third consecutive day Friday. Air raid sirens howled in the capital, Kyiv.

More killings targeting pro-Russian separatist officials were reported in areas under their control. Separatist authorities said a blast killed the prosecutor-general of the self-proclaimed republic in the Luhansk region. Moscow-backed authorities said two Russian-installed officials were also killed in Berdyansk, a city in the Zaporizhzhia region occupied earlier in the war. And local authorities reported at least one person killed and 10 wounded in a Ukrainian missile strike on an administrative building in Russian-occupied Kherson.

To bolster the Ukrainian offensive, the Biden administration announced another $600 million package of military aid.

Izium resident Sergei Gorodko said that among the hundreds buried in individual graves were dozens of adults and children killed in a Russian airstrike on an apartment building, some of whom he pulled out of rubble with my own hands.

Izium was a key supply hub for Russian forces until they withdrew in recent days. Izium city councilor Maksym Strelnikov told reporters that hundreds of people had died during the fighting and after Russia seized the town in March. Many couldn't be properly buried, he said.

His claims could not be immediately verified, but similar scenes have played out in other cities Russian forces captured, including Mariupol.

Strelnikov said an untold number of people also died from lack of proper health care. Most of the city's prewar population of 47,000 fled to Ukrainian-held territories. Strelnikov said 10,000 residents remain in the ruined city, where they are bracing for more hardship with winter coming and most infrastructure destroyed.

Ukraine's national police chief, Ihor Klymenko, said torture chambers have been found in the Kharkiv region's recaptured towns and villages. The claim could not be independently verified.

Seven Sri Lankan students who fell into Russian hands in Kupiansk, also in the Kharkiv region, have also said that they were held and mistreated, he said.

They are scared, they were abused, Klymenko said. They include a woman who can barely speak and two with torn toe nails.

Ukrainian Deputy Interior Minister Yevhen Enin said bodies exhumed in the region showed traces of a violent death, but also of torture cut off ears, etc. This is just the beginning.

All these traces of war crimes are now carefully documented by us. And we know from the experience of Bucha that the worst crimes can only be exposed over time, Enin said in an interview with Ukraine's Radio NV.

(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 US has ratified the Solar Alliance Agreement.

The Instrument of Acceptance was handed over by US Embassy in India Charge D'Affaires Patricia Lacina during her meeting with AS(ER) Prabhat Kumar and JS (ED) Noor Rahman Sheikh.

" ratifies the Solar Alliance Agreement. The Instrument of Acceptance was handed over by US Embassy in India Charge D'Affaires Patricia Lacina during her meeting with AS(ER) Prabhat Kumar and JS (ED) Noor Rahman Sheikh," tweeted the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Saturday.

The Solar Alliance (ISA) is an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies.

Its basic motive is to facilitate energy access, ensure energy security, and drive energy transition in its member countries.

The was conceived as a joint effort by India and France to mobilize efforts against climate change through the deployment of solar energy solutions.

A total of 106 countries have signed the Framework Agreement. Out of 106 nations, 86 have signed and ratified the Framework Agreement. All member states of the United Nations are eligible to join the ISA.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has granted Observer Status to the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

It will help provide for regular and well-defined cooperation between the Alliance and the United Nations that would benefit global energy growth and development.

The ISA will help member countries develop low-carbon growth trajectories, with a particular focus on delivering impact in countries categorized as Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

One of the important products of ISA is One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG).

The OSOWOG focuses on a framework for facilitating global cooperation, building a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy resources (mainly solar energy) that can be seamlessly shared.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A US Bill that seeks to act against African countries that support Russian activities on the continent has been described by South African President as having the potential of punishing' these countries.

Addressing a meeting with the US Congress Black caucus and anti-apartheid veterans on Friday, Ramaphosa said that the bill if passed could have unintended consequences on the African continent.

He strongly condemned the United States' proposed Russian Malicious Acts Bill as harmful to Africa's development. The bill would oblige Washington to punish any governments in that help Russian malign' activities, SA people News, a South African news portal reported.

(If passed) the law could have the unintended consequence of punishing the continent for efforts to advance development and growth, Ramaphosa said.

In terms of the Bill, the US will assess the influence that has on African countries, especially those which it believes undermines the interests of those nations.

Analysts have long said that both and China are having strong impacts on the continent with their investments in infrastructure, potentially creating obligations on the part of the African countries.

"I think (the Act) will harm and marginalise the continent. We should not be told by anyone who we can associate with, Ramaphosa told the media after his meeting.

This echoed earlier sentiment expressed by South African Minister of Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, when she told a media briefing together with US Foreign Secretary Anthony Blinken after his visit to the country last month.

Pandor said then that attempts to bully any nations into taking sides in the current Ukraine- conflict was unacceptable.

South Africa, together with neighbouring states Zimbabwe, Namibia and Mozambique, were among the countries that abstained from voting at the UN General Assembly earlier this year on a resolution demanding that Russia immediately withdraw from Ukraine.

Ramaphosa said that the US and Russia, the latter a partner in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) coalition, were both strategic partners for South .

As a sovereign country that pursues an independent foreign policy, the Bill seems to punish those who hold independent views. It is disappointing that this Bill has been crafted at a time when President Biden has sought to engage African countries on the basis of respect for their independence and sovereignty, Ramaphosa said.

Despite this strong view, Biden welcomed Ramaphosa to the White House for a meeting. "We really need to make sure we fully understand one another. Our partnership is essential," Biden said.

Ramaphosa told Biden that his country would work closely with the US on issues related to health, security and climate change, while also cautioning the US head of state but warned against punishing African nations for maintaining ties with Russia.

Ramaphosa lauded the role of US anti-apartheid activists in the for the support they had provided in bringing about the end of decades of white minority rule in the country.

After our experience of apartheid, we know that self-determination can only be achieved with the support and solidarity of the people of the world, Ramaphosa said as he the urged the Congressional Black Caucus to continue the fight against human rights violations globally.

He also asked the Caucus to encourage investment in South Africa and the African continent. Ramaphosa left the US on Saturday to attend the state funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth in the UK on Monday.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President praised as a vital voice on the global stage as he hosted President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday at the White House for talks that were expected to touch on the two nations' differences on Russia's war in Ukraine and more.

In a brief appearance before the media at the start of their meeting, Biden made no direct mention that Ramaphosa is among African leaders who have maintained a neutral stance in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. abstained from a United Nations vote condemning Russia's actions and calling for a mediated settlement.

But the president seemed to offer a subtle recognition that the two countries have their differences.

We really need to make sure we fully understand one another, said Biden, who heaped praise on Ramaphosa for his country's leadership on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of climate change and other issues.

Ahead of the meeting, South Africa's relations minister, Naledi Pandor, said Ramaphosa would emphasize the need for dialogue to find an end to the conflict during his meeting with Biden and in separate talks with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Pandor added that the issue will be South Africa's focus when it participates in the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly next week.

We would want a process of diplomacy to be initiated between the two parties and we believe the UN must lead, the U.N secretary-general in particular, Pandor said.

The White House meeting comes on the heels of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to last month, in which he said the Biden administration sees Africa's 54 nations as equal partners in tackling global problems.

But the administration has been disappointed that South Africa and much of the continent have declined to follow the US in condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

During the Blinken visit, Pandor accused the US and other Western powers of focusing on the Ukraine conflict to the detriment of crises around the globe.

We should be equally concerned at what is happening to the people of Palestine, as we are with what is happening to the people of Ukraine, she said.

The Biden administration, meanwhile, has sought to underscore that Russia's blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports has led to scarcities in grain, cooking oil and fertilizer resulting in disproportionate impact on Africans.

South Africa's neutral position is largely because of the support the Soviet Union gave during the Cold War era to Ramaphosa's African National Congress in its fight to end apartheid, South Africa's regime of repression against the Black majority that ended in 1994. South Africa is seen as a leader of the several African countries that will not side against Russia.

Despite the differences on the war in Ukraine, the Biden administration recognizes the importance of strengthening relations in Africa as China has spent decades entrenching itself in the continent's natural resources markets. Improving relations with South Africa one of the continent's biggest economies is central to the US effort.

John Stremlau, an relations expert at the University of the Witwatersrand, said the talks underscore that the US sees South Africa as having the potential to lead Africa in a constructive way on trade and other issues.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the two leaders would also discuss climate change and opportunities to increase trade and investment. The vice president's office in a statement said that Harris and Ramaphosa discussed global health security, space cooperation, climate change, women's empowerment and other matters, as they met over breakfast at the vice president's residence.

In a brief exchange with reporters before his meeting with Harris, Ramaphosa said he would like to see the relationship between the two countries strengthened.

South Africa's ambitious efforts to transition from coal to cleaner energy are expected to be discussed during the leaders' talks. The U.S., Britain, France and Germany announced a plan last year to provide USD 8.5 billion in loans and grants over five years to help South Africa phase out coal.

Ramaphosa could also raise with Biden the failure of the and other wealthier nations to make good on a more than decades-old pledge first made in 2009 and reaffirmed at the 2015 Paris climate talks to spend USD 100 billion to help developing nations deal with climate change.

Harris in comments to reporters praised South Africa's leadership in the midst of the challenges that we each face with the climate crisis and the work that we will do together to address that crisis.

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The speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said Friday she plans to make a weekend visit to Armenia, where a cease-fire held for a second day after an outburst of fighting with neighbouring that killed more than 200 troops from both sides.

Pelosi told reporters in Berlin she would to travel to on Saturday with a delegation that includes Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., who is of Armenian descent. Pelosi declined to give further details about the trip, saying that traveling members of the Congress don't like to be a target.

In any case, it is all about human rights and the respecting the dignity and worth of every person, she said.

The Armenian Defense Ministry said the situation on the border with has remained quiet since the cease-fire took effect at 8 p.m. Wednesday, and no violations were reported.

The cease-fire declaration followed two days of heavy fighting that marked the largest outbreak of hostilities in nearly two years.

and traded blame for the shelling, with Armenian authorities accusing Baku of unprovoked aggression and Azerbaijani officials saying their country was responding to Armenian attacks.

Speaking in parliament Friday, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that at least 135 Armenian troops were killed in the fighting, revising his earlier statement that 105 died in combat. Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said Friday it had lost 77.

Edvard Asryan, the chief of the General Staff of the Armenian armed forces, said at a briefing for foreign ambassadors in Yerevan that the Azerbaijani forces had forged 7.5 kilometers (4.7 miles) into Armenian territory near the town of Jermuk, a spa resort in southern .

Asryan said that the Azerbaijani troops also went 1-2 kilometers (about 1 mile) into Armenian territory near the village of Nerkin Hand in the Syunik province and the village of Shorja in the Gegharkunik province.

He noted that the Azerbaijani forces have remained in those areas.

The ex-Soviet countries have been locked in a decades-old conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994.

During a six-week war in 2020, Azerbaijan reclaimed broad swaths of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent territories held by Armenian forces. More than 6,700 people died in the fighting, which ended with a Russia-brokered peace agreement. Moscow deployed about 2,000 troops to the region to serve as peacekeepers under the deal.

Pashinyan said his government has asked Russia for military support amid the latest fighting under a friendship treaty, and also requested assistance from the Moscow-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization. The security grouping of ex-Soviet nations responded by deploying a team of top officials to Armenia.

Armen Grigoryan, the secretary of Armenia's Security Council, said the government in Yerevan was dissatisfied with the security alliance's response so far and expected the organization to offer military and military-political assistance to protect Armenia's sovereignty.

Pashinyan called Russian President Vladimir Putin when the hostilities erupted, and they had another call Friday to discuss the situation.

Yerevan's plea for help has put the Kremlin in a precarious position as it has sought to maintain close relations with Armenia, which hosts a Russian military base, and also develop warm ties with energy-rich Azerbaijan.

Putin met Friday with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in the Uzbekistan city of Samarkand.

Aliyev thanked Putin for helping halt the fighting and said the most important thing now is to save the process of normalization of ties from collapse. Putin voiced satisfaction that the cease-fire has held, but noted the situation remained tense.

Speaking at the summit earlier in the day, Aliyev accused Armenia of a large-scale military provocation that derailed efforts to negotiate a peace treaty. The Armenian provocation has dealt a heavy blow to the process of normalizing ties between our countries, Aliyev said.

The Russian leader also held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country has strongly backed Azerbaijan, but neither of them mentioned the fighting in their opening remarks at the start of the meeting.

Pashinyan told lawmakers earlier this week that Armenia was ready to recognize Azerbaijan's territorial integrity in a future peace treaty, provided that it relinquishes control of areas in Armenia its forces have seized.

The opposition saw the statement as a sign of Pashinyan's readiness to submit to Azerbaijani demands and recognize Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh. Thousands of angry protesters besieged the government's headquarters and the country's parliament during the past two days, accusing Pashinyan of treason. Protests were also held in other Armenian cities.

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Russian President has told Indian Prime Minister that he is aware of India's concerns over his country's conflict with Ukraine, and wanted the war to end.

During the bilateral meeting between both the leaders on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Samarkand, Putin was quoted on Friday as saying, "I know about your position on the conflict in Ukraine, and I know about your concerns. We want all of this to end as soon as possible. We will keep you abreast of what is happening there."

The Russian President said this after Modi told him that "today's time is not the time for war".

This was the first face-to-face meeting between Modi and Putin after Russia had attacked Ukraine in February this year.

--IANS

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The World Food Programme (WFP) has called for the safe and secure passage of humanitarian assistance to the conflict-hit areas of South Sudan's Upper Nile and Jonglei states amid renewed tension which has displaced thousands of families and left an unknown number of civilians dead or injured.

In a statement issued here on Friday, the WFP said it has been forced to suspend relief operations as a result of the deteriorating security situation in parts of the two states, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Due to deterioration in the security situation along the White Nile, WFP has had to suspend its barge movement between Adok and Malakal as the waterways have become inaccessible, to the detriment of communities in the firing line.

"Several attempts to negotiate access to reach communities facing an emergency and catastrophic levels of food insecurity have failed," the statement said.

WFP said one of its convoys carrying 1,151 metric tons of food meant for communities in Fangak, Canal/Pigi, and Panyikang counties were forced to return last week after clashes between conflicting parties resumed.

Adeyinka Badejo, acting Country Director for WFP in said the three counties already have some of the highest instances of food insecurity in the country with 55 to 60 per cent of the population of Fangak and Canal/Pigi counties expected to be in an emergency or famine-like conditions by now, and unable to meet their food needs.

"It is completely unacceptable that we have WFP convoys carrying food assistance that can save lives but are simply unable to get through. All parties to the conflict need to respect humanitarian law and allow safe passage of WFP and other humanitarian cargo.

"We are running out of time to prevent people from dying of hunger," Badejo said.

WFP said prior to this latest outbreak of conflict, there had been sustained efforts to build food security and resilience for people in Fangak, Canal/Pigi, and Panyikang counties in which it supported the construction of 16 kms of dykes around both Old and New Fangak, protecting communities from the flood waters that have been sweeping through communities across the north of the country for the past four years.

--IANS

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Two persons were arrested by Delhi Police, who tried to stage-manage a incident, aiming to usurp Rs 24 lakhs from their employer.

Both the accused, Puran Singh and Sandeep were arrested on September 15 and were subsequently produced before the court. Both of them have been remanded to 14-days of Judicial custody.

Puran Singh reported at Sarai Rohilla Police Station on September 14, that 24 lakhs were looted from him at gunpoint on Wednesday morning. He said that four people, two in cars and two on motorcycles came and looted the bag containing 24 lakhs from him at gunpoint. He said that he had received it from Mukesh Jain.

The police registered the case under sections 393, 397 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and a team of police officials was constituted for the investigation.

The police investigated all the CCTV cameras installed on the route. It was revealed that a person on scooty was waiting for the alleged victim Puran Singh and his car. The car stopped near him and proceeded ahead after a few seconds.

After this, Puran Singh was thoroughly examined and interrogated, upon which he revealed that he himself was the one who hatched the whole conspiracy. He knew that his employer Mukesh Jain would be coming to Delhi with a huge sum of money, and he will be the one carrying the money. So, he planned the conspiracy along with his brother-in-law Sandeep. The person on the scooty was Sandeep only and he already had the money with him.

Sandeep was also interrogated in the matter, and he accepted his role in the incident.

Accordingly, after the investigation, the sections of the law were also changed to sections 408, 411, 120-B, 182 and 34 of the IPC.

The police also confirmed that all the money involved in the matter had been recovered.

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Prime Minister and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi where the two leaders reviewed the progress in the development of the Shahid Behesti terminal, and underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation in the field of regional connectivity.

"The two leaders reviewed the progress in the development of the Shahid Behesti terminal, and underscored the importance of bilateral cooperation in the field of regional connectivity," the Ministry of External Affairs press release read.

PM Modi and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on the sidelines of the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO. This was the first meeting between PM Modi and President Raisi since Raisi's assumption of office in 2021.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed many important issues pertaining to the bilateral relationship and expressed their desire for strengthening the relationship further. PM Modi highlighted that India- Iran bilateral ties are marked by historic and civilizational connections, including strong people-to-people contacts.

The two leaders also discussed and regional developments including Afghanistan. PM Modi reiterated India's priorities of providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and the need for a representative and inclusive political dispensation in support of a peaceful, stable and secure Afghanistan.

President Raisi briefed the Prime Minister on the status of the JCPOA negotiations. PM Modi extended an invitation to President Raisi to visit India at his earliest convenience.

Notably, this was the first in-person SCO Summit after the COVID pandemic hit the world. The last in-person SCO Heads of State Summit was held in Bishkek in June 2019.

The SCO currently comprises nine Member States (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Iran and Uzbekistan), four Observer States interested in acceding to full membership (Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia) and six "Dialogue Partners" (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey).

The Shanghai Five, formed in 1996, became the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2001 with the inclusion of Uzbekistan. With India and Pakistan entering the grouping in 2017 and the decision to admit Tehran as a full member in 2021, SCO became one of the largest multilateral organisations, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of the global GDP and 40 per cent of the world's population.

SCO has potential in various new sectors, wherein all the member-states could find converging interests. India has already pushed hard for cooperation in Startups and Innovation, Science and Technology and Traditional Medicine.

From the time of its full membership, India made sincere efforts to encourage peace, prosperity, and stability of the whole Eurasian region in general and SCO member countries in particular.

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(Maharashtra) [India], September 17 (ANI): Police on Friday registered an FIR against a person for allegedly sharing a controversial advertisement on social media mentioning "Sex Tantra" camp to be organised during the festival of .

The controversial advertisement said a Special camp is being organised to offer a 3 days and 2 nights course "Sex Tantra" under Satyam Shivam Sundaram foundation in .

As per the advertisement, the organisation had started online registration for sex training for youth on the occasion of the festival. It said there will be a fee of Rs 15,000 for a residential camp and training in various sexual techniques will be provided in the special camp to be held between October 1-3. The controversial advertisement went viral on various social media platforms.

The Social Service unit of Pune Police took cognizance of the matter and registered an FIR against a person named Ravi Singh, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, for allegedly sharing this controversial advertisement on social media.

According to Pune Police, FIR was registered against Ravi Singh for posting an advertisement on social which has obscene photographs. Police said Singh was contacted and during the questioning, he accepted that he has posted this advertisement on social media on the behalf of Satyam Shivam Sundaram foundation registered in Uttar Pradesh.

The FIR was registered under section 292 of IPC and 67 of the IT act against Singh. However, the investigation of the case will be conducted by the cyber unit of Pune Police.

The said camp has been called off, said police.

Meanwhile, members of Hindu Mahasangh and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) strongly objected to the advertisement and submitted their written complaints to Pune Police.

"This advertisement of the perverted camp was being spread under the name Navratri Special. This is an insult to Hindus and their deities. Police must stop this camp to happen and take strict action against the accused," said Hindu Mahasangh member Anand Dave.

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Agriculture Minister Sudhakar Singh on Saturday squarely blamed the for the crisis in the state, and alleged that the saffron party leaders were protecting those indulged in hoarding and black marketing of fertilisers.

The leader, while speaking to reporters, alleged that the leaders at the Centre and those who were part of the previous NDA government in the state were responsible for the crisis.

"The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) government came to power in barely a month ago. leaders who had earlier held the Agriculture portfolio allowed hoarding and black marketing of fertilisers in the state," he said, referring to his predecessor Amrendra Pratap Singh.

Farmers in certain districts of including Khagaria, Katihar, Saharsa, Madhepura, Supaul, Purnea, Araria, Rohtas, Darbhanga, Buxar and Patna have been facing a shortage of fertilisers for quite some time due to its unavailability at designated dealer shops, a senior official of the department said.

Union Minister of State for Fertilisers, Bhagwant Khuba, had on Friday accused the government of creating an "artificial crisis" in the state despite adequate and regular supply from the Centre.

Responding to the allegation, the state agriculture minister said, "His statement that the fertiliser business has been left to middlemen and mafia in Bihar needs to be understood in totality. I am also saying the same thing that there was rampant corruption in the department during the NDA rule. BJP leader Amrendra Pratap Singh held the portfolio before me. Therefore, the Union minister is blaming his own party leaders for the crisis."



Alleging that the government was misleading farmers in the state, the Union minister had urged them not to pay even a penny extra as the Centre was giving heavy subsidies on fertilisers.

Khuba had asserted that distribution needs cooperation from the state government and asked the ruling dispensation in Bihar to "set things right" and not resort to blame-game.

Responding to this, the state agriculture minister said, "I am urging the Union minister to stop giving subsidies to the central government agencies that supply fertilisers to the state since he has alleged the involvement of middlemen and mafia in the supply chain...he just can't do that."



"The agencies involved in fertiliser supply are central government entities...then why is he not stopping subsidies to these agencies? That is why I am saying all BJP leaders from Centre to Bihar are responsible for this crisis," he added.

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Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP announced here on Friday that the party would launch the ' Jodo Yatra', the version of 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', on November 1.

He also said that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will not succeed in derailing the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra.

"No matter how much Sarma tries to influence the party MLAs, Congress will not stop. We don't care if any MLA leaves the party like Sarma had done in the past," Ramesh said.

He added that Sarma should stop thinking about the Congress and concentrate on working for the welfare of Assam.

Sarma had earlier criticised Rahul Gandhi and advised him to launch the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Pakistan, stating that Congress was responsible for the Partition of the country.

In this context, Ramesh told mediapersons that the country has been divided under the BJP rule.

"The country is facing tremendous economic inequality, social polarisation, and centralisation of power, which have created massive divisions among various sections of the society," he said.

"Today, people are divided over religion, culture and even food habits. The powers of the state governments have been snatched by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO)," Ramesh claimed.

The senior party leader also dropped a hint about the Congress' plan to launch the second phase of Bharat Jodo Yatra from Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat next year.

--IANS

tdr/arm

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Senior leader on Saturday dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's move to release Cheetahs in a Madhya Pradesh park as a "tactic to divert attention" from the grand old party's "immensely successful" 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'.

Ramesh claimed that the BJP's "dirty tricks department" had been working overtime for the last few days to throw a spanner in the yatra.

"It has been ten days since the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' started, and the spontaneous response we received showed that the initiative is turning out to be immensely successful.

"This has perplexed the BJP and its leadership. They now want to change the narrative and have been trying to look for diversionary tactics," the former Union minister said, addressing a press conference here.

Modi on Saturday released cheetahs brought from Namibia into a special enclosure at the Kuno Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh.

Eight cheetahs were brought to Gwalior from Namibia in a special plane on Saturday morning as part of the cheetah reintroduction programme.

The PM, on the occasion of his birthday, also clicked some photographs of these spotted animals on a professional camera after releasing them into the enclosure.

Ramesh, talking to reporters, said, "The dirty tricks department of the BJP is now working overtime to create a separate media narrative or to find flaws in Congress's Yatra. This release of the Cheetahs is the latest from that department after its attempts to create issues over a T-Shirt and other things," he said.

"The top BJP leaders are very good at such tactics; they deserve Bharat Ratna in this field," he said.

Talking about the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', Ramesh said it is a "booster dose" for the and a "decisive and transformational moment" for the of the country.

Nearly 3650-km-long padayatra is being undertaken by senior leader Rahul Gandhi from Kanyakumari to Kashmir over five-and-a-half months to galvanise Congress cadres and strengthen the organisation, giving it new energy, Ramesh, along with his party colleague Digvijay Singh, said at the press conference.

"The country is going through a situation where our politics, economy, and institutions are falling apart. We always took pride in our unity in diversity, but the BJP is trying to destroy that and create uniformity. This yatra is against the policy and of the BJP," Ramesh said.

The Rajya Sabha MP pointed out that the yatra has nothing to do with forthcoming assembly elections in Gujarat or other states; rather, it is aimed at Lok Sabha polls scheduled in 2024.

Asked whether the yatra would also cover Bengal and other eastern states, Ramesh replied in negative.

He, however, asserted that a similar march would be organised in Bengal, christened "Bharat Jodo West Bengal" in the next three to four months.

"The 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' started from Kanyakumari and will end in Kashmir. It is a vertical yatra moving from south to north, covering 12 states that come in its way. But we have plans to take out separate rallies in Assam and West Bengal," he said.

The state Congress leadership will decide on the details of the 'Bharat Jodo West Bengal Yatra' on September 20.

The veteran Congress leader described the nearly-3650-km-long march as a "turning point" in Indian .

"India's oldest political party has launched the longest padayatra. The yatra was needed to highlight the divisive and negative politics being practised in the country with the real issues getting buried," Ramesh added.

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Members of Pradesh Committee will on Saturday meet in Jaipur for organisation election.

The members will propose the name for party's president and send it to Delhi headquarters, a party spokesperson said.

He said that about 400 party members from different districts of the state will taking part in the meeting.

Ajay Maken, state in-charge of and Rajendra Kumpawat, co-in-charge of state organisation elections, will steer the meeting to be held at the state headquarters here.

State Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and state president Govind Singh Dotasra will also take part in it.

In the meeting, the proposal for the name of the president will be passed and submitted to the party's Central Election Authority.

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Former union minister and leader Manikrao Gavit died of old age at a hospital in Maharashtra's on Saturday, sources said.

Gavit was 87, and is survived by his daughter former MLA Nirmala Gavit and son Bharat.

A nine-time Lok Sabha MP, Gavit represented the tribal-dominated Nandurbar constituency from 1980 to 2009, and lost the election in 2014.

Gavit's son Bharat joined the BJP after he was denied ticket by the in 2019, while daughter Nirmala, a two-time MLA from Igatpuri, joined the Shiv Sena and lost her seat.

Gavit served as the Union minister of state home in the Manmohan Singh government in 2004 and minister of state social justice in 2013.

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King Charles III has pledged to uphold the additional duty as a new monarch of protecting the diversity of the and be a sovereign of all communities around the Commonwealth.

Addressing a group of faith leaders on Friday evening in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace, where just days before his mother Queen Elizabeth II's coffin lay in rest before its final journey to Westminster Hall, the 73-year-old royal said he has always thought of Britain as a community of communities.

As a committed Anglican Christian, Charles said he believed in protecting the space for all faiths, building on the foundation laid by his beloved mother.

I have always thought of Britain as a community of communities, the King said in an address to around 30 faith leaders invited to the palace.

That has led me to understand that the sovereign has an additional duty less formally recognised but to be no less diligently discharged. It is the duty to protect the diversity of our country, including by protecting the space for faith itself and its practise through the religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals," he said.

"This diversity is not just enshrined in the laws of our country, it is enjoined by my own faith, he said.

The King noted that at his coronation, expected next year, he will take an oath relating to the settlement of the Church of England and on his accession, he has already followed in the footsteps of other monarchs in history by taking an oath which pledges to maintain and preserve the Protestant faith in Scotland.

However, as a member of the Church of England, he said his Christian beliefs have love at their very heart and he feels bound to respect those who follow other spiritual paths, as well as those who seek to live their lives in accordance with secular ideals.

The beliefs that flourish in, and contribute to, our richly diverse society differ. They, and our society, can only thrive through a clear collective commitment to those vital principles of freedom of conscience, generosity of spirit and care for which are, to me, the essence of our nationhood, he said.

I am determined, as King, to preserve and promote those principles across all communities, and for all beliefs, with all my heart, he added.

Among those present at the gathering included priests of the Catholic church, Greek Orthodox church, and Church of Scotland as well as the Head Rabbi of London and a Zoroastrian priest.

Soon after the reception, Charles made his way to observe a vigil by the coffin of the late Queen, who is Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall in London until her state funeral on Monday. At the vigil, he was joined by his younger siblings Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward.

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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has petitioned before the Jharkhand High Court informing a bench that it will seek the help of to crack the Dhanbad judge murder case.

The agency informed a division bench of Chief Justice Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad on Friday that it has come across some digital evidence which need to be verified from the WhatsApp headquarters in the US.

The has already shot a letter to the Union Home Ministry for its approval to take help from the Interpol, the court was informed.

In the course of proceedings, the bench was informed that WhatsApp chats have been gathered from the accused persons which indicate the involvement of more people in the conspiracy behind the death of Dhanbad district court judge Uttam Anand on July 28 last year.

A team of sleuths will have to go to the headquarters of WhatsApp in the US and recover chat details to reach to the bottom of the conspiracy.

The court ordered the agency to furnish a status report in the matter and file an affidavit.

The case will be heard again on October 14.

Earlier, WhatsApp representatives had appeared before the Jharkhand High Court through Supreme Court lawyer Kapil Sibal and assured the court of all cooperation in the investigation.

Last month, a special court in Dhanbad had announced the quantum of punishment and sentenced an autorickshaw driver and another person to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of Anand.

Besides imprisonment till death, the bench slapped a fine of Rs 20,000 on both convicts under IPC Section 302 (murder).

The CBI judge had also sentenced the duo to seven years in jail and imposed Rs 10,000 fine on each under IPC Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, giving false information to protect offender).

Both the sentences will run concurrently.

Anand was hit by a heavy autorickshaw on July 28 last year at Randhir Verma Chowk close to district court while he was jogging around 5.30 am. He died the same day.

CCTV camera footage showed that the judge was jogging on one side of a fairly wide road at Randhir Verma Chowk in Dhanbad when the three-wheeler veered towards him, hit him from behind and fled the scene.

An SIT was initially formed to probe the matter, but the Jharkhand government later handed over the case to the CBI.

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A Dutch artist known for his playful and colossal animal installations has brought his first large-scale solo exhibition to China. Hosted by Beijings Today Art Museum, Celebrate! is a showcase of 25 works by Florentijn Hofman including a new version of the famous yellow rubber duck floating sculpture that appeared in several major cities, as well as an 8-meter-tall floral sparrow warbler installation titled Bird with Party Hat

Sep 30, 2022 08:33 PM
Sometimes its good to be reminded of just how good a car is by giving it go once more. In the case of the Mitsubishi Xpander, its the smal...
Indias long wait of seven decades to see cheetahs again has ended today as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the big cats into Kuno National Park on his 72nd birthday. A special cargo Boeing 747 chartered flight carrying 8 cheetahs from Namibia landed at the Indian Air Force Station in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh today morning. Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park is all set to welcome the eight new cheetahs relocated from Namibia after seven decades. PM Modi will release eight cheetahs (5 females and 3 males) brought from Namibia to the Kuno National Park as part of his efforts to revitalise and diversify the country's wildlife and habitat.



MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that reviving of an already extinct cat species is a historic step and it will boost tourism in the state."No greater gift for MP than the fact that the cheetahs from Namibia are coming to Kuno National Park. They had gone extinct and it's a historic step to reintroduce them. This is the biggest wildlife incident of this century. This will rapidly boost tourism in MP," CM Chouhan said.Earlier, SP Yadav, Project Cheetah chief, said that PM Modi will release two cheetahs from enclosure number one and after that about 70 meters away, at the second enclosure, the PM will release another cheetah.

The remaining cheetahs will be released in their respective quarantine areas made for them.Yadav said that cheetahs are being brought into the country from Namibia through a chartered cargo plane Boeing 747 which will land in India.

Under the ambitious Project Cheetah of the Indian government, the reintroduction of wild species particularly cheetah is being undertaken as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines.India has a long history of wildlife conservation. One of the most successful wildlife conservation ventures 'Project Tiger', which was initiated way back in 1972, has not only contributed to the conservation of tigers but also of the entire ecosystem.In continuation of this, the reintroduction of cheetahs is one step ahead and a milestone in the history of wildlife conservation in India.
Led by EPB Energy Pros, approximately 200 EPB and TVA volunteers distributed LED bulb kits to 1,000 local families in need as part of United Way of Greater Chattanoogas Impact Days on Friday morning. EPB and TVA joined organizations across the area hosting volunteer projects to commemorate United Way of Greater Chattanoogas 100th anniversary.Helping all of our customers get the most value from the energy they use is part of our mission to enhance quality of life for our customers and our community, said David Wade, president & CEO of EPB.Switching to LED light bulbs is a quick and cost-effective way for our customers to measurably improve energy efficiency and save money.EPB and TVA volunteers are distributing 1,000 kits of eight bulbs each to households across EPBs service area for a total of 8,000 bulbs. Each household can save up to $255 annually and $1,275 over the life of the bulbs. The cumulative savings of all bulbs distributed during Impact Days will be more than $1.2 million over the collective life of the bulbs.Improving energy efficiency can have big results on household bottom lines, said Carol Eimers, regional vice president - TVA East Area. Through simple acts like replacing incandescent bulbs with LED ones, customers can reduce energy costs over time and devote savings to other obligations.Officials said, "EPB and TVA have long supported United Way of Greater Chattanoogas work to drive measurable, lasting impact in the community. In August, EPB and TVA announced an additional $300,000 investment in the United Way Bridge Fund to provide rent and utility assistance for people in need. This is EPB and TVAs third round of support for the Bridge Fund (formerly Restore Hope), bringing their total investment to $720,000 since spring 2020. Additionally, EPB employees donated $20,000 in personal contributions to the fund."Were thankful for our communitys enthusiastic participation in Impact Days, said Lesley Scearce, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Chattanooga. Having organizations like EPB and TVA dedicate their time and talent to our community is the best possible way to celebrate 100 years of serving Chattanooga.An analysis published by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy reported that many households behind on energy bills were also more likely to fall behind on rent. According to the Census Bureaus July 2022 Household Pulse Survey results, 80 percent of respondents reported skipping bills and other necessities, and 44 percent kept their homes at unsafe temperatures to save on energy costs. ACEEE recommended implementing efficiency measures could lower energy costs and help lessees stay current on rent.EPB helps customers increase their homes energy efficiency and make bills lower and more predictable:EPB Energy Pros are our communitys energy experts. To learn more about options to help reduce energy costs, utilize solar generation, and switch to electric vehicles, visit epb.com/energypros or call 423-648-1372 to schedule a free 30-minute call with a pro or Home Energy Checkup.Levelized Billing uses a rolling average of the past 12 months energy bills, so customers have a much better idea what to expect each month with fluctuations that are typically no more than a few dollars from month to month.LED bulbs are safe, long-lasting and sustainable alternatives that any household can use:Safer: LEDs emit less heat, so touching them wont cause burns or fires.Last longer: LEDs last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs, so they dont need to be changed as often.Brightness: LEDs light up an entire room while using less energy. Bulbs are available in a variety of shades and can suit dimmable switches.Several other measures can help homes save big on energy costs while making small adjustments:Wash clothes in cold water.Use blinds, curtains or drapes. Keep windows covered in summer and let in daylight during short winter days.Cook with your microwave instead of ovens.Adjust thermostats to 75F or more in the summer, and 6872F in the winter.EPB is available 24/7/365 to answer customer questions. The local utility also offers the At Home with the EPB Energy Pros web series to provide energy tips and other information. To learn more or schedule a free Home Energy Checkup with the EPB Energy Pros, visit epb.com/energypros or call 423-648-1372.
The special election for District 8 on Sept. 15 has now subsided and Marvene Noel appears to be the apparent winner. We wish her well and hope that she will represent all the constituents of her district ably.

Nevertheless, there are many concerns that have arisen around the election. Namely the undue influences that permeated the character and composition of the election itself.

The governance model for our legislative body, that being the City Council (corpus concilio), derives from constitutional principles and enumerates certain plenary powers such as the ability to legislate through ordinances and resolutions. Further to appropriate; maintain oversight; regulate and most importantly, advise and consent.

The divide between the branches of government is what we refer to as checks and balances. These checks and balances empower each individual branch with provisions and authority that ensures no one branch wields too much power and influence over the others.

Nevertheless, when the chief executive of the city of Chattanooga saw fit to interject himself in a City Council race by openly endorsing and campaigning for a district candidate for office, the delicate balance was upset. Likewise, several council members followed suit.

It does beg the question: if the chief executive can unilaterally endorse a council candidate of his/her own choosing, does this diminish or erode the foundation that very government framework is built upon? Does it make the need for a council utterly irrelevant?

Does this set a precedent or standard that can be likened to a president instituting a cabinet, not an independent legislative body, whose primary responsibility will be to rubber stamp the executives decision instead of acting in the interest of the people who elected them?

Will it compromise the ability of councilors to act with impartiality and objectively on policies, processes, and procedures after they are elected?

Does this undermine bedrock democratic norms such as the principles of one person-one vote, will of the people, or consent of the governed?

Moreover, in a statutory sense, legal statutes such as Tenn. Code Ann.  2-19-202 specifically state:

(a) It is unlawful for any public officer or employee to use such person's official position, authority or influence to interfere with an election or nomination for office or directly or indirectly attempt to intimidate, coerce or command any other officer or employee to vote for or against any measure, party or person, or knowingly receive or pay assessments of any kind or character for political purposes or for election expenses from any other officer or employee.

While it is beyond our capacity to know how municipal and state laws align together, what is clear is that this and subsequent subsections of Tennessees code ward off any perceived improprieties, conflicts of interest, or outright coercion during an election.

In addition, multiple sections of the City Charter are vague, lack specificity or are antiquated and need immediate amending in order to provide greater clarity, particularly as it pertains to properly instituting and coordinating election processes and procedures. We must endeavor to deal with these shortcomings with all possible speed.

Let us now be clear and intentional. The impulses which led to the dissemination of openly endorsing, supporting, and campaigning for a member of city council by other elected officials of the city of Chattanooga has set off a dangerous precedent that future elected officials not long from now will seek to emulate.

The actions that were taken during this election (9-15-2022) created a chilling effect! This chill

has led to the erosion of confidence in our vital institutions of government and mistrust in the

electoral processes.

It is imperative that we now mend fences through becoming repairers of the breach in order to overcome the uncivil impasses that have laid us asunder. Bridging these gaps will be as difficult as much as it must be multi-tiered and faceted.

There should be an earnest attempt to determine the grievances and petitions of this community's active stakeholders, many whom believe our institutions are in a state of extreme duress and distress.

There should be an immediate study of those problematic and unambiguous portions of the City Charter and an effort given to amend them.

There should be a period of review in order to make certain that there is full conformity with state statutes and election laws.

The Council should put mechanisms into place that readily affirms that it is more than a glorified cabinet that rubber stamps any measure that the chief executive may so present.

For many in this community, the Sept. 15 election has failed to meet the threshold that says, "of the people, by the people and for the people." Therefore, we should do all that we can to restore public trust and confidence in the most basic and fundamental aspect of our democratic institutions, namely, fair and free elections and electoral processes.

Eric Atkins








Brad Pitts Bullet Train Is Much Slower Than Japans Real-Life Shinkansen Train and Other Things the Action-Comedy Got Wrong

Moviegoers worldwide cant get enough of Bullet Train. The movie boasts a plethora of stars  Brad Pitt, Michael Shannon, Sandra Bullock  as well as a fun premise. However, the action-comedy isnt exactly accurate. Did you know the real bullet train is much slower than its cinematic counterpart?

Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brad Pitt at a Bullet Train event in South Korea | Han Myung-Gu/WireImage

What is Bullet Train about?

Bullet Train follows Ladybug (Pitt), an unlucky assassin determined to pull off a disaster-free job. After boarding a high-speed train bound for Kyoto, Japan, he finds that the train is full of assassins, who find that their different jobs are all connected.

The overnight bullet train journey lasts 12.5 hours, giving the characters plenty of time to fight over a mysterious briefcase and piece together the mystery of who hired them all.

The movie has a star-studded cast, with Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Bad Bunny, and Zazie Beetz as skilled assassins working with and against each other. Bullock, Shannon, Joey King, and Logan Lerman appear in the film, too.

Mt. Fuji from Shinkansen (coming back from Kyoto) pic.twitter.com/BAUYcEiQGw  Shuhei Yoshida (@yosp) November 21, 2013

Viewers will note that Bullet Train features impressive shots of the Japanese countryside, including Mt. Fuji. However, the movie was entirely shot in California.

While some might assume the movies train is just like the real-life bullet train  called Shinkansen  many point out the differences between fact and fiction.

What Bullet Train got wrong, from train speed to Quiet Cars

While the characters of Bullet Train are onboard for 12.5 hours, that same journey on the real-life bullet train takes just 2.5 hours. Extending the journey ten hours means the movies bullet train probably wasnt going very fast at all. Redditors have joked that this is because of a lack of railways: Americans dont understand the concept of high-speed rail.

Some other differences? In Bullet Train, Pitt and Tyree Henry take part in a memorable fight sequence in a quiet car. This means all passengers must keep it down; if they want to chat, they can move to one of the other cars. According to Japan Rail Pass, there are no Quiet Cars on Shinkansen trains in real life.

In the movies beginning, Pitts handler (Bullock) directs him to a locker on the train platform. In real Japanese train stations, lockers are available, but they are not located on the platform.

Bullet Train got some details right

Dont be rude to this train attendant. ?



Zazie Beetz stars in #BulletTrainMovie, exclusively in movie theaters August 5. pic.twitter.com/B0Ow4fQGO8  Bullet Train (@BulletTrain) June 22, 2022

Some discrepancies between real life and the movie are simply style choices. For example, as Japan Rail Pass explains, the stewardess uniforms worn by Karen Fukuhara and Beetz resemble the ones worn by Shinkansen stewardesses but are more stylized.

The fictional Nippon Speed Line that Bullet Trains characters are riding on isnt real, but it also resembles the real Shinkansen line that goes from Tokyo to Kyoto.

RELATED: Bullet Train: Joey King Reveals What Its Really Like Working With Brad Pitt
She-Hulk Cast: Everything You Need to Know About Tatiana Maslany

Marvels new series on Disney+, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, stars Tatiana Maslany as the titular superhero, aka Jennifer Walters. Heres a look at the actors life and career and how she feels about joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Tatiana Maslany plays Bruce Banners cousin in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

Tatiana Maslany in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law | Marvel Studios

In She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Maslany portrays Jennifer Walters, a successful lawyer living in Los Angeles. While driving with her cousin Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), she encounters a spaceship that sends her car veering off the road.

The crash leaves Bruce and Jennifer bloody. And when she touches one of his wounds, his blood enters hers and turns her into a hulk. After detailing her backstory, the series follows the superheros life as she juggles her career and newfound powers.

At first, Maslany was hesitant to accept the role because she worried about taking on such a massive project. But she ultimately found the challenge enticing.

I had always been wary of entering this universe or doing anything of this scale. Theres a part of me that always feels a bit more comfortable in a smaller piece. Just something that I can guarantee will be focused on character, guarantee will be collaborative, Maslany told Elle.

[The role] just spoke to me in a way that I was like, I dont know that I can do this. And thats exciting to me  I dont know that I was like, I can take everything that comes with this, but I definitely was like, This work will be interesting enough to me to warrant a little bit of a shift in my life if thats what happens. And if not, great.'

Everything you need to know about She Hulk star Tatiana Maslany

What did the cast steal from set? Tatiana Maslany and Ginger Gonzaga (@GingerTheJester) answer YOUR questions in a new #AskMarvel!



Stream new episodes of Marvel Studios' #SheHulk: Attorney at Law Thursdays on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/8dKHc9rHiw  Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) August 31, 2022

Tatiana Maslany was born on September 22, 1985, in Regina, Canada, to a French teacher mom and a woodworker father. She has two younger brothers who are also actors  Michael Maslany and Daniel Joseph Maslany.

The She-Hulk star grew up in Canada and attended the University of Regina. She speaks French fluently and studied German.

In 2022, the 5-foot-4 actor married The Tick star Brendan Hines. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Maslany makes over $50,000 per episode and has an estimated net worth of $3 million.

Maslany appears to have a verified Instagram account. Unfortunately for fans, its set to private.

The Emmy-winning actor has worked with other MCU stars

Orphan Black's Tatiana Maslany wins Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series #Emmys pic.twitter.com/sZTuNvSPMw  BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) September 19, 2016

Tatiana Maslany started her career in the late 90s and landed her first major role in 2002 in the kids series 2030 CE. She went on to star in several other Canadian projects, including Heartland and Being Erica.

The actor has also appeared in numerous Hollywood series, including Alphas, World Without End, and Parks and Recreation.

Maslanys breakout role came in 2013 in the Canadian sci-fi drama Orphan Black. She played Sarah Manning and several other clone versions of the character in the series. Her performance won her an Emmy in 2016, making her the first Canadian actor to win for a Canadian series.

Fans can also see her in the HBO drama Perry Mason and the British romance film Pink Wall before her turn as She-Hulk.

In addition, Maslany has worked with other MCU actors in various productions. She appeared in the 2012 romantic drama The Vow, starring Rachel McAdams (Doctor Strange) and Sam Neill (Thor: Ragnarok). Also, she acted alongside Baron Zemo actor Daniel Bruhl and Deadpools Ryan Reynolds in the 2015 historical drama Woman in Gold. In 2017s Stronger, Maslany starred opposite Spider-Man: Far From Home actor Jake Gyllenhaal. And in the 2018 thriller Destroyer, she joined Sebastian Stan in the supporting cast.

RELATED: The Jarring She-Hulk Trailer Isnt a Dealbreaker For Some Marvel Fans
JUBA, South Sudan, September 16, 2022 (Morning Star News)  A court in Sudan on Sept. 8 dismissed apostasy charges against four Christians who were threatened with the death penalty unless they recanted, sources said.

Judge Ibrahim Hamza dismissed the apostasy charges against the Christians in Central Darfur state, stating that apostasy is no longer a crime in Sudan, their attorney said.

Initially arrested on June 24 in Zalingei, Central Darfur, the four converts from Islam had been subjected to degrading treatment while questioned, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). They were released that day but re-arrested on June 28.

On July 3 the men were brought before the prosecutor, who told them they would face the death penalty if they did not renounce their Christian faith and agree not to pray, share their faith or participate in any activities that would identify them as Christians, CSW stated. The men refused and were charged with apostasy.

Bader el Dean Haroon Abdel Jabaar, his brother Mohammad Haroon Abdel Jabaar, Tariq Adam Abdalla and Morthada Ismail were arrested from their church in Zalingei and held until their release on bail in early July, according to local sources.

They were arrested on apostasy charges under Article 126 of Sudans 1991 criminal code  which was nullified in 2020. In July 2020 the transitional government that took effect in September 2019 decriminalized apostasy, which had been punishable by death. Sudans 2020 Fundamental Rights and Freedoms Act prohibits the labeling of any group as infidels (takfir), according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

The church the four Christians had formed was authorized by Sudan's Ministry of Guidance and Religious Endowments during the transitional period, but it has closed due to threats and attacks by area Muslim extremists, according to CSW. Three other churches have closed in Zalingei this year due to an increase in threats and violence, the group reported.

Since the military coup of Oct. 25, 2021, officials have threatened church leaders living in camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), telling them they would be charged with apostasy if they continued to meet for prayer, CSW reported.

When the leaders protested, citing the legal changes made under the transitional administration, they were informed that the coup had changed the legal situation, CSW stated.

The 2020 Act also repealed other Islamic-based articles of the 1991 criminal code, including public flogging as a punishment and prohibitions against drinking alcohol. Although Sudan has taken some steps to reform laws that violate religious rights, most current statutes are still based on Islamic law, Christian leaders say.

Following two years of advances in religious freedom in Sudan after the end of the Islamist dictatorship under Omar al-Bashir in 2019, the specter of state-sponsored persecution returned with the military coup of Oct. 25, 2021.

After Bashir was ousted from 30 years of power in April 2019, the transitional civilian-military government had managed to undo some sharia (Islamic law) provisions. It outlawed the labeling of any religious group infidels and thus effectively rescinded apostasy laws that made leaving Islam punishable by death.

With the Oct. 25 coup, Christians in Sudan fear the return of the most repressive and harsh aspects of Islamic law. Abdalla Hamdok, who had led a transitional government as prime minister starting in September 2019, was detained under house arrest for nearly a month before he was released and reinstated in a tenuous power-sharing agreement in November 2021.

Hamdock had been faced with rooting out longstanding corruption and an Islamist deep state from Bashirs regime  the same deep state that is suspected of rooting out the transitional government in the Oct. 25 coup.

Persecution of Christians by non-state actors continued before and after the coup. In Open Doors 2022 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Sudan remained at No. 13, where it ranked the previous year, as attacks by non-state actors continued and religious freedom reforms at the national level were not enacted locally.

Sudan had dropped out of the top 10 for the first time in six years when it first ranked No. 13 in the 2021 World Watch List. The U.S. State Departments International Religious Freedom Report states that conditions have improved somewhat with the decriminalization of apostasy and a halt to demolition of churches, but that conservative Islam still dominates society; Christians face discrimination, including problems in obtaining licenses for constructing church buildings.

The U.S. State Department in 2019 removed Sudan from the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) that engage in or tolerate systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom and upgraded it to a watch list. The State Department removed Sudan from the Special Watch List in December 2020. Sudan had previously been designated as a CPC from 1999 to 2018.

The Christian population of Sudan is estimated at 2 million, or 4.5 percent of the total population of more than 43 million.

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?

Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission.

Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Sezer Ozger
Anne Graham Lotz cites Isaiah 5:8 as warning for America having 'turned away' from God

The daughter of the late Evangelist Billy Graham, Anne Graham Lotz, told a gathering of Christian conservatives Thursday about the importance of looking to God and remembering He is the ultimate authority, even in what she perceives to be a "crisis" in our nation.

The AnGeL Ministries founder and author was a featured speaker during the Family Research Council's Pray Vote Stand Summit held at First Baptist Atlanta.

The summit took place from Wednesday to Friday, with the theme based around standing for life after the U.S. Supreme Court overturnedRoe v. Wade in June, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

During her speech, the 74-year-old seemingly compared the United States to the nation of Judah in the Bible, a nation that, despite its decades of prosperity, neglected to thank God for its blessings. This prompted the Lord to uplift the prophet Isaiah, who condemned the members of the nation for its sins, as seen in Isaiah 5:8.

She told a story about a gift from her mother, Ruth Graham, that she had thrown away because she didn't like how it was wrapped, relating this to what she fears is happening in the U.S. today. Later, Lotz learned that the tissue paper contained a gold ring that was part of the pavement of the palace where Queen Esther lived.

"I had thrown away a priceless treasure because I didn't like the way it was wrapped," she said.

"Are we in danger of concentrating on the wrapping and the brown paper packages that show up and missing the treasure that's on the inside?" she asked, remarking that nationwide, "we are under attack."

"Has there ever been a time like this where there is a brown package showing up at every level, every angle, every place? It's stunning what is going on in this state, in our nation, in our world, and I expect, in your own life," she added.

Lotz believes the sins Isaiah listed are still relevant to today's society, which she stated condones actions such as abortion, premarital sex and rejects traditional marriage.

"A nation that, in a way, like Judah, we're a covenant nation dedicated to the glory of God by President George Washington when he was first inaugurated, and we've rejected God. We've turned away from Him," she said.

"And we've had more than 52 years of relative peace and prosperity, but instead of using that time to draw near to Him, to live out our national life in gratitude for His blessings, acknowledging that all blessings come from Him, we've turned away from Him."

She believes the nation is in "crisis." Sharing the message of Isaiah 6, Lotz stated that the most appropriate response in such situations is to follow the prophet's example by looking up to God and asking what He wants.

"And I believe we need, as a Church, people who call ourselves by God's name; we need a fresh vision of Jesus," she said.

She said that in Isaiah's vision of the Lord, the prophet saw Him seated on a throne.

Lotz asked the audience what has caused them to doubt that God is in control, noting the testimonies given by other speakers on issues including life and family values.

"Are you personally doubting that Jesus is in control when your child comes home from school and says he has transitioned into a different gender?" she asked. "Do you say, 'Jesus, really? Are you on the throne?'"

In an election year like 2022, Lotz says many people are vying for public office. But regardless of whether a politician holds a state-level position or lives in the White House, "Jesus is higher than all."

"When we pray, we need to remember that we are appealing to the highest authority that there is in the universe," she said. "One who is in charge, one who gives us His attention. And not only was He high, He was exalted."

Lotz concluded with a prayer, calling for a "revival" in everyone's lives and in the nation.

"Please, God, it's the only answer, other than your return," she said. "So we do pray, even so, come, Lord Jesus, and it's in your name and in your glory that we pray, Amen."

This is not Lotz's first time speaking at a Family Research Council event.

While speaking at Family Research Council's 2016 Watchmen on the Wall conference, she asserted that America must repent for its embrace of sexual immorality. Lotz's speech focused on an "urgency to reach the lost."

"When we refuse to repent of our sin and turn to God, then in [Romans] verse 26, God gives us over to sexual depravity. Which is what we see all around us today," she said at the time. "Then, we refuse to repent of our sin and turn to God."

Citing Romans 1:28, Lotz argued that America has entered the "last stage of this downward spiral into the abyss of God's judgment."

"The last step, 'furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to a reprobate mind,'" Lotz recited.

"He gives us over to ourselves, and I believe America is in the last stage of this downward spiral into the abyss of God's judgment."

Lotz said it was not too late for America to repent, pointing to verse John 3:16 to remind the audience of God's love and promise of eternal life for those who believe in Jesus.

"There are people all around us who are perishing.  You are born into the human race as a sinner. All are sinners, and if we don't do anything about it and we step into eternity still in our sin, we come under the judgment, the whole wrath of God. We are separated from Him forever, and that is Hell."

"That is not something I am telling you, don't misunderstand me; that is just the Gospel," she added. "That's why God sent Jesus."
College cancels Christian groups Wilberforce Academy over its beliefs on marriage

A college at Cambridge University has canceled an event for young Christian professionals, saying that the values of the organizers, who do not support same-sex marriage, are not compatible with the values of the college, the groups lawyers told the High Court this week.

Cambridge Universitys Fitzwilliam College has acted unlawfully and breached its duty under the Education Act 1986, argued lawyers of the U.K.-based group Christian Concern, which has run the Wilberforce Academy for over a decade.

The one-week conference is for university students and young professionals to help them apply their Christian faith in the current culture, and more specifically within their chosen vocations, including in law, politics, education, media, arts and business, Christian Concern said.

The case was heard Thursday before High Court Judge Sir. Ross Cranston in London, The Telegraph reported, adding that the judge concluded there was an issue to be tried but by a lower-ranking county court judge.

A senior member of staff at the college told the group that its booking had been canceled on the grounds that the group was not inclusive, did not believe in gay marriage, and that Christian Concerns general beliefs were not compatible with the values of the college.

The group said the university has gone against its own commitment to free speech.

In exercising their right to freedom of expression, the university expects its staff, students and visitors to be tolerant of the differing opinions of others, in line with the universitys core value of freedom of expression, the university says on its website.

It added, The university also expects its staff, students, and visitors to be tolerant of the diverse identities of others, in line with the universitys core value of freedom from discrimination. While debate and discussion may be robust and challenging, all speakers have a right to be heard when exercising their right to free speech within the law.

Christian Concerns legal claim rests on the basis that: The belief in marriage as a union between one man and one woman, and opposition to same-sex unions, is a religious or philosophical belief protected by both the European Convention on Human Rights and the Equality Act 2010.

We are now living in a society where orthodox Christian beliefs appear to be fair game for secular activists who have a grip on what is acceptable and what isnt at the heart of our universities, Christian Concerns Chief Executive Andrea Williams said.

The event was canceled casually and abruptly as though Christian beliefs on marriage are illegal and therefore discrimination of this nature is an acceptable norm. For senior members of a world-renowned college to show such brazen discrimination of Christian beliefs should concern anyone who cares about Christian freedoms and free speech. We are concerned how students at Fitzwilliam College who hold orthodox Christian beliefs might be being intimidated into silence on campus, Williams added.

Whatever happens, we will continue to speak of Jesus Christ who was himself an outsider and by his words and actions demonstrated his commitment to reaching the marginalized, excluded and vulnerable so that they could discover true hope and everlasting love through him, even sacrificing his own life to do so.

In June, Worcester College at the University of Oxford said it misled students after canceling the Wilberforce Academy for similar reasons last September, The Telegraph noted, adding that Worcester was forced to apologize to students for hosting a Christian Concern eventbefore canceling a second booking after a few students complained.
Another Indian state passes anti-conversion bill targeting Christians

While Indias Christian minority continues to fear for its safety amid rising attacks, another state, Karnataka, has passed a controversial anti-conversion bill, which has routinely been used as a pretext for anti-Christian violence in several other states.

The southern Karnataka states upper house this week passed the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, alleging that forced religious conversions had become widespread in the state and were leading to mistrust among people, NDTV reported.

After the governors assent, the bill will immediately become law, although a separate anti-conversion ordinance issued in May has already been in effect.

The bill was passed days after the country's Supreme Court issued a directive to eight states, including Karnataka, to verify the claims of Christian groups that filed a petition for protection after around 200 attacks were reported within the first five months of 2022.

The court said verification was needed because the federal government had maintained that claims of Christian persecution in India are based on half-baked and self-serving facts and self-serving articles and reports  based upon mere conjecture.

Last month, the federal interior ministry response to a petition from Christian groups by saying: There appears to be some hidden oblique agenda in filing such deceptive petitions, creating unrest throughout the country and perhaps for getting assistance from outside the country to meddle with internal affairs of our nation.

While Christians comprise only 2.3% of Indias population and Hindus account for about 80%, nearly a dozen states in the country have enacted anti-conversion laws, claiming that Christians force or give money to Hindus to persuade them to convert to Christianity.

Anti-conversion laws typically state that no one can use the threat of divine displeasure, which means Christians cant talk about Heaven or Hell since it would be seen as luring someone to convert.

Some of these laws have been in place for decades in some states. Radical Hindu nationalist groups frequently use these anti-conversion laws to make false charges against Christians and launch attacks under the pretext of an alleged forced conversion.

The persecution of Christians in India is intensifying as Hindu extremists aim to cleanse the country of their presence and influence, a fact sheet from watchdog group Open Doors USA states. The driving force behind this is Hindutva, an ideology that disregards Indian Christians and other religious minorities as true Indians because they have allegiances that lie outside India, and asserts the country should be purified of their presence.

This is leading to a systemic, and often violent and carefully orchestrated, targeting of Christians and other religious minorities, including use of social media to spread disinformation and stir up hatred.

The United Christian Forum reported at least 486 violent incidents of Christian persecution in 2021, calling it the most violent year in the countrys history.

UCF attributed the high incidence of Christian persecution to impunity, enabling mobs to criminally threaten, physically assault people in prayer, before handing them over to the police on allegations of forcible conversions.
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Michael Youssef on equipping next generation as deconstruction, 'woke' theology permeates Church

NASHVILLE  As deconstruction, liberal theology and woke doctrine continue to invade the church, Michael Youssef, pastor of the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia, is on a mission to instill truth in the next generation of Christian leaders.

The Apostle Paul tells us were going to see young people fall by the wayside, but dont give up on the Gospel, dont compromise on the truth, the 73-year-old Egyptian-American pastor told The Christian Post at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in March.

Were seeing deconstruction, pastors watering down the Gospel, and other things going on. I realized this is a time for me, at the age of 73, to leave a legacy to the younger generation of pastors. And it's not really my legacy; it's the Word of God, its the Apostle Paul's legacy. But I needed to expand it, give illustrations and stories from my own personal life, to urge the next generation leaders to never give up, don't compromise, don't turn your back on the cross and Christ.

It was out of this urgency that Youssef, who has authored over 40 books and whose programs are broadcast in 26 languages worldwide, penned his latest book, Never Give Up: Holding Fast to Biblical Truth in Times of Danger and Despair.

In it, Youssef draws lessons from the life and teachings of the Apostle Paul to encourage readers to stand firm for the Gospel. He also tells stories from his own life to highlight the importance of having conviction and resilience in challenging times.

The televangelist, who spent the first 18 years of his life through the '50s and '60s living in Egypt before escaping to the United States, reflected on the numerous public leaders who have deconstructed in recent years.

He said that a common theme among those who deconstruct is many of them were never taught the Gospel in its entirety; either they were presented with an overly-legalistic interpretation of Scripture or a watered-down version.

As I look at some of the backgrounds, many of them grew up in very legalistic homes and churches, where they grew up with the list of the do's and the don'ts and never really understood the grace of God and what it means to be overwhelmed with His grace, he said.

Conversely, he said hes concerned about professing Christian parents who, in efforts to seem loving, compromise on biblical truth and avoid biblical morality.

They think, If I just soften the message a bit, be sensitive on the topic of homosexuality, and give the impression that its OK instead of speaking the truth in love, he said. And this is a very delicate formula. Many people kind of go one way or the other.

As many churches are capitulating to woke theology in an effort to seem inclusive and seeker-friendly, Youssef stressed the need for pastors to draw distinct lines between biblical and unbiblical behavior.

If a person is deliberate in turning their back on Christ, he or she should not be in ministry, he said. We can continue to love them, we continue to reach out to them, we'll continue to care for them because that's the call of God in our lives is to love everybody and to love sinners. We were loved by God while we yet sinners.

But, he continued, if a person says, I don't believe that Jesus is Lord, then you really need to get out of the ministry. If someone says, I'm living in sin, any sin, and I'm not ready to repent, Well, you cant join the church. You cant be a member. You are welcome to come in every Sunday, but you cannot be a member.

The pastor acknowledged that it can be difficult to discern when a pastor is a false teacher who promotes a watered-down theology versus a biblically-sound one who holds to the ancient truths found in the Scriptures.

He encouraged churchgoers to ask, Do they lift up Jesus and the cross of Christ as the only hope for salvation, eternal life, and calling men to repent and women to repent of their sins and turn to the Lord? Or do they simply preach affirmations?

Affirmation is not going to save souls. It's not going to save people. They're not going to be convicted of their sins and repent and turn to the Lord, he stressed. Sin is not to be winked at. If, when I preach, sin is minimized, the cross is trivialized, people are not going to understand the enormity of sin, that they desperately need the cross of Christ.

The message of the Gospel  that people are desperately sinful and must repent to receive eternal life  is one desperately needed today, yet is getting smothered as pastors seek to become accepted and the secular world seeks to silence the truth.

Were seeing these lobbying groups trying to manipulate Christians, and say, Well, if you're really loving, you must love me with my sin, and you'll even love my sin. And if you don't, then you're not really a loving person, he contended. That's manipulation. We're not going to fall for it.

Serving as a pastor or a church leader is a serious calling, and not one to be taken lightly, Youssef emphasized. The pastor shared that in his own life, he was called into the ministry kicking and screaming, but felt undeniably called by God.

We have faced horrendous times, all kinds of turbulent times, he said. Every time I am in difficult times, I say to the Lord, This was not my idea. I did not want to start a church; you dragged me into Him. Therefore, its Your church, You take care of it. And, God will take care of the problem.

He added, Having a call of God and being absolutely convinced of that call is a must; otherwise, don't do it. If you just think, Well, it's a good thing to do. I like to help people I like to teach, or whatever other reasons, do not enter the ministry. You have to be called of God.

Though its easy to succumb to hand-wringing in light of the issues swirling in culture, Youssef offered the reminder that the Church has endured trials for thousands of years, yet God always remains faithful. Still, he said, conviction is needed and service is required on the part of the Church.

The reason I wrote this book is that you realize this is not new to us; this has been going on in the Church for 2,000 years. And the disciples of Christ faced far worse than what we're facing. Yet, they never gave up, never surrendered, he said.

Though he receives criticism for his biblical views on many issues, Youssef said he takes comfort in the promises found in John 16:33: I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

I once heard a persecuted Indonesian pastor say, If Christ is not worth dying for then he's not worth living for,'" he said. "So take it all the way to the bottom: What can they do to me? Kill me? Great. I go to Heaven. Thats the mentality people need to have instead of saying, Oh no, look whats happening. We just need the body of Christ to need to be more discerning, and that's really the key.
Lila Rose debates Dr. Phil on when life begins: 'If it's not a human, why do you have to kill it?'

Prominent pro-life activist Lila Rose appeared on the syndicated talk show "Dr. Phil" Tuesday to debate the show's host, Dr. Phil McGraw, about when life begins. They also discussed the morality of abortion when a baby has been diagnosed in-utero with a life-threatening condition.

The episode's focus on abortion came in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's June decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that legalized abortion nationwide. The ruling returned the issue to the states, once again giving them the authority to decide abortion laws.

McGraw, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology but has not renewed his license to practice since 2006, claimed that there is no agreement in the scientific community regarding when life begins.

"There is, Dr. Phil  96 percent of scientists say life begins at fertilization," Rose, the 34-year-old founder and president of Live Action, said. "If you're an in-vitro specialist, you're looking to create a single-cell embryo, and then you know you have a new human life. So it is a scientific fact."

McGraw responded by saying, "Actually, it's not." Rose shot back, "When do you think it begins then?"

"It doesn't matter what I think," he said. "What I'm saying is the scientific community does not have a consensus about when life begins."

Rose responded, "That is simply inaccurate."

McGraw argued that the "body of scientific literature" indicates varying degrees of development marking when life begins. He stated that some neuroscientists believe it starts once brain waves become detectable.

"But Dr. Phil, in an abortion, if it's not a human life, why do you have to kill it?" Rose asked in response.

McGraw accused Rose of trying to talk over him in an attempt to prevent him from finishing his answer. He then challenged viewers to go through the "scientific literature" to find the different positions on when life begins.

The episode featured the story of Nancy Davis, a Louisiana woman whose child was diagnosed with acrania. She was denied an abortion by a hospital that feared doing so would violate Louisiana's near-total abortion ban, even though the law's author claims that the hospital could have legally performed the procedure.

Davis later traveled to New York at 16 weeks pregnant to undergo the abortion.

According to FetalMedicine.org, acrania is a condition where the unborn's skull is absent, distorting the brain. The prognosis is typically fatal, with many infants who have it dying shortly after birth.

Appearing alongside Rose, the pro-choice lobbying organization National Organization for Women (NOW) president Christian Nunes stated that she believes a Louisiana doctor who committed an abortion in such circumstances should be protected from prosecution. She argued that a provider's role is to provide the "best care" for their patients.

Rose sympathized with Davis, sharing her experience as a mother who lost a child to a miscarriage. Rose said that one of the worst things for a mom to hear is that her baby will die.

"Those were some of the darkest days of my life, and they were dark days because it was our child," she said.

"We knew this was a baby, and I think that's the fundamental point here is that we're talking about a baby. We're talking about a human life. And the pro-life position is that all humans have human rights, and the first right is life  to not be killed."

The Live Action leader contends that the doctors should have offered Davis perinatal hospice or palliative care so that her baby could die naturally "instead of at the abortionist's tools."

A woman in the audience challenged Rose, accusing her of wanting to "legislate evil." The audience member brought up abortion in the case of rape, arguing that laws forcing women to carry a pregnancy conceived in rape to term induce trauma.

Rose acknowledged the trauma rape can cause but stated that the child in such a scenario is an "innocent party" and that "generational sin" should not be taken out on the child. She maintained that the right to life is the "first fundamental human right."

"Laws are meant to protect the weak. Who is the weakest in our society? A child. Whether you live 10 minutes, 10 years, or 100 years, you're a human and have the right to not be killed," Rose said.

Rose posted the exchange on Twitter, clarifying what McGraw meant when he cited a lack of consensus about when life begins.

She seemingly joked that the host might not have been denying the unborn are biologically human but was possibly arguing that they are "assigned" personhood after birth.

"But he's wrong there, too. Any time in human history, when we deny personhood, or human rights to humans because of ANY factor  race, age, sex, religion  we open the door to history's worst human rights abuse," she wrote.

"The Holocaust. The Rwandan Genocide. Slavery A human embryo is small & dependent, but so is a human newborn or toddler. Your size, development or level of dependency doesn't dictate your humanity or worth."

In an interview with The Christian Post last month, Rose called on state and federal lawmakers to create policies that will make America "a friendlier place for families."

Listing legislative proposals designed to achieve that goal, which her organization supports, Rose said these plans include a tax credit for children that makes it "easier to raise a child," "financial support for pregnancy resource centers and non-abortion health centers" and "adoption tax credits."
Christian influence in society? Yes. A theocracy? No

Should followers of Jesus have a positive impact on every area of society? Absolutely. The light of our lives and the light of our message should illuminate our surroundings. Our good deeds and our biblically based values should disseminate love and truth. At the same time, we are not called to take over society and impose our faith on the nation. There is a vast difference between making a positive impact and imposing a theocracy.

Of course, whatever we do together as followers of Jesus will likely be misjudged by our critics.

As a colleague pointed out in a group text discussion, In the 1970s it was culture religion or civil religion that we were accused of. Then in the 1990s we were accused of being theocrats. Then it was dominionists (though I think most who accused us could not have properly defined the term ). But behold! They have a NEW word for us now: Christian Nationalism. And the purpose of this word? It is to bludgeon, bully, intimidate and keep us OUT of the public square. It is to shame us from being activists.

Thats why, in the days ahead, we will hear dire warnings from the left about a nefarious plot by Christian conservatives to take over the nation. The warnings will be so shrill that they will border on hysteria. Theyre trying to impose a theocracy! They are trying to create an America in their own image! And they are not afraid to call for the shedding of blood!

Unfortunately, there are some Christian groups calling for this very thing (although, to be clear, when they talk about the possibility of bloodshed, they mean that their blood might be shed as martyrs for the cause). They are espousing an unhealthy Christian nationalism that merges Christian identity with national identity and wraps the Gospel in the American flag. And the most extreme among them would even welcome a theocratic kingdom on earth where religious leaders dictate how the society is governed.

Some are political leaders, some are media leaders, and some are ministry leaders. In all cases, I reject their goals, I reject their methods, and I reject their rhetoric. In fact, this is one reason why I have distanced myself from the term Christian nationalism. (For an in-depth treatment of this in my latest book, see here.)

To give some specific examples, some of the rhetoric at the DC Jericho March December 2020 was dangerous. Some of the rhetoric of GABs CEO Andrew Torba, referring explicitly to Christian nationalism, is dangerous. And when a major speaker at a recent MAGA rally calls on pastors to preach from the Constitution as much as from the Bible, we know things have gotten way off course.

Thats why I continue to distance myself from Christian nationalism. We can be Jesus loving patriots without embracing the Christian nationalist moniker.

At the same time, we must remember that every effort that we make to bring positive change to our communities will be labeled dominionism.

Every vote we cast will be seen as part of the alleged takeover plot.

Every step that we take to fulfill our calling as the salt of the earth and the light of the world will be branded as part of a theocracy. You Christians are just trying to take over! Next, youll be forcing us to read the Bible and go to church, under penalty of imprisonment or death!

Maybe Im exaggerating here, but only a little.

In fact, in the same text discussion I referenced above, another colleague pointed out that a left-leaning intellectual was now associating large families with Christian nationalism. To paraphrase (again, in somewhat exaggerated terms), Beware those evil breeders! Theyre probably hoarding weapons too. More babies and more guns! Thats their secret plan. A militia in every home!

So, I recognize that our best intentions will be maligned. I understand that we will be misunderstood and, even worse, intentionally misrepresented. So be it.

But lets not give our critics fuel for their fire by our foolish behavior and undisciplined rhetoric. And lets not confuse the watching masses by playing into their worst fears.

We can be world changers without being world dominators. We can preach the Scriptures without advocating for a theocracy. We can vote and lobby and stand and speak without calling for Christian dominionism.

In short, we should do what Jesus told us to do: let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Matt 5:16).

We should heed the exhortation of Peter: Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world (1 Peter 2:12, NLT).

We should carry out this mandate from Proverbs: Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:89).

That is how we change the world.
Joe Scarborough: Jesus never once mentioned abortion

Last Friday, MSNBC host Joe Scarborough excoriated Christians who oppose abortion on the grounds that Jesus never once mentioned it. Reducing the Gospel to a single issue is heresy, he said, and those who do so are using Jesus as a shield to make 10-year-old, raped girls go through a living and breathing hell here on earth. He argued that pro-life state legislators believe that life begins at fertilization and ends at childbirth. Heres the full context of his mini-speech:

Let me just say, as a southern Baptist, that grew up reading the Bible  maybe a backslidden Baptist, but I still know the Bible  Jesus never once talked about abortion. Never once. And it was happening back in ancient times. It was happening back in his time. Never once mentioned it. And for people perverting the gospel of Jesus Christ down to one issue, its heresy. If you dont believe me, if that makes you angry, why dont you do something you havent done in a long time? Open the Bible. Open the New Testament. Read the red letters. You wont see it there. And yet there are people who are using Jesus as a shield to make 10-year-old, raped girls go through a living and breathing hell here on earth. Theyve also conveniently overlooked the parts of the New Testament where Jesus talks about taking care of the needy, taking care of those who are helpless, who live a hopeless life. Because they believe  these state legislators believe  that life begins at fertilization and ends at childbirth.

The accusation cuts deep. The argument seems sounder because it begins with a claim that cant be proven false. Search the words of Jesus, and youll never find abortion mentioned. But that doesnt mean that Christians have no response, nor even that Scarboroughs argument is sound. Jesus also never mentioned the word trinity, but to deny that is heresy.

Single-issue voters

The first item to address is Scarboroughs condemnation of single-issue voters, that its heresy to pervert the Gospel down to a single issue. The Gospel itself, the good news that God has chosen to save us from deserved, eternal punishment through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ, and that we now are reconciled to God by grace through faith, freed from the power and penalty of sin, is rarely a rationale to cast a ballot for one political candidate over against another. But the radical message of the Gospel does have massive implications for how we live our lives, and some of those can influence how we vote.

Sometimes, we can deduce a Christian position on a political issue in a straight line from the Bible, while other implications are arrived at less directly. Southern Baptist pastors Jonathan Leeman and Andy Naselli take abortion as an example of a straight-line issue, the Bible explicitly teaches that murder is sinful; abortion is a form of murder, so we should oppose abortion. Thats a straight line. Accordingly, both of our churches would initiate the church-discipline process with a member who is advocating for abortion. In contrast, they argue, fellow church members  should recognize Christian freedom on jagged-line political issues. Individual members may or may not have strong convictions about various jagged-line issues, but they must agree on the straight-line issues.

For many Christians, abortion is not only the most obvious straight-line issue (with marriage a close second), but a moral evil of such gravity that it outweighs all other moral considerations combined. Thats not to say that they have reduced the Gospel to a single issue. Rather, the Gospel has many applications to public policy, and these Christians are demonstrating a sophisticated, prudential framework for judging between them.

Jesus on abortion

Scarborough insisted that Jesus never once talked about abortion, even though it was practiced at the time, and so he didnt consider it evil. Christians in the first century after Jesus death would completely disagree. According to the Didache, an early compilation of Christian teaching, the Lords teaching through the twelve apostles to the nations includes an exhortation, you shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is born.

Indeed, Jesus reaffirmed the Old Testament command, you shall not murder (Matthew 19:18). Some people might affirm a commandment against murder but stipulate a carveout to allow abortion; that is Scarboroughs position. But far from curtailing the prohibition on murder, Jesus strengthened it. You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment (Matthew 5:21-22).

What Jesus silence means

Jesus never talked abortion, specifically. But he did talk about murder. Everything Jesus said about murder applies to abortion, a type of murder. While abortions did occur in the first century, they werent permitted under Jewish law any more than other types of murder; there was no reason for Jesus to call out abortion, specifically.

Abortion isnt the only first-century moral evil that Jesus did not explicitly condemn during his earthly ministry. Jesus never once talked about slavery, imperialism, racism, sexual exploitation, or political representation. Using Scarboroughs logic, that means Christians should not be politically active in fighting against these evils; but that cant be right. Rather, Christians can extract principles from Jesus teaching to condemn all of these evils, just like abortion.

Jesus came into the world to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). He did teach good morals as part of this saving mission, so that truth and light would distinguish those who believed in him (John 12:46, 18:37). But first and foremost, Jesus came to teach people that he was the Son of God (Matthew 16:16), the only way of salvation (John 14:6). For those who see Jesus primarily as a good teacher, they have either obscured this fact, or it has been hidden from them.

What Jesus does mention

On the other hand, Scarboroughs logic could put him and his fellow leftists in an awkward spot on other issues. By arguing that Christians should not care about abortion because Jesus doesnt mention it, he implies that Christians should care about moral issues about which Jesus does teach. Jesus teaches strongly against lust (Matthew 5:27-30), divorce (Matthew 5:31-32, 19:1-12), and retaliation (Matthew 5:38-42). These have obvious political applications at odds with the Lefts current priorities.

Not to mention the two greatest commandments, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). These have very personal applications, and they expose everyones heart as sinful.

How can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brothers eye (Matthew 7:4-5). Before Gods judgment throne, we all stand guilty, in need of a savior.

Red letters

In particular, Scarborough exhorts Christians to read the red letters, a non-inspired stylistic choice some translations use to indicate the words of Jesus. The implication is that these words are more authoritative than the rest of Scripture. As a self-described former southern Baptist, Scarborough should know better. According to the SBCs Baptist Faith and Message:

The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is Gods revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation. (Emphasis added.)

Besides, the red letters dont say anything different than the rest of the Bible. Jesus quotes extensively from the Old Testament, citing the prophets, the 10 Commandments, and even the two greatest commandments, of which he says, on these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). He even rebuked his contemporaries for not believing the Old Testament. If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words? (John 5:46-47).

The most fundamental reason why everything Jesus says agrees with the rest of Scripture is because it all has the same author. Jesus explained, I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment  what to say and what to speak  What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me (John 12:49-50). Generally speaking, everything in the red letters is in the black letters too, and vice versa.

I have no illusions of convincing Scarborough that opposing abortion is a Christian response to our current political moment. Im not even sure he was sincere about his own argument.

I do hope to reassure Christians that a moral and political worldview built upon the truth of Scripture is strong enough not to topple at the first gust of hot air. The faith once for all delivered to the saints will endure, despite the derision, oppression, and persecution of its opponents. Its builder is God. Its rock is Christ. And nothing can stand against Him.

Originally published at The Washington Stand.
The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
Although IRCC originally posted the minimum CRS score for the September 14 draw at 511, it was changed to 510 shortly after.

Minimum CRS score changes to 510 on IRCC website Although IRCC originally posted the minimum CRS score for the September 14 draw at 511, it was changed to 510 shortly after.

Minimum CRS score changes to 510 on IRCC website Although IRCC originally posted the minimum CRS score for the September 14 draw at 511, it was changed to 510 shortly after.

Minimum CRS score changes to 510 on IRCC website Although IRCC originally posted the minimum CRS score for the September 14 draw at 511, it was changed to 510 shortly after. Shelby Thevenot Edana Robitaille Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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On September 14, Canada invited Express Entry candidates who had a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 510, not 511 as it was originally posted.

The difference means that people who scored at least 510 received their Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency. Although it is still a relatively high score compared to other all-program draws, it is the lowest score since these types of draws resumed on July 6.

Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated their ministerial instructions at about 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time this past Wednesday.

At the time, the page said the minimum CRS cut off was 511, but some were reporting online that they had received an ITA with a score of 510.

From 3:00 p.m. September 14, 2022:

Sometime before 12:55 p.m. on September 15, IRCC changed the CRS score to 510.

CIC News reached out to IRCC for comment but has not received a response in time for publication.

Given that this is an all-program draw, the top-scoring candidates from all of the Express Entry-managed programs had an opportunity to receive an ITA. Express Entry-managed programs include the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

IRCC had previously paused all-program Express Entry draws starting in December 2020. During this time, only candidates eligible for the CEC or the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) were invited to apply. Then in September 2021, CEC draws were also paused.

Since IRCC resumed all-program draws on July 6, CRS score cut offs have been in the 500s. Draw sizes have been increasing as CRS cut offs have been dropping.

So far this year, Canada has welcomed about 40,785 immigrants through Express Entry. IRCC expects to welcome about 55,900 Express Entry immigrants according to the 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan.

Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
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India welcomes back cheetahs, 70 years after local extinction
You will remember the silence, if you were in Edinburgh or London these past ten days. The hush that lay across the two great cities as if they had been hypnotised by grief.

From the media pen outside Buckingham Palace I watched the Queens coffin process past thousands of mourners, and the only sounds were the muffled bass drum, the clinking of horses bridles and the remorseless slow-march tramp of military boots.

An autumn breeze stirred the branches of the London plane trees along The Mall. The first dead leaves fluttered on to the famous red tarmac.

Over and over we heard mourners say the same thing, with slight variations: She had the right values; she was the true leader of the nation; saying goodbye was the right thing to do.

Packed into a row of makeshift studios under the trees, TV commentators from around the world forgot their next lines as producers, technicians and camera operators paused and just stared.

Veteran witnesses of wars, famines, floods and pestilence of every kind all became like statues as the coffin of a very old, very tired, very beloved woman passed before their world-weary eyes on its way to lie in state at Westminster Hall.

Tomorrow will see the final grand acts in the worlds long goodbye to Elizabeth II.

In the pre-dawn twilight, the last of the miles-long line of mourners will file respectfully through Westminster Hall.

The Kings Guard that has kept vigil for five long days will step down from their posts and the Queens coffin will be prepared for its journey to Westminster Abbey.

There, a congregation of world leaders and Commonwealth dignitaries will be joined by politicians, religious leaders, representatives of the Queens patronages and those who gave exceptional service during the Covid pandemic.

It is already being called the greatest ever diplomatic gathering, not to mention a supreme example of the seating planners art.

Whats almost certain is that it will have the largest TV audience in the world. Ever.

Much of that audience will be in the United States, a country watching with intense curiosity as its old colonial master and best ally undergoes a near-simultaneous change of Prime Minister and Sovereign.

The special relationship will survive but will be scrutinised anew as a Queen who was served by Winston Churchill is replaced by a King with very modern views on politically sensitive subjects.

The United States has been my home for more than a decade, so to be plunged back into England in mourning is a double shock.

Yet I felt immediately back at home among the crowds surrounding Buckingham Palace.

The Kings Guard that has kept vigil for five long days will step down from their posts and the Queens coffin will be prepared for its journey to Westminster Abbey. (Pictured are Queen Elizabeth II's grandchildren at the vigil on Saturday, from front centre: Prince William, Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, James, Viscount Severn, Britain's Princess Eugenie of York, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Princess Beatrice of York, Britain's Lady Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall

The familiar streets and paths, which I had trodden with light and heavy heart in my years as a royal private secretary, were thronged with people who had come to mourn but found themselves instead among new friends.

Such is the unifying magic of Elizabeth II, whose power to bring her people together was never stronger than when she was no longer here to see it.

That unity will be on view again after the funeral, when the coffin is transferred to the State Hearse at Wellington Arch.

It then takes a slow drive along neighbourhood roads to Windsor Castle, making its approach up the Long Walk so that even more crowds can participate in the historic closing moments of the era of a queen we will surely come to remember as Elizabeth the Great.

At the end of a long day, in a private family service, Her Majesty will finally be buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel where she will rest for ever alongside the remains of her beloved parents, sister and husband.

And there we will leave her. All our farewells will be complete, final tears shed and prayers of grief and gratitude offered up.

Elizabeths life is over, but ours will continue, released from the freezeframe unworldliness of the past ten days.

Our humdrum existence, our petty bickerings and mundane concerns will return, in all their reassuring and frustrating familiarity.

The Monarchy will sail on, a new hand at the helm and a reshuffling of the officers on the bridge, but still recognisably the same vessel that has carried our constitution, our very national identity, through good times and bad for a thousand years.

Yet something will have changed.

At the end of a long day, in a private family service, Her Majesty will finally be buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel where she will rest for ever alongside the remains of her beloved parents, sister and husband.

None of us who have lived through the golden twilight of the Queens reign and witnessed its inevitable, yet still unexpected, final closing will ever be quite the same again.

We will have tasted a unique moment of unity and well know at some deep level that our human hunger for fellowship and belonging can be satisfied, however fleetingly.

In a world that seems ever more divided, what more precious final gifts could our Queen have left us? More specifically, what greater gift could she leave her son and heir whose need for unified public endorsement is being so generously fulfilled?

Of course, these gifts have always been available but it has taken the Queens death to remind us how closely they lie within reach.

Yet, like a rainbow over Windsor Castle, the more we try to grasp them the further they retreat.

When Tuesday dawns and we wake to a world from which she has finally departed, our fear will be that once again we are on our own, as separate and isolated as ever, uncomforted in a loss that in some ways will linger for the rest of our lives.

But think again about how we came together these past few days.

Over and over we heard ordinary mourners say the same thing, with slight variations: She had the right values; she was the true leader of the nation; saying goodbye was the right thing to do.

It was as if we instinctively knew Elizabeth represented far more than just the House of Windsor  a notoriously flawed dynasty, for all its good intentions  and more, too, than the British nation and her Commonwealth realms  no less flawed for all their beauty and potential.

Beyond these she personified a moral polarity, a cardinal point in a chaotic universe to which our own frail moral compasses returned.

Never an overtly religious leader, she nevertheless lived a powerful example of deep Christian faith.

The more exalted her earthly status, the more humbly she set about the duties we asked her to perform.

Finally, at her Platinum Jubilee, we witnessed the ultimate expression of her transformative power  a frail, elderly woman on whom we could already sense eternitys tightening grip, yet from whom we had never felt such strength.

Finally, at her Platinum Jubilee, we witnessed the ultimate expression of her transformative power  a frail, elderly woman on whom we could already sense eternitys tightening grip, yet from whom we had never felt such strength.

Strength to lighten a troubled nations spirits, renew our faith in ourselves, guide us through the changes she knew were to come.

Few of us are royal yet all of us can follow her on the narrow, twisting path of charity toward others and trust in God.

This is where the past weeks gifts of fellowship and belonging become real, and where also we can encourage each other with the fondly remembered words she used when we faced Covid isolation.

Not so much an epitaph, more a royal promise: We will meet again.

Patrick Jephson was equerry and private secretary to Diana, Princess of Wales, 1988-96.
At the start of Queen Elizabeth IIs lying-in-state, to one side of Westminster Hall was a sober line-up of women of a certain age.

Graciously turned out in black, with large hats, they stood solemnly together, all of them wearing strands of pearls around their necks, the same jewel so beloved of the Queen, their mistress.

They were, of course, the late Queens ladies-in-waiting  the retinue of trusted companions relied upon to accompany her on official events and offer general support.

Ladies-in-waiting is a wonderful term, isnt it, although it certainly feels anachronistic in this age. Nowadays, women dont much want to wait on anyone or for anything.

Graciously turned out in black, with large hats, they stood solemnly together, all of them wearing strands of pearls around their necks, the same jewel so beloved of the Queen, their mistress. They were, of course, the late Queens ladies-in-waiting  the retinue of trusted companions relied upon to accompany her on official events and offer general support.

Perhaps the term will change if the new Queen Consort appoints her own female support network shortly. Which is not a given.

For years, Camilla has had her own team around her, in particular Amanda MacManus, who was her loyal private secretary for years  until recently, when she wanted to reclaim a life of her own.

But ladies-in-waiting have a different role from Amanda, who was a paid employee.

Ladies-in-waiting have no salary  they do it for the honour. Its a role that is unlikely to appeal to most women in the contemporary world.

Many of us might find it difficult to understand the allure of being a kind of ambulatory cloakroom, always lurking a few steps behind the Royal, carrying handbags and flowers and dealing with any blips.

Having to turn up at dawn for a journey to open a hospital on the other side of the country, probably without the benefit of a chauffeur-driven car. And also, crucially, needing to be utterly discreet.

There you are, with a seat at the right hand of the Monarch, privy to all the gossip, power plays and the Court intrigue. But what can you actually do with that info? Nothing. No dish at all. Your lips must be forever sealed.

No Instagram posts, tweets or WhatsApp chat  silence is your currency. And theres not a huge amount of fun in that.

The hallmark style of our pearly Queen

Over the past days I have frequently been asked to comment on the late Queens influence on fashion, to which I have invariably answered: She had none. The Queen had nothing at all to do with fashion and everything to do with style.

Fashion is always chopping and changing, while the Queen adopted a personal style very early on, which remained the same throughout her life.

She always wore pieces of clothing that we think of as especially British and other nationalities sometimes refer to as le style anglais  wools and cashmeres, tweeds, tailoring, waterproof coats and jackets and fabulous evening wear.

Queen Elizabeth always wore pieces of clothing that we think of as especially British and other nationalities sometimes refer to as le style anglais  wools and cashmeres, tweeds, tailoring, waterproof coats and jackets and fabulous evening wear.

We Brits have always done well when it comes to putting on the glitz, and over the years there have been some fantastic British evening-wear designers  the Queens Norman Hartnell, for example.

But, more recently, Bruce Oldfield, Catherine Walker, Vivienne Westwood, Erdem and Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen have dressed women across the celebrity and Royal spectrum.

But the Queen herself was never an influence on them, even if the iconography of Royalty might occasionally have been. And they never influenced her.

Looking at the very earliest images of the Queen, you see what is nowadays called her trademark style  the pearl necklaces, the A-line skirts, the soft, chin-length curled bob that never altered. She had the confidence to wear what she felt comfortable in.

Looking at the very earliest images of the Queen, you see what is nowadays called her trademark style  the pearl necklaces, the A-line skirts, the soft, chin-length curled bob that never altered. She had the confidence to wear what she felt comfortable in.

Finding your style early on in life and sticking to it is tricky to pull off. If you arent the Queen, you might be regarded as stuck in a rut if you are still too relentlessly wedded to the kind of clothes you wore in your 20s, but its also the hallmark of real style.

Most of the women who have influenced our style in modern times, such as Audrey Hepburn, Jacqueline Onassis, Jane Birkin and, most recently, Kate Moss, have in common a core wardrobe  colours and shapes they rarely divert from, even if they are tweaked through the years.

The Queen was an exemplar of this and in the last published photograph of her, in the drawing room of Balmoral, there she was wearing the same clothes that we have always associated with her  a beautiful cardigan, plaid skirt, trusty handbag and, of course, those pearls.

Dandy Charles is the king of colour

Our new King is far more the dandy than his mother was and is known for his immaculate tailoring and love of clothes. He is also fond of his pocket handkerchief, which, over recent days, has provided a vivid display of colours and patterns. Perhaps he will be the one to influence fashion and have a new generation of men adopt this habit.

Our new King is far more the dandy than his mother was and is known for his immaculate tailoring and love of clothes. He is also fond of his pocket handkerchief, which, over recent days, has provided a vivid display of colours and patterns.

Now the sexists are picking on Truss

Meanwhile, early intimations are that all the usual sexist observations will be in place during Liz Trusss premiership. Only the other day, somebody was remarking on how ill-fitting her dresses were. Boris, of course, was a living vision of sartorial elegance, known around the world for the cut of his suits...

Sorry, but can we stop apologising?

When I heard that the Queen had died, I was on a boat bobbing around the southern Turkish coast with friends.

We were all British and if I never hear the word sorry again it wont come a moment too soon. Sorry, but could you pass the toast? Sorry, but could I just squeeze past you? Sorry, but do you know where my swimming costume might be?

Of course, we werent sorry at all but the apology came on default. No wonder Meghan, who doesnt appear to be sorry about anything, finds us all so hard to understand.

A fond farewell to the house of fun

Another loss, of a very different kind, is a house near us in London where we have been attending parties, including one for the wedding of Charles and Diana, for the past 50 years, through several changes of ownership.

Now, for the first time, it has been sold to someone we dont know, so no more parties for us, but hopefully the new owners will continue the trend and be enthusiastic hosts for a whole new set of guests.
When King Charles comes to be crowned, I very much hope that he will promise, as his mother did in 1953, to restore the things that are gone to decay and maintain the things that are restored.

I have some particular things in mind. But the trouble is that so many things have gone to decay in the past 70 years, and I am worried by reports that the Coronation Service  which contained these words 69 years ago  may itself be revised. Are such ideas still acceptable?

In this coming week, the funeral of Her Majesty will take us from sorrow over her death and reflection on the past to a new stage of wondering what our future will be.

I suppose that, as the most pessimistic person in the country, it falls to me to point out that we have, in fact, lost a lot of good things in the past seven decades, and that this is probably the last chance we have to try to get them back.

I suppose that, as the most pessimistic person in the country, it falls to me to point out that we have, in fact, lost a lot of good things in the past seven decades, and that this is probably the last chance we have to try to get them back

They are summed up in a startling fact that was pointed out last week in a letter to a newspaper by Dennis Rolfe, who recalled: As a young lad, I stood in the Strand and watched the Coronation procession of Queen Elizabeth II.

The police and soldiers lining the route all faced the procession. It is a sad reflection of our times that now they all face the crowd.

I checked the archives and found that he was absolutely right.

It seems to me to be a profound change that symbolises much that has gone amiss with us.

In other old photographs fit to break your heart, as they show so clearly the Britain of my own childhood in its gentleness and austerity, when my own parents were young and full of vigour and hope for the future, you can see crowds standing in the rain as the funeral procession of King George VI passes by, his coffin on a gun carriage. Police in long raincoats stand with their backs to the crowd, though there are gaps in their line in which men, women and children stand, with nothing to keep them back but their own self-discipline and good manners.

Another picture of the same event again shows soldiers and police facing the procession, once again part of, rather than separate from, the multitude of mourners.

They have their backs to the people because they are themselves of the people, and trust the people. In those days we were all one. Police and Servicemen were our defenders, not our supervisors. In these pictures, they are really only there to demonstrate their own loyalty.

I do not know exactly when all this changed, and would be interested to find out. The police and soldiers at Sir Winston Churchills 1965 funeral also faced the same way as the crowd. But pictures of the Queen Mothers funeral in 2002 show the people corralled behind metal fences, not trusted to show decorum, while lines of police bossily face them and weirdly turn their backs on the procession as it passes by them.

Another picture of the same event again shows soldiers and police facing the procession, once again part of, rather than separate from, the multitude of mourners

I had my own minor experience of the same thing in my home town, Oxford, last weekend.

I went to see the proclamation of the new King at the place called Carfax, an ancient crossroads in that very old city, so old that nobody really knows how it got its name.

Many kings and queens must have been proclaimed there over the centuries. The city was chosen as his capital by King Charles I during the Civil War and stood three sieges by Oliver Cromwells army.

We in Oxford dont take the matter lightly, to this day. But on Sunday I was not trusted to keep myself in order while the beginning of the new reign was formally declared. As I strolled from church to the scene, I found my way blocked by a battalion of officious jobsworths in fluorescent jerkins.

Behind them were steel fences cunningly arranged so as to make it almost impossible for most people to see the actual ceremony, which takes place in one corner of the square. Parents and grandparents hoisted their little ones on to their shoulders, and if they are lucky they will remember the day.

But for the rest of us, who could see nothing, the main event was a heckler.

He yelled something republican during the ceremony, and a nearby monarchist promptly bellowed at him Shut up, you berk!, which seemed the right response.

Soon afterwards we were all asked to cry out God save the King! and to give three cheers for our new Monarch.

I think we all did so with extra force because the interruption had made us feel more monarchist than before.

It seemed very English. Until I discovered later that the heckler had been arrested and handcuffed by our local police, who are normally famous for their reluctance to investigate actual crimes or even to appear in public if they can help it.

It seems to me to be a profound change that symbolises much that has gone amiss with us

Fading photographs of the same ceremony going back to Edward VII are displayed in Oxford Town Hall, and I went later to take a careful look at them.

There are lovely old things, such as firemen on parade in those glorious brass helmets they used to wear, and students in straw boaters and proper police constables with huge walrus moustaches.

Further back still there are aldermen with great beards, and clerks in horsehair wigs and clergymen with mutton-chop whiskers.

But there are no fences, and no jobsworths to be seen. There has been all too much of this officiousness and bossiness and health- and-safety pettiness, including the pathetic excuses that were put forward for not bringing the Queen down from Edinburgh on the Royal Train  a sadly missed opportunity to let millions say goodbye to their Monarch.

Then theres the airport-style security imposed on people who have chosen to endure hours of uncomfortable queuing simply to show respect to the woman who reigned over us for 70 years.

Is there nothing we can now do without being presumed to be terrorist threats?

What sort of mind confiscates a single Werthers Original sweet, or a tube of toothpaste from a mourner? Yet they did this.

This is the absurd paradox of our times, and republicans would do well to think about it.

They have their backs to the people because they are themselves of the people, and trust the people

As we have become both less Christian and less monarchist, we have become less free. As the democratic state has grown keener and keener to make us healthier and safer, it has also grown keener on pushing us around.

It denies us the freedom to decide to be good and instead makes us good by putting us under surveillance, searching our pockets, demanding proof of our identity and hemming us in with fences.

Is it harsh to point out how useless the same State has been at protecting our own shores or dealing with crime?

No it is not, because its all the same thing  bossy, high-minded people filled with self-righteous virtue, scornful of the past and convinced that old things are bad things, viewing the rest of us as a passive mass to be scared or beguiled into doing what were told.

It is too much to hope that the new reign will restore what has been lost, but when I say or sing, with heart and voice, the words God save the King, I am also saying God save our liberty.
When interviewed, many people paying respect to the Queen say it is as if they have lost their mum.

Maybe such sentiments betray something very deep in the collective mentality  namely the fact that we British respond, instinctively and collectively, to having a female Monarch.

It is a profound part of what it means to be human to revere the ideal of what is known as the Eternal Feminine, a phrase coined by one of Queen Victorias favourite poets, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Monarchists will all respond with loyalty to a new King and wish him well, but it is harder to be a king than it is to be a queen. A male figurehead cannot reach the parts which are touched by a female. We are now supposedly more female than our forebears, more in touch with our feelings, more anxious to discuss emotions. (Computer image of how King Charles might look wearing the St Edward's crown)

The emotion draws upon our feelings about our own mothers  either about perfect mothers who were everything to us, or to those who were less than satisfactory.

Either way, we humans have always been drawn to goddesses, or to divine or semi-divine figures, who channel our needs for an Eternal Feminine.

This was something Queen Elizabeth the First exploited to the utmost. In her famous oration after learning that the Spanish Armada had been defeated, she said: I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a King.

The nation would have to wait hundreds of years, until Winston Churchill delivered his great wireless broadcasts during the Second World War, before it heard such rhetoric.

And whereas Churchill made no reference to his body or his gender, Elizabeth thrillingly did.

Her reign was a period of history when this country emerged as a modern nation and it was thanks to the Elizabethans that English speaking colonies were established in America, and that we now live in an English-speaking Western world.

With Elizabeths love of the theatre, it was no surprise that this was the age of Marlowe, and above all of William Shakespeare.

The poem entitled The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser made the Queen into an allegory of all that was wise and beautiful and morally powerful.

Queen Victoria, too, drew on deep wells of the collective psychology to strengthen her position and that of the Monarchy.

Whereas Elizabeth had been the Virgin Queen, Victoria was the mother of nine children, the loving wife and then the grieving widow of Albert.

Together, the Royal couple created the feeling that every family in the land could draw inspiration from their family: that even if Monarchs were no longer the wielders of executive power, they could be the symbols and focus of national emotion; the emblems of an ideal to which we might all aspire.

While male leaders might inspire us to admire their achievements, they generally have not been able to call upon the deep-seated response which is evoked by a feminine Monarch.

Queen Elizabeth II was not an especially motherly person in appearance or manner. She held her emotions in check and was not feminine in the modern, American sense of that word: she was not touchy-feely. She would never in a million years have given the sort of interviews on TV which Diana or Meghan have done, unpacking for public consumption her buried hurts and resentments.

Queen Elizabeth II was not an especially motherly person in appearance or manner.

She held her emotions in check and was not feminine in the modern, American sense of that word: she was not touchy-feely.

She would never in a million years have given the sort of interviews on TV which Diana or Meghan have done, unpacking for public consumption her buried hurts and resentments.

Maybe even her most fervent admirers were a little surprised by just how deep and how widespread the expressions of national emotion have been since she died.

The phrases we keep repeating about her  that for 70 years, she was always there, that we took her for granted as parts of our lives  do not refer only to the actual person of Queen Elizabeth as she lived her life.

They refer to the figure of the Queen in our heads, in our dreams, on our postage stamps, our coinage.

Even our National Anthem is not a song about us or about our nation, it is a prayer to preserve the Monarch.

Monarchists will all respond with loyalty to a new King and wish him well, but it is harder to be a king than it is to be a queen.

A male figurehead cannot reach the parts which are touched by a female. We are now supposedly more female than our forebears, more in touch with our feelings, more anxious to discuss emotions.

While the Queens reign lasted, we were not especially aware of directing our need for the Eternal Feminine on to her.

It is paradoxical that the late Queen, who was so contained and outwardly so unemotional, appealed to the inner child in each of us.

Today we are responding to her as needy children as we watch the ceremonies unfold of her lying-in-state and, tomorrow, of her funeral.

By contrast, King Charles III is an emotional figure, who shared his grief with us in his very first broadcast as King the day after his mothers death, who was not afraid to weep as he followed her coffin.

It is as if he is reaching out to us for comfort, not the other way around, and of course, in these disturbed times of national mourning, the publics heart goes out to him.

By contrast, King Charles III is an emotional figure, who shared his grief with us in his very first broadcast as King the day after his mothers death, who was not afraid to weep as he followed her coffin. It is as if he is reaching out to us for comfort, not the other way around, and of course, in these disturbed times of national mourning, the publics heart goes out to him.

That is a very different thing from him, a male Monarch, providing the sort of stability which a female Monarch, simply by virtue of her gender, was able to do.

Perhaps now, with our third female Prime Minister, the public psyche will fixate on Liz Truss.

But I somehow doubt this because what is at work when we revere or think about a Monarch is so very different from our feelings for the here today, gone tomorrow politician.

That other great Mother of the Nation, Queen Victoria, was frequently castigated by the press and politicians for not doing enough during her widowhood, for hiding away at home in Osborne on the Isle of Wight and not doing her stuff  opening bridges, attending the State Opening of Parliament and so forth.

But when she died, as an old lady, the country appeared to break its heart and huge crowds followed her funeral cortege. She had judged rightly. She did not have to do. She had simply to be.

The words of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe again come to mind whenever one thinks of Victorias last journey across the Solent, and the final laying to rest beside Prince Albert in the Mausoleum at Frogmore, Windsor: The Eternal Feminine leads us onward.
Here, Femail looks at some of the cutest scenes of the Queen with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren

The monarch, 96, shared many sweet moments throughout her last few years with her great-grandchildren

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Tonight, the Queen's eight grandchildren will unite to stand vigil over her coffin as she lies-in-state.

Prince William and Prince Harry will be joined by their cousins Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, as they come together to honour Her Majesty. Their partners are not expected to attend.

It will be a poignant farewell to a grandmother who always made time to create memories with her family, despite her role as Queen and Head of State.

The same is true for her great-grandchildren: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis; Mia, Lena and Lucas Tindall; Savannah and Isla Phillips; Sienna Mapelli Mozzi and August Brooksbank; and Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.

Queen Elizabeth II was was a beloved grandmother to eight grandchildren and a great-grandmother of twelve (pictured left to right: Prince George, Prince Louis being held by Queen Elizabeth II, Savannah Phillips (standing at rear), Princess Charlotte, the Duke of Edinburgh, Isla Phillips holding Lena Tindall, and Mia Tindall

Prince Harry, Prince William and Princess Beatrice's husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi all spoke about how important it was that their children were able to make memories with Her Majesty before her death.

Some of these memories were captured on camera, in front of the globe's press - or television crews - for the world to see and enjoy.

They gave the public an intimate view of what the Queen was like behind closed doors in her role as mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

One sweet clip shows the Queen playing with Peter Phillips, her eldest grandson, as he spent time with his mother Princess Anne in the royal nursery. More recent ones include Prince George and his great-grandmother making a cake, and the Queen taking in the sights of the Platinum Jubilee with a young Prince Louis.

Here, ahead of her grandchildren's moving tribute, FEMAIL looks at some of the most uplifting interactions between 'Granny' and her family...

Just like Gan-Gan! Charlotte copies the Queen's wave at Trooping the Colour

Learning by example: All eyes were on the Royal Family during Trooping the Colour in 2018, but it was Princess Charlotte who stole the show. The cheeky three-year-old was caught on camera as she watched her great-grandmother the Queen waving at the crowd... then decided to follow suit (pictured)

Look at that! Princess Charlotte looked up in awe at the flypast during Trooping the Colour in 2018. Also pictured (left to right): The Queen, the Duchess of Sussex, King Charles, Prince Harry, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Savannah Phillips and Prince George

All eyes were on the Royal Family during Trooping the Colour in 2018, but it was Princess Charlotte who stole the show.

The cheeky three-year-old was caught on camera as she watched her great-grandmother the Queen waving at the crowd... then decided to follow suit.

Her mother Kate picked up on the adorable moment and looked over her shoulder to William to alert him to what their daughter was doing.

Despite her tender years, the youngster has had plenty of opportunity to practice her royal wave after taking part in overseas tours with the Duke and Duchess, now the Prince and Princess of Wales.

She looked adorable in a blue dress matching both her mother, Kate, and great-grandmother.

Getting stuck in: Whipping up Christmas pudding with George

Prince George tries his hand at making Christmas pudding under the watchful eye of his great-grandmother the Queen for a video broadcast on Christmas Day 2019

Prince George, dressed in a white shirt with black piping and a cute collar, tries very hard to mix the pudding

Eventually all the family step in including the now King Charles III, Queen Elizabeth the second and the now Prince of Wales can be seen assisting Prince George in a sweet family moment caught on camera

Filmed in December 2019, this heartwarming clip shows Prince George mixing some batter for Christmas pudding alongside his father Prince William, grandfather King Charles, and great-grandmother, the Queen.

George appears to be having a whale of a time as he enthusiastically takes his wooden spoon to the mixture.

The video, which featured in the Queen's Christmas Day message, showcased four generations of the royal family supporting a Royal British Legion project.

The puddings were mixed for the Royal British Legion's Together at Christmas initiative, which aims to provide extra support to the Armed Forces community at annual festive 'get-togethers' across the charity's network, both at home and abroad.

After prompting from his father, George repeatedly stabs at the thick pudding mixture with a wooden spoon, making his grandfather Charles laugh, while the Queen watches on, smiling.

Charles and William are also featured trying their hand at Christmas pudding making and the duke is seen holding his son's hand.

Playing with her eldest grandson: The Queen in the nursery with Anne and Peter

The Queen shares a sweet moment with Princess Anne and Peter Phillips. The three royal generations gather on a sofa in Buckingham Palace, something the broadcaster describes as 'The Royal Nursery'

Princess Anne comes into the nursery, cradling a baby Peter Phillips on her hip as The Queen, dressed in a moss green dress and pearls, beams at them

A one-year-old Peter Phillips smiles as he sees his grandmother The Queen and seems unfazed as a dog climbs up on the couch

In her 1978 Christmas broadcast, the Queen told people 'not to give up hope for a brighter future', and shared clips of her young grandson Peter Philips.

The clip showed her leaving church with the Queen Mother and ended with an intimate moment in the royal nursery at Buckingham Palace, as Princess Anne presented her mother with her grand-child Peter.

As the mother and daughter sat on a floral patterned sofa, they were joined by one of the Queen's many dogs - which seemed to delight the one-year-old Peter as he gurgled and smiled.

Meanwhile his grandmother, the Queen, could be seen smiling down at him.

Sharing a moment with Louis: Playful Prince sneaks a special moment during the Jubilee

Prince Louis struggled to hide his displeasure as the Red Arrows flew past during Trooping the Colour for the Queen's Jubilee celebrations earlier this year - while the monarch struggled to hide a grin

The Queen and Prince Louis watch a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 2, 2022 in London, England

The royals enjoy the flypast for the Platinum Jubilee - all except Prince Louis - on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The little royal could be seen covering his ears as the Red Arrows flew overhead

Queen Elizabeth II smiled warmly at her four-year-old great-grandson Prince Louis at the flypast presumably trying to distract him from the noise

The Queen appeared to point out towards the crowd and the Red Arrows in an apparent effort to distract Prince Louis from all the commotion - while Charlotte smiled out at the crowds

Prince William and Kate's youngest child, Prince Louis, four, managed to steal the limelight with his antics during the Platinum Jubilee this Summer.

The youngster was filmed pulling funny faces, and covering his ears during a flyby when the royals appeared on Buckingham Palace's balcony to kick-off the four-day celebratory weekend.

Among the funny antics, royal watchers also noticed a sweet moment between Prince Louis and his great-grandmother.

During his appearance, the youngster seemed entranced, looking up inquisitively at the monarch, and seeking out her attention.

At one point, he even broke away from his mother Kate to make his way closer to his Gan Gan.

And the pair shared a chat during the flypast, while the Queen seemingly trying to distract Louis from the loud noise of the aircraft.

Showing her protective side: Running after Prince William

The moment before the Queen lost her poise to grab a young Prince William as he ran after a carriage following the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of York as they set off on honeymoon in 1986

The Queen showed her protective instinct as she stood by a four-year-old Prince William in 1986 after the wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York.

As they all stood watching the wedding carriage head off, The Queen can be seen running after Prince William as he attempted to follow it.

The usually regal monarch showed her softer side in the unearthed clip, where she quickly grabbed William from behind the carriage wearing a light blue dress.

Cuddles at the polo: Queen held a baby Zara Phillips on her knee

In this adorable photograph from 1984, the Queen took her young granddaughter Zara Phillips, aged three, onto her knee as they watched the polo at Smith's Lawn, Windsor. Then Zara sat on Grandma's knee to watch mother Princess Anne ride her horse in a display.

Three year old Zara, daughter of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, was pictured attending the polo match at Smith's Lawn Polo Ground in Windsor in the Royal Box

This sweet shot was captured when the Queen attended a Polo match with a three-year old Zara Phillips - who now shares her love of the sport alone with her mother Princess Anne.

The monarch and her grandchildren were at the 1984 event at Smith's Lawn Polo Ground in Windsor to watch Anne perform a horse display.

There was one sweet moment where the Queen picked up her granddaughter and held her on her lap, while the two watched the match together.

It was a tender moment between the pair, who both shared a love of horses and riding.

Zara went on to win the silver medal as part of the London 2012 Olympics, the single Olympic title of her career.

Her Majesty shares a sweet moment on the balcony with George

Prince George with his great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II caught in an intimate moment where he turns to her and smiles during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June

The pair share a smile together as they stand before the crowds at Buckingham Palace at the end of the Platinum Pageant on The Mall in June

As the third in line for the throne and the oldest of the Queen's great-grandchildren present, Prince George was the Queen's most obedient servant during her Platinum Jubilee fly-past on June 4.

Dressed to the nines in a navy blue suit, George, nine, was seen calmly standing next to the late Monarch as the royal family and the crowds amassed in front of Buckingham Palace sang 'God Save the Queen.'

The special moment erupted with rousing cries from royal fans and fireworks on his side of the Monarch's London residence.

The Queen, who looked particularly pleased, was seen turning to her great grandson to share in the special moment with him.

Prince George beamed as he turned to his grandmother showing what appeared to be true admiration for his elder, as she turned to face him and smiled back.

A first meeting: The Queen meets newborn Archie Mountbatten-Windsor

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, joined by her mother, Doria Ragland, as they show their new son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, to Queen Elizabeth II and the then Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle

The Queen met her great-grandson Archie Mountbatten-Windsor in 2019, in a meeting also attended by Meghan's mother Doria Ragland.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex introduced their first son and eighth in line to the throne at the time to his great-grandmother, who was the first of the royal household to meet Archie.

The Queen, along with her late husband Prince Philip smiled adoringly down at the latest addition to the family while the Duchess of Sussex held him in her arms.

The Queen's 'favourite event': Anne, Peter and Zara at the Windsor horse show

Princess Anne with her children Peter and Zara and The Queen at the Windsor Horse Show on May 11, 1985 in Windsor, Berkshire, England.

It's no secret that the Queen, Princess Anne and Zara Phillips share a passion for horses, with the Princess Royal becoming a keen equestrian and Zara eventually winning an Olympic dressage medal.

How fitting that three generations of horse loving women, along with the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips, were snapped at the Windsor Horse Show in 1985.

Princess Anne and The Queen are wrapped up against the British drizzle as Peter and Zara look on ahead.

Despite the typically bleak British weather, the family would no doubt have shared wonderful memories at the Horse Show, which was known as one of the Queen's favourite events of the year.

The Queen interacts with Prince George as a toddler

Prince George, pictured as a toddler in 2015, looks at his great-grandmother as they share a moment outside of the church where Princess Charlotte was christened in Sandringham.

Prince George, pictured next to his grandmother as a two-year-old wearing red shorts and an embroidered shirt as she looks down at him in a baby pink suit and matching hat

The Queen was pictured thoroughly entertained as she bent down to talk to Prince George as a toddler on a trip to King's Lynn in Norfolk in 2015.

George, wearing a white shirt and red shorts - appeared to be looking up at his great-grandmother as they left the Magdalen church on the Sandringham Estate after Princess Charlotte's christening.

While the adults in the picture, including Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Philip and Camilla, chat to each other, the Queen's attention appears firmly fixed on her sweet great-grandson

After the christening, an official portrait was taken where the Queen's great-grandchildren were pictured with her.

That's my foot! The Queen tells off Princess Eugenie for stepping on her toes

A clip, from BBC documentary 'Elizabeth R: A Year in the Life of the Queen', which aired in 1992, shows the moment Princess Eugenie, then two, is gently reprimanded after stepping on her grandmother's toes

In the footage, taken in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, the Queen is joined by several of her grandchildren - including Prince William, then 10, Prince Harry, then eight, Zara Phillips, then 11 Princess Beatrice

An adorable young Princess Eugenie can be seen wondering around aimlessly in the clip (pictured) while her older sister Princess Beatrice struggles to mount a pony

A candid clip that originally aired in 1992, on BBC documentary 'Elizabeth R: A Year in the Life of the Queen' shows an amusing moment between the Queen and her then two-year-old granddaughter Princess Eugenie.

Once again, the monarch is sharing her love of horses with her family, and is shown trying to help Princess Beatrice, then four, mount a pony.

Meanwhile, Eugenie can be seem aimlessly walking around in her t-shirt and dungarees before stopping in front of her grandmother.

The monarch then shouts 'ow,' before moving the youngster forward and declaring: 'That's my foot you're standing on.'

The accident is forgotten just as quickly as it happens and seconds afterwards, Her Majesty can be seen taking Princess Eugenie's hand. 'Now, shall we go that way?' she adds, before leading the children on a trek around the grounds.

In the footage, Her Majesty is joined by several of her grandchildren - including Prince William, then 10, Prince Harry, then eight, Zara Phillips, then 11 Princess Beatrice - in the grounds of Balmoral Castle.

Young Princess Beatrice goes for a ride with her horse-loving Grannie

Princess Beatrice, pictured here aged 10, was snapped enjoying a moment with her grandmother the Queen, as the pair went riding in Windsor in 1999

A sweet moment the Queen shared with her granddaughter Princess Beatrice was captured on camera in 1999.

Naturally, the bonding moment featured horses, with Her Majesty and her then 10-year-old granddaughter enjoying a ride together.

In the April 1999 snap, the royal pair are seen trotting through a field in Windsor, thought to be the Great Park.

The younger royal sat astride a smaller brown horse while her grandmother looked confident riding a larger brown one, no doubt enjoying spending the quality time spent with Beatrice, despite the somewhat grey weather.
THIS ENGLAND

SKY ATLANTIC, 28 SEPTEMBER

Sir Kenneth Branagh admits that when he was asked to play Boris Johnson in a drama about the brutal first wave of the Covid virus while Britain was still dealing with the second, he thought it was too soon. But then he read the script, and realised the show needed to be made immediately while the memories were still fresh.

This England, a fast-paced six-part series looking at Covid from every angle  from China, SAGE and vaccine scientists to NHS workers and those in Downing Street and care homes  is the result.

What I was drawn to was seeing so many different strata of society side by side, and how authentically the writers had researched it, says Oscar-winner Kenneth.

Sir Kenneth as Boris Johnson in This England. He plays Boris in an unflinching new series set during the first brutal wave of Covid

Its a chronicle of our nations life at a moment of crisis. It seemed to me it was important to try to capture something while it was still almost white hot.

The series, which mixes real footage with dramatisation, starts with Boris Johnson still an ambitious MP, and whizzes through Brexit rows and his 2019 general election win.

Then we see Boriss pregnant girlfriend Carrie Symonds (Ophelia Lovibond) throwing up in the toilet at 10 Downing Street as reports of a strange virus in China start to emerge, before the frantic behind-the-scenes discussions about what to do when it becomes clear how dangerous the virus is once it arrives in the UK.

The series is written and directed by Michael Winterbottom, but he insists its not driven by political motives. Boris is just one strand that runs through it  its a mosaic of lots of different stories, he says.

Carrie (Ophelia Lovibond) and Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Kenneth Branagh) on the set of This England

If you think about what was happening in early March 2020, eight days later it was a totally different situation, so weve tried to keep that pace.

The drama ends in May 2020, and takes in controversies such as Dominic Cummingss visit to Barnard Castle, hospital patients being sent back to care homes without being tested and the desperate search for PPE equipment. Itll also show the PMs own battle with Covid, which nearly killed him.

Did you know? Michael Winterbottom claims the show paints a sympathetic picture of Boris, at odds with the one painted by Dominic Cummings, who said it was his duty to get rid of his old boss. Advertisement

Kenneth studied Boriss mannerisms to get his portrayal just right. He leads with his shoulders, head down, says Sir Ken.

That physicality, the walk, was something that came early on. He has a slight hunch to the shoulders, a sense of somebody taking things on.

'Theres also a rhythmic element to his speech, the galvanising in short, cheerleading phrases.

It took three hours a day in make-up to give Ken Boriss look. One prosthetic was like a balaclava of a neckpiece, and a lot of the time was spent making sure the prosthetic skin blended into my own.

'Then we had to pull down the eyelids to have the slight slope thats a Johnson family trait, and there was obviously a hairpiece to wear. I have very thin lips and Boris has quite a big upper lip, so I had a new one of those.

'From the Y-fronts up, they stuck bits of Boris on me.

It worked though, says Michael. I hope Boris is flattered we picked Ken to play him, he says. Who else could do it?
If you're trying to cut calories and happen to be heading for the supermarket this weekend, you might want to leave your other half at home, research suggests.

Couples who shop together buy more  especially unhealthy products such as biscuits and crisps  than those who shop alone, the study found.

The researchers said couples act as 'accomplices' when they shop together rather than 'minders'.

'Everyone has weaknesses, for example, for sweets or a burger and fries,' said Professor Robert Wilken, who led the study. 'The accomplice effect means that when you go shopping together, you give each other a kind of 'permission' to consume so-called vice products. As a result, the shared shopping basket contains more vice products.'

Couples who shop together buy more  especially unhealthy products such as biscuits and crisps  than those who shop alone, the study found (stock image)

Researchers in Germany approached couples shopping together at a Christmas market. Half the 75 couples were randomly seated separately from their partner, so that they made decisions individually, while the other couples were seated together, making decisions jointly.

They were shown an online shop featuring 44 items including 'vice' foods such as biscuits and Christmas stollen and 'virtue' foods such as fruit. They were told to shop for joint consumption.

When shopping alone, they bought an average of eight products. Shopping together, they opted for 20, spending an extra 41, on average. Of the 12 extra products, nine were 'vice' items  totalling 37 of the extra 41.

'These findings clearly support an accomplice effect,' said Professor Wilken, of the ESCP Business School Berlin, whose study was published in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services.

When shopping alone, they bought an average of eight products. Shopping together, they opted for 20, spending an extra 41, on average. Of the 12 extra products, nine were 'vice' items  totalling 37 of the extra 41 (stock image)

Feeling stressed? Reach for the stereo, not the snacks! Experts say listening to music by the likes of Amy Winehouse and Eminem can stop you comfort eating

By Stephen Matthews, Health Editor for MailOnline

It may feel natural to dip your hands into the biscuit tin after a stressful day at work.

But researchers believe they've uncovered a simple trick to help banish your desire to comfort eat  listen to music.

Scientists analysed how many snacks women ate after listening to certain types of music.

Participants were made to feel sad, as part of the study's attempts to see how food and music can help to combat negative emotions.

Women who listened to music which released feelings of anger or sadness ate half the amount of crisps, chocolate and sweets, compared to volunteers not given any headphones.

The music included songs like Amy Winehouse's (left) Back To Black, Eminem's (right) Mockingbird, and Linkin Park's In The End

Such tunes included Amy Winehouse's Back To Black, Eminem's Mockingbird, and Linkin Park's In The End.

Women ate about a third less after listening to music that provided solace, such as Coldplay's Fix You or Sam Smith's Lay Me Down.

Dr Helen Coulthard, an expert in eating behaviour at De Montfort University, said: 'If you're feeling stressed and you're worried that might lead to eating lots of unhealthy junk food, get your headphones on and listen to some lovely comforting music.'

She added that the method could also help some people with weight loss.

How music works to help people eat less is not known, but experts suggest it could be linked to the release of happy hormones like dopamine and serotonin.

Annemieke van den Tol, a music psychologist from the University of Lincoln, who co-authored the study, said: 'I think the take-home message is if we're stressed we might have the tendency to do something to make us feel better.

'And unconsciously we might grab food because it is giving us a positive dopamine, serotonin, boost that makes us feel better.

'But think about alternatives  like music (which) can equally give you a boost and make you feel better when you're sad or stressed.'

For each study, 120 women were asked to name a song they listened to when sad, stressed or in need of distraction, and this was then played back to them when they were eating under the trial conditions.

The findings were presented at the British Science Festival being hosted by De Montfort University in Leicester.
Prince Albert of Monaco has sent a heartfelt message of congratulations to King Charles III on his accession to the British throne.

The letter, shared on the Palais Princier de Monaco Instagram, came after the royal had paid tribute to 'inspiring' Queen Elizabeth II following her death on September 8.

Prince Albert, who has met both King Charles and the late Queen on numerous occasions, offered his 'warmest congratulations' to the new king on his accession.

Prince Albert of Monaco has sent a heartfelt message of congratulations to King Charles III on his accession to the throne. The royals are pictured together at Oslo Cathedral in 2001

Prince Albert writing in a Church's guestbook next to a portrait of the Queen during a memorial

The letter, shared on the Palais Princier de Monaco Instagram , came after the royal had paid tribute to 'inspiring' Queen Elizabeth II following her death on September 8

He said: 'The Princess and I wish you every success in leading the people of the United Kingdom and the many great nations of the Commonwealth. I am confident that under your reign, peace and stability will continue to prosper.

'I look forward to seeing the important work you have achieved throughout your life further flourish in the years to come.

'Notably, the great weight you place on sustainability, the fight against climate change and ocean conservation issues that I know we both feel are paramount for the future of our planet.

'On behalf of the citizens of the Principality of Monaco, it is my honour to share our best wishes of good health and prosperity.'

Prince Albert, who has met both King Charles and the late Queen on numerous occasions, offered his 'warmest congratulations' to the new king on his accession

Princess Charlene (left) paid tribute to a 'great lady' as she sent her condolences to the British Royal Family

Earlier, Prince Albert and his wife Princess Charlene attended a church service in memory of the late Queen at St Paul's Anglican Church in Monaco.

The pair also sent a heartfelt tribute to the 'great' British monarch last weekend.

Charlene, 44, said she was 'deeply saddened' by the news of the Queen's passing.

She added: 'I am deeply saddened at the news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, a truly great lady whose dedication and service was recognised throughout the world during the 70 years of her reign.

'Today, my thoughts are with her family, her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren and the British people.'

The Prince and Princess of Monaco appeared deep in thoughts as they attended a religious service for the Queen at St Pauls Anglican Church in Monaco last week

Princess Charlene used her Instagram account to send her condolences to the British Royal Family and British people

Prince Albert also posted a tribute to the Queen on Instagram, praising her 'inspiring' reign.

He wrote: 'Her Majesty's unwavering dedication and commitment to her duty during Her reign has always been extremely inspiring; It will long be remembered and admired.

'She truly represented the unity and dignity of the United Kingdom throughout the last seven decades.'

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene are pictured during a memorial service for Queen Elizabeth

Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria sits next to King Charles III and Crown Prince Albert of Monaco in may 2004

Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at Balmoral on Thursday, September 8 at the age of 96.

Following her death King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain paid tribute to their distant relative with a heartfelt statement.

The Spanish Royal Family echoed sentiments from the Dutch and Swedish royals in praising the Queen's sense of duty to her country throughout her historic 70-year reign.

Posting a letter to King Charles III on the Casa Real Twitter account, King Felipe said he would 'dearly' miss his Aunt Lilibet, a figure he held close.
Prince William has told soldiers who will be taking part in the Queen's funeral that Her Majesty will be 'looking down' on her funeral service at Westminster Abbey.

The service, which will take place in central London on Monday, will be attended by hundreds of world leaders, foreign dignitaries and members of the Royal Family.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are making the trip from Washington, while several European royals have confirmed they will attend the elaborate affair.

The Prince and Princess of Wales visited Army Training Centre Pirbright in Surrey on Friday, where they spoke with Commonwealth troops participating in the procession.

William was heard speaking with troops from the New Zealand Defence Force about how the Queen would be keeping an eye on Monday's proceedings.

Prince William believes the Queen will be 'looking down' on her funeral service at Westminster Abbey. Pictured: The Prince and Princess of Wales at Army Training Centre Pirbright

Prince William and Kate leave after paying their respects to Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall on Wednesday

Greg Gifford, 31, said: 'One of the key things I took away from what he said was how the Queen will definitely be looking down on the whole funeral service.

'He said she would be interested in the detail of the soldiers, how the drill is carried out, it's precision, our dress, things like that.'

William and Kate also told of how 'strange' it has been going from the Queen's Platinum Jubilee to her funeral in a matter of months.

The Prince of Wales, talking with troops from Australia, was heard saying the difference between the celebrations in June and the funeral preparations shows 'the highs and lows of it all'.

The Prince and Princess of Wales visited Army Training Centre Pirbright in Surrey on Friday, where they spoke with Commonwealth troops participating in the procession

William was heard speaking with troops from the New Zealand Defence Force about how the Queen would be keeping an eye on Monday's proceedings

William and Kate also told of how 'strange' it has been going from the Queen's Platinum Jubilee to her funeral in a matter of months

Meanwhile, Kate, who was speaking with Canadian military personnel, said: 'Going from that (the Jubilee) to this in a few months is very strange.'

She was also heard discussing her 'lack of sleep' with the troops.

The royal couple watched a traditional haka performed by 25 troops from the New Zealand Defence Force.

There were 64 members of the Canadian Armed Forces and 28 members of the Australian Defence Force at the centre.

The troops are in the UK because they are involved in the procession during Monday's service, alongside British soldiers.

The Prince of Wales, talking with troops from Australia, was heard saying the difference between the celebrations in June and the funeral preparations shows 'the highs and lows of it all'

There were 64 members of the Canadian Armed Forces and 28 members of the Australian Defence Force at the centre

Troops are being accommodated at Pirbright until the funeral and are rehearsing their roles in the ceremony, with practice marches occurring across the site

They are being accommodated at Pirbright until the funeral and are rehearsing their roles in the ceremony, with practice marches occurring across the site.

Corporal Kyle Kajari, of the Canadian Ceremonial Contingent, took part in the recent Jubilee and spoke with William about the Queen.

He said: 'This week we've been practicing parades, drills, all that jazz to make sure we are ready for the funeral this Monday.

'I feel very honoured and very privileged to represent my unit in the procession.'

Cpl Kajari went on: '(William) was asking how we felt about Monday coming up, my response to him was "sorry for your loss".

'He talked about how he's mourned and how many people feel like they've lost a grandmother and how important she was to the country and the Commonwealth.'
The Queen's eldest grandson shared a reassuring smile with his 11-year-old daughter as the pair attended a vigil for Her Majesty in Westminster Hall last night.

Peter Phillips and his daughters Savannah, 11, and Isla, 10, watched from the sidelines as King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew held the ceremonial Vigil of Princes on Friday.

They were joined by numerous members of the Royal Family, including Queen Consort Camilla, and Zara and Mike Tindall and their children Mia, 8, and Lena, four.

But as the vigil for her great-grandmother took place inside Westminster Hall, Savannah looked to her father for comfort - and was met with a reassuring smile.

In the clip, both Isla and Savannah are standing in front of their father.

The Queen's eldest grandson shared a reassuring smile with his 11-year-old daughter as the pair attended a vigil for Her Majesty in Westminster Hall last night

They are surrounded by members of the Royal Family, with princesses Eugenie, 32, and Beatrice, 34, nearby to watch their father, aunt and uncles take part in the ceremony.

Prince Andrew was permitted to wear his military uniform after King Charles lifted a ban on the Duke of York donning the outfit as he is no longer a working royal.

Also in the stands watching the vigil were Princess Anne's husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, who had served as the Queen's equerry from 1986 and developed a close relationship with Her late Majesty.

Sir Tim has been by the Princess Royal's side since her mother passed away on 8 September, accompanying Anne in the car journey from the Balmoral Estate to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh behind the Queen's coffin.

Peter Phillips and his daughters Savannah, 11, and Isla, 10, watched from the sidelines as King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew held a vigil

As the vigil for her great-grandmother took place inside Westminster Hall, Savannah looked to her father for comfort - and was met with a reassuring smile

Members of the public filed past Her late Majesty's coffin while her children stood around in silence with their heads to the floor to pay their respects

Other young royals present at the vigil were Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and her younger brother James, Viscount Severn, 14.

Prince Edward's children were accompanied by Sophie Wessex, 57, whom it was announced will receive many of the Queen's former royal patronages following her death.

As the Queen's grandchildren including Zara Tindall and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie attended the vigil, King Charles's children Prince William and Prince Harry did not appear to be in attendance.

Members of the public who witnessed the ceremony had been queueing for hours outside in a line that stretches all the way back to Southwark Park

Members of the royal family watched on during the Vigil of Princes in Westminster Hall. Pictured L-R: James, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise Windsor, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Mike Tindall, Zara Tindall, Mia Tindall, Lena Tindall

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi appeared visibly moved as he watched over the vigil next to Princess Eugenie (centre) and Princess Beatrice (right)

However the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex are expected to attend another, first-of-its-kind vigil to pay their respects to their grandmother at Westminster Hall tomorrow night, in which they will be joined by their cousins.

The partners of each of the Queen's grandchildren are not expected to attend, but in another gesture of respect from King Charles, Harry will be allowed to wear his military uniform despite no longer being a working royal.

Harry and William will be joined by their cousins, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, the children of the Princess Royal.

The Duke of York's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, will also attend - while the Earl of Wessex's children, Lady Louise and Viscount Severn, will stand near the middle of their grandmother's coffin.

The vigil is expected to last around 15 minutes.
Michael Sheen has said the King and Queen Consort's recent visit to Wales could be seen as 'insensitive to the point of insulting'.

King Charles III, 73, and Camilla, 75, completed their four nations tour with a stop in the country yesterday with a visit to Cardiff.

But according to the Welsh actor, because the trip fell on an important historic date, it could be seen as 'insensitive' if the royals chose that date on purpose.

September 16 marks Owain Glyndwr day. The same day in 1400 is when Glyndwr began a 15-year uprising against the then-king of England, Henry IV, after which his followers would proclaim him Prince of Wales.

King Charles (pictured) met members of the public as he left Cardiff Castle yesterday while in Wales as part of his tour of the four nations

Actor Martin Sheen (pictured) noted that the visit by the new King and Queen Consort could be seen as 'insensitive' as it fell on September 16 - an important historic date for Wales

The revolt is considered to be the last Welsh war of independence and Glyndwr has since been viewed as a figurehead of Welsh nationalism and the independence movement.

Normally, thousands celebrate the life and legacy of the 'rebel' Prince of Wales.

However, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, a number of Glyndwr day events were cancelled, prompting disappointment and anger in some communities, with some hosting their events.

Michael Sheen took to Twitter, sharing a video with his thoughts on the visit.

In it, he said that it was a 'beautiful day in Wales', and also a very important one 'for a number of reasons'.

He explained that it marked the first time King Charles was visiting Wales since the death of Queen Elizabeth.

King Charles III was seen meeting schoolchildren following a service of prayer and reflection for the life of Queen Elizabeth at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff on Friday

The Queen Consort meeting members of the public who cheered as she and the King did a walkabout as she and her husband left Cardiff Castle in Wales

King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort waved as they arrived to receive a Motion of Condolence at the Senedd in Cardiff today

Describing the period of time since her death at Balmoral, he said it had been 'extraordinary' and 'very 'emotional', an 'era defining period of time'.

'I offer my sincerest sympathy to Charles and his family on the loss of their mother, grandmother, and to everyone who's feeling such depth of emotion and a sense of that loss,' he said, noting that Her Majesty had been a 'fixed point' for so many people.

Who was Owain Glyndwr? Owain Glyndwr was the last native Welshman to hold the Prince of Wales title. He was born in around 1354 in Sycharth Castle, Llansilin, Powys. Of aristocratic stock, he claimed descent from Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, known as Llywelyn the Last, and was directly related to the princes of Powys and Cyfeiliog. Due to his status, he was educated partly in England and returned home to Wales to marry. His life in Wales was comfortable but, towards the end of the 14th century, there was growing discontent between the Welsh and the English Crown and Parliament over land disputes. On September 16 1400, Glyndwr, who was 50, mobilised a militia of several hundred men in Ruthin and attacked a number of towns in the north-east of the country. Hearing news of the fight, Welsh scholars in Oxford are said to dropped their books and Welsh labourers in England downed their tools to head back home. Seasoned Welsh soldiers and archers who had fought in Europe for the English monarch left the king's service and also joined the uprising. The response was severe, with Henry IV marching an army across north Wales and bringing in anti-Welsh legislation, including outlawing Welsh-language performers and singers. But, by the end of 1403, Glyndwr controlled most of Wales. He assembled a parliament at Machynlleth in 1404 and was crowned king of a free Wales. However, from 1408 the tide turned against Glyndwr, beginning with the fall of Aberystwyth and Harlech castles. His family was taken hostage and he was ruled an outlaw. Glyndwr went into hiding but was never betrayed and, despite being offered a pardon by Henry V, he never came forward and is believed to have died some time in 1416. Advertisement

However, he noted, there 'is more than one story in these isles. There is more than one tradition, there is more than one history.'

The actor explained: 'September 16 is the day that many people here in Wales celebrate Owain Glyndwr, who was the last native Prince of Wales, self-proclaimed'.

Glyndwr led a rebellion against the English crown in 1400, to 'not only to free his nation but to create his nation', Michael explained.

He added: '[The rebellion] was eventually crushed, and that was the last time Wales had a native Prince of Wales.'

The tradition of naming a Prince of Wales was started by King Edward I, who named his son Prince Edward Prince of Wales, in a move Michael described as 'a sort of symbolic act of rebuke or punishment and humiliation'.

'And so this day, September 16, is important to many people in Wales,' he said.

'Because it marks the moment where Glyndwr claimed the title of the Prince of Wales again'.

So, he said, the two things - the King's visit and Owain Glyndwr day - are 'clearly connected'.

Michael explained: 'To choose September 16 to come to Wales having only a short time ago proclaimed that he had created his son William as the new Prince of Wales and to choose this day September 16 to come here as his first visit as King seems full of meaning.'

If it had been done purposefully, he added, it could seen as 'insensitive to the point of insulting'.

He continued: 'If it was done without realising the significance of the date, then one does wonder what being Prince of Wales for so long actually meant if you're not aware of what that day means.'

He added he wanted to add his voices to those of others who were noting the 'irony' of traditional Welsh celebrations being cancelled to accommodate an English monarch visiting.

'I hope it's not a declaration of intent, because that would be very concerning,' he said.

King Charles announced last week that Prince William, 40, and his wife Kate Middleton, 40, would become the new Prince and Princess of Wales.

The royal couple released a statement following the announcement in which they spoke of their 'deep affection' for Wales, having made their first family home in Anglesey.

They promised to carry out the role with 'humility and great respect'.

But some were unhappy with the decision, and a petition calling for an end to the title out of 'respect' for the Welsh has since gathered more than 25,000 signatures.

The page quoted Michael Sheen, who returned his OBE in 2017 and said about the title: 'Don't necessarily just because of habit and without thinking just carry on that tradition that was started as a humiliation to our country.

'Why not change that as we come to this moment where things will inevitably change?'

However, over the years, opinion polls suggest the majority of people in Wales are in favour of having a prince.

The Queen Consort and King Charles had a warm reception in Cardiff yesterday where they met and chatted with members of the public

King Charles and the Queen Consort leave Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, following a service of prayer and reflection for the life of the Queen

A little girl gave the Queen Consort a bouquet of flowers outside Llandaff Cathedral yesterday after King Charles arrived in Wales for the first time as monarch

A demonstrator holds up an anti-monarchy sign outside Cardiff Castle as King Charles arrives during his first visit as monarch

During the visit yesterday, King Charles was cheered by thousands of fans, showed off his Welsh language skills and even spoke to a goat mascot during what was considered to be a successful first trip to the country as monarch.

The King was joined by the Queen Consort as he first attended a service of remembrance for his mother the Queen at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, where he was joined by the Prime Minister Liz Truss and Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford.

The congregation sang Welsh hymns including the much-loved Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer.

The history behind the title of Prince of Wales The title Prince of Wales, as it is used today, was originally created by Edward I in 1301 after his conquest of Wales. He bestowed it on his heir, who later became Edward II. It was a political statement made to emphasise the subjugation of the Welsh by the English monarch and has therefore been seen by some as a symbol of oppression. It has been held by 21 heirs to the throne, although there have been long periods when the title was not used at all. In the 1950s, the title was held by the Queen's uncle, who later became Edward VIII before abdicating the throne. While Prince of Wales, he endeared himself to the industrialised areas of Wales by seeming to highlight rising unemployment. Queen Elizabeth II announced her son Charles would be Prince of Wales when he was nine. He was sent to study at the University of Aberystwyth, where he learned to speak Welsh, in the 1960s. His investiture was held in 1969 at Caernarfon Castle, though protests were planned to coincide with the ceremony. Many demonstrations were peaceful, but more direct action was taken by paramilitary groups including Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru (MAC), which plotted to place bombs outside government buildings to explode on the day. Decades later, Charles became the first member of the royal family to have a residence in Wales after buying Llwynywermod, a 192-acre estate in Carmarthenshire. His most recent trip to Wales with Camilla saw thousands turn out on the streets of Treorchy, in the Rhondda Valley, to greet them. Advertisement

Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Wales said in a tribute how the Queen 'had the ability to relate to the man or woman on the Clapham Omnibus, or here, the Merthyr Tydfil Omnibus'.

In what was a packed day, Charles and Camilla went on to be greeted by school children and thousands of other Royal fans, before he gave a speech in Welsh to the Senedd and spoke of how close Wales was to his mother's heart.

Charles said in his speech in the Senedd: 'I am deeply grateful for the words of condolence which so movingly paid tribute to our late sovereign, my beloved mother The Queen.'

The King continued: 'Through all the years of her reign, the land of Wales could not be closer to my mother's heart.

'I know she took immense pride in your many great achievements, even as she also felt you deeply in great times of sorrow.

'It must surely be counted the greatest achievement to belong to a land that inspired so much devotion.

'I am resolved to honour that same example in the spirit of the words I always try to live my own life - Ich dien - I Serve.'

The King went on: 'I take up my new duties with immense gratitude for the privilege of having been able to serve as Prince of Wales.

'That ancient title dating from the time of those great Welsh rulers... I now pass to my son William whose love for this corner of the Earth is made all the greater by the years he himself has spent here.'

The final stop was Cardiff Castle.

There, he had a private meeting with Mr Drakeford and then had a chance encounter with Sheinkin IV, the goat mascot for the Royal Welsh Third Battallion.

Team GB legend Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson was one of those invited to welcome the King at the castle.

She said the ceremony was 'about looking back at the life of her majesty in terms of service and devotion but also looking forward to the future.'

'We have a new king and perhaps a new way of doing things. It's a chance for society to think about what we want from our monarchy.'

After shaking hands with fans who flocked in their thousands to greet their new king, Charles and Camilla departed for the royal helicopter, which flew them to London.

Amid the cheering that arose as Charles and Camilla arrived by motorcade at Cardiff Castle following their visit to the Senedd, anti-monarchy protesters could be heard booing while holding signs reading 'We want a democracy, a Welsh republic'.

Despite intending to be a silent protest by a number of groups under the banner Real Democracy Now, the rally also at times broke into song led by members of the Cor Cochion, a socialist choir based in Cardiff.

A representative for Michael Sheen has been contacted for comment.
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Royal fans were quick to say how proud Princess Diana would be of her eldest son after the Prince of Wales made a surprise appearance to greet mourners queuing in London with his father today.

Prince William and King Charles III met crowds who are waiting upwards of 16 hours to pay their respects to the late Queen on the South Bank near Lambeth this afternoon.

At the moment, those joining the line for Her Majesty's lying in state at Westminster Hall will need to travel to Southwark Park - and they will face a wait of 16.5 hours.

But those in the queue this afternoon will take an extraordinary memory home with them, after the King and heir stunned hundreds with an impromptu walkabout.

Many were quick to hail the moment on social media, with one royal fan writing: 'William is a true natural.'

Others pointed out that his late mother Princess Diana would surely be proud of him.

Prince William and King Charles III met crowds who are waiting upwards of 16 hours to pay their respects to the late Queen on the South Bank near Lambeth this afternoon

Princess Diana and a young Prince William greet well-wishers in Wales in a scene similar to one seen this afternoon

Many were quick to hail the moment on social media, with one royal fan writing: 'William is a true natural'

Charlotte said: 'I can't believe Prince William has gone to meet people in the queue to say thank you. He is so his mother's son. She would be so proud of him.'

Elizabeth said the moment 'brought me to tears' as William was clearly determined to 'speak to as many as he can in the 16-hour queue'.

Amy agreed, saying: 'Prince William is just like his mother. Princess Diana would be so proud'.

Frederick Barwell said: 'ABSOLUTELY AMAZING King Charles and Prince William taking their time to chat to the crowds and lift their spirits. Prince William is just as caring and brilliant as his mother was.'

Charles and William's surprise walkabout came to the delight of hundreds in the line for the late Queen's lying in state at Westminster Hall this afternoon.

As the Prince of Wales shook the hands of mourners, he said: 'It means an awful lot you're here. She [the Queen] would never believe this.'

Revealing that his wife Kate Middleton and children George, Charlotte and Louis were 'ok' and 'all united in grief', William also said that he became emotional seeing his grandmother's corgis, adding: 'They are being looked after - they have gone to a very good home'.

Princess Diana accompanies her son Prince William on his first official engagement in Cardiff, Wales, in 1991

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to the late Queen

King Charles meets excited royal fans queueing along the banks of the Thames

Prince William reacts next to people queuing to pay their respects to the late Queen

The Prince of Wales is presented with a Paddington Bear along the South Bank

Several people cried after meeting the Prince of Wales, and one woman told him: 'You'll be a brilliant king one day'.

Charles left before William, both of them in cars surrounded by police vehicles.

Earlier on Saturday, the royals met London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Home Secretary Suella Braverman and London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley at Scotland Yard's special operations.

The King also met police staff, who he thanked for their planning and delivery of policing in the days leading up to his mother's funeral, as well as workers at London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade, Transport for London and the Army.

King Charles shakes the hands of well-wishers as he goes on a surprise walkabout with his son Prince William

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to see the Queen lying-in-state

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to the late Queen

King Charles and William, Prince of Wales visit Metropolitan Police Headquarters

The King concluded his tour of the home nations yesterday, starting his day with a visit to Wales, after trips to Northern Ireland and Scotland in recent days.

Final preparations are under way for the funeral in two days, with 2,000 VIPs - from world leaders Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and Jacinda Ardern to royals including Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia and the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima - expected to arrive shortly.

Queen's lying in state: What you need to know The Queen is lying in state in London ahead of her funeral. Here is some of the information mourners need to know. - What exactly is meant by the term 'lying in state'? Lying in state is usually reserved for sovereigns, current or past queen consorts, and sometimes former prime ministers. During the formal occasion, the closed coffin is placed on view, as thousands of people queue to file past and pay their respects. The coffin will be adorned with the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre. - When and where will the Queen lie in state? The late monarch's lying in state in Westminster Hall opened to the public at 5pm yesterday and it will be open 24 hours a day until it closes at 6.30am on Monday, September 19 - the day of the Queen's funeral. - Where is Westminster Hall? Westminster Hall, which dates back to 1099, is in the Palace of Westminster and is the oldest building on the parliamentary estate. It forms part of the Westminster Unesco World Heritage Site and the UK Parliament website refers to its 'great size', the 'magnificence' of its roof, and its central role in British history. The building has been the site of key events, such as the trial of Charles I, coronation banquets, and addresses by world leaders. - Is there a big queue? Yes. Government guidance says there will be a queue which is expected to be very long, predicted to be in the tens of thousands. As it stands the queue is about 14 hours long. People will need to stand for 'many hours, possibly overnight', with very little opportunity to sit down as the queue will be continuously moving. People are not allowed to camp and a wristband system is being used to manage the queue, with those waiting in line given a coloured and numbered one, specific to each person, allowing them to leave for a short period. 'Your wristband also allows you to leave the queue for a short period to use a toilet or get refreshments, then return to your place in the queue,' according to the official guidance. - What is the queue route? Members of the public can join the line on the Albert Embankment, which runs behind the London Eye onto the Southbank before following the river past landmarks such as the National Theatre, the Tate Modern and HMS Belfast, reaching 'maximum capacity' at Southwark Park. - Is there assistance for people who cannot queue for long periods of time? The main queue has step-free access with a separate accessible route also planned to run from Tate Britain where timed entry slots will be issued for a queue going along Millbank to the Palace of Westminster. Guide dogs will be allowed inside Westminster Hall, with sign language interpreters also on hand. Venues including the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre and Shakespeare's Globe will open for longer hours to accommodate those queuing. The British Film Institute on the Southbank will do the same while providing an outdoor screen with archive footage of the Queen. Advertisement

Queueing today, Shiv Pandian, 58, from Raynes Park, south-west London, said his 30 years working as a urologist for the NHS had prepared him for a long wait.

'There's lots of places to eat and toilets and things; you're used to working long hours at the NHS,' he said, laughing. 'The Queen has served us for 70 years. I've served along with her for 30 years. I've seen three jubilees of hers, and I want to say goodbye.'

He added: 'I got out at Waterloo and followed the queue backwards, and then at one point I was guided here to Southwark Park. Then it said reassuringly, it's 14 hours from the entrance here, so I'm hoping by midnight today I'll have seen the Queen.'

Paula Priest, 53, from Wolverhampton, said she was happy to wait 'as long as it takes' to reach Westminster Hall. 'We're here for the duration now, definitely.'

Those who braved the trip despite Government warnings were pleasantly surprised by the pace of the queue. Later on Saturday morning the tracker had stopped telling mourners not to travel, and the wait had dropped to 16 hours.

There was constant movement through Southwark Park until the Thames path along Bermondsey Wall East where the queue became more stationary.

Bright pink wristbands, which state they do not guarantee entry to Westminster Hall, continue to be handed out. Those waiting described the experience as well-organised, with friendly staff and officers on hand to assist.

This morning, new Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley was seen patrolling the queue for the Queen's lying in state near Lambeth Palace in south London. He greeted mourners, including several who were wearing blankets after waiting in line for hours through the early morning, and walked from the east towards Lambeth Bridge.

Alfie, 11, from Lancashire, wore his Scouts uniform complete with Platinum Jubilee badge, to join the queue for the lying in state.

His grandmother, Karen Todd, said: 'Alfie really wanted to pay his respects to the Queen, and he wanted to come in his Scout uniform to honour her.

'And we came because it's a momentous occasion and a moment in history. They'll always remember this for the rest of their lives, so we've only got this one opportunity.'

The family left home at 11.45pm on Friday, and Ms Todd said she 'had to sleep in a car park for an hour and a half' before getting on a bus to reach the queue.

Upon checking the queue tracker, Ms Todd said: 'We were going to come this evening, but we came earlier because we didn't want to miss it.' She added: 'It's been okay. Clear roads. It's well organised. Just hoping my legs and feet stay strong.'

The family brought thermals and plenty of snacks for the wait.

Sachet Pariyar had travelled from Basingstoke with his father, who had served in the Queen's Gurkha regiment, to attend the lying in state.

He said: 'My dad served in the British Army before and the Queen's Gurkha regiment, and my grandfather as well. So, we feel like we have that connection with the Queen and we wanted to come and pay respects.'

He added that he had been checking the queue's live tracker and had seen it might take 24 hours, adding he was 'a bit worried' about the wait, but 'thought if we can get the wristband, then we will give it a try'.

Linda Partridge, 71, and Simon Hopkins, 59, travelled down from the West Midlands for the lying in state, despite warnings that the queue was closed, because they felt 'that need to come down'.

Ms Partridge, who had left home at 3am, said: 'Even though they said it was closed I felt that need to come down. If we've got here and then they turned away, then fine. I would have just felt I needed to come and then be told I couldn't go'.

Mr Hopkins added: 'There was a sense of perhaps 'best not travel' but just to make the journey and just to check it out, and you know, if it ended in disappointment, and then so be it.'

He likened the experience to a 'pilgrimage', which he said, 'is a bit strange, because that kind of goes against my grain. I've been kind of drawn into it.'
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The Princess of Wales today appeared 'confident and regal' as she put her 'guests at ease with active listening techniques, touch rituals and prolonged eye engagement', according to a body language expert.

Kate, 40, was the picture of compassion as she chatted with sorrowful dignitaries from the Commonwealth during a special lunch at Buckingham Palace, with the help of the new King, Queen Consort, Prince of Wales, Earl of Wessex and Princess Royal.

The royal mother-of-three, dressed in a black ankle-length dress with a long three-strand pearl necklace and matching bracelet, was photographed smiling at Camilla, as the pair chatted, and also placed her hand on the arm of Saint Lucia governor-general Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles as they spoke.

Expert Judi James told FEMAIL that Kate's body language signals have changed dramatically since her first Palace luncheon straight after her honeymoon back in 2011.

'Back then she looked shy and inexperienced, performing anxiety hair-touches while she leaned backward slightly and held her bag up in a barrier gesture. Today we have a confident, very regal-looking woman who is clearly hosting and putting her guests at ease with her techniques of active listening and even touch rituals,' said Judi.

The Princess of Wales chats with His Excellency Mr. Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles, Governor of St Lucia during a lunch held for governors-general of the Commonwealth nations at Buckingham Palace

The Queen Consort and the Princess of Wales during a lunch held for governors-general of the Commonwealth nations at Buckingham Palace in London

Kate, 40, was the picture of compassion as she chatted with sorrowful dignitaries from the Commonwealth during a special lunch at Buckingham Palace , with the help of the new King, Queen Consort, Prince of Wales, Earl of Wessex and Princess Roya

The body language expert added: 'Kate now uses a prolonged eye engagement that shows any shyness is a thing of the past.

'Her hair-touching is practical. Aware of the cameras as she talks to Camilla, she pushes her hair back to make sure her expression and their shared, warm smiles are visible.

The barrier rituals with the bag are also a thing of the past. Kate is now empty-handed, using her hands to use expressive and emphatic gesticulations that will usually be a sign of leadership in a conversation.

'She is even confident enough to gauge exactly how and when to use touch to show empathy and sympathy, as she does with this arm-touch on the Saint Lucia governor-general.

'Theres only one small sign to suggest that shyer side is still lurking. In full-length shots we can see her legs are crossed at the ankle in a gesture that suggests a sweetly self-effacing side beneath all the queen-in-waiting confidence.'

The Princess of Wales wore a black dress, which she matched with pearl earrings, a necklace and a bracelet

Charles (far left), Kate (centre), the Earl of Wessex (behind and left of Kate), Princess Anne (right) and Camilla (behind Anne and right) are seen at a lunch at the Palace on Saturday afternoon

Camilla and Kate beamed as they chatted at the lunch held at the Palace on Saturday

The Queen Consort and the Earl of Wessex during a lunch held for governors-general of the Commonwealth nations

King Charles III appears pensive while the Princess of Wales smiles as they hold court at Buckingham Palace on Saturday

Today's event was a precursor to tomorrow's 'reception of the century', which will see 500 world leaders, presidents and royals gather at the palace in honour of the Queen, ahead of her historic state funeral on Monday.

Queen's lying in state: What you need to know The Queen is lying in state in London ahead of her funeral. Here is some of the information mourners need to know. - What exactly is meant by the term 'lying in state'? Lying in state is usually reserved for sovereigns, current or past queen consorts, and sometimes former prime ministers. During the formal occasion, the closed coffin is placed on view, as thousands of people queue to file past and pay their respects. The coffin will be adorned with the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre. - When and where will the Queen lie in state? The late monarch's lying in state in Westminster Hall opened to the public at 5pm yesterday and it will be open 24 hours a day until it closes at 6.30am on Monday, September 19 - the day of the Queen's funeral. - Where is Westminster Hall? Westminster Hall, which dates back to 1099, is in the Palace of Westminster and is the oldest building on the parliamentary estate. It forms part of the Westminster Unesco World Heritage Site and the UK Parliament website refers to its 'great size', the 'magnificence' of its roof, and its central role in British history. The building has been the site of key events, such as the trial of Charles I, coronation banquets, and addresses by world leaders. - Is there a big queue? Yes. Government guidance says there will be a queue which is expected to be very long, predicted to be in the tens of thousands. As it stands the queue is about 14 hours long. People will need to stand for 'many hours, possibly overnight', with very little opportunity to sit down as the queue will be continuously moving. People are not allowed to camp and a wristband system is being used to manage the queue, with those waiting in line given a coloured and numbered one, specific to each person, allowing them to leave for a short period. 'Your wristband also allows you to leave the queue for a short period to use a toilet or get refreshments, then return to your place in the queue,' according to the official guidance. - What is the queue route? Members of the public can join the line on the Albert Embankment, which runs behind the London Eye onto the Southbank before following the river past landmarks such as the National Theatre, the Tate Modern and HMS Belfast, reaching 'maximum capacity' at Southwark Park. - Is there assistance for people who cannot queue for long periods of time? The main queue has step-free access with a separate accessible route also planned to run from Tate Britain where timed entry slots will be issued for a queue going along Millbank to the Palace of Westminster. Guide dogs will be allowed inside Westminster Hall, with sign language interpreters also on hand. Venues including the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre and Shakespeare's Globe will open for longer hours to accommodate those queuing. The British Film Institute on the Southbank will do the same while providing an outdoor screen with archive footage of the Queen. Advertisement

The governors-general of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu were among those present.

Edward and the Countess of Wessex Sophie were greeted with cheers from the waiting crowds as they left the event at Buckingham Palace, before stopping to chat with well-wishers.

The Queen's youngest son could be heard asking mourners where they had come from and whether they were making their way to Green Park to lay flowers.

Edward said the Queen would 'appreciate' the number of people paying their respects, adding: 'I know that my mother would really appreciate this fantastic support'.

Meanwhile, his wife was given bouquets and a stuffed toy, before she stopped to look at one young girl's T-shirt, which was printed with photos of the Queen through the decades of her reign.

Sophie and the Earl of Wessex also walked over to meet members of the public stood behind barriers on the edge of Green Park.

It came after Charles and his son William delighted hundreds of stunned mourners waiting to see the Queen lying-in-state on a surprise walkabout today - after they thanked emergency service staff for their work during the mourning period ahead of the state funeral on Monday.

Britain's new monarch and the Prince of Wales greeted tired royal fans who are queueing 14 hours to see the Queen's coffin at the Palace of Westminster.

Hundreds of people in line along the South Bank near Lambeth, south London cheered and applauded as Charles and William emerged, with many shouting 'hip hip hooray' and 'God Save the King' as the royals passed by. Many took photographs and pressed against the metal barriers, eager to exchange a word with the King and the heir to the throne as they shook hands with those closest.

One lady offered Charles condolences as he shook her hand, and another shouted: 'I can't believe this' - while a third presented the two royals with a Paddington Bear toy, in reference to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee sketch with the beloved children's character.

As the Prince of Wales shook the hands of mourners, he said: 'It means an awful lot you're here. She [the Queen] would never believe this. You'll make some friends for life [those who have met in crowd'. Revealing that his wife Kate Middleton and children George, Charlotte and Louis were 'ok' and 'all united in grief', William also said that he became emotional seeing his grandmother's corgis, adding: 'They are being looked after - they have gone to a very good home'.

Several people cried after meeting the Prince of Wales, and one woman told him: 'You'll be a brilliant king one day'. Charles left before William, both of them in cars surrounded by police vehicles.

Earlier the royals met London Mayor Sadiq Khan, a curtseying Home Secretary Suella Braverman and London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley at Scotland Yard's special operations. During the visit today in Lambeth, the King also met police staff, who he thanked for their planning and delivery of policing in the days leading up to his mother's funeral, as well as workers at London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade, Transport for London and the Army.

The King concluded his tour of the home nations yesterday, starting his day with a visit to Wales, after trips to Northern Ireland and Scotland in recent days.

Final preparations are under way for the funeral in two days, with 2,000 VIPs - from world leaders Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and Jacinda Ardern to royals including Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia and the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima - expected to arrive throughout the weekend.

It comes after the King and his siblings last night held a silent vigil in Westminster Hall to pay a moving tribute to their beloved mother.
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The Princess of Wales continued to pay tribute to the late Queen by wearing Her Majesty's pearl earrings as she attended a lunch at Buckingham Palace with members of the Royal Family this afternoon.

Kate, 40, was in an entirely black ensemble as is tradition following the death of the Queen on September 8 - and she is likely to continue to do so until the end of the mourning period on September 26.

She wore a custom, ankle-length dress for the lunch, in which members of the Royal Family met dignitaries from the Commonwealth ahead of tomorrow's 'reception of the century'. This will see 500 world leaders, presidents and royals gather at the Palace.

The mother-of-three wore her hair down for the occasion, and completed her outfit with 520 suede heels.

She also continued to pay tribute to her husband's late grandmother by wearing a set of the Queen's pearl and diamond earrings for the occasion.

The Prince and Princess of Wales during a lunch held for governors-general of the Commonwealth nations at Buckingham Palace

The Princess of Wales wore a black dress in keeping with the tone of the events, which she matched with pearl earrings, necklace and bracelet

Charles (far left), Kate (centre), the Earl of Wessex (behind and left of Kate), Princess Anne (right) and Camilla (behind Anne and right) are seen at a lunch at the Palace on Saturday afternoon

While she has worn the jewels several times, she has made a special effort to wear the pieces repeatedly this week, including at Buckingham Palace to receive the Queen's coffin and to meet mourners in Sandringham.

The Princess of Wales also donned the glittering earrings on Friday, when visiting an Army training centre in Surrey to greet soldiers taking part in the procession for the Queen's funeral on Monday morning.

This afternoon, Kate was pictured smiling at Camilla, who was holding a drink with a slice of lemon in it, as the pair chatted.

At one stage, the princess, who was wearing a long three-strand pearl necklace and matching bracelet, placed her hand on the arm of Saint Lucia governor-general Cyril Errol Melchiades Charles as they spoke.

The governors-general of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu were among those present.

King Charles III appears pensive while the Princess of Wales smiles as they hold court at Buckingham Palace on Saturday

King Charles III and the Princess of Wales during a lunch held for governors-general of the Commonwealth nations at Buckingham Palace

Edward and the Countess of Wessex Sophie were greeted with cheers from the waiting crowds as they left the event, before stopping to chat with well-wishers.

The Queen's youngest son could be heard asking mourners where they had come from and whether they were making their way to Green Park to lay flowers.

Edward said the Queen would 'appreciate' the number of people paying their respects, adding: 'I know that my mother would really appreciate this fantastic support'.

Meanwhile, his wife was given bouquets and a stuffed toy, before she stopped to look at one young girl's T-shirt, which was printed with photos of the Queen through the decades of her reign.

Sophie and the Earl of Wessex also walked over to meet members of the public stood behind barriers on the edge of Green Park.

Kate Middleton paid tribute to the Queen today as she donned the monarch's diamond and pearl earrings for a third time this week while meeting troops taking part in the Queen's funeral on Monday

While she has worn the jewels several times over the years, she has made a special effort to wear the pieces on a number of occasions this week, including at Buckingham Palace to receive the Queen's coffin (left) and yesterday to meet mourners in Sandringham (right)

It is believed the jewels previously belonged to the Queen with Her Majesty wearing them to a number of events over the years. Pictured, the Queen wearing the earrings in 1977 (left) and in 2017

It came after Charles and his son William delighted hundreds of stunned mourners waiting to see the Queen lying-in-state on a surprise walkabout today - after they thanked emergency service staff for their work during the mourning period ahead of the state funeral on Monday.

Britain's new monarch and the Prince of Wales greeted tired royal fans who are queueing 14 hours to see the Queen's coffin at the Palace of Westminster.

Hundreds of people in line along the South Bank near Lambeth, south London cheered and applauded as Charles and William emerged, with many shouting 'hip hip hooray' and 'God Save the King' as the royals passed by. Many took photographs and pressed against the metal barriers, eager to exchange a word with the King and the heir to the throne as they shook hands with those closest.

The royal mother-of-three, who was dressed in mourning black, was pensive as she supported her husband on the day out today (pictured left and right)

The earrings are believed to be an elegant pair the Princess has worn on a number of previous occasions, including the day she left hospital after the birth of Prince Louis (left). Also pictured: Kate in 2019 (centre) and on Remembrance Day 202

One lady offered Charles condolences as he shook her hand, and another shouted: 'I can't believe this' - while a third presented the two royals with a Paddington Bear toy, in reference to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee sketch with the beloved children's character.

As the Prince of Wales shook the hands of mourners, he said: 'It means an awful lot you're here. She [the Queen] would never believe this. You'll make some friends for life [those who have met in crowd'. Revealing that his wife Kate Middleton and children George, Charlotte and Louis were 'ok' and 'all united in grief', William also said that he became emotional seeing his grandmother's corgis, adding: 'They are being looked after - they have gone to a very good home'.

Several people cried after meeting the Prince of Wales, and one woman told him: 'You'll be a brilliant king one day'. Charles left before William, both of them in cars surrounded by police vehicles.

Earlier the royals met London Mayor Sadiq Khan, a curtseying Home Secretary Suella Braverman and London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley at Scotland Yard's special operations. During the visit today in Lambeth, the King also met police staff, who he thanked for their planning and delivery of policing in the days leading up to his mother's funeral, as well as workers at London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade, Transport for London and the Army.

The King concluded his tour of the home nations yesterday, starting his day with a visit to Wales, after trips to Northern Ireland and Scotland in recent days.
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Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have paid a personal tribute to the Queen, saying: 'Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters and we're so very proud of you.'

According to the royal sisters - who posted the tribute on Instagram alongside a sweet photograph of their younger selves with their grandmother - they have 'not been able to put much into words' since the monarch died at Balmoral on September 8, aged 96.

The Duke of York's daughters, who are both thought to have shared a close relationship with their grandmother, thanked Her Majesty, saying she would 'never know' the impact she'd had on their lives.

They also paid tribute to King Charles, their uncle, writing that they know he 'will continue to lead in your example as he too has dedicated his life to service'.

The royal sisters shared a sweet image of themselves with their 'dearest Grannie', as they paid tribute to Her Majesty with a moving statement

In the statement, the princesses said they've 'not been able to put much into words since you left us all'

Last night, the sisters attended a vigil at Westminster Hall. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi appeared visibly moved as he watched over the vigil next to Princess Eugenie (centre) and Princess Beatrice (right)

In the statement, Beatrice and Eugenie said: 'Dearest Grannie, We've not been able to put much into words since you left us all. There have been tears and laughter, silences and chatter, hugs and loneliness, and a collective loss for you, our beloved Queen and our beloved Grannie.

'We, like many, thought you'd be here forever. And we all miss you terribly. You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever.

'For now dear Grannie, all we want to say is thank you. Thank you for making us laugh, for including us, for picking heather and raspberries, for marching soldiers, for our teas, for comfort, for joy. You, being you, will never know the impact you have had on our family and so many people around the world.

'The world mourns you and the tributes would really make you smile. They are all too true of the remarkable leader you are.

'We're so happy you're back with Grandpa. Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters and we're so very proud of you.

'We know that dear Uncle Charles, the King, will continue to lead in your example as he too has dedicated his life to service.

'God save the King. With our love, Beatrice and Eugenie.'

Members of the public filed past Her late Majesty's coffin while her children stood around in silence with their heads to the floor to pay their respects

Members of the royal family watched on during the Vigil of Princes in Westminster Hall. Pictured L-R: James, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise Windsor, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Mike Tindall, Zara Tindall, Mia Tindall, Lena Tindall

The two sisters have been seen looking emotional as they've attended public engagements in the wake of Queen Elizabeth's death.

Last night, they attended a vigil at Westminster Hall in London, which saw the Queen's children - King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward - repeat the ceremonial Vigil of Princes that they first carried out at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh as the Queen lies in state.

As they stood around the casket, other members of the royal family, including Queen Consort Camilla, watched in solemn silence from the stands.

As Andrew, 62, who served in the Falklands, wore the uniform and stood around his mother's coffin, his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie watched their father pay his respects.

They were joined by Beatrice's husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 38, who appeared visibly moved by the vigil and put his hand to his face, as if he was wiping away tears.

Peter Phillips pictured in the stands alongside his daughters Savannah Phillips and Isla Phillips

Also in the stands watching the vigil were Princess Anne's husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, who had served as the Queen's equerry from 1986 and developed a close relationship with Her late Majesty.

Sir Tim has been by the Princess Royal's side since her mother passed away on 8 September, accompanying Anne in the car journey from the Balmoral Estate to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh behind the Queen's coffin.

Her son Peter Phillips, 44, was also present, with his two daughters Savannah and Isla.

The young girls, who had their hair tied back in French plaits, leaned over the edge of the stands to get a better look at what was happening below.

Other young royals present at the vigil were Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and her younger brother James, Viscount Severn, 14.

Members of the public who witnessed the ceremony had been queueing for hours outside in a line that stretches all the way back to Southwark Park

King Charles (pictured forefront), Princess Anne (right) Prince Andrew (back centre) and Prince Edward (back left) entered Westminster Hall to stand guard over their mother's coffin in a ceremonial Vigil of Princes

Prince Andrew (back left) was allowed to wear his military uniform to take part in the ceremony after wearing a suit for a similar vigil in Edinburgh on Monday evening

Prince Andrew, the Queen's second son, was permitted to wear his military uniform as he paid his respects to his mother, after King Charles lifted a ban on the Duke of York donning the outfit as he is no longer a working royal

Prince Edward's children were accompanied by Sophie Wessex, 57, whom it was announced will receive many of the Queen's former royal patronages following her death.

Sophie appeared to be fighting back tears last Saturday as she stepped outside the Balmoral Estate to look at tributes and messages of condolence that had been left by members of the public to the late monarch.

The mother-of-two was said to have an incredibly close relationship with her mother-in-law and referred to her as 'mama' - and royal sources told the Mirror she was likely to become patron of the Women's Institute and Dog's Trust.

As the Queen's grandchildren including Zara Tindall and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie attended the vigil, King Charles's children Prince William and Prince Harry did not appear to be in attendance.

Members of the public were still able to pass by as the Vigil of Princes took place inside Westminster Hall

Members of the Royal Family watched from nearby stands as the Queen's children held another vigil over her coffin

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla depart Westminster Hall after holding vigil over the late Queen's coffin

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, his wife Sophie and their children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, leave Westminster Hall

However the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex are expected to attend another, first-of-its-kind vigil to pay their respects to their grandmother at Westminster Hall tonight, in which they will be joined by their cousins.

The partners of each of the Queen's grandchildren are not expected to attend, but in another gesture of respect from King Charles, Harry will be allowed to wear his military uniform despite no longer being a working royal.

Harry and William will be joined by their cousins, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, the children of the Princess Royal.

The Duke of York's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, will also attend - while the Earl of Wessex's children, Lady Louise and Viscount Severn, will stand near the middle of their grandmother's coffin.

The vigil is expected to last around 15 minutes.
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The Queen's four granddaughters came together to honour their grandmother at the vigil at Westminster Hall on Saturday night.

Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Lady Louise Windsor followed in the footsteps of Princess Anne by taking part in a ceremony that has been traditionally reserved for male members of the Royal Family.

The cousins, who all wore simple black dresses and hairbands, were joined by Prince William, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips and James, Viscount Severn, for the 15-minute ceremony.

The cousins filed into Westminster Hall in formation, with the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex, dressed in the uniform of the Blues and Royals, leading princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn. Peter and Zara followed behind.

It came a week after Princess Anne became the first woman to take part in the Vigil of the Princes, a ceremony that has been held twice before: following the deaths of King George VI, and of the Queen Mother. On both occasions only male descendants took part.

Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Lady Louise Windsor followed in the footsteps of Princess Anne by taking part in a ceremony that has been traditionally reserved for male members of the Royal Family

Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Beatrice stood vigil at Westminster Hall on Saturday night

Princess Eugenie joined her sister and cousins at the vigil (left). Right, Prince Harry was permitted to wear military dress

Pictured: Princess Eugenie (back left), Princess Beatrice (back right), James, Viscount Severn (centre left), Lady Louise Windsor (centre right), Peter Phillips (front left) and Zara Tindall (front right)

Princess Eugenie (left) and Zara Tindall (right) looked sombre as they took part in the Vigil of the Princes on Saturday night

Prince William and the Duke of Sussex lead their cousins into Westminster Hall for the vigil on Saturday night

Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Eugenie of York during a vigil for their grandmother in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening

The Queen enjoyed a close relationship with all eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Despite the enormity of her role, she made time to spend summer holidays with her family in Balmoral and celebrate Christmas at Sandringham.

Her grandchildren have made appearances at a number of events in the week since Her Majesty's death, stepping out to thank well-wishers for their outpouring of support.

Earlier today, Eugenie and Beatrice released a joint statement remembering their 'Grannie'. They wrote: 'Dearest Grannie, We've not been able to put much into words since you left us all. There have been tears and laughter, silences and chatter, hugs and loneliness, and a collective loss for you, our beloved Queen and our beloved Grannie.

'We, like many, thought you'd be here forever. And we all miss you terribly. You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever.

'For now dear Grannie, all we want to say is thank you. Thank you for making us laugh, for including us, for picking heather and raspberries, for marching soldiers, for our teas, for comfort, for joy. You, being you, will never know the impact you have had on our family and so many people around the world.

'The world mourns you and the tributes would really make you smile. They are all too true of the remarkable leader you are.

The eight sombre grandchildren arrived at Westminster Hall where they performed a vigil at the Queen's coffin

Queen Elizabeth II 's grandchildren (clockwise from front centre) the Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, James, Viscount Severn, Princess Eugenie, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall hold a vigil

Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren arrived in Westminster just before 6pm where they will hold a 15-minute vigil

Prince William bows his head as he stands beside his grandmother's coffin in Westminster Hall

The Queen's four grandchildren stand around her coffin during their own vigil, similar to the one held by their parents on Friday

Mourners watched as the vigil was held for the Queen in Westminster Hall by her eight grandchildren on Saturday evening

'We thought you'd be here forever': Beatrice and Eugenie's touching tribute to the Queen The royal sisters shared a sweet image of themselves with their 'dearest Grannie', as they paid tribute to Her Majesty with a moving statement 'Dearest Grannie, We've not been able to put much into words since you left us all. There have been tears and laughter, silences and chatter, hugs and loneliness, and a collective loss for you, our beloved Queen and our beloved Grannie. 'We, like many, thought you'd be here forever. And we all miss you terribly. You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever. 'For now dear Grannie, all we want to say is thank you. Thank you for making us laugh, for including us, for picking heather and raspberries, for marching soldiers, for our teas, for comfort, for joy. You, being you, will never know the impact you have had on our family and so many people around the world. 'The world mourns you and the tributes would really make you smile. They are all too true of the remarkable leader you are. 'We're so happy you're back with Grandpa. Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters and we're so very proud of you. 'We know that dear Uncle Charles, the King, will continue to lead in your example as he too has dedicated his life to service. 'God save the King. With our love, Beatrice and Eugenie.' Advertisement

'We're so happy you're back with Grandpa. Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters and we're so very proud of you.

'We know that dear Uncle Charles, the King, will continue to lead in your example as he too has dedicated his life to service. God save the King. With our love, Beatrice and Eugenie.'

All eight grandchildren came together on Wednesday when Her Majesty's coffin was brought to Westminster Hall to lie-in-state. The emotion of the moment was clear to see, with Eugenie, Beatrice and Zara all holding back tears.

Meanwhile Lady Louise, who shared a love of horses with her late grandmother, moved viewers to tears when she curtsied to the Queen's coffin.

Today, all eight grandchildren remained composed as they took part in the highly public ceremony. It comes ahead of the Queen's funeral on Monday.

Mourners are continuing to file past the coffin as the royal cousins stand beside their late grandmother's coffin

The Queen's grandchildren stand in solemn silence as they mount a vigil for their late grandmother in Westminster Hall

The Prince of Wales stands vigil beside the coffin of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, as it lies in state

Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Beatrice of York at Saturday evening's vigil in Westminster Hall

Brothers William and Harry - both dressed in uniform - stood guard at the Queen's lying in state in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening as a stream of mourners filed past after queueing for hours.

Prince Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, has previously been denied the chance to wear his military uniform as he publicly mourns, because he is no longer a working royal.

But royal sources said the King decided his youngest son could wear uniform for the vigil.

The brothers were joined in their silent tribute around the coffin by their cousins.

The young royals, led by Prince William, were in position at the top of the grand committee staircase in the corner of the vast hall at 5.58pm.

At 6pm, the tapping which signifies the changing of the guard sounded, and William began walking down the steps, one at a time, followed by Harry, then Beatrice and Eugenie side by side, Louise and James side by side, and Zara and Peter also side by side.

Queen Elizabeth II 's grandchildren Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, James, Viscount Severn and Princess Eugenie inside Westminster Hall

Zara Tindall, Lady Louise, Princess Beatrice, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Eugenie, Viscount Severn and Peter Phillips hold a vigil beside the coffin

Inside Westminster Hall, mourners watched on as the vigil was held at the late Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall

Mourners watched on as the Queen's grandchildren stood around her coffin in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening

From left: Zara Tindall, Lady Louise, Princess Beatrice, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Eugenie, Viscount Severn and Peter Phillips hold a vigil

Silence fell as members of the public looked on, with the only sound being the grandchildren's footsteps on the stone.

Prince William was positioned at one end of the coffin, facing the north entrance, while Harry was positioned at the opposite end, facing the area of the hall where thousands of people have entered over the last few days.

The Prince of Wales stood with his hands clasped in front and his head bowed.

Louise and James's parents, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, looked on from a platform facing the coffin.

Members of the public continued to file past while the Queen's grandchildren stood guard, with some women wiping tears away from their face as they left the hall.

At 6.15pm, the grandchildren ended their vigil. Prince William led the group away from the coffin, followed by Zara and Peter, Louise and James, Beatrice and Eugenie, and finally Harry.

The cousins performed the vigil at their grandmother's coffin on Saturday evening at the Palace of Westminster, London

The grandchildren arriving at Westminster Hall where they held a vigil for the Queen in Westminster Hall, London

Prince William leads the group of eight through Westminster Hall to the coffin on Saturday evening in Westminster Hall

It was the third, and final, vigil of the Royal Family for the beloved monarch. The first took place in Edinburgh last week, and the second last night.

Both were observed by the Queen's four children: King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Last week's first Vigil of the Princes marked the first time the tradition has taken place since 2002.

There have been two such vigils in the past: in 1936, with the death of King George V in 1936, and in 2002, during the Queen Mother's funeral.

That vigil was attended by the royal's four grandsons - King Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and the Earl of Snowdon.

The men stood guard over the Queen Mother's casket in Westminster Hall, as people walked by to pay their respects.

King George V's vigil in 1936 was attended by his sons King George VI, Henry, Duke of Gloucester and George, Duke of Kent.

The death of George VI was not marked by a Vigil of Princes because he only had daughters, no sons, and no grandsons of an appropriate age.

As no other royal women have attended a vigil, Princess Anne made history last week, as the first.

Sweet moments with Gan Gan: Adorable videos and pictures show the close bond the Queen shared with her great-grandchildren and grandchildren over the years

Tonight, the Queen's eight grandchildren stood vigil over her coffin as she lies-in-state.

Prince William and Prince Harry were joined by their cousins Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, as they came together to honour Her Majesty.

It was a poignant farewell to a grandmother who always made time to create memories with her family, despite her role as Queen and Head of State.

The same is true for her great-grandchildren: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis; Mia, Lena and Lucas Tindall; Savannah and Isla Phillips; Sienna Mapelli Mozzi and August Brooksbank; and Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.

Prince Harry, Prince William and Princess Beatrice's husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi all spoke about how important it was that their children were able to make memories with Her Majesty before her death.

Some of these memories were captured on camera, in front of the globe's press - or television crews - for the world to see and enjoy.

They gave the public an intimate view of what the Queen was like behind closed doors in her role as mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

One sweet clip shows the Queen playing with Peter Phillips, her eldest grandson, as he spent time with his mother Princess Anne in the royal nursery. More recent ones include Prince George and his great-grandmother making a cake, and the Queen taking in the sights of the Platinum Jubilee with a young Prince Louis.

Here, FEMAIL looks at some of the most uplifting interactions between 'Granny' and her family...

Just like Gan-Gan! Charlotte copies the Queen's wave at Trooping the Colour

Learning by example: All eyes were on the Royal Family during Trooping the Colour in 2018, but it was Princess Charlotte who stole the show. The cheeky three-year-old was caught on camera as she watched her great-grandmother the Queen waving at the crowd... then decided to follow suit (pictured)

Look at that! Princess Charlotte looked up in awe at the flypast during Trooping the Colour in 2018. Also pictured (left to right): The Queen, the Duchess of Sussex, King Charles, Prince Harry, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Savannah Phillips and Prince George

All eyes were on the Royal Family during Trooping the Colour in 2018, but it was Princess Charlotte who stole the show.

The cheeky three-year-old was caught on camera as she watched her great-grandmother the Queen waving at the crowd... then decided to follow suit.

Her mother Kate picked up on the adorable moment and looked over her shoulder to William to alert him to what their daughter was doing.

Despite her tender years, the youngster has had plenty of opportunity to practice her royal wave after taking part in overseas tours with the Duke and Duchess, now the Prince and Princess of Wales.

She looked adorable in a blue dress matching both her mother, Kate, and great-grandmother.

Getting stuck in: Whipping up Christmas pudding with George

Prince George tries his hand at making Christmas pudding under the watchful eye of his great-grandmother the Queen for a video broadcast on Christmas Day 2019

Prince George, dressed in a white shirt with black piping and a cute collar, tries very hard to mix the pudding

Eventually all the family step in including the now King Charles III, Queen Elizabeth the second and the now Prince of Wales can be seen assisting Prince George in a sweet family moment caught on camera

Filmed in December 2019, this heartwarming clip shows Prince George mixing some batter for Christmas pudding alongside his father Prince William, grandfather King Charles, and great-grandmother, the Queen.

George appears to be having a whale of a time as he enthusiastically takes his wooden spoon to the mixture.

The video, which featured in the Queen's Christmas Day message, showcased four generations of the royal family supporting a Royal British Legion project.

The puddings were mixed for the Royal British Legion's Together at Christmas initiative, which aims to provide extra support to the Armed Forces community at annual festive 'get-togethers' across the charity's network, both at home and abroad.

After prompting from his father, George repeatedly stabs at the thick pudding mixture with a wooden spoon, making his grandfather Charles laugh, while the Queen watches on, smiling.

Charles and William are also featured trying their hand at Christmas pudding making and the duke is seen holding his son's hand.

Playing with her eldest grandson: The Queen in the nursery with Anne and Peter

The Queen shares a sweet moment with Princess Anne and Peter Phillips. The three royal generations gather on a sofa in Buckingham Palace, something the broadcaster describes as 'The Royal Nursery'

Princess Anne comes into the nursery, cradling a baby Peter Phillips on her hip as The Queen, dressed in a moss green dress and pearls, beams at them

A one-year-old Peter Phillips smiles as he sees his grandmother The Queen and seems unfazed as a dog climbs up on the couch

In her 1978 Christmas broadcast, the Queen told people 'not to give up hope for a brighter future', and shared clips of her young grandson Peter Philips.

The clip showed her leaving church with the Queen Mother and ended with an intimate moment in the royal nursery at Buckingham Palace, as Princess Anne presented her mother with her grand-child Peter.

As the mother and daughter sat on a floral patterned sofa, they were joined by one of the Queen's many dogs - which seemed to delight the one-year-old Peter as he gurgled and smiled.

Meanwhile his grandmother, the Queen, could be seen smiling down at him.

Sharing a moment with Louis: Playful Prince sneaks a special moment during the Jubilee

Prince Louis struggled to hide his displeasure as the Red Arrows flew past during Trooping the Colour for the Queen's Jubilee celebrations earlier this year - while the monarch struggled to hide a grin

Queen Elizabeth II smiled warmly at her four-year-old great-grandson Prince Louis at the flypast presumably trying to distract him from the noise

Prince William and Kate's youngest child, Prince Louis, four, managed to steal the limelight with his antics during the Platinum Jubilee this Summer.

The youngster was filmed pulling funny faces, and covering his ears during a flyby when the royals appeared on Buckingham Palace's balcony to kick-off the four-day celebratory weekend.

Among the funny antics, royal watchers also noticed a sweet moment between Prince Louis and his great-grandmother.

During his appearance, the youngster seemed entranced, looking up inquisitively at the monarch, and seeking out her attention.

At one point, he even broke away from his mother Kate to make his way closer to his Gan Gan.

And the pair shared a chat during the flypast, while the Queen seemingly trying to distract Louis from the loud noise of the aircraft.

Showing her protective side: Running after Prince William

The moment before the Queen lost her poise to grab a young Prince William as he ran after a carriage following the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of York as they set off on honeymoon in 1986

The Queen showed her protective instinct as she stood by a four-year-old Prince William in 1986 after the wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York.

As they all stood watching the wedding carriage head off, The Queen can be seen running after Prince William as he attempted to follow it.

The usually regal monarch showed her softer side in the unearthed clip, where she quickly grabbed William from behind the carriage wearing a light blue dress.

Cuddles at the polo: Queen held a baby Zara Phillips on her knee

In this adorable photograph from 1984, the Queen took her young granddaughter Zara Phillips, aged three, onto her knee as they watched the polo at Smith's Lawn, Windsor. Then Zara sat on Grandma's knee to watch mother Princess Anne ride her horse in a display.

Three year old Zara, daughter of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, was pictured attending the polo match at Smith's Lawn Polo Ground in Windsor in the Royal Box

This sweet shot was captured when the Queen attended a Polo match with a three-year old Zara Phillips - who now shares her love of the sport alone with her mother Princess Anne.

The monarch and her grandchildren were at the 1984 event at Smith's Lawn Polo Ground in Windsor to watch Anne perform a horse display.

There was one sweet moment where the Queen picked up her granddaughter and held her on her lap, while the two watched the match together.

It was a tender moment between the pair, who both shared a love of horses and riding.

Zara went on to win the silver medal as part of the London 2012 Olympics, the single Olympic title of her career.

Her Majesty shares a sweet moment on the balcony with George

Prince George with his great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II caught in an intimate moment where he turns to her and smiles during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June

The pair share a smile together as they stand before the crowds at Buckingham Palace at the end of the Platinum Pageant on The Mall in June

As the third in line for the throne and the oldest of the Queen's great-grandchildren present, Prince George was the Queen's most obedient servant during her Platinum Jubilee fly-past on June 4.

Dressed to the nines in a navy blue suit, George, nine, was seen calmly standing next to the late Monarch as the royal family and the crowds amassed in front of Buckingham Palace sang 'God Save the Queen.'

The special moment erupted with rousing cries from royal fans and fireworks on his side of the Monarch's London residence.

The Queen, who looked particularly pleased, was seen turning to her great grandson to share in the special moment with him.

Prince George beamed as he turned to his grandmother showing what appeared to be true admiration for his elder, as she turned to face him and smiled back.

A first meeting: The Queen meets newborn Archie Mountbatten-Windsor

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, joined by her mother, Doria Ragland, as they show their new son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, to Queen Elizabeth II and the then Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle

The Queen met her great-grandson Archie Mountbatten-Windsor in 2019, in a meeting also attended by Meghan's mother Doria Ragland.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex introduced their first son and eighth in line to the throne at the time to his great-grandmother, who was the first of the royal household to meet Archie.

The Queen, along with her late husband Prince Philip smiled adoringly down at the latest addition to the family while the Duchess of Sussex held him in her arms.

The Queen's 'favourite event': Anne, Peter and Zara at the Windsor horse show

Princess Anne with her children Peter and Zara and The Queen at the Windsor Horse Show on May 11, 1985 in Windsor, Berkshire, England.

It's no secret that the Queen, Princess Anne and Zara Phillips share a passion for horses, with the Princess Royal becoming a keen equestrian and Zara eventually winning an Olympic dressage medal.

How fitting that three generations of horse loving women, along with the Queen's grandson Peter Phillips, were snapped at the Windsor Horse Show in 1985.

Princess Anne and The Queen are wrapped up against the British drizzle as Peter and Zara look on ahead.

Despite the typically bleak British weather, the family would no doubt have shared wonderful memories at the Horse Show, which was known as one of the Queen's favourite events of the year.

The Queen interacts with Prince George as a toddler

The Queen was pictured thoroughly entertained as she bent down to talk to Prince George as a toddler on a trip to King's Lynn in Norfolk in 2015.

George, wearing a white shirt and red shorts - appeared to be looking up at his great-grandmother as they left the Magdalen church on the Sandringham Estate after Princess Charlotte's christening.

While the adults in the picture, including Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Philip and Camilla, chat to each other, the Queen's attention appears firmly fixed on her sweet great-grandson

After the christening, an official portrait was taken where the Queen's great-grandchildren were pictured with her.

That's my foot! The Queen tells off Princess Eugenie for stepping on her toes

A clip, from BBC documentary 'Elizabeth R: A Year in the Life of the Queen', which aired in 1992, shows the moment Princess Eugenie, then two, is gently reprimanded after stepping on her grandmother's toes

In the footage, taken in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, the Queen is joined by several of her grandchildren - including Prince William, then 10, Prince Harry, then eight, Zara Phillips, then 11 Princess Beatrice

An adorable young Princess Eugenie can be seen wondering around aimlessly in the clip (pictured) while her older sister Princess Beatrice struggles to mount a pony

A candid clip that originally aired in 1992, on BBC documentary 'Elizabeth R: A Year in the Life of the Queen' shows an amusing moment between the Queen and her then two-year-old granddaughter Princess Eugenie.

Once again, the monarch is sharing her love of horses with her family, and is shown trying to help Princess Beatrice, then four, mount a pony.

Meanwhile, Eugenie can be seem aimlessly walking around in her t-shirt and dungarees before stopping in front of her grandmother.

The monarch then shouts 'ow,' before moving the youngster forward and declaring: 'That's my foot you're standing on.'

The accident is forgotten just as quickly as it happens and seconds afterwards, Her Majesty can be seen taking Princess Eugenie's hand. 'Now, shall we go that way?' she adds, before leading the children on a trek around the grounds.

In the footage, Her Majesty is joined by several of her grandchildren - including Prince William, then 10, Prince Harry, then eight, Zara Phillips, then 11 Princess Beatrice - in the grounds of Balmoral Castle.

Young Princess Beatrice goes for a ride with her horse-loving Grannie

Princess Beatrice, pictured here aged 10, was snapped enjoying a moment with her grandmother the Queen, as the pair went riding in Windsor in 1999

A sweet moment the Queen shared with her granddaughter Princess Beatrice was captured on camera in 1999.

Naturally, the bonding moment featured horses, with Her Majesty and her then 10-year-old granddaughter enjoying a ride together.

In the April 1999 snap, the royal pair are seen trotting through a field in Windsor, thought to be the Great Park.

The younger royal sat astride a smaller brown horse while her grandmother looked confident riding a larger brown one, no doubt enjoying spending the quality time spent with Beatrice, despite the somewhat grey weather.
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The Queen's grandson James Viscount Severn looked sombre as he stood vigil beside his grandmother's coffin this evening at Westminster Hall, displaying a maturity beyond his 14 years.

Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren arrived in Westminster just before 6pm, where they held a first-of-its-kind vigil to pay their respects to the late monarch, who died peacefully at Balmoral on September 8.

It was attended by Prince William, the Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, dressed in the uniform of the Blues and Royals, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, and Lady Louise Windsor as well as her younger brother James.

As members of the public filed past Her Majesty's casket to pay their respects, the 14-year-old was seen with his head bowed, as he looked towards the ground during the vigil, which lasted around 10 minutes.

James Viscount Severn, 14, looked sombre as he stood vigil beside his grandmother's coffin this evening at Westminster Hall

The Queen's grandchildren stood vigil at Her Majesty's coffin this evening at Westminster Hall (pictured L-R: Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, James, Viscount Severn, Princess Eugenie, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall)

Queen Elizabeth II 's grandchildren Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, James, Viscount Severn and Princess Eugenie inside Westminster Hall

The eight grandchildren arrived at Westminster Hall where they performed a vigil at the Queen's coffin

The Queen's eight grandchildren carried out a vigil at her coffin on Saturday evening in the Palace of Westminster

Tonight's event follows yesterday's emotional vigil, which saw members of the royal family looking solemn and emotional as they watched the Queen's children guard her coffin in a vigil on Friday night.

As tearful mourners watched on, the Queen's four children stood guard of their mother's coffin for more than 10 minutes at Westminster Hall on Friday evening. The siblings each guarded a side of the coffin, with Charles, dressed in a Navy Admiral uniform, standing at the head.

King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward repeated their ceremonial Vigil of Princes that they had first carried out at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh as their mother the Queen lies in state.

As the children gathered again to pay their respects to their mother at Westminster Hall in London, where the Queen will remain until her funeral on Monday, other members of the royal family, including Queen Consort Camilla, watched in solemn silence from the stands.

Prince Andrew, the Queen's second son, was permitted to wear his military uniform as he paid his respects to his mother, after King Charles lifted a ban on the Duke of York donning the outfit as he is no longer a working royal.

Queen Elizabeth II 's grandchildren (clockwise from front centre) the Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, James, Viscount Severn, Princess Eugenie, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall hold a vigil

The Prince of Wales (right) and the Duke of Sussex before holding a vigil beside the coffin of their grandmother

Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren arrived in Westminster just before 6pm where they will hold a 15-minute vigil

Zara Tindall, Lady Louise, Princess Beatrice, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Eugenie, Viscount Severn and Peter Phillips hold a vigil beside the coffin

Prince William bows his head as he stands beside his grandmother's coffin in Westminster Hall

Pictured: Princess Eugenie (back left), Princess Beatrice (back right), James, Viscount Severn (centre left), Lady Louise Windsor (centre right), Peter Phillips (front left) and Zara Tindall (front right)

From left, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Beatrice hold a vigil in Westminster Hall, London

The Queen's four grandchildren stand around her coffin during their own vigil, similar to the one held by their parents on Friday

Mourners are continuing to file past the coffin as the royal cousins stand beside their late grandmother's coffin

The Queen's grandchildren stand in solemn silence as they mount a vigil for their late grandmother in Westminster Hall

The Prince of Wales stands vigil beside the coffin of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, as it lies in state

Mourners watched as the vigil was held for the Queen in Westminster Hall by her eight grandchildren on Saturday evening

Prince William, Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, James, Viscount Severn, Britain's Princess Eugenie of York, Britain's Lady Louise Windsor, Britain's Princess Beatrice of York and Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, depart having held a vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

As Andrew, 62, who served in the Falklands, wore the uniform and stood around his mother's coffin, his daughters Princess Beatrice, 34, and Princess Eugenie, 32, watched their father pay his respects.

They were joined by Beatrice's husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 38, who appeared visibly moved by the vigil and put his hand to his face, as if he was wiping away tears.

Also in the stands watching the vigil were Princess Anne's husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, who had served as the Queen's equerry from 1986 and developed a close relationship with Her late Majesty.

Members of the royal family watched on during the Vigil of Princes in Westminster Hall. Pictured L-R: James, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise Windsor, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Mike Tindall, Zara Tindall, Mia Tindall, Lena Tindall

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi appeared visibly moved as he watched over the vigil next to Princess Eugenie (centre) and Princess Beatrice (right)

Peter Phillips pictured in the stands alongside his daughters Savannah Phillips and Isla Phillips

Sir Tim has been by the Princess Royal's side since her mother passed away on 8 September, accompanying Anne in the car journey from the Balmoral Estate to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh behind the Queen's coffin.

Her son Peter Phillips, 44, was also present, with his two daughters Savannah and Isla.

Other members of the Princess Royal's family could be seen in the stands watching, including her daughter Zara Tindall, 41, her husband and former rugby player Mike, 41, and their two eldest children Mia, eight, and Lena, four.

Members of the royal family looked solemn as they watched in silence while the Queen's children took part in the vigil, with Mike Tindall bowing his head

Members of the public filed past Her late Majesty's coffin while her children stood around in silence with their heads to the floor to pay their respects

Members of the public who witnessed the ceremony had been queueing for hours outside in a line that stretches all the way back to Southwark Park

King Charles (pictured forefront), Princess Anne (right) Prince Andrew (back centre) and Prince Edward (back left) entered Westminster Hall to stand guard over their mother's coffin in a ceremonial Vigil of Princes

Prince Andrew (back left) was allowed to wear his military uniform to take part in the ceremony after wearing a suit for a similar vigil in Edinburgh on Monday evening

The young girls, who had their hair tied back in French plaits, leaned over the edge of the stands to get a better look at what was happening below.

Other young royals present at the vigil were Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and her younger brother James, Viscount Severn, 14.

Prince Edward's children were accompanied by Sophie Wessex, 57, whom it was announced will receive many of the Queen's former royal patronages following her death.

Sophie appeared to be fighting back tears last Saturday as she stepped outside the Balmoral Estate to look at tributes and messages of condolence that had been left by members of the public to the late monarch.

The mother-of-two was said to have an incredibly close relationship with her mother-in-law and referred to her as 'mama' - and royal sources told the Mirror she was likely to become patron of the Women's Institute and Dog's Trust.
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The Queen's beloved daughter-in-law Sophie Wessex appeared tearful as she joined her husband Prince Edward to watch their children take part in the vigil on Saturday night.

Sophie, 57, who had been described as the Queen's 'rock' and her 'second daughter', appeared emotional as she observed the 15-minute ceremony in Westminster Hall.

Her daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and James, Viscount Severn, 14, joined their cousins Prince William, Prince Harry, Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice to stand guard over the Queen.

The Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward looked on, the only senior members of the Royal Family to do so.

The Queen's beloved daughter-in-law Sophie Wessex appeared tearful as she joined her husband Prince Edward to watch their children take part in the vigil on Saturday night

Sophie, 57, who had been described as the Queen's 'rock' and her 'second daughter', appeared emotional as she observed the 15-minute ceremony in Westminster Hall

Sophie Wessex and Prince Edward were on hand to support their children Lady Louise Windsor, pictured left, and James, Viscount Severn, pictured right

Sophie Wessex, centre, appeared emotional as she arrived for the vigil in honour of the Queen at Westminster Hall

She was present last night as Prince Edward took part in a separate vigil with his siblings King Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew.

Sophie also observed the first vigil in Edinburgh last week, making her and Edward the only senior royals to be present for all three.

The Countess of Wessex has been a constant presence since the death of the Queen, making a number of appearances to thank well-wishers across the country.

It has been reported that Sophie will also inherit a number of patronages held by Her Majesty.

It will be seen as a reflection of both the close relationship the two women shared, and of the increasingly senior role she holds within the Royal Family.

Tonight, she and Edward watched on proudly as their children took part in the solemn ceremony.

Brothers William and Harry - both dressed in uniform - stood guard at the Queen's lying in state in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening as a stream of mourners filed past after queueing for hours.

Prince Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, has previously been denied the chance to wear his military uniform as he publicly mourns, because he is no longer a working royal.

But royal sources said the King decided his youngest son could wear uniform for the vigil.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, watched the vigil on Saturday evening in Westminster Hall

The Countess of Wessex looked struck with grief as she watched her children perform a vigil at their late grandmother's coffin

Last night, Sophie Wessex was joined by her son (left), daughter (behind) and other senior royals including the Queen Consort for the vigil at Westminster Hall

Despite being a former Army officer, Harry has been in civilian dress for official events this week, including walking behind the Queen's coffin on Wednesday.

On Saturday evening, Prince Harry was wearing the Blues and Royals, No.1 Uniform, KCVO Neck Order and Star, Afghanistan Operational Service Medal, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and Army Pilot Wings.

Prince William was wearing the Blues and Royals, No.1 Uniform, The Garter Sash, The Garter Star, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and RAF Pilot Wings.

The brothers were joined in their silent tribute around the coffin by cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Lady Louise Windsor and her brother Viscount Severn.

Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Beatrice stood vigil at Westminster Hall on Saturday night

Princess Eugenie joined her sister and cousins at the vigil (left). Right, Prince Harry was permitted to wear military dress

Pictured: Princess Eugenie (back left), Princess Beatrice (back right), James, Viscount Severn (centre left), Lady Louise Windsor (centre right), Peter Phillips (front left) and Zara Tindall (front right)

Princess Eugenie (left) and Zara Tindall (right) looked sombre as they took part in the Vigil of the Princes on Saturday night

Prince William and the Duke of Sussex lead their cousins into Westminster Hall for the vigil on Saturday night

The Prince of Wales stands vigil beside the coffin of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, as it lies in state

The grandchildren arriving at Westminster Hall where they held a vigil for the Queen in Westminster Hall, London

Inside Westminster Hall, mourners watched on as the vigil was held at the late Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall

The young royals, led by Prince William, were in position at the top of the grand committee staircase in the corner of the vast hall at 5.58pm.

At 6pm, the tapping which signifies the changing of the guard sounded and William began walking down the steps, one at a time, followed by Harry, then Beatrice and Eugenie side by side, Louise and James side by side, and Zara and Peter also side by side.

Silence fell as members of the public looked on, with the only sound being the grandchildren's footsteps on the stone.

Prince William was positioned at one end of the coffin, facing the north entrance, while Harry was positioned at the opposite end, facing the area of the hall where thousands of people have entered over the last few days.

The Prince of Wales stood with his hands clasped in front and his head bowed.

The Queen's grandchildren stand in solemn silence as they mount a vigil for their late grandmother in Westminster Hall

Queen Elizabeth II 's grandchildren (clockwise from front centre) the Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, James, Viscount Severn, Princess Eugenie, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall hold a vigil

Zara Tindall, Lady Louise, Princess Beatrice, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Eugenie, Viscount Severn and Peter Phillips hold a vigil beside the coffin

Queen Elizabeth II 's grandchildren Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, James, Viscount Severn and Princess Eugenie inside Westminster Hall

Peter Phillips and James, Viscount Severn hold a vigil in honour of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall on Saturday evening

Mourners watched as the vigil was held for the Queen in Westminster Hall by her eight grandchildren on Saturday evening

Harry, who served in Afghanistan as a British army officer, wore civilian clothes earlier in the week as the queen's coffin left Buckingham Palace because he is no longer a working member of the royal family.

He and his wife Meghan quit royal duties and moved to the United States in 2020. The king, however, requested that both William and Harry wear their military uniforms at the Westminster Hall vigil.

Members of the public continued to file past while the Queen's grandchildren stood guard, with some women wiping tears away from their face as they left the hall.

At 6.15pm, the tapping sounded and the grandchildren ended their vigil.

Prince William led the group away from the coffin, followed by Zara and Peter, Louise and James, Beatrice and Eugenie, and finally Harry.

Saturday's vigil followed one on Friday in which the queen's four children - Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward - stood vigil at the coffin.

Edward said the royal family was 'overwhelmed by the tide of emotion that has engulfed us and the sheer number of people who have gone out of their way to express their own love, admiration and respect (for) our dear mama.'

On Saturday, the new king was holding audiences with incoming prime ministers, governor generals of the realms and military leaders.

The lying-in-state continues until early Monday morning, when the queen's coffin will be borne to nearby Westminster Abbey for a state funeral, the finale of 10 days of national mourning for Britain's longest-reigning monarch.

After the service Monday at the abbey, the late queen's coffin will be transported through the historic heart of London on a horse-drawn gun carriage. It will then be taken in a hearse to Windsor, where the queen will be interred alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, who died last year.

Hundreds of troops from the British army, air force and navy held an early-morning rehearsal Saturday for the final procession. As troops lined the picturesque path leading to Windsor Castle, the thumping of drums echoed in the air as marching bands walked ahead of a hearse.

London police say the funeral will be the largest single policing event the force has ever handled, surpassing even the 2012 Summer Olympics and the Platinum Jubilee in June celebrating the queen's 70-year reign.

Sophie Wessex cuddles delighted children in adorable moments on Buckingham Palace walkabout - as Prince Edward explains why he keeps well away from the crowds

BY JACK WRIGHT and HANNAH MCDONALD FOR MAILONLINE

The Countess of Wessex cuddled delighted children including a baby and brought smiles to the faces of hundreds of well-wishers gathered outside Buckingham Palace today, as Prince Edward explained why he keeps away from the crowds.

Royal fans applauded Sophie and Prince Edward and could be heard telling them 'sorry for your loss' as the couple shook the hands of dozens of mourners outside the palace gates this afternoon - shortly after King Charles III and the Prince of Wales met mourners queueing along the banks of the Thames to see the Queen lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster.

The Queen's youngest son could be heard asking mourners where they had come from and whether they were making their way to Green Park to lay flowers. He then told them that the Queen would 'appreciate' the number of people paying their respects - while his wife was given bouquets and a stuffed toy as she shook hands with those gathered.

However, Edward apologised to well-wishers for not shaking their hands - and could be heard explaining after he he politely waved as he walked past them that he was trying to ensure he did not fall behind and could speak to as many people as possible.

The Countess stopped to look at one young girl's T-shirt, which was printed with photos of the Queen through the decades of her reign. Sophie collected armfuls of flowers including sunflowers and roses, and was given paper tributes to the late monarch by some of the well-wishers.

The couple also walked over to meet members of the public stood behind barriers on the edge of nearby Green Park.

In an emotional statement released just hours before he attended a poignant vigil with his siblings the King, the Duke of York and the Princess Royal in Westminster Hall last night, the Earl of Wessex said: 'As a family, we have grown up learning to share our parents, especially our beloved mama, with the nation, her realms and the Commonwealth.

'While it has been lovely to have spent time saying our own farewell privately at Balmoral, it is now time to allow others to be able to say their farewell.

The Countess of Wessex cuddles a baby as she greets well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace

Sophie, Countess of Wessex cuddled a baby in an adorable moment on a surprise walkabout

Sophie shakes the hand of a young boy sat on his father's shoulders on a surprise walkabout

Sophie, Countess of Wessex greets royal fans outside Buckingham Palace

The Countess of Wessex meeting well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace

The Countess of Wessex shook hands with well-wishers following the death of Queen Elizabeth II

The Countess of Wessex meeting well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace following the death of Queen Elizabeth II

Prince Edward waves at well-wishers outside the gates of Buckingham Palace

The Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward waved to people at Buckingham Palace today

The Earl of Wessex meeting well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace today

The Earl and Countess of Wessex during a walkabout outside Buckingham Palace

The Countess of Wessex takes flowers from well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace

Sophie shakes the hands of well-wishers gathered outside Buckingham Palace today

The Countess of Wessex meeting well-wishers during a walkabout on The Mall

We've been overwhelmed by tide of emotion: Edward and Sophie's tribute to the Queen As a family, we have grown up learning to share our parents, especially our beloved mama, with the nation, her realms and the Commonwealth. While it has been lovely to have spent time saying our own farewell privately at Balmoral, it is now time to allow others to be able to say their farewell. We have been overwhelmed by the tide of emotion that has engulfed us and the sheer number of people who have gone out of their way to express their own love, admiration and respect to such a very special and unique person who was always there for us. And now, we are there for her, united in grief. Thank you for your support, you have no idea how much it means. The Queen's passing has left an unimaginable void in all our lives. Sophie and I have taken huge pleasure in seeing our James and Louise enjoying the places and activities that their grandparents loved so much. Given that my mama let us spend so much time with her, I think she also rather enjoyed watching those passions blossom. Those times together, those happy memories, have now become massively precious to each and every one of us. May God bless Her Majesty and may her memory be long cherished even as the baton she has carried for these past 70 years now passes to the next generation and to my brother, Charles. Long live the King. Advertisement

'We have been overwhelmed by the tide of emotion that has engulfed us and the sheer number of people who have gone out of their way to express their own love, admiration and respect to such a very special and unique person who was always there for us.

'And now, we are there for her, united in grief. Thank you for your support, you have no idea how much it means.

'The Queen's passing has left an unimaginable void in all our lives. Sophie and I have taken huge pleasure in seeing our James and Louise enjoying the places and activities that their grandparents loved so much.

'Given that my mama let us spend so much time with her, I think she also rather enjoyed watching those passions blossom. Those times together, those happy memories, have now become massively precious to each and every one of us.

'May God bless Her Majesty and may her memory be long cherished even as the baton she has carried for these past 70 years now passes to the next generation and to my brother, Charles. Long live the King.'

On Thursday, Prince Edward and Countess Sophie greeted mourners in Manchester as thousands turned out to pay tribute to the Queen. The day before, the couple were part of the procession which brought the Queen's coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.

In Manchester, Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, met Josh, a young mourner who was waiting to see her with his mother, Sue.

Recounting the moment they met, Sue said: 'She just said ''nice to meet you, do you want me to take your flowers?'' Then Josh said ''can I have a hug?''. They hugged, then he asked for a photo. The bouquet is signed from Josh but it's got my name on it as well.'

Asked what the moment felt like, Josh - who is non-verbal - replied: 'Happy.'

Edward and Sophie paid tribute to the Queen at Westminster Hall alongside their children, Lady Louse and Viscount Severn, earlier in the week.

It comes after King Charles and his son Prince William greeted mourners in the queue for the Queen's lying in state.

Hundreds of people in line at Lambeth, south London, cheered and applauded as Charles and William emerged on Saturday afternoon, before the pair thanked those waiting to pay their respects to the late monarch at Westminster Hall. One woman offered the King condolences as he shook her hand, and another shouted: 'I can't believe this.'

The Countess of Wessex shook hands with people who had come to Buckingham Palace in London

Sophie, Countess of Wessex meeting royal fans outside the gates of Buckingham Palace

The Countess of Wessex was given flowers, including roses, as greeted well-wishers

Prince Edward meeting mourners gathered outside Buckingham Palace this afternoon

Sophie, Countess of Wessex greeted well-wishers on a surprise walkabout outside Buckingham Palace today

Sophie, Countess of Wessex was also handed sunflowers as she met crowds gathered in London

Sophie, Countess of Wessex shook hands with crowds gathered in London today alongside her husband

Sophie collected armfuls of flowers including sunflowers and roses, and was given paper tributes to the late monarch by some of the well-wishers

The couple also walked over to meet members of the public stood behind barriers on the edge of nearby Green Park

Smiling Sophie, Countess of Wessex as she met with crowds gathered at Buckingham Palace

Crowds had gathered in London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II

Sophie, Countess of Wessex was given roses as she greeted well-wishers following the Queen's death

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen in London

King Charles III meets members of the public in the queue along the South Bank

Camilla, Queen Consort, speaks with Catherine, Princess of Wales, during a lunch held for governors-general of the Commonwealth nations at Buckingham Palace

The Princess of Wales during a lunch held for governors-general of the Commonwealth nations at Buckingham Palace

Dozens shouted 'hip hip hooray' as Charles and William moved down the line, stopping for a few moments with each person. Several people called their friends and relatives on the phone to tell them what they had just witnessed. Others also shouted 'God save the King' and 'God save the Prince of Wales' as each passed.

William could be heard discussing how long people had waited and whether they were able to keep warm. Several people cried after meeting him, and one woman told him: 'You'll be a brilliant king one day.'

Charles left before William, both of them in cars surrounded by police vehicles.

Meanwhile, the queue for the lying in state began to grow in Southwark Park, with a steady stream of mourners continuing to join the end of the line.

The sign at the mouth of the queue told mourners it will be a 14-hour wait minimum, which was generally greeted by relief by well-wishers, with one group cheering as they walked past.

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth following her death

The Prince of Wales is presented with a Paddington Bear along the South Bank

Prince William reacts next to people queuing to pay their respects to the late Queen

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to see the Queen lying-in-state

King Charles is presented with a Paddington Bear as he meets well-wishers in London

Queen's lying in state: What you need to know The Queen is lying in state in London ahead of her funeral. Here is some of the information mourners need to know. - What exactly is meant by the term 'lying in state'? Lying in state is usually reserved for sovereigns, current or past queen consorts, and sometimes former prime ministers. During the formal occasion, the closed coffin is placed on view, as thousands of people queue to file past and pay their respects. The coffin will be adorned with the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre. - When and where will the Queen lie in state? The late monarch's lying in state in Westminster Hall opened to the public at 5pm yesterday and it will be open 24 hours a day until it closes at 6.30am on Monday, September 19 - the day of the Queen's funeral. - Where is Westminster Hall? Westminster Hall, which dates back to 1099, is in the Palace of Westminster and is the oldest building on the parliamentary estate. It forms part of the Westminster Unesco World Heritage Site and the UK Parliament website refers to its 'great size', the 'magnificence' of its roof, and its central role in British history. The building has been the site of key events, such as the trial of Charles I, coronation banquets, and addresses by world leaders. - Is there a big queue? Yes. Government guidance says there will be a queue which is expected to be very long, predicted to be in the tens of thousands. As it stands the queue is about 14 hours long. People will need to stand for 'many hours, possibly overnight', with very little opportunity to sit down as the queue will be continuously moving. People are not allowed to camp and a wristband system is being used to manage the queue, with those waiting in line given a coloured and numbered one, specific to each person, allowing them to leave for a short period. 'Your wristband also allows you to leave the queue for a short period to use a toilet or get refreshments, then return to your place in the queue,' according to the official guidance. - What is the queue route? Members of the public can join the line on the Albert Embankment, which runs behind the London Eye onto the Southbank before following the river past landmarks such as the National Theatre, the Tate Modern and HMS Belfast, reaching 'maximum capacity' at Southwark Park. - Is there assistance for people who cannot queue for long periods of time? The main queue has step-free access with a separate accessible route also planned to run from Tate Britain where timed entry slots will be issued for a queue going along Millbank to the Palace of Westminster. Guide dogs will be allowed inside Westminster Hall, with sign language interpreters also on hand. Venues including the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre and Shakespeare's Globe will open for longer hours to accommodate those queuing. The British Film Institute on the Southbank will do the same while providing an outdoor screen with archive footage of the Queen. Advertisement

It came after the King thanked emergency service staff for their work during the mourning period.

Charles met London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and was briefed by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors and Commander Karen Findlay, who are leading police operations around London ahead of and during the funeral of the Queen. Home Secretary Suella Braverman and mayor of London Sadiq Khan were also present.

Early this morning, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport's queue tracker warned people not to travel to join the back of the lying in state queue. It changed the guidance at 8am saying the line had reached Southwark Park with wait times 'at least 24 hours'.

Although it was a very bright morning in central London temperatures remained cool, particularly in the shade, at around 12C.

Alfie, 11, from Lancashire, wore his Scouts uniform complete with Platinum Jubilee badge, to join the queue for the lying in state.

His grandmother, Karen Todd, said: 'Alfie really wanted to pay his respects to the Queen, and he wanted to come in his Scout uniform to honour her. And we came because it's a momentous occasion and a moment in history. They'll always remember this for the rest of their lives, so we've only got this one opportunity.'

Later, the Queen's grandchildren will stand guard around her coffin. William will be joined by his brother the Duke of Sussex in wearing uniform at Westminster Hall.

Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, has previously been denied the chance to wear his military uniform as he publicly mourns, because he is no longer a working royal. But royal sources say the King has decided his youngest son can wear uniform for the vigil, saying he will stand at the foot of the coffin, with William at the head.

William will be flanked by his cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, while Harry will be with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with Lady Louise Windsor and her brother Viscount Severn at the middle of the coffin.

Last night, the Queen's children - Charles, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex - took part in their own vigil.

It comes as final preparations are under way for the funeral on Monday, with politicians and royal dignitaries from around the world expected to arrive throughout the weekend.

Queueing today, Shiv Pandian, 58, from Raynes Park, south-west London, said his 30 years working as a urologist for the NHS had prepared him for a long wait.

'There's lots of places to eat and toilets and things; you're used to working long hours at the NHS,' he said, laughing. 'The Queen has served us for 70 years. I've served along with her for 30 years. I've seen three jubilees of hers, and I want to say goodbye.'

He added: 'I got out at Waterloo and followed the queue backwards, and then at one point I was guided here to Southwark Park. Then it said reassuringly, it's 14 hours from the entrance here, so I'm hoping by midnight today I'll have seen the Queen.'

Paula Priest, 53, from Wolverhampton, said she was happy to wait 'as long as it takes' to reach Westminster Hall. 'We're here for the duration now, definitely.'

Those who braved the trip despite Government warnings were pleasantly surprised by the pace of the queue. Later on Saturday morning the tracker had stopped telling mourners not to travel, and the wait had dropped to 16 hours.

There was constant movement through Southwark Park until the Thames path along Bermondsey Wall East where the queue became more stationary.

Bright pink wristbands, which state they do not guarantee entry to Westminster Hall, continue to be handed out. Those waiting described the experience as well-organised, with friendly staff and officers on hand to assist.

This morning, new Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley was seen patrolling the queue for the Queen's lying in state near Lambeth Palace in south London. He greeted mourners, including several who were wearing blankets after waiting in line for hours through the early morning, and walked from the east towards Lambeth Bridge.

Alfie, 11, from Lancashire, wore his Scouts uniform complete with Platinum Jubilee badge, to join the queue for the lying in state.

His grandmother, Karen Todd, said: 'Alfie really wanted to pay his respects to the Queen, and he wanted to come in his Scout uniform to honour her.

'And we came because it's a momentous occasion and a moment in history. They'll always remember this for the rest of their lives, so we've only got this one opportunity.'

King Charles III meets members of the public in the queue along the South Bank

William, Prince of Wales waves and shakes the hands of well-wishers along the South Bank

William, Prince of Wales joins King Charles III for a visit to Lambeth Met HQ

Mourners including young children wrap up after temperatures plummeted overnight - as they queue to see the Queen

Wellwisher gives King Charles a pen 'just in case' after first days of his reign are beset by ink disasters The new King Charles was given a pen 'just in case' by well-wishers on his walkabout in Cardiff yesterday after his latest ink disasters. This follows after the King was left furious by a string of ink mishaps during his visit to Northern Ireland earlier this week. The public clearly caught wind of his frustration after clips of the monarch started circling online showing him visibly upset by the pen ordeal. A video clip of the handover shows a woman in the crowd hand the pen to the King whilst cheekily smiling at him. The surrounding crowd then start clapping and laughing at the gift. King Charles then take the pen gracefully, looks down at it in his hand and starts laughing, clearly amused by the gesture. The Monarch and the Queen Consort arrived in Wales yesterday in their first visit since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The Royal couple made their way to Llandaff Cathedral to attend a prayer and reflection service for his late mother and Britain's longest serving head of state. However, the King came prepared with his own pen and was filmed calmly signing the paper in the cathedral before passing his pen and the book to his wife. The King's decision to carry his own fountain pen comes days after a few drops on ink soured the mood at Hillsborough Castle, Belfast, earlier this week. Advertisement

The family left home at 11.45pm on Friday, and Ms Todd said she 'had to sleep in a car park for an hour and a half' before getting on a bus to reach the queue.

Upon checking the queue tracker, Ms Todd said: 'We were going to come this evening, but we came earlier because we didn't want to miss it.' She added: 'It's been okay. Clear roads. It's well organised. Just hoping my legs and feet stay strong.'

The family brought thermals and plenty of snacks for the wait.

Sachet Pariyar had travelled from Basingstoke with his father, who had served in the Queen's Gurkha regiment, to attend the lying in state.

He said: 'My dad served in the British Army before and the Queen's Gurkha regiment, and my grandfather as well. So, we feel like we have that connection with the Queen and we wanted to come and pay respects.'

He added that he had been checking the queue's live tracker and had seen it might take 24 hours, adding he was 'a bit worried' about the wait, but 'thought if we can get the wristband, then we will give it a try'.

Linda Partridge, 71, and Simon Hopkins, 59, travelled down from the West Midlands for the lying in state, despite warnings that the queue was closed, because they felt 'that need to come down'.

Ms Partridge, who had left home at 3am, said: 'Even though they said it was closed I felt that need to come down. If we've got here and then they turned away, then fine. I would have just felt I needed to come and then be told I couldn't go'.

Mr Hopkins added: 'There was a sense of perhaps 'best not travel' but just to make the journey and just to check it out, and you know, if it ended in disappointment, and then so be it.'

He likened the experience to a 'pilgrimage', which he said, 'is a bit strange, because that kind of goes against my grain. I've been kind of drawn into it.'

James Birchall, 33, a trainee physiotherapist who travelled from Liverpool to pay his respects, was also queuing.

He said: 'Now I just feel normal and unemotional but as I get closer and closer (to the Queen's coffin) I think I'll start to become more emotional and maybe five minutes before I go in I'll probably, even though I don't look like the type of person, I'll probably start crying. I absolutely loved the Queen, she was great, she had been there all my life, I have always had respect for her. She was great for our country, always did her duty right until she died.

'When she died I was overcome with emotion and I thought, I have got to come to London to see it.'

On the thousands of people queuing, he added: 'I'm absolutely amazed because there is so many people, young and old - I did not think young people would come, necessarily, because they are not really in tune with monarchy, but there's so many young people here to pay their respects which I think is awesome.'

Also queuing was Vlasta Picker, 73, of Bedford, who said: 'I came here in 1977 on the Silver Jubilee. Growing up in central Europe, monarchy was a thing of the past, history.

'I was really quite mesmerised, it was massive in 1977 and I have admired her ever since because she was a wonderful person, unique. To serve all her life until the end, it's something, isn't it? Unprecedented. And that's why I want to be here.'

Members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall

Lord and Lady, Michael and Anne Heseltine in the queue to view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

A woman reacts after viewing the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

More mourners carry coffee cups as they queue through Southwark Park to see the Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall

Mourners queueing in Southwark Park as they wait to see the Queen lying-in-state

Members of the public build their tents in front Westminster Hall and Big Ben

The King's first intervention? Charles tells Mark Drakeford he is 'concerned' about cost of living crisis The King is 'concerned' about how people will manage during what is going to be a 'difficult winter', according to the First Minister of Wales. Mark Drakeford said the impact of the cost-of-living crisis came up in conversation with Charles during their audience on Friday, after the new monarch addressed the Welsh Parliament for the first time as sovereign. The First Minister said the King also told him he was interested in renewable energy generation in Wales, and how it might play a 'bigger part' in future energy security. Mr Drakeford told TalkTV: 'The King has always had a very direct interest in the things that are happening in contemporary Wales, the future of our agriculture, the impact of climate change. 'He mentioned the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and how that will impact on people here in Wales.' He added: 'He (Charles) is concerned as to how people will manage through what is going to be a difficult winter. 'He was interested to tell me about some of the projects that he has heard of, or become involved in dealing, for example, with food waste, making sure that we don't waste a precious resource when some people might be going without. 'Interested, as always in renewable energy generation here in Wales, and how it might play a bigger part in future energy security.' Mr Drakeford has suggested the investiture proceedings for William, the new Prince of Wales, need not follow the same form as that of the 1969 ceremony that saw the title bestowed upon his father. He told TalkTV: 'Well, I certainly don't think that 1969 is a good guide for what should happen in 2022. Wales is a very different place. 'The nature of the monarchy has developed over that period. My message is that we shouldn't be in a rush about all of this. 'We should allow the new prince, as I say, to become familiar with his new responsibilities, develop the job in a way that will work for him and will work for Wales. 'And then we can think about how and whether there is a need for any further ceremonial underpinning of what has already been announced.' Advertisement

Figures from the London Ambulance Service (LAS) show that 435 members of the public were treated along the route of the queue to see the Queen lying in state and surrounding areas over the past two days.

Some 291 people along the route of the queue and nearby in London were given medical assistance on Wednesday, with 17 needing hospital treatment, the LAS said. A further 144 people were treated on Thursday, with 25 people being taken to hospital.

The LAS said the majority of incidents attended were faints and collapses, resulting in head injuries.

It came as David Beckham made it inside Westminster Hall at about 3.30pm yesterday after joining the queue at 2am.

Meanwhile some people are trying to cash in by selling used wristbands for up to 350 on eBay. Those joining the queue receive wristbands to mark their place - so they can leave for a drink, or to go to the toilet, and then return.

MPs can jump the queue and bring in up to four guests, to the anger of those being forced to wait. Among those visiting yesterday were Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg and Shadow Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

This Morning hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby cut sombre figures as they were seen at Westminster Hall. MailOnline was told the TV duo joined a separate queue for press and were taken into a press gallery.

Ex-England captain Beckham was spotted queueing at about 12.30pm, after joining the line at 2am to wait with everyone else. His representative confirmed to MailOnline that he had queued with the public, and said those around him initially did not take pictures of the 47-year-old star because there was an air of 'mutual respect'.

Inside the park, a crowd formed in the holding pen next to the main queue as people begged to be let in. Security teams were allowing 100 people at a time from the holding area to join the main queue every ten to 15 minutes.

But outside the park, some people waited in the street with no idea of when they might be able to even join the queue.

The Government said in an update just before 10am: 'Southwark Park has reached capacity. Entry will be paused for at least 6 hours. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Please do not attempt to join the queue until it re-opens.'

Just after 12pm, the Government also said the accessible queue was now 'at capacity for today and entry for allocation of wristbands is currently paused', adding that those with wristbands and entry times will still get in.

But then at 1pm, the entrance to Southwark Park reopened despite the Government still saying that the queue has been paused.

The gates were originally shut as queue attendants sought to deter new arrivals. However a second queue quickly began to form outside the park along Jamaica Road, leading attendants to reopen the gate.

A Number 10 spokesman directed questions to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, but said it was 'the case that what DCMS have done is they've temporarily paused the queue for at least six hours after it reached maximum capacity.

'That has always been part of our planning and that is to make sure as many as people as possible in the queue can enter the Palace of Westminster. But we keep it under review and there will be further updates from DCMS.'

The spokesman would not state what number of people represented 'maximum capacity' for the queue.

As Beckham approached Westminster Hall, he told Sky News: 'This day was always going to be a difficult day. Our thoughts are with the family, it's very special to hear all of the stories from people here. The most special moment for me was to receive my OBE. I took my grandparents with me who were huge royalists. I was so lucky that I was able to have a few moments like that in my life to be around Her Majesty. It's a sad day, but a day to remember.'

Beckham added that it 'meant so much' to sing the National Anthem before England matches.

He told ITV News: 'I thought by coming at 2am it was going to be a little bit quieter, but I was wrong, everybody had that in mind. But the people here, all ages, there was an 84-year-old lady walking around, a 90-year-old gentleman walking around. Everybody wants to be here to be part of this experience and to celebrate what Her Majesty has done for us.'
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Peter Phillips appeared reflective as he stood vigil beside his grandmother's coffin this evening at Westminster Hall, alongside his royal cousins.

The Princess Royal's son, 44, wore a black suit and tie as he took his place next to Prince William, Prince Harry and the other royal grandchildren for the sombre occasion.

Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren arrived in Westminster just before 6pm where they held the first-of-its-kind vigil to pay their respects to the late monarch, who died peacefully at Balmoral on September 8.

They filed into Westminster Hall in formation, with the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex - dressed in the uniform of the Blues and Royals - leading princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, Her Majesty's two youngest grandchildren. Peter followed behind with his sister Zara.

Throughout the time they stood vigil, around 10 minutes, Peter appeared to be deep in thought, keeping his head bowed as members of the public filed past to pay their respects.

The Princess Royal's son, Peter Phillips, 44, wore a black suit and toe as he took his place next to Prince William, Prince Harry and the other royal grandchildren for the sombre occasion

The Queen's grandchildren stood vigil at Her Majesty's coffin this evening at Westminster Hall (pictured L-R: Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, James, Viscount Severn, Princess Eugenie, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall)

Pictured: Princess Eugenie (back left), Princess Beatrice (back right), James, Viscount Severn (centre left), Lady Louise Windsor (centre right), Peter Phillips (front left) and Zara Tindall (front right)

Zara Tindall, Lady Louise, Princess Beatrice, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Eugenie, Viscount Severn and Peter Phillips hold a vigil beside the coffin

Queen Elizabeth II 's grandchildren Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, James, Viscount Severn and Princess Eugenie inside Westminster Hall

Princess Eugenie of York mount a vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening

The engagement, which saw the monarch's grandchildren hold a vigil for the first time, comes a week after Princess Anne became the first woman to take part in the Vigil of the Princes, a ceremony that has been held twice before: following the deaths of King George VI, and of the Queen Mother. On both occasions only male descendants took part.

As tearful mourners watched on, the Queen's four children stood guard of their mother's coffin for more than 10 minutes at Westminster Hall on Friday evening. The siblings each guarded a side of the coffin, with Charles, dressed in a Navy Admiral uniform, standing at the head.

Following that first vigil, a second took place last night (before this third this evening). Last night's emotional event saw members of the royal family looking solemn as they watched the Queen's four children guard her coffin.

King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward repeated their ceremonial Vigil of Princes that they had first carried out at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh as their mother the Queen lies in state.

The Queen's eight grandchildren carried out a vigil at her coffin on Saturday evening in the Palace of Westminster

Queen Elizabeth II 's grandchildren (clockwise from front centre) the Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, James, Viscount Severn, Princess Eugenie, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall hold a vigil

The eight grandchildren arrived at Westminster Hall where they performed a vigil at the Queen's coffin

Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren arrived in Westminster just before 6pm where they will hold a 15-minute vigil

Prince William bows his head as he stands beside his grandmother's coffin in Westminster Hall

The Queen's four grandchildren stand around her coffin during their own vigil, similar to the one held by their parents on Friday

Mourners are continuing to file past the coffin as the royal cousins stand beside their late grandmother's coffin

The Queen's grandchildren stand in solemn silence as they mount a vigil for their late grandmother in Westminster Hall

The Prince of Wales stands vigil beside the coffin of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, as it lies in state

Prince William, Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, James, Viscount Severn, Britain's Princess Eugenie of York, Britain's Lady Louise Windsor, Britain's Princess Beatrice of York and Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, depart having held a vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

As the children gathered again to pay their respects to their mother at Westminster Hall in London, where the Queen will remain until her funeral on Monday, other members of the royal family, including Queen Consort Camilla, watched in solemn silence from the stands.

Prince Andrew, the Queen's second son, was permitted to wear his military uniform as he paid his respects to his mother, after King Charles lifted a ban on the Duke of York donning the outfit as he is no longer a working royal.

As Andrew, 62, who served in the Falklands, wore the uniform and stood around his mother's coffin, his daughters Princess Beatrice, 34, and Princess Eugenie, 32, watched their father pay his respects.

Members of the royal family watched on during the Vigil of Princes in Westminster Hall. Pictured L-R: James, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise Windsor, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Mike Tindall, Zara Tindall, Mia Tindall, Lena Tindall

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi appeared visibly moved as he watched over the vigil next to Princess Eugenie (centre) and Princess Beatrice (right)

Peter Phillips pictured in the stands alongside his daughters Savannah Phillips and Isla Phillips

They were joined by Beatrice's husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 38, who appeared visibly moved by the vigil and put his hand to his face, as if he was wiping away tears.

Also in the stands watching the vigil were Princess Anne's husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, who had served as the Queen's equerry from 1986 and developed a close relationship with Her late Majesty.

Sir Tim has been by the Princess Royal's side since her mother passed away on 8 September, accompanying Anne in the car journey from the Balmoral Estate to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh behind the Queen's coffin.

Her son Peter Phillips, 44, was also present, with his two daughters Savannah and Isla.

Other members of the Princess Royal's family could be seen in the stands watching, including her daughter Zara Tindall, 41, her husband and former rugby player Mike, 41, and their two eldest children Mia, eight, and Lena, four.

Members of the royal family looked solemn as they watched in silence while the Queen's children took part in the vigil, with Mike Tindall bowing his head

Members of the public filed past Her late Majesty's coffin while her children stood around in silence with their heads to the floor to pay their respects

Members of the public who witnessed the ceremony had been queueing for hours outside in a line that stretches all the way back to Southwark Park

King Charles (pictured forefront), Princess Anne (right) Prince Andrew (back centre) and Prince Edward (back left) entered Westminster Hall to stand guard over their mother's coffin in a ceremonial Vigil of Princes

Prince Andrew (back left) was allowed to wear his military uniform to take part in the ceremony after wearing a suit for a similar vigil in Edinburgh on Monday evening

The young girls, who had their hair tied back in French plaits, leaned over the edge of the stands to get a better look at what was happening below.

Other young royals present at the vigil were Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and her younger brother James, Viscount Severn, 14.

Prince Edward's children were accompanied by Sophie Wessex, 57, whom it was announced will receive many of the Queen's former royal patronages following her death.

Sophie appeared to be fighting back tears last Saturday as she stepped outside the Balmoral Estate to look at tributes and messages of condolence that had been left by members of the public to the late monarch.

The mother-of-two was said to have an incredibly close relationship with her mother-in-law and referred to her as 'mama' - and royal sources told the Mirror she was likely to become patron of the Women's Institute and Dog's Trust.

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The Queen's four male grandchildren showed off their collection of service medals as they stood guard over Her Majesty's coffin in Westminster Hall.

Prince William was joined by his brother Prince Harry and their six cousins for the solemn 15-minute vigil on Saturday night.

The brothers, who both wore the uniform of the Blues and Royals, displayed medals commemorating personal military achievements, commitment to public service, and key milestones in the Queen's extraordinary 70-year reign. Their cousins Peter Phillips, 44, and James, Viscount Severn, 14, had their medals pinned to their suits.

Prince Harry wore (from left) The Afghanistan campaign medal, the 2002 Golden Jubilee Medal, the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Medal, the 2022 Platinum Jubilee Medal. Prince Harry also wears the Neck Order and Star representing his role as a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, an honour bestowed by the Queen in recognition of services to the Sovereign

Prince William wore (from left) the 2002 Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the 2012 Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal and the 2022 Platinum Jubilee medal. Below is the Garter star, signifying he is a member of the Order of the Garter

The Queen's eldest grandson, Peter Phillips (left), has not served in the military but wears medals commemorating milestones. Pictured from left: the 2002 Golden Jubilee Medal, the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Medal and the 2022 Platinum Jubilee medal. Similarly, James, Viscount Severn (right), wears the Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Platinum Jubilee Medal

Milestones, military service and royal honours: What do the medals mean? Gold, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals: Medals have been awarded to mark royal jubilees since the Victorian period when the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria's reign was commemorated in 1887 with a medal. In recent decades, medals have been issued to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012, Golden Jubilee in 2002 and Silver Jubilee in 1977. Most recently, she awarded the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal. Recipients included Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie's husband, and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Beatrice's husband. Female Royal Family members also received the medal but have fewer occasions on which to display their honours. The Order of the Garter: Prince William displays the star badge signifying he is a member of the Order of the Garter. Founded in 1348 by Edward III, the Garter is the senior British order of chivalry awarded by the sovereign for outstanding public service and achievement. Originally it served the double purpose of bringing together the sovereign and 25 senior knights who were the country's military leaders as well as establishing a new fellowship in religious worship. Prince William became a Knight of the Garter in 2008, aged 25. Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order: Prince Harry was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 2015. Awards in the Royal Victorian Order are made personally by The Queen, for services to the Sovereign. Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan: Prince Harry wears the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan. The prince spent 10 years in the Army, rising to the rank of captain, and served two tours of Afghanistan. He received the medal in 2008 in recognition of his military service Advertisement

All four men wore the 2022 Platinum Jubilee medal, which was given to members of the Royal Family to mark Her Majesty's 70 years on the throne.

As well as senior royals, recipients included Mike Tindall, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank, who are married to Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, respectively.

Female members of the Royal Family also received the medal, although they have fewer occasions on which to wear them.

Medals have been awarded to mark royal jubilees since the Victorian period when the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria's reign was commemorated in 1887 with a medal.

In recent decades, medals have been issued to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012, Golden Jubilee in 2002 and Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Owing to his age, James, Viscount Severn, has the fewest number of medals. He wore the the Platinum and Diamond Jubilee Medals. Peter Phillips also wore them, as well as the Golden Jubilee Medal.

Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Lady Louise Windsor followed in the footsteps of Princess Anne by taking part in a ceremony that has been traditionally reserved for male members of the Royal Family

Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Beatrice stood vigil at Westminster Hall on Saturday night

Princess Eugenie joined her sister and cousins at the vigil (left). Right, Prince Harry was permitted to wear military dress

James Viscount Severn, 14, looked sombre as he stood vigil beside his grandmother's coffin this evening at Westminster Hall

Pictured: Princess Eugenie (back left), Princess Beatrice (back right), James, Viscount Severn (centre left), Lady Louise Windsor (centre right), Peter Phillips (front left) and Zara Tindall (front right)

Princess Eugenie (left) and Zara Tindall (right) looked sombre as they took part in the Vigil of the Princes on Saturday night

Prince William and the Duke of Sussex lead their cousins into Westminster Hall for the vigil on Saturday night

Queen Elizabeth II 's grandchildren (clockwise from front centre) the Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, James, Viscount Severn, Princess Eugenie, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall hold a vigil

Prince William's military service and senior role within the Royal Family is reflected in the medals he wears in addition to the commemorative honours from his grandmother.

On his left breast, underneath his row of medals, is The Garter Star, signifying his membership of the Order of the Garter.

Founded in 1348 by Edward III, the Garter is the senior British order of chivalry awarded by the sovereign for outstanding public service and achievement.

Originally it served the double purpose of bringing together the sovereign and 25 senior knights who were the country's military leaders as well as establishing a new fellowship in religious worship.

Prince William became a Knight of the Garter in 2008, aged 25. The blue sash worn across his uniform, is known as The Garter Sash, and also reflects his position.

The eight sombre grandchildren arrived at Westminster Hall where they performed a vigil at the Queen's coffin

Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren arrived in Westminster just before 6pm where they will hold a 15-minute vigil

Prince William bows his head as he stands beside his grandmother's coffin in Westminster Hall

The Prince of Wales (right) and the Duke of Sussex before holding a vigil beside the coffin of their grandmother

The Prince of Wales also wears the RAF Pilot Wings above his medal, in recognition of his military career.

His brother, Prince Harry, who was wearing military dress for the first time since 2020. The Duke of Sussex, who was forced to give up his military roles when he stepped down as a working royal, has worn civilian dress throughout the mourning period but is said to have been given special dispensation for tonight by his father.

As well as the Jubilee medals, Prince Harry displayed the Afghanistan Operational Service Medal, which he received in 2008 in recognition of the two tours of Afghanistan he served during his 10 years in the Army. He rose to the rank of Captain.

Harry also wears the KCVO Neck Order and Star. Prince Harry was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 2015. Awards in the Royal Victorian Order are made personally by The Queen, for services to the Sovereign.

The Duke of Sussex also wears the Army Pilot Wings.

Medals are worn on a number of occasions and are specified as part of a dress code. They can be displayed with either military or civilian dress. It is expected they will be worn for the Queen's funeral on Monday.

The Queen's eight grandchildren carried out a vigil at her coffin on Saturday evening in the Palace of Westminster

Mourners watched as the vigil was held for the Queen in Westminster Hall by her eight grandchildren on Saturday evening

The Queen's grandchildren stand in solemn silence as they mount a vigil for their late grandmother in Westminster Hall

The Prince of Wales stands vigil beside the coffin of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, as it lies in state in Westminster Hall
Fetuses exposed to pesticides often used on citrus and apple trees are up to 87 percent more likely to develop a rare type of eye cancer, a study suggests.

Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles compared the use levels of nearly five dozen farmyard chemicals near the homes of 335 children under five years old who developed retinoblastomas to healthy children from the same state.

They found four chemicals where exposed children were more likely to have the cancer, which can permanently alter children's vision leading to problems reading and writing or lead to blindness.

One of them  acephate  is already banned in Europe. The others were bromacil  which should not be used near homes , Pymetrozine and kresoxim-methyl.

Scientists behind the study warned pesticides are particularly dangerous for children because their organs are still forming, raising the risk they are able to disrupt DNA or inflame cells causing the cancer.

They called on farmers to be more aware of what chemicals they were spraying on their fields, and urged the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) to beef up its regulations on pesticide use.

The study found that exposure to four chemicals used as pesticides can raise their risk of retinoblastomas, or a rare type of eye cancer (stock image)

Retinoblastomas  a type of eye cancer  can affect either one or both eyes and start when cells begin to grow out of control due to a genetic mutation, says the American Cancer Association (ACS).

Most likely in children under three years old, symptoms include a white or pink pupil, lazy eye or early signs of vision problems.

Sufferers are offered radiation therapy or laser therapy to kill cancer cells as well as chemotherapy in certain cases.

But this can leave youngsters with life-long vision problems, blindness and raise their risk of suffering a second cancer later in life.

WHAT IS RETINOBLASTOMA? Retinoblastoma is a rare type of eye cancer that can affect young children, usually under the age of 5. Its symptoms include an unusual white reflection in the pupil, a squint, a red or inflamed eye and poor vision. Retinoblastoma happens when retina eye cells  which are supposed to grow very quickly and then stop growing during a baby's early development  continue to grow and form a cancer. Depending on the size of the tumour. If it is small, laser and freezing treatments that aim to destroy the tumour will be carried out. If it is larger, youngsters may undergo surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Some children may suffer sight loss or need to have their eye removed. Between 40 and 50 cases of retinoblastoma are diagnosed in the UK every year. The figure equates to one in 15,000 to 20,000 newborns. Around four in 10 cases are diagnosed in the first year of life and incidence rates drop to a very low rate after five years of age. Around two-thirds of retinoblastomas are diagnosed in one eye only. More than nine in 10 cases are detected early and cured before the cancer spreads outside the eyeball. Source: NHS, Children with Cancer UK Advertisement

In their study  published last month in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health  scientists trawled through California's cancer registry.

They extracted all cases of retinoblastomas in under-5s diagnosed from 1998, about a decade after the registry began, until 2013.

They then collected the addresses of these cases and those of 120,000 healthy children born in the state over the same period. The latter were collected randomly.

Next, the scientists collected Pesticide Use Reports on which pesticides were used around the children's homes in the months before they were born.

California has required since 1990 that all pesticide uses in agriculture are reported centrally.

Results showed that children with the cancers were more likely to have been exposed to four specific pesticides compared to healthy youngsters.

Those exposed to bromacil  typically used on citrus plants as well as to clear weeds  were 87 percent more likely to develop unilateral retinoblastoma, or the cancer only in the eye.

Acephate  also used on citrus trees  raised the risk of this type by 70 percent.

But kresoxim-methyl exposed children  used on apples to control a fungus  were 60 percent more likely to have all types of retinoblastomas, while those who had contact with pymetrozine  which kills aphids and whitefly on field crops  were 45 percent more likely.

The scientists did not look at what concentrations of the pesticides had a higher association with cancer.

No link was suggested for the other 54 pesticide chemicals included in the study.

Lead author Dr Shiraya Thompson, an epidemiologist, urged farmers to be more conscious about the potential health risks of pesticides they use.

She also urged the EPA to consider limiting the use of harmful chemicals to reduce the risk of cancer.

'You might have very little control over what's going on in the cornfields near you,' she said.

'And you might not even be aware of what farmers near you are putting down.'

This study was observational, meaning it could not determine whether the chemicals had caused the cancer of it was down to another factor.

But scientists have been warning for years that pesticide exposure raises the risk of cancers in people.

Scientists are not yet clear on what causes retinoblastomas, but the ACS says exposure to chemicals and radiation may raise the risk. Having mothers that eat too little fruit and vegetable could make the cancer more likely.

Pregnant mothers could have been exposed to the chemicals either from run-off from the farmyards or through work.

Statistics show that around six to ten percent of rural-dwellers in the state work in the agricultural sector.
Last weekend, Guardian journalist Merope Mills wrote, in harrowing detail, of the catastrophic hospital failures that led to the death of her 13-year-old daughter Martha.

The impact of her story has reverberated across the NHS, and few who read it, not least those in the medical profession, will fail to have been deeply shocked and saddened.

Martha fell off her bicycle last summer, sustaining a significant but treatable injury. But less than a month later, she was dead.

Merope, understandably, spoke of her guilt, having trusted the senior doctors whose poor decisions ultimately led to this tragedy.

But responsibility for Martha's awful, avoidable death lies only with the hospital staff at King's College Hospital in London, who were found at a subsequent inquest to be negligent.

And it is vital that these failings are aired and understood fully, if we are to avoid situations like this happening again. Because they do happen, and will keep on happening unless things change.

Martha died of sepsis, a potentially life-threatening reaction to an infection. In this case, as with thousands of others, it wasn't spotted or treated until it was too late. Yet sepsis shouldn't come as a surprise to any doctor, given how common it is.

About 250,000 Britons suffer the condition every year, and 48,000 die. The NHS estimates that up to 10,000 of these deaths are preventable.

Chloe Rideout, 20, (pictured) was discharged from University Hospital Plymouth in 2018 after a routine appendix operation despite feeling unwell and blood tests showing the telltale signs of sepsis

But the results weren't reviewed in time, and in little over a week she was dead

Dr Ron Daniels (pictured) is founder of the UK Sepsis Trust, which is leading the work to drive down the death rate from sepsis in the NHS

These include 20-year-old Chloe Rideout, who was discharged from University Hospital Plymouth in 2018 after a routine appendix operation, despite feeling unwell and blood tests showing the telltale signs of sepsis. But the results weren't reviewed in time, and in little over a week she was dead.

And Skyla Whiting from Pontypool in Monmouthshire, who died of sepsis just days before her fifth birthday when doctors failed to spot the condition despite her suffering a number of symptoms.

As an intensive care consultant, I have dedicated a large part of my medical career to getting this lethal condition on to doctors' radars.

My interest began 17 years ago, after a man in his 30s with two young children died on my intensive care unit, having contracted sepsis. It was clear that colleagues could easily have saved his life had they tried a few simple interventions earlier.

Soon afterwards I founded the UK's foremost charity dedicated to this cause, The UK Sepsis Trust.

Back then, few medics knew how widespread or serious sepsis was. But thanks to our work, colleagues and patients began to take notice.

Today, three-quarters of Britons know that sepsis is a life-threatening emergency, compared with only a third a decade a go. And nearly all hospitals have adopted sepsis guidelines that my team and I developed, which were later shared with NHS chiefs.

These include detailed instructions on how to spot and treat the condition effectively. So why are thousands still dying needless sepsis deaths every year? The answer is complicated.

Skyla Whiting (pictured), 4, from Pontypool in Monmouthshire, who died of sepsis just days before her fifth birthday when doctors failed to spot the condition

Mostly the reason is that doctors are still failing to consider that it could be sepsis causing a patient's problems. In Martha's case, the fatal mistakes began when, while being treated for the pancreatic injury she sustained when she fell off her bike, she developed a fever and diarrhoea  a sign of an infection.

This didn't resolve after a course of antibiotics. Fevers that don't go away with antibiotics can be due to a number of things, including inflammation, a deep-seated infection and side effects from drugs. It is because of this that sepsis gets missed.

Hospital teams are always supposed to screen patients with infections for sepsis  just in case  and all those with a fever should be closely monitored for one of the nine red-flag signs. These include a rash that doesn't disappear when pressed with a glass, a heart rate above 130 beats per minute, a drop in blood pressure and not passing urine. Martha developed several of these, along with bleeding from the line in her arm and tube in her abdomen, yet the protocol wasn't followed.

Only one symptom is needed to trigger our Sepsis Six action plan  steps that can prove life-saving.

Doctors must conduct a series of interventions as quickly as possible, such as giving oxygen, intravenous antibiotics, fluids and checking bloods and urine for signs of deterioration every hour. And here's the crucial part: doctors must keep a close eye on patients and escalate the situation urgently if they aren't getting better. This means requesting an assessment by intensive care specialists.

Intensive care doctors are highly experienced in treating severe sepsis. They have access to more sophisticated equipment, such as life-support machines, and potent drugs, and are used to responding quickly to emergencies.

In Martha's case, the inquest heard there were at least five occasions when her doctors should have requested an intensive care review but did not. Within days of her rash appearing, Martha was dead.

Sometimes problems ingrained within the hospital culture set doctors up to fail.

In some hospitals, doctors and nurses are answerable to a handful of senior consultants at the top of the chain.

At medical school today, junior doctors are told they should not hesitate to question the decision of more senior staff if they think patient safety is at risk.

But senior consultants can, occasionally, be grand and intimidating. To be frank, some can be arrogant  unwilling to accept advice or assistance from other, lower-ranking staff.

Arrogant attitudes were said to have played a role in Martha's death, with specialist consultants reluctant to seek input from more junior doctors.

Guardian journalist Merope Mills wrote, in harrowing detail, of the catastrophic hospital (pictured: King's College Hospital ) failures that led to the death of her 13-year-old daughter Martha

University Hospital Plymouth (pictured) discharged 20-year-old Chloe Rideout who later died of sepsis

Staffing issues can also mean that patients aren't monitored closely for hourly changes.

It is becoming increasingly common for consultants and junior doctors to work on one ward a few days at a time, before handing over to the next person. Instructions may not be passed on.

Martha's mother noted seeing different consultants each day, and wondering who had overall responsibility.

None of these are excuses. But they might help you, as a patient or loved one, recognise high-risk situations. A relative or friend's judgment is vital: they often notice changes in patients that doctors won't spot.

My message is: trust your instincts. If the doctors' judgment doesn't feel right, request a meeting with them, via their medical secretary, or voice concerns with the nurse in charge.

If that doesn't work, speak to the hospital's patient liaison service (PALS) for confidential advice.

And if all else fails, call or email the head of the NHS Trust or ask for a second opinion.

Most senior doctors I know have done a fair bit of soul-searching after reading Martha's story. They tell me they plan to educate junior staff about the importance of sepsis protocols

It is a shame it took the needless death of a young girl to get here.
A row has broken out between NHS spending watchdogs and top mental health doctors over approval of a controversial ketamine-based antidepressant.

Spravato, a nasal spray also known as esketamine, got the green light from the European Medicines Agency in December 2019 as a fast-acting treatment for depression sufferers who had not responded to at least two other standard medications.

Trials showed that the benefits of the drug, which is taken alongside standard antidepressants, were also long-lasting, and patients who took it were almost half as likely to suffer a relapse within a year as those taking just antidepressants.

But in May, UK prescribing body the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) rejected Spravato, which costs up to 489 per dose. Concerns were raised over the fact that the drug had to be administered in hospital, as often as twice a week, in order to monitor patients' reactions and minimise safety risks.

NHS spending watchdog NICE has rejected the use of ketamine nasal spray Spravato (pictured), which costs just under 1,000 per week, to treat depression in NHS patients

Esketamine is a high-strength form of ketamine, a powerful and addictive medical anaesthetic that is often taken by drug abusers as it can produce hallucinations.

NICE questioned the trial data, saying there was not enough evidence of long-term benefit and that offering the medicine was 'unlikely to be an acceptable use of NHS resources'.

Janssen, the drug firm behind Spravato and a subsidiary of US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, hit back, claiming NICE acted unfairly and branded the appraisal process 'not fit for purpose'. In June, Janssen appealed against the ruling  and in a move that surprised many, the company was backed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

In emails seen by The Mail on Sunday, the Royal College accused NICE of being 'unreasonable' and claimed the snub 'discriminates against patients suffering from mental disorders'. The bar, in terms of evidence required, had been set so high it would prevent any drug for treatment-resistant depression from being approved, it added.

Last week NICE announced its appraisal committee will reconvene in October to explain its rationale. Representing the Royal College at the hearing will be Dr Rupert McShane, from Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, who worked as a researcher in trials of Spravato and has sat on advisory boards for Janssen.

Dr John Read, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of East London, said he was alarmed by the Royal College's intervention, claiming it was 'siding with the drug company's woefully biased position instead of prioritising patient wellbeing and safety'.

Depression affects roughly five per cent of adults in the UK, but a third of those do not find relief from antidepressants, most commonly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which work by topping up levels of the chemical messenger serotonin in the brain.

Esketamine, the active substance in Spravato, works differently to SSRIs by increasing levels of a substance called glutamate, which helps brain cells function better.

Scientists have long looked at ketamine's potential use as an antidepressant, but studies show that stopping it after regular use can trigger withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety and tremors. But as esketamine is more potent, smaller amounts are needed to have an effect on the brain.

This, say advocates, means side effects are limited. Yet the European Medicines Agency identified risks of treatment, including 'transient dissociative [trance-like] states, perception disorders, disturbances in consciousness and increased blood pressure'. Patients using Spravato have reported 'feeling drunk'.

Depression affects roughly five per cent of adults in the UK, but a third of those do not find relief from antidepressants, most commonly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (picture posed by model)

Carmine Pariante, Professor of Biological Psychiatry at King's College London, said he supported the Royal College: 'We know how this treatment works and there is clinical trial evidence that it is effective in those who have not responded to any other antidepressants. We're limited in what we can offer these patients. I'm surprised NICE did not see it as a positive step.'

Yet Joanna Moncrieff, Professor of Critical and Social Psychiatry at University College London, said: 'Esketamine is expensive and the adverse effect profile is worrying. I think the push for it is primarily coming from the pharmaceutical company and psychiatrists who want to find a drug to solve problems that medication can't fix.'

A spokesman for the Royal College of Psychiatrists said: 'We are disappointed in NICE's decision. In relation to our appeal, all rules on declaring of conflicts were abided.

'The college will keep engaging with NICE to ensure that patients with treatment-resistant depression can access as many treatment options as possible.

'Based on our consultation process with members, the college believes that with the appropriate safeguards in place, [esketamine] would be an important new treatment option for NHS patients, but for now it will continue to only be available privately.

'It is vital that NICE's decision does not prevent further research into the effectiveness of esketamine in helping treatment-resistant depression.'
I keep getting bouts of extreme anxiety  a panicked feeling that washes over me every few months, each time lasting just a couple of days. The GP suggested I take antidepressants, but that seems a bit unnecessary given that my symptoms aren't constant and I don't feel sad or low. What should I do?

Antidepressants are often prescribed for anxiety, as well as depression, alongside therapy.

There is sound scientific evidence that the tablets can help ease the symptoms of many anxiety disorders, including the most common: generalised anxiety disorder. That said, if symptoms crop up only sporadically, it is right to question whether taking daily medication is the right option.

All medications come with side effects and these have to be weighed up against the benefits, which may be limited with an occasional problem.

If episodes are short-lived  usually lasting only a couple of days  treating it will depend on how much the problem impacts a patient's life.

Antidepressants are often prescribed for anxiety, as well as depression, alongside therapy

Medications to treat for occasional anxiety include a beta blocker called propranolol reduces the heart rate and blood pressure, stopping the panicked feeling

Therapy for anxiety or panic is often cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which teaches patients how to recognise thoughts and change behaviours associated with difficult emotions. It arms patients with cognitive tools they can use to manage panic when it strikes.

There are medications to use for occasional anxiety. A beta blocker called propranolol reduces the heart rate and blood pressure, stopping the panicked feeling. You can use this as and when you feel anxious, and take it up to three times a day.

If the episodes cause very severe symptoms, a doctor may consider using a benzodiazepine drug like lorazepam or diazepam  to be taken occasionally.

We try not to use these as they cause addiction and side effects, but they can offer temporary relief from extreme symptoms.

My husband, who is 84, has been diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis. His doctors have suggested he go on a drug trial, but we are not sure what to do as information on this condition is limited. Can you help?

Amyloidosis is what happens when a protein called amyloid builds up in parts of the body where it shouldn't. When it builds up in the heart, it is known as cardiac amyloidosis and affects how the heart functions.

It is considered a rare condition but can be very serious, leading to organ failure. The build-up of amyloid can cause the heart to stiffen and thicken.

If this happens, it doesn't pump well, causing tiredness, breathlessness and swollen ankles.

We know that treating amyloidosis early, before too much damage is done, is crucial.

Patients may be offered trial treatments, where genetic material or antibodies are used to prevent the build-up of the troublesome protein.

The sooner patients get access to this treatment, the less damage is done.

Doctors offer chemotherapy for some types of amyloidosis.

If you are being offered a trial, you need to be given as much information as possible about the treatments  the chance of them working and the risks.

No treatment is guaranteed to help someone, but doctors usually only offer something they feel is worthwhile.

Over the past year or so, I have had a sore hip. It's been more uncomfortable than painful. I'm 65, so presumed it was arthritis. About a month ago the pain became so severe that I was incapacitated. I could hardly walk and couldn't sleep for pain. An X-ray showed it to be moderate osteoarthritis. My GP has suggested exercise and painkillers, and I am mobile again. Why did it flare up and should I expect it to do so again?

Lots of things can cause hip pain  arthritis is one of them. Osteoarthritis of the hip can cause low-level discomfort and flares up where the pain feels particularly bad.

Flare-ups can be triggered by certain movements, a long walk or for seemingly no reason. Like other chronic joint problems, these episodes are common and it is not always clear why they happen. But over time, a clear trigger might become obvious, and you will know what to avoid.

Even if someone does have arthritis, an acute episode may not just be arthritis, but something else.

Do you have a question for Dr Ellie? Email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk or write to Health, The Mail on Sunday, 2 Derry Street, London, W8 5TT. Dr Ellie can only answer in a general context and cannot respond to individual cases, or give personal replies. If you have a health concern, always consult your own GP. Advertisement

X-rays give us a good picture of the bones, and what might be wrong with them. But the hip is a complicated joint with lots of other parts, including ligaments and fluid sacs.

If there is an issue with one of these components, it won't always be clear from an X-ray.

Acute pain may be from a sprain within the hip. This is possible in someone who is very active  especially if they engage in repeated, intensive exercises.

Another potential culprit is bursitis  inflammation of the fluid sacs that cushion the joint. This can happen in people who are very active as the hip is over-used and irritated, or from a fall or injury.

Pain is usually triggered by walking and it gets worse when you lie down.

Doctors would recommend painkillers and rest. If the pain continues, other scans such as an MRI could be useful, as well as an assessment by a physiotherapist.

Is your memory failing? Don't forget to tell me!

While deciding what to write about this week, I thought about mentioning the fact I'd recently been hit by dreadful memory problems.

There are just total blanks. Names of people I've known for ages, films I've seen, or even words for things  all gone.

Oddly, my husband, friends and a fair few patients are complaining of exactly the same thing.

While deciding what to write about this week, I thought about mentioning the fact I'd recently been hit by dreadful memory problems

And then, horror of horrors, it dawned on me that I'd written about this bizarre brain fog just a few weeks back, but I'd forgotten about it.

Is it Covid? Stress? Age-related cognitive decline (it shouldn't be, as I'm in my 40s). I really have no idea.

Have you been struck by inexplicable, uncharacteristic memory difficulties?

I'd like to hear your stories  and theories about the causes. Write to me at DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk.

Help is still at hand tomorrow

Most people will be glad of tomorrow's bank holiday in honour of the late Queen, but I know there's concern at the number of patients who will see NHS appointments cancelled.

Many will no doubt have been waiting for months.

Even if we wanted to open our doors tomorrow, it would be tricky when other resources we rely on are shut. But if you need medical help, don't panic.

And of course, if you're really stuck, there is always A&E

Check your surgery's website for out-of-hours phone numbers and local urgent care clinics and, of course, don't hesitate to call 111 in an emergency.

It is also worth checking whether any local pharmacies are open. As I've often said, pharmacists are more knowledgeable than GPs about many things.

And of course, if you're really stuck, there is always A&E.

Whatever you do, don't put an urgent health concern on hold.
Thousands of cancer patients who suffer unsightly swelling in their arms and legs are missing out on life-changing treatments due to an NHS postcode lottery, senior medics have warned.

The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (Bapras) has called for more NHS patients to have access to cutting-edge surgery to banish lymphoedema  a condition where fluid collects in parts of the body, often causing limbs to swell to twice their normal size.

Lymphoedema currently affects an estimated 400,000 people in the UK.

Many cases are due to cancers that damage the lymph nodes  tiny, bean-shaped nodules throughout the body that filter fluids to break down bacteria and germs.

The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (Bapras) has called for more NHS patients to have access to cutting-edge surgery to banish lymphoedema  a condition where fluid collects in parts of the body, often causing limbs to swell to twice their normal size

Lymphoedema currently affects an estimated 400,000 people in the UK

Some cancer patients need these nodes removed if tumour cells have already spread to them, while treatments such as radiotherapy can damage them, causing fluid to build up.

The swollen limbs can leave some sufferers struggling to get dressed, put on their shoes or even do everyday chores such as washing up and carrying shopping.

Current NHS treatment relies mainly on regular massages to disperse the fluid, and patients often have to wear uncomfortable compression stockings or sleeves  in many cases for the rest of their lives  to help push the excess fluid round the system.

While surgery offers a permanent solution to the problem, only a handful of NHS authorities are willing to fund it.

Surgery includes an operation called vascularised lymph node transfer, in which healthy nodes from other parts of the body are moved to affected areas.

While surgery offers a permanent solution to the problem suffered by some 400,000 cancer patients, only a handful of NHS authorities are willing to fund it (stock photo)

'Procedures such as this have proven benefits but are not routinely offered or funded on the NHS,' says Ruth Waters, Bapras president and a consultant plastic surgeon.

'Some patients are able to secure individual NHS funding, and in some areas access may be better than others.

'But there is a pressing need to get better information and access to treatment for the public.'

With surgery, says Waters, patients 'recover quicker, get back to work and are able to live their lives to the full, post-cancer'.
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

K.M. writes: I received a promotional email from the respected London financial newspaper CityA.M., for a sophisticated investment from Orange River Wealth.

The advert makes some extraordinary claims: 15 per cent in annual dividends and 300 per cent capital returns.

I telephoned CityA.M. with my concerns, and was told by its sales department that 'pretty much all adverts are full of lies'.

Claims: London financial newspaper CityA.M. sent out emails with details of the offer, above

Tony Hetherington replies: It is impossible for any newspaper to carry out detailed vetting of every advertisement. There would be no way local papers could test drive every second-hand car that was up for sale, or conduct a structural survey of every house that was advertised.

That said, I know from experience that The Mail on Sunday's advertising staff do try to avoid dubious financial advertisements, because they have asked me to look into them, and on occasion we have simply refused to publish them.

And since City A.M. is a specialist financial publication, I think it is reasonable to expect staff there at least to cast an eye over anything they email to thousands of subscribers, even if they do nothing more than spot the hugely obvious red flags that flutter over Orange River Wealth's offering.

The first red flag is that although the advertisement is headed 'Orange River Wealth', the offering is actually for preference shares in a separate but connected company called Orange River Capital, which is raising money to take a stake in a medicinal cannabis business in South Africa.

After this, the red flags come thick and fast. The offer document is dated March, but CityA.M. advertised it just a few weeks ago. It lists Alexander David Securities as its Financial Conduct Authority-regulated broker. Yet on April 29, the regulator imposed serious restrictions on this firm, and on July 1  a month and a half before the CityA.M. promotion  Alexander David Securities went into liquidation.

Investors are entitled to know who they are dealing with, and the Orange River offer lists Sarah Stubbs as a director, and gives details of her business experience. Yet Sarah Stubbs quit as a director on June 14.

The company's chief executive is Lee Farbrace, who says he is currently a director of five companies he lists. Wrong. He has forgotten one. This is EMI Wealth Limited, where he is the sole director. The company was involved in a long-running legal tussle in which an investor gave evidence that he met Farbrace in 2010 and parted with 130,000.

The company claimed to have made 'significant profits' from a scheme it was marketing along with a separate but connected company called Emerging Markets Investment Limited. The scheme was said to offer 'unparalleled low risk returns', but just a year later, the investor was told the scheme had run into trouble. He lost 100,000. Perhaps this is why Farbrace would sooner forget about it.

The questions hanging over the two Orange River companies go on and on. The advert claims a full dividend was paid by Orange River Capital in January, but as this company is actually owned by Orange River Wealth, was this just a bookkeeping exercise?

It would be nice to know the answer, but both companies have failed to file accounts that were legally due early in August. In fact, the offer document says that Orange River Capital has not traded yet, so how did it manage to pay last January's dividend, which the City A.M. advertisement boasts is evidence of a 'proven track record'?

The company cannot even get its own address right. The statutory information in the offer document says its registered office is at '

Tower Bridge House, 8-10 Hill Street, St Katharine's Way, Mayfair, London E1W 1DD.' This is absolute nonsense. Tower Bridge House is not in Hill Street. St Katharine's Way is not in Mayfair. And Mayfair is not in London E1.

The offering is said to be aimed at wealthy individuals or sophisticated investors who know what they are doing. But what the advertisement actually says is that it is for 'self-sophisticated investors'. What does this even mean?

I put all of the above to CityA.M. Its sales director Jeremy Slattery denied that CityA.M. 'promoted' the share offer.

He told me: 'It published a paid-for advertisement, as it publishes many, many others on a daily basis. CityA.M. does not carry out due diligence on any of its advertisers. I doubt any newspaper does.'

And I put the same points to Orange River boss Lee Farbrace. He replied immediately, telling me: 'I shall of course respond in full tomorrow.' That was almost a fortnight ago, on September 6. As Cliff Richard once sang, tomorrow sometimes never comes.

I'm owed 10,000 in VAT... but can't log in to HMRC!

Ms C.T. writes: I registered for VAT and on July 28, HM Revenue & Customs gave me a VAT number, telling me I would have online access to the VAT account within three working days.

However, I still have no online access, and they say this is due to 'technical issues' within Revenue & Customs.

Frustration: HM Revenue & Customs provided a VAT number, saying online access to the account would be available within three working days

Tony Hetherington replies: Without access to Revenue & Customs's online service, you could not even print off your VAT registration certificate.

Worse still, being shut out of the system means that your new business cannot file VAT returns  and you reckon that you will be entitled to a refund of around 10,000, which you have no way of claiming.

I asked officials to look into this. They quickly told me: 'We apologise for the issue experienced by the customer accessing their VAT online account. HMRC is aware of an issue which has affected a low number of businesses, and following investigations a fix is due to be implemented very shortly.'

You have now told me that the online system is working, so you can claim your refund without any problem.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
Big call: Comedian Dom Joly helps launch a retro Nokia 3310

A quarter of households in the UK have at least one old, unused mobile phone gathering dust, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry.

But millions could be missing out on a tidy profit, as handsets can still be worth something  even if they are old or broken.

A few, rare models can fetch thousands of pounds as collectors' items. But even more common versions can still have value.

Apple's hotly-anticipated iPhone 14 went on sale on Friday, stirring up excitement among fans of new technology. This is the first model that can automatically call the emergency services if you're in a crash and that enables you to text using a satellite connection when you can't get a signal or wi-fi.

But there are plenty of reasons to get excited about old handsets too  some could even dial you up a return of thousands of pounds.

The old phones worth thousands

Mobile phones are so ubiquitous that it may seem hard to imagine that any could be seen as collectors' items. However, some of the earliest and most iconic can now command large sums.

Lynsey Chilcott, from Love Antiques, explains: 'The oldest phones were not made on the scale that they are today and so several are rare and continue to hold value as collectables.'

She adds that if you have one of these older phones, you should seek specialist advice and consider selling at auction to command the best prices.

The Golden oldies... as big as bricks

The first mobile phones were brick-sized, heavy and had short battery lives. Today they are defunct, but iconic and collectable.

Motorola 8000x 800  3,500

The original granddaddy of mobile phones. It was released in 1983 and was heavy, enormous and with a 30-minute battery life.

Mobira Senator NMT 800  2,000

Technically a car phone, this handset was arguably the first portable mobile and was on sale in 1981.

Technophone PC105T 600  1,500

The 1986 Technophone was the first phone designed to slip neatly into a shirt pocket. It had a price tag of 1,990  the equivalent of 6,481 in today's money. It won the Prince of Wales Award in 1988.

Dial up a fortune with a Luxe phone

Over the years, phone companies have issued limited edition, luxury versions of handsets designed for posing with as much as texting or making calls. Some are valuable today.

Vertu Signature M 50  20,000 +

Nokia launched its Vertu Signature range in 2003. Ordinary Vertu phones now sell for around 50, but some of the luxury versions are worth thousands. An 18-carat white gold diamond encrusted model is worth more than 20,000, so long as you have the original packaging and papers to prove authenticity.

Nokia Sapphire 8800 500  2,000

Issued in 2005, there are versions sporting leather covers, titanium and carbon fibre and even a real sapphire in place of the navigation button. Also available in 18-carat gold plate.

Not for sale... but still sought-after

Models that never made it to market are often the most valuable and sought-after due to their rarity. There are a lot of counterfeits knocking about so only buy from a reputable seller or auction house.

Pre-production Prototype iPhone 1 10,000 +

The Apple iPhone released in 2007 marked a watershed in mobile technology. If you've got one of the first 2G phones, it's likely worth around 2,000 if it's still in the box. But, the prototype models can fetch tens of thousands of pounds. Prices vary considerably, but have reached 30,000 in online auctions, according to Love Antiques.

Nokia 7700 1,000  2,000

Another prototype, this model was never actually sold so handsets are rare. It dates back to 2003 and would have beaten the iPhone as the world's first smartphone...had it ever hit the shelves.

Ringing up a fortune: From left, the Motorola 8000x; the 20,000 diamond-encrusted Vertu; the Technophone; Nokia Sapphire; the iPhone 1 prototype; and the Nokia 7700, which was never sold

Cash from common models

There are a number of tech resale companies that will buy phones even if they are old or damaged. These include musicMagpie, We Buy Any Phone, Compare and Recycle, Mazuma and Envirofone. You may only get a few pounds, but that's better than leaving it gathering dust.

Antonia Hristov, an expert at tech resale service Compare and Recycle, says a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 in good condition would net you 20. The Apple iPhone 6, also in good condition, could earn you up to 14; the Motorola Moto G4 is worth between 14 and 16 depending on internal storage; and the first generation Google Pixel still goes for up to 20.

'The most sold phone is an iPhone 11 and is worth up to 317,' says Hristov. 'The oldest mobile phones in the top 20 are the original iPhone SE and iPhone 6s, both of which are more than five years old.'

Online marketplace eBay, Gumtree and other local Facebook or community groups online allow you to list your old phone and decide your asking price. You might get more for it than from a tech resale firm, but it involves more hassle.

Before selling or passing on any old handsets, make sure you delete all your information from it, remove the SIM card and restore it to factory settings.

Remember... all old phones have value

Even if you can't sell your old phone, it may still have value to someone else. They can be refurbished and donated to people who cannot afford to buy their own, or stripped and their parts reused.

You can donate old phones to Vodafone's Great British Tech Appeal or O2's Community Calling. Compare and Recycle, Sell My Mobile and Compare My Mobile aggregate offers from dozens of services that will either buy, redistribute or recycle your old phones for you.
British satellite giant OneWeb plans to raise billions of pounds to fund a vast communications network in low orbit, The Mail on Sunday has learnt.

The technology business, which was bailed out by the taxpayer in 2020, is in talks with a group of banks about the ambitious plan that would help pay for a new generation of launches  known as Gen II.

One source said the amount raised would be around 3billion of debt. It is understood the Government's export credit agency is involved in the discussions, according to City sources.

Ambitious: OneWeb is in talks with a group of banks about the ambitious plan that would help pay for a new generation of launches  known as Gen II

UK Export Finance (UKEF) provides funds and guarantees to lenders for firms in strategic industries exporting from the UK. The process could also involve France's state-backed investment bank BPI and the US's credit export agency.

A source said plans are at an early stage and could take nine months or more to finalise. The proceeds would be used to build more of its existing satellites and fund Gen II, more details of which are expected to be unveiled next month.

OneWeb already has 648 low earth orbit satellites whose aim is to provide high-speed internet to the remotest parts of the planet via stronger signals than traditional fixed-satellite systems. Applications include broadband on planes.

The investment plan follows a proposal by French satellite operator Eutelsat to merge with OneWeb  to create a European champion to take on the likes of Elon Musk's Starlink and Jeff Bezos's Kuiper.

The proposed merger was poorly received by Eutelstat's shareholders, with shares tumbling a third on the news back in July. The share price has since regained some of its losses. Eutelsat has said it would set aside up to $5.3billion to complete OneWeb's network and update its technology over the next seven years.

Sources said the latest plan to raise funds would happen independently of its ongoing merger with Eutelsat. One added that a merger could enhance its chances of securing the debt given Eutelsat's stable finances.

One adviser to Eutelsat said the market reaction to the merger plan was 'very bad' and questioned whether shareholders would approve it. It is understood Eutelsat has since stepped up efforts to convince investors of the plan.

OneWeb's shareholders include its largest stakeholder Bharti Global, the UK Government and Eutelsat, which all support the deal.

The combined entity, while having its primary listing in Paris, would also be expected to launch a secondary listing in London.

The deal could be completed by the middle of next year following regulatory approval. UKEF declined to comment and OneWeb did not respond.
US private equity predator Advent International is considering a swoop on yet another British tech firm, according to The Mail on Sunday's sources.

The buyout giant is understood to be among a group of companies circling fraud prevention software specialist GB Group, prompting speculation there could be a bidding war. Others said to be interested are Hg, KKR, Cinven and Permira.

One source said Advent and KKR had been eyeing GB Group on and off over the past year.

Fears: Private equity firm Advent snapped up Cobham and Ultra Electronics

Advent would be a controversial bidder, following its contentious takeovers of pioneering aerospace and defence groups Cobham and Ultra Electronics, which many MPs, experts and military figures called to be blocked.

Cheshire-based GB Group  worth 1.5billion  was founded in 1989 and is one of the biggest firms listed on the AIM market. It provides fraud protection technology for corporations, including Revolut, which delivers online banking services, and skincare group Charlotte Tilbury. This month it confirmed it is mulling a cash offer from private equity firm GTCR.

The Chicago-based suitor has until 5pm on October 4 to make a firm offer or walk away.

GTCR is in pole position because of its experience in the sector, having owned UK rival Callcredit, one source said, adding that GTCR had a longstanding relationship with GB Group and is confident about financing a deal.

But another source said it could end in a bidding war with private equity firms actively considering bids. Interest in GB Group follows a wave of possible offers for UK technology firms over the summer. They have included cybersecurity firm Darktrace, MicroFocus International, and Aveva, the FTSE100 industrial software provider.

US bidders are trawling Britain for deals as the falling pound makes it cheaper for them to buy companies.

Advent has developed a reputation for hoovering up British firms following its 4billion deal to take trailblazing air-to-air refuelling developer Cobham private in 2020.

It promised to be a long-term investor after uproar from critics, such as the former head of the Royal Navy Admiral Lord West, led to restrictions being put on the deal. But it carved up and sold off much of the firm within 18 months.

It recently completed a 2.6billion takeover of Ultra Electronics, which makes submarine-hunting sonobuoys. Fresh fears have been raised about the future of Ultra after Advent recently told staff some of its divisions were 'not best located under the UK flag', according to The Sun.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal profit at Advent International's UK arm have soared by 150 per cent. It made 14.7million in 2021, according to its most recent accounts, against 5.9million in 2020.

All parties were contacted for comment.
Choose carefully: High street banks are offering perks from large overdrafts to free cash to entice freshers

New undergraduates who are heading to university for the first time are being urged to make sure they have a good student bank account  and to watch out for a new spate of scams.

High street banks are offering perks from large overdrafts to free cash to entice freshers into opening a student account.

But picking the right one can make a significant difference to a student's finances throughout their university years. For most students, a generous, multi-year, interest-free overdraft will be the most useful perk.

This will enable them to avoid hefty overdraft fees if they run out of cash towards the end of term.

Among the most generous is the 123 Student Current Account from Santander, which includes an overdraft facility where you do not have to pay any interest for the first year unless you dip into the red beyond 1,500. The limit rises over the years to 2,000 for a five-year course. But break the limit and you pay 39.94 per cent interest a year.

The account also comes with a free four-year 16-25 Railcard worth 120.

HSBC's offering includes 100 cashback. It provides a free overdraft of 1,000 for the first year, which rises to a generous 3,000 in the third year.

Break the limit by 25 and you can expect to pay a hefty rate of interest of 39.9 per cent a year.

Nationwide Building Society is also among the most generous, and could be a good option for those who prefer the idea of supporting a mutual owned by its members.

It offers a 100 cashback incentive to open its FlexStudent account with a 500 minimum deposit.

There are no overdraft charges for up to 1,000 for the first year, rising to 3,000 in year three. Above these limits it charges 39.9 per cent a year. Students are being warned not to let their guard down over online scams and fraud, which are likely to spike over the coming weeks as they begin their courses.

'Scammers are all too aware that the three student finance payment periods in September, January and April each year are a prime time for them to try to trick students,' says Bernice McNaught, an executive director at the Student Loans Company.
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Two of the late Queen's broadcasts to the nation have had a lingering and powerful effect on me. One was on the eve of Princess Diana's funeral in September 1997 and the other during the pandemic in April 2020.

A heartbroken nation were devastated by Diana's death in a car crash in Paris and many had, in the turmoil, ferociously accused Her Majesty of being aloof and unconcerned as she had not immediately returned to London.

The truth emerged that she had chosen to stay at Balmoral, where she and Prince Philip went every summer, as it could help to keep her grandsons Princes William and Harry close and safe for the first few traumatic days.

When she returned to London, however wounded and distressed she felt, she acknowledged both the nation's feelings and her own.

Speaking from Buckingham Palace she said with the upmost dignity: 'We have all been trying in our different ways to cope.

'It is not easy to express a sense of loss, since the initial shock is often succeeded by a mixture of other feelings: disbelief, incomprehension, anger -- and concern for those who remain.

'We have all felt those emotions in these last few days. So what I say to you now, as your Queen and as a grandmother, I say from my heart.'

ANGELA LEVIN: When the Queen returned to London after Diana's death in 1997, however wounded and distressed she felt, she acknowledged both the nation's feelings and her own in a TV broadcast (left). Another major TV address (right) came when she spoke to the nation while Covid raged. About 24 million TV viewers watched her broadcast, this time from Windsor Castle

Her address had a similar grandmotherly touch when she spoke to the nation while Covid raged. About 24 million TV viewers watched her broadcast, this time from Windsor Castle.

She spoke with wisdom and compassion, hinting that in some ways the effect of the pandemic had similarities to World War II.

'Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it,' she said.

'Many will feel a painful sense of separation from their loved ones. But now, we know, deep down, that it is the right thing to do.

'We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.' She helped to calm the nation far more than any politician could.

While both addresses lifted my spirits I've often wondered how she managed to catch the mood so well when she spent so much of her life in cloistered palaces and castles. I believe much is a result of her childhood.

Her close-knit family gave her stability and happiness. She also saw clearly at the age of ten, when her uncle Edward VIII abdicated and her father unexpectedly ascended to the throne as King George VI, the difference between Edward's irresponsibility and selfishness and her father's loyalty and dedication -- and she knew the route she herself would take. She did, however, live in a royal bubble.

From childhood onwards she was very close and hugely influenced by her mother Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later Queen Elizabeth).

From childhood onwards she was very close and hugely influenced by her mother Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later Queen Elizabeth). Above: Queen and Princess Elizabeth are pictured at the coronation of George VI in 1937 on the Buckingham Palace balcony. George VI was Elizabeth II's father

Princess Elizabeth was also close to her father. Above: George VI; King of the United Kingdom, as Duke of York together with Elizabeth (the Duchess of York) and Princess Elizabeth later Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret

Princess Elizabeth's father let her ride once she was three, a treat that led to horses becoming a lifetime's passion. Above: The young princess riding her horse with her father

She taught her daughter to read at five, to be a devoted Christian and how to control her flashing temper. Never 'shout or frighten', she told her. In the last four years of Queen Elizabeth's life such control served her well.

Princess Elizabeth was also close to her father, who let her ride once she was three, a treat that led to horses becoming a lifetime's passion.

She equally loved dogs, especially Welsh Corgis, and sometimes had as many as 12 at a time.

Very young Elizabeth had her meals served by footmen dressed in scarlet livery. As she was educated at home with no classmates, it was hard for her to make friends, the more so as once she became heir to the throne each one had to courtsy and call her 'ma'am.'

Despite this she saw through people from a young age but kept her feelings about them under wraps. Instead, her mother taught her social skills like how to be relaxed in adult company, often with role-playing exercises to pretend to be various important guests.

She was a naturally, obedient tidy-minded girl. At night she placed her toy ponies in a neat line outside the nursery, folded her clothes on a chair with her shoes underneath, and neatly folded surplus wrapping paper to use again all her life.

She was even delighted when she was given a dustpan and brush one Christmas.

There was, however, one major decision she made for herself when she bravely refused to obey her parents' wishes.

She first saw Prince Philip of Greece in 1934 when she was eight when both families went to the wedding of Princess Marina of Greece.

They met again when Elizabeth was 13 and Philip was 18, when the royal family was visiting the Royal Naval College where he was training as a cadet.

There was, however, one major decision she made for herself when she bravely refused to obey her parents' wishes. She first saw Prince Philip of Greece in 1934 when she was eight when both families went to the wedding of Princess Marina of Greece. They met again when Elizabeth was 13 and Philip was 18, when the royal family was visiting the Royal Naval College where he was training as a cadet. Above: The 1939 meeting between the pair at Dartmouth Royal Naval College

Eventually her father gave her permission, essential for a woman of her status in the 1940s and the couple married in November 1947, when her usually controlled expressions were replaced by a glowing smile. Above: The couple pose after announcing their engagement in July 1947 (left) and after their wedding (right)

The Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen spend time with their children Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew in Balmoral in 1960. Their summer holidays in Scotland were always a special time for the Royal Family

The last photograph of Philip with the Queen was in November 2020, where the Duke and Queen looked at their homemade card, given to them by their great-grandchildren Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis for their 73rd wedding anniversary

She fell in love, was determined to marry him and refused to take any notice of her mother's attempts to stop her relationship with this penniless young man from a dysfunctional background.

It was courageous behaviour for a young woman at the time and revealed that deep down she trusted her own judgment and could stand her ground.

Eventually her father gave her permission, essential for a woman of her status in the 1940s and the couple married in November 1947, when her usually controlled expressions were replaced by a glowing smile.

Her mother's displeasure didn't last long. They spoke to each other every day until she died in 2002 aged 101. Elizabeth was heartbroken but there was also some relief.

Prince Charles and Diana's marriage had broken down and Charles was back with the then Camilla Parker Bowles, much to the royal family's displeasure.

The Queen Mother wanted nothing to do with her and the Queen had refused to go anywhere she was. Happily this changed after her mother's death and the Queen finally agreed that Charles, then 56, could at last marry the woman he loved.

Having spent so much time alone as a child she had little idea about the parental love children need. Prince Philip had even less experience.

Elizabeth was 22 and still a princess when, in 1948, she had Charles. Anne came two years later, and she acceded to the throne in 1952 as a young mother of two.

She employed strict nannies while both she and Prince Philip disapproved of showing their feelings and were hands-off parents.

It couldn't have helped that soon after her accession she and Philip left the two children for six months to go to the Caribbean (on a world tour of the Commonwealth) to celebrate the Coronation. There were no mobiles in those days and landline calls were difficult.

Princess Anne was always tough but Prince Charles, a more sensitive child, was badly affected and had an awkward relationship with his parents for many years.

By the time Andrew arrived ten years later, the Queen had flourished as a mother and learnt the royal ropes; she took eighteen months' maternity leave.

When Prince Edward came along four years later she followed the then modern trend and persuaded her husband to be present at the birth for the first time.

During most of her reign when there was a choice between duty and motherhood, duty nearly always won. It was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who called her 'Granny' or 'Gran Gran', that brought out her softer side.

Thanks to Prince Philip she was more flexible about leaving the Edwardian era behind and becoming more modern.

He persuaded her, against huge opposition, to have the Coronation televised; 20 million people tuned in and it was a huge success.

She subsequently televised her annual Christmas broadcast too. I've always been riveted by which family photographs were placed on her desk, which gave an idea of who was in and who was out within the family.

She volunteered to pay tax in 1993, in 2012 agreed that the laws of succession should be changed so that the firstborn child would be next in line to the throne regardless of its gender and learnt how to Zoom during the pandemic.

It was heart breaking for her, a devoted Christian, when in 1992 Charles and Diana, who were completely incompatible, announced their decision to separate. Prince Andrew, and his wife, Sarah Ferguson, also separated and Anne divorced her husband, Mark Phillips.

Late that year, a fire broke out in Windsor Castle, destroying more than 100 rooms. The Queen referred to her sadness and called it an 'Annus Horribilis', Latin for 'a horrible year.'

It was heart breaking for her, a devoted Christian, when in 1992 Charles and Diana, who were completely incompatible, announced their decision to separate. above: The pair during a service held to commemorate the 59 British soldiers killed in action during the Korean, November 3, 1992

Late in 1992, a fire broke out in Windsor Castle, destroying more than 100 rooms. The Queen referred to her sadness and called it an 'Annus Horribilis', Latin for 'a horrible year'

She went all out for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in May 2018 at Windsor Castle, agreeing to many changes in protocol for his marriage to a divorced and demanding biracial American actress.

Though the Queen reportedly gave quick approval to the match and asked some of her most loyal aides to show Meghan the ropes, she put her foot down and refused Meghan's request for a specific tiara.

The couple were furious and nursed a grievance that seem to blot out the 32m the royals spent on their wedding.

When Harry told the Queen they wanted to step back from being royal, she tried to smooth the way. The couple felt she was not acting quickly enough and in 2020, announced on their Instagram account that they leaving.

The Queen always loved Harry and wanted him to be happy so one can imagine how she felt. I admired the fact that she stuck to the decision that you can't be a working royal and use your position for commercial gain.

She removed their HRH titles, Harry's military appointments and public funding. Harry and Meghan's anger and resentment led to an endless mudslide of accusations - often untrue - that made me feel extremely sorry for the Queen.

In April 2021 Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years, died aged 99. The funeral took place at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are joined by her mother, Doria Ragland, as they show their then newborn son Archie to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle

The Queen went all out for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in May 2018 at Windsor Castle, agreeing to many changes in protocol for his marriage to a divorced and demanding biracial American actress

Because of coronavirus restrictions, only 30 guests were invited. The Queen, wearing a compulsory mask, sat by herself in the chapel, a symbol of her loneliness and grief. The image of her bent figure and watery eyes will always haunt me.

Although the Queen was worth around 300m, she was also thrifty -- another legacy from her childhood. She had no interest in regularly upgrading her palaces and was not bothered by rather threadbare carpets.

She wanted lights turned off in unused rooms and had ordinary electric space heaters that costs about 30 at Buckingham Palace and Balmoral to keep guests warm. She didn't throw away worn-out gloves; they were repaired instead.

She changed the heels of her shoes when they were worn-out to cut down the number of new shoes she needed. One of the indulgences she allowed herself was a Launer handbag. She had 220, each one costing more than 1,000.

The memory I will treasure most of all is that although she took her sense of duty very seriously it didn't apply to herself.

She retained a lively sense of humour and was brilliant at mimicking others. Once, when Prince Philip returned from a long overseas tour with a beard, the Queen greeted him sporting a false one.

In April 2021 Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years, died aged 99. The funeral took place at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Because of coronavirus restrictions, only 30 guests were invited

The Queen, wearing a compulsory mask, sat by herself in the chapel, a symbol of her loneliness and grief. The image of her bent figure and watery eyes will always haunt me

She got involved with the James Bond spoof for the London Olympics in August 2012 when someone who impersonated her 'leapt' into the stadium via a parachute.

Best of all, during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in the summer of 2022, she had a hilarious televised tea with Paddington Bear.

She even opened her handbag to show him that she kept a marmalade sandwich inside. It was a tongue-in-cheek answer to a regular question over several decades about what she kept in her ever-present handbag.

At the start of her Platinum Jubilee year she unexpectedly expressed her 'sincere wish' that Camilla would be known as Queen Consort when the Prince of Wales became king.

She got involved with the James Bond spoof for the London Olympics in August 2012 when someone who impersonated her 'leapt' into the stadium via a parachute

During the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in the summer of 2022, she had a hilarious televised tea with Paddington Bear

On the last day of the hugely successful celebrations the Queen, who was suffering mobility issues, was persuaded by Prince Charles to join the family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. She wore a bright green coat and hat as she stood close to three generations of royal heirs: Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George

I saw it as a bit of tidying-up that would finally end a controversy that had raged since Charles and Camilla's marriage in 2005.

On the last day of the hugely successful celebrations the Queen, who was suffering mobility issues, was persuaded by Prince Charles to join the family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

She wore a bright green coat and hat as she stood close to three generations of royal heirs: Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George.

All her life her aim was that the Monarchy would continue after her and there they were altogether for all to see. What she might not have anticipated was the love and respect shown by tens of thousands of people below waving Union Jacks and cheering their beloved Queen. May she rest in peace.
A Victorian equality advocate has called for a rape victim to be 'spat on at every opportunity' after she objected to attending support sessions with a transgender woman who dressed and acted like a man.

Victorian Women's Trust board member Leena van Deventer tweeted that a British rape victim 'should be spat on at every opportunity' because she launched legal action against The Survivors' Network.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, alleged indirect discrimination against the welfare organisation after it insisted the transgender woman sit-in on rape support sessions.

Victorian Women's Trust board member Leena van Deventer tweeted a UK rape victim 'should be spat on at every opportunity'

Victorian Women's Trust board member Leena van Deventer calls on a rape victim to be spat on

An enraged van Deventer - a writer and video game developer who has taught at RMIT and Swinburne University - doubled down on the victim, following up with another vicious tweet where she labelled her a 'sh*theel'.

'I hope she falls into a well,' van Deventer tweeted.

The Victorian Women's Trust had been operating for 36 years solely supporting women and girls - until six years ago when it began to include gender diverse people, including biological men who identify as women.

Trust CEO Mary Crooks told Daily Mail Australia it would stand by van Deventer and would not be removing her from the board.

'Leena has done what I thought she'd do and expressed deep remorse and understood there is no constructive path gained by her in going into the gutter on social media,' Ms Crooks said.

'She has learnt a lesson and frankly I'm proud of the approach we have taken and proud of her response.'

The rape victim, who holds a deep distrust of men, claims she suffered a panic attack after attending the support group.

The woman claimed the transgender person presented as 'typically male', wearing male clothing.

After the support meeting, the rape victim said she had a panic attack and was absolutely distraught.

The Coalition for Biological Reality has created a petition calling on the Trust to remove van Deventer from the board of an organisation that claims to promote women.

Coalition founder, Stassja Frei, said van Deventer's remarks demonstrated a clear conflict of rights.

'What Leena said is abhorrent,' she stated.

Victorian Women's Trust board member Leena van Deventer hopes a rape victim will fall into a well because she felt discriminated against by having to attend a rape support sessions with a transgender woman who dressed and looked like a man

A rape victim had a panic attack after she was confronted by a transgender woman at a rape counselling session

'This UK woman felt unsafe in a group that included a male. If you extend that to public toilets, change rooms, prisons it is perfectly reasonable for women to feel unsafe and uncomfortable opening up about their sexual trauma in front of males or undressing in front of a male. It's common sense.'

Ms Frei said if all women's support groups allowed transgender women, where could women who have been assaulted by transwomen go for help?

'Women's organisations running these services could partner with an LGBT organisation and set up a group for transwomen and transmen or have an inclusive group while still offering a separate group for females only,' she said.

'It's about creating options rather than forcing this ideology on women.'

Ms Frei said she believed the Victorian Women's Trust had effectively become an LGBT organisation and was not in a position to campaign in the interests of women.

'There are plenty of LGBT organisations out there so why women's organisations need to be diluted is baffling,' she stated.

Dr Nicola Williams, a research scientist specialising in human biology and director of Fair Play for Women, told Daily Mail Australia research suggested 'biological sex matters'.

Her report, Supporting Women in Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, found a person with a male body presented a potential threat to biological women that someone without that physiology did not.

Research indicated women raped by men appear to have issues with men going into the future

Further, there is no evidence to suggest that threat changes if the male identifies as a woman.

Dr Williams interviewed scores of victims of violence and sexual assault and found allowing transwomen to attend support groups would deny those women emotional safety and prevent many ethnic minority women from attending those groups.

Ms Crooks maintained the organisation was not prepared to turn its shoulder from someone who identified as female.

'The personhood of everyone is what is central to all of this and if we are going to respect the rights of some people we are going to respect all and not be selective,' she said.

While Ms Crooks agreed the majority of family violence and sexual assaults were perpetrated by males against women, she refused to exclude those who identify as women from women's groups.

'Society has to be much more creative and considered and thoughtful in coming up with solutions that enable people to participate in their worlds,' Ms Crooks said.

'I understand the tensions and nervousness and the way in which people might want to prosecute their cases, but we need to find ways all people are supported and valued.

'If a transwoman is in a sexual assault group because they've been the subject of a rape, then that person deserves support. If a group is not comfortable with the person in the group, the agency needs to find a way to accommodate both sets of needs.'

Meanwhile, van Deventer claims to be 'resetting her focus' and 'asserting her desire to concentrate on positive, fruitful work'.

'This is my focus and will remain my focus,' she said.
Victoria Holsten is selling designer goods worth tens of thousands on Facebook marketplace

A socialite mum has raised eyebrows by launching a designer brand garage sale on Facebook Marketplace, including selling a set of used Hermes cutlery for $17,000.

Victoria Holsten, the ex-wife of movie producer Christopher Mapp, is clearing out unwanted items from her spectacular $17million harbourside mansion in Vaucluse, in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

She's listed the high ticket price items in the Sydney Buy, Swap and Sell Facebook group, which typically used to sell second hand surfboards, dusty XBox videogames and rusty old weight sets.

But Ms Holsten has brought a taste of the top end of town with a lavish luxury sale of household goods with gold-plated price tags - and is even selling a half-tonne safe to store them all in.

Some of the items have attracted online trolls, with the cutlery set - 'only used twice' - attracting special attention from marketplace regulars.

'Do you have any cutlery that costs more...I'm not really into peasant utensils,' joked one potential buyer.

Another added: 'I feel for this price we need to know the details of the two occasions.

She is clearing out unwanted items from her spectacular $17million harbourside mansion in Vaucluse, in Sydney's ritzy eastern suburbs (above)

'I'm imagining some form of incognito royal visit, a huge business deal where the future of your company rested on the dinner's success, or just an OTT way to impress your mother-in-law.

'Would also accept a humorous tale of this being one of two possible drunken purchases where the alternate option was a giraffe.'

Another joked the seller had 'the full set minus the silver spoon they were born with...'

But Ms Holsten brushed off the criticism.

'People who make negative comments are generally ignorant, have no money or good style, and dont bother me at all,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

Trolls have targeted some of the sale items to poke fun at the price tags

Some of the items have attracted trolls, especially the $17,000 Hermes cutlery set, but a Hermes Noir Birkin handbag - with multicolour handle - is up for grabs for $15,000

A stone dining table (only slightly chipped) could have been yours for a cool $10k but has already sold while Ms Holsten's blue velvet Baxter Milano armchair and matching Ottoman is a snip at $10,000

If you're in the market for a jade green crystal clock, Ms Holsten has the perfect petite Cartier one for just $8,000, but this prized pair of Rolls Royce headphones, one of only 200 made, is available for $2,000, and joyously plugs in to the vehicle to make life in the back seat of your Roller even sweeter

This Hermes dish is just $2,900, while those looking to get fit can jump on the treadmill, coming in at just $10,000 (pool and $17million dollar view not included)

And while the designer cutlery is the highest priced item on offer, there were no shortage of other five-figure sales to be made in the virtual backyard bargain hunt.

Ms Holsten's ex-husband describes himself as an angel investor and produced Elsa Pataky's recent Netflix blockbuster Interceptor along with her Australian husband Chris Hemsworth.

The couple divorced in 2018 but the Facebook sale is an enlightening insight into Ms Holsten's wealthy lifestyle.

It features Ms Holsten's blue velvet Baxter Milano armchair and matching Ottoman - a snip at $10,000 - and a stone dining table (only slightly chipped) which could have been yours for a cool $10,000 - but has already sold.

If you're in the market for a jade green crystal clock, she has the perfect petite Cartier one for just $8,000, or maybe a Hermes Noir Birkin handbag - with multicolour handle - for $15,000.

Unfortunately you've already missed out on the bargain Hermes satchel bag in dark navy, which sold for just $5,000, but it did have a 'minor' scratch on the back. If that was too much for your budget, her Louis Vuitton Twist bag comes in $50 cheaper at $4,950.

However you can still pick up the Hermes Victoria bag for $3,950 or the Chanel Grand Shopping Tote bag (with some marks, can be cleaned), also $3,950. Clearly $4,000 is just too much to ask for them.

Unfortunately you've already missed out on the bargain Hermes satchel bag in dark navy, which sold for just $5,000, but it did have a 'minor' scratch on the back. If that was too much for your budget, her LV Twist bag comes in $50 cheaper at $4950

There are a variety of dresses including a couple of Hermes leather and lambskin outfits clocking in at $5,500 and $3.500 apiece but this Burberry leather jacket is a steal at $2,300

Those looking to get fit can jump on the bargain treadmill the mother-of-two has for sale, coming in at just $10,000 (pool and $17million dollar view not included).

However if you need a lie down afterwards, Ms Holsten had a fabulous pair of sun loungers to stretch out on. She paid $8,000 for them, but one lucky buyer picked them up for just $2,000.

There are a variety of dresses including a couple of Hermes leather and lambskin outfits clocking in at $5,500 and $3,500 apiece, or a Burberry leather jacket at $2,300.

Also on offer is a beautiful Alai silk evening dress for $1,200 which would have been perfect for the white party held by Pataky and Hemsworth for friends at their home in Byron Bay.

The dress would have been perfect for the white party held by Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth for friends at their home in Byron Bay

Also on offer is a beautiful Alai silk evening dress for $1,200 - perfect for summer nights with glamorous friends

Ms Holsten says the white dress has never been worn, but the picture appears to have been taken with her modelling it on the terrace of her home overlooking the Sydney city skyline

Although Ms Holsten says it has never been worn, the picture of the stunning dress does appear to have been taken with her modelling it on the terrace of her home overlooking the Sydney city skyline.

For those looking for something a little more exclusive though, Ms Holsten is also selling a prized pair of Rolls Royce headphones, one of only 200 made, for $2,000, which joyously plugs in to the vehicle to make life in the back seat of your Roller even sweeter.

Another $1,500 will buy you a display cabinet to put them in and also includes Ms Holsten's handyman who will disassemble and re-assemble for you, which is nice.

There is also the rug for $3,500, a selection of curtains and drapes ranging from $3,500 to $5,500, an unused Hermes dish for $2,900 plus designer bedheads for just shy of a grand each - and a used single mattress for $500.

At the other end of the scale there are some genuine low price sales to be had - an [empty] wooden black Dom Perignon box can be yours for $100, and if you happen to have a three year old iPhone 11 in desperate need of a Louis Vuitton case, Ms Holsten can sell you hers for just $110

Ms Holsten paid $8,000 for these sunloungers but sold them for $2,000. The 500kg safe is just $950...but a specialist safe removalist will charge you $700 to ship it your home

At the other end of the scale there are some genuine low price sales to be had - an [empty] wooden black Dom Perignon box can be yours for $100, but there is a pending offer in on that so better be quick.

And if you happen to have a three year old iPhone 11 in desperate need of a Louis Vuitton case, Ms Holsten can sell you hers for just $110. Form an orderly queue, please.

Alternatively, in among the many other household items and female fashion, there is also a pair of glittery men's Saint Laurent boots, size 44, with a 4cm heel, yours for a mere $710 - worn only three times.

There is also a pair of glittery men's Saint Laurent boots, size 44, with a 4cm heel, yours for a mere $710 - worn only three times

Finally there is even a pair of hefty safes to store all your newly-bought bling in, one weighing in at 500kg and the other at 300kg. The bigger safe is just $950...but a specialist safe removalist will charge you another $700 to ship it your home.

The online backlash against some of the sales has been at times vitriolic, with many attacking the decision to buy the items in the first place.

'WTF! $22.8k for a set of...wait for it...steak knives...; perhaps that's God's way of saying you have too much money lady,' scoffed one.

'Are you kidding me? With the way the world is and economy and everyday families struggling you have the hide to use marketplace to sell your overpriced tin cutlery you disgust me. Get off marketplace,' fumed another.

Another added: 'People are starving in the street and you thought a $22k cutlery set was a better use of that money. Capitalism is awesome.'
One day, perhaps soon, friends and family will gather to farewell a brilliant businessman but at some point a stranger will abruptly interrupt them to reveal a shocking secret.

The stranger is Bill Edgar, the self-styled Coffin Confessor, and he will tell mourners the deceased never had a career in business but instead was a lucky lotto winner.

The man kept this great good fortune a secret to avoid being hassled for money but invested the jackpot well enough to never have to work again - except at the pretense of being a businessman.

Coffin Confessor Bill Edgar's job is to interrupt funerals and reveal secrets that the deceased could share during their lives

'He's a fraudster,' Mr Edgar says chortling.

'His family thought he was the best businessman on the planet and that he did all this stuff and was good at what he did.

'They would go to him for advice and he'd f**king Google the answer that he'd go back to them with.

'He did something that everybody on the planet thinks they could do, but they don't when they win lotto, and that's not tell anyone.'

Mr Edgar, 53, said the man was not far 'from being taken' and had another surprise lined up for family members attending his funeral.

'I have six envelopes with me and in those six envelopes is an amount for each person I give it to,' Mr Edgar told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr Edgar has some secrets ready to reveal, including a man who won the lotto but pretended his wealth came from being a successful businessman

As the 'Coffin Confessor' Mr Edgar is hired to tell the secrets or confess the longings people dared not divulge but didn't want to take quite to their grave.

Mr Edgar has an especially scandalous secret up his sleeve for a future funeral.

'One lady said that she had been having an affair for about eight years,' he said.

'I have to disclose that to her husband at the funeral but at the same time I am also going to disclose that she knows he was having an affair with her sister for those eight years.

'That's the karma.'

Mr Edgar said infidelity was the most common confession people wanted to make.

However, another all too poignant confession was to reveal the true 'forbidden' loves that people harboured.

Mr Edgar's new book tells the story of his life and how he came up with his unique job description

In his new book, The Coffin Confessor, Mr Edgar describes 'crashing' a funeral of a feared bikie to publicly declare the hard man was bisexual.

He also told the stunned crowd the male love of the dead man's life was in the crowd of assembled gang members.

Mr Edgar obviously had concerns for his safety, but walked away unscathed with the bikies still reeling in shock.

He has also revealed during the funeral of a married wife and mother who was a leading member of a conservative Christian community that the deceased's lifelong love was another woman.

'How bad is it?' Mr Edgar says of these cases.

'How bad is it that people still can't live the way they want to live and we are in 2022. It's just f**king terrible that we have to hide those secrets.'

When reading out something that is likely to get an unwelcome reception Mr Edgar advised 'you've got to get the crowd on your side as quick as you can'.

Mr Edgar has been tasked with telling a husband his wife had an affair but also that she knew he was sleeping with her sister

'I just say "this your loved one in the coffin",' he said.

'They've left something unsaid. I am here to say it.

'If you want to hear what it is sit down, shut up and listen, otherwise bugger off because I have got to say it anyway.

'Half the crowd - or more than half the crowd are going "holy sh*t, we want to know what he said, what's in the letter?".

'So they all tell other people to sit down and shut up.'

Mr Edgar explained how he gets hired to crash a client's own funeral.

After being contacted he will talk to a prospective client on the phone or by video conferencing but prefers if it is face-to-face.

'I will fly all over Australia and New Zealand if I need to in order to meet with people,' Mr Edgar said.

'I will record our conversation and I will give them a contract and the contract is binding between us.

'You write out exactly what the person wants said at their funeral. Then they sign that letter, which is left on the top of their coffin when I leave the funeral.

'It's the ultimate mike drop. Whether the funeral continues I don't know, I have no idea. I just leave.'

Mr Edgar charges clients between $2000 and $10,000 for his coffin confessing services

Mr Edgar said he charges between $2,000 and $10,000 a client.

'They don't need the money where they are going and I never get a complaint,' he said.

'And obviously it can be very funny or heartbreaking as well because when you crash a funeral you are sitting among family members, mourners and I know I am going to stand up and tell certain people to sit down, shut up or f**k off.

'That's what my client wants and that's what they get.'

Mr Edgar tells his clients that if they committed a crime they want to confess they should send it to him in an envelope to read at their funeral

Mr Edgar said he wouldn't liken his role to a priest taking a confession, or a professional sworn to secrecy such as a doctor or lawyer.

'I liken myself to a confidante,' he said.

'I have the luxury and privilege of holding those secrets.

'It's quite a humbling experience to sit with somebody and I get to know all their secrets, their desires, their fantasies, everything in such a short time and it's quite beautiful in a way.'

There is one type of confession that Mr Edgar only finds out himself on the day of a funeral.

Marlon Wayans is set to be the leading man in a Hollywood adaptation inspired by Mr Edgar's work

'I say to people if they tell me they have committed a crime, a serious crime, I have to report it,' he said.

'So, what we do is they write it down, they put it a self-posted envelope and they mail it to me and I don't open it until the funeral. I have one of those.

'It could be a hoax, it could be a full-on tragedy for the person or it could solve a crime.

'Sometimes I wonder should I open it but that's not what the Coffin Confessor is about, I'm going to do what I get paid to do.'

Mr Edgar said, perhaps suprisingly, that the people who objected the most to what he does are undertakers and funeral directors.

'They think it is disrespectful to stand up on behalf of the deceased. They think that that funerals are for the living, not the dead,' Mr Edgar said.

'They can all f**k off, I don't care.

'I have job to do and I do it. If we think funerals are only for the living then we are disrespecting the dead aren't we?'

The item that he had heard many deathbed pleas from people for 'God to forgive them'

As an experienced private investigator Mr Edgar will try to verify what he is told by a client.

However, he believes most people don't want to waste their last message on being deceitful or malicious.

'People are not going to pay $10,000 for a revenge on your death bed and if you do you are going to hell, if there's a hell. People aren't like that,' Mr Edgar said.

'People are going to do the right thing and they always do on their death bed.

'It doesn't matter who you are. I have been with a lot of people who have died now and the most common thing they say is "God help me. God forgive me", even if they are not believers.

'I don't know if a fear of dying or a fear of leaving loved ones behind is the most traumatic, but the fear of the unknown is what we are all sort of worried about.'

There is another side to Mr Edgar's business, where he will clean out a dying person's possessions of anything they don't want relatives to find or do final requests a client deceased trusts no one else with.

The surprising item that most asked to be buried with is their mobile phones, Mr Edgar says

One of the most disturbing such cases was his brother-in-law's request that Mr Edgar push a pin all the way into his big toe to make sure he was dead.

Mr Edgar duly did this after asking a mortician to give him a moment alone with the body.

He said this side of 'clean-up' side of his occupation kept him busy.

'There's just so many of late, going into people's homes and cleaning them out and taking the will back to the hospital bed,' he said.

'As for what I'm getting rid of - it could be lingerie, sex toys but also drugs, money and drug paraphernalia they don't want anybody to find.'

Mr Edgar is also sometimes instructed to place items in coffins, and he revealed the most common request.

Mr Edgar says he has thousands of prospective clients around the world wanting to engage his services

'Now it is mobile phones,' he said.

'I thought it was because they might wake up and they've got to contact people but its not that at all.

'They don't want people knowing what's on their phones.'

Mr Edgar readily admits his unique job started 'as a joke'.

A man said he wanted someone to reveal at his funeral that his best friend was sleazily propositioning his wife.

'I just said "I will crash your funeral for you" and he took me up on it,' Mr Edgar said.

'I'm happy I did it.'

Mr Edgar duly did shame the wannabe lothario straight after the man gave the 'heart-felt' eulogy for his friend.

Mr Edgar said he was having a Zoom meeting with the creators of hit sitcom Schitt's Creek (pictured)

From those humble beginnings Mr Edgar's fame has gone global.

'Since the media grabbed hold of it I've probably got 14,500 people in the UK who want to engage my services and 26,000 in the US,' he said.

'I get requests every night. Every morning I wake up there's emails and requests.

'I get a lot of letters from prison, from prisons throughout the world now, even in China.'

Mr Edgar, who lives in the Gold Coast hinterland is about to take his coffin confessing to the US.

He plans to go to Chicago in November, where producers want him to assist on a Coffin Confessor reality show.

'I'm actually advising, which is really cool, as an executive producer on the show,' he said.

That's only the tip of the iceberg of media and other offers, with Hollywood calling as well.

Comedian and actor Marlon Wayans has been tapped to play Mr Edgar's role in the upcoming Coffin Confessor movie.

Mr Edgar says he has even had a peep at the script.

'It's very funny, think of the Wedding Crashers, except a different tone - it's quite remarkable,' he said.

Mr Edgar believes the fear of the unknown is what we all share when it comes to the final curtain

The film will be 'inspired' by Mr Edgar's work but won't use his stories directly.

There's also plans for a TV drama along similar lines.

'I am actually doing a Zoom next week with the people who created Schitt's Creek and CSI in England,' Mr Edgar said.

'There's a lot going on. It's full-on it's taken over my life doing all that but in a good way too.'

Mr Edgar said despite all the attention he would keep his feet on the ground.

'If I was in my 30s it would probably go to my head,' he said.

'But now I am in my 50s. I have just got four grandchildren under three. I am pretty settled.

'My wife and I have come from living in a tent and having nothing to owning properties and cars and we are quite comfortable.

'So whatever comes, I am just going to take it. I'm going to sit back and enjoy it.'
The manual tells new inmates how to do drugs in order to 'protect' themselves

He was convicted of commercial supply of magic mushrooms, MDMA and LSD

A pizza shop owner who went to prison for dealing party drugs has opened up about his confronting time behind bars and shared the extraordinary advice prison authorities gave new inmates.

Andrew Hamilton, 36, was arrested on charges of commercial supply of magic mushrooms (psilocybin), LSD and MDMA in June 2021 and spent four months on maximum security remand in two prisons.

This week Hamilton shared confronting insights from his short spells in prison, uploading a video explaining the actual advice given to inmates by bosses about safely using drugs and having sex.

Hamilton said 'plenty of drugs' were available inside Parklea and even offered to him - even during the Covid-19 lockdown

Parklea prison's Inmate Induction and Orientation Manual advises to 'use condoms for sex' and to 'smoke, swallow, snort or shelve drugs' - although the prison's private operator says inmates are made aware drug use is illegal

Hamilton shared several pages of the men-only Parklea prison's Inmate Induction and Orientation Manual from 2021, which has a section titled 'how to protect yourself'.

The suggestions included are to 'use condoms for sex' and to 'smoke, swallow, snort or shelve drugs'.

To 'shelve' drugs means to insert them in the anus.

'This is an actual printed booklet from Parklea Correctional Centre recommending that instead of injecting drugs the best thing to do is to shove drugs up your a**e,' Hamilton said in the TikTok clip.

The manual advises users who do want to inject their drugs on how to do it more safely by cleaning their needles with a disinfectant called 'Fincol'.

'Fincol should be available in each area of Parklea.'

Aside from sex and drug advice the inmate's induction guide includes a list of 'Things to do at Parklea', including 'library, art, music' and a barber shop.

A spokesperson for the jail's private operator, MTC-Broadspectrum, said inmates are actively discouraged from using drugs and 'any inmates found in possession of them are subject to misconduct charges'.

Hamilton has been clean for 15 months, participates regularly in a drug recovery program, and has done 140 stand-up comedy shows

Hamilton also shared pages of the diaries he wrote in Parklea Prison and at Long Bay Jail with Daily Mail Australia

It added: 'Many drug-dependent inmates find it hard to stop using drugs while in prison, so advice is given to protect their safety and minimise harm.'

Parklea is a men-only minimum and maximum security jail in Sydney's north-west with a capacity for 1,350 inmates.

Hamilton told Daily Mail Australia he didn't have sex inside and never saw prisoners 'getting it on with each other'.

'But I'm sure it's happened plenty of times.'

But Hamilton said 'plenty of drugs' were available inside and even offered to him.

'I saw plenty of drug use and I was offered plenty but I was going through a turning point, so I abstained from all that and began the process of trying to turn my life around.

Hamilton spent four months at Parklea Correctional Centre (above) in Sydney's north-west last year before he was granted bail on conditions including that he live with his mother and father

'Drugs are everywhere in jail, even during the Covid lockdown, when there were no visitors there was still plenty of drugs flowing through.'

He has been clean for 15 months and participates regularly in a drug recovery program.

Before he went to jail Hamilton was a public relations young gun, before running a pizza shop called Brooklyn Crispy at Potts Point in 2021.

But on the side he ran a business selling party drugs.

That led to a raid at his Surry Hills home by police on June 4.

Hamilton is set to make his official debut as a comedian at the end of September in a show with the edgy title 'Let's get a bag (of comedy)'

Police allegedly found 17 grams of cocaine, 43.7 grams of ecstasy, and 8 grams of ketamine, a sedative which induces a trance-like state and is used medically for anaesthesia.

They also allegedly located a commercial quantity (413 grams) of psilocybin, known as magic mushrooms, and 3.4 grams of lysergic acid, or LSD, along with $12,450 in cash.

Hamilton also shared pages of the diaries he wrote in Parklea Prison and at Long Bay Jail with Daily Mail Australia.

Those pages contained the regrets and fears he faced inside and plans for a new life based on a radical life change - becoming a comedian.

'They were mostly things about missing my family, and my dogs (who were rehomed during my time in prison) or about things I was thankful for like my health, and a sense of humour.

'When I was sitting in jail plenty of time to think about what I regret not doing in life and the answer was not doing stand-up comedy.

'I absolutely regret the impact of my mistakes on everyone I care about,' he said.

'Im very lucky that my family and friends have stuck by me and now fully support my journey.'

Hamilton said he was not made to feel unsafe by other prisoners. 'I was treated very well by other inmates,' he said.

'They helped me to stay positive during times when I was struggling.'

Before he went to jail Mr Hamilton ran a pizza shop called Brooklyn Crispy at Potts Point in 2021, but on the side he ran a business selling party drugs

Hamilton was recognised in 2013 by B&T magazine, the leading publication for Australia's advertising, marketing and PR industries, as one of its 30 young stars under 30

But his recollections of prison guards at Parklea weren't as positive.

'The only thing that made me feel unsafe was the guards and medical staff at Parklea as there were numerous incidents of people pressing the medical emergency button in there cells and it taking hours for anyone to come.

'I myself have asthma and asked medical staff every day for two months for an asthma inhaler and never got one. But at Long Bay, I got provided with Ventolin as soon as I arrived.'

In July 2022 he was finally sentenced to an intensive corrections order, which features 200 hours community service and means he cannot commit any further offences in the next two-and-a-half years.

Hamilton, whose Facebook profile says he is 'sillier than most', was arrested at his home in Sydney's Surry Hills by the proactive crime team

If he does, it's back to jail.

Hamilton works in events management and is aiming to become a fulltime comedian.

While on bail Hamilton took his first tentative steps towards his new career, posting cheeky videos with his reviews of prison meals.

He's gone on to do more than 140 stand-up comedy shows and is set to make his official debut as a comedian at the end of September in a show with the edgy title 'Let's get a bag (of comedy)'.
Each U.S. president has had to navigate daunting protocols and etiquette during royal encounters. In the case of President Richard Nixon, who visited with the Queen several times, there were a few moments of awkwardness stretching from small talk to the dress code, even amid the smiling images of glamorous encounters.

Nixon was a royal admirer who once sent the Queen a book filled with tips on effectively communicating in English.

On another occasion he had to scrounge for a jacket to meet the Queen's desire for a less formal dress code. The one he found didn't fit right. Then he told the Queen about it.

And there is the infamous incident of Nixon reportedly trying to set up Prince Charles with his daughter, Tricia.

Nixon's decision to send the Queen a book on English might appear to be an odd gesture for someone who was known for her diction and command of the language.

But the Queen appeared to reciprocate after their first meeting. She once gushed about a 'delightful' meal they spent together and penned informal correspondence referring to the president as 'Mr. Nixon,' a never previously-published document obtained by DailyMail.com reveals.

The Queen thanked Pat Nixon for a 'delightful dinner party' in a 1958 letter. Richard Nixon was a royal fan who met the Queen on several occasions

Nixon first met the Queen on a visit to London when he was vice president. He would later host the Queen and then host Prince Philip on a stag visit during his time in the White House.

(On that 1969 visit, it was Prince Philip who felt out of sorts. He later wrote Nixon apologizing for giving a 'lame' toast at the star-studded event, as DailyMail.com previously reported).

Nixon wrote the Queen in October 1957 to pass on a copy of a book they discussed at a luncheon. The book was The Art of Readable Writing, by Rudolf Flesch.

'I thought you might find some of Mr. Fleisch's rather startling ideas amusing, in view of our discussion of speaking techniques,' he told her, in a letter he signed 'Respectfully yours.'

Nixon sent the Queen a book on 'plain talk' and 'readable writing'

It is among a trove of material about Nixon and the Queen held at the Nixon Library in California.

The Nixons greeted the Queen that year when she visited Washington and made her first trip the U.S. as Sovereign.

Nixon wrote the Queen in a formal typed letter thanking her and Prince Philip for 'valued mementoes,' 'handsome autographed photographs' and 'pleasant meetings during your memorable days in Washington.'

But he also pointed to their 'warm friendliness and charm and our enjoyment of the moments we were privileged to share.'

By the following year, the relationship between the Nixons and the Queen appeared to have grown closer, after the Nixons hosted the Queen for a special Thanksgiving dinner at the American ambassador's residence in London.

The Queen thanked the Nixons for hosting a dinner at the US ambassador's residence in London. Nixon had to borrow a dinner jacket, according to his daughter Julie Eisenhower Nixon

Nixon and the Queen bonded over a traditional Thanksgiving meal

Nixon attended the dedication of the American Chapel at St. Paul's Cathedral in London

Nixon sent along a copy of a book with 'startling ideas' about English

Nixon thanked the Queen for autographed photos on a 'significant 1957 State Visit'

The Queen visited the Capitol on her first trip to the U.S. as Sovereign

A State Department memo gave detailed instructions on where Nixon should turn

Nixon had to find a dinner jacket 'in a hurry' when hosting the Queen at the US Ambassador's residence in London

Luckily, aide Jim Bassett was Nixon's size (almost)

Nixon's jacket was 'too short in the arms,' his daughter wrote

The Queen wrote Pat Nixon, in a Nov. 28th, 1958 letter on Palace stationary now held at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda obtained by DailyMail.com.

'Thank you for a delightful dinner party last evening - it was a great pleasure to be able to join you and Mr. Nixon on Thanksgiving Day,' she wrote  using an informal title for the president in the hand-written letter.

'I hope you have enjoyed your all to brief stay here in London and I hope you will have a good return flight to your country. With my good wishes to you and Mr. Nixon.'

She signed the letter, 'Yours sincerely, Elizaeth R.'

The Queen was only aware of some of the sartorial drama Nixon had been through.

According to a memoir of Pat Nixon by the Nixons' younger daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, the night began 'on a frantic note for my parents.'

'My father had assumed that the dinner would be white tie. But in London he learned that the Queen had specifically requested less formal attire. He had to come up with a dinner jacket in a hurry. He arranged to borrow one from Jim Bassett, who was on leave from the Los Angeles Times, acting as my father's press aide on the trip.'

But that only halfway solved the problem. 'Bassett in turn commandeered a suit from a Scotland Yard detective,' she writes.

That later led to a cartoon in Punch magazine poking fun at a 'trouser-less London bobby on guard outside the embassy.'

The suit was 'too short in the arms and looked as if it had come from a local rental agency,' she wrote.

Nixon 'explained his predicament to the Queen, she laughed heartily,' Tricia Nixon recalled.

Their relationship continued during Nixon's long presence on the political scene.

Nixon met the Queen and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace in 1969.

They visited again in 1970 and stayed at Chequers.

If Nixon was on his best behavior when he was with the Queen, he had some help from protocol officers.

According to a memorandum for the Nixons for a luncheon with the Queen and Prince Philip at the Capitol for the Queen's 1957 trip: 'You will escort the royal couple up the steps, pause on the second landing, face the Senate Office Building to permit photographs to get the shot with the Capitol dome in the background. Queen on your right; Prince on Mrs. Nixon's left.'

The times the Queen met first lady Pat Nixon October 1957  The Queen visits Washington, DC along with Prince Philip for her first trip for her first state visit as Queen November 1958  VP Nixon and the Queen dedicate American Chapel at St. Pauls Cathedral. Nixon and Mrs. Nixon then hosted Thanksgiving Dinner for the Queen at US embassy. The Queen pens a handwritten note June 1959  VP Nixon greets the Queen at the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway February 1969  President Nixon was received by The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace on his first visit abroad as President. October 1970  The Queen visits Chequers to greet Nixon and the first lady. - Source: Nixon Library Advertisement

Then it was on to Nixon's formal Senate office and a receiving line. 'At this time you and the royal couple will be offered drinks. The Queen will probably take either sherry or fruit juice, but a wide variety will be possible,' according to the memo.

A State Department memo for the visit provided the correct way to address Her Majesty (it said British subjects normally say "Your Majesty" and "Your Royal Highness" 'and thereafter "Ma'am."'

'However "How do you do" is quite correct,' it said.

Under 'Beverages,' the diplomatic note said 'The Queen likes Rhine wine, sherry, and Canada Dry ginger ale. Prince Philip may ask for Scotch Whisky and Soda Water or Gin and Tonic Water.' Special arrangements are being made to serve neutral water for them at all events.'

Nixon's toast at the event, marked 'as dictated from recollection,' had the president pointing to the Capitol as a symbol of shared heritage of the English-speaking world.

He went on to recall his trips to far-flung English-speaking nations over the past five years  some part of the former British Empire and some part of the Commonwealth.

He brought up trips to New Zealand and Australia, the Colonies of Hong Kong and Singapore, Malaya, Pakistan, India, Ceylon, Ghana and Canada.'

All were bound by 'three great institutions  the Parliament, the common law ant he English language,' he said.

The Queen couldn't help but comment on expansive geography herself. 'I find it difficult to realize that many of your constituents are as far from Washington as I am now from London,' she said.

(She would later tour the West Coast with Ronald Reagan).

According to a more infamous story, Nixon tried to set up King Charles III with his daughter Tricia.

Author Sally Bedell Smith told BBC America that then-Prince Charles, 21 at the time, recalled the incident years later when he visited President George W. Bush at the White House.

'More than three decades later, when Charles and his new wife, Camilla, visited George W. and Laura Bush at the White House, he joked that the Bushes had better not try to fix up their twin daughters with his sons William and Harry the way Nixon had worked to set him up with Tricia,' said Smith.

'That was quite amusing, I must say,' then-Prince Charles told CNN. 'That was the time when they were trying to marry me off to Tricia Nixon.'

'All our families are great Anglophiles,' Tricia Nixon told the BBC during an interview at Prince Charles' investiture in 1969 at Caernarfon Castle.

She attended as part of a delegation led by former Vice President Hubert Humphrey. Nixon invited Humphrey, whom he defeated in the 1968 presidential election, to lead the delegation.

The Queen caught a cold and couldn't meet her, but wrote a letter apologizing.
A bungling rollerblader nearly crashed into King Charles' car minutes before he mounted a vigil in honour of his mother, the Queen.

The man had to be tackled by police as the royal cavalcade entered Parliament Square at approximately 7.40pm yesterday.

The man tried to cross the road as the new king was making his way to Westminster Hall for another vigil for his late mother.

Police last night stopped a man who was roller skating along the road just as King Charles III's cavalcade was approaching Parliament Square

Officers blocked him from the roadway to allow the new monarch safe passage to Westminster Hall

The man was led away by police who had 'a word' with him before allowing him on his way

Met Police officers on foot managed to tackle the man and bring him to the ground allowing King Charles III to continue his journey without further problem.

Scotland Yard told MailOnline: 'At approximately 19:40hrs, as police vehicles were entering Parliament Square, a pedestrian attempted to cross the road.

'An officer on foot quickly intervened, bringing the man to the ground in order to stop him from continuing.

'The man was subsequently spoken to by officers before being let on his way.'
Facebook has reversed a decision to ban advertising of a Holocaust film entitled Beautiful Blue Eyes - having initially argued that the title violated their policy on racially-offensive names.

The title refers to the eye color of a child who died at the hands of the Nazis, and invokes a key scene in the movie.

Yet Facebook in early September banned the showing of the trailer on their site, saying it ran contrary to their policy against content that 'includes direct or indirect assertions or implications about a person's race,' among other personal attributes.

It is still unclear how the film's title violated the race policy, given that blue eyes are not exclusive to only one race.

The film's director accused Facebook of 'alarming' censorship that should worry 'every decent and sane human being on this planet'.

On Friday, Facebook's parent company Meta told Ars Technica that the Facebook owner reviewed the case and decided to reverse the ban. It is unclear whether that meant Zuckerberg himself got involved.

'We reviewed the ads and page in question and determined that the enforcement was made in error, so we lifted the restriction,' said a Meta spokesperson.

Roy Scheider, star of Jaws, filmed Beautiful Blue Eyes shortly before his 2008 death. It has now been re-edited and re-released

Beautiful Blue Eyes is the final film made by Jaws actor Roy Scheider, who died in 2008 aged 75.

The movie was initially released in 2009, but thanks to new technology the director, Joshua Newton, was able to rework it for release this month.

One of the cameras was not working during the filming, and some shots were lost. Newton was able to use AI technology to repair the damaged frames, and release the movie as he had originally intended.

Bur Newton was told at the beginning of this month that the film was being blacklisted by Facebook for its title - a move he said was horrifying.

'Every decent and sane human being on this planet should be alarmed by Meta-Facebook's ban on the advertising of a Holocaust-related film,' said Newton.

'Mark Zuckerberg has created a monster that has no oversight,' he told Rolling Stone, speaking at the Toronto Film Festival.

'It's one thing to be flagged by an algorithm. It's another for Meta-Facebook employees to review the flag and uphold it, knowing full well that the title is not discriminatory and that the film is Holocaust-related.'

The film tells the story of Joseph, played by Scheider - a Holocaust survivor who moved to New York and joined the NYPD. Joseph learns that the Nazi guard who murdered his entire family is living under an assumed identity in Germany, and formulates a plan to murder him.

Scheider's character Joseph is haunted by memories of the SS guard who killed his family

The film was released earlier this month, despite Facebook's refusal to promote it

Newton's parents were Holocaust survivors and he based the film in part on his father's experiences.

Yet the film's distributor told Newton they had been informed the film could not be advertised on Facebook as it violated its policy against content that 'includes direct or indirect assertions or implications about a person's race,' among other personal attributes.

Newton said he couldn't believe Zuckerberg could condone such an action.

'This is the action of haters  and there are sadly many in our society  who seek to damage the film in order to trivialize the Holocaust,' said Newton.

'Surely, Mark Zuckerberg did not intend this to happen.'

Newton appealed, but Facebook refused to reconsider.

'After a requested review of your Facebook account, we confirmed it didn't comply with our Advertising Policies or other standards,' they replied, according to Rolling Stone.

'You can no longer advertise using Facebook Products. This is our final decision.'

Mark Zuckerberg (left) was accused by the film director Joshua Newton (right) of having 'created a monster'

Advertising for the film, including trailers, was now 'permanently restricted,' they said.

On Friday Facebook changed its mind, after Newton said he was considering taking legal action.

'Clearly, [Mark Zuckerberg] is far too busy developing his company's presence in the metaverse,' Newton said.

'Instead of focussing on virtual reality, Zuckerberg should take note of what is happening in the real world.'
Footage has captured the last moments of a terrified New Zealand man making heart shapes with his hands and pleading with police before he was shot dead in the US.

Christchurch local Christian Glass, 22, was shot five times after calling police for help to move his car that had become stuck in bush in Denver, Colorado, on June 11.

Officers claim he became 'argumentative and uncooperative' and had tried to stab an officer while his parents slammed police and demanded an investigation.

Newly released bodycam footage shows the moment officers approached Glass.

Footage has captured the last moments of a terrified New Zealand man making heart shapes with his hands and pleading with police before he was shot dead in the US

Christchurch local Christian Glass, 22 (right, with his father Simon), was shot five times after calling police for help to move his car that had become stuck in bush in Denver, Colorado, on June 11

When police arrived, Glass refused to get out of his car, saying he was scared as officers yelled at him to exit the vehicle.

'Please, push me out, drag me out, I'll follow you to a police station,' Glass told the officers. 'I'm so scared.'

At one point he can be seen praying with folded hands and saying, 'Dear Lord, please, don't let them break the window.'

He refused to get out of his car for more than an hour, before pulling out a knife, leading police to fire bean bag rounds and tase Glass before firing into the car.

Glass had initially called 911 asking them to help him move his car with the audio of the exchange made public.

He admitted he had weapons on him but explained he would dispose of them when police arrived.

'I have a weapon on me, I will throw them out the window as soon as an officer gets here,' he said.

'I have two knives, and a hammer, and a rubber mallet, I guess that's a weapon. I'm not dangerous. I will keep my hands completely visible.'

His parents, Simon and Sally Glass, are now demanding the officers be held accountable as state authorities investigate the shooting.

'Christian was experiencing a crisis, and he called 911 for help,' said the parents' attorney, Siddhartha Rathod.

'And yet these officers busted out Christian's window, shot him six times with bean bag rounds, tased him multiple times from two Tasers, and then shot him five times.'

Clear Creek County Sheriff's deputies shot and killed Christian Glass, 22, (pictured) after a one-hour stand off where he refused to get out of his car while holding a knife

Glass said he was scared to get out of his car as police surrounded him, with one officer standing on the hood of his car (pictured) as others tried to get him to exit the vehicle

Once Glass grabbed a knife, the officers fired bean bag rounds and tased him. After stabbing himself and swinging wildly, officers fired five shots into the car

The officers then broke through the window and pulled a dying Glass from the vehicle

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation handles police shootings, including the Glass case, but the family wants prosecutors to file criminal charges, Rathod said.

Heidi McCollum, district attorney for the Fifth Judicial District that includes Clear Creek County, released a statement Tuesday saying her office is investigating the case along with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

Her office plans to eventually issue a report on the shooting or present the case to a grand jury, which would decide if indictments should be issued, McCollum said.

The Clear Creek County Sheriff's office did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

As officers broke the window in the car, Glass grabbed a knife and injured himself

Officers repeatedly yelled at him to drop the knife, and pleaded with the 22-year-old to get out of the car after he stabbed himself

Officers pulled Glass from the car as he was unresponsive following the shooting

Mr Glass condemned the action police took when responding to his son's call and their failure to calm him down and de-escalate the situation.

'Christian's killing is a stain on Clear Creek County and on Colorado,' Mr Glass said during a news conference on Tuesday. 'It was a murder by a Colorado official that cannot stand. It is not right.'

Mother Sally described the police as bullies and called on the county to weed them out and replace them with kinder officers.

'You know, an aggressive bully is always going to be an aggressive bully, and I don't know how you can train that characteristic out,' she said.

'Pay more, elevate the stages of the profession by getting rid of [them] and hire people with kind hearts and a moral compass.'

Simon and Sally Glass comforted each other during an emotional news conference in Denver on Tuesday, where they demanded accountability for their son's death

Rathod said Glass had no history of mental illness. When asked about Glass's abnormal behavior, he said 'unfortunately we are not ever going to know'.

Rathod released an autopsy report that found that Glass died of gunshot wounds. It said he had THC, a .01 percent blood alcohol concentration, and amphetamine in his system, the last of which Rathod said is likely from an ADHD prescription for Glass.

'These officers took a gentle, peaceful soul and extinguished it simply because it was 'time to move the night on,' Rathod said in a statement, quoting an officer who told Glass to end the incident because it was going on for too long.

'From beginning to end, the officers on scene acted unconscionably and inhumanely. The Glass family agrees with Colorado State Patrol's on-scene assessment that Christian had committed no crime, posed no threat to himself or others, and there was no reason for continued contact.'

The shooting comes amid a national outcry for police reforms focused on crisis intervention, de-escalation and alternative policing programs.

Sally called the police bullies, with both parents describing the incident as murder

Attorneys Qusair Mohamedbhai, (left) and Siddhartha Rathod (right) released an autopsy report that found that Glass died of gunshot wounds

Sally Glass displayed a pendant of Jesus recovered from her sons car that is engraved with the words, 'Pray for us.'

'We have to pray for us in America to make this a less violent country,' Sally Glass said. 'I think a lot of people now would agree that there is a systemic problem with policing: Its too aggressive.

'They escalate at every opportunity, and it looks like they are spoiling for a fight. ... They should be protecting us, not attacking us.'

Glass said her son was 'petrified' and 'paralyzed' by fear the night he was killed.

'I have a hole in my heart, and it will be there until the day I die,' Glass said.

Glass' autopsy shows five gunshots struck his chest, lungs, liver, spine and kidneys

In Denver and New York, behavioral health specialists are sent to 911 callers facing crises that police may not be trained to address or could even exacerbate.

Police haven't said if any behavioral health specialists were called for Glass.

Use-of-force and de-escalation experts who reviewed the footage for The Associated Press said this case is an example of when a behavioral health specialist or crisis response team - programs becoming increasingly popular across the country - may have helped de-escalate the situation and avert Glass death.

'There are some real red flags that suggest potential problems,' said Seth Stoughton, a former police officer and leading use-of-force expert who reviewed portions of the footage. Stoughton testified in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the police officer who murdered George Floyd.

While police officers may be justified in using force once a situation has intensified, 'it's everything that we do before that in terms of de-escalation that can make those situations go a completely different direction,' said Tamara Lynn, the executive council president for the National De-Escalation Training Center, who reviewed the footage.

In particular, both Lynn and Stoughton questioned why officers didn't take Glass up on his offer, recorded by body camera footage, to disarm himself by throwing his knives out of his car window.

While a thrown knife can pose a threat, 'officers have plenty of opportunity to maneuver themselves and put themselves in a position thats not risky,' said Stoughton. 'I am kind of astonished that they did not take advantage of what looked like a very clear opportunity to have him separate himself from the weapons.'

Similarly, Stoughton wondered why they needed to break the car window. He said police don't have all day to spend on one call, but questioned if they needed to.

'It's not clear to me that it should have gone that far,' he said.
In death as in life, Queen Elizabeth II has demonstrated a unique ability to bind together our sometimes fractious nation.

The ten days since her passing have brought out the very best in the Royal Family and in the country.

They have emphasised our shared sense of history. They have showcased Britain's remarkable gift for pomp and pageant.

And above all, they have served as a much-needed reminder that far more unites us in these islands than divides us.

The sheer scale of the ceremonial operation since last Thursday has been awe-inspiring.

Inevitably there have been one or two minor hitches  a malfunctioning pen here, a queueing problem there. But overall it has been a triumph of organisation.

From Balmoral to St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh to RAF Northolt, and Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, the Queen's coffin has been borne with immense dignity.

In death as in life, Queen Elizabeth II has demonstrated a unique ability to bind together our sometimes fractious nation. The ten days since her passing have brought out the very best in the Royal Family and in the country

Yesterday's vigil at the catafalque by her four children was especially moving and will be mirrored today in an equally emotional silent tribute by all eight of her grandchildren.

Meanwhile, the willingness of her subjects to queue in their hundreds of thousands for up to 14 hours to see her lying in state shows the love and esteem they had for her.

For King Charles, grief and loss have gone hand in hand with a hectic schedule of travelling around the country to receive condolences and solidify his position as monarch of the United Kingdom.

And he has encouraged the reconciliation of his estranged sons (for now at least), something that would have given his mother enormous satisfaction.

But in many ways it has been the royal women whose role in this poignant national drama has been most striking.

Yesterday's vigil at the catafalque by her four children was especially moving and will be mirrored today in an equally emotional silent tribute by all eight of her grandchildren

Princess Anne, devoted daughter and most hard-working of all the royals, was at her mother's bedside in the last hours at Balmoral and has been with her on every sorrowful step of her final journey.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who had become extremely close to the late Queen in recent years, moved graciously among the crowds of well-wishers despite finding it hard to disguise her obvious pain.

Camilla, the Queen Consort, has been a tower of strength to Charles. The new Princess of Wales, with her trademark poise, has provided similarly constant support and solace to her own husband. They have all played their parts to perfection.

So now we look forward to Monday and the biggest state occasion certainly since the funeral of Winston Churchill in 1965 and probably since that of Queen Victoria more than 120 years ago.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who had become extremely close to the late Queen in recent years, moved graciously among the crowds of well-wishers despite finding it hard to disguise her obvious pain.

Crowned heads from Bhutan to Belgium will join presidents and prime ministers, courtiers and key workers in a 2,000-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey.

The service will be followed by interment with her parents and sister Margaret in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, Windsor. Prince Philip's coffin, currently lying in the royal vault at St George's Chapel, will be buried beside her.

Over 70 tumultuous years, the Queen has steered the monarchy though perilous times with skill and fortitude, evoking respect and affection in equal measure.

Even the heavens seem to have marked her passing, with a double rainbow appearing over Buckingham Palace and a celestial fireball seen hurtling across northern skies.

There are prosaic scientific explanations of course. But there's no doubt these phenomena have added to the grandeur and mystique of the occasion.

They call to mind Calpurnia's words in Julius Caesar: 'When beggars die, there are no comets seen. The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.' Could she have been right?
Despite the backlash for flying a group of 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard this week, the immigrants are reportedly grateful to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Telemundo's Cristina Londono Rooney told MSNBC that while immigration activists claim the migrants have been 'used as pawns' and 'abused' by DeSantis, the group of Venesuelans were actually happy to be brought up north.

'I can tell you, they're not angry at Ron DeSantis,' Rooney said on Thursday after speaking with some of the migrants. 'They are actually thanking him for having brought them to Martha's Vineyard.'

'Other people are saying they're being used as political pawns, but they don't resent it for now,' She added. 'They know they're the lucky ones.'

Although the migrants received a cold welcome in Martha's Vineyard with the city declaring a state of emergency and calling in the Nation Guard to move them, the group eventually reached the Cape Cod military base, where they received shelter and a warm meal.

MSNBC REPORTER: "I can tell you, theyre not angry at Ron DeSantis. They are actually thanking him for having brought them to Martha's Vineyard."



pic.twitter.com/xT5ypcERat  Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 16, 2022

Telemundo's Cristina Londono Rooney said a group of 50 migrants were grateful to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for sending them to Martha's Vineyard, despite immigration advocates claiming the group was being used as a political ploy

Carlos Munoz hugged Larkin Stallings (left) in Martha's Vineyard as the group prepared to be moved to the Cape Cod military base 32 miles away to receive shelter and food

Pictured: A group of 50 migrants enjoyed Venezuelan dishes at the military base after Martha's Vineyard declared an emergency over the group's arrival

DeSantis sent the immigrants in a protest of US border policies and to point out the hypocrisy of northern states' outcry over the treatment of migrants but unwillingness to help provide shelter as southern cities are overwhelmed by the influx of new arrivals

The Florida governor sent the group of 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard, where officials immediately bemoaned the situation, calling in the National Guard to relocate the group because the city allegedly had no shelters available.

US Rep Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts, accused DeSantis of orchestrating a political ploy with the lives of the migrants.

'Playing politics with people's lives is what governors like George Wallace did during segregation,' Moulton said, referring to Wallace's tactics of tricking black Southerners to move north. 'Ron DeSantis is trying to earn George Wallace's legacy.'

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also took aim at DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott during a press conference today, urging other Republicans who do not agree with their 'blueprint' to 'speak up'.

She said: 'This is an issue and we have been clear about this, this is an issue that is inhumane it is abhorrent and we should not be using people, migrants, who are fleeing communism as a political pawn.'

Speaking on Thursday DaSantis accused critics of his move to fly migrants to Martha's Vineyard of 'virtue signaling', saying their concern for the welfare of the migrants was a 'fraud'.

He said: 'The minute even a small fraction of what those border towns deal with every day is brought to their front door, they go berserk, and they're so upset that this is happening.'

A spokesperson for DeSantis said in a statement that the trip was part of the state's 'relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations.'

DeSantis had been following the cue of his Texas and Arizona counterparts, who are busing scores of migrants who crossed into the US illegally to New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

The meals included sweet plantains (left) as well as rice and beans (right)

It was a warm meal for the migrants who were relocated from Martha's Vineyard to the Joint Base Cape Cod, Pictured: A mom carrying her kids to be bussed off to the base

Martha's Vineyard declared an emergency over the migrants and called in the National Guard, prompting the immigrants to be moved 32 miles away to Cape Cod

One of the 50 Venezuelans whisked from Martha's Vineyard to the Joint Base Cape Cod has been filmed expressing delight at eating his local food 'for the first time in three months'.

The unidentified young man, dressed in a gray top and green jacket looked overjoyed, just hours after arriving at the key military establishment.

He spoke after a local Venezuelan restaurant delivered traditional fare of arepas, black beans, rice and plantain to the migrants.

In the video obtained by DailyMail.com, he said: 'We have had three months without Venezuelan food. This is like a blessing. Thank you.'

Other young men around him broke out into a chorus of 'thank you, thank you, thank you'.

The moment of respite comes after a tumultuous week for the migrants, who were shipped to Massachusetts from Florida as part of Gov. Ron DeSantis' protest of US border policies.

Upon arriving at the wealthy Martha's Vineyard, home to many liberal elites, the city claimed to have a housing crisis and was unable to provide shelter for the migrants, who were moved 32 miles away to the military base.

Restaurant owner Katuiska Daliende delivered the food to the military base on Thursday, but did not take the video.

She told DailyMail.com exclusively: 'The people inside told me they would like the opportunity to work, to work, to work.

I have no idea if they have family in the United States. I don't believe they know how long they will be at the base. They all looked happy.'

The migrants are momentarily settling down after days of confusion that began when they were brought to a Florida airport to be shipped off to Massachusetts

After declaring a national emergency, the migrants boarded a boat to leave Martha's Vineyard

They're now staying at the Joine Base Cape Cod until they can find a more permanent shelter

DailyMail.com, however, found that dozens of modest properties and homes are available for rent on AirBnb on Martha's Vineyard.

Private rooms and small guest stays are on offer for $180 a night, which could have been used as a stop gap for the migrants to be housed.

Lisa Belcastro, homelessness director of the island, yesterday claimed that the affluent area has a 'housing crisis'.

Speaking after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent two planeloads of migrants to the pretty coastal town, Belcastro claimed that the island cannot support the addition of 50 more people.

Belcastro, who herself lives in a lavish four bed and four bath $3.6million property in a secluded part of the island, is one of the liberal officials who declared it a 'humanitarian emergency'  reacting as they would to a hurricane.

Her claims were backed by Gov. Charlie Baker, who said that Martha's Vineyard, with a population of 15,000, is 'not equipped to provide sustainable accommodation' to the migrants.

Lisa Belcastro claims that the island is facing a shortage of affordable housing. Belcastro, who herself lives in a lavish four bed and four bath $3.6million property in a secluded part of the island, is one of the liberal officials who declared it a 'humanitarian emergency'

It comes after Abbott sent 101 of illegal migrants outside of VP Kamala Harris' home in Washington DC yesterday  just days after she declared that the border was 'secure'.

Texas has seen the brunt of the flood of new migrants arriving at the border, and nearly 1,000 migrants have been released to sleep on the streets of El Paso due to the surge of illegal crossings that is overwhelming Border Patrol facilities.

DeSantis is now upping the escalating immigration war again in Democrat-run areas by threatening to fly illegal migrants to President Biden's home state of Delaware, as Lt. Gov Jeanette Nunez doubled down on the plan Thursday.

Republicans have stepped up their attacks on the Biden administration as they try to make immigration the theme of November's midterm elections.
A staffer for U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski was trying to pass a flat-bed truck on a northern Indiana highway last month when the SUV they were in crashed into an oncoming car, killing Walorski and three other people, police said Friday.

A witness traveling behind the SUV told investigators it sped up, crossed the centerline of the two-lane highway as it neared the truck and pulled into the path of the other car when the crash happened about 12:30pm on August 3, according to the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office.

Airbag control module data from the SUV driven by Zachery Potts, 27, who was Walorski's district director, showed it was going 77 mph at the time of the crash on a rural stretch of Indiana 19 near the town of Wakarusa, the office said.

'All of the evidence and information gathered is consistent with someone attempting to pass another vehicle on a two-lane roadway,' the office said in a statement.

The SUV U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski was traveling in crossed a state highway's centerline and caused the head-on collision

Investigators determined that the SUV driven by Zachery Potts, 27, (left) crossed the centerline as he attempted to overtake a flatbed truck in a rural area near the town of Wakarusa. Walorski communications director Emma Thomson (right) was also killed

Walorski and her staffers' southbound vehicle collided with a northbound vehicle after veering into that lane

Walorski and her staffers had been in the town of Warsaw, Indiana hours prior to the crash

The police department's initial account was that the car driven by Edith Schmucker, 56, Nappanee, Indiana, crossed into the SUVs path, but the office released a statement saying investigators had talked with witnesses and viewed video evidence that showed their preliminary determination was wrong.

Walorski, 58, was a Republican who had first been elected to represent northern Indiana's 2nd Congressional District in 2012 and was seeking reelection this year to a sixth term.

Walorski was a reliable Republican vote in Congress, including against accepting the Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral votes for President Joe Biden following the Capitol insurrection.

Rep. Jackie Walorski is pictured in 2018 speaking about then-President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on auto imports

Indiana House lawmakers bow their heads while Republican Rep. Timothy Wesco (left) honors GOP U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, in August

The sheriff's office released statements from the county coroner ruling the deaths of Walorski and the others as accidental from injuries suffered in the crash.

Investigators blamed the crash on Potts for 'driving left of center with a contributing factor of excessive speed.'

Also killed in the crash were Emma Thomson, 28, who was Walorskis communications director, and Edith Schmucker, 56, of Nappanee, Indiana, who was driving the other vehicle.

The sheriff's office said investigators found no signs of mechanical failures with either vehicle or any evidence of cellphone use by anyone in the vehicles when crash happened.

Dean Swihart, right, was married to Walorski for 27 years. He remained in Indiana, working as a school teacher, as she represented the state in D.C.

Swihart and Walorski were united by their deeply-held Christian beliefs; They are pictured at a charity event together

Dean Swihart, who was married to Walorski for 27 years, said he was proud he was of his wife.

'Jackie took charge of whatever room she walked into, and it wasn't because she was six foot tall,' said Swihart.

Walorski was born and raised in South Bend, graduating from Riley High School in 1981 and attending Taylor University.

After college, Walorski returned to the area and became a television reporter for WSBT-TV.

She then moved to work at the St. Joseph County Humane Society followed by a job at Ancilla College, which she served in from 1991-1996.

The pair are pictured at home with their dog

Swihart and Walorski are pictured together in Washington D.C.

Swihart and Walorski met in 1994: He took her to the St. Joseph County fair on their first date.

'She says: 'I met the man I'm gonna marry,'' Swihart recalled last month. 'She knew that on the first date. I'm slow.'

The pair married a year later, and in 2000 moved to Romania for four years, doing missionary work and launching Impact International, to help children and provide medical supplies. On their return to Indiana, Walorski entered politics.

Swihart, a teacher, added: 'I could not be more proud of the life my wife has lived.

'She lived her faith. She knew she was. She wasn't going to be talked down she wasn't going to back down.'

Other told how Walorski had inspired them.

Tim Wesco, who replaced Walorski in the Indiana House of Representatives in 2010 and still holds her former seat, credited Walorski for believing in him when he decided to run for office at 23 years old.

Political leaders on honored Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski of Indiana at her August funeral

'I called her and I said: 'Jackie, I'm thinking of running for your seat,'' he told the vigil.

'And she said: 'Tim, do it. We need more Christians in government.'

'She believed in me as a 23 year old kid, and because she believed in me, I believed in myself.'

Indiana Republican U.S. Sen. Todd Young described Walorski as incredibly smart with a great sense of humor.

'She wore her values and her conviction on that on her sleeve,' Young said.

'Unlike so many people in public life, she wasn't really guarded about who she was and why she believed different things.'

Republican officials selected Rudy Yakym, an executive with Elkhart distribution company Kem Krest and a longtime political ally of Walorski, to replace her on the November election ballot in the heavily GOP district.

The district's congressional seat will remain vacant until a special election on the November ballot to complete Walorski's term through rest of this year.

Swihart (center) is seen with friends and relatives at a vigil at Jimtown High School in Elkhart

Dean Swihart is seen during a vigil last month paying tribute to his wife

Yakym will face Democrat Paul Steury, a science teacher from Goshen, and Libertarian William Henry.

Indiana's last special election for a congressional seat was in 2010, when Republican Rep. Mark Souder resigned soon after winning the May primary.

Then-Gov. Mitch Daniels decided to hold the special election at the same time as the November general election for the full two-year term, citing the potential cost of a separate election and convenience for voters.

Last month, Joe Biden led emotional tributes to Congresswoman Jackie Walorski

Former President Donald Trump hailed the lawmaker as a 'wonderful woman'
An ex-Victoria's Secret Model has recalled the moment she decided to speak out against her music teacher who sent her inappropriate messages in high school.

Bridget Malcolm was subjected to 'grooming-like behaviour' by Aurelio 'Bobby' Gallo while she was a student and after she graduated from Methodist Ladies' College, in Perth, in 2008.

In August, Western Australia's State Administrative Tribunal suspended Mr Gallo's teaching licence for 3.5 years for 'serious misconduct' that included sending emails asking Malcolm for topless photos, a dinner date and Skype requests.

Ms Malcolm's identity remained anonymous before she outed herself in an emotional Instagram post last Saturday.

She explained she felt a 'responsibility to be completely transparent' about her traumatic experience and was inspired by sexual assault survivor Grace Tame.

An ex-Victoria's Secret Model (pictured, Bridget Malcolm) has recalled the moment she decided to speak out against her music teacher who sent her inappropriate messages in high school

Bridget Malcolm was subjected to 'grooming-like behaviour' by Aurelio 'Bobby' Gallo (pictured) while she was a student and after she graduated from Methodist Ladies' College, in Perth, in 2008

'She has been such a powerful voice for moving cultural perceptions of these sorts of issues,' she told The West Australian.

Ms Malcolm had been interning for the United Nations and was helping to set up an event for International Women's Day in 2021.

She recalled watching Ms Tame give a speech and feeling a sense of empowerment after struggling with years of sleepless nights and nightmares of the teacher.

'And then, I also struggled with feelings of self-blame, guilt and shame,' she said.

Ms Malcolm said at the time she looked up to Mr Gallo and saw him as a mentor who was giving her extra attention to help with her studies.

'I thought it was great that I was getting all this extra education and that my skills were all improving,' she said.

She said she was able to recover after speaking about the traumatic experience with therapists, close friends and healthcare professionals.

She explained she felt a 'responsibility to be completely transparent' about her traumatic experience and was inspired by sexual assault survivor Grace Tame

Gallo continued to email Ms Malcolm after she graduated, requesting to see her when she returned to Perth after she moved overseas

The Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia first received an email about inappropriate behaviour by Mr Gallo in March last year and the complaint was then investigated.

In a document published by the board detailing the decision to suspend Mr Gallo's licence, it found the music teacher had engaged in 'grooming-like behaviour'.

The board found the pair had initially emailed about school matters but the conversation changed its tone over time.

Mr Gallo sent an email from his personal account asking for the student's number on July 14, 2007.

He continued to email Ms Malcolm after she graduated, requesting to see her when she returned to Perth after she moved overseas.

Ms Malcolm went on to become a model who worked with Victoria's Secret in 2015 and 2016 and for Ralph Lauren and Stella McCartney.

Aurelio 'Bobby' Gallo taught at the prestigious all-girls Methodist Ladies' College in Perth when he engaged in 'grooming-like behaviour' with Australian model Bridget Malcolm (pictured)

Read some of the creepy messages Bridget Malcolm received Gallo asked for photographs and complained he hadn't received any 'topless' ones in an email sent on February 2, 2009. 'Glad to hear that you are being looked after and also becoming aware of people,' he wrote. 'Unfortunately you don't always see what you need to. 'The second hand accommodation news was courtesy of [name of another teacher], who went on to tell me that she spoke to you for an hour and inform of the topless photos which you obviously didn't send me!!! Why not may I ask!' Gallo sent another email a day later referring to a special charm he had given her. 'Remember when things get hard hold on to the special charm I gave you and think of all the special things that bring you happiness - I know it will give you strength,' he wrote. Advertisement

Her former teacher asked for photographs and complained he hadn't received any 'topless' ones in an email sent on February 2, 2009.

Mr Gallo sent another email a day later referring to a special charm he had given her as a graduation gift.

'Remember when things get hard hold on to the special charm I gave you and think of all the special things that bring you happiness - I know it will give you strength,' he wrote.

In the wake of news headlines about the case, Mr Gallo was also stood down as head of performing arts at John Paul College in Logan, Queensland, where he now works.
The national insurance hike could be reversed as soon as November, putting more money in peoples pay packets, the Chancellor will announce next week.

Kwasi Kwarteng will make an emergency tax-cutting mini Budget next Friday to deliver on Liz Trusss leadership campaign pledges.

With households facing soaring bills amid the cost of living crisis, Mr Kwarteng will announce measures to help them keep more of what they earn.

Miss Truss pledged during the Tory leadership campaign to use the Budget to immediately tackle the cost of living crisis by cutting taxes, reversing the rise on national insurance and suspending the green levy on energy bills.

Kwasi Kwarteng will make an emergency tax-cutting mini Budget next Friday to deliver on Liz Trusss leadership campaign pledges

The Daily Mail understands the national insurance rise could be reversed as soon as November  despite initial concerns that it could take far longer because of payroll complications.

Since April, workers and employers have been paying an extra 1.25p in the pound for national insurance under the Governments plan to fund the NHS and social care.

Mr Kwarteng will also use his fiscal statement to confirm that next years planned hike in corporation tax will not go ahead.

And he could push ahead with plans for City deregulation, having told bank chiefs he wants a Big Bang 2.0  referring to Margaret Thatchers sudden deregulation of financial markets  to make London the capital of global finance again.

Earlier this week, Treasury sources confirmed Mr Kwarteng was considering scrapping the cap on bankers bonuses to make the City of London more globally competitive.

The mini Budget will mark a major change in approach from Boris Johnsons administration, with a shift to cutting taxes to drive growth. A separate announcement on an energy package for business is also expected next week.

It comes after the Government announced an unprecedented multi-billion-pound package to tackle sky-high energy bills and ease the cost of living crisis, with a focus on capping prices and boosting domestic energy supplies.

Under the energy price guarantee, bills for the average household will go no higher than 2,500 at any point over the next two years.

It will save a typical home around 1,000 from October 1, when the current consumer price cap had been set to soar.

Businesses were promised similar levels of support, but the details have not yet been announced.

Liz Truss pledged during the Tory leadership campaign to use the Budget to immediately tackle the cost of living crisis by cutting taxes, reversing the rise on national insurance and suspending the green levy on energy bills

Last night Conservative MPs urged the Government to get on with slashing taxes.

Tory grandee Sir John Redwood said: Im sure they will do the pledged tax cuts and then theyve got to put some numbers and legislative flesh on the bones of the energy package.

And theyve got to show how growth is actually fed through  because I think the choice at the moment is you either have a rising deficit this year and next because of the measures you take to stimulate the economy, or you have an even bigger rising deficit because you dont take measures to stimulate the economy and you go into recession.

If you have a long and deep recession, the sort of Sunak policy, all the past evidence shows you end up with a bigger deficit because revenues collapse.

Parliament is suspended while the country is in mourning following the death of the Queen, and Miss Truss is expected to fly to New York for the UN General Assembly following the monarchs funeral on Monday.

MPs had been due to break for conference season on September 22, but it will be delayed by a day to allow for the Budget.
Under a bright street light, Kristian Lindmark sat with his hand outstretched, begging for krona from evening diners merrily leaving restaurants on Vasagatan, a smart avenue in Sweden's capital, Stockholm.

Beside him, Kristian had a plastic bag containing his few possessions: a spare pair of socks, some clean boxer shorts and a half-empty pack of cigarettes.

When I bought him a coffee from a nearby five-star hotel last weekend, he clutched the polystyrene cup to keep his hands warm in the bitter autumn night.

'The government does not help Swedes in their own country,' he said in a matter-of-fact tone. 'Instead, they give state money and warm homes to foreign people who come to live here.'

Fifty-two-year-old Kristian  from Uppsala, a cathedral town 35 minutes by train from Stockholm  lost his job as a butcher after a divorce. He is homeless, like hundreds of his fellow countrymen also begging on the capital's streets.

Last Sunday, he cast his vote in a national election in this country, renowned worldwide for its generous welfare state, multiculturalism and wide-open door to refugees.

Gun terror: A policeman and onlookers try to help a young mother hit by a stray bullet during the playground shooting in Eskilstuna last month

Two rival gangs, one from the town's Arby suburb, the other from a suburb a mile away, were involved and a five-year-old boy was hit by a bullet as he played with other children at seven in the evening

Sweden's liberal dream was pioneered by the nation's Social Democratic movement, whose parties have topped national polls ever since the end of World War I.

But this latest election has seen a convulsive change. Swedish voters supported an alliance of four Right-wing parties  including one, named the Sweden Democrats, which stands accused of historical links to neo-Nazism.

Final poll results showed on Thursday that the Right-wing bloc has now chosen the new prime minister, elbowing aside the ruling Social Democrats.

To the shock of liberals in Sweden and across the world, the voters backed tougher immigration controls, foreign criminal deportations and stiffer punishments for the rising number of young men who have been plaguing their once-peaceful country with shootings and drug-dealing.

'The violent crimes are getting worse,' says Torsten Elofsson, a former Swedish police chief and candidate for the Christian Democrats, a party in the new Right-wing alliance. 'These used to happen in Stockholm and other big cities such as Malmo and Gothenburg. Now they have spread to small towns everywhere.'

Ebba Busch, leader of Sweden's Christian Democrats, addresses supporters during an election party in Stockholm

In just a decade, Sweden has gone from having one of the lowest rates of fatal shootings in Europe to the highest, according to the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention. This year is on track to break records, with 44 gun deaths by mid-August, close to the highest annual tally of 47 in 2020.

It was against this troubling backdrop that the election, in which the anti-immigration Sweden Democrat party seized an astonishing one vote in five, took place.

Late last month, with electioneering under way, there was a shootout by masked youths at a children's playground in Eskilstuna, a pretty manufacturing town an hour-and-a-half's drive from Stockholm that is home to a Volvo car-parts factory.

Two rival gangs, one from the town's Arby suburb, the other from a suburb a mile away, were involved and a five-year-old boy was hit by a bullet as he played with other children at seven in the evening.

The boy  from a Syrian family with a flat in state-housing blocks overlooking the tree-lined playground  was terrified, hiding his head in his hands close to a climbing frame when the firing started, before he was wounded in the stomach.

Ambulances at the scene where two people were injured in a shooting at Emporia Shopping Center in Malmo, Sweden

A mother in her 20s was hit, too, as she sat with her four-year-old girl. She was from elsewhere in Sweden, visiting her Iraqi Kurd relatives in Arby, and ran for safety before collapsing on the grass, blood spreading over her blue jeans after she had been shot in the hip.

The crossfire between the gangs, standing on opposite sides of the playground, lasted for nearly three minutes. Bullets whizzed past tables where families were enjoying picnics, before the shooters melted away into the trees and escaped. A police investigation was continuing last week.

When the Mail visited the playground after the shooting, worried mothers showed us bloodstains still marking the ground near a children's roundabout.

A 38-year-old woman called Fatima, who has five girls and arrived in Sweden as a refugee from Somaliland 16 years ago, said: 'Some of the children were on the trampoline and had taken off their sandals. They ran away barefoot to escape the shots.'

Fatima, a care worker, is so afraid for her children that she plans to leave the housing block in Arby. 'It is more dangerous here than Somaliland. Soon, someone will die.'

Another resident, 45-year-old Parvena, of Iraqi Kurd origin, revealed that her handsome young son Ilyas, aged nine, was a few feet from a bullet that hit the ground. 'Children are frightened they will be shot if they play outside their own homes,' she said.

Police and rescue services transfer a woman who has been seriously injured in a stabbing at the Almedalen political festival into an ambulance car, in Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland

It is the third time this year that the rival gangs have staged shootouts at the playground. Ilyas, who has seen two of them, said in a small voice when we visited: 'It's scary to live here.'

Yet the mothers, and local politicians, say the playground gangsters came from the same communities of Iraqi Kurd, Somali, Afghan and Syrian refugees as theirs  families given sanctuary in Eskilstuna.

'They deal in drugs and make their money that way. They don't have jobs,' explained Parvena. 'Some are still pupils at the local school and we know their families' names.'

Few understand more about the spiralling youth violence in the town than Elin Harnby, principal at Eskilstuna Middle School, which takes pupils up to the age of 17  60 per cent of them with mothers who have Swedish as a second language.

She says that since the latest shootings, the younger children have asked her if they can have bullet-proof vests to wear to lessons. She told the Mail: 'We have boys leaving school who don't go on to further education. They drop out and turn away from our society into a life of criminality.'

Eskilstuna's mayor, Jimmy Jansson, is unsurprised. Even before the election results showed that Right-wing parties had won half the votes in his town, he warned that a tragedy was befalling Sweden.

Police and rescue services give medical aid to a woman who has been seriously injured in a stabbing at the Almedalen political festival in Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland

The 44-year-old, a leading light in the Social Democrats, said a 'pandemic' of shootings, rapes and drug-dealing by young men was sweeping the country. Of 8,200 people counted by Swedish police as criminal gang members last year, almost 15 per cent were under 18.

'I am working class but I didn't deal drugs or fire guns as a teenager,' he said. 'The youngsters shooting at the playground are in our local school right now. They have a double life, being criminals at night and pupils by day. They are chameleons.'

He insists that most were born in Sweden to migrant families given refuge years ago. Others arrived as children in 2015-16, he says, during the biggest migration wave into Europe since World War II.

Mr Jansson said his party once believed that Sweden's 'terrifically strong' welfare state  offering free education, housing, medical care and copious child benefits  could cope with any problems of incomers with ease.

'We didn't understand that some don't want to join our society; that they come here to live but not to work,' he explained. 'They are not interested in Sweden or its culture. We reach out to them but they don't want to be reached.'

This sorry state of affairs, he said, has angered ordinary Swedes, who believe their generosity to immigrants has been hurled back in their faces.

Emergency services attend the scene at a school in Malmo, Sweden in March

Before the election, Mr Jansson was called a racist by Left-wingers because, unusually among his party's politicians, he argued for a halt in immigration, saying Sweden should not pour petrol on a burning fire.

He insists that family benefits should also be cut so migrant families are encouraged to have fewer children  the current system gives an extra monthly sum for each new baby. And he supports 'harsher' punishments for possessing a gun.

In Sweden's lax youth penal system, a convicted murderer aged under 18 serves just two or three years in a reform establishment. Mr Jansson said: 'It could be too late to save Sweden if nothing is done now.'

In a way, Sweden has cooked its own goose. During the migration crisis seven years ago, when a million refugees came to Europe from Syria, elsewhere in the Middle East and Africa, at least 163,000 were welcomed here, despite the country's comparatively small population, which was then 9.5 million.

Sweden believed the bulk of the newcomers were Syrians fleeing war  but many turned out to be Afghans, Iraqis, Iranians and Africans pretending to be genuine asylum-seekers. At that time, if you put 'asylum' in Arabic into an internet search engine, 'Sweden' came out as the top result.

Police forensics members work at the site where according to local media Swedish rapper Einar was reportedly shot dead in the street in late October last year

The country was such a popular destination that it became the fastest-growing EU nation, accepting one in seven of all arrivals (more per capita than any other member state).

The result was a brutally damaging culture clash. Many of the incomers found it difficult to settle happily in the ultra-liberal Western society they had come to join.

There were other serious consequences, too. Only this week, a Twitter feed detailed a rape epidemic (against women and men) in Sweden.

It re-published data from Swedish National TV, later reported by the BBC, showing that 58 per cent of men convicted of rape and attempted rape over the five years to 2018 were born abroad.

The Swedish broadcaster, which counted all court convictions, revealed that in cases where the victim did not know the attacker, the proportion of foreign-born offenders was 85 per cent.

The findings were in line with more recent Swedish studies and others from Switzerland, Norway, Finland and Denmark.

Among the most worrying results of the Swedish research, the TV programme added, was that other than Swedes, Afghans were the most common nationality among the convicted rapists, numbering 45 out of 843 people.

The programme's editor did note, however, that the total number of reported rapes in Sweden, as opposed to court convictions, was a far higher figure, so no final conclusions could be drawn on immigrant involvement in sexual attacks.

Police stands guard outside of Emporia Shopping Center in Malmo, Sweden

A former police officer from Afghanistan, helping young Afghans to settle in Sweden, told the programme that the attitudes of some of youngsters towards sexual equality differed significantly from views in their adopted country.

The Twitter feed included a shocking video allegedly posted recently by a 24-year-old migrant living in Sweden on his Instagram account. It shows him punching a seemingly unsuspecting girl, with overlayed text referring to her as a 'whore'.

In another video in the feed, a man says to the camera: 'We Arabs are here to take over your f****** country, you Swedish whore.' Two weeks after this video was recorded, the man was arrested on suspicion of raping another woman, the Twitter feed claims.

The fact is, Sweden was so overwhelmed by sheer numbers that it had little time to check the identities or backgrounds of migrants during the first wave of arrivals in 2015- 16.

Council flats in towns such as Eskilstuna, already hosting refugees, were allocated to the newcomers. They were encouraged to live together in the same areas in a gesture of kindness (and, many now say, huge naivety) by Swedish policymakers.

This had a doubly negative effect. First, native Swedes became disgruntled  and some remained homeless, as migrants were pushed ahead in the state housing queue. And second, the areas where migrants settled became ghettoised, full of predominantly Arabic speakers who often viewed police as the enemy and ignored local laws, such as the compulsory wearing of cycle helmets and street-smoking bans, as crime rates soared.

Now Sweden's liberal political elite face uncomfortable questions from the nation's own citizens about the kind of society it has become, and will be in future.

A police vehicle is parked outside an apartment block in north-western Stockholm after two children was found seriously injured next to it, in November 2021

According to the independent Pew Research Centre in the U.S., by 2050, Muslims could make up a third of the Swedish population if migration remains at previous high levels, alongside a fall in the birth rate among native Swedes.

In February this year, a controversial imam, Basem Mahmoud, based in an immigrant enclave of Malmo, claimed Muslims would soon take over Sweden.

The imam, who has called Jewish people 'the offspring of pigs and apes', saying he was quoting Islam's Koran, proclaimed in a recorded speech: 'Sweden is ours in ten or 15 years, whether they (Swedes) like it or not'.

It was a brave senior police officer called Peter Springare who a few years ago first publicly exposed the immigrant crime wave dogging Sweden which has led to this week's political swing to the Right.

In an online posting, he wrote of his working week: 'This is what I've handled between Monday and Friday; rape, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, rape-assault and rape, extortion, blackmail, assault, violence against police, threats to police, drug crime, drug crime, felony, attempted murder, rape again, extortion again and ill-treatment . . .

'Countries representing the crimes this week: Iraq, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Somalia, Syria again, Somalia . . .'

Swedish Prime Minister and leader of the Social Democrats Magdalena Andersson, Ulf Kristersson, leader of the Moderate Party in Sweden and Jimmie Akesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats party in Sweden are pictured in a studio prior to a debate with other party leaders

Inevitably, the police officer was hauled before Swedish officials for committing a hate crime. In the end, after public protests supporting him, no action was taken.

It was revelations such as his that pushed Mikael Stromberg into politics. A would-be MP and official of Eskilstuna's Sweden Democrats, he told us before the election: 'Everything must change' to save Sweden from 'disaster'.

'We have shootings at the weekend, the weekdays, all day and night time, outside schools, children's nurseries and in playgrounds. Every tenth shooting in Sweden  whether it kills or not  happens in Eskilstuna.

'Sweden is today the most dangerous country in Europe. And Eskilstuna is the most dangerous place in Sweden.'

He used to be an international technical consultant but gave up his career to enter politics. 'I thought, I won't be able to look my son in the eye when he is 15 if I do nothing to help Sweden.'

The 42-year-old, his wife and two children, aged four and six, used to live in an apartment in a pink-painted block just a stroll away from Eskilstuna's main square.

'We couldn't stay,' he says. 'There were too many shootings and even rapes right here in town. I was afraid for my children and their future.'

Also worried about the future is Kristian, the Swede begging for coins in central Stockholm.

His vote last weekend, unsurprisingly, went to the Sweden Democrats because he believes the party will bring help to ordinary Swedes like himself.

It is clear many others in this well-meaning but now beleaguered nation feel the same way.
A seven year-old girl has been left tearful and shaken after a man pushed her out of the way to try and grab the Queen's coffin.

Young Darcy Holland queued to see the Queen for 15 hours with her aunt, Tracey, before finally making it into Westminster Hall.

Did you see the incident at Westminster Hall or do you know the man involved? Contact: alastair.lockhart@mailonline.co.uk and tips@dailymail.co.uk Advertisement

Darcy was paying her respects to the Queen in the middle of the hall around 10pm last night when the man shoved her and others in the queue and tried to lift up the royal standard draped over the coffin.

It is thought he was able to touch the coffin before being tackled to the ground by police officers as shocked bystanders looked on. He was arrested soon after.

Tracey Holland said Darcy was 'Paying her respects to the Queen, trying to look at the crown, when some person decided they were going to push her out the way, run up to the coffin, lift up the standard and try to do I don't know what.

'Darcy was grabbed out of the way and the police had him within two seconds.'

When asked if Darcy was ok, Tracey said: 'No not at all. We're just trying to get her back in so she can go round again respectfully because she's been up since two o'clock this morning, she's been in a queue for 15 hours and that is his result.'

The Queen has been lying in state at Westminster Hall since Wednesday, as thousands queue through the night for a chance to see the late monarch for a final time.

Darcy Holland, 7, queued to see the Queen for 15 hours with her aunt when she was pushed by the man next to the Queen's coffin

Aunt Tracey Holland said she would try and encourage Darcy to go back into Westminster Hall to see the Queen for a second time

Armed police have tonight arrested a man who attempted to grab at the Queen 's coffin - in an incident which left mourners stunned

Officers were seen carrying the man away from Westminster Hall following the incident, which took place around 10pm on Friday

Hundreds of thousands of respectful mourners are thought to have passed through the hall in the last two days, despite queues times stretching up to 24 hours.

But mourners were left visibly shocked during Friday night's incident - which took place just hours after King Charles and his family held a vigil in honour of the Queen.

Alongside siblings Anne, Andrew and Edward, the newly crowned monarch stood guard beside his mother's coffin.

Another witness who saw the incident told MailOnline how a mourner 'screamed' when she saw the man running at the coffin.

The witness said: 'We saw him (the man) in the queue from the beginning of the queue and throughout the day, he was by himself.

'When we entered the room we were at the top of the stairs when we saw the incident. A lady screamed as it happened it was quite unnerving. Although he was detained and people kept calm and carried on.'

Mourners were left visibly shocked (pictured) during Friday night's incident - which took place just hours after King Charles and his family held a vigil in honour of the Queen

Officers arrested the man following the incident, which took place around 10pm at Westminster Hall (pictured: The Queen's coffin at Westminster Hall on Friday, showing the royal standard before the incident)

The schoolgirl was left visibly shaken by the shocking incident at Westminster

The Metropolitan Police last night confirmed that a man had been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.

A spokesperson for the force said: 'At 10pm on Friday 16 September officers from the Met's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command detained a man in Westminster Hall following a disturbance.

'He was arrested for an offence under the Public Order Act and is currently in custody.'

A spokesperson for the the UK Parliament, said last night: 'Were aware of an incident in Westminster Hall, in which a member of the public moved out of the queue and towards the Catafalque.

'They have now been removed from the Hall and the queue restarted.'
President Joe Biden warned Vladmir Putin to avoid using nuclear weapons as his forces are beaten back in Ukraine or face 'consequences.'

In a preview for this Sunday's 60 Minutes, Scott Pelley asked the president what words he would have for his Russian counterpart if he is considering using chemical or tactical nuclear weapons in the Ukraine.

Biden responded: 'Don't. Don't. Don't. You will change the face of war unlike anything since World War II.'

When Pelley pushed the president for America's response should Putin cross the line, Biden declined to comment on a specific plan, only saying that the US would act if nuclear weapons are put into play.

'It'll be consequential,' Biden said. '[Russia] will become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been.

'And depending on the extent of what they do will determine what response would occur.'

President Joe Biden warned Vladimir Putin that Russia would face 'consequences' if they decided to use nuclear or chemical weapons in Ukraine

The warning came as Russia suffered yet another defeat by Ukrainian forces backed by Western military aid. Pictured: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky paid a surprise visit on Wednesday to the newly recaptured town of Izium

Ukrainian forces, backed by military aid from the West, have successfully been beating back Russia in key cities as the Kremlin's front line recedes eastward

Biden's response comes a day after his administration committed to sending another $600 million in military aid to Ukraine, which successfully took back another major city from Russian forces on Wednesday.

The White House said it was the 21st time that the Defense Department has pulled weapons and other equipment off the shelves to deliver to Ukraine.

The package will include more of the same types of ammunition and equipment that have helped Ukrainian forces beat back the Russian forces in portions of the east and south.

Most recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky helped raise his nation's flag over the newly-recaptured Russian stronghold of Izyum as he celebrated a stunning counter-attack that routed Putin's forces in the north of the country.

'Ukraine is taking back its own,' a military spokesman said, as a growing hope of overall victory against Putin's forces begins to spread across the country in the wake of Russia's most-recent battlefield humiliation.

Zelensky (pictured in Izyum ) had used an overnight address to praise the advances of his troops, amid a growing sense that pushing Russian troops out of the country is possible

While Russian news outlets tried to downplay Ukraine's success, Zelensky (right) was back in Kyiv on Friday presenting the Hero Rescuer of the Year awards to bolster the nation's unity

The victory came just a week after Ukraine liberated the city Balakliya, as soldiers were seen cheering with local residents freed from Russia's control.

The cities of Izyum, Kupyansk and Vovchansk which formed the staging post for the Kremlin's attacks in the region and contain key railway lines to get ammo and other supplies to its soldiers are now under Ukrainian control.

Moscow's recent rout in northeast Ukraine was its largest military defeat since the withdrawal of Russian troops from areas near Kyiv more than five months ago.

In a statement about America's commitment to Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: ' With admirable grit and determination, the people of Ukraine are defending their homeland and fighting for their future.

'The capabilities we are delivering are carefully calibrated to make the most difference on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine's hand at the negotiating table when the time is right.'

Pictured: Rubble in the city of Izyum, which was left devastated by outgoing Russian forces as Ukrainian soldiers liberated the people

The conflict in the Ukraine remains bloody as government officials accounted for 440 separate graves for the conflict in Izyum on Friday.

The US has committed another $600 million in military aid to help Ukraine, with the total US contribution amounting to $15.9 billion

The decision to move on new aid quickly - on the heels of a nearly $2.9 billion infusion of aid and financing support announced last week and more than $3 billion announced in late August - underscore the U.S. intent to ensure that Ukraine can sustain its stunning counterattack that was launched early this month.

That most recent funding included $2.2 billion in long-term military financing that Blinken announced during a visit to Ukraine last week, and a $675 million weapons package announced by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Europe that same day.

The $2.2 billion that Blinken announced in Kyiv is for Ukraine and 18 of its neighbors, including NATO members and regional security partners, that are potentially at risk of future Russian aggression, the U.S. said.

The latest package of weapons systems brings the total amount of U.S. aid to Ukraine to nearly $15.9 billion since Biden took office.

U.S. officials watching the counteroffensive have been careful not to declare a premature victory, noting that Russia still has substantial troops and resources.

And they are wary of what Putin may do to turn the tide.

But U.S. leaders also have made clear that the precision weapons and rocket systems provided by the U.S. and allies - including the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, and the High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile, or HARM - have been key to the dramatic shift in momentum.
He added that it makes it look like Charles is making a political intervention

The King expressed serious 'concerns' over how people will manage during the upcoming 'difficult winter' due to the cost-of-living crisis, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.

Labour's Mark Drakeford said he discussed the impact of the rising bills, climate change and renewable energy with Charles during their audience yesterday.

Mr Drakeford said the King also told him he was interested in renewable energy generation in Wales, and how it might play a 'bigger part' in future energy security.

The First Minister of Wales met the King after the new monarch, and former Prince of Wales, addressed the Welsh Parliament for the first time as sovereign.

But Mr Drakeford has been accused by a political commentator of making a 'faux pas' by revealing his private conversation with the new monarch, as it 'makes it look like a political intervention' from Charles.

King Charles (right) expressed serious 'concerns' over how Britons will manage during an audience with the First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford (left) yesterday, the FM said

Labour's Mark Drakeford said he discussed the impact of the rising bills, climate change and renewable energy with Charles during their audience yesterday

'[Charles was] interested, as always in renewable energy generation here in Wales, and how it might play a bigger part in future energy security,' Mr Drakeford told TalkTV's Tom Newton Dunn. Pictured: Wind turbines at Gwynt y Mor, the world's 2nd largest offshore wind farm located eight miles offshore in Liverpool Bay, off the coast of North Wales

In an interview with TalkTV's Tom Newton Dunn Mr Drakeford said: 'The King has always had a very direct interest in the things that are happening in contemporary Wales, the future of our agriculture, the impact of climate change.

'He mentioned the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and how that will impact on people here in Wales.'

He added: 'He (Charles) is concerned as to how people will manage through what is going to be a difficult winter.

'He was interested to tell me about some of the projects that he has heard of, or become involved in dealing, for example, with food waste, making sure that we don't waste a precious resource when some people might be going without.

'Interested, as always in renewable energy generation here in Wales, and how it might play a bigger part in future energy security.'

Political commentator Jack Blanchard later told Tom Newton Dunn that the Welsh First Minister had made a 'faux pas' by revealing their private conversation.

He said: 'I don't know what the Welsh is for "faux pas" is, Tom, but you are not supposed to reveal what the monarch says to you in these private conversations.

'And for years the Queen has been discreet about these sorts of things - and of course she will have private conversations with politicians but they will never reveal what happened.

'And Mark Drakeford has just come out and told you what King Charles has been discussing.'

He said it wasn't 'surprising' that the King was concerned about people getting through the winter as 'everyone else is'. But Mr Drakeford to say it 'makes it look like a political intervention by the King'.

'Faux pas': Political commentator Jack Blanchard said the Welsh First Minister had made a 'faux pas' by revealing what the King had said in their private conversation, making it look like a political intervention from Charles

Mr Drakeford also suggested the investiture proceedings for William, the new Prince of Wales, need not follow the same form as that of the 1969 ceremony that saw the title bestowed upon his father.

He told TalkTV: 'Well, I certainly don't think that 1969 is a good guide for what should happen in 2022. Wales is a very different place.

'The nature of the monarchy has developed over that period. My message is that we shouldn't be in a rush about all of this.

'We should allow the new prince, as I say, to become familiar with his new responsibilities, develop the job in a way that will work for him and will work for Wales.

'And then we can think about how and whether there is a need for any further ceremonial underpinning of what has already been announced.'
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were 'uninvited' to a state reception for world leaders and foreign royals tomorrow evening, it was reported last night.

It is thought the couple received an invitation to the event, hosted by King Charles and the Queen Consort, earlier in the week.

But Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are now unlikely to attend after officials at Buckingham Palace insisted the reception was for working royals only, it is understood.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured with Prince William, Prince of Wales, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Catherine, Princess of Wales on Wednesday) were 'uninvited' to a state reception for world leaders and foreign royals tomorrow evening, it was reported last night

Photos captured a poignant moment for the Duke of Sussex (left with the Duchess of Sussex right) as he held his head in his hand, shielding his eyes, and looked down as the Queen's coffin was moved inside the Palace of Westminster

William, Kate, Harry and Meghan walk into the Palace of Westminster for a service on Wednesday

US President Joe Biden, French president Emmanuel Macron and the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau are among the heads of states who will arrive in London this weekend to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral on Monday.

World leaders, ambassadors and foreign royals will attend a reception at the Palace where they will also be greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

The confusion over Harry and Meghan's invitation points to issues with communication between the Californian-based couple and the Royal Family, according to the Daily Telegraph.

It is thought the couple (pictured last Saturday) received an invitation to the event, hosted by King Charles and the Queen Consort, earlier in the week. But Harry and Meghan are now unlikely to attend after officials at Buckingham Palace insisted the reception was for working royals only, it is understood

Harry and Meghan after a service for the reception of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin at Westminster Hall

It follows an apparent U-turn over Harry's right to wear military uniform despite being a non-working royal.

The Palace is understood to have intervened to allow Harry to wear his regalia to a 15-minute vigil at Westminster Hall today.

Harry had previously said he would wear a morning suit to all the funeral events.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were also said to be furious after it was revealed their children will not be granted HRH status when they are appointed by prince and princess by King Charles III.

A source claimed to The Sun, that Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, are set to be officially made prince and princess in the near future as Charles has agreed to issue a Letters Patent to grant the titles.

But a report claims that following tense talks between the new King over recent days, the Sussexes have been left 'furious' that their children will not also get HRH titles.

Prince William, Kate, Prince Harry and Meghan have all been appearing in public together since the Queen's death. However the Sussexes won't be at the state reception at Buckingham Palace on Sunday

Prince Harry and his brother Prince William stood together with their wives Meghan and Kate as they put aside their bitter feud to pay their respects to their grandmother

There are still longstanding issues between Prince Harry and his family, his autobiography has been called a 'ticking timebomb which Charles and William wanted to diffuse'.

It is claimed that it will be published as planned in November despite the Queen's death.

Tom Bower, whose biography of Meghan Markle was released earlier this year, said the book would be printed at Clays in Bungay, Suffolk, under conditions of great secrecy, with staff being checked on their way out for copies.

He added: 'The book is a timebomb which Charles and William wanted to defuse. Harry did not think that he would be in the UK when the Queen died and the circumstances are different to how they all envisaged it.

'That said I hear that it is being printed at Clays. It will take weeks to print and then weeks to distribute it globally.'
Two men have been found dead in separate incidents 750m apart in the same suburb.

A 25-year-old man from Springvale was found critically injured at a home in Noble Park early on Friday.

The man was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.

On Friday, a 30-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested and later charged with murder.

Emergency services were called to a Lesley Grove address about 1am following reports of an assault.

It's believed a group was partying at the share house and a fight broke out before the Springvale man was allegedly stabbed in the chest.

A 24-year-old man from Officer assisted police with inquiries and was released without charge.

Investigators believe the parties involved were known to each other.

Two men have been found dead in separate incidents 750m apart in the same suburb.

In a separate incident, police arrived at a home in Henry St, Noble Park at about 5am on Saturday morning to discover another man had died.

A crime scene has been established and detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the mans death.

The location is less than a kilometre away from the earlier scene but there is no suggestion the incidents are linked.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has requested the classified documents found in the Mar-A-Lago raid be withheld from the special master's review ahead of the preliminary meeting.

The DOJ requested the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals to allow its own criminal investigators to review the classified information and to exclude it from Special Master Judge Raymond Dearie's review.

The Department sought the intervention after US District Judge Aileen Cannon - a Trump appointee - declined the DOJ's request to lift the temporary prohibition of the usage of the 100 classified documents found in the raid. The DOJ's investigation is being stalled due to the special master's review.

The department told the 11th Circuit in Atlanta that the judge's hold was impeding the 'government's efforts to protect the nation's security' and interfering with its investigation into the presence of top-secret information at Mar-a-Lago. It said the hold needed to be lifted immediately so work could resume.

'The government and the public would suffer irreparable harm absent a stay,' Department lawyers wrote in their brief to the appeals court.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has requested the classified documents found in the Mar-A-Lago raid be withheld from the special master's review ahead of the preliminary meeting. It requested the Appeals Court allow it to have it's own investigator review the classified documents

A judge denied the DOJ's request, questioning the validity of the classifications. Trump (pictured on Tuesday) is trying to claim some of the documents are his, but the DOJ denies that any of them could be his personal property

Earlier this month, Cannon directed the Department to halt its use of the records until further court order, or until the completion of a Dearie's report, whose job is to inspect the documents and weed out any covered by claims of legal privilege.

Cannon also cast doubt on the top secret documents in Thursday's order, questioning whether or not items were actually classified. She also said she wasn't putting the nation at risk by stalling the DOJ's investigation, according to CNN.

The Justice Department argues that the documents could, in no way, be Trump's personal property, as the former president is trying to claim.

'None of those rationales applies to the records bearing classification markings: The markings establish on the face of the documents that they are not [Trump]'s personal property,' the DOJ said.

The DOJ is investigating three potential crimes, including violations of the Espionage Act, illegal handling of government records and obstruction of justice.

Judge Raymond Dearie (pictured) has been appointed to be the special master and has until November 30 to complete his review of the 11,000 documents

The request also comes as the Department of Justice and Trump's lawyers have been called to a New York City court for a 'preliminary conference' by the special master who will review the 11,000 documents taken from the Mar-A-Lago raid.

Dearie has asked the two parties to attend the conference on September 20 at the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse.

Both parties have until September 19 to submit 'proposed agenda items' for discussion at the meeting, according to Fox News.

Dearie was appointed by Cannon to review all the documents taken from the Florida estate on August 8. He is also tasked with identifying any personal materials of Trump's that should possibly be returned to him.

The FBI says it took about 11,000 documents, including roughly 100 with classification markings found in a storage room and an office, while serving a court-authorized search warrant at the home.

In appointing Dearie on Thursday, she granted him access to the entire tranche of documents, including classified records. She directed him to complete his review by November 30 and to prioritize the review of classified documents, and directed the Justice Department to permit the Trump legal team to inspect classified records with 'controlled access conditions.'

Dearie has called for the DOJ and Trump's lawyers to appear at the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse (pictured) for a preliminary conference on September 20
Joe Biden on Friday admitted that his oft-repeated story about being arrested in South Africa, while attempting to see the imprisoned Nelson Mandela, was not true.

Biden set the record straight during a meeting with South Africa's current president, Cyril Ramaphosa, in the White House on Friday.

Biden recounted meeting Mandela in 1990, and said the anti-apartheid leader thanked him for facing arrest in order to meet him in South Africa.

Biden told Ramaphosa that meeting Mandela was 'one of the great moments of my career.'

'I was a senator at the time, and we met in the Senate Foreign Relations executive committee room. And he came in we all stood there and said hello to him and the like and afterwards, he asked if he could come by my office and he came by to say thank you because he heard I had been stopped trying to get to visit him, to see him in prison.'

Biden then admitted he had never been arrested in South Africa.

'I wasn't arrested, I got stopped, prevented from moving.

'But he was extremely gracious.'

President Joe Biden shakes hands with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday

Biden shakes hands with Ramaphosa in the Oval Office. Biden told his South African counterpart that Mandela asked him about being arrested in the country in 1977, and having to admit it was not true

Biden is known for his exaggerations, and his contorted, misremembered stories.

The 79-year-old president, who joined the Senate Foreign Relations Committee aged 32, and became its chair in 2001, has frequently spoken about his 'arrest' by the South African police.

On February 11, 2020, Biden told a South Carolina audience that he had been arrested in the African nation.

'This day, 30 years ago, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison and entered into discussions about apartheid,' he told the crowd.

'I had the great honor of meeting him. I had the great honor of being arrested with our U.N. ambassador on the streets of Soweto trying to get to see him on Robben Island.'

Biden did not specify the year, but was in South Africa in 1977.

Biden is seen in December 2013 visiting a memorial to Nelson Mandela outside the South African embassy. Mandela died aged 95 on December 5, 2013

Mandela was held behind bars on Robben Island from 1964 to 1982 - but Robben Island is off the coast of Cape Town, while Biden said he was in the Johannesburg district of Soweto.

Later the same month, Biden repeated the story of his arrest to a Nevada crowd at a black history brunch.

'[Mandela] came to Washington and came to my office,' Biden said, during a presidential campaign meeting in Las Vegas.

'He threw his arms around me and said, 'I want to say thank you.'

'I said, 'What are you thanking me for, Mr. President?'

'He said: ''You tried to see me. You got arrested trying to see me.'''

And at a second Las Vegas event, days later, Biden repeated the arrest story for a third time.

He told the crowd he 'came back from South Africa, trying to see Nelson Mandela and getting arrested for trying to see him.'

Mandela is seen during a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress in June 1990

Mandela in June 1990 addresses the United Nations, urging the U.N. to maintain sanctions against South Africa until apartheid was abolished

The claim of an arrest was debunked by The New York Times in February 2020, with multiple officials and former colleagues in the Senate telling the paper they had no recollection of the arrest.

The paper even noted that Biden's own accounts, in his autobiography and in his statements about Mandela, did not reference an arrest.

Fact-checkers, who gave Biden's account 'four Pinocchios' and declared it 'Pants on Fire', did find that he had been separated from black colleagues when landing at the airport in neighboring Lesotho in December 1976.

At the time, Biden was among 13 members of Congress to travel to Lesotho.

'When I exited the plane I was directed to one side of the tarmac, while the African American congressmen traveling with me were sent to the other side,' he said.

'I refused to break off, and the officials finally relented.'

At the end of February 2020, amid intense interest in whether he was actually arrested, Biden told CNN that he was not.

'When I said arrested, I meant I was not able to move,' Biden said, after recounting what had happened to him.

'Cops would not let me go with them. I wasn't arrested, I was stopped. I was not able to move where I wanted to go.'

He did not specify whether that encounter was in Lesotho or South Africa.

Biden has a long history of exaggerating his own biography.

He claimed in January this year, while speaking to students of historically black colleges in Atlanta that he was arrested during civil rights protests - a claim for which there is no evidence.

In September 2021 he told Jewish leaders that he remembered 'spending time at' and 'going to' the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh after the mass murder of 11 people there in 2018: it later emerged he never visited.

The White House said he was referencing a phone call, and misspoke.

Biden, in his meeting with Ramaphosa, said the U.S. and South Africa have the 'same value set'.

Biden and Ramaphosa are seen inside the Oval Office on Friday

Ramaphosa has been accused of stealing millions and hiding it at a game farm. He insists the money is private

Ramaphosa's government has remained neutral in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the African president himself has been accused of stealing millions of dollars.

'United States and South Africa and your government have the same value set,' Biden said.

'I've long been inspired by the long struggle for freedom and justice.

'South Africa has quite a voice on the world stage,' Biden added.

'We have a lot to talk about. A lot is happening around the world,' Biden said, before press were ushered out of the room.

South Africa abstained from a United Nations vote condemning Russia's actions and called for a mediated settlement.

Ramaphosa stands accused of stealing millions and hiding it at a game farm.

About $4 million in cash was stolen from Ramaphosa's Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo in February, and former intelligence officer Arthur Fraser has accused him of money laundering, kidnapping and corruption.

Ramaphosa denied the allegations, saying that the funds were private, not public.
Bodycam footage has captured the moment a man was tasered to the ground after biting a police officer and putting him in a headlock.

Benjamin John Stephenson was drunk and driving a stolen car when he was pulled over by an officer at Southport, on the Gold Coast.

Stephenson was charged with 12 offences and pleaded guilty at Southport Magistrates Court on Friday.

Bodycam footage has captured the moment a man was tasered to the ground after biting a police officer and putting him in a headlock

The court heard Stephenson had ignored the police officer who repeatedly ordered him to surrender, 7News reported.

Bodycam footage showed the pair wrestling before the officer is pinned against a fence and put into a headlock. He is then bitten on the arm.

'Let go mate, let go,' the officer says.

He then pulls out a taser before Stephenson tries to escape with the officer running close behind.

The officer manages to catch up to Stephenson and warns him to stop.

'It's a f***ing taser get on the ground,' the officer yells. 'Taser, taser, taser do not move.'

The officer then discharges the taser causing Stephenson to collapse to the ground.

Stephenson then snaps the probes and tries to run away before he is tackled to the ground with the help of a bystander.

Stephenson was sentenced to 12 months jail but will be released in one month after already serving most of his time in custody.
An epic 4,200-kilometre rescue mission to bring a severely premature baby his distraught mum's breast milk has helped the infant survive.

When Levi Atkinson was born at just 24 weeks in Darwin he needed emergency surgery then had to be airlifted to Brisbane for specialist care because of complications from the operation.

Tiny Levi, who weighed just 740 grams at birth, needed life-saving surgery for a perforated bowel.

An epic 4,200-kilometre rescue mission to bring a severely premature baby his distraught mum's breast milk has helped the infant survive.

Tiny Levi, who weighed just 740 grams at birth, needed life-saving surgery for a perforated bowel

Then at four days old he suffered an infection in his abdomen that doctors said he might not recover from.

Mother Tegan Wain went with her son to Brisbane's Mater Mothers' Hospital, but had to leave behind 150 bottles of breast milk she had expressed in the fridge of their Darwin home.

As his care progressed, doctors realised to give Levi the best chance he needed his mum's early breast milk.

'He needs that milk to help his gut develop and help his gut stay healthy, help him grow and get the immune benefits,' Mater director of neonatology Pita Birch told the ABC.

Babies born prior to 28 weeks have much higher than usual chances of health issues as they grow. Early breast milk helps their immune systems.

At his most recent weigh-in, Ms Wain said her 'little warrior' now weighed just under 2.6 kilograms, more than triple his birth weight (Pictured, Tegan Wain and Rodney Atkinson with their son Levi)

Little Levi is recovering from his ordeal and now weighs almost 2.7kilograms, almost four times his birthweight, which was 740 grams

The stress of the birth and its aftermath meant Ms Wain's supply of fresh breast milk began to dry up.

So the hospital launched an extraordinary 24-hour mission, packing the milk stored in her freezer back home in Darwin into a giant icebox and flying it - via Adelaide - to Brisbane.

At his most recent weigh-in, Ms Wain said her 'little warrior' now weighed just under 2.7 kilograms, almost four time his birth weight.

In a powerful Facebook post she wrote that it sometimes 'feels like he can't fight anymore'.

'He's been fighting for so long and [it seems] he just can't do it any more ... it's heart-breaking and breath-taking and will show you that life is a battle and not going to be handed to you.'

Ms Wain said she was felling more 'settled' and planned to take him home to Darwin.

She also opened up about the dizzying experience of birth and her fears he might not survive.

'A nurse will walk towards you and tell you they are caring for your baby. This will be your first kick to the guts, someone else looking after your baby,' she wrote in a powerful Facebook post.

As his care progressed, doctors realised to give Levi the best chance he needed his mum's early breast milk

She also opened up about the dizzying experience of birth and her fears her premature son Levi might not survive

'They will tell you what's happening, what all the tubes, needles, monitors, lines, and beeps are but none of it will register and you will forever be asking again what things are for.'

Ms Wain also recounted the stress of not being able to have skin-to-skin contact with her newborn after being told how important it was.

'But there are literal walls between you and you can't help but think the worst may be or may have happened to him,' she said.

'You see your child fight for every breath, defy the odds or in our case stick his two middle fingers up at the statistics.

'We already feel like he can say "watch this Mummy and Daddy".'

Levi's parents have started a GoFundMe page to help with the costs of relocating to Brisbane while they stay with him.
A Portland, Oregon mother who found a homeless woman in her son's bed was blindsided a second time when the city's woke district attorney let the intruder go within 24 hours.

Kelsey Smith, from Northeast Portland, first knew something was amiss when she heard her dogs barking in a bedroom and went to investigate. She initially thought her husband was playing a prank on her, but within moments quickly realized someone had broken into her home to hide out.

After backing out of the room and calling for help, Smith was bum rushed by the intruder, who had picked up an ottoman and threw it at her before leaving the home.

The frightening ordeal was caught on a camera that Smith has set up in the room to monitor her son's medical condition.

Police later identified the culprit as Lynn Zinser, 54, who was arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office jail on charges of burglary and harassment. But, no sooner than she had been arrested, her charges were dropped and she was free to walk the streets of the famously liberal town once again.

Zinser's bail was set at a baffling $0 with the District Attorney's Office said to be gathering more evidence before they move forward with any further charges against her.

A homeless woman wandered in off the street into Kelsey Smith's Portland home

The woman, seen in green, left, made her way onto Kelsey Smith's son's bed

The woman decided to make herself comfortable as she nestled down in a pile of laundry

Lynn Zinser, 54, was arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Sheriff's jail on charges of burglary and harassment but released one day later

Zinser has been arrested a number of times for theft, attempted robbery and burglary including sneaking into people's home

Portland is currently in the grip of a homeless crisis with tent cities having sprung up all over the place.

Lax bail reform laws implemented by woke Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt have left little to no deterrent for criminals in the city.

Zinser was able to enter the home uninvited because the front door had been left unlocked in order to allow contractors in who were renovating a bathroom in the home.

After hearing her dogs barking like mad, Smith followed them into a bedroom at the back of the one-story home.

'The dogs continued to go crazy, specifically my chihuahua, which was running circles around my legs, which was really unusual,' Smith said to Fox 12.

Kelsey Smith, picture with two of her four children and husband Justin, top left, initially thought he was playing a prank on her

Husband, Justin Dodge, is known to be a bit of a trickster, but wife Kelsey, quickly realized it wasn't one of his usual pranks

'I followed her to where the other dog was into my children's bedroom. My Labrador was standing on top of the bed on top of a pile of clean clothes that I had thrown on there. I walked in wondering if she had cornered a mouse or something because she was going crazy and I realized there was a person under there.'

Smith then even called out the name of her husband thinking he might be under the clothes but there was no reply.

'Oh my God, Justin!' she cried, but there was no response.

Only then did she realize there was in fact a homeless person on the bed.

'I backed out of the room, talking to my friend on the phone saying I needed help, that there was a homeless person in the kid's bed,' Smith went on.

One of Smith's dogs realized something wasn't right and began barking like mad

Kelsey Smith, seen left in grey, thought her husband was playing a joke and even called out. 'Oh my God, Justin!' - of course, Justin was nowhere to be found

The family's black Labrador raised the alarm by jumping on the bed where the homeless woman lay

The woman got up with a start when she heard Smith was planning to call the police

The homeless woman then picked up an ottoman and chucked it directly at Smith

Kelsey Smith, a mother of four, who lives in Northeast Portland found a homeless woman lying amongst clothing on top of her son's bed

A number of local journalist came to Smith's home to hear the crazy story for themselves

'At that point she leapt up, I recognized her as a woman. She hopped off the bed and picked up the ottoman at the foot of the bed and bum rushed me, threw it at me, and then meandered out the door.'

Smith can then be heard telling the woman to leave while her son called 911.

Zinser then started swearing at her and picked up an ottoman, throwing it at her before walking out of the home.

'My first thought was what is going on?' Smith said. 'The fear didn't come until after she was gone and I started to run through the scenarios in my head about how this could have played out differently if my younger kids had been home.

'My 24-year-old son heard the commotion and came running upstairs, charging up the stairs because he knew something was wrong. He went straight out the door and into the street following her, calling 911.'

Zinser was quickly arrested and charged but just one day later she was released without bail under a 'court ordered release.'

When Smith contacted the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office of Mike Schmidt, she was told Zinser's charges had been dropped despite clear video evidence of the crime.

The woman then meandered out of the home back out onto the street

The dog followed the homeless woman back out onto the street where she was soon arrested

Portlands woke DA: Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt Hundreds of police officers have retired or quit Portland's force over the last two years. In exit interviews released to local journalists, officers who resigned in Portland often cited Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt as one of the reasons. Schmidt, an outspoken progressive and police critic, came into office during the height of the riots in the summer of 2020 and promptly enacted a policy decriminalizing most riot-related offenses. Schmidt ran as a progressive and won 77 percent of the vote just days before George Floyds killing in Minneapolis in May 2020. Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt ran as a progressive and won 77 percent of the vote just days before George Floyds killing in Minneapolis in May 2020 Just ten days into his tenure Schmidt announced how his office would decline to prosecute protesters over the majority of misdemeanor charges they were being arrested for, including criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, and interference with a police officer. At the time, the pandemic coupled with a spike in violent crime had already bogged down court proceedings, and most of those arrested at protests would have to wait months for their hearings - so it was simply easier not to prosecute in the first place. Instead, Schmidt's office was to focus on more serious protest-related crimes, including property damage, theft, and the use or threat of force. Schmidt explained his policy as a desire to 'focus on the cases that are actually going to have a positive impact on public safety.' But with the pandemic in the rear view mirror, little appears to have changed. His successful 2020 campaign was supported by Real Justice, a political action committee co-founded by radical anti-police activist Shaun King. Over 90 percent of those arrested at the riots in 2020 in Portland for crimes ranging from arson to assault had their cases effectively dropped. Although the police budget was cut in 2021, it was restored for 2022, but by then the damage had been done with efforts seemingly too little, too late. In 2021, Portland surpassed its all-time record for murders at 90 homicides with things looking equally as bad for 2022 with 66 murders as of September 15. For a city of 650,000 residents, Portland had more homicides in 2021 than larger cities on the west coast like San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle. Compounding the problem is that the number of sworn officers in the Portland Police Bureau is at its lowest since the 1980s despite the city experiencing surging population growth for the last 30 years. Currently, there are around 800 sworn officers in the city - about 230 down from full staffing. A lack of policing coupled with leniency when it comes to prosecutions is making Portland attractive for all the wrong reasons. Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt (here with wife Clare and their son) in photos from his Facebook page Advertisement

'They said the charges have been dropped and that I can leave a message for the DA and he can call you back,' Smith said.

'I haven't heard anything and that was days ago. I have to assume someone heard that message and nobody has gotten back to me. I don't understand why she is not in jail. She's not harmless. She proved that. She's proved that from the stories that I've heard from other people.'

'I feel like the city is declining rapidly and there is a need for more mental health services, more training for the police, probably more police, more community outreach, but I don't know,' Smith said.

'It was really disturbing to have her curled up in my children's room. I mean, the safety of this whole household just feels like it's been upended,' she told KPIC.

'Something has to change. I mean, something has to change. I hope that the city officials are doing something different than what they've been doing because it's not working,' Smith added.

Mike Schmidt, Multnomah County District Attorney, is an outspoken progressive and police critic, came into office during the height of the riots in the summer of 2020 and promptly enacted a policy decriminalizing most riot-related offenses

DA Mike Schmidt is an outspoken progressive and police critic, who came into office during the height of the riots in the summer of 2020 and promptly enacted a policy decriminalizing most riot-related offenses.

But now his woke bail policies are also affecting other quality-of-life issues around Portland.

His successful 2020 campaign was supported by Real Justice, a political action committee co-founded by radical anti-police activist Shaun King.

Over 90 percent of those arrested at the riots in 2020 in Portland for crimes ranging from arson to assault had their cases effectively dropped.

Police have said the DA is actually rejecting cases without giving sufficient reasons and appear to be unable to know which cases to prioritize because theyre unsure which cases prosecutors will ultimately choose to charge, according to Wweek.com.

Tents surrounded by trash line residential streets in multiple neighborhoods in the city of Portland, as it wrestles with an out of control homeless population which is now spreading out from the downtown area into the surrounding suburbs

Portland is in the midst of a homelessness crisis.

Although the city is known for its unique neighborhoods, bike-friendly commutes, and locally-owned businesses, many Portland residents have become so terrified of homeless people plaguing the area, which has now spread into the suburbs.

The Democratic city has one of the most deserted downtowns in the United States as soaring crime rates and homelessness are scaring away both locals and tourists.

The crisis has become so bad that many homeowners are looking to leave.

Homeless camps are now becoming a permanent fixture in the suburbs, with the city being forced to conduct sweeps on a regular basis.

A map shows the various homeless encampments across the city of Portland

Tents crowd the sidewalk that is littered with trash from homeless communities setting up camp in areas spread from downtown Portland now out through the suburbs

Tents line the streets in the Portland suburbs where residents say they are fed up with people lingering and doing drugs

Portland declared a state of emergency on homelessness in 2015 and has extended it five times since then. The measure, now set to expire in 2025, reduces the bureaucratic red tape surrounding the creation of homeless shelters.

Despite the city's years-long emergency measure, the estimated number of people experiencing homelessness spiked 25 percent in the Portland area between 2020 and 2022, according to point-in-time counts reported to The Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Oregon's homelessness crisis has been fueled by a housing shortage, the coronavirus pandemic and the highest drug addiction rate of any state in the nation. Federal data from the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that nine percent of teens and adults in Oregon had illicit drug use disorders in 2020.

The state has wrestled with a debate over the best way to reduce homelessness. Some business groups have called for more encampment sweeps and stricter enforcement of anti-camping ordinances, while others want more investment in social services and affordable housing.

Along with the influx of homeless communities, comes the rising numbers in crime and drug use.

The drug crisis in Portland, especially among homeless communities, has become unmanageable for authorities in the area.

Photos show the desperate situation in the liberal Pacific Northwest city, where people can be seen shooting up drugs or passed out in broad daylight.

Oregon was the first state in the United States to decriminalize possession of personal-use amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, oxycodone, and other drugs after voters approved a ballot measure in 2020 to decriminalize hard drugs.

A person found with personal amounts of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other drugs receives a citation, like a traffic ticket, with the maximum $100 fine waived if they call a hotline for a health assessment.

The state's program, which has been promoted as a way to establish and fund addiction recovery centers that would offer people aid instead of incarceration, is being watched as a potential model for other states.

But drug overdose deaths in the state also hit an all-time high in 2021 with 1069, a 41 percent increase from 2020.
A man wanted over the stabbing of a Comanchero bikie outside a Brisbane gym allegedly buried guns at a property before he was arrested.

Thomas Friedrich Myler, 35, is the third person to have been charged over the death of Levi Johnson, 23, at a Goodlife gym car park in Mansfield on Monday.

Police received a tip-off before cornering Myler during a home raid on Skinner Avenue at Wellington Point and arresting him and his girlfriend on Friday night.

Brisbane regional crime co-ordinator Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said police would allege he buried 'a number' of guns at another property shortly before the arrest.

A man (pictured, Thomas Myler) wanted over the stabbing of a Comanchero bikie outside a Brisbane gym allegedly buried guns at a property before he was arrested

Thomas Friedrich Myler, 35, is the third person to have been charged over the death of Levi Johnson, 23 (pictured), at a Goodlife gym car park in Mansfield on Monday

Police received a tip-off before cornering Myler during a home raid in Wellington Point and arresting him and his girlfriend on Friday night (pictured, blue tarp at Mansfield carpark on Monday)

'We were able to get assistance from PolAir and a short time after that a vehicle, a Mazda 323, left this (Wellington Point) address,' he said.

'That vehicle has been taken to an address in Chandler, where we believe the wanted person ... buried a number of firearms on a property.'

Myler is understood to have had a falling out and split up with one of the alleged attackers Kyle Martin following the stabbing.

Martin remains on the run and police believe he is still in Queensland and possibly armed.

'It would appear from some words that were spoken tonight by this man (Myler) that that relationship is somewhat fractured and that's obviously something we will be looking at in the coming days,' Superintendent Massingham said.

Myler has been charged with murder, unlawful possession of motor vehicle, enter premises, authority required to possess explosives and drive vehicle not fitted with interlock.

Myler is understood to have had a falling out and split up with one of the alleged attackers Kyle Martin (pictured) following the stabbing

CCTV footage released by police on Friday allegedly shows Kyle Martin (pictured), 24, at the Carindale shopping centre before the attack. Police are calling for him to surrender as the manhunt is ongoing

His matter was briefly mentioned before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday and the case has been adjourned until October 4.

His girlfriend has not been charged by police and remains in questioning.

Two men Stuart Galloway and Luke Thomas Moore, both 34, have already been charged with murder.

Two cars boxed in Mr Johnson's vehicle before four men got out and started smashing his windows on Monday.

Mr Johnson ran away but two men caught up with him nearby, and he was stabbed multiple times.

'It certainly is something that was ferocious, it happened extremely quickly and they were indeed passionate about completing their task,' superintendent Massingham said.

Police appeal for anyone with dashcam footage from the Creek Road car park between 12.30pm and 2.10pm on Monday to come forward. They also seek any dashcam footage from the Winstanley Street car park between 11.05am and 1pm to come forward

Police speak to a witness at the scene in Brisbane as they try to piece together the shocking crime

CCTV footage released by police on Friday shows Martin at the Carindale shopping centre before the attack.

'We say that the four individuals met at a location nearby, that they observed the victim, Mr Johnson, for some time, waited for him to depart a particular location and then follow him where they eventually cornered him in the car park of the gym at Mansfield or Carindale,' superintendent Massingham said.

Police appeal for anyone with dashcam footage from the Creek Road car park between 12.30pm and 2.10pm on Monday to come forward.

They also seek any dashcam footage from the Winstanley Street car park between 11.05am and 1pm to come forward.
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A Las Vegas Democratic official who was charged with murdering a reporter who exposed his affair refused to discuss the case in a jailhouse interview and claimed he lives his life to do 'good for others.'

Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, 45, has been accused of killing Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German, 69, earlier this month.

In a new jailhouse interview with the newspaper, Telles refused to answer any questions about the German case as it is still being investigated.

However, he insisted he has 'certainly made mistakes' in his past.

'Ive just really try to do my best, to live my life doing good for others, and Im hoping that, again, with everything thats rolling around in the media these days, that people really see that,' he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal from inside the walls of the Clark County Detention Center.

Despite his inability to discuss the case, Telles was arrested on September 7 after DNA evidence found under German's fingernails allegedly matched the public official's.

German was found stabbed to death outside his home on September 3, a day after a straw hat-wearing suspect was found on surveillance footage near the journalist's home.

Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, 45, has been accused of killing Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German, 69, earlier this month and refused to talk about the case in a jailhouse interview

Telles did claim that 'just really try to do my best, to live my life doing good for others.' Telles was arrested on September 7 after DNA evidence found under German's fingernails allegedly matched his

German was found stabbed to death outside his home on September 3 after he extensively reported on Telles' public office and allegedly inappropriate relationship with a staffer

German - who worked in Sin City for most of his career - died of 'multiple sharp force injuries' in a homicide, the Clark County Office of the Coroner Medical Examiner said earlier this month.

When police searched Telles' home, they found bloodied shoes and a cut up straw hat.

Telles' car - a red GMC - was also found to match the vehicle seen on surveillance. Reporters also stalked the public official's home and found him washing his car after the incident.

When Telles - who admitted he did not know if he'd resign from office - was arrested, he reportedly had self-inflicted cuts on his arms.

An arrest report obtained by DailyMail.com shows that he barricaded himself inside his home, made suicidal statements and slashed his arms with a knife when SWAT teams arrived to arrest him.

He was also suspected of taking drugs in the moments before he was cuffed, forcing officers to take him to the hospital before he was booked into the county jail.

Prosecutors have accused the public official of 'lying in wait' to kill the journalist, who had extensively reported on the turmoil in Telles' office, including an alleged inappropriate relationship with a staffer Roberta Lee-Kennett, 45.

He revealed affair after publishing a video of him exiting a vehicle with his lover.

Staffer Roberta Lee-Kennett, 45, left the backseat of the car at the same time as the official, and can be seen hoisting her skirt down.

Surveillance footage showed a suspect wearing gray shoes and a straw hat, which were later found at Telles' home

Police found a bloodied shoe that looked similar to the ones the suspect was seen wearing

Police also found a straw hat cut up at Telles' home after the murder

Reporters spotted Telles washing his Red GMC (pictured on surveillance) shortly after the murder

Las Vegas police officers are seen on earlier this month outside Telles' home

Telles home is pictured on earlier this month being searched by police

Telles has denied all of the allegations made against him by German, including the affair and the claims that he oversaw an abusive workplace.

He admitted to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that there was 'hostility' in the office, despite his efforts 'to improve that office,' he claimed.

'Its unfortunate that that narrative somehow grew legs and ran,' he said.

DailyMail.com previously revealed Telles had been railing against German for months  including in an angry series of messages on social media in which he accused him of rifling through his trash and writing 'lying smear pieces' about him.

His colleagues at the Review-Journal helped to track down the suspected killer when they staked out the suspects home, after recalling the tweets sent by Telles to German.

Telles lashed out at German in a series of public Twitter posts, accusing the reporter of preparing 'lying smear piece #4 by Jeff German, #onetrickpony I think hes mad that I havent crawled into a hole and died.'

In a second post he added: 'Wife hears rustling in the trash* Her: "Honey, is there a wild animal in the trash?"

Roberta Lee-Kennett, 45, (pictured with her husband) was accused of having an affair with Telles. German claimed that the two were having an affair, and published video of her getting out of a car and pulling her skirt down after being in the back seat with the official

Kennett left the backseat of the car at the same time as the official, as she pulled her skirt down. The clip was published by the late reporter in May

Alleged killer Robert Telles, 45, seen leaving the backseat of his car, along with a member of his staff. The story was reported by the journalist he allegedly killed

'Me: "No, dear. Look like its Jeff German going through our trash for his 4th story on me." Oh, Jeff'

The married man - who has had contact with his wife and children - was open to talking about the domestic violence case against him in the jailhouse interview.

In March 2020, he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence after his wife Mae Ismael called the police and told them Telles was 'going crazy.'

Telles admitted to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he 'struggled with alcohol' at the time and that moment was a 'wake-up call.'

'I don't drink anymore,' he told the outlet. 'My wife and I have a much better relationship [now].'

He said he has been sober since that night and had only uncontrollably drank on special occasions beforehand.

'It was just me blacking out and, again, not being in control of what was going on,' he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The case was eventually dismissed and he received a suspended 90-day sentence for resisting arrest - where he allegedly told officers while being arrested: 'You guys just want to take me down because I am a public official.'

Telles claimed he doesn't remember speaking to officers.

According to the local paper's obituary, German reported on an extensive range of grizzly topics in Las Vegas, including courts, politics, labor, government and organized crime.

Glenn Cook, the Review-Journal's executive editor, said earlier this month that German had not communicated any concerns about his personal safety or any threats made against him to anyone in the newspaper's leadership.

He said in a statement: 'The Review-Journal family is devastated to lose Jeff.

In the jailhouse interview, he did discuss the domestic violence case - that was dismissed - that took place in March 2020, when his wife (pictured together) called the cops and said her husband was 'going crazy.' He claimed he had an alcohol issue and has been sober since and has a better relationship with his wife now

The public official admitted he has been in contact with his wife and children since been incarcerated

'He was the gold standard of the news business. It's hard to imagine what Las Vegas would be like today without his many years of shining a bright light on dark places.'

German joined the Review-Journal in 2010 after more than two decades at the Las Vegas Sun, where he was a columnist and reporter who covered corruption and organized crime.

He was known for his stories about government malfeasance and political scandals and coverage of the 2017 mass shooting at a Las Vegas music festival that killed 60 people and wounded more than 400 others.

German held a master's degree from Marquette University and was the author of the 2001 true-crime book 'Murder in Sin City: The Death of a Las Vegas Casino Boss,' the story of the death of Ted Binion, heir to the Horseshoe Club fortune.

Cathy Scott, a former coworker, noted how she and German broke the story of the killing of Las Vegas mafia associate Herbert 'Fat Herbie' Blitzstein in 1997 in Las Vegas.

German (pictured) spent most of his career in Sin City and joined the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2010

German was the author of the 2001 true-crime book 'Murder in Sin City: The Death of a Las Vegas Casino Boss,' the story of the death of Ted Binion, heir to the Horseshoe Club fortune

German covered a lot of organized crime stories, including hosting a season of the Review-Journal's true crime podcast, 'Mobbed Up: The Fight for Vegas.'

The podcast was described as being about how 'mafia crime families wielded hidden control over more than a third of the Strips casinos, and federal and state agents were waking up to the enormous task of pushing them out.'

He also broke stories about government corruption, political candidates having inappropriate campaign finances and told stories of the rise and fall of the mob in Las Vegas.
Tucker Carlson on Friday night mocked the residents of Martha's Vineyard for their response to the arrival of 50 Venezuelan migrants, and pointed out that the $43,000 raised in a GoFundMe was not even going directly to those affected.

The migrants were flown to the holiday island from Texas on Wednesday, on flights chartered by Florida's governor Ron DeSantis. On Friday morning, the 50 left Martha's Vineyard, bound for a Cape Cod air base which was better equipped to house them.

Carlson laughed at the residents for what he saw as hysteria over the newcomers, and noted that their donations to help were not being used to help the immediate situation.

'It's one of the richest places in the United States and it has more available beds than any other place probably in North America right now, but it's just they can't swing it - but you can do your part by donating to the fund, and by donating the fund, they'll help the migrants,' Carlson said.

'Well, a lot of people believed it. The fund raised $40,000 - but here's the best part. You're going to love this part.

'How much of that money is going to the migrants? Oh, none. None.

'An update on the fundraising page reveals that the funds will instead go toward, ''building up a reserve to assist situations like this in the future, rather than directly helping this group of migrants in their situation.'''

Tucker Carlson on Friday night discussed a GoFundMe set up to help the 50 Venezuelan migrants who were flown to Martha's Vineyard

Venezuelan migrants are seen on Friday leaving Martha's Vineyard, being transferred to Cape Cod

The 50 Venezuelans were flown from Texas to Martha's Vineyard on Wednesday, on a plane chartered by Ron DeSantis. The migrants are seen on Friday leaving the island

A GoFundMe was set up to help the new arrivals

He added: 'In other words, Martha's Vineyard is building itself an endowment just like Harvard. Amazing! An endowment for Martha's Vineyard!

'Not to help anyone, but because, why wouldn't Martha's Vineyard want an endowment?'

The GoFundMe that Carlson referenced was entitled: 'Urgent plea to help Martha's Vineyard migrants'.

The organizer, Sarah Goulet - a New York-based communications and PR executive - wrote on the page: 'Officials and volunteers on the island have sprung into action to provide emergency services, shelter, food, and clothing.

'Martha's Vineyard is a community of open-hearted individuals that view these migrants as people, not political pawns.

Sarah Goulet, a communications professional, organized the GoFundMe

'However, the island is a resort community with only 20,000 year-round residents, and it already faces a shortage of affordable housing and off-season jobs.

'Please join me in donating to the Martha's Vineyard Community Foundation, which can quickly distribute funds to the neediest organizations.'

The Community Foundation describes itself as 'a $16-million organization that works closely with those on the front lines caring for Islanders, their families and this special land and waters.'

Their Instagram page notes grants in 2021 were given to a women's shelter, a church, and a facility for the elderly.

'We support the organizations that have housed, fed, and provided assistance to them, replenishing their supplies to be able to assist again if the need should arise,' the Fund stated on Instagram on Friday.

They said they also helped the settled migrant community, which arrived before the Venezuelans, through their Emergency Response Fund.

Carlson, who earlier this year suggested shipping migrants to places which criticized Republican policies on border control, said that the Martha's Vineyard residents were hypocrites for having 'migrants welcome' signs on their lawns, but not welcoming the migrants into their homes.

'Two nights ago, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida generously sent a planeload of 50 illegal aliens from Venezuela to the Vineyard, which is a small, famously affluent island off the coast of Massachusetts,' Carlson told his viewers.

'Martha's Vineyard has everything you could ever want in the world except racial diversity.

'The island is whiter than a Swedish bluegrass festival and DeSantis was trying to help.

'Under normal circumstances, the residents of Martha's Vineyard would have no choice but to smile and say 'Thank you, Governor DeSantis.' When government officials send you the blessed gift of diverse immigrants or refugees, you must accept. That's the rule.

'It doesn't matter how disruptive these new people are. It's irrelevant how much they cost to support or how dramatically your quality of life may decline after they arrive.

'It doesn't matter if the crime rate spikes, if your daughters are afraid to go outside, if the schools become unusable, if the hospitals fall apart. Doesn't matter. You never complain. You take it like a man.'

Carlson said the residents of Martha's Vineyard should welcome the new arrivals

DeSantis flew in the two planes on Wednesday without giving any warning, sparking criticism from Democrats - including New York Mayor Eric Adams

He urged other Republican governors to follow DeSantis's lead and send planes full of migrants to the small island, where the Obamas and John Kerry own multimillion-dollar mansions.

He also urged 'sane' governors to charter planes to move the migrants away from their own states.

'Within 24 hours of having immigrants dumped on their shores, the people of Martha's Vineyard have the military move them out,' Carlson said.

'Why is nobody else doing that? True. There's no longer any reason that Republicans shouldn't do that. This is the template.

'In Texas, Arizona, Florida, etc, they should do the exact same thing.'
Newly released video from the US Military revealed that a jet pilot and his student hit a bird when their plane crashed into a Texas neighborhood last year.

The video shows the moment a jet trainer from Kingsville was flying with a student pilot on September 19, 2021, over the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.

As birds fly overhead, one suddenly flies low and gets sucked into the jet, prompting one of the pilots to yell, 'S***,' as he braced for an emergency landing at the runway.

After alarms blare out in the cockpit, however, the pilot yells, 'We're not going to make it! Standby to eject. Pull up! Pull up!'

The video cuts out just before the jet crashes into a group of homes over the nearby Lake Worth neighborhood.

New video from the US military shows that a jet pilot instructor and a student hit a bird when flying over a Texas suburb last September

The jet immediately went down behind residential homes in Lake Worth, Texas

One of the pilots was reported to be in a critical condition after landing on power lines

No civilians were hurt in the crash, and the pilot instructor only received minor injuries after landing in a nearby wooded area.

The student pilot, however, suffered burns after his parachute was caught in power lines after he ejected.

The names of the pilots have not been released publically released.

Video footage posted to Facebook showed the parachute wrapped around the overhead cables.

Debris damaged three Lake Worth homes with the plane being found in one of the backyards.

Wreckage from the aircraft ( above) was found in three of the homes in which residents were evacuated out by Red Cross members

Two pilots, an instructor and a student, were ejected from the aircraft while on a training course that originated from Corpus Christi International Airport

The aircraft was a Navy T-45C Goshawk jet trainer aircraft that was assigned from Training Air Wing 2 at Naval Air Station in Kingsville, according to a statement from Chief of Naval Air Training.

Officials said the pilots were conducting a routine training flight that originated from the Corpus Christi International Airport, about 350 miles south of Lake Worth along the Gulf Coast.

Wreckage from the aircraft was found in three of the homes in which residents were evacuated out by Red Cross members.

Smoke from the crash is seen from the 4000 blocks between Tejas Trail and Dakota Trail

Leftover debris from the aircraft was seen on a residential neighborhood in Lake Worth

Mark Sellers, whose home was the most damaged of the three, said his son and his nine-year-old granddaughter were sitting just inches away from the point of impact.

'Very scary,' Sellers told Fox 4 following the crash. 'We could have lost him and lost my granddaughter.'

The military had cleaned up the damage by October 1 as it began investigating the source of the crash.
A couple who lost their Maltese cross shih-tzu has shared heartwarming footage of the moment they were reunited with their pet five days later.

Elissaundra Augusteyn and Sofia Hernandez had been searching for Miaa after she ran away from the couple while on a walk at The Spit, on the Gold Coast, on Sunday.

The pair made a public appeal to help find their lost pet and even offered a huge $10,000 reward to anyone who found her.

A couple who lost their Maltese cross shih-tzu has shared heartwarming footage of the moment they were reunited with their pet five days later

Elissaundra Augusteyn and Sofia Hernandez had been searching for Miaa after she ran away from the couple while on a walk at The Spit, on the Gold Coast, on Sunday

Ms Augusteyn and Ms Hernandez had organised a search party before the pair found their dog wandering in bushland on Saturday.

A video captured the pair overcome with emotion as Miaa ran into their arms.

'Mi mi,' Ms Augusteyn said. 'Hi baby, come here. Oh my god.'

The pair scream in joy and hug each other while patting their pet dog.

'This is a miracle. This is a miracle,' Ms Augusteyn said.

The video was uploaded to Facebook thanking the local community for their ongoing support.

'MIAA HAS BEEN FOUND MY HEART IS SO FULL OMG I CANT!!! THANKYOU EVERYONE FOR ALL THE SUPPORT,' the caption read.

A video captured the pair overcome with emotion as Miaa ran into their arms

Ms Augusteyn recalled the happy moment the trio were reunited as a family again.

'She was so happy to see me,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'She came running like a sooky little baby.'

The couple had originally offered a $1,000 reward on the day their pet dog went missing but increased it to $10,000.

'We have decided to give up our savings towards a house and a future together,' Ms Augusteyn said after offering the reward.

'There is no home without Miaa. This is the only bit of money we have. We just want our girl back.'
A manhunt is underway for an adult who allegedly sexually assaulted a teenage girl after giving her a lift in his car.

The 16-year-old girl accepted a ride from a man near Harvest Lakes Shopping Centre who then drove her around 800 metres to Harmony Oval in Perth's southern suburbs before allegedly attacking her.

The man was driving a white Holden Commodore sedan and was aged in his early 20s, Western Australian police said in a statement.

The man is 'fair skinned' between 180 and 185cm tall.

A manhunt is underway for an adult who allegedly sexually assaulted a teenage girl after giving her a lift in his car

The 16-year-old girl accepted a ride from a man near Harvest Lakes Shopping Centre who then drove her to Harmony Oval in Atwell before allegedly attacking her (Pictured, Harmony Oval)

The alleged incident happened between 7.30pm and 8.15pm on Thursday.

Police want to speak to anyone who was near Harvest Lakes Shopping Centre or Harmony Oval, Atwell, at the time of the incident.

They also called for the public to supply dashcam footage that might assist their investigation.

'The victim had accepted a lift from a man driving a white Holden Commodore sedan near the Harvest Lakes Shopping Centre,' the police statement said.

'The victim was driven to Harmony Oval, and after the victim and the man exited the vehicle and walked onto the oval the victim was sexually assaulted.'

Sex assault squad detectives have urged anyone who was in the area, or who has footage that could assist their investigation to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report it online at crimestopperswa.com.au

If they have footage they can submit it directly to the official WA police evidence submission portal here.
The new King Charles was given a pen 'just in case' by well-wishers on his walkabout in Cardiff yesterday after his latest ink disasters.

This follows after the King was left furious by a string of ink mishaps during his visit to Northern Ireland earlier this week.

The public clearly caught wind of his frustration after clips of the monarch started circling online showing him visibly upset by the pen ordeal.

A video clip of the handover shows a woman in the crowd hand the pen to the King whilst cheekily smiling at him.

The new King Charles was given a pen 'just in case' by well-wishers on his walkabout in Cardiff yesterday after his latest ink disasters

King Charles looked down at his new pen and laughed following his recent spell of pen mishaps

This follows after the King was left furious by a string of ink mishaps during his visit to Northern Ireland earlier this week

The surrounding crowd then start clapping and laughing at the gift.

King Charles then take the pen gracefully, looks down at it in his hand and starts laughing, clearly amused by the gesture.

The Monarch and the Queen Consort arrived in Wales yesterday in their first visit since the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Royal couple made their way to Llandaff Cathedral to attend a prayer and reflection service for his late mother and Britain's longest serving head of state.

However, the King came prepared with his own pen and was filmed calmly signing the paper in the cathedral before passing his pen and the book to his wife.

The King's decision to carry his own fountain pen comes days after a few drops on ink soured the mood at Hillsborough Castle, Belfast, earlier this week.

King Charles III signing the visitor's book at Llandaff Cathedral days after being left furious by string of ink mishaps. He was accompanied by his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort

The King popped his own pen back in his pocket before walking back down the aisle. They were greeted with cheers and celebrations as part of their UK-wide tour to the four nations

His Majesty appeared flustered by dripping ink as he tried to sign a book towards the end of his visit.

Charles complained about the pen he was using to sign his name, announcing he 'can't bear this bloody thing' as he appeared to furiously rub the ink from his fingers.

The Queen Consort later suggested it was leaking and asked for a replacement, as the King briskly turned on his heels and left the room flanked by aides.

The faulty instrument was swiftly removed and replaced by flustered courtiers before Camilla sat down to sign the book herself from inside the historic residence.

The clip at Hillsborough Castle begins with Charles asking what the date was, as he prepares to sign a visitors book in front of cameras.

Charles complained about the pen he was using to sign his name, pronouncing he 'can't bear this bloody thing' as he appeared to furiously rub the ink from his fingers

The faulty instrument was swiftly removed and replaced by flustered courtiers before Camilla sat down to sign the book herself from inside the historic residence

Venting his frustration as the pen begins to malfunction, the new King exclaims: 'God I hate this [pen]' as he hands it over to the Queen Consort.

He adds: 'I can't bear this thing... every stinking time'.

The incident also came days after another pen mishap when viewers of Charles' historic accession to the throne found themselves distracted when the he furiously gestured to one of his aides to remove a pot of ink.

As he went to sign the historic Proclamation, the King frantically motioned to an aide to move a pen box from his desk, which viewers described as 'far too small' for the huge document and stationery.

Despite the gravity of the moment, viewers could not help but find the apparent difficulty the King had with the pen amusing.

Charles asked a nearby aide to get the box off the table so he could sign the second part of the large document.

The fountain pen set he used to sign the momentous document was a gift from his sons Princes Harry and William.

Some viewers joked the new King 'stole' the pen after spotting him put it in his pocket before taking it out again.
The day began with the last of the ordinary Britons who had queued through the night to pay their respects to the Queen filing out of Westminster Hall.

Then at, 6.30am, the four-day period of lying-in-state came to an end and Her Majesty's coffin was moved later in the morning in a majestic procession to Westminster Abbey.

King Charles III led his four siblings, the Queen's grandsons and other members of his family in walking behind the state gun carriage carrying the Queen that was being pulled by Royal Navy sailors.

The Duke of York - wearing a morning suit after being stripped of his titles - was visibly emotional, signifying the pain of his and his family's crushing grief.

Once at the Abbey, the Queen's state funeral - an event not seen inside that historic church since Winston Churchill's in 1965 - took place in front of her family, closest aides and nearly all of the world's leaders and senior royals.

As the Archbishop of Canterbury hailed the Queen's 'abundant life and loving service', there were more tears, this time from King Charles.

Then came the procession from the Abbey to Wellington Arch, and then on to Windsor Castle. An estimated 2million people had gathered along the route or were watching on big screens.

Crowds threw roses in front of the Queen's coffin and cheered her for the final time as the state hearse drove from West London to Berkshire, with even the Queen's beloved fell pony, Emma, standing by as her coffin was driven past her in Windsor.

Then, once in St George's Chapel, the final televised service took place in front of Her Majesty's family and aides.

In a highly symbolic moment, the Imperial State Crown and the Orb and Sceptre - those potent icons of royal authority - were removed from the Queen's coffin.

Her Majesty's coffin then descended into the royal vault, to the lament of a lone piper that prompted further tears from her eldest son.

Later, in a service that was entirely private, the Queen was laid to rest in the King George VI Memorial Chapel - an annex to St George's - alongside her husband Prince Philip.

So too was she finally reunited with her father King George VI, mother Queen Elizabeth and sister Princess Margaret.

Below, recap MailOnline's liveblog from the historic day:
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The Queen was in 'tremendous form' just a few days before she died and discussing 'her love for her horses right to the very end', according to her trusted bloodstock and racing adviser.

John Warren features in one of the most repeated TV clips of the last week, when the Queen clapped her hands and beamed as her horse Estimate claimed victory in Royal Ascots Gold Cup in 2013  the first time in the races 207-year history that it had been won by a reigning monarch.

Mr Warren said he spent the weekend before the Queen died in Scotland, discussing her horses, as they had done so many times before.

'We sat there for hours over the weekend strategising and making plans going forward', he said.

'And I think the nicest thing for me is to know that she was surrounded by her family members.

'She was in such a healthy state of mind and in tremendous form.

'Its very important to know that she was absolutely, wonderfully switched on.'

Mr Warren said the Queen had seen a lot of the King and Queen Consort, who were also in Scotland, and was enjoying having different groups of family staying at Balmoral.

'She really loved having them right there with her and being able to talk about her horses and her love for her horses right to the very end,' he said.

'I left her on Monday afternoon, the prime ministers were coming in on the Tuesday, she had a winner on the Tuesday.

The Queen chuckles with delight while sat next to Mr Warren after watching her horse Estimate win the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2013

Mr Warren and the Queen - pictured in 2018 at the Derby Festival - spent hours discussing horses and plans for the future days before the Monarch died at Balmoral

Mr Warren said the Queen 'was absolutely, wonderfully switched on' during their time together on the weekend before her death

'On the Tuesday evening she was in really good form, delighted she had had a winner, and talked about the prime ministers coming in and out, and I can hardly believe it possible that within less than 48 hours the Queen had died.'

He said: 'Shocking as that was, it is wonderful to know that she led a long and full life, and dutiful to the very end.

'Perhaps the racing community contributed to giving her some pleasure along the way.'

Mr Warren recalled that day at Ascot in 2013, saying her display of emotion was the culmination of a seven-year journey with Estimate, from before her birth.

'The footage you can see doesnt actually show you the final two furlongs,' he said.

'This was a really hard-fought battle. It just seemed like forever and ever and ever before it was going to happen. Was it going to happen? Wasnt it going to happen?

'And, as the filly passed the post, the elation from the Queen was absolutely wonderful.

'She had a really huge tear in her eye, in both her eyes.

'I could see she was brimming with emotion, which was a wonderful thing.'

Mr Warren said: 'I think it was everything that shed put into breeding horses and racing horses  achieving an ambition which is no different to any parent wanting their child to win at the Olympics.

'This felt the same elation as that.'

Mr Warren recalled how the Queen 'practically galloped' from the Royal Box to the unsaddling enclosure, despite being in her 80s, 'carried' by the Ascot crowd.

'And in typical style of a horsewoman, although everyone was giving the Queen their congratulations, the Queen was absolutely steadfast to get to Estimate herself and give her a wonderful and well deserved pat,' he said.

Mr Warren - pictured with horse Hostess at his Berkshire property - was an adviser to the Queen for more than 13 years. He said the Queen was a regular visitor to his home for 60 years, which she used as a base for visiting her horses.

Pictured: The Queen at Balmoral waiting to meet new Prime Minister Liz Truss

'That was a hugely touching thing to witness, the Queen just focusing purely on this creature that had delivered for her. That was remarkable.'

Mr Warren said Estimates victory was one of the real highlights of the Queens long association with horseracing, along with her victory with Highclere, in the Prix de Diane, at Chantilly, in 1974.

He said: 'The Queen has definitely been excited and emotionally charged about having some other winners  particularly at Ascot, where the eyes are on  but I think this one was one that was so satisfying because it is such an iconic race.'

But he said her interest in racing was as much about planning the journey of a horse over years as it was winning with legendary mounts.

Mr Warren pictured with his wife Carolyn. Together the couple own and run Highclere Stud near Newbury, Berkshire

'Shocking as that was, it is wonderful to know that she led a long and full life, and dutiful to the very end,' said Mr Warren

'What I found totally remarkable about the Queen was her ability to get so much pleasure out of any horse, no matter what level that horse was able to achieve,' he said.

'If we had done our best, if we were able to get the equivalent of a D student a C grade with best endeavour, that itself was tremendous.'

He said: 'The horse had the last word and thats what was fascinating for the Queen.'

Mr Warren said she knew everybody in the racing industry, not only trainers, owners, stable staff and jockeys but also their families.

He said: 'Were all such fanatics and the Queen was in the club.'

He added: 'With a wonderful foal being born in a morning, she would get news of that and it would enable her to have a bit of a spring in her step amongst all the things she had to do.'

The Queen made Mr Warren a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) earlier this year, granted to people who have served the monarch in a personal way.

He is married to Lady Carolyn Warren, daughter of the Queens previous racing adviser, the 7th Earl of Carnarvon.

Together the couple own and run Highclere Stud near Newbury, Berkshire. Lady Carolyns brother is the current Lord Carnarvon, whose ancestral home is Highclere Castle, the setting for Downton Abbey.

Mr Warren has been an adviser to the Queen for more than 13 years.

He said the Queen was a regular visitor to his home for 60 years, which she used as a base for visiting her horses.

He said: 'I was just fortunate and incredibly lucky to be a part of being so close to her through our shared fascination.'
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese touched down and went to Green Park to lay a wreath on Sunday

Some embassies have requested exemptions - for security reasons - to have their leaders travel separately

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American President Joe Biden has left the White House and will arrive in London this evening alongside his wife Jill ahead of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Monday.

The couple boarded the Air Force One from Washington on Saturday afternoon, just hours after Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were also seen taking a first class flight into London.

The emperor and empress will swap their luxury digs for a shuttle bus alongside other world dignitaries to get to the Queen's funeral on Monday. Meanwhile, the Biden's are understood to have been granted an exemption to travel in the presidential armoured vehicle dubbed 'The Beast' while in the capital.

Mr Biden was due to hold talks with the UK's new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, but it has since been confirmed the pair will not meet in an official capacity prior to Her Majesty's funeral.

Downing Street said a 'full bilateral meeting' will take place at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday instead. The Prime Minister is now expected to hold a call with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, on Saturday evening.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese and prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, are among some of the world leaders who have already arrived in London and visited Lancaster House on Saturday to sign a book of condolences for the royal family.

Mr Albanese said in a statement to Twitter afterwards: 'Today Jodie and I signed the condolence book at Lancaster House. In this time of great grief, we are thankful to be here paying our respects to the Queen for her services to duty, faith, family and the Commonwealth.'

The life of the late Queen will be celebrated in the 'reception of the century' this weekend before she's officially laid to rest on Monday surrounded by the who's who of the global elite.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden boarded the Marine One from the White House on Saturday as they prepare to head to London to farewell the Queen

Joe and Jill Biden wore matching navy jackets with their names embossed on the breast as they boarded the aircraft on Saturday to commemorate the U.S. Air Force's 75th Anniversary. Mr Biden was due to hold talks with the UK's new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, but it has since been confirmed the pair will not meet in an official capacity prior to Her Majesty's funeral

The duo are expected to arrive in London this evening ahead of a state reception on Sunday and the funeral on Monday

Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophe Trudeau (left), along with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) sign a book of condolence at Lancaster House in London

King Charles III shakes hands with Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, on Saturday afternoon

The new King is meeting with realm prime ministers who are waiting to pay their respects, offer their condolences and wish him well ahead of formal proceedings on Sunday and Monday

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have boarded a luxury first class flight en route to London this morning

Governor-General of Belize Dame Froyla Tzalam also attended Lancaster House to pay her respects

King Charles III also met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday afternoon (pictured)

The men sat for a discussion at Buckingham Palace ahead of an official 500-person reception tomorrow and Her Majesty's funeral on Monday

The emperor's journey to Britain alongside the empress - the first since acceding the throne in 2019 - is considered a sign of respect and highlights the bonds formed between the two royal families during Her Majesty's reign

Traditionally, a Japanese emperor would not attend the funeral of any person other than their own parents due to a deep-rooted cultural belief in which death is considered impure

Traditionally, a Japanese emperor would not attend the funeral of any person other than their own parents due to a deep-rooted cultural belief in which death is considered impure.

His journey to Britain alongside the empress - the first since acceding the throne in 2019 - is considered a sign of respect and highlights the bonds formed between the two royal families during Her Majesty's reign.

Leaked Government documents revealed plans for world leaders to travel en masse in a bus to Westminster Abbey for Monday's service, rather than using private cars.

British and US officials have since played down the prospect of President Biden having to travel on a bus into central London. Emperor Naruhito is expected to be among those travelling to the funeral on the shuttle.

According to Politico, the 62-year-old and other visiting royals will be bussed to the service under strict Foreign Office guidance.

The website reported Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia and the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima would also be put on a shuttle bus.

Some embassies have reportedly made as-yet unsuccessful efforts to request exceptions to the Foreign Office guidance. It's not clear if the Japanese embassy is among them.

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne has also arrived in London and paid his respects by signing the book of condolence

The Australian PM and his partner both signed the book hours after they visited Green Park to lay a wreath in honour of the Queen

David Hurley Governor-General of Australia with his wife Linda Hurley at Lancaster House to sign the book of condolence

Sir Bob Dadae, Governor-General of Papua New Guinea will attend the Queen's funeral on behalf of his nation

Despite the lavish journey to the UK, it's understood the couple are expected to be shuttled to the funeral service on a bus with other dignitaries

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko waves to a special flight carrying Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako

Some embassies have reportedly filed urgent requests to amend the transport plans for their representatives due to safety concerns

A Number 10 spokeswoman refused to comment on the arrangements for individual dignitaries but accepted they will 'differ depending on the needs of the different leaders'.

New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern was one of the first world leaders to pay her respects in London on Friday, while the prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina touched down on Thursday afternoon.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has also arrived and brought along with him 10 'everyday' guests who made 'extraordinary contributions to their communities, and who represent Australian culture and values'.

He went straight to London's Green Park early on Sunday to lay a wreath among the thousands of bouquets which have been building throughout the city since her death was announced on the evening of September 8.

'Paying our respects to Her Majesty,' Mr Albanese said as he shared a photo at Green Park alongside his partner Jodie Haydon. 'May she rest in eternal peace.'

Inside the Japanese government's new plush Boeing: An onboard conference room for government officials and aides to Imperial Family members

The plane features chairs with workspaces that senior government officials and aides to Imperial Family members can use during flights

Members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster

Later on Saturday, he met with Prime Minister Truss, who has also held talks with New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern and UAE president and ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Biden congratulated Liz Truss on becoming Prime Minister on September 6.

He said he looked forward to deepening the 'special relationship' between the US and the UK, as Truss became leader of the Conservative Party.

'Congratulations to Prime Minister Liz Truss. I look forward to deepening the special relationship between our countries and working in close cooperation on global challenges, including continued support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression,' Biden wrote on Twitter.

Truss is said to be less keen on the 'special relationship' with the US than some of her predecessors. In the past she has called it 'special, but not exclusive.'

Biden and Truss have met before. She, in her role of foreign secretary, accompanied then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson on his visit to the White House last September.

She and Biden also talked when he attended the COP26 conference in Scotland last October.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese also revealed on Sunday that he'd arrived and went straight to London's Green Park early on Sunday to lay a wreath among the thousands of bouquets (pictured with his partner, Jodie Haydon)

President Biden and First Lady Jill will be able to take the armored Beast to the Queen's funeral next week while other world leaders will be asked to take the shared bus, as is standard protocol

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh arriving at London Stansted airport on Thursday

Jacinda Ardern 'shares the sorrow' of King Charles as she prepares to meet Royal Family and new PM Liz Truss Ms Ardern confirmed she will meet the King, Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Liz Truss before the Queen's funeral, but disclosed minimal details after arriving in the UK, saying she will 'share the sorrow that New Zealand has' with the new monarch. 'I'll simply share the sorrow that New Zealand has and pass on our deepest condolences,' the visiting PM said at a press conference in London. 'At the end of the day, although this is a period of transition for him, he has also lost his beloved mother. For us and New Zealand, that's first and foremost.' Ms Ardern, who said she is planning to attend the Queen's lying in state at Westminster Hall ahead of the funeral, also confirmed she will meet with Liz Truss. The visiting PM said the Queen's death and new King will be the 'focus of conversation' when she and Ms Truss meet. She said she will also likely discuss Ukraine and the UK's free trade agreement with New Zealand. 'I am sure we will also transact our relationship as well, but it is all within the context of the week of mourning that the UK is currently in,' she said. Meeting William will be an opportunity to repay his support of New Zealand in 2019, when the royal flew to the country following the Christchurch massacre, Ms Ardern said. 'The Prince of Wales has always been there for New Zealand in its times of grief,' she said. 'He's been there for us in our times of grief and so this is a time for us to be there for him and his family too.' Advertisement

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials reportedly sent 1,000 handwritten invitations - for both the reception and Monday's funeral - to heads of state to almost every country in the world bar Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Russia, Belarus and Myanmar.

Mr Biden will arrive this evening and French president Emmanuel Macron, German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Italian president Sergio Matarella are among other notable attendees.

The US presidential plane, known as Air Force One, tends to land at Stansted Airport on visits to Britain in order to avoid disruption at Heathrow.

It's highly unlikely the president will be on board the shuttle bus with other dignitaries. Instead, he is expected travel via 'The Beast' while he's in the capital.

The custom-built Cadillac is said to have eight-inch thick doors, run-flat tires, bulletproof glass, its own oxygen supply, a couple of pints of the president's blood and a completely sealed interior to ward off a chemical attack.

It is estimated to weigh between seven and nine tonnes.

Biden's motorcade The Beast crosses a bridge on the way to his summit with Putin in Geneva. It is believed it will make an appearance in London this weekend as the leader of the free world arrives for the Queen's funeral

Floral Tributes are left at Green Park next to Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth II before her funeral preparations get underway

Mourners form a massive queue near Tower Bridge this morning as they wait to see the Queen lying-in-state

Mourners queueing at Tower Bridge in central London this morning as they wait to pay their respects to the Queen

Several hundred dignitaries from around the world will be in London to pay their respects to the Queen, in what is set to be one of the biggest logistical and diplomatic events in the UK in decades.

The official capacity of Westminster Abbey is 2,200 people, and it is expected to be full. The public will be able to watch the service live through television streams.

No 10 declined to describe the conversations with allies as formal bilateral meetings, and instead portrayed them as chats to offer condolences over the Queen's death, during which politics is likely to come up.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'There won't be formal bilaterals in the way we normally recognise them.

'But we will have a significant number of world leaders, heads of state in the country. She will be meeting a small proportion of those over the weekend.

'These will be opportunities to discuss memories of Her Majesty, but in some instances it will be the first time they've met since she became Prime Minister.'

They will join members of the royal family, UK prime ministers past and present and key figures from public life at Westminster Abbey - which can hold about 2,000 people - at 11am on Monday.

Male dignitaries at the funeral will be advised to wear morning dress or dark lounge suits with a black tie, with dark day dresses and hats for female mourners.

National dress may also be worn, while serving military officers can wear ceremonial uniforms without swords.

People wake up after a night spent at a makeshift campsite set up along The Mall as temperatures plunge
The rehearsal comes as the estimated wait time to see Her Majesty's body lying in state went up to 24 hours

The Grenadier Guards will lead the Army's contribution ahead of the Queen's state funeral on Monday

The Royal soldiers were dressed in full uniform as they practiced marching down the high street in Windsor

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Hundreds of busby-wearing guards were seen rehearsing their funeral steps overnight ahead of the Queen's funeral on Monday.

In the early hours of Saturday morning almost 30 Grenadier Guards - one of the most senior regiments in the British Army - were spotted walking in two single-files lines in Windsor in their scarlet uniform and bearskin hats.

Mounted police officers were also pictured in front of the procession followed by members of the Life Guards carrying swords.

A pipe band dressed in tartan and members of the Household Cavalry joined police officers walking down the High Street in London.

Members of the Grenadier Guards march down the High Street in Windsor following an early morning rehearsal for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

The Grenadier Guards will lead the Army's contribution to the state funeral of Her Majesty

The Royal soldiers were spotted over night preparing for their final goodbye to Her Majesty the Queen who died on 8 September

Grenadier Guards are one of the most senior guards and soldiers in the British military

The rehearsal comes after huge crowds of mourners were pictured lining up to see Her Majesty's body lying in state at Westminster Hall

The royal soldiers were dressed in their scarlet uniforms and bearskin hats as they marched down the high street in Windsor.

Members of the Band of the Grenadier Guards were playing and practicing down the high street in Windsor

The Royal Navy were also pictured marching in unison as they prepare for the funeral of Britain's longest serving monarch

Coldstream Guards were found walking down the same road as the Royal Navy and other members of the army

Coldstream Guards (pictured) are infantry soldiers and were formed in 1650, the penultimate year of the English Civil War

The soldiers are the oldest continuously serving regiment and are employed to guard the monarch as well as taking part in ceremonial duties, including the Queen's funeral on Monday

Members of the Life Guards (above) were also spotted making their way along the Long Walk in Windsor during an early morning rehearsal for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, ahead of her funeral on Monday

After the rehearsal Coldstream Guards and members of the Royal Navy were also seen marching down the High Street in Windsor and towards Victoria barracks.

Lt Col Fred Wells, Commander 1st Battalion of the Coldstream Guards, said: 'It's a huge honour. 'There's such a range of emotions that I think we've all felt over the last week, huge sadness that we've lost, in the Coldstream Guards, our Colonel-in-chief, for the armed forces our Commander-in-chief, and for the nation, the Queen.

'But at the same time there's a real sense of excitement that we're taking part in something quite special that for all of us will probably be one of the most momentous parades of our careers and probably one of the most momentous days of our lives.'

One spectator said she set her alarm at 3.15am to watch the rehearsals. Katharine Horsfall said: 'It's been quite a long wait to get to the bit that I really wanted to see which was quite beautiful really, so on the day I think it will be an amazing tribute to the Queen.

'A great send-off with all the pageantry that she so well deserves.' Another, Helen Spencer, said: 'It's very emotional. I think the thump of the drums makes your heart beat kind of in rhythm and that goes right through, it gives you goosebumps. 'Incredibly emotional, but very proud.'

The state hearse will approach the castle through Shaw Farm Gate on Windsor's Albert Road, moving via the Long Walk, Cambridge Gate, Cambridge Drive, George IV Gate, Quadrangle (South and West sides), Engine Court, Norman Arch, Chapel Hill, Parade Ground and Horseshoe Cloister Arch.

Leading the procession and walking ahead of the coffin will be a dismounted detachment of the Household Cavalry Regiment, followed by a mounted division of the Sovereign's Escort, a Massed Pipes and Drums of Scottish and Irish Regiments, the Bands of the Coldstream Guards and the Household Cavalry, officers of the Household Division, the Kings, Heralds and Pursuivants of Arms and members of the Queen's personal staff.

In the centre, the state hearse is to be flanked by the pall bearers and an escort party consisting of two officers and 24 rank and file of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.

A military pipe band make their through the darkness ahead of the Queen's funeral and the nation's final goodbye to its longest-serving monarch

The pipe band were dressed in tartan while wearing white boots as the played the bag pipes in the early hours of the morning

Members of the Grenadier Guards were also practicing their uniform and bearskin hats which date back to the Napoleonic wars

The magnificent procession was pictured from a distance with car headlights beaming on the walkway

Positioned in the front and rear will be The Queen's Company Colour, the Royal Standard of the Regiment of Grenadier Guards, and a Sovereign's Standard of the Household Cavalry.

Behind will be members of the Queen's, the King's and the Prince of Wales's households, followed by further mounted and dismounted detachments of the Household Cavalry. Later in the evening, there will be a private interment service with senior members of the royal family.

The Queen's final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel, an annex to the main chapel - where her mother and father were buried, along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret. The late Duke of Edinburgh's coffin will move from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel to join the Queen's.
The Inner West council in Sydney have now sought commonwealth advice

Comments by the mayor prompted laughter from some and anger from others

A furious row has erupted after a portrait of Queen Elizabeth was insensitively pulled off the wall midway through a council meeting amid wisecracks and laughter.

Sydney's Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne branded the painting 'redundant' as it was removed from the Ashfield council chamber wall by councillor Tim Stephens.

But while some councillors laughed, local independent councillor John Stomolis was infuriated.

'It was highly insensitive and disrespectful especially during this time of mourning,' Mr Stomolis said.

Sydney councillor Tim Stephens (pictured left with the picture) took a portrait of the Queen from the Inner West council's wood-panelled chamber walls

Councillor Stephens picked the portrait off the wall during a break in the council meeting on Tuesday and initially leant it against a wall behind a row of desks in the chamber.

He then took it to the Mayor and general manager for safe keeping.

On footage of the incident, one woman can be heard saying, 'don't disrespect it', sparking laughter from the chamber while councillors returned to their seats.

The council's leaders deliberated on what to do with the portrait following the Queen's passing (pictured), while a woman in the chamber told them to 'be respectful'

As the Mayor and general manager inspected the painting, the same woman's voice can be heard telling them: 'Just respectfully put it on the floor'.

Mayor Darcy Byrne then joked: 'It's redundant now!

'I mean it's not like you're giving away an asset,' he added to more laughter.

The portrait of the late Queen then sat behind the mayor for the rest of the meeting.

In the wake of Tuesday's Inner West Council meeting, independent John Stomolis hit out at Labor councillor Tim Stephens over the removal of the portrait

Councillor Stomolis said he was incensed and had sat wondering whether anyone else was going to say anything.

He hailed the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's show of respect to the occasion despite his own personal republican leanings.

'The PM would want the councillors to have the same level of respect,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

The mayor (wearing blue on the right) joked the portrait was 'redundant' sending laughs around the chamber, but has since sought Commonwealth advice about when to swap it for a portrait of King Charles

Mayor Darcy Byrne (pictured with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) has said his remark was only in response to a question from a colleague that could not be heard from the gallery

Councillor Stephens said he didn't intend any disrespect by taking down the portrait.

'In light of the Queen's passing and the accession of the new King, I thought it appropriate and respectful in a period of official mourning that the Queen's portrait be removed from display in the Council Chamber,' he said.

The mayor added that his remark about the portrait not being an asset was in response to the General Manager's remark that his wife might like to have it.

He is unsure what official protocol is on the removal of the Queen's portrait and his council has sought advice from the Commonwealth which they will adhere to.

The Queen's portrait was reinstated on the wall of the Inner West council chamber following the meeting and remains on the wall there.

Earlier in the meeting, the council had tabled a Condolence Motion for the Queen which was supported by councillor Stephens and the mayor and was only voted against by Greens councillor Marghanita Da Cruz
A statue of the Queen could become a permanent fixture atop the fourth plinth at Trafalgar Square as MPs and Buckingham Palace are set to discuss how to memorialise the late monarch's historic 70-year reign.

There is currently just one full-size statue of Her Majesty in the whole of the UK, which was erected in Windsor Great Park in 2002 to mark the Golden Jubilee.

But any plans for a new tribute will not be revealed until after the official mourning period, with no such discussions taking place ahead of her state funeral on Monday.

'This is something that we do want to consider very carefully in the fullness of time,' a government source told the Times.

Other options being considered include renaming streets, parks, racecourses and even London's Heathrow - the airport where she returned to Britain from Kenya as Queen Elizabeth II following the death of her father George VI in 1952.

But the most likely memorial will be at Trafalgar Square, where the fourth plinth has been deliberately kept vacant for the past 20 years.

There is currently just one full-size statue of Her Majesty in the whole of the UK, which was erected at Windsor Great Park in 2002 to mark the Golden Jubilee

Since 1998, the plinth has seen a succession of often bizarre and quirky art installations - including an enormous ice cream with a fly on it (pictured)

Any plans for a new tribute will not be revealed until after the official mourning period, with no such discussions taking place ahead of her state funeral on Monday (Pictured: Fourth Plinth sculpture by British artist David Shrigley, entitled 'Really Good')

Since 1998, the plinth has seen a succession of often bizarre and quirky art installations - including an enormous ice cream with a fly on it and a huge thumbs up made out of bronze.

But it will likely feature a more permanent figure in the near future, as Ken Livingstone, the former mayor of London, said in 2013: 'The understanding is that the fourth plinth is being reserved for Queen Elizabeth II.'

The plinth is a large block made out of slabs of stone and was originally intended to hold an equestrian statue of William IV, who died in 1837, but it remained bare due to insufficient funds.

Its fate was debated for more than 150 years before it began commissioning art pieces in 1998, but now many see it as the ideal spot for a statue of the Queen on horseback - similar to the one erected in Windsor 20 years ago.

A spokesman for the Greater London Authority, which is responsible for the fourth plinth, said: 'A Queen Elizabeth II statue at a suitable location in London is a matter for His Majesty the King and the royal family to consider.

'The GLA stands ready to support them in their wishes.'

Trafalgar Square has a plinth in each of its four corners, with the two southern blocks carrying sculptures of Henry Havelock and Charles James Napier - both British Army Major Generals who waged campaigns in India in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Its two northern plinths are larger and designed for equestrian statues, with one currently featuring a bronze statue of George IV - who died in 1828 - riding bareback while dressed in ancient Roman attire.

But some MPs fear the location of the vacant fourth plinth is 'not sufficiently prominent', suggesting any memorial or statue of the Queen be erected in Parliament Square, outside the Palace of Westminster.

The fourth plinth's fate was debated for more than 150 years before it began commissioning art pieces in 1998, but now many see it as the ideal spot for a statue of the Queen on horseback - similar to the one erected in Windsor 20 years ago (pictured)

It comes amid plans to partly pedestrianise the square, meaning any ode to the late head of state could become its centerpiece.

'Given Her Majesty was so sensitive to the constitution and the monarch's relationship with parliament, a statute there would be a fitting tribute,' David Jones, the Conservative MP for Clwyd West, told the Times.

'It needs to be sufficiently prominent and in my view being one of four statues in Trafalgar Square is not good enough. You can't have her statue at a lower level than Lord Nelson.'

Mr Jones suggested Queen Elizabeth II's reign could be remembered in 'a variety of ways.'
This year's flu season could be bigger and worse as it combines with Covid to create a dangerous 'twindemic', doctors have warned.

There are now concerns that the simultaneous onslaught of flu and Covid could overload the NHS, which is already trying to cope with record backlogs.

Figures from the Southern Hemisphere, which usually foretell what will happen in the UK, indicate a flu surge two months earlier than normal, mostly driven by under-30s.

It suggests that a spike in flu hospital admissions in Britain could begin as early as October, also including many children.

This year's flu season could be bigger and worse as it combines with Covid to create a dangerous 'twindemic', doctors have warned

One estimate suggests that the flu season could be twice as large as normal.

Sir Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases at Oxford University, told the Mirror: 'It could come earlier and bigger, then you have a 'twindemic' with Covid-19 and that could put real pressure on the NHS.'

In a typical flu season there are between 15,000 and 30,000 hospitalisations due to the virus.

Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at Reading University, also said: 'We've never had a [flu and Covid] dual outbreak so I'm concerned this UK season could be particularly bad.

'Catching flu and Covid together is particularly dangerous.

'We have the NHS under huge pressure as it catches up [from the pandemic] so you have a problem there.'

The health service waiting list has hit a record 6.8 million in England, with A&Es often full and ambulances frequently queueing outside with patients they cannot unload

In a typical flu season there are between 15,000 and 30,000 hospitalisations due to the virus

The health service waiting list has hit a record 6.8 million in England, with A&Es often full and ambulances frequently queueing outside with patients they cannot unload.

This also comes as covid may be on the brink of flaring up again, leading experts claimed amid signs that the virus has already bounced back in parts of England.

Official figures released yesterday showed the nation's outbreak is smaller than it has been for nearly a year, with just 705,000 people in England thought to be infected  roughly one in every 75.

It marked a 9 per cent drop on the Office for National Statistics' previous weekly estimate.

However, while cases have been plunging nation-wide since mid-July, scientists predict they will inevitably spike again over the coming weeks as people spend more time indoors, pupils return to classrooms and students head back to uni.

Covid infections have already started to rise again, up 20 per cent from two weeks ago, with one in 42 people currently having the virus, latest figures suggest.

Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Monday (September 19) and ceremonial events held over the last week to mark her passing sparked suggestions that the massive crowds could fuel the spread of the virus.

However, Professor Hunter said he does not believe the events will 'play much of a role' in rising rates.

Following the Platinum Jubilee in June, 'although cases went up, they went up too soon to be due to the Jubilee and it was probably more to do with the school holidays and people going overseas, rather than mass gatherings', he told MailOnline.

The Women's Euros, considered another source of mass gathering, had barely 'any real impact' on rates either, he added.

Weekly estimates published by the ONS, which are closely watched by the Government, are considered the most accurate way of tracking the shape of the UK's outbreak.

Unlike the toll of reported infections, which has been wildly inaccurate since the mass testing scheme was wound down in April, it doesn't rely on Britons testing themselves and reporting the result.

Cases also fell in Wales (28,200, down 11 per cent) and Northern Ireland (33,700, down 12 per cent), although the ONS weren't entirely confident in the overall trend.

However, in Scotland, prevalence rose to 113,500  a 9 per cent increase on the previous week.

The figures  reflecting the week ending September 5  are based on swabs from a representative sample which includes thousands of people.

When broken down by region, it showed that cases were rising in South West and Yorkshire (prevalence of 1.5 per cent) and The Humber (1.3 per cent).

Separate NHS England statistics released two days ago also show a sharp increase in the average number of Covid hospital admissions in the South West, compared to the previous week.

Between September 5 and September 12, the regions admissions rose by almost a fifth (18.9 per cent) from an average of 43 per day to 52.

But, in total, an average of 519 Covid-infected people were admitted to hospitals with the virus in England in the week to September 12  eight times lower than levels seen at the peak. Not all of these patients are necessarily ill with the virus.
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Royal fans wrapped up in sleeping bags and jumpers as they camped out on The Mall overnight amid plunging temperatures to bag their spot outside Buckingham Palace ahead of the Queen's state funeral - while thousands more queue to see the late monarch lying-in-state.

Palace officials yesterday extended the route of the Queen's final journey from Westminster Abbey on Monday - the site of her funeral between 11am and 12pm - to Windsor Castle, her final resting place, to enable more people to bid her farewell.

First the Queen's coffin will be borne by an extraordinary procession of the State Gun Carriage through London to Wellington Arch, where it will be transferred to the State Hearse at 1pm. Other members of the Royal Family will then travel along the M4 to Windsor, where a second ceremony will be held at St George's Chapel.

But if the former monarch had been driven via the motorway, mourners wanting to say their goodbyes would have been unable to line the route.

The Daily Mail's Robert Hardman was among those saying earlier this week that the post-funeral route should be extended so more Britons could say farewell. Now the palace has disclosed the route. From Wellington Arch, it will go along the south side of Hyde Park via South Carriage Drive before turning down Queens Gate, and then along Cromwell Road.

The cortege will follow the A4 through west London, going along Talgarth Road via the Hammersmith Flyover, and along the Great West Road.

Just before Heathrow, the hearse will switch to the A30 Great South West Road, and travel around the south side of the airport.

It will process along London Road, still the A30, and Staines Road, before crossing the M25 to Windsor Road (the A308) for the final leg to Windsor along a countryside stretch of the River Thames. The route will take the Queen's coffin through 25 miles of London streets and villages in Surrey and Berkshire. Last night a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'The route to Windsor is planned with the public in mind.'

People wake up after a night spent at a makeshift campsite set up along The Mall

People have been camping on The Mall ahead of the funeral of the Queen

A person sits at a makeshift campsite set up along The Mall

People stop to take pictures along The Mall this morning ahead of the Queen's funeral on Monday

A person sleeps at a makeshift campsite set up along The Mall

A person sleeps at a makeshift campsite set up along The Mall

People wake up after a night spent at a makeshift campsite set up along The Mall

People wake up after a night spent at a makeshift campsite set up along The Mall

A Union Flag pillow inside a tent at a makeshift campsite set up along The Mall

The route of the Queen's final journey has been announced and her funeral cortege will use A-roads rather than motorways so as many people a possible can see her coffin

The guard is changed as members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall

Members of the Armed Forces return to Victoria Barracks following a full ceremonial rehearsal of Queen Elizabeth II's committal in the early hours of this morning in Windsor

A member of the Coldstream Guards carries his bearskin on the end of his rifle at Victoria Barracks

List of road closures and transport warnings ahead of the Queen's funeral WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL The following roads around Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament are all set to be shut until at least the start of next Tuesday: Birdcage Walk

Buckingham Gate

Constitution Hill

Horse Guards Avenue

Horse Guards Road

Marlborough Road

Northumberland Avenue

The Mall

Victoria Embankment

Victoria Street

Westminster Bridge

Whitehall ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA The following roads will be closed from 6am until later in the day when police deem it safe for them to reopen: Cromwell Road

Queen's Gate

Most other major roads

All the bridges TRANSPORT FOR LONDON The following stations are expected to be extremely busy and could be closed or made exit-only: Charing Cross

Embankment

Green Park

Hyde Park Corner

Lancaster Gate

Marble Arch

St James's Park

Victoria

Waterloo

Westminster The Elizabeth line will run a special Sunday service on the Central section between Paddington and Abbey Wood. The East and West sections will run as normal. Some London bus routes in the Westminster area will be diverted or will stop short of their destination and may be running a reduced service due to road closures. Advertisement

The news confirms suggestions that the Queen's coffin would not travel on the M4, which would have been the quickest route, giving thousands more Britons the chance to pay their last respects as her coffin passes.

Travelling along A-roads west out of London to Berkshire means it will be easier for mourners to line up along the road.

Former Tory Cabinet minister David Jones, who called for an extended post-funeral route, had said last night: 'I think it's very important that as many people as possible have the opportunity to pay their last respects while in sight of the coffin. So it's sensible that it's not going all the way along the motorway, as people would not be able to do that there.

After the funeral finishes at around midday next Monday, the Queen's children will walk behind her the carriage carrying her coffin to Wellington Arch.

Large screens will be set up in Hyde Park to allow people to watch the service. Once in Windsor, the hearse will arrive at the Long Walk at 3.15pm.

Earlier this week, the Mail's Robert Hardman outlined the case for extending the post-funeral route so more Britons could say farewell. The funeral at Westminster Abbey will finish around midday next Monday.

Before her coffin is put into the state hearse, Her Majesty's coffin will be carried on a 123-year-old gun carriage towed by 98 Royal Navy sailors in a tradition dating back to the funeral of Queen Victoria.

The sailors, known as the Sovereign's Guard, will pull on ropes attached to the carriage's front wheels, drawing the late monarch forward.

The tradition of the carriage being pulled by sailors stretches back to when the day of Victoria's funeral in 1901.

Her coffin was being carried through the streets of Windsor by a team of horses but the animals panicked and reared up, threatening to topple the coffin off the carriage.

Captain Prince Louis of Battenberg - the future First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy - intervened and suggested to the new monarch, Edward VII, that the sailors should step in.

Once this was agreed, the horses were unharnessed and improvised ropes were attached to the gun carriage, which weighs 2.5 tonnes (3,000kg), and the team of sailors was brought in to ensure the coffin was carried safely for the rest of the route.

Only nine years later, at the funeral of Edward VII, the new routine became enshrined as a tradition which has been followed at all state funerals since.

The same State Gun Carriage has since been used at the funerals of King George V in 1936, King George VI in 1952, Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 and Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was murdered by the IRA in 1979.

The Committal Service at St George's Chapel will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor and feature a congregation of the late monarch's family and friends and mourners from her household past and present, including her personal staff from across her private estates.

At the end of the final hymn, the King will place the Grenadier Guards' Queen's Company Colour - the royal standard of the regiment - on the coffin.

Baron Parker, the Lord Chamberlain and the most senior official in the late Queen's royal household, will 'break' his Wand of Office and place it on the Coffin.

As the coffin is lowered into the royal vault the Garter King of Arms will pronounce the styles and titles of the Queen and the Sovereign's Piper will play a lament and walk slowly away so the music fades.

In the evening, a private burial service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, attended by Charles and members of the royal family.

Large parts of Central London will be closed for the Queen's funeral, with up to one million people expected to descend on the capital.

After being taken by gun carriage from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, the State Hearse will carry the Queen's coffin west along the south edge of Hyde Park in central London, before passing through Queens Gate and heading down Cromwell Road. It will then head down Talgarth Road via the Hammersmith Flyover, Great West Road (A4) and Great South West Road (A30). It will continue on the A30 and will then take the A308 to make the final part of the journey to Shaw Farm Gate outside Windsor Castle, where it will be met by the procession that will take it up the Long Walk to St George's Chapel

Members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall

Members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall

The Queen's Colour Squadron, RAF, stand by as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is taken away from RAF Northolt

Queen's lying in state: What you need to know The Queen is lying in state in London ahead of her funeral. Here is some of the information mourners need to know. - What exactly is meant by the term 'lying in state'? Lying in state is usually reserved for sovereigns, current or past queen consorts, and sometimes former prime ministers. During the formal occasion, the closed coffin is placed on view, as thousands of people queue to file past and pay their respects. The coffin will be adorned with the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre. - When and where will the Queen lie in state? The late monarch's lying in state in Westminster Hall opened to the public at 5pm yesterday and it will be open 24 hours a day until it closes at 6.30am on Monday, September 19 - the day of the Queen's funeral. - Where is Westminster Hall? Westminster Hall, which dates back to 1099, is in the Palace of Westminster and is the oldest building on the parliamentary estate. It forms part of the Westminster Unesco World Heritage Site and the UK Parliament website refers to its 'great size', the 'magnificence' of its roof, and its central role in British history. The building has been the site of key events, such as the trial of Charles I, coronation banquets, and addresses by world leaders. - Is there a big queue? Yes. Government guidance says there will be a queue which is expected to be very long, predicted to be in the tens of thousands. As it stands the queue is about 14 hours long. People will need to stand for 'many hours, possibly overnight', with very little opportunity to sit down as the queue will be continuously moving. People are not allowed to camp and a wristband system is being used to manage the queue, with those waiting in line given a coloured and numbered one, specific to each person, allowing them to leave for a short period. 'Your wristband also allows you to leave the queue for a short period to use a toilet or get refreshments, then return to your place in the queue,' according to the official guidance. - What is the queue route? Members of the public can join the line on the Albert Embankment, which runs behind the London Eye onto the Southbank before following the river past landmarks such as the National Theatre, the Tate Modern and HMS Belfast, reaching 'maximum capacity' at Southwark Park. - Is there assistance for people who cannot queue for long periods of time? The main queue has step-free access with a separate accessible route also planned to run from Tate Britain where timed entry slots will be issued for a queue going along Millbank to the Palace of Westminster. Guide dogs will be allowed inside Westminster Hall, with sign language interpreters also on hand. Venues including the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre and Shakespeare's Globe will open for longer hours to accommodate those queuing. The British Film Institute on the Southbank will do the same while providing an outdoor screen with archive footage of the Queen. Advertisement

Roads around Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament are all set to be shut until at least the start of next Tuesday - including Whitehall, Birdcage Walk, The Mall, Constitution Hill, Northumberland Avenue, Horse Guards Avenue, Horse Guards Road, Victoria Street, Buckingham Gate, Marlborough Road and Victoria Embankment.

Westminster Bridge will also remain closed. While pedestrians and cyclists are set to be allowed to move through most of the areas, the closures will impact public transport - and the council said bicycles may be removed.

The council also warned pedestrian access to some areas will be affected as it tries to 'minimise the impact on residents, businesses and local communities'. It added that it was allowing resident permit holders of affected zones A, D and G to park in resident bays in other zones across Westminster until 8.30am next Wednesday.

There will be a significant impact on roads in Kensington and Chelsea in West London - with the local authority there warning that roads from Kensington High Street south will not be accessible on the day of the funeral.

Queen's Gate and Cromwell Road - as well as most other major roads across the borough and all the bridges - will be closed on Monday from 6am until later in the day when police decide it is safe for them to reopen.

The local authority said there will be 'significant traffic' on Monday and told residents they will have 'restricted access which will make it very difficult to move around the borough and get out of the borough'.

A ring of steel will surround Westminster Abbey for the Queen's funeral in the biggest security operation in Scotland Yard's near-200 year history.

At least 10,000 police officers including 2,000 from around the UK will be guarding central London and the Queen's 23 mile route to Windsor Castle on Monday. Many roads and bridges will be shut to traffic and 23-miles of barriers put up to control crowds and keep key areas empty or secure.

The Met's DAC Stuart Cundy, the man in charge of the operation in the capital, said the force would use 'all tools and tactics available' to protect the Queen's coffin, the Royal Family, hundreds of VIPs and world leaders and the 1million people expected to head to the capital to mourn.

The senior officer told reporters the 'hugely complex' policing operation is the biggest in the force's history, surpassing the London 2012 Olympics which saw up to 10,000 police officers on duty per day.

Rank-and-file will line the streets supported by armed officers on the ground and snipers on rooftops. Helicopters and CCTV will help commanders watch crowds from the sky.

Mr Cundy said: 'This will be the largest single policing event that the Met Police has ever undertaken. As a single event this is larger than the 2012 Olympics, it is larger than the Platinum Jubilee weekend. The range of officers, police staff and all those supporting the operation is truly immense.'

He added that 34 people have been arrested as part of the policing operation in the lead up to the Queen's funeral. The senior officer called the number recorded by Friday morning 'relatively few', and said none were for protesting.

Drones are known to be used in major operations while facial recognition software has been used in London. DAC Cundy declined to rule out using them, citing operational reasons, but added they would use 'all tactics and tools' they needed to protect the capital.

He said that he wanted the crowds to keep an eye out for drones because there is a no-fly zone over the funeral and London procession.

Motorbike escort riders, the Met's horse-mounted branch, dog teams and the marine unit will be in place. The force will also use more than 22 miles of barriers in central London alone to control crowds and keep key areas secure.

It came as Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described the policing operation for the funeral as 'enormous', adding that his officers are being supported by 'pretty much every force across the country' who are all 'relishing the opportunity'.

After the stabbing of two police officers in the West End this morning, DAC Cundy said that while it was not related to terrorism or the Queen's death - it reinforced that the Met must be prepared for a major incident such as a terror attack, a crowd crush or protesters disrupting the event.

Members of the public build their tents in front Westminster Hall and Big Ben

Members of the public build their tents in front Westminster Hall and Big Ben

The Metropolitan Police released this graphic showing road closures yesterday but these are set to widen by next Monday

There is expected to be a significant impact on roads in Kensington and Chelsea in West London next Monday - with the local authority there warning that roads from Kensington High Street south will not be accessible on the day of the funeral

Roads around Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament are all set to be shut until at least the start of next Tuesday - including Whitehall, Birdcage Walk, The Mall, Constitution Hill, Northumberland Avenue and Marlborough Road

Police in central London as part of what Scotland Yard says is the biggest operation in their history

Mounted police, pictured on The Mall, are one of the specialist units that will protect the public and royals

More than 22 miles of roads in London will be guarded by the police on the day of the funeral

He said: 'Who knows what might occur over the coming days. If anyone sees anything, hears anything, or thinks that something is out of the ordinary please speak to one of the hundreds if not thousands of officers that they'll see so we can respond accordingly'.

Anyone coming to Windsor to see the Queen's coffin arrive on Monday afternoon will be subject to searches and scanning through weapons arches before they arrive at the castle.

He said that there had been 34 arrests in London linked to the Queen's death and events  but DAC Cundy insisted none were protesters.

During the 2012 Olympic Games in London up to 10,000 police officers were on duty per day.

Stuart Cundy said that, following the death of the Queen, in mutual aid alone - officers who are drafted in from outside forces to help - there will be 20,000 officer shifts throughout the week and 2,000 officers in a single day at the peak.

It will also be the largest global protection operation that the force has dealt with, as hundreds of VIPs are expected to attend the funeral on Monday.
Beleaguered Russian forces still reeling from Ukraine's devastating offensive may not have 'sufficient reserves or adequate morale' to withstand another concerted assault in eastern parts of Ukraine, according to defence experts.

British defence intelligence analysts believe Moscow has managed to establish a new defensive line between the Oskil River and the town of Svatove near the border between the Kharkiv and Luhansk regions.

The zone is viewed as important partly because capturing he Luhansk region, part of the Donbas, was one of Russia's key warm aims.

Any substantial loss of territory here, one of the few main resupply routes from Russia's Belgorod region, would 'unambiguously undermine' Vladimir Putin's strategy for the conflict, the experts say.

It comes following the collapse of Russian lines in the east after a stunning Ukrainian offensive launched on September 6 that took the invaders by surprise, forcing the Kremlin to concede swathes of territory.

A Ukrainian tank rolls through countryside around the key town of Izium that was liberated over a week ago

Russian forces suffered huge losses during Ukraine's lightning assault, which saw Ukraine liberate thousands of square miles and push the frontline back. Pictured: A wrecked armoured vehicle

A destroyed Russian MT-LB armoured personnel carrier burning in a field on the outskirts of Izyum

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it is unclear whether Russia's frontline forces have adequate reserves or morale to withstand another concerted Ukrainian assault in eastern parts of the country. Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen near a destroyed structure in Izium

The front line has shifted eastwards towards the Russian border, between the Oskil River and the town of Svatove near the border between the Kharkiv and occupied Luhansk regions

In its latest update on the situation in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it is unclear whether Russia's frontline forces have adequate reserves or morale to withstand another concerted Ukrainian assault in eastern parts of the country.

Despite the superb performance of Ukrainian armed forces, President Zelensky said it was too early to say the tide of the war was turning, and that the outcome hinged on the swift delivery of foreign weapons to his country.

Putin, in his first comments on Ukraine's counteroffensive, brushed off the advances with a smile but warned that Russia would respond more forcefully if its troops were put under further pressure.

This raises questions of how the Russian dictator could escalate in Ukraine, with some analysts predicting a general mobilisation of Russian citizens, while others fear that he could be contemplating the use of nuclear weapons.

In light of the threat, President Joe Biden warned Putin to avoid using nuclear weapons as his forces are beaten back in Ukraine or face 'consequences.'

In a preview for this Sunday's 60 Minutes, Scott Pelley asked the president what words he would have for his Russian counterpart if he is considering using chemical or tactical nuclear weapons in the Ukraine.

Biden responded: 'Don't. Don't. Don't. You will change the face of war unlike anything since World War II.'

When Pelley pushed the president for America's response should Putin cross the line, Biden declined to comment on a specific plan, only saying that the US would act if nuclear weapons are put into play.

'It'll be consequential,' Biden said. '[Russia] will become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been.

President Joe Biden warned Vladimir Putin that Russia would face 'consequences' if they decided to use nuclear or chemical weapons in Ukraine

'And depending on the extent of what they do will determine what response would occur.'

In the wake of the Russian retreat, Ukrainain forces have liberated dozens of towns and villages, including the strategic hub of Izium, where bodies have been unearthed at a mass burial site.

At least ten torture chambers were discovered in the Kharkiv region, with 500 bodies found in the mass grave.

Ukraine's police chief Igor Klymenko said that two torture centres were found in Balaklya, a town in the northeast of the Kharkiv region.

The head of a pro-Russian administration pushed out by the counteroffensive, Vitaly Ganchev, accused Ukrainians of staging atrocities in the city of Izium.

The accusation follows the Kremlin's usual playbook of claiming it has been framed over atrocities allegedly committed by its own forces.

Klymenko said today that most of the people buried in the mass graves are civilians, with some of the graves marked only with numbers. Other graves bear military symbols, suggesting that soldiers are buried there.

It is not yet clear how the people died, but the Ukrainians say some were likely killed fighting while others may have been caught in shelling and died from their wounds.

United Nations human rights monitors will go to Izium 'to try to establish a bit more about what may have happened', a spokesperson said.

A Ukranian soldier standing atop an abandoned Russian tank near a village on the outskirts of Izium. Putin has hinted he will escalate in Ukraine if his army continues to take a beating

An abandoned Russian tank in vegetation in a village on the outskirts of Izium. President Zelensky said it was too early to say the tide of the war was turning, and that the outcome hinged on the swift delivery of foreign weapons to his country

A destroyed Russian tank and armoured personnel carriers on the outskirts of Izium. Ukrainain forces have liberated dozens of towns and villages and have unearthed a mass burial site

An abandoned Russian armoured personnel carrier near a village on the outskirts of Izium

Zelensky said the dead included both children and adults, civilians and military.

'Tortured, shot, killed by shelling. Even entire families are buried there: Mother, father and daughter,' Mr Zelensky said.

Asked if the mass grave contained mainly civilians or soldiers, Klymenko told a news conference: 'On a preliminary estimate, civilians. Although we have information that there are troops there, we haven't recovered a single one yet.'

Police have begun exhuming the site to gather evidence of potential war crimes and Klymenko said authorities had opened 204 criminal cases probing the atrocities.

Prosecutors have so-far uncovered Russian torture chambers and dug up graves of civilians whose bodies show signs of summary execution and have been mutilated. People have also told stories of being electrocuted during interrogation sessions, of rapes, forced disappearances, arbitrary detention and other horrors.

The head of the prosecutor's office in the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv said that some of the bodies unearthed from the mass burial site showed signs of torture, with some buried with their hands tied behind their backs or ropes around their necks.

Izium resident Sergei Gorodko said that among the hundreds buried in the individual graves were dozens of adults and children killed in a Russian airstrike on an apartment building. He said he pulled some of them out of the rubble 'with my own hands'.

Zelensky hinted at war crimes when he compared Izium to Mariupol and Bucha, two cities where Russia has systematically exterminated civilians in what has been described as crimes against humanity.

'We want the world to know what is really happening and what the Russian occupation has led to. Bucha, Mariupol, now, unfortunately, Izyum,' he said. 'Russia leaves death everywhere. And it must be held accountable.'

The chief police investigator for the region of Kharkiv, Serhii Bolvinov, has said that the bodies will be exhumed and taken away for forensic examination.

It is part of a huge police effort in which the officers are working with prosecutors and other investigators on uncovering atrocities.

Ukraine has uncovered a mass grave site in woodland near the city of Izyum, which was occupied by Russian forces until last week when it was liberated in a lightning counter-attack

The head of the prosecutor's office in the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv said that some of the bodies unearthed from the mass burial site showed signs of torture, with some buried with their hands tied behind their backs or ropes around their necks

Prosecutors spent yesterday sweeping the area for explosives and have now begun exhuming the pits so that bodies can be taken away for forensic examination to see how exactly the hundreds of people died

Investigators say some of the graves appear to be of civilians, some bear military markings, and others are simply marked with numbers (pictured) - with no clear indication who they contain or how those people died

Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko said the recapture of Izium was a 'huge strategic gain', militarily speaking.

'Ukraine is making confident advances in the north-east and the south-east of the country as well,' she told Sky News.

'We are making progress for our sake, but also for the sake of bringing back long-standing peace to the continent.'

Asked what she thought Mr Putin might do next, she said: 'Nobody can be in the mind of that power-crazed leader.'

She added: 'Whatever it is, we have to be prepared for it - we have to be prepared for it as Ukrainians, you have to be prepared for it in the UK.

'And actually, people worldwide need to be prepared that something absolutely atrocious, another crazy move, can happen any time.

'For that, Ukrainians need to have the weapons to protect themselves, the ammunition in the necessary amount to protect themselves.

'And the West needs to be prepared to apply every sanction that there is in the book against Russia.'

Western sanctions are starting to hurt Russia's ability to make advanced weaponry for the war in Ukraine, a top NATO military adviser said, though he said Russia could still manufacture 'a lot of ammunition'.

Meanwhile, Chinese leader Xi Jinping refused to attend dinner with Russian President Vladimir Putin and 11 others heads of states at a regional security summit on Thursday.

It is a snub that showcases Putin's international isolation even among his own so-called allies.

Xi, who is making his first foreign trip since the beginning of the pandemic, is attending a meeting this week of the China- and Russia-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in the Uzbek city of Samarkand.

However, he was absent from group photographs published late on Thursday when the leaders, including Putin and Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan, went for dinner.

An Uzbek government source later confirmed Xi's absence and said the Chinese delegation cited its Covid-19 policy as the reason.

It was the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Putin saw Xi in early February for the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, days before the Russian leader launched the military offensive in Ukraine

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) speaks to fellow leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin(2-R) and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (R) at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Chinese President Xi is nowhere to be found

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, speaks to Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022

The snub comes just hours after Putin and Xi met to hail their strategic ties in defiance of the West amid Russia's widely condemned war in Ukraine and China's claim on self-governed Taiwan.

While Russia has fully backed China's claim to Taiwan, Xi has expressed hesitancy over Putin's military exploits across the border, something which Putin acknowledged during talks yesterday.

'We highly value the balanced position of our Chinese friends when it comes to the Ukraine crisis,' Putin told Xi.

'We understand your questions and concern about this. During today's meeting, we will of course explain our position.'

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also assailed the Kremlin chief, telling Putin this was not the time for war.

Mr Putin sought to assuage India's concerns, telling Mr Modi at the SCO summit that Moscow wants to see a quick end to the fighting. He also alleged that Ukrainian officials have refused to negotiate.

'I know your stand on the conflict in Ukraine and the concerns that you have repeatedly voiced,' the Russian leader told Mr Modi.

'We will do all we can to end that as quickly as possible. Regrettably, the other side, the leadership of Ukraine, has rejected the negotiations process and stated that it wants to achieve its goals by military means, on the battlefield.'
Sex abuse victims of Jeffrey Epstein are reportedly 'frustrated' that his long-term friend Prince Andrew has been 'rehabilitated' in his public appearances following the Queen's death last week.

The Duke of York, 62, has returned to public life during the period of mourning since his mother's death.

But a representative of Epstein's victims said Andrew's appearances in honour of the Queen were 'disrespectful' and 'insulting' to those involved, the Independent reported.

He has been accused of trying 'rehabilitate' his public image following the Queen's death.

Yesterday the prince wore his military uniform during a vigil at Westminster Hall for the Queen as she lies in state, after King Charles allowed him to wear it.

Sex abuse victims of Jeffrey Epstein are reportedly 'frustrated' that his long-term friend Prince Andrew has been 'rehabilitated' in his public appearances following the Queen's death last week. Pictured is the prince and Epstein in New York following his prison term in 2011

Yesterday the prince wore his military uniform during a vigil at Westminster Hall for the Queen as she lies in state, after King Charles allowed him to wear it

The King, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward stood guard over their mother's coffin in silence for ten minutes while members of the public filed past.

He also took part in the Vigil of the Princes at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh on Monday, has been out in public with other senior royals to look at tributes - such as at Balmoral Castle - and took part in the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on Wednesday alongside his siblings.

The Duke of York's appearances haven't been met without protest.

The Duke was called a 'sick old man' as he passed behind his mother's hearse on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh on September 12.

Spencer Kevin, who represented nine of Jeffrey Epstein's victims, said: 'For the victims that are involved... it's frustrating.

The Duke of York took part in the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on Wednesday alongside his siblings - but was excluded from the royal salute

'This is a man they see as someone who is, at the very least, disrespectful to the victims, by his friendship with a paedophile.

'And for him to be lauded in public, as he's doing, and to be praised by the public, which is what he's seeking, is insulting.

'It's no secret that he likes being popular. He likes his position. And I think that he is attempting now to see if he can rehabilitate his image in the public.'

Prince Andrew was pictured wearing his military uniform as he arrived at Westminster Hall with his brother, Prince Edward, to attend a vigil in honour of his mother the Queen yesterday

He added that the prince should grieve his mother's death privately, instead of being allowed to join in with the public display of mourning.

Meanwhile, Mariann Wang, another lawyer who represented Epstein's victims, said Prince Andrew's appearances had been 'quite outrageous'.

She said: 'I can certainly say in general that it is so harmful for any survivor of trauma to see an abuser or their enablers continue to reap the benefits of privilege, status and power.

'Particularly because it is almost always that privilege, status and power that allowed those individuals to cause harm in the first place.'

As a 'Counsellor of State', Prince Andrew could even act as a stand-in for King Charles III at royal events, although there have been calls to change this.

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice were consoled by their father Prince Andrew as they looked at the floral tributes for Queen Elizabeth II outside the gates of Balmoral Castle

Left to right: Princess Eugenie, Peter Phillips, Lady Louise Windsor, Zara Tindall, Sophie Countess of Wessex, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence wave to the members of the public after looking at the floral tributes for Queen Elizabeth II, as others look on, outside the gates of Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire

The disgraced Prince is eighth in line to the throne - but is entitled to the position as he is a senior royal over the age of 21.

Previously the Duke of York had withdrawn from public life after a 12million out-of-court settlement in March with Virginia Roberts, who accused him of sexual assault.

He did not appear with the other royals on the balcony for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.

The prince denied the accusations that he had assaulted Roberts when she was 17 - and while she was being trafficked by his friend Epstein.

He claimed he was at a Pizza Express in Woking on the night in question.

Previously the Duke of York had withdrawn from public life after a 12million out-of-court settlement in March with Virginia Roberts, who accused him of sexual assault. Left to right is the Duke of York, Virginia Roberts and Ghislaine Maxwell

The settlement was not an admission of liability but the Queen's supposedly favourite son was stripped of his royal patronages and honorary military titles.

Epstein served almost 13 months in jail in 2008 after he was convicted of procuring a child for prostitution and sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.

But Prince Andrew continued his friendship with the offender after he was released, despite many others cutting off all ties with him and was infamously pictured with him in New York in 2011.

In 2019 he told the BBC that his relationship with Epstein and the opportunities he had been given were 'very useful' and said he didn't recall the photo with Virginia Roberts - now known as Virginia Giuffre - 'ever having been taken'.

Jeffrey Epstein took his own life while in jail in 2019.
A tense stand-off threatened to explode when a man stubbornly stood guard over an empty car park space and single-handedly stopped a van wanting to snap it up.

Footage shows the moment the van tries to pull into a loading zone on Hill Street, Cabramatta in Sydney's south-west as the man on foot determinedly blocks it.

The van can be heard honking relentlessly but the man refuses to give in and patiently waits for a woman in a ute to turn up and carefully reverse into the spot.

The stunned van driver is then given a barrage of abuse and middle fingers by the couple on Saturday before he eventually drives off to find another park instead.

Video of the flashpoint has divided the internet - with opinions split over who was in the wrong.

A south Sydney man fended off a van waiting for a park by standing in the spot much to the bemusement of passersby and outrage of locals online (pictured)

A Cabramatta Community social media page was told by a witness the man had been standing in the park for quite some time before the start of the video.

Bemused onlookers watched as swearing and honking emanated from the standoff.

Then when an Isuzu ute arrived and immediately mounted the kerb in front of the space, the elderly man's motive was clear.

The man hurriedly waved his apprehensive partner into the space, all the while guarding the park from the van honking behind him.

But the van's honking was ultimately in vain.

The spot was taken from under its nose thanks to an unorthodox reverse parking manoeuvre which saw the ute overshoot onto the footpath in order to undercut the van.

Once the ute was safely in the parking space, the man turned his attention to the ute, yelling and gesticulating wildly.

When the man who was reserving the park jumped in his car, his wife, who had parked it, wasted no time before antagonising the van driver (pictured)

The woman sent off the van with a middle finger, after the driver gave up waiting for the park her partner had been standing in

He then jumped into the driver's seat as his partner got out of the vehicle. She wasted no time in picking up where he left off.

She began flipping off the van driver who had been waiting for the loading dock as the elderly man adjusted her hurried park.

A final 'f*ck you' and middle finger from the elderly man sent the van driver on his way as he finally gave up and went looking for another park.

Some applauded the driver of the van for his patience while blasting the man standing in the car space

Passersby eventually dispersed after watching the incident, but on a community group on Facebook locals were incensed.

'This would test anyones patience. So selfish to think they have a right to a car spot by standing on it! Lucky he wasnt nudged a little,' wrote a Cabramatta woman.

Some had more militant responses as tensions run high in Sydney parking feuds.

'Two options dealing with people like that, either block the ute so no one can park or go somewhere else and come back to key the car,' one man said.

'I would have come back and slashed all his tyres. He can park there permanently until he pays for someone to tow his ute to a tyre shop,' said another brutal local.

'I thought the end result of this in Cabramatta would be a keyed car? How hard is it people? No car, no park. It's a car parking space and not a person parking space,' said another.

Some, however, believed the man was within his rights to reserve the parking space by standing in it

Other locals had sympathy for both occupants of the ute, lamenting the parking in the suburb.

'Probably been trying to unload the Ute for two hours with no luck,' said one man.

'People are so toxic, he's not holding the spot for your average sedan he's probably keeping the spot for the ute to load something onto it,' commented a commiserative viewer.

'He seen (sic) it first so its his spot, first in first serve (sic). Its just the untold rule and sometimes your duty as a passenger,' said another woman.

Another south Sydney man said incidents like the one in the video were why he didn't drive through the suburb anymore.
HYDERABAD: Medical students who enrolled in Ukraine universities but had to leave their institutions after the war broke out are worried about how they will be able to finish their degrees after the centre told the Supreme Court that they cannot be accommodated in medical colleges in India for lack of provisions under the law.

The Centre informed the top court on September 15 that the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act does not include a provision allowing Indian students enrolled in Ukrainian medical institutes to enrol in Indian universities. The court asked the government to help students who want to continue their education in

other overseas universities.

Although several colleges have begun offering online courses to students, the government has not given permission for accepting the same. While some universities which are far from the war zone have offered to take back students, students are still concerned for their safety. Ankita Shahi, a fifth-year MBBS student at Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University in Ivanov, Ukraine, said, "It is a pretty awful scenario. She is currently enrolled in online classes offered by the university with many of her classmates and other students, but she has no idea if the government would recognise the online course.

She claimed that students who were enrolled in China but had to leave their studies due to the pandemic were permitted to finish their coursework via online classes, and wondered why Indian students studying in Ukrainian cannot receive the same concession. "Even if I return to Ukraine, there are security concerns and limitations. We cannot study in such a setting. The majority of students don't want to go back to Ukraine, she said.

Dr Amani Madigala, a PG student at the same university, is almost done with her coursework and will be awarded her degree by November. She is, however, aware of the situation facing MBBS students. She claims it was difficult for them to continue their education at other foreign universities. "The course will begin in 1-2 months, and by December, one semester will already be over. There will also be a change in currency. Overall, a lot of students are confused, she said.
The PM arrived with girlfriend Jodie Haydon and a party of 10 'everyday Aussies' including Dylan Alcott

He will have an audience with King Charles III and also meet the new UK Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese touched down and went to Green Park to lay a wreath on Sunday

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Queen Elizabeth II has been lauded for transcending barriers while maintaining a special bond with Australia, in a touching tribute by Anthony Albanese.

The late monarch was a unifying force throughout her 70-year reign, the prime minister said in an address at an Australia House Commemorative Luncheon in London on Saturday (AEST).

"Even as history continued to shape us, and the bond between our two nations evolved, the affection and respect in which we held Her Majesty remained  unchanged, undiminished," he said.

"The Queen transcended barriers. You could be a republican, and still feel nothing but regard for her."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his girlfriend Jodie Haydon signed the book of condolences at Lancaster House

During a visit to Australia in 2000, months after Australia held a republic referendum, the Queen expressed her deep connection to the nation.

The revered monarch said she "felt part of this rugged, honest, creative land" and has "shared in the joys and the sorrows, the challenges and the changes that have shaped this country's history".

Mr Albanese recalled the Queen's 16 visits to Australia, including a day at the races with former prime minister Bob Hawke in 1988, which he described as "one of the most Australian experiences of all".

He also hailed the monarch's loyalty and unwavering commitment to royal life.

"She celebrated our good times, and stood with us in our times of trial, bringing sympathy and comfort when it was so badly needed," Mr Albanese said.

The PM will meet King Charles III and new UK Prime Minister Liz Truss during his stay in London, cementing Australia's important links with Great Britain.

The prime minister, Governor-General David Hurley and their partners have arrived in the British capital for a series of events commemorating the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Soon after touching down, Mr Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon laid a floral tribute, a small bouquet of white flowers, at Green Park in Westminster.

'It's a great honour to be representing Australia here,' he said.

Anthony Albanese will meet King Charles III and new UK Prime Minister Liz Truss during his stay in London, cementing Australia's important links with Great Britain

'Quite clearly, what we can see all around us is the affection in which Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth was held by people here in the United Kingdom but also of course in Australia and right around the Commonwealth.'

The PM arrived in London with his girlfriend and a party of 10 'everyday Aussies' including current Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott, who have also been invited to the funeral.

Mr Albanese said his visit was about 'commemorating a life well-lived'.

He went straight to Green Park early on Saturday to lay his wreath among the thousands of bouquets which have been building throughout the city since the Queen's death was announced on the evening of September 8.

'Paying our respects to Her Majesty,' Mr Albanese said as he shared a photo at Green Park alongside Ms Haydon. 'May she rest in eternal peace.'

'What an honour it is to represent Australia at the Queen's State Funeral Service. Later this morning I will meet with UK Prime Minister Liz Truss to extend our nation's condolences.'

PM Anthony Albanese arrived in London with girlfriend Jodie Haydon and a party of 10 'everyday Aussies' (pictured) including Dylan Alcott, who have also been invited to the funeral

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese also revealed on Sunday that he'd arrived and went straight to London's Green Park early on Sunday to lay a wreath among the thousands of bouquets (pictured with his partner, Jodie Haydon)

He will view the Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall and signed the official condolence book at Lancaster House before a brief audience with King Charles at Buckingham Palace.

Downing Street has framed Anthony Albanese's impending conversation with the new Tory PM Liz Truss (pictured) as a chat rather than formal bilateral talks

The King will also host the prime minister, heads of state and international VIPs at an official function over the weekend.

Australian Monarchist League chairman Philip Benwell said Charles has always kept a special place in his heart for Australia, particularly after spending time in regional Victoria in the 1970s.

'King Charles has committed himself to following in the footsteps of his late mother and to likewise dedicate himself to the service of his people,' he told AAP.

'He will always make time to meet with his Australian prime minister, and the gathering for the funeral of the late Queen offers an opportunity for this.'

Downing Street has framed Mr Albanese's impending conversation with the new Tory PM as a chat rather than formal bilateral talks.

It says the get-together, at Chevening rather than the prime minister's official country residence Chequers, will be an opportunity for condolences over the Queen's death, with politics likely to come up.

While there has been no word from Mr Albanese's office on the nature of the discussions with Ms Truss, trade arrangements are the most likely topic

Ms Truss will also meet on Saturday with New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern, while Mr Albanese is scheduled to have talks with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.

Leaked Government documents revealed plans for world leaders to travel en masse in a bus to Westminster Abbey for Monday's 8pm (AEST) service, rather that using private cars.

Anthony Albanese will view the Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall and sign the official condolence book at Lancaster House before a brief audience with King Charles (pictured) at Buckingham Palace.

Members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster

British and US officials have since played down the prospect of US President Joe Biden having to travel on a bus into central London. Japaense Emperor Naruhito is expected to be among those travelling to the funeral on the shuttle.

According to Politico, the 62-year-old and other visiting royals will be bussed to the service under strict Foreign Office guidance.

The website reported Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia and the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima would also be put on a shuttle bus.

Some embassies have reportedly made as-yet unsuccessful efforts to request exceptions to the Foreign Office guidance.

A Number 10 spokeswoman refused to comment on the arrangements for individual dignitaries but accepted they will 'differ depending on the needs of the different leaders'.

New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern was one of the first world leaders to pay her respects in London on Friday, while the prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina touched down on Thursday afternoon.

President Biden and First Lady Jill will be able to take the armoured Beast to the Queen's funeral next week while other world leaders will be asked to take the shared bus, as is standard protocol

Jacinda Ardern 'shares the sorrow' of King Charles as she prepares to meet Royal Family and new PM Liz Truss Ms Ardern confirmed she will meet the King, Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Liz Truss before the Queen's funeral, but disclosed minimal details after arriving in the UK, saying she will 'share the sorrow that New Zealand has' with the new monarch. 'I'll simply share the sorrow that New Zealand has and pass on our deepest condolences,' the visiting PM said at a press conference in London. 'At the end of the day, although this is a period of transition for him, he has also lost his beloved mother. For us and New Zealand, that's first and foremost.' Ms Ardern, who said she is planning to attend the Queen's lying in state at Westminster Hall ahead of the funeral, also confirmed she will meet with Liz Truss. The visiting PM said the Queen's death and new King will be the 'focus of conversation' when she and Ms Truss meet. She said she will also likely discuss Ukraine and the UK's free trade agreement with New Zealand. 'I am sure we will also transact our relationship as well, but it is all within the context of the week of mourning that the UK is currently in,' she said. Meeting William will be an opportunity to repay his support of New Zealand in 2019, when the royal flew to the country following the Christchurch massacre, Ms Ardern said. 'The Prince of Wales has always been there for New Zealand in its times of grief,' she said. 'He's been there for us in our times of grief and so this is a time for us to be there for him and his family too.' Advertisement

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials reportedly sent 1,000 handwritten invitations - for both the reception and Monday's funeral - to heads of state to almost every country in the world bar Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Russia, Belarus and Myanmar.

Mr Biden is expected to arrive this evening and French president Emmanuel Macron, German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Italian president Sergio Matarella and Canada's Justin Trudeau are among other notable attendees.

The US presidential plane, known as Air Force One, tends to land at Stansted Airport on visits to Britain in order to avoid disruption at Heathrow.

It's highly unlikely the president will be on board the shuttle bus with other dignitaries. Instead, he will likely travel by his armoured vehicle dubbed 'The Beast' while he's in the capital.

The custom-built Cadillac is said to have eight-inch thick doors, run-flat tires, bulletproof glass, its own oxygen supply, a couple of pints of the president's blood and a completely sealed interior to ward off a chemical attack.

It is estimated to weigh between seven and nine tonnes.

Biden's motorcade The Beast crosses a bridge on the way to his summit with Putin in Geneva. It is believed it will make an appearance in London this weekend as the leader of the free world arrives for the Queen's funeral

Floral Tributes are left at Green Park next to Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth II before her funeral preparations get underway

Mourners form a massive queue near Tower Bridge this morning as they wait to see the Queen lying-in-state

Mourners queueing at Tower Bridge in central London this morning as they wait to pay their respects to the Queen

Several hundred dignitaries from around the world will be in London to pay their respects to the Queen, in what is set to be one of the biggest logistical and diplomatic events in the UK in decades.

The official capacity of Westminster Abbey is 2,200 people, and it is expected to be full. The public will be able to watch the service live through television streams.

No 10 declined to describe the conversations with allies as formal bilateral meetings, and instead portrayed them as chats to offer condolences over the Queen's death, during which politics is likely to come up.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'There won't be formal bilaterals in the way we normally recognise them.

'But we will have a significant number of world leaders, heads of state in the country. She will be meeting a small proportion of those over the weekend.

'These will be opportunities to discuss memories of Her Majesty, but in some instances it will be the first time they've met since she became Prime Minister.'

They will join members of the royal family, UK prime ministers past and present and key figures from public life at Westminster Abbey - which can hold about 2,000 people - at 11am on Monday.

Male dignitaries at the funeral will be advised to wear morning dress or dark lounge suits with a black tie, with dark day dresses and hats for female mourners.

National dress may also be worn, while serving military officers can wear ceremonial uniforms without swords.

People wake up after a night spent at a makeshift campsite set up along The Mall as temperatures plunge
More than 28,000 prisoners including murderers, rapists and those guilty of grievous bodily harm have been freed from jails to fight for Vladimir Putin in his war in Ukraine, it is claimed.

The scheme has so far led to the release of more than five percent of the entire male prison population in Russia as the Kremlin steps up recruitment of inmates after suffering a humiliating defeat against Ukraine's army in the east of the country.

The astonishing figure - revealed by independent Volya Telegram channel - is far higher than previous estimates of released prisoners fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the man known as 'Putin's 'chef', was filmed earlier this week offering a pardon to violent criminals and sex offenders - if they could survive fighting in Ukraine for six months.

A new video this week showed 400 prisoner-volunteers in a dozen prison vans on their way to basic training.

Most inmates are given just perfunctory training before being sent into battle on the front lines as assault troops, where survival rates are shiveringly low.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, 61, the head of Wagner Group private military company, went to a penal colony in Mordovia to offer prisoners a chance of freedom in exchange for fighting in Putin's war. It is thought that 28,000 Russian prisoners have taken up the offer

Yevgeny Prigozhin told the inmates they will be pardoned if they survive six months in the war against Ukraine. They should take their own lives instead of being taken prisoner, he said

The Wagner chief gave the inmates five minutes to decide if they wanted to join Russia's war in Ukraine. The minimum age is 22, and the maximum is 50, with a six-month commitment

Yevgeny Prigozhin, (right) linked to Wagner private military company used to bolster the Russian army in Ukraine, is pictured with Vladimir Putin

Prigozhin, 61, is the man behind the scheme to replenish Russia's stock of foot soldiers, according to reports. He was recently made a Hero of Russia for his loyalty to Putin and is also thought to be the founder of the notorious private military company Wagner.

He is also suspected of being behind the St Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency troll farm that pollutes online discussion and interferes with elections in democratic countries.

Prigozhin was seen giving the sales pitch to inmates in a bleak Mordovian penal colony - a former Gulag prison camp - region offering inmates earlier in the week in a leaked video.

The oligarch told prisoners they should take their own lives instead of being captured in Ukraine, holding one grenade for the enemy and one for themselves.

Prisoners were warned they would be shot in summary executions if they deserted, but they can also become heroes of Russia in battle.

Prisoners who opt to fight for Putin are sent to the Wagner private army, 'controlled' by Prigozhin, which fulfils military orders of the Russian defence ministry in Ukraine.

'This is a hard war, not even close to the likes of [Chechnya] and the others,' he was videoed telling them.

'Ammo consumption is two-and-a-half-times higher than in the battle of Stalingrad,' where there were almost two million casualties, he said.

Prigozhin admitted in the video that he represents the Wagner private army, deployed by Putin in Ukraine.

He has previously denied a link to Wagner which is known to have already recruited thousands of inmates as Russia deploys its most dangerous prisoners as fighters.

'I am a representative of a private war company, perhaps you heard the name - Wagner Group,' he tells the assembled prison inmates.

A significant number of the inmates seemed tempted by the Squid Games-style offer.

A destroyed Russian tank and armoured personnel carriers on the outskirts of Izium. Russia is experiencing a manpower shortage after suffering heavy losses against Ukraine

A destroyed Russian MT-LB armoured personnel carrier burning in a field on the outskirts of Izyum - something the Russian inmates have to look forward to once they arrive on the battlefield

Yet the system is being abused with some 'wealthy inmates' paying bribes to buy their way out of prison without going to fight, it is claimed.

This has so far netted the team of a close Putin crony along with criminal and prison bosses some 33 million, alleges a new report.

'According to various sources, from April to September the Federal Penitentiary Service has already handed over more than 28,000 people to [Wagner],' said Volya.

'Among those 'recruited'.are [prisoners] who are not going to any war.'

These inmates - including wealthy money launderers - 'simply paid for formal recruitment and went home'.

They were told to 'lie low' for six months because officially they should be fighting for Putin in the Donbas or on another front in Ukraine.

One unnamed law enforcement source in the Main Directorate of Economic Security and Anticorruption told Volya he knew of seven inmates released in this way with corrupt payments, with two more expected soon.

A prison service source told the channel: 'An inmate pays [criminal bosses], the head of the prison colony who shares it with his chiefs, and Prigozhin's people.

'Then he signs a contract for service in Ukraine, and is taken out of the colony and [immediately] freed.

'There are two conditions: to lie low for six months until the pardon is granted, and better not go to Moscow or St Petersburg.'

'This offer is made only to truly wealthy convicts,' stated Volya.

Putin's chef Yevgeny Prigozhin (marked) pictured with other Wagner Group fighters at LNR at the beginning of August 2022

Putin's chef Yevgeny Prigozhin (right) pictured at the grave of one of Russian jail inmates, killed in Ukraine

Prisoners are charged between 43,000 ad 290,000 - depending on ability to pay - for the get-out-of-jail scam.

Despite the abuse, the majority go to fight.

'A perfect candidate is a strong man of 30-to-40 years old, convicted of serious crimes - murder, robbery, causing grievous bodily harm.'

Prisoners who become pro-Putin fighters are paid around 1,500 a month for the duration of their six month contract at the frontline.

If they are killed they will be declared heroes and their relatives receive some 72,500.

Prigozhin warned the convicts: 'The first sin is deserting. No-one deserts, no-one gives up, no-one surrenders. Youll be taught what to do regarding surrender.'

They should take their own lives, and not be taken prisoner, he said.

'Two grenades which you must have on you,' he went on [One grenade for our foes, and one for yourself].

'The second sin is alcohol and drugs in the war zone [which are banned] The third sin is marauding - this includes sexual contacts with local women, men, flora, fauna, anyone.

'The minimum age we take is 22, the maximum is 50, and 'good physical shape' is a must.'

The recruitment of prisoners has been seen as evidence of Putin's desperation in his war with Ukraine amid recent defeats in Kharkiv region.
A young man and woman were arrested on Saturday after a Greater Manchester man was found with serious injuries and died shortly after.

The suspects, a 19-year-old man and 20-year-old woman, were taken into custody Saturday morning on a suspicion of murder charge.

Police believe the pair may have been involved in the death of a man who was found with 'serious injuries' in the Heywood area of Rochdale early this morning.

The victim - who has not yet been named - asked residents of a nearby property for help before he was found badly hurt on Atholl Drive. He died a short time after.

Detective Chief Inspector Gina Brennand, of GMPs Major Incident Team, said one suspect is undergoing police questioning while the other receives hospital treatment for a 'wound.' Authorities have not released the identities of the suspects.

A young man, 19, and woman, 20, were arrested on Saturday after a Greater Manchester man was found with serious injuries and died shortly after. The suspects were taken into custody Saturday morning on a suspicion of murder charge

The victim - who has not yet been named - asked residents of a nearby property for help before he was found badly hurt on Atholl Drive in Heywood. He died a short time after

Residents said there was a large police presence on Atholl Drive, which was cordoned off with crime scene tape, on Saturday morning.

Officers, paramedics, forensic investigators and plain clothed detectives were spotted at the scene, Manchester Evening News reported.

'Shocked' locals say investigators have been in the area since as early as 6am.

While many say they cannot believe something like this would happen in their community, others recalled hearing 'shouting and banging' Friday night.

'I didnt hear anything about a murder but I heard shouting and banging last night,' one local alleged.

'Ive lived here for 8 years and nothing like this ever happened this is mad,' said another.

Detective Chief Inspector Gina Brennand, of GMPs Major Incident Team, said one suspect is undergoing police questioning while the other receives hospital treatment for a 'wound.' Authorities have not released the identities of the suspects

'That is so surreal, I can't believe it,' echoed another resident.

A neighbour who claimed to know the victim's mother added: 'That poor woman's family.'

Specifics about the nature of the death have not been disclosed. However, authorities have confirmed two suspects were arrested.

'Two suspects have been arrested,' Detective Brennand said in a statement obtained by Mail Online. 'Our investigation is in the early stages and we are continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death of this man and ensure all of his loved ones are informed.

'We are aware of the impact this news will have on the community but do not believe there to be a risk of harm to members of the public.

'Officers from the Rochdale district will be providing a visible presence in the coming days for reassurance.'

Police encourage anyone with information about the incident to contact GMP quoting 723 17/09/22. Tips can also be shared to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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The Prince of Wales has thanked mourners queuing 14 hours to see the Queen's coffin lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster on a surprise walkabout alongside his father King Charles III - after shaking hands and talking to hundreds of royal fans this afternoon.

Prince William and Britain's new monarch greeted hundreds of people along the South Bank near Lambeth Bridge in London earlier today ahead of the Queen's state funeral on Monday, to cheers of 'hip hip hooray' and 'God Save the King' as they passed by.

Many took photographs and pressed against the metal barriers, eager to exchange a word with the King and the heir to the throne as they shook hands with those closest.

William later thanked royal fans for queueing for 14 hours to pay their respects to his grandmother, tweeting: 'It mean an awful lot that you're all here'.

One lady offered Charles condolences as he shook her hand, and another shouted: 'I can't believe this' - while a third presented the two royals with a Paddington Bear toy, in reference to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee sketch with the beloved children's character.

As the prince shook the hands of mourners, he said: 'It means an awful lot you're here. She [the Queen] would never believe this. You'll make some friends for life [those who have met in crowd'. Revealing that his wife Kate Middleton and children George, Charlotte and Louis were 'ok' and 'all united in grief', William also said that he became emotional seeing his grandmother's corgis, adding: 'They are being looked after - they have gone to a very good home'.

Several people cried after meeting the Prince of Wales, and one woman told him: 'You'll be a brilliant king one day'.

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to see the Queen lying-in-state earlier this afternoon alongside his father, King Charles

The Prince of Wales thanked mourners queuing 14 hours to see the Queen's coffin lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to see the Queen lying-in-state earlier this afternoon alongside his father, King Charles

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall earlier this afternoon

Earlier the royals met London Mayor Sadiq Khan, a curtseying Home Secretary Suella Braverman and London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley at Scotland Yard's special operations. During the visit today in Lambeth, the King also met police staff, who he thanked for their planning and delivery of policing in the days leading up to his mother's funeral, as well as workers at London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade, Transport for London and the Army.

The King concluded his tour of the home nations yesterday, starting his day with a visit to Wales, after trips to Northern Ireland and Scotland in recent days.

Final preparations are under way for the funeral in two days, with 2,000 VIPs - from world leaders Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and Jacinda Ardern to royals including Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia and the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima - expected to arrive throughout the weekend.

It comes after the King and his siblings last night held a silent vigil in Westminster Hall to pay a moving tribute to their beloved mother.

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth following her death

King Charles III meets members of the public in the queue along the South Bank, with many taking pictures and shaking the new monarch's hand

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen in London by waiting to see her coffin lying-in-state at Westminster Hall

King Charles is presented with a Paddington Bear as he meets well-wishers in London - with some carrying Paddington Bear yous

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen - most of which were waiting for around 14 hours to see the lying-in-state ceremony

King Charles and William, Prince of Wales visit Metropolitan Police Headquarters earlier on Saturday morning

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to the late Queen

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

Prince William greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

King Charles meets excited royal fans queueing along the banks of the Thames

King Charles shakes the hands of well-wishers as he goes on a surprise walkabout with his son Prince William

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to the late Queen

Prince William and his father King Charles left the walkabout to cheers of 'God Save The King' and hoorays while members of the public took out their phones to picture the moment

Sophie Wessex and Prince Edward greet royal well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace ahead of Queen's funeral on Monday The Countess of Wessex cuddled a baby on a surprise and brought smiles to the faces of hundreds of well-wishers gathered outside Buckingham Palace with her husband today - after the beloved couple said the Royal Family had been 'overwhelmed by the tide of emotion' following the Queen's death. Royal fans applauded Sophie and Prince Edward and told them 'sorry for your loss' as the couple shook the hands of dozens of mourners outside the palace gates this afternoon - shortly after King Charles III and the Prince of Wales met mourners queueing along the banks of the River Thames to see the Queen lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster. The Queen's youngest son could be heard asking mourners where they had come from and whether they were making their way to Green Park to lay flowers. He then told them that the Queen would 'appreciate' the number of people paying their respects - while his wife was given bouquets and a stuffed toy as she shook hands with those gathered. The Countess stopped to look at one young girl's T-shirt, which was printed with photos of the Queen through the decades of her reign. Sophie collected armfuls of flowers including sunflowers and roses, and was given paper tributes to the late monarch by some of the well-wishers. The couple also walked over to meet members of the public stood behind barriers on the edge of nearby Green Park. In an emotional statement released just hours before he attended a poignant vigil with his siblings the King, the Duke of York and the Princess Royal in Westminster Hall last night, the Earl of Wessex said: 'As a family, we have grown up learning to share our parents, especially our beloved mama, with the nation, her realms and the Commonwealth. 'While it has been lovely to have spent time saying our own farewell privately at Balmoral, it is now time to allow others to be able to say their farewell.' Advertisement

The King told officers it is 'encouraging' that policing plans for Operation London Bridge are working during a visit to a Metropolitan Police base.

Charles was given a tour of the Metropolitan Police Service Special Operations Room on Saturday, where he met and thanked emergency service workers for their efforts ahead of the funeral of the Queen and over the last nine days.

The Prince of Wales also briefly visited the Lambeth HQ, where he spoke to two police officers and thanked them for their service before departing in the same car as the King.

The pair later undertook a walkabout where they spoke to members of the public who were stood in the queue near Lambeth Palace to see the Queen's coffin.

During the visit to the police headquarters, the King was greeted on arrival in south London by Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, Home Secretary Suella Braverman, mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Lord Lieutenant of Greater London Sir Ken Olisa before being given his tour by Sir Mark.

As his vehicle arrived, members of the public lined the streets and cheered, with several shouting 'God save the King' as he stepped out of his car.

During the visit, the King met and spoke with several police officers involved in the planning for Operation London Bridge, the codename for the plans put in place following the death of the Queen, as well as members of British Transport Police, London Ambulance Service, the Army and London Fire Brigade.

He was seen laughing and joking with staff and asked several questions to each worker about their role in the operation and thanked them for their service.

While speaking to the operation planning team, who also prepare the policing efforts at football matches and protests in the capital, the King asked them questions relating to the planning around Operation London Bridge.

He asked the officers: 'Have you been planning for a long time... or have you just been drafted in?'

One officer responded: 'Yes your Majesty, we've been planning for about three years. There were teams before us.'

He replied: 'And the plans are working?'

The officer said: 'They are, absolutely.'

'That's the most encouraging thing,' the King said, and began to chuckle.

He also questioned the staff about crime levels during the mourning period.

Referring to his time visiting the base, the King added: 'It's nice to know where it all happens. I've been here before - this is the absolute hub, isn't it?'

The officers replied that it was. The King then described their work as 'absolutely fantastic', adding: 'Thank you'.

After the King's visit, Mr Khan said it was 'lovely' to see him be 'incredibly inquisitive' with staff.

He told journalists: 'He was really keen to see for himself the hard work to keep our city safe, to keep His Majesty safe, the royal family safe, also there'll be hundreds of leaders from across the globe coming to London.

'It was lovely to have the King show that much interest. He went around meeting people, asking questions, listening to their answers, being incredibly inquisitive but also incredibly warm.

'What's remarkable about His Majesty the King is at a time when he is grieving, he's going about his business and leading from the front.

'I know from speaking to police officers from London, from across the country who are here helping us out, speaking to staff and other members of the team, how grateful they are for His Majesty to give up his time and come here today.'

William, Prince of Wales meeting royal fans along the banks of the River Thames

King Charles III and the Prince of Wales depart the Metropolitan Police Service Special Operations Room (SOR) Lambeth

King Charles III and Prince William leave from a meeting with emergency service workers in Lambeth

King Charles III meets London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Home Secretary Suella Braverman

Home Secretary Suella Braverman is greeted by King Charles III

King Charles III stands vigil beside the coffin of his mother, Queen Elizabeth

Members of the public join the queue in Southwark Park, south east London

Mourners form a massive queue near Tower Bridge this morning as they wait to see the Queen lying-in-state

A satellite image shows queues of people in central London waiting to pay their respects

A satellite image shows queues of people waiting to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth following her death

The route of the Queen's final journey has been announced and her funeral cortege will use A-roads rather than motorways so as many people a possible can see her coffin

The guard is changed as members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall

A security member tackled and detained a cyclist who allegedly entered the square in front of Westminster Hall today

The cyclist was arrested today after an alleged chase in the Palace of Westminster, where the Queen is lying-in-state

Queen's lying in state: What you need to know The Queen is lying in state in London ahead of her funeral. Here is some of the information mourners need to know. - What exactly is meant by the term 'lying in state'? Lying in state is usually reserved for sovereigns, current or past queen consorts, and sometimes former prime ministers. During the formal occasion, the closed coffin is placed on view, as thousands of people queue to file past and pay their respects. The coffin will be adorned with the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre. - When and where will the Queen lie in state? The late monarch's lying in state in Westminster Hall opened to the public at 5pm yesterday and it will be open 24 hours a day until it closes at 6.30am on Monday, September 19 - the day of the Queen's funeral. - Where is Westminster Hall? Westminster Hall, which dates back to 1099, is in the Palace of Westminster and is the oldest building on the parliamentary estate. It forms part of the Westminster Unesco World Heritage Site and the UK Parliament website refers to its 'great size', the 'magnificence' of its roof, and its central role in British history. The building has been the site of key events, such as the trial of Charles I, coronation banquets, and addresses by world leaders. - Is there a big queue? Yes. Government guidance says there will be a queue which is expected to be very long, predicted to be in the tens of thousands. As it stands the queue is about 14 hours long. People will need to stand for 'many hours, possibly overnight', with very little opportunity to sit down as the queue will be continuously moving. People are not allowed to camp and a wristband system is being used to manage the queue, with those waiting in line given a coloured and numbered one, specific to each person, allowing them to leave for a short period. 'Your wristband also allows you to leave the queue for a short period to use a toilet or get refreshments, then return to your place in the queue,' according to the official guidance. - What is the queue route? Members of the public can join the line on the Albert Embankment, which runs behind the London Eye onto the Southbank before following the river past landmarks such as the National Theatre, the Tate Modern and HMS Belfast, reaching 'maximum capacity' at Southwark Park. - Is there assistance for people who cannot queue for long periods of time? The main queue has step-free access with a separate accessible route also planned to run from Tate Britain where timed entry slots will be issued for a queue going along Millbank to the Palace of Westminster. Guide dogs will be allowed inside Westminster Hall, with sign language interpreters also on hand. Venues including the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre and Shakespeare's Globe will open for longer hours to accommodate those queuing. The British Film Institute on the Southbank will do the same while providing an outdoor screen with archive footage of the Queen. Advertisement

Charles left before William, both of them in cars surrounded by police vehicles.

Queueing today, Shiv Pandian, 58, from Raynes Park, south-west London, said his 30 years working as a urologist for the NHS had prepared him for a long wait.

'There's lots of places to eat and toilets and things; you're used to working long hours at the NHS,' he said, laughing. 'The Queen has served us for 70 years. I've served along with her for 30 years. I've seen three jubilees of hers, and I want to say goodbye.'

He added: 'I got out at Waterloo and followed the queue backwards, and then at one point I was guided here to Southwark Park. Then it said reassuringly, it's 14 hours from the entrance here, so I'm hoping by midnight today I'll have seen the Queen.'

Paula Priest, 53, from Wolverhampton, said she was happy to wait 'as long as it takes' to reach Westminster Hall. 'We're here for the duration now, definitely.'

Those who braved the trip despite Government warnings were pleasantly surprised by the pace of the queue. Later on Saturday morning the tracker had stopped telling mourners not to travel, and the wait had dropped to 16 hours.

There was constant movement through Southwark Park until the Thames path along Bermondsey Wall East where the queue became more stationary.

Bright pink wristbands, which state they do not guarantee entry to Westminster Hall, continue to be handed out. Those waiting described the experience as well-organised, with friendly staff and officers on hand to assist.

This morning, new Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley was seen patrolling the queue for the Queen's lying in state near Lambeth Palace in south London. He greeted mourners, including several who were wearing blankets after waiting in line for hours through the early morning, and walked from the east towards Lambeth Bridge.

Alfie, 11, from Lancashire, wore his Scouts uniform complete with Platinum Jubilee badge, to join the queue for the lying in state.

His grandmother, Karen Todd, said: 'Alfie really wanted to pay his respects to the Queen, and he wanted to come in his Scout uniform to honour her.

'And we came because it's a momentous occasion and a moment in history. They'll always remember this for the rest of their lives, so we've only got this one opportunity.'

The family left home at 11.45pm on Friday, and Ms Todd said she 'had to sleep in a car park for an hour and a half' before getting on a bus to reach the queue.

Upon checking the queue tracker, Ms Todd said: 'We were going to come this evening, but we came earlier because we didn't want to miss it.' She added: 'It's been okay. Clear roads. It's well organised. Just hoping my legs and feet stay strong.'

The family brought thermals and plenty of snacks for the wait.

Sachet Pariyar had travelled from Basingstoke with his father, who had served in the Queen's Gurkha regiment, to attend the lying in state.

He said: 'My dad served in the British Army before and the Queen's Gurkha regiment, and my grandfather as well. So, we feel like we have that connection with the Queen and we wanted to come and pay respects.'

He added that he had been checking the queue's live tracker and had seen it might take 24 hours, adding he was 'a bit worried' about the wait, but 'thought if we can get the wristband, then we will give it a try'.

Linda Partridge, 71, and Simon Hopkins, 59, travelled down from the West Midlands for the lying in state, despite warnings that the queue was closed, because they felt 'that need to come down'.

Ms Partridge, who had left home at 3am, said: 'Even though they said it was closed I felt that need to come down. If we've got here and then they turned away, then fine. I would have just felt I needed to come and then be told I couldn't go'.

Mr Hopkins added: 'There was a sense of perhaps 'best not travel' but just to make the journey and just to check it out, and you know, if it ended in disappointment, and then so be it.'

He likened the experience to a 'pilgrimage', which he said, 'is a bit strange, because that kind of goes against my grain. I've been kind of drawn into it.'

James Birchall, 33, a trainee physiotherapist who travelled from Liverpool to pay his respects, was also queuing.

He said: 'Now I just feel normal and unemotional but as I get closer and closer (to the Queen's coffin) I think I'll start to become more emotional and maybe five minutes before I go in I'll probably, even though I don't look like the type of person, I'll probably start crying. I absolutely loved the Queen, she was great, she had been there all my life, I have always had respect for her. She was great for our country, always did her duty right until she died.

'When she died I was overcome with emotion and I thought, I have got to come to London to see it.'

On the thousands of people queuing, he added: 'I'm absolutely amazed because there is so many people, young and old - I did not think young people would come, necessarily, because they are not really in tune with monarchy, but there's so many young people here to pay their respects which I think is awesome.'

Also queuing was Vlasta Picker, 73, of Bedford, who said: 'I came here in 1977 on the Silver Jubilee. Growing up in central Europe, monarchy was a thing of the past, history.

King Charles III meets members of the public in the queue along the South Bank

King Charles III looks at an illustration of the Queen drawn by a well-wisher in London

King Charles III meets members of the public in the queue along the South Bank

Prince William meets excited royal fans queueing to see the Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen

King Charles waves at well-wishers in a queue along the banks of the Thames to see the Queen lying-in-state

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

King Charles smiling as he shakes the hands of well-wishers in London

King Charles III meets members of the public in the queue along the South Bank

The Prince of Wales meets members of the public in the queue along the South Bank

William, Prince of Wales waves and shakes the hands of well-wishers along the South Bank

William, Prince of Wales joins King Charles III for a visit to Lambeth Met HQ

The Prince of Wales speaks to members of staff as he and King Charles III visit the Metropolitan Police Service Special Operations Room (SOR) Lambeth HQ

The King shaking hands with London Mayor Sadiq Khan at Lambeth HQ in London

King Charles III speaking with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley

King Charles III arrives for a visit to the Metropolitan Police Service Special Operations Room

King Charles visits Metropolitan Police Headquarters

King Charles shaking hands with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan

King Charles III at an meeting with emergency service workers in Lambeth

William, Prince of Wales visits Metropolitan Police Headquarters in Lambeth

King Charles III thanks the emergency service workers for their work and support at Lambeth HQ in London

Home Secretary Suella Braverman walks with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley

Charles is cheered by crowds, shows off his Welsh skills and even speaks to a 'lucky' goat on first trip to Cardiff as monarch before departing for London where he will lead vigil for Queen tonight King Charles III was cheered by thousands of adoring fans, showed off his Welsh language skills and even spoke to a goat mascot during what was a successful first trip to Wales as monarch. The King was joined by the Queen Consort as he first attended a service of remembrance for his mother the Queen at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, where he was joined by the Prime Minister Liz Truss and Welsh first minister Mark Drakeford. The congregation sang Welsh hymns including the much-loved Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer, whilst the Archbishop of Wales said in a tribute how the Queen 'had the ability to relate to the man or woman on the Clapham Omnibus, or here, the Merthyr Tydfil Omnibus'. In what was a packed day, Charles and Camilla went on to be greeted by adoring school children and thousands of other Royal fans, before he gave a historic speech in Welsh to the Senedd and spoke of how close Wales was to his mother's heart. His final stop was Cardiff Castle, where he had a private meeting with Mr Drakeford and then had a chance encounter with Sheinkin IV, the goat mascot for the Royal Welsh Third Battallion. After shaking hands with adoring fans who flocked in their thousands to greet their new king, Charles and Camilla departed for the royal helicopter, which flew them to London. There were a small number of anti-monarchy protesters gathered outside Cardiff Castle earlier, with one sign reading: 'We serve neither king nor Kaiser but Wales!' Charles said in his speech in the Senedd: 'I am deeply grateful for the words of condolence which so movingly paid tribute to our late sovereign, my beloved mother The Queen.' The King continued: 'Through all the years of her reign, the land of Wales could not be closer to my mother's heart. 'I know she took immense pride in your many great achievements, even as she also felt you deeply in great times of sorrow. It must surely be counted the greatest achievement to belong to a land that inspired so much devotion. 'I am resolved to honour that same example in the spirit of the words I always try to live my own life - Ich dien - I Serve.' Advertisement

'I was really quite mesmerised, it was massive in 1977 and I have admired her ever since because she was a wonderful person, unique. To serve all her life until the end, it's something, isn't it? Unprecedented. And that's why I want to be here.'

Figures from the London Ambulance Service (LAS) show that 435 members of the public were treated along the route of the queue to see the Queen lying in state and surrounding areas over the past two days.

Some 291 people along the route of the queue and nearby in London were given medical assistance on Wednesday, with 17 needing hospital treatment, the LAS said. A further 144 people were treated on Thursday, with 25 people being taken to hospital.

The LAS said the majority of incidents attended were faints and collapses, resulting in head injuries.

It came as David Beckham made it inside Westminster Hall at about 3.30pm yesterday after joining the queue at 2am.

Meanwhile some people are trying to cash in by selling used wristbands for up to 350 on eBay. Those joining the queue receive wristbands to mark their place - so they can leave for a drink, or to go to the toilet, and then return.

MPs can jump the queue and bring in up to four guests, to the anger of those being forced to wait. Among those visiting yesterday were Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg and Shadow Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

This Morning hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby cut sombre figures as they were seen at Westminster Hall. MailOnline was told the TV duo joined a separate queue for press and were taken into a press gallery.

Ex-England captain Beckham was spotted queueing at about 12.30pm, after joining the line at 2am to wait with everyone else. His representative confirmed to MailOnline that he had queued with the public, and said those around him initially did not take pictures of the 47-year-old star because there was an air of 'mutual respect'.

Inside the park, a crowd formed in the holding pen next to the main queue as people begged to be let in. Security teams were allowing 100 people at a time from the holding area to join the main queue every ten to 15 minutes.

But outside the park, some people waited in the street with no idea of when they might be able to even join the queue.

The Government said in an update just before 10am: 'Southwark Park has reached capacity. Entry will be paused for at least 6 hours. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Please do not attempt to join the queue until it re-opens.'

Just after 12pm, the Government also said the accessible queue was now 'at capacity for today and entry for allocation of wristbands is currently paused', adding that those with wristbands and entry times will still get in.

But then at 1pm, the entrance to Southwark Park reopened despite the Government still saying that the queue has been paused.

The gates were originally shut as queue attendants sought to deter new arrivals. However a second queue quickly began to form outside the park along Jamaica Road, leading attendants to reopen the gate.

A Number 10 spokesman directed questions to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, but said it was 'the case that what DCMS have done is they've temporarily paused the queue for at least six hours after it reached maximum capacity.

'That has always been part of our planning and that is to make sure as many as people as possible in the queue can enter the Palace of Westminster. But we keep it under review and there will be further updates from DCMS.'

The spokesman would not state what number of people represented 'maximum capacity' for the queue.

As Beckham approached Westminster Hall, he told Sky News: 'This day was always going to be a difficult day. Our thoughts are with the family, it's very special to hear all of the stories from people here. The most special moment for me was to receive my OBE. I took my grandparents with me who were huge royalists. I was so lucky that I was able to have a few moments like that in my life to be around Her Majesty. It's a sad day, but a day to remember.'

Beckham added that it 'meant so much' to sing the National Anthem before England matches.

He told ITV News: 'I thought by coming at 2am it was going to be a little bit quieter, but I was wrong, everybody had that in mind. But the people here, all ages, there was an 84-year-old lady walking around, a 90-year-old gentleman walking around. Everybody wants to be here to be part of this experience and to celebrate what Her Majesty has done for us.'

King Charles III holds a vigil beside the coffin of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II

Members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall

Lord and Lady, Michael and Anne Heseltine in the queue to view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

A woman reacts after viewing the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

Wellwisher gives King Charles a pen 'just in case' after first days of his reign are beset by ink disasters The new King Charles was given a pen 'just in case' by well-wishers on his walkabout in Cardiff yesterday after his latest ink disasters. This follows after the King was left furious by a string of ink mishaps during his visit to Northern Ireland earlier this week. The public clearly caught wind of his frustration after clips of the monarch started circling online showing him visibly upset by the pen ordeal. A video clip of the handover shows a woman in the crowd hand the pen to the King whilst cheekily smiling at him. The surrounding crowd then start clapping and laughing at the gift. King Charles then take the pen gracefully, looks down at it in his hand and starts laughing, clearly amused by the gesture. The Monarch and the Queen Consort arrived in Wales yesterday in their first visit since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The Royal couple made their way to Llandaff Cathedral to attend a prayer and reflection service for his late mother and Britain's longest serving head of state. However, the King came prepared with his own pen and was filmed calmly signing the paper in the cathedral before passing his pen and the book to his wife. The King's decision to carry his own fountain pen comes days after a few drops on ink soured the mood at Hillsborough Castle, Belfast, earlier this week. Advertisement

Images shared on Twitter showed many people trying to capture a picture of Beckham as he waited at the front of the line.

Twitter user Jules Birkby from Leeds said Beckham was 'just a few lines behind us in the snake', writing: 'The Queue is now full of people trying to photograph David Beckham and forgetting to actually move onwards. It's madness! I feel a bit sorry for him, but he's taking it very well. It's made me almost forget that we've been in The Queue almost TWELVE HOURS though.'

A fellow mourner said: 'He was chatting happily to people around him about the times he met the Queen. I think we were all stunned to see him here given how famous he is. He had his cap pulled down so I think he was trying to keep a low profile.

'I didn't recognise him straight away but he was a lovely bloke, happy to talk. Clearly he was in the queue for some time, perhaps since the early hours like myself. He was obviously keen to pay his respects to the Queen and felt he should join the rest of us rather than use the VIP line which goes down much quicker.'

While some questioned whether Beckham had actually been queuing up, one woman tweeted: 'My friend's mum says he joined the queue at about 2am. He's bought the people around him donuts! The guys a ledge.'

'Compared to that, 15 or even 20 hours or however long it takes doesn't seem too bad to say thank you and pay my respects.'

Karen Hare, 59, from Upminster, Essex, said: 'We've been joking that we're queuing up for the queue! As if that isn't already long enough! 'I'm annoyed at my husband because I wanted to leave the house at 3am and he talked me out of it only to change his mind at 9am.

'If it wasn't for him we'd be in the main queue by now. It's not ideal but there's thousands and thousands of people who want to pay their respects. That's what the Queen means to people, she felt like part of your family.

'I felt I had to come down today, I felt a sense of service to thank her for all the fantastic things she did for the country. We'll never get this opportunity again and I knew if I didn't come, I'd have regretted it all my life.'

Mourners said there was 'breathtaking' serenity awaiting them in Westminster Hall where 'you could hear a pin drop' in the silence.

But security jobsworths had a field day as they took hand sanitiser and boiled sweets from elderly mourners queuing.

Stewards in hi-vis were accused of being overzealous as they cracked down on what could and could not be brought into Westminster Hall. Mourners also described brazen pushing-in towards the back of the line as young people took advantage of spaces left by slow elderly people in the queue.

Officials have enforced airport-style security as the public enter the Palace of Westminster. One mourner was forced to hand over a single Werther's Original, lipstick and hand sanitiser, while others told of various items being confiscated.

One of those who was waiting in the holding line was Terrence Houlahan, 56, who had ridden his Penny Farthing bike down to the park in Bermondsey from his home in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, some 40 miles north.

Mr Houlahan, who is originally from New York but has lived in the UK for 20 years, said: 'It took me three hours to get here. In fact, a little longer as I first went to London Bridge by mistake thinking the queue started there.

'So I've ridden all the way just to stand in line for 15 to 20 hours pushing my Penny Farthing along before cycling back another three hours in the dark. It sounds crazy but I wanted to be here and honour the Queen as well as show my support for the new King, Charles III. Charles has to put on a public show now in his new role and that must be busting him up inside. Most of us get to grieve privately. This is as much to show him solidarity as it is to pay tribute to the Queen.'

Mourners queueing in Southwark Park as they wait to see the Queen lying-in-state

More mourners carry coffee cups as they queue through Southwark Park to see the Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall

Mourners including young children wrap up after temperatures plummeted overnight - as they queue to see the Queen

Members of the public build their tents in front Westminster Hall and Big Ben

Mourners queue opposite Parliament this morning as they wait to see the Queen lying-in-state

Members of the public continue to wait in line to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II

A person sits at a makeshift campsite set up along The Mall

The King's first intervention? Charles tells Mark Drakeford he is 'concerned' about cost of living crisis The King is 'concerned' about how people will manage during what is going to be a 'difficult winter', according to the First Minister of Wales. Mark Drakeford said the impact of the cost-of-living crisis came up in conversation with Charles during their audience on Friday, after the new monarch addressed the Welsh Parliament for the first time as sovereign. The First Minister said the King also told him he was interested in renewable energy generation in Wales, and how it might play a 'bigger part' in future energy security. Mr Drakeford told TalkTV: 'The King has always had a very direct interest in the things that are happening in contemporary Wales, the future of our agriculture, the impact of climate change. 'He mentioned the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and how that will impact on people here in Wales.' He added: 'He (Charles) is concerned as to how people will manage through what is going to be a difficult winter. 'He was interested to tell me about some of the projects that he has heard of, or become involved in dealing, for example, with food waste, making sure that we don't waste a precious resource when some people might be going without. 'Interested, as always in renewable energy generation here in Wales, and how it might play a bigger part in future energy security.' Mr Drakeford has suggested the investiture proceedings for William, the new Prince of Wales, need not follow the same form as that of the 1969 ceremony that saw the title bestowed upon his father. He told TalkTV: 'Well, I certainly don't think that 1969 is a good guide for what should happen in 2022. Wales is a very different place. 'The nature of the monarchy has developed over that period. My message is that we shouldn't be in a rush about all of this. 'We should allow the new prince, as I say, to become familiar with his new responsibilities, develop the job in a way that will work for him and will work for Wales. 'And then we can think about how and whether there is a need for any further ceremonial underpinning of what has already been announced.' Advertisement

Mr Houlahan said he was going to leave his Penny Farthing outside Westminster Hall before heading inside. He said: 'I don't need to chain it up or anything because hardly anyone knows how to ride it.

'But I race these bikes so I guess it's also a good bit of training whilst also taking in a really important, historic moment. Something that is way bigger than myself or any individual.'

Moses Martinez, meanwhile, flew into London Heathrow Airport from Nicaragua this morning especially to join the queue of mourners.

The 32-year-old booked his flight as soon as heard news of the Queen's death and has spent nearly 2,000 on flights and a hotel in London.

Mr Martinez, who lives in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, said: 'I had to be here in London. I've never been here before, never been to the UK before.

'But when I heard the Queen had died and seeing thousands of British people queue to see her lie in state, I knew now was the time that I had to go.

'I flew in at 7am this morning after a 12-hour flight, dropped my bags in the hotel and came straight to this queue. I know I could be in line for as many as 20 hours but I don't care, I don't need sleep, I just want to pay my respects.

'She meant so much to me, ever since I was a small boy. She was a symbol of Britain. I've paid a lot of money and it's a lot of travelling but for me it's worth all of it. People are very friendly and polite.

'It's a once in a lifetime experience, I thought to myself 'it's now or never' as I won't ever be able to do this again. I'm so glad I made the journey.'

Shannon Baird, 28, hopped on a flight from Dublin just to join the queue and will return straight after seeing the Queen's coffin.

She lives in Pennsylvania in the US but is spending a few months in Ireland and said: 'Once I'm done, I'm back on a flight at 9pm tomorrow. This is a moment in history and I had to be a part of it. I know it's going to be tough but I'm prepared for it. She's an iconic figure.'

Barrie Scott, 72, from East Moseley, said: 'We've been in this secondary queue for 45 minutes so it's a bit frustrating that we haven't even joined the proper line yet.

'But hopefully we'll be through soon. It is moving still, people are being let through, we've not been turned away or anything like that.

'I know it's going to be a long, long day but then the Queen was on the throne for 70 years showing such service and dedication.

It comes after the King and his siblings - the Duke of York, Princess Royal and Earl of Wessex - held a silent vigil for their mother last night.

As members of the public watched in complete silence, the four senior royals - all in dress uniform - approached the Queen's coffin. At just after 7.45pm, the duty officer struck the floor three times with his staff to signal the arrival of the late monarch's four children.

They lined up, the King at the front, followed by Anne, Edward and then Andrew, as the staff was struck three times again. Solemnly, they approached the catafalque - the raised platform holding the coffin - to take their positions and approach their mother's coffin.

Another three strikes of the staff, echoing throughout the cavernous Norman hall, and they stepped up before facing outwards, and then three strikes again.

Four candles flickered as they stepped up, the King, 73, sporting his Royal Navy ceremonial dress; Princess Anne, 72, in the uniform of the Blues and Royals, and the Earl of Wessex, 58, the Blues uniform with the rank of Honorary Royal Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry.

Former Royal Navy helicopter pilot Andrew, 62, who is no longer a working royal and has been stripped of his honorary affiliations, was given special permission by Charles to wear a uniform for the vigil as a mark of respect for Her Majesty. He chose his Vice-Admiral's uniform, an honour given to him by the Queen on his 55th birthday.

Members of the public, many of whom had been queueing all day, were allowed to keep filing into the 900-year-old hall.

Tower Bridge looms in the background as mourners queue to see the Queen lying-in-state

Members of the public continue to wait in line to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II lying-in-state

A huge queue files near Tower Bridge this morning as mourners wait to see the Queen lying-in-state

Mourners queue in Southwark Park to see Queen Elizabeth II lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster today

A group of women try to keep warm as they join the queue winding along the River Thames

Mourners today appeared to be in good spirits as they queue along the banks of the Thames

People have been camping on The Mall ahead of the funeral of the Queen

People wake up after a night spent at a makeshift campsite set up along The Mall

David Beckham wipes his eye while waiting to see the Queen's coffin at Westminster Hall in London yesterday

Former England footballer David Beckham waits to see the Queen's coffin at Westminster Hall in London yesterday

David Beckham said he feels 'lucky' to have spent time with the Queen while queueing to pay tribute yesterday

Dan Walker defends David Beckham from critics who claimed he only queued to see the Queen's coffin to get publicity Dan Walker has defended David Beckham after the former England captain was accused of visiting the Queen lying in state for 'exposure' purposes only. Beckham's trip was widely reported after he was spotted queuing amongst thousands of others on the way to Westminster Hall. But hidden among the throng, Becks waited for more than 13 hours to pay his respects to the Queen, despite even being offered the chance to jump the queue by an MP. Former BBC Breakfast presenter later praised 47-year old Beckham on Twitter, writing: 'Fair play to David Beckham for joining the #queueforthequeue. 12 hours plus apparently to pay his respects.' One user took the opportunity to criticised Beckham however, sparking Walker to come out in support of the star. 'Had to show his face didn't he, any chance of exposure,' the user's tweet read. Dan, 45, meanwhile, replied: 'Have a word with yourself Chris. He's been there since 2am this morning. If he wants headlines he pops to the chippy in his PJs.' Other users backed Beckham on the social media platform to defend him, however, with one writing: 'Fair play to him. 'Celebrities are the same as us all. No one should be allowed to jump the queue, what makes celebrities more special in this kind of situation, the Queen loved us all the same. 'Nice one David and to all the other famous people who have waited patiently.' Another commented: 'Well done to David Beckham and to Susannah Reid who both queued for hours to pay their respects to Her Majesty The Queen while some so called 'celebrities' jumped the queue.' A third tweeted: 'Pity all other so called celebrities didn't do the same.' Another added: 'Quite right as why should celebs be treated any different to the public. Well done Becks.' Dressed in a suit that hid his famous tattoos, a cap and a Covid mask, Beckham, 47, joined mourners in the 'Elizabeth line' at 2am, going unnoticed by the masses for hours as he shuffled his way from Southwark Park to Westminster Hall. After queuing for 13 hours, Beckham looked emotional as he moved past the coffin to pay his respects appearing at one point to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye. As England captain, he met the Queen several times and received his OBE from her in 2003. Advertisement

Last night's vigil had been intended to involve only the Queen's four children, but in a remarkable show of family unity, 18 senior family members - as well as a host of other relatives - turned up to support them.

They included the Queen Consort, the Countess of Wessex, Princess Anne's husband Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, Edward and Sophie's children Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall and her husband Mike, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra.

The vigil lasted 15 minutes and was in addition to that being mounted by the Household Division and Body Guards from 5pm on Wednesday to 6.30am on Monday, when the Queen's official lying in state concludes. At that moment, the doors of Westminster Hall will close in preparation for the procession to Westminster Abbey, where the State Funeral service will take place at 11am.

Rehearsals are taking place across the weekend to make sure that everything is in place for Monday's State Funeral, which will be the biggest show of pomp, pageantry and majesty seen in the modern age. World leaders and royalty from across the globe are flying in to pay their respects.

They will be joined by hundreds of charity representatives and members of the public honoured for their civic duty who have secured places in the 2,000-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey.

Palace officials yesterday extended the route of the Queen's final journey from Westminster Abbey on Monday - the site of her funeral between 11am and 12pm - to Windsor Castle, her final resting place, to enable more people to bid her farewell.

First the Queen's coffin will be borne by an extraordinary procession of the State Gun Carriage through London to Wellington Arch, where it will be transferred to the State Hearse at 1pm. Other members of the Royal Family will then travel along the M4 to Windsor, where a second ceremony will be held at St George's Chapel.

But if the former monarch had been driven via the motorway, mourners wanting to say their goodbyes would have been unable to line the route.

The Daily Mail's Robert Hardman was among those saying earlier this week that the post-funeral route should be extended so more Britons could say farewell. Now the palace has disclosed the route. From Wellington Arch, it will go along the south side of Hyde Park via South Carriage Drive before turning down Queens Gate, and then along Cromwell Road.

The cortege will follow the A4 through west London, going along Talgarth Road via the Hammersmith Flyover, and along the Great West Road.

Just before Heathrow, the hearse will switch to the A30 Great South West Road, and travel around the south side of the airport.

It will process along London Road, still the A30, and Staines Road, before crossing the M25 to Windsor Road (the A308) for the final leg to Windsor along a countryside stretch of the River Thames. The route will take the Queen's coffin through 25 miles of London streets and villages in Surrey and Berkshire. Last night a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'The route to Windsor is planned with the public in mind.'

The news confirms suggestions that the Queen's coffin would not travel on the M4, which would have been the quickest route, giving thousands more Britons the chance to pay their last respects as her coffin passes.

Travelling along A-roads west out of London to Berkshire means it will be easier for mourners to line up along the road.

Former Tory Cabinet minister David Jones, who called for an extended post-funeral route, had said last night: 'I think it's very important that as many people as possible have the opportunity to pay their last respects while in sight of the coffin. So it's sensible that it's not going all the way along the motorway, as people would not be able to do that there.

After the funeral finishes at around midday next Monday, the Queen's children will walk behind her the carriage carrying her coffin to Wellington Arch.

Large screens will be set up in Hyde Park to allow people to watch the service. Once in Windsor, the hearse will arrive at the Long Walk at 3.15pm.

Earlier this week, the Mail's Robert Hardman outlined the case for extending the post-funeral route so more Britons could say farewell. The funeral at Westminster Abbey will finish around midday next Monday.

Before her coffin is put into the state hearse, Her Majesty's coffin will be carried on a 123-year-old gun carriage towed by 98 Royal Navy sailors in a tradition dating back to the funeral of Queen Victoria.

Harry and Meghan have been 'uninvited to state reception at Buckingham Palace on Sunday after officials insisted event was for working royals only' The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were 'uninvited' to a state reception for world leaders and foreign royals tomorrow evening, it was reported last night. It is thought the couple received an invitation to the event, hosted by King Charles and the Queen Consort, earlier in the week. But Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are now unlikely to attend after officials at Buckingham Palace insisted the reception was for working royals only, it is understood. US President Joe Biden, French president Emmanuel Macron and the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau are among the heads of states who will arrive in London this weekend to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral on Monday. World leaders, ambassadors and foreign royals will attend a reception at the Palace where they will also be greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Earl and Countess of Wessex. The confusion over Harry and Meghan's invitation points to issues with communication between the Californian-based couple and the Royal Family, according to the Daily Telegraph. It follows an apparent U-turn over Harry's right to wear military uniform despite being a non-working royal. The Palace is understood to have intervened to allow Harry to wear his regalia to a 15-minute vigil at Westminster Hall today. Harry had previously said he would wear a morning suit to all the funeral events. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were also said to be furious after it was revealed their children will not be granted HRH status when they are appointed by prince and princess by King Charles III. A source claimed to The Sun, that Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, are set to be officially made prince and princess in the near future as Charles has agreed to issue a Letters Patent to grant the titles. But a report claims that following tense talks between the new King over recent days, the Sussexes have been left 'furious' that their children will not also get HRH titles. Advertisement

The sailors, known as the Sovereign's Guard, will pull on ropes attached to the carriage's front wheels, drawing the late monarch forward.

The tradition of the carriage being pulled by sailors stretches back to when the day of Victoria's funeral in 1901.

Her coffin was being carried through the streets of Windsor by a team of horses but the animals panicked and reared up, threatening to topple the coffin off the carriage.

Captain Prince Louis of Battenberg - the future First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy - intervened and suggested to the new monarch, Edward VII, that the sailors should step in.

Once this was agreed, the horses were unharnessed and improvised ropes were attached to the gun carriage, which weighs 2.5 tonnes (3,000kg), and the team of sailors was brought in to ensure the coffin was carried safely for the rest of the route.

Only nine years later, at the funeral of Edward VII, the new routine became enshrined as a tradition which has been followed at all state funerals since.

The same State Gun Carriage has since been used at the funerals of King George V in 1936, King George VI in 1952, Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 and Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was murdered by the IRA in 1979.

The Committal Service at St George's Chapel will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor and feature a congregation of the late monarch's family and friends and mourners from her household past and present, including her personal staff from across her private estates.

At the end of the final hymn, the King will place the Grenadier Guards' Queen's Company Colour - the royal standard of the regiment - on the coffin.

Baron Parker, the Lord Chamberlain and the most senior official in the late Queen's royal household, will 'break' his Wand of Office and place it on the Coffin.

As the coffin is lowered into the royal vault the Garter King of Arms will pronounce the styles and titles of the Queen and the Sovereign's Piper will play a lament and walk slowly away so the music fades.

In the evening, a private burial service will be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, attended by Charles and members of the royal family.

Large parts of Central London will be closed for the Queen's funeral, with up to one million people expected to descend on the capital.

Roads around Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament are all set to be shut until at least the start of next Tuesday - including Whitehall, Birdcage Walk, The Mall, Constitution Hill, Northumberland Avenue, Horse Guards Avenue, Horse Guards Road, Victoria Street, Buckingham Gate, Marlborough Road and Victoria Embankment.

Westminster Bridge will also remain closed. While pedestrians and cyclists are set to be allowed to move through most of the areas, the closures will impact public transport - and the council said bicycles may be removed.

The council also warned pedestrian access to some areas will be affected as it tries to 'minimise the impact on residents, businesses and local communities'. It added that it was allowing resident permit holders of affected zones A, D and G to park in resident bays in other zones across Westminster until 8.30am next Wednesday.

There will be a significant impact on roads in Kensington and Chelsea in West London - with the local authority there warning that roads from Kensington High Street south will not be accessible on the day of the funeral.

Queen's Gate and Cromwell Road - as well as most other major roads across the borough and all the bridges - will be closed on Monday from 6am until later in the day when police decide it is safe for them to reopen.

The local authority said there will be 'significant traffic' on Monday and told residents they will have 'restricted access which will make it very difficult to move around the borough and get out of the borough'.

Prince William tells soldiers who will be taking part in the Queen's funeral that Her Majesty will be 'looking down' on the service Prince William has told soldiers who will be taking part in the Queen's funeral that Her Majesty will be 'looking down' on her funeral service at Westminster Abbey. The service, which will take place in central London on Monday, will be attended by hundreds of world leaders, foreign dignitaries and members of the Royal Family. US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are making the trip from Washington, while several European royals have confirmed they will attend the elaborate affair. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited Army Training Centre Pirbright in Surrey on Friday, where they spoke with Commonwealth troops participating in the procession. William was heard speaking with troops from the New Zealand Defence Force about how the Queen would be keeping an eye on Monday's proceedings. Greg Gifford, 31, said: 'One of the key things I took away from what he said was how the Queen will definitely be looking down on the whole funeral service. 'He said she would be interested in the detail of the soldiers, how the drill is carried out, it's precision, our dress, things like that.' William and Kate also told of how 'strange' it has been going from the Queen's Platinum Jubilee to her funeral in a matter of months. The Prince of Wales, talking with troops from Australia, was heard saying the difference between the celebrations in June and the funeral preparations shows 'the highs and lows of it all'. Advertisement

A ring of steel will surround Westminster Abbey for the Queen's funeral in the biggest security operation in Scotland Yard's near-200 year history.

At least 10,000 police officers including 2,000 from around the UK will be guarding central London and the Queen's 23 mile route to Windsor Castle on Monday. Many roads and bridges will be shut to traffic and 23-miles of barriers put up to control crowds and keep key areas empty or secure.

Yesterday it was announced that the King had given permission for the Queen's eight grandchildren to stand vigil beside her coffin in Westminster Hall tonight. William will stand at the head, with his brother Harry at the foot.

A spokesman said: 'At the King's request, they will both be in uniform.' Earlier in the week officials had said only working members of the Royal Family would be permitted to wear military uniform - meaning Princes Andrew and Harry would be forced to wear mourning dress.

When it emerged that Andrew had been given special permission to wear a uniform last night, there was widespread condemnation that Harry appeared to be left out. Sources said the U-turn was not as a result of any lobbying by Harry, adding that it was a decision made solely by his father in a spirit of unity and honour to the Queen.

It came as the King last night set out what kind of monarch he wants to be, telling faith leaders at Buckingham Palace that he believes it is his 'duty' to protect the diversity of the country including 'religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs'.

He said: 'I have always thought of Britain as a 'community of communities'. That has led me to understand that the Sovereign has an additional duty - less formally recognised but to be no less diligently discharged.

'It is the duty to protect the diversity of our country, including by protecting the space for faith itself and its practise through the religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals.'

The King told the reception in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace how much their words of condolence meant to him after the death of his mother the Queen last week.

He added: 'I also wanted, before all of you today, to confirm my determination to carry out my responsibilities as Sovereign of all communities around this country and the Commonwealth and in a way which reflects the world in which we now live.'

Charles said his own Christian beliefs 'have love at their very heart' and that they 'bound' him to respect those following other religious paths.

He said: 'As a member of the Church of England, my Christian beliefs have love at their very heart. By my most profound convictions, therefore - as well as by my position as Sovereign - I hold myself bound to respect those who follow other spiritual paths, as well as those who seek to live their lives in accordance with secular ideals.

'The beliefs that flourish in, and contribute to, our richly diverse society differ. They, and our society, can only thrive through a clear collective commitment to those vital principles of freedom of conscience, generosity of spirit and care for others which are, to me, the essence of our nationhood.

'I am determined, as King, to preserve and promote those principles across all communities, and for all beliefs, with all my heart. This conviction was the foundation of everything my beloved mother did for our country, over her years as our Queen. It has been the foundation of my own work as Prince of Wales. It will continue to be the foundation of all my work as King.'

The King described himself as a 'committed Anglican Christian' who at his coronation will take an oath relating to the settlement of the Church of England.

He noted he has already 'solemnly' given an oath at his accession ceremony which pledges to maintain and preserve the Protestant faith in Scotland.

There was a gentle ripple of applause as the King left the Bow Room at the palace, stopped for a second, waved and left.
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A Las Vegas official charged with the murder of investigative reporter Jeff German for exposing his affair, told police during a 2020 arrest: 'You guys just wanna take me down because I'm a public official.'

Newly-released bodycam footage shows Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, 45, slurring during his arrest on March 1, 2020.

The Democrat lawmaker was nabbed after police received a call from Mae Ismael, his wife, alleging he drunkenly grabbed her by the neck and hit her arm as they returned from the Bellagio casino. He allegedly also screamed, 'kill me.'

The footage shows Telles slurring his words as officers walk him outside his suburban home in handcuffs and shove him in the backseat of a police car.

'Can anyone tell me who I hit?' Telles said repeatedly as police detained him. 'Because I didn't hit anybody?'

Telles added, 'You guys just want to take me down because I'm a public official.'

'No we don't,' an officer responded to the county official as Telles proceeded to deny the abuse allegations. Telles continues to repeat the 'public official' as he's bundled into a police cruiser.

The arrest occurred more than two years before Telles was arrested for the September 3 murder of Jeff German, a journalist with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, who exposed the official's affair with another woman that worked in his office.

Telles was arrested on September 7 after DNA evidence found under German's fingernails allegedly matched his.

New body camera footage shows Las Vegas Official Robert Telles, 45, telling police they want to destroy him because he is a public official during his 2020 arrest for domestic violence

He allegedly hit his wife and grabbed her neck on their way home from a night out. The arrest occurred more than two years before Telles was arrested for the September 3 murder of a journalist

Telles was drunk when he was arrested and asked police multiple times who he hit. Police ignored his questions and Telles was taken away

The Clark County Public Administrator was arrested after Mae Ismael, his wife, said he drunkenly grabbed her by the neck and hit her arm as they returned from the Bellagio casino

Ismael and her kids (above) were hiding from drunk Telles in 2020 before police arrived at their suburban home. He is said to have grabbed her in a 'bear hug' after she called 911 and would not let go until their children (pictured) pried her away

Telles is pictured above from his most recent arrest in the murder of a reporter. He was arrested on September 7 after DNA evidence found under German's fingernails allegedly matched his

Telles is now accused of killing Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German (right), 69, earlier this month, after the journalist exposed his affair with county staffer Roberta Lee-Kennett, 45,

Telles refused to discuss the murder of German in a jailhouse interview and claimed he lives his life to do 'good for others.'

Despite his inability to discuss the case, Telles insisted he has 'certainly made mistakes' in his past and pointed to his drinking problem - but didn't admit to touching his wife.

'I don't drink anymore,' he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 'My wife and I have a much better relationship [now].'

He said he has been sober since that night and had only uncontrollably drunk on special occasions beforehand.

'It was just me blacking out and, again, not being in control of what was going on,' he said.

'Ive just really try to do my best, to live my life doing good for others, and Im hoping that, again, with everything thats rolling around in the media these days, that people really see that,' he said from inside the walls of the Clark County Detention Center.

In a 911 call from March 2020, Telles' wife told police he was 'going crazy, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Ismael said Telles had drank too much and wouldn't leave her or their children alone.

Then after she called 911, a police report states, that Telles grabbed Ismael in a tight 'bear hug' and did not let her go until their children pried her away.

'The force of the grab, and Robert's demeanor frightened the children,' the police report says. It also notes that Ismael had no visible injuries from the brawl.

But when police arrived at the home that night, they reported that Telles began arguing with his wife again  and even yelled at officers when they tried to keep the two separated.

By the time officers tried to put him in handcuffs, the police report says, Telles flexed his arm in front of his body and collapsed into a chair, refusing to get up.

In body camera footage obtained by The New York Post, Telles can be heard shouting at police, 'Honestly, I've been way f***ing drunker than this,' and continued to deny that he hit his wife.

'Ask the f**king Bellagio if I did that because thats f**king bullshit, he continued. I would never ever f**king do that because Im not stupid. I am a public official who would never be so f**king stupid to f**king do that. I have many friends and we had a good time. I dont know why she f**king did this.'

In the end, though, the domestic battery charge was dismissed 'per negotiations,' according to court documents and Telles only received a suspended 90-day sentence on the resisting arrest charge on September 30, 2020.

The Las Vegas official is still being investigated after the veteran reporter was found stabbed to death outside his home on September 3, a day after a straw hat-wearing suspect was found on surveillance footage near the journalist's home.

Telles did claim that 'just really try to do my best, to live my life doing good for others.' Telles was arrested on September 7 after DNA evidence found under German's fingernails allegedly matched his

German - who worked in Sin City for most of his career - died of 'multiple sharp force injuries' in a homicide, the Clark County Office of the Coroner Medical Examiner said earlier this month.

When police searched Telles' home, they found bloodied shoes and a cut-up straw hat.

Telles' car - a red GMC - was also found to match the vehicle seen on surveillance. Reporters also stalked the public official's home and found him washing his car after the incident.

When Telles - who admitted he did not know if he'd resign from office - was arrested, he reportedly had self-inflicted cuts on his arms.

An arrest report obtained by DailyMail.com shows that he barricaded himself inside his home, made suicidal statements, and slashed his arms with a knife when SWAT teams arrived to arrest him.

He was also suspected of taking drugs in the moments before he was cuffed, forcing officers to take him to the hospital before he was booked into the county jail.

Prosecutors have accused the public official of 'lying in wait' to kill the journalist, who had extensively reported on the turmoil in Telles' office, including an alleged inappropriate relationship with a staffer Roberta Lee-Kennett, 45.

He revealed the affair after publishing a video of him exiting a vehicle with his lover.

Staffer Roberta Lee-Kennett, 45, left the backseat of the car at the same time as the official and can be seen hoisting her skirt down.

Surveillance footage showed a suspect wearing gray shoes and a straw hat, which were later found at Telles' home

Police found a bloodied shoe that looked similar to the ones the suspect was seen wearing

Police also found a straw hat cut up at Telles' home after the murder

Reporters spotted Telles washing his Red GMC (pictured on surveillance) shortly after the murder

Las Vegas police officers are seen on earlier this month outside Telles' home

Telles home is pictured on earlier this month being searched by police

Telles has denied all of the allegations made against him by German, including the affair and the claims that he oversaw an abusive workplace.

He admitted to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that there was 'hostility' in the office, despite his efforts 'to improve that office,' he claimed.

'Its unfortunate that that narrative somehow grew legs and ran,' he said.

DailyMail.com previously revealed Telles had been railing against German for months  including in an angry series of messages on social media in which he accused him of rifling through his trash and writing 'lying smear pieces' about him.

His colleagues at the Review-Journal helped to track down the suspected killer when they staked out the suspect's home, after recalling the tweets sent by Telles to German.

Telles lashed out at German in a series of public Twitter posts, accusing the reporter of preparing 'lying smear piece #4 by Jeff German, #onetrickpony I think hes mad that I havent crawled into a hole and died.'

In a second post, he added: 'Wife hears rustling in the trash* Her: "Honey, is there a wild animal in the trash?"

Roberta Lee-Kennett, 45, (pictured with her husband) was accused of having an affair with Telles. German claimed that the two were having an affair, and published video of her getting out of a car and pulling her skirt down after being in the back seat with the official

Kennett left the backseat of the car at the same time as the official, as she pulled her skirt down. The clip was published by the late reporter in May

Alleged killer Robert Telles, 45, seen leaving the backseat of his car, along with a member of his staff. The story was reported by the journalist he allegedly killed

'Me: "No, dear. Look like its Jeff German going through our trash for his 4th story on me." Oh, Jeff'

According to the local paper's obituary, German reported on an extensive range of grisly topics in Las Vegas, including courts, politics, labor, government, and organized crime.

Glenn Cook, the Review-Journal's executive editor, said earlier this month that German had not communicated any concerns about his personal safety or any threats made against him to anyone in the newspaper's leadership.

He said in a statement: 'The Review-Journal family is devastated to lose Jeff.'

In the jailhouse interview, he did discuss the domestic violence case - that was dismissed - that took place in March 2020, when his wife (pictured together) called the cops and said her husband was 'going crazy.' He claimed he had an alcohol issue and has been sober since and has a better relationship with his wife now

'He was the gold standard of the news business. It's hard to imagine what Las Vegas would be like today without his many years of shining a bright light on dark places.'

German joined the Review-Journal in 2010 after more than two decades at the Las Vegas Sun, where he was a columnist and reporter who covered corruption and organized crime.

He was known for his stories about government malfeasance and political scandals and coverage of the 2017 mass shooting at a Las Vegas music festival that killed 60 people and wounded more than 400 others.

German held a master's degree from Marquette University and was the author of the 2001 true-crime book 'Murder in Sin City: The Death of a Las Vegas Casino Boss,' the story of the death of Ted Binion, heir to the Horseshoe Club fortune.

Cathy Scott, a former coworker, noted how she and German broke the story of the killing of Las Vegas mafia associate Herbert 'Fat Herbie' Blitzstein in 1997 in Las Vegas.

German (pictured) spent most of his career in Sin City and joined the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2010

German was the author of the 2001 true-crime book 'Murder in Sin City: The Death of a Las Vegas Casino Boss,' the story of the death of Ted Binion, heir to the Horseshoe Club fortune

German covered several organized crime stories, including hosting a season of the Review-Journal's true crime podcast, 'Mobbed Up: The Fight for Vegas.'

The podcast was described as being about how 'mafia crime families wielded hidden control over more than a third of the Strips casinos, and federal and state agents were waking up to the enormous task of pushing them out.'

He also broke stories about government corruption, and political candidates having inappropriate campaign finances and told stories of the rise and fall of the mob in Las Vegas.
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Forecasters say that rain is unlikely to fall during the Queen's momentous state funeral on Monday, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to head to London that day.

The Met Office predicts that most of the UK will experience a settled spell of broadly dry and fine weather with some sunny spells on Monday.

In London during the ceremony and the Gun State Carriage procession to the Wellington Arch and Hyde Park Corner at around 1pm, sunshine is expected to come down on the capital as the world watches the funeral go ahead.

And when the Queen's coffin is brought to Windsor for the final time, dry weather is also expected.

Those waiting outside in the 16-hour-long queues from Westminster Hall to Southwark Park to see the Queen's coffin lying in state are also lucky with the weekend of weather - as although the mornings and evening are chilly, most areas will be fine and dry with more sunny spells throughout the day.

Today's temperatures are expected to reach highs of around 17C (62.6F) in the south and 14C (57.2F) in the north of England and Scotland, with Hereford, Cardiff and Southampton reaching 18C (64.4F) later on this afternoon.

Overnight and early tomorrow morning temperatures in the capital will drop to 10C (50F) tonight, with cloudy skies expected tomorrow in the final hours before the Queen's funeral on Monday.

During the one-minute national silence at 8pm on Sunday, the night before the state funeral, London and Windsor will be at 16C (60.8F), Sandringham in Norfolk will be 13C (55.4F) and Balmoral will be 9C (48.2F).

Forecasters say that rain is unlikely to fall during the Queen's momentous state funeral on Monday, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to head to London that day (pictured, people near Tower Bridge queuing to the Queen's coffin which is laying-in-state at Westminster Hall)

Those waiting outside in the 16-hour-long queues from Westminster Hall to Southwark Park to see the Queen's coffin lying in state are also lucky with the weekend of weather - as although the mornings and evening are chilly, most areas will be fine and dry with more sunny spells throughout the day (Westminster Abbey, where the funeral will take place, pictured yesterday)

King Charles III, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex mount a vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II last night

The beach is busy with visitors and locals enjoying the hot afternoon autumn sunshine at the seaside resort of Weymouth in Dorset on Saturday

Weymouth Beach in Dorset had some sunbathers on Saturday - on the final few days before the Queen's funeral on Monday

Final preparations are underway for the funeral on Monday, with 2,000 VIPs - from world leaders Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and Jacinda Ardern to royals including Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia and the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima - expected to arrive throughout the weekend.

Rehearsals took place last night and will continue over the weekend to make sure that everything is in place for Monday's State Funeral, which will be the biggest show of pomp, pageantry and majesty seen in the modern age. World leaders and royalty from across the globe are flying in to pay their respects.

They will be joined by hundreds of charity representatives and members of the public honoured for their civic duty who have secured places in the 2,000-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey.

Palace officials yesterday extended the route of the Queen's final journey from Westminster Abbey on Monday - the site of her funeral between 11am and 12pm - to Windsor Castle, her final resting place, to enable more people to bid her farewell.

First the Queen's coffin will be borne by an extraordinary procession of the State Gun Carriage through London to Wellington Arch, where it will be transferred to the State Hearse at 1pm. Other members of the Royal Family will then travel along the M4 to Windsor, where a second ceremony will be held at St George's Chapel.

Members of the Armed Forces take part in a full ceremonial rehearsal of Queen Elizabeth II's committal in the early hours of Saturday morning - as people continued to queue on a chilly night to be able to see the Queen's coffin lie in state

Armed Forces staff took part in a rehearsal in the early hours of this morning ahead of the Queen's funeral on Monday - which should see sunny spells and dry weather

Today's temperatures are expected to reach highs of around 17C (62.6F) in the south and 14C (57.2F) in the north of England and Scotland, with Hereford, Cardiff and Southampton reaching 18C (64.4F) later on this afternoon (a queuer for the laying-in-state ceremony is pictured on Saturday morning)

Members of the public queue on Saturday morning near Tower Bridge, to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state in Westminster Hall

But if the former monarch had been driven via the motorway, mourners wanting to say their goodbyes would have been unable to line the route.

The cortege will follow the A4 through west London, going along Talgarth Road via the Hammersmith Flyover, and along the Great West Road.

Just before Heathrow, the hearse will switch to the A30 Great South West Road, and travel around the south side of the airport.

It will process along London Road, still the A30, and Staines Road, before crossing the M25 to Windsor Road (the A308) for the final leg to Windsor along a countryside stretch of the River Thames. The route will take the Queen's coffin through 25 miles of London streets and villages in Surrey and Berkshire. Last night a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'The route to Windsor is planned with the public in mind.'

The news confirms suggestions that the Queen's coffin would not travel on the M4, which would have been the quickest route, giving thousands more Britons the chance to pay their last respects as her coffin passes.

Travelling along A-roads west out of London to Berkshire means it will be easier for mourners to line up along the road.

Last night, King Charles and his siblings held a silent vigil in Westminster Hall to pay a moving tribute to their beloved mother. As members of the public watched in complete silence, the four senior royals - all in dress uniform - approached the Queen's coffin.

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall earlier this afternoon

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to see the Queen lying-in-state earlier this afternoon alongside his father, King Charles

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen in London - some of which have been queuing for 14 hours

At just after 7.45pm, the duty officer struck the floor three times with his staff to signal the arrival of the late monarch's four children.

They lined up, the King at the front, followed by Anne, Edward and then Andrew, as the staff was struck three times again. Solemnly, they approached the catafalque - the raised platform holding the coffin - to take their positions and approach their mother's coffin.

Another three strikes of the staff, echoing throughout the cavernous Norman hall, and they stepped up before facing outwards, and then three strikes again.

Four candles flickered as they stepped up, the King, 73, sporting his Royal Navy ceremonial dress; Princess Anne, 72, in the uniform of the Blues and Royals, and the Earl of Wessex, 58, the Blues uniform with the rank of Honorary Royal Colonel of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry.

Former Royal Navy helicopter pilot Andrew, 62, who is no longer a working royal and has been stripped of his honorary affiliations, was given special permission by Charles to wear a uniform for the vigil as a mark of respect for Her Majesty. He chose his Vice-Admiral's uniform, an honour given to him by the Queen on his 55th birthday.

Members of the public, many of whom had been queueing all day, were allowed to keep filing into the 900-year-old hall.

The chilly weather saw many well-wishers wrapping themselves up in blankets and winter coats as the four-and-a-half mile route to reach Westminster Hall.

People have continued to pay their respects to the Queen across the country, with members of the public pictured arriving at Windsor Castle to lay flowers in the morning sunshine on Saturday.

Members of the public in the queue near Southbank in London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday

The chilly weather saw many well-wishers wrapping themselves up in blankets and winter coats as the four-and-a-half mile route to reach Westminster Hall (pictured this morning)

People have continued to pay their respects to the Queen across the country, with members of the public pictured arriving at Windsor Castle to lay flowers in the morning sunshine on Saturday

Flowers and messages left outside Cambridge Gate on the Long Walk in Windsor on Saturday morning ahead of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday

Once they get inside, mourners are now put into two queues each side of the Catafalque holding the Queen's coffin, doubling the lines after concerns of delays.

Since the early hours of yesterday morning officials have directed queuers to form two columns either side of the late Queen's coffin, adorned with the Imperial Crown, so twice as many people can pay their respects at once.

The huge volume of people wanting to pay their final respects to Her Majesty led to the decision to double the rate of flow, ensuring as many who wished to pay their respects were able.

Yesterday David Beckham was spotted in the queue after having waited to pay his respects to the Queen for 12 hours. New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also visited Westminster Hall last night.

Early this afternoon the new King and Prince William stopped by at Lambeth Bridge to thank members of the public for standing in the queue to see the Queen's coffin lie in state.

Delighted royal fans took photographs and pressed against the metal barriers, eager to exchange a word with the King and the heir to the throne as they shook hands with those closest.

Last night's vigil had been intended to involve only the Queen's four children, but in a remarkable show of family unity, 18 senior family members - as well as a host of other relatives - turned up to support them.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has slammed the GOP governors who sent groups of migrants to Martha's Vineyard and Washington DC as guilty of 'crimes against humanity'.

Without naming them directly, the progressive New York Democrat excoriated Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott in a series of tweets on Friday.

'It's appalling that far-right politicians seem to have decided that fall before an election is their regularly scheduled time to commit crimes against humanity on refugees,' she wrote.

'Don't normalize this. Lying to & trafficking people for TV and clicks isn't politics as usual. It's abuse,' added Ocasio-Cortez.

On Wednesday, DeSantis flew roughly 50 Venezuelan migrants who entered the US illegally to the wealthy Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard -- though many say they expected to fly to Boston.

Meanwhile, Abbott sent two buses full of about 100 migrants from the Texas border to Vice President Kamala Harris' official residence in DC.

Another 50 were bussed to the same address on Saturday, with three more buses also arriving in New York City Saturday morning.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has slammed the GOP governors who sent groups of refugees to Martha's Vineyard and Washington DC as guilty of 'crimes against humanity'

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (left) and Texas Governor Greg Abbott (right) were behind the high-profile incidents transporting migrants to Martha's Vineyard and DC this week

Republican Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has also been busing migrants to Washington DC since May.

The states claim that passengers must sign waivers that the free trips are voluntary, but some of the migrants say they were misled about their destination.

The GOP governors say the stunts are intended to force federal action on the southern border crisis, and spread the impact of record-breaking illegal border crossing to areas that proclaim themselves sanctuaries for illegal immigrants.

'Texas will continue sending migrants to sanctuary cities like Washington, D.C. until President Biden and Border Czar Harris step up and do their jobs to secure the border,' Abbott said in a statement on Thursday.

But Ocasio-Cortez slammed the moves as small-minded and misguided, tweeting: 'What a lot of Republican politicians fail to understand is that not everyone shares their zero-sum, scarcity mindset.'

'Many of us understand that immigrants and refugees are a blessing. They have so much to offer our country, & much of our growth as a nation is because of them, she added.

DeSantis flew roughly 50 Venezuelan migrants to the wealthy Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard (above), but the group was quickly ferried to a base on Cape Cod

Abbott sent two buses full of migrants to Vice President Kamala Harris' official residence in DC on Thursday, saying the move was to force federal action on the border crisis

'By today's standards, most US families would have be deemed undocumented or trafficked at some point in their family history,' the New York Democrat wrote.

'For the most part, people didn't need lawyers and years of processing to come to this US until immigration became a racialized issue. Remember that,' she continued.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged that the Venezuelan migrants who were flown to Martha's Vineyard on Wednesday were told they were going to Boston.

'They were told, 'You have a hearing in San Antonio, but don't worry, we'll take you to Boston,' Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, the executive director for Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston, told the New York Times.

He said that dozens of migrants in the group learned that they were headed for Martha's Vineyard, the wealthy island enclave, when their plane was in mid-air.

He said dozens of the migrants had told his team they only had been informed midair that they were going to land in tony Martha's Vineyard rather than Boston.

'They were also told there would be employment opportunities and immigration relief available to them if they boarded the plane,' said Espinoza-Madrigal.

'That's not only state interference with federal immigration matters, it's also a violation of our clients' civil rights.'

The lawyer vowed to seek a federal injunction halting the interstate flights full of migrants, saying they were violations of due process.

The Martha's Vineyard group was quickly ferried off the island on Friday to a military base on Cape Cod, where officials said there were more resources to support them.

Martha's Vineyard declared an emergency over the migrants and called in the National Guard, prompting the immigrants to be moved 32 miles away to Cape Cod

Pictured: A group of 50 migrants enjoyed Venezuelan dishes at the military base after Martha's Vineyard declared an emergency over the group's arrival

DeSantis said Friday that most migrants intended to come to Florida and that the trip to Marthas Vineyard was voluntary. He did not address the migrants' claims that they were told they were going elsewhere.

US Rep Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts, accused DeSantis of orchestrating a political ploy with the lives of the migrants.

'Playing politics with people's lives is what governors like George Wallace did during segregation,' Moulton said, referring to Wallace's tactics of tricking black Southerners to move north. 'Ron DeSantis is trying to earn George Wallace's legacy.'

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also took aim at DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott during a press conference today, urging other Republicans who do not agree with their 'blueprint' to 'speak up'.

She said: 'This is an issue and we have been clear about this, this is an issue that is inhumane it is abhorrent and we should not be using people, migrants, who are fleeing communism as a political pawn.'

Speaking on Thursday, DaSantis accused critics of his move to fly migrants to Martha's Vineyard of 'virtue signaling', saying their concern for the welfare of the migrants was a 'fraud'.

He said: 'The minute even a small fraction of what those border towns deal with every day is brought to their front door, they go berserk, and they're so upset that this is happening.'
This is the moment Putin's troops turn on one another when an irate special forces fighter attacks a Russian national guardsman, singlehandedly sparking an ugly brawl among comrades.

Footage shows pro-Putin bruiser Andrei Marlin digging into the national guardsman four days after he returned from the horrors of the frontline in Donbas, Ukraine.

Shaky mobile phone video shows the aggressive soldier swearing at a man in a balaclava in the lobby of the Voronezh hotel in Voronezh, Russia, about 150 miles from the Ukrainian border with the Kharkiv region.

Marlin reportedly served in Ukraine as a mercenary with the Kremlin's private military company the Wagner Group, and the brawl will serve as a warning to the Kremlin of what awaits them once traumatised fighters start returning to Russia en masse.

The aggressive serviceman tells the Russian national guardsman: 'My call sign is Marlin, I am [from] a special group of the 136th regiment.

A pro-Putin special forces fighter (above) attacked a national guardsman on his own side in an ugly brawl

Marlin (circled) continued to swear at the guards after he was detained and handcuffed by them. Pro-Putin bruiser Andrei Marlin was allegedly with the private Kremlin army Wagner

The foyer of Voronezh hotel, Russia. Later on in the video Marlin confronted a Russian national guardsman and said: 'My call sign is Marlin, I am [from] a special group of the 136th regiment

The bruiser was shouting and screaming at the guardsman just inches from his face. Among other things he shouted: 'I fought for your country, and you, you f*****, threaten me'

After the pro-Putin fighter hit the guardsman he was overpowered and violently beaten with a baton and kicked by a group of soldiers

The incident took place in the Voronezh hotel in Voronezh, Russia, about 150 miles from the Ukrainian border with the Kharkiv region

He stalks over to the group of uniformed national guardsman loitering in the hotel lobby first pointing a finger and then lashing out violently at one balaclava-wearing soldier.

'I will personally crucify you! I will p*** on you, f*****!'

He added: 'Do you know who am I.? I defend your country!'

After the pro-Putin fighter hit the guardsman, another guardsman grabs his arm and pulls him to the ground while the rest steam in.

The Wagner fighter gets overpowered and violently beaten, with a baton, boots and a rifle butt making sickening thudding sounds.

Marlin continues to shout and swear at the guards even while being restrained and still being rained on with blows.

He also shouted: 'I fought for your country, and you, you f*****, threaten me?'

After he was detained his car was searched, where almost 500 gun cartridges were found, according to law enforcement.

The Stalin Gulag channel said: 'A new reality is coming for the police, with no rallies where women and schoolchildren can be beaten, but fighters who have felt the blood.'

It is unclear what triggered Marlin's violent outburst but it can be assumed that conditions he faced serving with the Wagner Group in Ukraine contributed heavily towards it.

Recently, oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, the man known as 'Putin's 'chef', was filmed at a penal colony in Mordovia declaring himself to be from the Wagner Group and offering convicted prisoners the opportunity to fight in Ukraine in exchange for a pardon from Putin.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, 61, the head of Wagner Group private military company, went to a penal colony in Mordovia to offer prisoners a chance of freedom in exchange for fighting in Putin's war. It is thought that 28,000 Russian prisoners have taken up the offer

Yevgeny Prigozhin told the inmates they will be pardoned if they survive six months in the war against Ukraine. They should take their own lives instead of being taken prisoner, he said

The Wagner chief gave the inmates five minutes to decide if they wanted to join Russia's war in Ukraine. The minimum age is 22, and the maximum is 50, with a six-month commitment

Yevgeny Prigozhin, (right) linked to Wagner private military company used to bolster the Russian army in Ukraine, is pictured with Vladimir Putin

All they had to do was fight and survive on the front lines of the war for six month.

Prigozhin was seen giving the sales pitch to inmates in the bleak penal colony - a former Gulag prison camp - offering inmates earlier in the week in a leaked video.

The oligarch laid out some of the terms of the offer, including telling prisoners they should take their own lives instead of being captured in Ukraine, holding one grenade for the enemy and one for themselves.

Prisoners were warned they would be shot in summary executions if they deserted, but they can also become heroes of Russia in battle.

Prisoners who opt to fight for Putin are sent to the Wagner private army, 'controlled' by Prigozhin, which fulfils military orders of the Russian defence ministry in Ukraine.

'This is a hard war, not even close to the likes of [Chechnya] and the others,' he was videoed telling them.

'Ammo consumption is two-and-a-half-times higher than in the battle of Stalingrad,' where there were almost two million casualties, he said.

And today it was reported that more than 28,000 prisoners including murderers, rapists and those guilty of grievous bodily harm have taken up the offer.

The scheme has so far led to the release of more than five percent of the entire male prison population in Russia as the Kremlin steps up recruitment of inmates after suffering a humiliating defeat against Ukraine's army in the east of the country.

The astonishing figure - revealed by independent Volya Telegram channel - is far higher than previous estimates of released prisoners fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

A new video this week showed 400 prisoner-volunteers in a dozen prison vans on their way to basic training.

Most inmates are given just perfunctory training before being sent into battle on the front lines as assault troops, where survival rates are shiveringly low.

Putin's beleaguered forces may not have enough in reserve to hold off another Ukraine attack, defence experts say as mass graves finds show further evidence of war crimes

By Walter Finch for MailOnline

Beleaguered Russian forces still reeling from Ukraine's devastating offensive may not have 'sufficient reserves or adequate morale' to withstand another concerted assault in eastern parts of Ukraine, according to defence experts.

British defence intelligence analysts believe Moscow has managed to establish a new defensive line between the Oskil River and the town of Svatove near the border between the Kharkiv and Luhansk regions.

The zone is viewed as important partly because capturing he Luhansk region, part of the Donbas, was one of Russia's key warm aims.

Any substantial loss of territory here, one of the few main resupply routes from Russia's Belgorod region, would 'unambiguously undermine' Vladimir Putin's strategy for the conflict, the experts say.

It comes following the collapse of Russian lines in the east after a stunning Ukrainian offensive launched on September 6 that took the invaders by surprise, forcing the Kremlin to concede swathes of territory.

A Ukrainian tank rolls through countryside around the key town of Izium that was liberated over a week ago

Russian forces suffered huge losses during Ukraine's lightning assault, which saw Ukraine liberate thousands of square miles and push the frontline back. Pictured: A wrecked armoured vehicle

A destroyed Russian MT-LB armoured personnel carrier burning in a field on the outskirts of Izyum

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it is unclear whether Russia's frontline forces have adequate reserves or morale to withstand another concerted Ukrainian assault in eastern parts of the country. Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen near a destroyed structure in Izium

The front line has shifted eastwards towards the Russian border, between the Oskil River and the town of Svatove near the border between the Kharkiv and occupied Luhansk regions

In its latest update on the situation in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it is unclear whether Russia's frontline forces have adequate reserves or morale to withstand another concerted Ukrainian assault in eastern parts of the country.

Despite the superb performance of Ukrainian armed forces, President Zelensky said it was too early to say the tide of the war was turning, and that the outcome hinged on the swift delivery of foreign weapons to his country.

Putin, in his first comments on Ukraine's counteroffensive, brushed off the advances with a smile but warned that Russia would respond more forcefully if its troops were put under further pressure.

This raises questions of how the Russian dictator could escalate in Ukraine, with some analysts predicting a general mobilisation of Russian citizens, while others fear that he could be contemplating the use of nuclear weapons.

In light of the threat, President Joe Biden warned Putin to avoid using nuclear weapons as his forces are beaten back in Ukraine or face 'consequences.'

In a preview for this Sunday's 60 Minutes, Scott Pelley asked the president what words he would have for his Russian counterpart if he is considering using chemical or tactical nuclear weapons in the Ukraine.

Biden responded: 'Don't. Don't. Don't. You will change the face of war unlike anything since World War II.'

When Pelley pushed the president for America's response should Putin cross the line, Biden declined to comment on a specific plan, only saying that the US would act if nuclear weapons are put into play.

'It'll be consequential,' Biden said. '[Russia] will become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been.

President Joe Biden warned Vladimir Putin that Russia would face 'consequences' if they decided to use nuclear or chemical weapons in Ukraine

PUTIN'S ATTACK DOG HIT IN ARSON ATTACK One of Vladimir Putin's leading propagandists, who has advocated launching hypersonic Satan-2 missiles at Britain, was targeted in an arson attack on Saturday. An intruder broke into the surroundings of a villa owned by TV presenter Dmitry Kiselyov, 68, in the occupied peninsula of Crimea. A Land Rover Freelander and a golf cart belonging to Kiselyov were set alight and destroyed according to police, who suspect Ukrainian agents or sympathisers. One of Putin's leading propagandists, Dmitry Kiselyov, was targeted in an arson attack on Saturday morning in Crimea Crimea was annexed from Ukraine in 2014. The attack occurred at 2am at the plush bolthole in Koktebel, a popular resort in southeast Crimea where the TV pundit and executive owns a winery and holiday home. Russian police in the occupied peninsula are investigating footage on CCTV cameras in a bid to identify the alleged attacker who evaded elaborate security, say reports. An image showed a man in a hoodie and wearing a Covid mask. The intruder fled moments later. Footage of the attack was posted in Russia by independent source Ostorozhno Novosti. The multi-millionaire pundit Kiselyov - reportedly avidly watched by Putin - is fond of threatening to turn the West into 'radioactive ashes'. It is unclear if he was in residence at the time of the attack. In 2013, Kiselyov was appointed by Putin to head Rossiya Segodnya, the Russian state-controlled media group. He also serves as deputy director of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company. His sprawling home in Crimea has been highlighted by Maria Zakharova, prominent spokeswoman for Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Excited by the war in Ukraine, Kiselyov has urged Putin to go further and drown Britain out of existence under a nuclear tidal wave. He told viewers: 'Another option is to plunge Britain into the depths of the sea is the Russian underwater robotic drone Poseidon. 'It approaches the target at a one kilometre depth with the speed of 200 kilometres per hour [125mph]. 'There is NO way to stop this underwater drone. It has a warhead with a capacity of up to 100 megatons. 'The explosion of this thermonuclear torpedo close to Britain's shores will raise a giant wave, a tsunami, up to 500 metres [1,640ft] high. 'This tidal wave is also a carrier of extremely high doses of radiation. 'Surging over Britain, it will turn what is probably left of them into radioactive desert. Permanently unusable for anything. 'How do you like this prospect? And Putin warned about this, back on February 24 [if anyone interfered with his special military operation].' The Sarmat hypersonic 208-ton 'Satan-2' intercontinental ballistic missile has a speed of 15,880mph and is claimed by the Kremlin leader to be 'unstoppable.' It is due to be deployed in the autumn. The Poseidon - being readied for service - is described as a giant nuclear-capable torpedo. Details of its high-speed 125 mph underwater propulsion system of the atomic powered underwater drone are regarded as top secret. Putin has boasted that it has an 'unlimited range', and said three years ago: 'Work is going according to plan.' Kiselyov studied at the same Leningrad State University attended by Putin. Advertisement

'And depending on the extent of what they do will determine what response would occur.'

In the wake of the Russian retreat, Ukrainain forces have liberated dozens of towns and villages, including the strategic hub of Izium, where bodies have been unearthed at a mass burial site.

At least ten torture chambers were discovered in the Kharkiv region, with 500 bodies found in the mass grave.

Ukraine's police chief Igor Klymenko said that two torture centres were found in Balaklya, a town in the northeast of the Kharkiv region.

The head of a pro-Russian administration pushed out by the counteroffensive, Vitaly Ganchev, accused Ukrainians of staging atrocities in the city of Izium.

The accusation follows the Kremlin's usual playbook of claiming it has been framed over atrocities allegedly committed by its own forces.

Klymenko said today that most of the people buried in the mass graves are civilians, with some of the graves marked only with numbers.

Other graves bear military symbols, suggesting that soldiers are buried there.

It is not yet clear how the people died, but the Ukrainians say some were likely killed fighting while others may have been caught in shelling and died from their wounds.

United Nations human rights monitors will go to Izium 'to try to establish a bit more about what may have happened', a spokesperson said.

Zelensky said the dead included both children and adults, civilians and military.

'Tortured, shot, killed by shelling. Even entire families are buried there: Mother, father and daughter,' Mr Zelensky said.

Asked if the mass grave contained mainly civilians or soldiers, Klymenko told a news conference: 'On a preliminary estimate, civilians.

'Although we have information that there are troops there, we haven't recovered a single one yet.'

Police have begun exhuming the site to gather evidence of potential war crimes and Klymenko said authorities had opened 204 criminal cases probing the atrocities.

Prosecutors have so-far uncovered Russian torture chambers and dug up graves of civilians whose bodies show signs of summary execution and have been mutilated.

People have also told stories of being electrocuted during interrogation sessions, of rapes, forced disappearances, arbitrary detention and other horrors.

The head of the prosecutor's office in the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv said that some of the bodies unearthed from the mass burial site showed signs of torture, with some buried with their hands tied behind their backs or ropes around their necks.

Izium resident Sergei Gorodko said that among the hundreds buried in the individual graves were dozens of adults and children killed in a Russian airstrike on an apartment building.

He said he pulled some of them out of the rubble 'with my own hands'.

Zelensky hinted at war crimes when he compared Izium to Mariupol and Bucha, two cities where Russia has systematically exterminated civilians in what has been described as crimes against humanity.

'We want the world to know what is really happening and what the Russian occupation has led to.

Bucha, Mariupol, now, unfortunately, Izyum,' he said.

'Russia leaves death everywhere. And it must be held accountable.'

The chief police investigator for the region of Kharkiv, Serhii Bolvinov, has said that the bodies will be exhumed and taken away for forensic examination.

It is part of a huge police effort in which the officers are working with prosecutors and other investigators on uncovering atrocities.

Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko said the recapture of Izium was a 'huge strategic gain', militarily speaking.

'Ukraine is making confident advances in the north-east and the south-east of the country as well,' she told Sky News.

'We are making progress for our sake, but also for the sake of bringing back long-standing peace to the continent.'

A Ukranian soldier standing atop an abandoned Russian tank near a village on the outskirts of Izium. Putin has hinted he will escalate in Ukraine if his army continues to take a beating

An abandoned Russian tank in vegetation in a village on the outskirts of Izium. President Zelensky said it was too early to say the tide of the war was turning, and that the outcome hinged on the swift delivery of foreign weapons to his country

A destroyed Russian tank and armoured personnel carriers on the outskirts of Izium. Ukrainain forces have liberated dozens of towns and villages and have unearthed a mass burial site

An abandoned Russian armoured personnel carrier near a village on the outskirts of Izium

Ukraine has uncovered a mass grave site in woodland near the city of Izyum, which was occupied by Russian forces until last week when it was liberated in a lightning counter-attack

The head of the prosecutor's office in the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv said that some of the bodies unearthed from the mass burial site showed signs of torture, with some buried with their hands tied behind their backs or ropes around their necks

Prosecutors spent yesterday sweeping the area for explosives and have now begun exhuming the pits so that bodies can be taken away for forensic examination to see how exactly the hundreds of people died

Investigators say some of the graves appear to be of civilians, some bear military markings, and others are simply marked with numbers (pictured) - with no clear indication who they contain or how those people died

Asked what she thought Mr Putin might do next, she said: 'Nobody can be in the mind of that power-crazed leader.'

She added: 'Whatever it is, we have to be prepared for it - we have to be prepared for it as Ukrainians, you have to be prepared for it in the UK.

'And actually, people worldwide need to be prepared that something absolutely atrocious, another crazy move, can happen any time.

'For that, Ukrainians need to have the weapons to protect themselves, the ammunition in the necessary amount to protect themselves.

'And the West needs to be prepared to apply every sanction that there is in the book against Russia.'

Western sanctions are starting to hurt Russia's ability to make advanced weaponry for the war in Ukraine, a top NATO military adviser said, though he said Russia could still manufacture 'a lot of ammunition'.
Doctors found a tumour in the chest of the otherwise healthy mother of two

A 'fit and healthy' mother of two undergoing a routine x-ray for a visa application was given the devastating diagnosis of a tumour that was discovered in her chest.

UK-born Julie Carne, 41, was applying for permanent residency in New Zealand when she underwent the medical exam and found an ominous shadow in the results.

The active mother is now scrambling to arrange medical treatment for the condition while she waits to find out if its cancerous.

However her surgery will not be covered by public healthcare in New Zealand, despite Ms Carne living there with fiance Tom and her daughters since 2019.

But she insists she's not bitter - and she says she's grateful the visa x-ray caught the possible cancer in time.

'If I hadn't undergone the medical checks I'd never have known about the tumour at an early stage,' she said.

'I'd have had no reason for the x-ray unless I went for residency.'

Julie Carne, 41, has lived a healthy and active lifestyle while raising her daughters (pictured) in New Zealand, she never expected a routine x-ray to reveal such a scary tumour

Julie Carne (pictured) was in the process of applying for a permanent visa to live in New Zealand when she had to undertake the routine medical examine

Ms Carne was initially on a partner of a worker visa while her fiance had a work visa as an anaesthetic technician.

When her visa elapsed she needed to make an application for residency which involved the medical checks.

She said the moment she received her x-ray results was almost too much.

'I was overcome. The fear was crippling. I'm a mother of two young girls and the thought of not being here for them was unbearable. It still is,' she told Stuff.co.nz.

The only way to find whether the tumour is cancerous is to remove it in surgery as it cannot be biopsied.

Staff shortages at Wellington Hospital meant Julie's surgeries have been so far delayed.

Julie Carne was looking to join her fiance Tom, an anaesthetic technician, (pictured) in living in New Zealand for the rest of their lives after falling in love with the country

Then when she looked like getting into a postponed surgery she learned her visa status bars her from receiving it in a publicly-funded hospital.

'We're not exactly sure what the reason is, and it's not something we are angry about,' she said.'We don't wish to make a point about the health system or politics.'

The family was informed the necessary surgery would cost $40,000.

Julie can't go back to the UK for the surgery either as that would see her sent straight to the bottom of any waiting list for the surgery.

But family and friends have raised more than $32,000 on a Givealittle page.

'It's hard being here with no family, to be honest,' she said.

'But the kindness and support we've received really has been overwhelming. We are so, so grateful and it has made us more sure than ever that this is our home.

'This is where we want our girls to grow.'
A 15-year-old schoolboy who went missing for nearly a month after travelling 560 miles by train from Croydon to Aberdeen has now been found safe and well.

Deandre Thompson left his home in Croydon on Wednesday, August 24.

He travelled to Aberdeen, possibly by train, and was in the Union Square at around 8.25am on Thursday, August 25.

He was in the city centre that day but it is not known where he went next.

Police Scotland said Deandre has now been traced safely in an update.

Deandre Thompson, 15, travelled 560 miles from Croydon to Aberdeen in late August and has now been found safe and well

Police Scotland described him as 5ft 9in, with a slim build and and black hair.

They said he was wearing a grey Superdry top with the brand name and Apollo on the front in white letters.

He was also wearing black trousers and a black rucksack when he arrived in the Scottish city - and wears an earring in his left ear.

Sergeant Stuart Hache said: 'Deandre has been missing from his home for some time now and concerns are growing for his welfare.

'I am urging anyone who has seen him or knows where he is to get in touch.

'If you can help please call us on 101, quoting reference number 1296 of Saturday September 3.'
Vietnam hopes to foster computer, electronic, component exports to the UK

Vietnam hopes to boost its exports of computers, electronic products and components to the UK in the near future after it has gained success in shipping this group of goods to many other overseas markets.









Electronic circuit boards being tested at a factory in Bac Ninh province. (Photo: VNA)



In 2021, exports of computers, electronic products and components earned Vietnam 50.8 billion USD, making it the second biggest export group, according to the General Department of Customs.



Export turnover of this group of goods last year grew 14.1% year-on-year, equivalent to an increase of 6.3 billion USD, accounting for over 15% of the nation's total export turnover.



The US market was the biggest for this group of goods from Vietnam, accounting for 25% of exports. Exports to mainland China reached nearly 11.1 billion USD, although only increased by less than 1% and accounted for 21.83% of the total export turnover of the whole industry.



The third largest market was Hong Kong, which grew by 50%, bringing turnover to 6.3 billion USD. The EU came fourth with 5.9 billion USD, up 2.6%, and the Republic of Korea ranked fifth, reaching 3.5 billion USD, up nearly 22%.



Four other markets with export turnover from 1 billion USD to 2 billion USD were the Netherlands with 1.8 billion USD, up 5.2%; Mexico (1.4 billion USD, up 17.4%); Poland (1.1 billion USD, up 14.9%) and Slovakia (1.0 billion USD, up 27.7%).



In addition, there were a series of markets with import turnover of nearly 1 billion USD, including Japan (996 billion USD), Taiwan (938 million USD), Singapore (924 million USD), and India (828 million USD).



In 2021, Vietnams exports of computers, electronic products and components to the UK also saw an encouraging increase of 5.6% year-on-year. This group of goods was also among the list of key industrial products of Vietnam exported to the UK. That also included phones and components; machinery, equipment and spare parts, and steel and iron.



The Ministry of Industry and Trade said tariff preferences under the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) are providing many Vietnamese products, typically computers, electronic products and components, with competitive advantages compared with similar products from other countries.



Under the trade pact, 74% of tariffs on computers, electronic products and components imported from Vietnam have been eliminated since January 1, 2021 while tariffs on all other products will be removed after two or four years.



In addition, Vietnamese exporters can also utilise the UKs increasing demand for these products to foster their exports to this lucrative market, trade experts said.



The UK Department for International Trade said that out of the UK's top 10 imported products in 2021, electronic equipment ranked fifth with a turnover of 45.1 billion GBP (52.7 billion USD), up 3% year-on-year. In the second quarter of this year, the UK's electronic equipment saw a yearly hike of 15.7% to surpass 12.5 billion GBP.



Nguyen Canh Cuong, trade counsellor at Vietnam's Embassy to the UK, said that the UK does not have its own consumer electronics manufacturing industry. All consumer electronics products available in the market are imported.



Market demand is huge and is constantly increasing, especially for smartphones, tablets, laptops and PCs, Cuong said, adding that that will create opportunities for Vietnam's consumer electronics products.



He said that Vietnams exports of consumer electronics products to the UK will surge in the near future.



Despite a bright outlook for this group of goods to the UK, more support from the State and greater efforts from Vietnamese exporters are needed amid the country's participation in many free trade agreements, experts have suggested.



In order to facilitate exports of computers, electronic products and components to overseas markets including the UK, the General Statistics Office underlined the need to provide support for firms in the process of researching new products, launch trade promotion schemes, and fine-tune the legal system, especially specific regulations placed on goods of Vietnamese origin.



Simultaneously, it is essential to boost export market expansion, improve the operational efficiency of Vietnam's representative agencies abroad and sector associations in implementing trade promotion activities whilst disseminating the details of the FTAs so that businesses could utilise the opportunities brought by these FTAs.



The export turnover of computers, electronic products and components is forecast to continue to grow strongly this year and the export milestone of 60 billion USD is not out of reach, according to experts.
ED officials conducts searches at Gorantla & Associates Chartered Accountants during the raids at Sri Sai Krishna Residency apartment in Domalguda on Friday. (R. Pavan/DC)

Hyderabad: In continuation of their investigation into the now-scrapped Delhi liquor scam, officials from Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted raids at 40 different places spread over states, including Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

The investigation agency also served notices to around 12 persons and 18 companies located in Hyderabad and other places. Around 6 am, 25 teams arrived from Delhi and knocked on the doors of the office of Robin Distilleries, which is owned by Ramachandran Pillai, one of the accused in the FIR registered by the CBI in connection with the scam.

Simultaneously, they also raided the office and residence of Gorantla Associates of Gorantla Buchibabu, chartered accountant at Sri Sai Krishna Apartments in Aravind colony, Domalguda. Taking assistance from CISF staff, the ED officials conducted searches at Buchi Babu's residence and office. They found huge files belonging to several companies.

The agency officials conducted searches at Abhishek's residence in Gachibowli and Anoo's head office located at Madhapur. Simultaneous searches were also conducted at the Delhi and Nellore residences of MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy in Delhi. They searched Srinivasulu office located at Kotimobba center in Nellore and his Magunta Agri Farm in Chennai.

Later, the ED officials served notices to 12 persons and 18 companies asking them to appear before the investigation agency for questioning in connection with the Delhi liquor scam case. The persons who received notices were -- Arun Ramachandran Pillai, IAS officer Arva Gopi Krishna, Raghu Magunta, Abhishek, Gorantla Buchi Babu, Chandan Reddy, Y. Sashikala and others.

This is the second round of raids by the federal agency in this case.

The policy implemented from November 17, 2021 was scrapped by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in July this year following a CBI probe recommended by Delhi LG V.K. Saxena into its implementation.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) case of money laundering in the excise policy stems from a CBI FIR in which Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and some Delhi government bureaucrats have been named as accused.
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The Countess of Wessex cuddled delighted children including a baby and brought smiles to the faces of hundreds of well-wishers gathered outside Buckingham Palace today, as Prince Edward explained why he keeps away from the crowds.

Royal fans applauded Sophie and Prince Edward and could be heard telling them 'sorry for your loss' as the couple shook the hands of dozens of mourners outside the palace gates this afternoon - shortly after King Charles III and the Prince of Wales met mourners queueing along the banks of the Thames to see the Queen lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster.

The Queen's youngest son could be heard asking mourners where they had come from and whether they were making their way to Green Park to lay flowers. He then told them that the Queen would 'appreciate' the number of people paying their respects - while his wife was given bouquets and a stuffed toy as she shook hands with those gathered.

However, Edward apologised to well-wishers for not shaking their hands - and could be heard explaining after he he politely waved as he walked past them that he was trying to ensure he did not fall behind and could speak to as many people as possible.

The Countess stopped to look at one young girl's T-shirt, which was printed with photos of the Queen through the decades of her reign. Sophie collected armfuls of flowers including sunflowers and roses, and was given paper tributes to the late monarch by some of the well-wishers.

The couple also walked over to meet members of the public stood behind barriers on the edge of nearby Green Park.

In an emotional statement released just hours before he attended a poignant vigil with his siblings the King, the Duke of York and the Princess Royal in Westminster Hall last night, the Earl of Wessex said: 'As a family, we have grown up learning to share our parents, especially our beloved mama, with the nation, her realms and the Commonwealth.

'While it has been lovely to have spent time saying our own farewell privately at Balmoral, it is now time to allow others to be able to say their farewell.

The Countess of Wessex cuddles a baby as she greets well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace

Sophie, Countess of Wessex cuddled a baby in an adorable moment on a surprise walkabout

Sophie shakes the hand of a young boy sat on his father's shoulders on a surprise walkabout

Sophie, Countess of Wessex greets royal fans outside Buckingham Palace

The Countess of Wessex meeting well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace

The Countess of Wessex shook hands with well-wishers following the death of Queen Elizabeth II

The Countess of Wessex meeting well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace following the death of Queen Elizabeth II

Prince Edward waves at well-wishers outside the gates of Buckingham Palace

The Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward waved to people at Buckingham Palace today

The Earl of Wessex meeting well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace today

The Earl and Countess of Wessex during a walkabout outside Buckingham Palace

The Countess of Wessex takes flowers from well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace

Sophie shakes the hands of well-wishers gathered outside Buckingham Palace today

The Countess of Wessex meeting well-wishers during a walkabout on The Mall

We've been overwhelmed by tide of emotion: Edward and Sophie's tribute to the Queen As a family, we have grown up learning to share our parents, especially our beloved mama, with the nation, her realms and the Commonwealth. While it has been lovely to have spent time saying our own farewell privately at Balmoral, it is now time to allow others to be able to say their farewell. We have been overwhelmed by the tide of emotion that has engulfed us and the sheer number of people who have gone out of their way to express their own love, admiration and respect to such a very special and unique person who was always there for us. And now, we are there for her, united in grief. Thank you for your support, you have no idea how much it means. The Queen's passing has left an unimaginable void in all our lives. Sophie and I have taken huge pleasure in seeing our James and Louise enjoying the places and activities that their grandparents loved so much. Given that my mama let us spend so much time with her, I think she also rather enjoyed watching those passions blossom. Those times together, those happy memories, have now become massively precious to each and every one of us. May God bless Her Majesty and may her memory be long cherished even as the baton she has carried for these past 70 years now passes to the next generation and to my brother, Charles. Long live the King. Advertisement

'We have been overwhelmed by the tide of emotion that has engulfed us and the sheer number of people who have gone out of their way to express their own love, admiration and respect to such a very special and unique person who was always there for us.

'And now, we are there for her, united in grief. Thank you for your support, you have no idea how much it means.

'The Queen's passing has left an unimaginable void in all our lives. Sophie and I have taken huge pleasure in seeing our James and Louise enjoying the places and activities that their grandparents loved so much.

'Given that my mama let us spend so much time with her, I think she also rather enjoyed watching those passions blossom. Those times together, those happy memories, have now become massively precious to each and every one of us.

'May God bless Her Majesty and may her memory be long cherished even as the baton she has carried for these past 70 years now passes to the next generation and to my brother, Charles. Long live the King.'

On Thursday, Prince Edward and Countess Sophie greeted mourners in Manchester as thousands turned out to pay tribute to the Queen. The day before, the couple were part of the procession which brought the Queen's coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.

In Manchester, Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, met Josh, a young mourner who was waiting to see her with his mother, Sue.

Recounting the moment they met, Sue said: 'She just said ''nice to meet you, do you want me to take your flowers?'' Then Josh said ''can I have a hug?''. They hugged, then he asked for a photo. The bouquet is signed from Josh but it's got my name on it as well.'

Asked what the moment felt like, Josh - who is non-verbal - replied: 'Happy.'

Edward and Sophie paid tribute to the Queen at Westminster Hall alongside their children, Lady Louse and Viscount Severn, earlier in the week.

It comes after King Charles and his son Prince William greeted mourners in the queue for the Queen's lying in state.

Hundreds of people in line at Lambeth, south London, cheered and applauded as Charles and William emerged on Saturday afternoon, before the pair thanked those waiting to pay their respects to the late monarch at Westminster Hall. One woman offered the King condolences as he shook her hand, and another shouted: 'I can't believe this.'

The Countess of Wessex shook hands with people who had come to Buckingham Palace in London

Sophie, Countess of Wessex meeting royal fans outside the gates of Buckingham Palace

The Countess of Wessex was given flowers, including roses, as greeted well-wishers

Prince Edward meeting mourners gathered outside Buckingham Palace this afternoon

Sophie, Countess of Wessex greeted well-wishers on a surprise walkabout outside Buckingham Palace today

Sophie, Countess of Wessex was also handed sunflowers as she met crowds gathered in London

Sophie, Countess of Wessex shook hands with crowds gathered in London today alongside her husband

Sophie collected armfuls of flowers including sunflowers and roses, and was given paper tributes to the late monarch by some of the well-wishers

The couple also walked over to meet members of the public stood behind barriers on the edge of nearby Green Park

Smiling Sophie, Countess of Wessex as she met with crowds gathered at Buckingham Palace

Crowds had gathered in London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II

Sophie, Countess of Wessex was given roses as she greeted well-wishers following the Queen's death

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen in London

King Charles III meets members of the public in the queue along the South Bank

Camilla, Queen Consort, speaks with Catherine, Princess of Wales, during a lunch held for governors-general of the Commonwealth nations at Buckingham Palace

The Princess of Wales during a lunch held for governors-general of the Commonwealth nations at Buckingham Palace

Dozens shouted 'hip hip hooray' as Charles and William moved down the line, stopping for a few moments with each person. Several people called their friends and relatives on the phone to tell them what they had just witnessed. Others also shouted 'God save the King' and 'God save the Prince of Wales' as each passed.

William could be heard discussing how long people had waited and whether they were able to keep warm. Several people cried after meeting him, and one woman told him: 'You'll be a brilliant king one day.'

Charles left before William, both of them in cars surrounded by police vehicles.

Meanwhile, the queue for the lying in state began to grow in Southwark Park, with a steady stream of mourners continuing to join the end of the line.

The sign at the mouth of the queue told mourners it will be a 14-hour wait minimum, which was generally greeted by relief by well-wishers, with one group cheering as they walked past.

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth following her death

The Prince of Wales is presented with a Paddington Bear along the South Bank

Prince William reacts next to people queuing to pay their respects to the late Queen

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to see the Queen lying-in-state

King Charles is presented with a Paddington Bear as he meets well-wishers in London

Queen's lying in state: What you need to know The Queen is lying in state in London ahead of her funeral. Here is some of the information mourners need to know. - What exactly is meant by the term 'lying in state'? Lying in state is usually reserved for sovereigns, current or past queen consorts, and sometimes former prime ministers. During the formal occasion, the closed coffin is placed on view, as thousands of people queue to file past and pay their respects. The coffin will be adorned with the Imperial State Crown, the Orb and the Sceptre. - When and where will the Queen lie in state? The late monarch's lying in state in Westminster Hall opened to the public at 5pm yesterday and it will be open 24 hours a day until it closes at 6.30am on Monday, September 19 - the day of the Queen's funeral. - Where is Westminster Hall? Westminster Hall, which dates back to 1099, is in the Palace of Westminster and is the oldest building on the parliamentary estate. It forms part of the Westminster Unesco World Heritage Site and the UK Parliament website refers to its 'great size', the 'magnificence' of its roof, and its central role in British history. The building has been the site of key events, such as the trial of Charles I, coronation banquets, and addresses by world leaders. - Is there a big queue? Yes. Government guidance says there will be a queue which is expected to be very long, predicted to be in the tens of thousands. As it stands the queue is about 14 hours long. People will need to stand for 'many hours, possibly overnight', with very little opportunity to sit down as the queue will be continuously moving. People are not allowed to camp and a wristband system is being used to manage the queue, with those waiting in line given a coloured and numbered one, specific to each person, allowing them to leave for a short period. 'Your wristband also allows you to leave the queue for a short period to use a toilet or get refreshments, then return to your place in the queue,' according to the official guidance. - What is the queue route? Members of the public can join the line on the Albert Embankment, which runs behind the London Eye onto the Southbank before following the river past landmarks such as the National Theatre, the Tate Modern and HMS Belfast, reaching 'maximum capacity' at Southwark Park. - Is there assistance for people who cannot queue for long periods of time? The main queue has step-free access with a separate accessible route also planned to run from Tate Britain where timed entry slots will be issued for a queue going along Millbank to the Palace of Westminster. Guide dogs will be allowed inside Westminster Hall, with sign language interpreters also on hand. Venues including the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre and Shakespeare's Globe will open for longer hours to accommodate those queuing. The British Film Institute on the Southbank will do the same while providing an outdoor screen with archive footage of the Queen. Advertisement

It came after the King thanked emergency service staff for their work during the mourning period.

Charles met London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and was briefed by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors and Commander Karen Findlay, who are leading police operations around London ahead of and during the funeral of the Queen. Home Secretary Suella Braverman and mayor of London Sadiq Khan were also present.

Early this morning, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport's queue tracker warned people not to travel to join the back of the lying in state queue. It changed the guidance at 8am saying the line had reached Southwark Park with wait times 'at least 24 hours'.

Although it was a very bright morning in central London temperatures remained cool, particularly in the shade, at around 12C.

Alfie, 11, from Lancashire, wore his Scouts uniform complete with Platinum Jubilee badge, to join the queue for the lying in state.

His grandmother, Karen Todd, said: 'Alfie really wanted to pay his respects to the Queen, and he wanted to come in his Scout uniform to honour her. And we came because it's a momentous occasion and a moment in history. They'll always remember this for the rest of their lives, so we've only got this one opportunity.'

Later, the Queen's grandchildren will stand guard around her coffin. William will be joined by his brother the Duke of Sussex in wearing uniform at Westminster Hall.

Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, has previously been denied the chance to wear his military uniform as he publicly mourns, because he is no longer a working royal. But royal sources say the King has decided his youngest son can wear uniform for the vigil, saying he will stand at the foot of the coffin, with William at the head.

William will be flanked by his cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, while Harry will be with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with Lady Louise Windsor and her brother Viscount Severn at the middle of the coffin.

Last night, the Queen's children - Charles, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex - took part in their own vigil.

It comes as final preparations are under way for the funeral on Monday, with politicians and royal dignitaries from around the world expected to arrive throughout the weekend.

Queueing today, Shiv Pandian, 58, from Raynes Park, south-west London, said his 30 years working as a urologist for the NHS had prepared him for a long wait.

'There's lots of places to eat and toilets and things; you're used to working long hours at the NHS,' he said, laughing. 'The Queen has served us for 70 years. I've served along with her for 30 years. I've seen three jubilees of hers, and I want to say goodbye.'

He added: 'I got out at Waterloo and followed the queue backwards, and then at one point I was guided here to Southwark Park. Then it said reassuringly, it's 14 hours from the entrance here, so I'm hoping by midnight today I'll have seen the Queen.'

Paula Priest, 53, from Wolverhampton, said she was happy to wait 'as long as it takes' to reach Westminster Hall. 'We're here for the duration now, definitely.'

Those who braved the trip despite Government warnings were pleasantly surprised by the pace of the queue. Later on Saturday morning the tracker had stopped telling mourners not to travel, and the wait had dropped to 16 hours.

There was constant movement through Southwark Park until the Thames path along Bermondsey Wall East where the queue became more stationary.

Bright pink wristbands, which state they do not guarantee entry to Westminster Hall, continue to be handed out. Those waiting described the experience as well-organised, with friendly staff and officers on hand to assist.

This morning, new Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley was seen patrolling the queue for the Queen's lying in state near Lambeth Palace in south London. He greeted mourners, including several who were wearing blankets after waiting in line for hours through the early morning, and walked from the east towards Lambeth Bridge.

Alfie, 11, from Lancashire, wore his Scouts uniform complete with Platinum Jubilee badge, to join the queue for the lying in state.

His grandmother, Karen Todd, said: 'Alfie really wanted to pay his respects to the Queen, and he wanted to come in his Scout uniform to honour her.

'And we came because it's a momentous occasion and a moment in history. They'll always remember this for the rest of their lives, so we've only got this one opportunity.'

King Charles III meets members of the public in the queue along the South Bank

William, Prince of Wales waves and shakes the hands of well-wishers along the South Bank

William, Prince of Wales joins King Charles III for a visit to Lambeth Met HQ

Mourners including young children wrap up after temperatures plummeted overnight - as they queue to see the Queen

Wellwisher gives King Charles a pen 'just in case' after first days of his reign are beset by ink disasters The new King Charles was given a pen 'just in case' by well-wishers on his walkabout in Cardiff yesterday after his latest ink disasters. This follows after the King was left furious by a string of ink mishaps during his visit to Northern Ireland earlier this week. The public clearly caught wind of his frustration after clips of the monarch started circling online showing him visibly upset by the pen ordeal. A video clip of the handover shows a woman in the crowd hand the pen to the King whilst cheekily smiling at him. The surrounding crowd then start clapping and laughing at the gift. King Charles then take the pen gracefully, looks down at it in his hand and starts laughing, clearly amused by the gesture. The Monarch and the Queen Consort arrived in Wales yesterday in their first visit since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The Royal couple made their way to Llandaff Cathedral to attend a prayer and reflection service for his late mother and Britain's longest serving head of state. However, the King came prepared with his own pen and was filmed calmly signing the paper in the cathedral before passing his pen and the book to his wife. The King's decision to carry his own fountain pen comes days after a few drops on ink soured the mood at Hillsborough Castle, Belfast, earlier this week. Advertisement

The family left home at 11.45pm on Friday, and Ms Todd said she 'had to sleep in a car park for an hour and a half' before getting on a bus to reach the queue.

Upon checking the queue tracker, Ms Todd said: 'We were going to come this evening, but we came earlier because we didn't want to miss it.' She added: 'It's been okay. Clear roads. It's well organised. Just hoping my legs and feet stay strong.'

The family brought thermals and plenty of snacks for the wait.

Sachet Pariyar had travelled from Basingstoke with his father, who had served in the Queen's Gurkha regiment, to attend the lying in state.

He said: 'My dad served in the British Army before and the Queen's Gurkha regiment, and my grandfather as well. So, we feel like we have that connection with the Queen and we wanted to come and pay respects.'

He added that he had been checking the queue's live tracker and had seen it might take 24 hours, adding he was 'a bit worried' about the wait, but 'thought if we can get the wristband, then we will give it a try'.

Linda Partridge, 71, and Simon Hopkins, 59, travelled down from the West Midlands for the lying in state, despite warnings that the queue was closed, because they felt 'that need to come down'.

Ms Partridge, who had left home at 3am, said: 'Even though they said it was closed I felt that need to come down. If we've got here and then they turned away, then fine. I would have just felt I needed to come and then be told I couldn't go'.

Mr Hopkins added: 'There was a sense of perhaps 'best not travel' but just to make the journey and just to check it out, and you know, if it ended in disappointment, and then so be it.'

He likened the experience to a 'pilgrimage', which he said, 'is a bit strange, because that kind of goes against my grain. I've been kind of drawn into it.'

James Birchall, 33, a trainee physiotherapist who travelled from Liverpool to pay his respects, was also queuing.

He said: 'Now I just feel normal and unemotional but as I get closer and closer (to the Queen's coffin) I think I'll start to become more emotional and maybe five minutes before I go in I'll probably, even though I don't look like the type of person, I'll probably start crying. I absolutely loved the Queen, she was great, she had been there all my life, I have always had respect for her. She was great for our country, always did her duty right until she died.

'When she died I was overcome with emotion and I thought, I have got to come to London to see it.'

On the thousands of people queuing, he added: 'I'm absolutely amazed because there is so many people, young and old - I did not think young people would come, necessarily, because they are not really in tune with monarchy, but there's so many young people here to pay their respects which I think is awesome.'

Also queuing was Vlasta Picker, 73, of Bedford, who said: 'I came here in 1977 on the Silver Jubilee. Growing up in central Europe, monarchy was a thing of the past, history.

'I was really quite mesmerised, it was massive in 1977 and I have admired her ever since because she was a wonderful person, unique. To serve all her life until the end, it's something, isn't it? Unprecedented. And that's why I want to be here.'

Members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall

Lord and Lady, Michael and Anne Heseltine in the queue to view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

A woman reacts after viewing the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

More mourners carry coffee cups as they queue through Southwark Park to see the Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall

Mourners queueing in Southwark Park as they wait to see the Queen lying-in-state

Members of the public build their tents in front Westminster Hall and Big Ben

The King's first intervention? Charles tells Mark Drakeford he is 'concerned' about cost of living crisis The King is 'concerned' about how people will manage during what is going to be a 'difficult winter', according to the First Minister of Wales. Mark Drakeford said the impact of the cost-of-living crisis came up in conversation with Charles during their audience on Friday, after the new monarch addressed the Welsh Parliament for the first time as sovereign. The First Minister said the King also told him he was interested in renewable energy generation in Wales, and how it might play a 'bigger part' in future energy security. Mr Drakeford told TalkTV: 'The King has always had a very direct interest in the things that are happening in contemporary Wales, the future of our agriculture, the impact of climate change. 'He mentioned the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and how that will impact on people here in Wales.' He added: 'He (Charles) is concerned as to how people will manage through what is going to be a difficult winter. 'He was interested to tell me about some of the projects that he has heard of, or become involved in dealing, for example, with food waste, making sure that we don't waste a precious resource when some people might be going without. 'Interested, as always in renewable energy generation here in Wales, and how it might play a bigger part in future energy security.' Mr Drakeford has suggested the investiture proceedings for William, the new Prince of Wales, need not follow the same form as that of the 1969 ceremony that saw the title bestowed upon his father. He told TalkTV: 'Well, I certainly don't think that 1969 is a good guide for what should happen in 2022. Wales is a very different place. 'The nature of the monarchy has developed over that period. My message is that we shouldn't be in a rush about all of this. 'We should allow the new prince, as I say, to become familiar with his new responsibilities, develop the job in a way that will work for him and will work for Wales. 'And then we can think about how and whether there is a need for any further ceremonial underpinning of what has already been announced.' Advertisement

Figures from the London Ambulance Service (LAS) show that 435 members of the public were treated along the route of the queue to see the Queen lying in state and surrounding areas over the past two days.

Some 291 people along the route of the queue and nearby in London were given medical assistance on Wednesday, with 17 needing hospital treatment, the LAS said. A further 144 people were treated on Thursday, with 25 people being taken to hospital.

The LAS said the majority of incidents attended were faints and collapses, resulting in head injuries.

It came as David Beckham made it inside Westminster Hall at about 3.30pm yesterday after joining the queue at 2am.

Meanwhile some people are trying to cash in by selling used wristbands for up to 350 on eBay. Those joining the queue receive wristbands to mark their place - so they can leave for a drink, or to go to the toilet, and then return.

MPs can jump the queue and bring in up to four guests, to the anger of those being forced to wait. Among those visiting yesterday were Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg and Shadow Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

This Morning hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby cut sombre figures as they were seen at Westminster Hall. MailOnline was told the TV duo joined a separate queue for press and were taken into a press gallery.

Ex-England captain Beckham was spotted queueing at about 12.30pm, after joining the line at 2am to wait with everyone else. His representative confirmed to MailOnline that he had queued with the public, and said those around him initially did not take pictures of the 47-year-old star because there was an air of 'mutual respect'.

Inside the park, a crowd formed in the holding pen next to the main queue as people begged to be let in. Security teams were allowing 100 people at a time from the holding area to join the main queue every ten to 15 minutes.

But outside the park, some people waited in the street with no idea of when they might be able to even join the queue.

The Government said in an update just before 10am: 'Southwark Park has reached capacity. Entry will be paused for at least 6 hours. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Please do not attempt to join the queue until it re-opens.'

Just after 12pm, the Government also said the accessible queue was now 'at capacity for today and entry for allocation of wristbands is currently paused', adding that those with wristbands and entry times will still get in.

But then at 1pm, the entrance to Southwark Park reopened despite the Government still saying that the queue has been paused.

The gates were originally shut as queue attendants sought to deter new arrivals. However a second queue quickly began to form outside the park along Jamaica Road, leading attendants to reopen the gate.

A Number 10 spokesman directed questions to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, but said it was 'the case that what DCMS have done is they've temporarily paused the queue for at least six hours after it reached maximum capacity.

'That has always been part of our planning and that is to make sure as many as people as possible in the queue can enter the Palace of Westminster. But we keep it under review and there will be further updates from DCMS.'

The spokesman would not state what number of people represented 'maximum capacity' for the queue.

As Beckham approached Westminster Hall, he told Sky News: 'This day was always going to be a difficult day. Our thoughts are with the family, it's very special to hear all of the stories from people here. The most special moment for me was to receive my OBE. I took my grandparents with me who were huge royalists. I was so lucky that I was able to have a few moments like that in my life to be around Her Majesty. It's a sad day, but a day to remember.'

Beckham added that it 'meant so much' to sing the National Anthem before England matches.

He told ITV News: 'I thought by coming at 2am it was going to be a little bit quieter, but I was wrong, everybody had that in mind. But the people here, all ages, there was an 84-year-old lady walking around, a 90-year-old gentleman walking around. Everybody wants to be here to be part of this experience and to celebrate what Her Majesty has done for us.'
Another bus transporting migrants from the southern border has arrived at the Washington DC residence of Vice President Kamala Harris, while three more buses arrived in New York City.

On Saturday morning at the Naval Observatory in DC, a charter bus with Texas plates dropped off about 50 people, mostly from Venezuela, including several children and a one-month-old infant, Fox News reported.

Aid workers quickly swooped in to remove the group from the vice president's doorstep, taking them to a local shelter for support services.

Three additional buses arrived at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan early on Saturday, days after the border crisis shot to national attention when a plane full of migrants arrived on Martha's Vineyard.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, is believed to be behind the latest migrant bus transports, but a spokesperson for the governor did not immediately return a phone message from DailyMail.com.

On Saturday morning at the Naval Observatory in DC, a charter bus with Texas plates dropped off about 50 people (above), mostly from Venezuela, including several children

The bus with Texas plates dropped the migrants off outside the vice president's DC residences, days after Florida flew about 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard

Three additional buses arrived at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan early on Saturday (above). They are also thought to be from Texas

On Thursday, Abbott did confirm responsibility for sending two buses of migrants to the Naval Observatory, the vice president's residence, saying it was intended to call attention to Harris's failure to control the border.

President Joe Biden tasked Harris last year with tackling the 'root causes' of unauthorized immigration, but since then, the number of people entering the country illegally has shot to record highs.

'The Biden-Harris Administration continues ignoring and denying the historic crisis at our southern border, which has endangered and overwhelmed Texas communities for almost two years,' said Abbott in a statement.

'Texas will continue sending migrants to sanctuary cities like Washington, D.C. until President Biden and Border Czar Harris step up and do their jobs to secure the border,' he added.

Since April, Texas has transported more than 11,000 migrants by bus to Democrat-controlled states and cities, including 8,000 to DC and 2,500 to New York City.

At least 600 migrants from Texas have also been transported to Chicago since late August.

On Thursday (above), two buses with about 100 migrants also arrived at the Naval Observatory

'The busing mission is providing much-needed relief to our overwhelmed border communities,' Abbott's office said in a statement on Friday.

Critics have slammed the migrant transports as cruel and inhumane stunts, accusing Abbott and other GOP governors of using migrants as pawns to score political points.

On Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis escalated the campaign dramatically by flying a group of 50 Venezuelan migrants to Martha's Vineyard, the wealthy island enclave in Massachusetts.

On Friday, that group of migrants was transported off the island to a military base on Cape Cod.

Many of them have said they were told they would be flying to Boston and only learned they were headed to Martha's Vineyard when the plane was in the air.

'They were told that they would have a job and they would have housing,' said Elizabeth Folcarelli, who leads Martha's Vineyard Community Services and described the scramble for shelter as a 'huge challenge,' in an AP interview.

Julio Henriquez, an attorney who met with several migrants, said they 'had no idea of where they were going or where they were.'

Martha's Vineyard declared an emergency over the migrants and called in the National Guard, prompting the immigrants to be moved 32 miles away to Cape Cod

Pictured: A group of 50 migrants enjoyed Venezuelan dishes at the military base after Martha's Vineyard declared an emergency over the group's arrival

DeSantis said Friday that most migrants intended to come to Florida and that the trip to Marthas Vineyard was voluntary. He did not address the migrants' claims that they were told they were going elsewhere.

Florida's governor defended picking up migrants in Texas and vowed to continue transportation to immigrant-friendly 'sanctuary' jurisdictions.

US Rep Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts, accused DeSantis of orchestrating a political ploy with the lives of the migrants.

'Playing politics with people's lives is what governors like George Wallace did during segregation,' Moulton said, referring to Wallace's tactics of tricking black Southerners to move north. 'Ron DeSantis is trying to earn George Wallace's legacy.'

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also took aim at DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott during a press conference today, urging other Republicans who do not agree with their 'blueprint' to 'speak up'.

She said: 'This is an issue and we have been clear about this, this is an issue that is inhumane it is abhorrent and we should not be using people, migrants, who are fleeing communism as a political pawn.'

Speaking on Thursday, DaSantis accused critics of his move to fly migrants to Martha's Vineyard of 'virtue signaling', saying their concern for the welfare of the migrants was a 'fraud'.

He said: 'The minute even a small fraction of what those border towns deal with every day is brought to their front door, they go berserk, and they're so upset that this is happening.'
Prime Minister Liz Truss will not hold talks with Joe Biden tomorrow as their meeting is postponed until the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

The talks will no longer take place on Sunday and Downing Street said a 'full bilateral meeting' will take place at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday instead.

The US president was due to meet with the Prime Minister before the Queen's funeral on Monday.

But the Prime Minister is still expected to hold a call with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, on Saturday evening, No 10 said.

Liz Truss also spoke with the UAE president and ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Saturday morning, during which he expressed his condolences following the death of the Queen.

Prime Minister Liz Truss (pictured on September 12) will not hold talks with Joe Biden (pictured on August 24) tomorrow as their meeting is postponed until the UN General Assembly on Wednesday

Truss has concluded meetings with her counterparts from Australia and New Zealand at the Government's Chevening country residence.

The Prime Minister spoke with Australian leader Anthony Albanese and New Zealand's premier Jacinda Ardern as she kicked off talks with world leaders travelling to the UK for the Queen's funeral.

Mr Biden was one of the first world leaders to confirm he would be attending the funeral, alongside his wife, Jill.

He has left the White House with Jill and will arrive in London this evening, boarding the Marine One from Washington on Saturday afternoon.

Several hundred dignitaries from around the world, members of the royal family and key figures from public life will make up the 2,000-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey on Monday.

Joe Biden congratulated Liz Truss on becoming Prime Minister on September 6.

He said he looked forward to deepening the 'special relationship' between the US and the UK, as Truss became leader of the Conservative Party.

'Congratulations to Prime Minister Liz Truss. I look forward to deepening the special relationship between our countries and working in close cooperation on global challenges, including continued support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression,' Biden wrote on Twitter.

Liz Truss (pictured on September 12) has kicked off talks with world leaders travelling to the UK for Queen Elizabeth's funeral on Monday

President Biden congratulated Liz Truss when she became Prime Minister on September 6

The US president (pictured yesterday) was due to meet with the Prime Minister before the Queen's funeral on Monday

Truss is said to be less keen on the 'special relationship' with the US than some of her predecessors. In the past she has called it 'special, but not exclusive'.

Biden and Truss have met before. As foreign secretary she accompanied then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson on his visit to the White House last September.

She and Biden also talked when he attended the COP26 conference in Scotland last October.

Truss won the Conservative Party leadership contest on September 5 and was appointed Prime Minister by the Queen at Balmoral Castle the next day - in one of the monarch's final duties.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden boarded the Marine One from the White House on Saturday as they prepare to head to London to farewell the Queen

The death of Queen Elizabeth has put everyday politics in the UK on hold as the country has entered a mourning period.

Even before the funeral, Truss is quietly getting to know other world leaders.

She is holding private meetings this weekend with key allies, including the prime ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Irish leader Micheal Martin and President Andrzej Duda of Poland, whose country is in the front line of support for Ukraine.

Truss and Biden also talked when he attended the COP26 conference in Scotland last October (pictured together with Queen Consort Camilla)

The planned weekend meeting with President Biden will now be held Wednesday at the UN in New York, Truss's office said today.

Political historian Anthony Seldon said: 'The fact that so many leaders from around the world are flooding to London gives the new prime minister ample time for soft diplomacy.

'Those quiet conversations before and after the funeral which will help her achieve her objective - if it is achievable - of 'global Britain'.

He said that the unprecedented event has also given the Prime Minister time to plan how she will deal with a series of crises, such as soaring inflation, plummeting national currency and skyrocketing energy bills.

The Prime Minister is still expected to hold a call with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman (pictured on August 20), on Saturday evening, No 10 said

Seldon said: 'It's given her space to think with the media off her, to plan.

'The one thing (a) prime minister most lacks is time to think.'

The Tory leader wants to reassure allies that she will continue the strong political and military support for Ukraine begun under her predecessor, Boris Johnson.

At the UN she is also likely to urge the world's democracies to work more closely together in what she has labeled a 'network of liberty'.

Truss also has some bridge-building to do, especially with Biden. The U.S. leader has expressed concerns about the impact of Britain's departure from the European Union on the delicate peace in Northern Ireland.
Warmongering Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his disastrous war in Ukraine is moving ahead as planned, despite his forces being routed in the east.

In what are his first comments since his army collapsed and fled from the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, he said his Donbas operation is progressing 'not at a very fast pace' but would not be thrown off course by the humiliating defeat.

'Our offensive operation in the Donbas is not stopping. They're moving forward - not at a very fast pace - but they are gradually taking more and more territory,' he said after a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

The optimistic outlook comes as his army has ceded over 3,000 square miles of Ukrainian territory that they conquered with great loss of life and equipment to a lightning Ukrainian counteroffensive in less than two weeks.

On Friday, a smiling Putin warned of a 'more serious' response if his forces continued to be routed in Ukraine.

'The Kyiv authorities have announced that they have started an active counter-offensive operation. We'll see how it goes and how it ends,' he said with a smirk in the Uzbek capital of Samarkand.

Vladimir Putin, speaking after a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Uzbekistan, said his Donbas offensive is still 'moving forwards' after recent humiliating defeats in the Kharkiv region

Pictured: A destroyed Russian tank and armoured personnel carriers on the outskirts of Izium. A smiling Putin warned of a 'more serious' response if his forces continued to be routed in Ukraine

Pictured: A destroyed Russian MT-LB armoured personnel carrier burning in a field on the outskirts of Izium

Putin has been attending a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Uzbekistan, with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, centre left, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi among others

'Indeed, we have been rather self-restrained in our response to it for now. Recently, the Russian armed forces have inflicted a couple of sensitive blows,'

'Let's say that they were a warning. If the situation continues to develop like this, then the response will be more serious.'

'I remind you that the Russian army isn't fighting in its entirety... Only the professional army is fighting.'

It is considered that Putin's two main options, should he wish to escalate the war in Ukraine, is either to mobilise the entire country onto a war footing, or deploy nuclear weapons on the battlefield.

In light of the threat, President Joe Biden warned Putin to not to use nuclear weapons in response to battlefield humiliations in Ukraine or face 'consequences.'

'Don't. Don't. Don't,' the President said, in terms addressed directly to his Russian counterpart. 'You will change the face of war unlike anything since World War II.'

Biden said a US response would be 'consequential', and that '[Russia] will become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been.'

'And depending on the extent of what they do will determine what response would occur.'

Mobilisation would be politically difficult for Putin, who has so far not declared war against Ukraine but characterised the war as a 'special military operation'.

Mobilisation would entail declaring war, admitting the failure of the 'special military operation' and would require conscripting hundreds of thousands of young men who would not necessarily be willing to fight a failed war of aggression against a brother country.

The war in the Donbas has been ongoing since 2014, when Russia fomented a pro-Moscow uprising among separatist elements that triggered a low-intensity war with Kyiv.

Putin attempted to conquer the whole of Ukraine in February 2022, but was forced to reduce his strategic aims to just capturing the industrial Donbas region in March after his forces were hammered in the region around Kyiv.

However even these war aims are now in doubt, and Putin has come under pressure from so-called friends and allies at the high-level Uzbekistan summit to bring the war to an end.

Putin (left) acknowledged China's unspecified 'questions and concerns' about the war in Ukraine while also thanking Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) for his government's 'balanced position' on the conflict

Mr Putin (right) sought to assuage India's concerns, telling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) at the SCO summit that Moscow wants to see a quick end to the fighting

I know that today's era is not of war,' Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Russian leader in televised comments as the two met Friday in Uzbekistan.

Mr Putin sought to assuage India's concerns, telling Mr Modi at the SCO summit that Moscow wants to see a quick end to the fighting. He also alleged that Ukrainian officials have refused to negotiate.

'I know your stand on the conflict in Ukraine and the concerns that you have repeatedly voiced,' the Russian leader told Mr Modi.

'We will do all we can to end that as quickly as possible. Regrettably, the other side, the leadership of Ukraine, has rejected the negotiations process and stated that it wants to achieve its goals by military means, on the battlefield.'

At the same summit a day earlier, Putin acknowledged China's unspecified 'questions and concerns' about the war in Ukraine while also thanking Chinese President Xi Jinping for his government's 'balanced position' on the conflict.

The hurried retreat of his troops, together with the rare public reservations expressed by key allies, underscored the challenges Putin faces on all fronts. Both China and India maintain strong ties with Russia and had sought to remain neutral on Ukraine.

Xi, in a statement released by his government, expressed support for Russia's 'core interests' but also interest in working together to 'inject stability' into world affairs. Modi said he wanted to discuss 'how we can move forward on the path of peace.'
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex found out they were 'uninvited' to a Buckingham Palace state reception for world leaders and foreign royals by reading press reports, sources claim.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who stayed in London following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, were initially invited, then allegedly banned from attending a Sunday event at Buckingham Palace.

The excuse allegedly given is that the occasion was for working royals only. Harry and Meghan have yet to comment on the allegations.

DailyMail.com has contacted reps for the Duke and Duchess for comment.

'Harry and Meghan actually got the invitation and no-one has actually told them they are uninvited,' a source told Page Six.

Another added, 'I'm told they only found out they were uninvited by reading press reports.

The couple originally received an invite to the event hosted by King Charles and the Queen Consort Camilla earlier this week. Nearly 2,000 are expected to attend.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle allegedly found out they were uninvited from a to a state reception for world leaders and foreign royals after reading press reports, according to a royal source

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex found out they were uninvited from the event a few days late this week. Pictured: William, Kate, Harry and Meghan walk into the Palace of Westminster for a service on Wednesday

The event is hosted by King Charles and the Queen Consort. Invitations for the event were sent out earlier this week

US President Joe Biden, French president Emmanuel Macron and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau are among the heads of state who will arrive in London this weekend to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral on Monday.

World leaders, ambassadors and foreign royals will attend a reception at the Palace where they will also be greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

The confusion over Harry and Meghan's invitation points to issues with communication between the Californian-based couple and the Royal Family, according to the Daily Telegraph.

It is thought the couple (pictured last Saturday) received an invitation to the event, hosted by King Charles and the Queen Consort, earlier in the week. But Harry and Meghan are now unlikely to attend after officials at Buckingham Palace insisted the reception was for working royals only, it is understood

Harry and Meghan after a service for the reception of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin at Westminster Hall

It follows an apparent U-turn over Harry's right to wear a military uniform despite being a non-working royal.

The Palace is understood to have intervened to allow Harry to wear his regalia to a 15-minute vigil at Westminster Hall today.

Harry had previously said he would wear a morning suit to all the funeral events.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were also said to be furious after it was revealed their children will not be granted HRH status when they are appointed by prince and princess by King Charles III.

A source claimed to The Sun, that Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, are set to be officially made prince and princess in the near future as Charles has agreed to issue a Letters Patent to grant the titles.

But a report claims that following tense talks between the new King over recent days, the Sussexes have been left 'furious' that their children will not also get HRH titles.

Prince William, Kate, Prince Harry and Meghan have all been appearing in public together since the Queen's death. However the Sussexes won't be at the state reception at Buckingham Palace on Sunday

Prince Harry and his brother Prince William stood together with their wives Meghan and Kate as they put aside their bitter feud to pay their respects to their grandmother

There are still longstanding issues between Prince Harry and his family.

His upcoming autobiography has been called a 'ticking timebomb which Charles and William wanted to diffuse'.

It is claimed that it will be published as planned in November despite the Queen's death, although no firm release date has been announced.

A Netflix documentary about the couple is also in the pipeline, although there's also no indication as to when it will be released.

Meghan's ongoing podcast series, Archetypes, is currently being streamed by Spotify, although upcoming episodes have been paused indefinitely out of respect for the late Queen.

Tom Bower, whose biography of Meghan Markle was released earlier this year, said the book would be printed at Clays in Bungay, Suffolk, under conditions of great secrecy, with staff being checked on their way out for copies.

He added: 'The book is a timebomb which Charles and William wanted to defuse. Harry did not think that he would be in the UK when the Queen died and the circumstances are different from how they all envisaged it.

'That said I hear that it is being printed at Clays. It will take weeks to print and then weeks to distribute it globally.'
A British mum has been left stranded in a Turkish hospital facing a 50,000 medical bill after a horrific safari buggy crash which saw her 'thrown' off a cliff with her 10-year-old son.

Rebekka Kelly, 30, booked a TUI package holiday to Antalya, Turkey with her eldest son, Sonny, 10, after her youngest, Leo, five, was due to go away with his dad.

However, the holiday quickly took a turn for the worst after a horrific accident led to Ms Kelly being rushed to hospital.

Ms Kelly and her son booked a buggy safari tour via a TUI rep for September 2 but their initial buggy was 'failing' so they were given a new one to replace it.

Rebekka Kelly (pictured), 30, booked a TUI package holiday to Antalya, Turkey with her eldest son, Sonny (pictured), 10, after her youngest, Leo, five, was due to go away with his dad

However, problems with the steering wheel led to a serious incident in which the buggy 'flew off a cliff'.

Ms Kelly, who said her seatbelt also failed, was 'thrown out of the buggy' and lost consciousness.

After the accident, the mum was rushed to hospital for two major operations having broken seven vertebra in her spine and her pelvis as well as an internal bleed. Two weeks on she remains in hospital.

Adding to the trauma, Ms Kelly now faces fears that her insurance won't cover her and she faces hospital bills of more than 50,000.

Ms Kelly, from Birkenhead, Merseyside, said: 'I booked with the TUI rep at the hotel and it was advertised with insurance cover. I had holiday insurance myself but that won't cover the accident because it's classed as an off-road sport.

'But despite advertising the excursion with insurance cover, we haven't heard anything as to whether I will be covered.

'My sister-in-law has called every Tom, Dick and Harry but is getting nowhere. I'm fed up, I just want to get home.

However, the holiday quickly took a turn for the worst after a horrific accident led to Ms Kelly being rushed to hospital. Pictured: Ms Kelly with her two sons

'While the steering failed, my seat belt failed to keep me in the buggy and I was thrown out down the cliff, thankfully Sonny's seatbelt kept him in. I feel if my seatbelt actually did its job I wouldn't have the injuries I have.'

Ms Kelly's brother, Rocky, said Sonny is back in the UK with him, 'battered and bruised' and extremely upset.

Trying to get his sister home, Rocky said they 'just don't know what to do'. He said online, the trip 'advertises insurance as included'.

Rocky added: 'The hospital have been hounding her for money, she's been there for two weeks. She was told she could come home via air ambulance this week but nothing has been arranged.

'She had her own holiday insurance but the small print said they weren't insured for this accident, they were nice don't get me wrong but the TUI excursion advertises its own insurance cover as part of the deal.

'She's in a bad way. She can't get out of bed, she's away from her two children. TUI aren't getting back to us, we need to get her back home so she can have more surgery in the UK but we can't get through to anyone.

'We are really concerned about her. If TUI aren't willing to pay out the insurance and pay the medical bill we don't know what we are going to do, we don't have that kind of money and through no fault of her own she's facing this.

'These injuries are going to change her life and we still don't know the true extent until she's home. Sonny is crying, he's in so much pain emotionally.

'We've made hundreds of phone calls to TUI, they are supplying flights so we can see her but we've heard nothing about the insurance cover.

After the accident, the mum was rushed to hospital for two major operations having broken seven vertebra in her spine and her pelvis as well as an internal bleed. Two weeks on she remains in hospital

'We haven't a clue what is going in. It says on the advert the price includes insurance so why aren't they helping? Rebekka is really struggling. She has no memory of how she got to the hospital, she was knocked unconscious.'

Rocky went on to say he feels the family are being 'neglected' by TUI and are worried about how they can raise the funds to get Rebekka home.

Rocky said: 'An air ambulance itself is about 20,000. It's disgusting and cruel, she was on holiday and she has been left by those responsible for her health. It's not her fault she's had this accident but she has been left there.

'Nothing has been arranged for her to come home, she needs to stay in hospital once home as well. My partner put a post on Facebook and it's had hundreds of comments with similar stories. We've heard people have died on this excursion, why are people's lives being put at risk?

'We've been told the medical bill alone is around 50,000, we haven't had one call from TUI explaining any thing, we are extremely worried about Rebekka as her mental state is deteriorating rapidly.'

TUI has been approached for comment.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover Ms Kelly's medical bills and return to the UK.
An Ivy League college dropout has made Silicon Valley history after Adobe offered to buy his graphic design software company for $20 billion.

Adobe on Thursday offered to buy Figma in a cash-and-stock deal that would be the biggest buyout of a software startup on record, despite the sharp drop-off in tech sector valuations this year.

Dylan Field, 30, who co-founded Figma in 2012, will easily become a billionaire if the deal closes as expected, though his exact stake in the firm is not clear, according to the Wall Street Journal.

He launched Figma after dropping out of Brown University under a $100,000 fellowship financed by billionaire Peter Thiel, who requires recipients to leave school and pursue entrepreneurship if they are awarded the grants.

Field is a bashful type who favors nights in with board games and wine, friends say. His company offers popular tools that graphic designers use to collaborate on projects online.

Dylan Field, 30, who co-founded Figma in 2012, is set to become a billionaire if Adobe's offer to buy the startup closes next year as expected

Adobe on Thursday offered to buy Figma in a $20 billion cash-and-stock deal that would be the biggest buyout of a software startup on record

Figma's web-based collaborative platform has gained loyal fans, and is widely popular with employees at major tech firms including Zoom, Airbnb and Coinbase.

Adobe, based in San Jose, California, is a software titan that sells tools for creating, publishing and promoting content, and managing documents.

Wall Street reacted to the rich price of the deal with skepticism, sending Adobe stock down 3 percent on Friday and wiping nearly $5 billion from the company's valuation.

Still, Field told the Journal that he has no anxiety about the investor opposition.

'If this deal fell apart tomorrow, I'd feel just fine,' he said.

Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen hailed Figma's business as 'the future of work' and said there were 'tremendous opportunities' in combining it with his company's offerings, such as document reader Acrobat and online whiteboard Figjam.

The $20-billion exit marked a major win for Figma's venture capital backers, including Index Ventures, Greylock Partners and Kleiner Perkins.

Field is seen as a teenager at the Foo Camp hacker conference in 2008. He dropped out of Brown University and founded Figma after accepting a $100,000 fellowship

Billionaire Peter Theil founded the fellowship -- but requires anyone who accepts it to leave school and pursue entrepreneurship instead

Figma's valuation has skyrocketed at speeds that are rarely seen even in the world of Silicon Valley, and Kleiner Perkins stands to make return of about 100 times its 2018 investment when the deal closes.

Josh Coyne, partner at Kleiner Perkins, praised the deal, saying: 'This partnership will give Figma users access to Adobe's photography, illustration, and video technology, all in one place.'

'And, Figma in return can offer its deep expertise in building in the browser,' he added.

Each company will run independently until the transaction closes. At that time, Field, who will continue to lead the Figma team, will report to David Wadhwani, president of Adobes Digital Media business.

The deal is expected to close next year. It still needs approval from Figma's shareholders and regulatory approval.

Either company will have to pay a termination fee of $1 billion if they scrap the deal.

Field is a bashful type who favors nights in with board games and wine, friends say

Elena Nadolinski, Founder and CEO at Iron Fish, and Dylan Field, CEO and Co-founder of Figma, attend the annual Allen and Co. Sun Valley Media Conference in July

David Wagner, portfolio manager and equity analyst at Aptus Capital Advisors, which owns a 1.5 percent stake in Adobe, questioned the wisdom of the deal.

He said Figma's annual recurring revenue (ARR) was $400 million, a tiny fraction of Adobe's $14 billion, making it an unreasonable for Adobe to pay the equivalent of 11 percent of its market value for 2.8 percent more ARR.

'We're disappointed with the price paid for the company (Figma),' said Wagner.

Adobe said it expected the deal to be accretive to its earnings three years after its completion. It added that Figma's total addressable market would reach $16.5 billion by 2025 across design, whiteboarding and collaboration.

Adobe is one of the most acquisitive companies in the Silicon Valley and has bought numerous businesses over the years, as it has looked to defend market share against competitors.

Prior to Figma, its largest acquisition was that of software maker Marketo for $4.75 billion in 2018.

It has also bought other companies over the past 24 months to sharpen its focus on collaboration tools including those of video collaboration software Frame.io, social media marketing startup ContentCal and collaboration tool maker Workfront.

Meanwhile, Adobe's fourth-quarter revenue forecast of $4.52 billion came in below the $4.58 billion estimated by analysts, according to Refinitiv data.

The company's third-quarter profit fell nearly 6 percent, reflecting the hit from a stronger U.S. dollar and higher costs.
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No more disabled people can now see the Queen lying-in-state in the Palace of Westminster after the Government permanently closed the accessible queue this afternoon.

Tens of thousands of mourners have braved 14-hour five-mile queues and plunging overnight temperatures since Wednesday evening to do 'whatever it takes' to pay their final respects to Britain's longest-reigning monarch before her state funeral and burial on Monday.

The accessible queue for people with disabilities was closed this morning then resumed at midday - before The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced it had reached full capacity and that the queue was now permanently closed.

The department said wristbands for all time slots had been allocated for as many people as possible to pay their respects.

A DCMS tweet advised: 'Please do not join the queue at Tate Britain. Thank you for your understanding.'

Government guidance explained that the accessible queueing scheme would be open from 5pm on Wednesday for 24 hours a day until the lying-in-state closes at 6.30am on Monday, the day of the funeral - and that people with disabilities would be given a slot to file past the Queen's casket in Westminster Hall at the accessibility kiosk located at Tate Britain on Millbank.

However, the DCMS warned that the queue could close early to 'ensure as many visitors in the queue as possible can enter the Palace before the Lying-in-State period comes to an end', adding: 'There will be limited capacity for the accessible queue each day, so entrance is not guaranteed'.

The queue to visit the Queen lying in state passing by an image of the queen promoting an exhibition at Tate Modern

Members of the public join the queue in Southwark Park, south east London

Those waiting in the queue, which now has its own tongue-in-cheek BBC weather forecast, faced temperatures of 7C just before 7am this morning, at which time the official queue tracker advised the public not to make the journey.

A DCMS tweet advised: 'Please do not join the queue at Tate Britain. Thank you for your understanding'

Despite regularly checking the tracker, mourners went against advice to travel to pay their respects to the late monarch.

London Ambulance Service figures showed in the 12 hours to midnight last night, 275 people were treated, of which 39 were taken to hospital.

Claire Smart, 47, who had come to the capital from Teesside, said she had travelled to 'pay my respects and to apologise for all the times as a little girl I rolled my eyes having to listen to the Queen'.

She went on: 'I always wanted to curtsy in front of the Queen when she was alive, and sort of felt it was important to come and do it now.'

When asked whether she was put off by the predicted waiting times when she set off at 4.45am, Ms Smart replied: 'I just thought I'll regret not trying.'

Linda Partridge, 71, and Simon Hopkins, 59, travelled from the West Midlands for the lying in state because they felt 'that need to come down'.

Ms Partridge, who left home at 3am to make the journey, said: 'Even though they said it was closed I felt that need to come down. If we've got here and then they turned away, then fine. I would have just felt I needed to come and then be told I couldn't go.'

Mr Hopkins said: 'There was a sense of perhaps best not travel, but just to make the journey and just to check it out, and you know, if it ended in disappointment, then so be it.'

Members of the public join the queue in Southwark Park, south east London

The Prince of Wales is presented with a Paddington Bear along the South Bank

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth following her death

Mourners were very emotional after leaving Westminster Hall to visit the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

Many mourners were teary-eyed after paying their respects to the Queen lying-in-state

Thousands have found themselves overwhelmed with emotion after leaving Westminster Hall - with most having waited more than 12 hours for the experience

Ms Partridge had brought a walking stick with a seat because of problems with her knee, but otherwise the pair brought nothing with them.

She said: 'I think we thought that we're going to get down here and we were going to be turned away. That was the back of our minds anyway.'

Shiv Pandian, 58, from Raynes Park, south-west London, said his 30 years working as a urologist for the NHS had prepared him for a long wait.

'There's lots of places to eat and toilets and things; you're used to working long hours at the NHS,' he said, laughing. 'The Queen has served us for 70 years. I've served along with her for 30 years. I've seen three jubilees of hers, and I want to say goodbye.'

He added: 'I got out at Waterloo and followed the queue backwards, and then at one point I was guided here to Southwark Park. Then it said reassuringly, it's 14 hours from the entrance here, so I'm hoping by midnight today I'll have seen the Queen.'

Paula Priest, 53, from Wolverhampton, said she was happy to wait 'as long as it takes' to reach Westminster Hall.

Those who braved the trip despite Government warnings were pleasantly surprised by the pace of the queue.
Chilling footage shows the moment a Moldovan rapist dumped the clothes of his victim after attacking her outside a nightclub and leaving her for dead.

Sergiu Boianjiu, 39, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 26 years at Northampton Crown Court yesterday for the 'evil and depraved' rape and attempted murder of a stranger.

The Moldovan national, who came to Britain after serving 10 years for murdering his girlfriend, was caught on CCTV in February after he raped a woman in her 20s before repeatedly stamping on her head.

Footage released by the police shows Boianjiu later disposing of items of clothing that belonged to the victim.

He also tried, unsuccessfully, to dispose of her body in a wheelie bin before leaving her for dead in an alleyway where she was found the next morning by a member of the public.

Images showed the badly-injured woman - who Boianjiu wanted to 'eliminate' as a potential witness - being discovered by the passer-by after lying for several hours in the rain and cold.

Chilling footage shows Moldovan rapist Sergiu Boianjiu disposing of items of clothing that belonged to his victim

Boianjiu, 39, has been jailed for 26 years for the 'evil and depraved' rape and attempted murder of a stranger outside a nightclub

During the two-week trial at Northampton Crown Court, jurors were told that the woman was attacked near a church as she walked home from a night out in Wellingborough at around 5am.

She had been followed by Boianjiu from a nightclub, where he had earlier been caught on CCTV repeatedly touching a number of women without their consent.

Staff at the nightclub had told Boianjiu to leave and refused him re-entry, but instead of leaving the area he lay in wait outside the club before targeting the victim.

The woman was subjected to a 40-minute ordeal, suffering a life-threatening brain injury, and could remember nothing of being attacked in what prosecutors described as an act of 'desolating wickedness'.

Boianjiu, who lived in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, came to the UK after serving 10 years behind bars for the murder of his girlfriend in 2002.

In CCTV footage from earlier that night, Boianjiu can be seen inside the nightclub, repeatedly touching a number of women without their consent

Staff at the nightclub had told Boianjiu to leave and refused him re-entry, but instead of leaving the area he lay in wait outside the club before targeting the victim

It emerged during the trial that the construction worker was convicted of theft from a school and 'deliberate murder' at Moldova's Riscani District Court on October 9 2009.

During his closing speech to the jury, prosecutor Gordon Aspden KC said: 'The ugly truth here is that this exceptionally dangerous man, for his own selfish reasons, chose to carry out an attack of quite desolating wickedness against a complete stranger.

'His intention was to rape and ultimately to kill her. His behaviour was evil and depraved.'

Mr Aspden said Boianjiu, whose victim spent several days in an intensive care unit, was arrested while sitting in a friend's car, hours after returning to his shared occupancy home.

Jurors deliberated for more than three hours before convicting the defendant of attempted murder and rape. He was found not guilty of a second rape charge.

Sentencing Boianiju to a minimum of 26 years in jail, Judge David Herbert KC said: 'You repeatedly stamped on her head whilst she remained unconscious.

'It it clear from the evidence that after delivering a further six blows you believed you had successfully killed her.'

The judge said the evidence showed Boianjiu was thinking clearly as he tried to cover up the crime, searching for evidence that might incriminate him.

Judge Herbert added: 'Your offending is aggravated by a conviction for intentional murder in Moldova. My assessment of you from all the evidence before me is that you are an extremely dangerous man.'

Detective Chief Inspector Liz Wilcox said footage of a man disposing of items clothing that belonged to the victim helped the police to trace Boianjiu back to the nightclub

Jurors deliberated for more than three hours before convicting the defendant of attempted murder and rape. Boianjiu appeared to show no emotion as he was found guilty while sitting in the dock

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Liz Wilcox said: 'I welcome the lengthy sentence handed out to Sergiu Boianjiu today as it means that he is no longer able to harm anyone else.

'This case has been very traumatic for the young woman involved and I hope today's sentencing provides her with some closure. She has shown exceptional courage throughout our investigation and I hope that, with the help of her great support network, she will be able to continue to move forward.

'Sergiu Boianjiu presents an extraordinary danger to women. In the CCTV footage from the nightclub before the attack we can see him sexually assaulting a number of them through inappropriate touching before he went on that night to commit rape and attempted murder.

'Though his behaviour in the nightclub may be considered "low-level" by some, it demonstrates a mindset that needs to be challenged and everyone should be clear that this is not only unacceptable but criminal conduct.

'Finally, I hope the result today demonstrates the continued commitment of Northamptonshire Police in tackling violence against women and girls and ensuring the offenders are sent to prison.'
The Queen's state funeral will remember the late monarch's place in history, with the personal sorrow of a grieving family at its heart, the Dean of Westminster has said.

The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, who will lead the ceremony, said the scale of the service on Monday was almost unprecedented, even for Westminster Abbey - the scene of so many royal milestones throughout history.

'It's on a scale that even Westminster Abbey doesn't often do,' he said, adding it would be a 'wonderful mixture of great ceremony and some very profound but very ordinary words'.

Hundreds of people have been involved in the preparations inside the gothic church, working through the night as they put in 19 and 20-hour shifts to stage the historic ceremony.

Some 2,000 people will flock to the abbey, with presidents, prime ministers, kings and queens among 500 dignitaries travelling across the world to be there, as millions watch the events unfold on television.

The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, who will lead the ceremony, said the scale of the service on Monday was almost unprecedented

King Charles and his family held a vigil in honour of the Queen. Alongside siblings Anne, Andrew and Edward, the newly crowned monarch stood guard beside his mother's coffin (pictured)

The Dean said: 'The business about it being a state funeral is really important. It's meant to be visual. It's meant to be grand.

'We're supposed to be reminding ourselves of this extraordinary woman who so often took us down through the register, gave us herself, her character.'

He added: 'Part of this is about remembering her significance, her place in history, her place in the nation and Commonwealth.

'But it's a funeral. It's for a grieving family. That's really important, personal sorrow at the heart of this.'

He summed up the Queen's funeral as a service of 'grief, thanksgiving and hope'.

With the long-held London Bridge plans for the aftermath of the Queen's death having finally come into play, the Dean admitted there had been 'some challenging moments' and changes required.

'As you work it through, there come moments where you have to recognise no, that doesn't work in the way we thought it would,' he said.

'There have been some challenging moments where we've had to adapt.

'There are some people who are working 19-hour days, 20-hour days at the moment, and one of the striking things is just how good they have been, when they're very tired and been positive and making adaptions happen.'

The Dean revealed how the flowers destined to decorate the abbey were sent away after failing to get through the strict security checks.

The Dean summed up the Queen's funeral as a service of 'grief, thanksgiving and hope'

'There was a wonderful moment when I had flower arrangers waiting in the abbey, and no flowers, because, quite properly, the police didn't recognise what the van was and the flowers were sent back,' he said.

It was, he said, a 'huge privilege' to be leading the service.

'There's a sense of responsibility that goes with it and just now and again, there's a sort of sense of panic, but this place is good at what we do so we'll be fine,' the Dean said.

The Queen maintained a close connection with the abbey, which is a Royal Peculiar and subject only to the sovereign and not any archbishop or bishop.

The Dean said: 'For an awful lot of my colleagues, this is really quite personal... We welcomed Her Late Majesty a number of times.

'So a lot of my colleagues know her, respect her, admire her, miss her now. So there's something about doing something for her.'

He spoke of the Queen's deep connection with the abbey, telling how it was where she made the 'promises that defined her life' being both married and crowned in the ancient surroundings.

Members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II lying-in-state

Members of the public view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall

The Dean said: 'I was really moved by the fact that she would talk about how important the abbey was to her.

'This is the place where she made promises that defined her life.

'This is the place where she married the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947, this is the place of her coronation.'

The Queen's is the first funeral of a reigning king or queen to be held in Westminster Abbey since George II's in 1760.

The Dean was speaking in the abbey's historic wooden panelled Jerusalem Chamber, where Henry IV died in 1413 and Henry V became king.

The Queen saw her daughter, the Princess Royal, marry Captain Mark Phillips in the church in 1973, and her second son, the Duke of York, wed Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

Members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster

In 2011, her grandson, William, now the Prince of Wales, exchanged vows with Kate Middleton, now Princess of Wales, as millions watched across the globe.

The church was also a reminder of the loss of her mother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and former daughter-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Queen Mother's funeral was held at the abbey in 2002, five years after Diana's.

The gothic church - whose official title is the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster - has been the coronation church since 1066.

The Queen's was the 38th.

It is also the final resting place of 17 monarchs, including Charles II and Elizabeth I.

Steeped in more than 1,000 years of history, Benedictine monks first went to the site in the middle of the 10th century.

The present church, started by Henry III in 1245, is one of the most important gothic buildings in the country, with the medieval shrine of Anglo-Saxon saint Edward the Confessor still at its heart.
These cheetahs will be the first of the few in the founder population that will be reintroduced in the 744 sq km national park in Sheopur district in Madhya Pradesh.  Pixabay

Bhopal/New Delhi: Eight cheetahs from Namibia are set to leave for their new home in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh in a chartered flight on Friday, unfolding a historic event.

Five female and three male cheetahs will make an 11-hour, transcontinental journey from Namibia's capital Windhoek to Kuno National Park on September 16 and 17, a press release by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), a wildlife conservation body that is coordinating the cheetah reintroduction project in India, has said.

"The mission to move the cheetahs will begin on the afternoon of Friday, September 16, with the transfer of cats from the CCF centre to the Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek, Namibias capital.

After a brief ceremony to acknowledge Namibias donation and the significance of the mission, the cheetahs will be loaded onto a private B747 jet.

According to details released by the CCF, "The plane will fly overnight and land in Jaipur, India, by daybreak. The cheetahs will be transferred from Jaipur to Kuno National Park by helicopter."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to release the cheetahs in Kuno National Park on September 17, coinciding with his 72nd birthday.

The introduction of cheetahs in India is being done under Project Cheetah, which is the worlds first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project.



The Prime Ministers Office said that cheetahs will help in the restoration of open forest and grassland ecosystems in India. This will help conserve biodiversity and enhance ecosystem services like water security, carbon sequestration and soil moisture conservation, benefiting the society at large.



"This effort, in line with the Prime Ministers commitment towards environment protection and wildlife conservation, will also lead to enhanced livelihood opportunities for the local community through eco-development and ecotourism activities," the PMO said.

These cheetahs will be the first of the few in the founder population that will be reintroduced in the 744 sq km national park in Sheopur district in Madhya Pradesh.

The key objective of the reintroduction of cheetahs into the park is to have a wild meta-population of cheetahs in the country in the next 15 years.

The eight Namibian cheetahs arriving in Kuno are aged between two and five-and-a-half years.

A CCF statement said that each animal has been vaccinated, fitted with a satellite collar and kept in isolation in the CCF centre in Otjiwarongo, Namibia.

The CCF said that the Boeing 747 "jumbo jet" aircraft that is transporting the eight cheetahs to India is a passenger jet. It has been modified to carry cages containing the cheetahs.

Veterinarians will accompany the cheetahs during their journey to monitor their health.

"For more than 12 years, I have consulted with the Government of India and their scientists on how to bring cheetahs back to their landscape, and now, it is happening!" Dr Laurie Marker, founder and executive director of the CCF, as quoted in the press release.

The cheetah reintroduction project by the Government of India was mooted in 2009.

Thrilled at the prospect of the state receiving rare wild guests, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a Twitter post said, "With the arrival of Cheetahs, the Trinity of Tigers, Leopards and Cheetahs will be complete in Madhya Pradesh."

Cheetahs went extinct in India in 1952, officially.
Last night, King Charles and his siblings, Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward mounted their vigil

It was held by Prince William, the Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, who was in his military uniform, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn

The Queen's eight grandchildren have held a vigil around her coffin this evening in Westminster Hall

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The Queen's eight grandchildren - including Prince Harry in his military uniform - stood by her coffin in her honour as she lay in state in Westminster Hall as weeping mourners filed past tonight.

Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren Prince William, the Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, arrived just before 6pm where they held a 15-minute vigil.

Brothers William and Harry - both dressed in uniform - stood guard at the Queen's lying in state in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening as a stream of mourners filed past after queueing for hours.

Prince Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, has previously been denied the chance to wear his military uniform as he publicly mourns, because he is no longer a working royal.

But royal sources said the King decided his youngest son could wear uniform for the vigil.

Despite being a former Army officer, Harry has been in civilian dress for official events this week, including walking behind the Queen's coffin on Wednesday.

On Saturday evening, Prince Harry was wearing the Blues and Royals, No.1 Uniform, KCVO Neck Order and Star, Afghanistan Operational Service Medal, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and Army Pilot Wings.

Prince William was wearing the Blues and Royals, No.1 Uniform, The Garter Sash, The Garter Star, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and RAF Pilot Wings.

The brothers were joined in their silent tribute around the coffin by cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Lady Louise Windsor and her brother Viscount Severn.

The young royals, led by Prince William, were in position at the top of the grand committee staircase in the corner of the vast hall at 5.58pm.

At 6pm, the tapping which signifies the changing of the guard sounded and William began walking down the steps, one at a time, followed by Harry, then Beatrice and Eugenie side by side, Louise and James side by side, and Zara and Peter also side by side.

Silence fell as members of the public looked on, with the only sound being the grandchildren's footsteps on the stone.

Prince William was positioned at one end of the coffin, facing the north entrance, while Harry was positioned at the opposite end, facing the area of the hall where thousands of people have entered over the last few days.

The Prince of Wales stood with his hands clasped in front and his head bowed.

Louise and James's parents, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, looked on from a platform facing the coffin.

Members of the public continued to file past while the Queen's grandchildren stood guard, with some women wiping tears away from their face as they left the hall.

At 6.15pm, the tapping sounded and the grandchildren ended their vigil.

Prince William led the group away from the coffin, followed by Zara and Peter, Louise and James, Beatrice and Eugenie, and finally Harry.

Queen Elizabeth II 's grandchildren (clockwise from front centre) the Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, James, Viscount Severn, Princess Eugenie, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall hold a vigil

The eight sombre grandchildren arrived at Westminster Hall where they performed a vigil at the Queen's coffin

Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren arrived in Westminster just before 6pm where they will hold a 15-minute vigil

Prince William bows his head as he stands beside his grandmother's coffin in Westminster Hall

The Prince of Wales (right) and the Duke of Sussex before holding a vigil beside the coffin of their grandmother

The Queen's eight grandchildren carried out a vigil at her coffin on Saturday evening in the Palace of Westminster

The Queen's four grandchildren stand around her coffin during their own vigil, similar to the one held by their parents on Friday

Mourners watched as the vigil was held for the Queen in Westminster Hall by her eight grandchildren on Saturday evening

Mourners are continuing to file past the coffin as the royal cousins stand beside their late grandmother's coffin

The Queen's grandchildren stand in solemn silence as they mount a vigil for their late grandmother in Westminster Hall

The Prince of Wales stands vigil beside the coffin of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, as it lies in state in Westminster Hall

The Duke of Sussex wore the Blues and Royals No.1 Uniform, the KCVO Neck Order and Star, Afghanistan Operational Service Medal, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and Army Pilot Wings

The brothers wore military uniform at the Saturday evening vigil for their grandmother, the late monarch, Queen Elizabeth II

From left, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Beatrice hold a vigil in Westminster Hall, London

Princess Eugenie of York mount a vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening

Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Eugenie of York during a vigil for their grandmother in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening

Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Beatrice of York at Saturday evening's vigil in Westminster Hall

Queen Elizabeth II 's grandchildren Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, James, Viscount Severn and Princess Eugenie inside Westminster Hall

Peter Phillips and James, Viscount Severn hold a vigil in honour of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall on Saturday evening

Zara Tindall, Lady Louise, Princess Beatrice, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Eugenie, Viscount Severn and Peter Phillips hold a vigil beside the coffin

Inside Westminster Hall, mourners watched on as the vigil was held at the late Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall

Mourners watched on as the Queen's grandchildren stood around her coffin in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening

From left: Zara Tindall, Lady Louise, Princess Beatrice, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Eugenie, Viscount Severn and Peter Phillips hold a vigil

The cousins performed the vigil at their grandmother's coffin on Saturday evening at the Palace of Westminster, London

The Prince of Wales looked sombre as he led the vigil for his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in Westminster Hall

The grandchildren arriving at Westminster Hall where they held a vigil for the Queen in Westminster Hall, London

Prince William leads the group of eight through Westminster Hall to the coffin on Saturday evening in Westminster Hall

Well-wishers look on in the background as the royal cousins walked into Westminster Hall on Saturday evening

The Prince of Wales leads the group of eight to the catafalque in Westminster Hall, London, on Saturday evening

The royal cousins carried out the vigil in a similar way to their parents on Friday evening, which King Charles took part in

The Duke of Sussex holds a vigil beside the coffin of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in Westminster Hall

The Duke of Sussex wore the Blues and Royals No.1 Uniform, the KCVO Neck Order and Star, Afghanistan Operational Service Medal, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and Army Pilot Wings

The Duke of Sussex, Viscount Severn and Princess Eugenie hold a vigil beside the coffin of their grandmother

The cousins walked around the catafalque as they took their places for the vigil at the Palace of Westminster, London

Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex at the vigil in honour of Queen Elizabeth II

The Earl and Countess of Wessex watch their children, nieces and nephews carry out a vigil for the Queen

The Earl and Countess of Wessex watching the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise and Viscount Severn hold a vigil beside the coffin of their grandmother

The Countess of Wessex looked struck with grief as she watched her children perform a vigil at their late grandmother's coffin

Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, watched the vigil on Saturday evening in Westminster Hall

The royals stood around the Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall during a vigil on Saturday evening

Mourners continued to file past as they royals mounted a vigil around their late grandmother's coffin

People arrive to pay their respects as they pass the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

Prince William, the Prince of Wales, looked sombre as he stood silently at his grandmother's coffin

The royal cousins, some in all black, others in military uniform, took part in the mournful display on Saturday evening

Prince William, Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, James, Viscount Severn, Britain's Princess Eugenie of York, Britain's Lady Louise Windsor, Britain's Princess Beatrice of York and Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, depart having held a vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

Prince of Wales leaves the Houses of Parliament after attending a vigil for his late grandmother

As the group made their way back up the corner staircase, Zara bent down to retrieve one of her shoes which appeared to have slipped off.

As the royals returned to their cars, Zara appeared to be linking arms with Harry, while Peter, Louise and Beatrice were walking along together.

Speaking to Sky News, three well-wishers said that it was 'wonderful' to see the vigil.

Jane said: 'I was well worth coming back to this country for. I felt that I wanted to be, I've come from France, so I felt I really wanted to be here, and to have them there as well at the same time was just incredible.'

Shirley, said it was a 'very emotional' experience.

'I really want to come, I said I've got to because she's done such wonderful things in the 70 years,' she said.

'And even though I'm decrepit as it were, I thought "I'm going to make it by Jove I'm going to get here".

'At first I thought I was going to be very strong, but once I got past the coffin it was extremely emotional, and I've been trying to hold it back since  even now.'

Valerie, who was also with the group, added: 'It was wonderful to see them, we didn't think that we would. We thought that they were coming later this evening.

'When they were there it was absolutely incredible, it's been a wonderful day and we were really really pleased that we did it, especially as we got up at 4.30am this morning to actually make it.'

Edward added: 'Majestic is the only real word that does it justice. really, really powerful to see them standing there so still and quiet, and the Princes very professional of course.'

Last night, King Charles and his siblings, Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward mounted their touching final vigil for the Queen, before the late-monarch is laid to rest on Monday.

They were all dressed in uniform, with an exception made for disgraced Andrew, who is no longer a working royal, to wear his military uniform as a 'special mark of respect' for the Queen.

Britain's Prince Harry arrives to attend a vigil as they pay their respects to the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

Prince William, Prince of Wales, arrives at the Palace of Westminster to attend a vigil for his grandmother

A woman cries after paying her respects by the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II inside Westminster Hall

A man bows his head to the floor as he pays his respects to the late monarch in Westminster Hall

King Charles and his family held a vigil in honour of the Queen. Alongside siblings Anne, Andrew and Edward, the newly crowned monarch stood guard beside his mother's coffin (pictured)

King Charles and his siblings Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward mounted their touching final vigil for the Queen, before the late monarch is laid to rest on Monday

King Charles, Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward attend a vigil, following the death of the Queen

Mourners watch on as King Charles and his three siblings perform the Vigil of the Children beside the Queen's coffin at Westminster Hall on Friday

Now mourners sell used wristbands for up to 350 Some people have been cashing in on the Queen's lying in state by selling used wristbands for up to 350. Those joining the queue receive coloured wristbands to mark their place - so they can leave for a drink, or to go to the toilet, and then return. But it appears that some mourners have seen the system as an opportunity to make some cash by selling the wristbands as souvenirs on eBay. One person has listed an orange wristband, which features the abbreviation LISQ (Lying In State Queue), with an asking price of 350. Small print on the paper band specifies that it does not guarantee entry and is strictly non-transferable. But in the description the seller has listed it as 'brand new' and 'never been used'. Another seller has listed a similar wristband for 100, while a third person is selling a yellow band - plus a bundle of commemorative newspapers - for 122. A fourth seller has put their ripped green band on the site for 100. The item was accompanied by the description: 'Previously used or worn orange wristband from the first 24 hours of the Queen Laying-In-State in Westminster Hall. This wristband gained entry to the original wearer to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth. 'This is a piece of history. A small piece yet still a piece of history and this is your chance to own it if you did not have the chance to come yourself. 'The queue to pay respects to the Queen Lying-In-State may be London's longest. It took 7-8 hours from joining the queue to finally pay respects to the late Queen.' The seller said they were happy to send the item internationally but specified that it was being sold as 'historical memorabilia only.' They stressed that 50 per cent of the final profit will be donated to the British Red Cross which Queen Elizabeth was the longest serving patron of. Another person is trying to flog their orange wristband for the slightly lower price of 82. The cheapest band currently listed on the site is up for grabs for 10. The seller promised to donate 20 per cent of the final price to The Dogs Trust to reflect the Queen's love of animals. Official guidance published by the government states: 'When you reach the back of the queue, you will be given a coloured and numbered wristband. 'This is a record of when you joined the queue, however please note that having a wristband does not guarantee your entry to the Lying-in-State. 'Wristbands are specific to each person joining the queue, and are strictly non-transferable. You must keep this wristband on at all times as it will be checked along the route. 'Your wristband also allows you to leave the queue for a short period to use a toilet or get refreshments, then return to your place in the queue.' Advertisement

As tearful mourners watched on, the Queen's four children stood guard of their mother's coffin for more than 10 minutes at Westminster Hall on Friday evening. The siblings each guarded a side of the coffin, with Charles, dressed in a Navy Admiral uniform, standing at the head.

It was their second, and final, vigil for the beloved monarch. Known as the 'Vigil of the Children' - an honor dating back to the time of George V - it mirrors a previous event held earlier this week at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.

However, unlike the previous vigil in which Charles donned a kilt and Andrew a morning suit, all four siblings were dressed in military colors.

This afternoon, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have paid a moving, heartfelt tribute addressed to the Queen, saying: 'Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters.'

The sisters, in a written message released as they prepared to mount a vigil around the late monarch's coffin, thanked their grandmother for 'making us laugh, for including us, for picking heather and raspberries, for marching soldiers, for our teas, for comfort, for joy'.

Beatrice and Eugenie said they missed the Queen terribly and thanked her for being 'the loving hand on our backs leading us through this world', adding: 'We, like many, thought you'd be here forever.'

The princesses - the daughters of the Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York - shared the grief they have felt since the death of the Queen at Balmoral nine days ago.

They said: 'Our dearest Grannie, We've not been able to put much into words since you left us all.

'There have been tears and laughter, silences and chatter, hugs and loneliness, and a collective loss for you, our beloved Queen and our beloved Grannie.

'We, like many, thought you'd be here forever. And we all miss you terribly.

'You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever.'

Like the Queen's other grandchildren, the princesses shared happy summers with the late monarch in the Scottish Highlands as the royals gathered each year on the Balmoral estate.

'For now dear Grannie, all we want to say is thank you. Thank you for making us laugh, for including us, for picking heather and raspberries, for marching soldiers, for our teas, for comfort, for joy,' they said.

They added, in a nod to the Queen's modesty: 'You, being you, will never know the impact you have had on our family and so many people around the world.'

Beatrice and Eugenie spoke of the Queen being reunited with her husband of 73 years the Duke of Edinburgh who died just 17 months ago.

'We're so happy you're back with Grandpa. Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters and we're so very proud of you,' they said.

They also hailed their 'dear Uncle Charles' in his new role as monarch.

'We know that dear Uncle Charles, the King, will continue to lead in your example as he too has dedicated his life to service. God save the King,' the sisters said.

The princesses ended their message to the Queen with the words: 'With our love, Beatrice and Eugenie.'

Yesterday, the Duke of York, was given special dispensation to wear uniform at the vigil, as a 'final mark of respect' for his mother.

He was stripped of his armed forces patronages earlier this year amid a sexual abuse lawsuit in the United States, allegations he denied, had previously been banned from wearing military colours at public events.

He wore the full military dress uniform of a Vice Admiral of the Navy, a title which he earned from his years serving in the Navy - including in the Falklands War.

Members of the royal family including James, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise Windsor, the Countess of Wessex, Jack Brooksbank, the Queen Consort, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Zara Tindall, Mike Tindall, the Duke of Kent, Mia and Lena Tindall, the Duchess of Gloucester, and the Earl and Countess of St Andrews all attended Friday night's vigil.

Mourners console one another in Westminster Hall as they pay a final tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Hundreds of thousands of people have joined the queue to see the Queen, despite warnings it could take them 24 hours to get to the front

Many mourners have become overwhelmed with emotion as they paid their respects to Britain's longest-serving monarch

Many shed tears as they left Westminster Hall today, bidding farewell to the Queen ahead of her funeral on Monday

Thousands have found themselves overwhelmed with emotion after leaving Westminster Hall - with most having waited more than 12 hours

Members of the public view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

Thousands of mourners have been overcome with emotion as they bid a final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II as she lies in state in Westminster Hall.

Vast numbers of people have been queuing since the Queen was moved from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday, with the government warning it could take them 24 hours to get to the front.

Tearful tributes have been paid at the late monarch's lying-in-state as the British public thank the Queen for her 70 years of service on the throne.

Many consoled each other as raw emotion was on display following the Queen's death at the age of 96 last Thursday.

The line, which stretches from Westminster Hall all the way to Southwark Park in south London, is thought to be the world's longest queue, and can even be seen from space.

The queue potentially even eclipses the 30,000 Russians who waited to get inside the USSR's first McDonald's restaurant when it finally opened on January 31, 1990 after the end of the Cold War.

Wait times stretched to more than 25 hours overnight as thousands of mourners wrapped up so they could keep warm, the BBC even produced a tongue-in-cheek weather forecast for the queue just before 7am this morning - a crisp 7C, while other parts of the UK hit freezing.

At about 1.15am today, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) online tracker said the expected wait time was at least 25 hours as people queued from Southwark Park in south-east London to pay their respects to the Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall, about five miles away. At around 7.20am, the tracker said mourners would have to wait at least 24 hours and warned people not to travel to join the queue - and to check back later on Saturday.

However, by 8am the Government had said that the end point of the queue was once more accessible in Southwark Park. At 10am, the DCMS online tracker said the expected wait time was around 16 hours - then at 1pm this fell further to 14 hours.

Undeterred by the extreme waiting times or cold weather, a steady stream of people continued to join the queue last night. Paul, a 49-year-old Scout Leader called his 13-hour wait to pay his respects to the Queen 'brilliant' and was adamant he would do it all again without hesitation.

'The sense of camaraderie was amazing, we've made friends for life. Everybody was handing out sweets and cakes and singing,' he said.

The queue begins on the Albert Embankment, along Belvedere Road, behind the London Eye, then crosses Lambeth Bridge and travels along the South Bank past the National Theatre, Tate Modern and HMS Belfast, before ending in Southwark Park.

Members of the public continue to wait in line to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II lying-in-state

A huge queue files near Tower Bridge this morning as mourners wait to see the Queen lying-in-state

'It means an awful lot that you're all here': Prince William thanks mourners (and Paddington Bear) queueing to see Queen on surprise walkabout with King Charles

The Prince of Wales has thanked mourners queuing 14 hours to see the Queen's coffin lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster on a surprise walkabout alongside his father King Charles III - after shaking hands and talking to hundreds of royal fans this afternoon.

Prince William and Britain's new monarch greeted hundreds of people along the South Bank near Lambeth Bridge in London earlier today ahead of the Queen's state funeral on Monday, to cheers of 'hip hip hooray' and 'God Save the King' as they passed by.

Many took photographs and pressed against the metal barriers, eager to exchange a word with the King and the heir to the throne as they shook hands with those closest.

William later thanked royal fans for queueing for 14 hours to pay their respects to his grandmother, tweeting: 'It mean an awful lot that you're all here'.

One lady offered Charles condolences as he shook her hand, and another shouted: 'I can't believe this' - while a third presented the two royals with a Paddington Bear toy, in reference to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee sketch with the beloved children's character.

As the prince shook the hands of mourners, he said: 'It means an awful lot you're here. She [the Queen] would never believe this. You'll make some friends for life [those who have met in crowd'. Revealing that his wife Kate Middleton and children George, Charlotte and Louis were 'ok' and 'all united in grief', William also said that he became emotional seeing his grandmother's corgis, adding: 'They are being looked after - they have gone to a very good home'.

Several people cried after meeting the Prince of Wales, and one woman told him: 'You'll be a brilliant king one day'.

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to see the Queen lying-in-state earlier this afternoon alongside his father, King Charles

The Prince of Wales thanked mourners queuing 14 hours to see the Queen's coffin lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to see the Queen lying-in-state earlier this afternoon alongside his father, King Charles

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall earlier this afternoon

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen in London

Earlier the royals met London Mayor Sadiq Khan, a curtseying Home Secretary Suella Braverman and London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley at Scotland Yard's special operations. During the visit today in Lambeth, the King also met police staff, who he thanked for their planning and delivery of policing in the days leading up to his mother's funeral, as well as workers at London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade, Transport for London and the Army.

The King concluded his tour of the home nations yesterday, starting his day with a visit to Wales, after trips to Northern Ireland and Scotland in recent days.

Final preparations are under way for the funeral in two days, with 2,000 VIPs - from world leaders Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and Jacinda Ardern to royals including Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia and the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima - expected to arrive throughout the weekend.

It comes after the King and his siblings last night held a silent vigil in Westminster Hall to pay a moving tribute to their beloved mother.

King Charles is presented with a Paddington Bear as he meets well-wishers in London - with some carrying Paddington Bear yous

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen - most of which were waiting for around 14 hours to see the lying-in-state ceremony

King Charles and William, Prince of Wales visit Metropolitan Police Headquarters earlier on Saturday morning

King Charles and William, Prince of Wales visit Metropolitan Police Headquarters earlier on Saturday morning

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to the late Queen

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

Prince William greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

King Charles meets excited royal fans queueing along the banks of the Thames

King Charles shakes the hands of well-wishers as he goes on a surprise walkabout with his son Prince William

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to the late Queen

Prince William and his father King Charles left the walkabout to cheers of 'God Save The King' and hoorays while members of the public took out their phones to picture the moment

Sophie Wessex and Prince Edward greet royal well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace ahead of Queen's funeral on Monday The Countess of Wessex cuddled a baby on a surprise and brought smiles to the faces of hundreds of well-wishers gathered outside Buckingham Palace with her husband today - after the beloved couple said the Royal Family had been 'overwhelmed by the tide of emotion' following the Queen's death. Royal fans applauded Sophie and Prince Edward and told them 'sorry for your loss' as the couple shook the hands of dozens of mourners outside the palace gates this afternoon - shortly after King Charles III and the Prince of Wales met mourners queueing along the banks of the River Thames to see the Queen lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster. The Queen's youngest son could be heard asking mourners where they had come from and whether they were making their way to Green Park to lay flowers. He then told them that the Queen would 'appreciate' the number of people paying their respects - while his wife was given bouquets and a stuffed toy as she shook hands with those gathered. The Countess stopped to look at one young girl's T-shirt, which was printed with photos of the Queen through the decades of her reign. Sophie collected armfuls of flowers including sunflowers and roses, and was given paper tributes to the late monarch by some of the well-wishers. The couple also walked over to meet members of the public stood behind barriers on the edge of nearby Green Park. In an emotional statement released just hours before he attended a poignant vigil with his siblings the King, the Duke of York and the Princess Royal in Westminster Hall last night, the Earl of Wessex said: 'As a family, we have grown up learning to share our parents, especially our beloved mama, with the nation, her realms and the Commonwealth. 'While it has been lovely to have spent time saying our own farewell privately at Balmoral, it is now time to allow others to be able to say their farewell.' Advertisement

The King told officers it is 'encouraging' that policing plans for Operation London Bridge are working during a visit to a Metropolitan Police base.

Charles was given a tour of the Metropolitan Police Service Special Operations Room on Saturday, where he met and thanked emergency service workers for their efforts ahead of the funeral of the Queen and over the last nine days.

The Prince of Wales also briefly visited the Lambeth HQ, where he spoke to two police officers and thanked them for their service before departing in the same car as the King.

The pair later undertook a walkabout where they spoke to members of the public who were stood in the queue near Lambeth Palace to see the Queen's coffin.

During the visit to the police headquarters, the King was greeted on arrival in south London by Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, Home Secretary Suella Braverman, mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Lord Lieutenant of Greater London Sir Ken Olisa before being given his tour by Sir Mark.

As his vehicle arrived, members of the public lined the streets and cheered, with several shouting 'God save the King' as he stepped out of his car.

During the visit, the King met and spoke with several police officers involved in the planning for Operation London Bridge, the codename for the plans put in place following the death of the Queen, as well as members of British Transport Police, London Ambulance Service, the Army and London Fire Brigade.

He was seen laughing and joking with staff and asked several questions to each worker about their role in the operation and thanked them for their service.

While speaking to the operation planning team, who also prepare the policing efforts at football matches and protests in the capital, the King asked them questions relating to the planning around Operation London Bridge.

He asked the officers: 'Have you been planning for a long time... or have you just been drafted in?'

One officer responded: 'Yes your Majesty, we've been planning for about three years. There were teams before us.'

He replied: 'And the plans are working?'

The officer said: 'They are, absolutely.'

'That's the most encouraging thing,' the King said, and began to chuckle.

He also questioned the staff about crime levels during the mourning period.

Referring to his time visiting the base, the King added: 'It's nice to know where it all happens. I've been here before - this is the absolute hub, isn't it?'

The officers replied that it was. The King then described their work as 'absolutely fantastic', adding: 'Thank you'.

After the King's visit, Mr Khan said it was 'lovely' to see him be 'incredibly inquisitive' with staff.

He told journalists: 'He was really keen to see for himself the hard work to keep our city safe, to keep His Majesty safe, the royal family safe, also there'll be hundreds of leaders from across the globe coming to London.

'It was lovely to have the King show that much interest. He went around meeting people, asking questions, listening to their answers, being incredibly inquisitive but also incredibly warm.

'What's remarkable about His Majesty the King is at a time when he is grieving, he's going about his business and leading from the front.

'I know from speaking to police officers from London, from across the country who are here helping us out, speaking to staff and other members of the team, how grateful they are for His Majesty to give up his time and come here today.'

Charles left before William, both of them in cars surrounded by police vehicles.
California mother Sherri Papini, who mimicked the plot of Gone Girl, had a Bible verse about kidnapping branded on her shoulder after returning from her own self-abduction in 2016.

Papini, 39, disappeared from her Redding, California, neighborhood while out for a jog. The married mom of two returned weeks later almost hundreds of miles away 'dazed, battered and bruised,' and insisted she was held captive for 22 days by two Latina women.

Roman Catholic Deacon and news anchor Mike Mangas revealed in the upcoming HLN investigation documentary, Runaway Mom: The Sherri Papini Story, that investigators found a new marking on the supermom's shoulder when she returned from her 'abduction.'

'The sheriff asked me, because I'm a deacon in my church, asked me about a certain Bible verse,' Mangas said in an exclusive clip of the documentary obtained by DailyMail.com.

'And so I told him it's Exodus 21:16, and it says something to the effect of "if anyone has kidnapped someone, they should be put to death." That was branded onto Sherri's shoulder.

Investigators began to uncover Papini's past leading up to her disappearance, including the involvement of her ex-lover prosecutors said she convinced to help her amid domestic abuse allegations against her husband.

When Papini arrived back home, she told the hoax of her disappearance and convinced the world of her story before she was formally charged earlier this year.

Papini pleaded guilty to faking her own kidnapping and lying to the FBI and now faces jail. She will be sentenced on September 19.

The documentary series premiers on September 18 at 10pm ET on HLN.

California mother Sherri Papini, who mimicked the plot of Gone Girl, had a Bible verse about kidnapping branded on her shoulder after she reappeared from her 22 day disappearance in 2016

Papini, 29, had the Bible verse Exodus 21:16 branded on her shoulder, which references kidnapping, according to a deacon

Sherri is pictured above with her husband Keith and their two kids. The mom of two left her family behind when she fled to a Costa Mesa, California home with her ex-boyfriend

Police and the world were on the lookout for Sherri when she went missing in 2016. When Papini arrived back in 2022 she told the hoax of her disappearance and convinced the world of her story before she was formally charged earlier this year

Sherri Papini of Redding is pictured leaving the federal courthouse accompanied by her attorney, William Portanova, right, in Sacramento, Calif., on April 13. Papini pleaded guilty to her crimes and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19

Tap the "How to Watch" banner at https://t.co/YAt0Z23l6C to find HLN on your cable, satellite or streaming TV provider. Or use your TV remote to search for "Runaway Mom" and hit record so you don't miss this all-new special report tomorrow on HLN. Here's a sneak peek  pic.twitter.com/ieyB3DIfwF  HLN (@HLNTV) September 17, 2022

The mother of two was arrested in March after fooling the whole world about her disappearance.

Her husband reported her disappearance in November 2016 when she failed to pick their children up from school. Her cell phone and earbuds were later found on the running track she used.

Weeks later she was found tortured and starved by her captors, whose faces she never saw, before being dumped by the side of the road on Thanksgiving.

James Reyes told police that Papini caused self-inflicted injuries while staying with him, including hitting herself to create bruises and burning herself on her arms

When Papini was found, she had bindings on her body and self-inflicted injuries including a swollen nose and blurred 'brand' on her right shoulder. She had other bruises and rashes on many parts of her body, ligature marks on her wrists and ankles, and burns on her left forearm.

Her signature blonde hair had been cut.

Papini's antics were eerily similar to those of the main character in Gillian Flynn's smash-hit thriller novel Gone Girl, which was later turned into a thriller starring Rosamund Pike as a vanishing wife.

Police said she made up the whole story to get attention and was staying with her ex-boyfriend for the 22 days she went missing.

The mother of two convinced James Reyes, her ex-boyfriend, to pick her up and drive her to his Southern California apartment after telling him her husband Keith was 'abusing' her.

Reyes, 37, previously confessed to the plot after being identified by DNA found on Sherri's clothes through a familial match.

He told police how he and Sherri dated in 2006 and 'loved' each other. She randomly got in touch with him in 2016 again, he said, and told him that her husband was abusing her.

Papini and Reyes then spoke on pre-paid cell phones, arranging for her to run away for months before November 2, when he collected her from Redding and the alleged hoax started.

The ex-boyfriend admitted to investigators that he thought their relationship would become romantic once they were back at his apartment in Costa Mesa, but that it never did.

Instead, Sherri took over his bedroom and he slept on the couch. She locked herself away in the room, starved herself and cut off her hair then started inflicting injuries on herself.

Reyes said how she convinced him to brand her with a hot tool, then asked him to drive her seven hours north, back to her home in Redding, on November 24. He also said Papini caused her self-inflicted injuries while staying with him.

He was unaware of the media storm that had brewed over the three weeks because he did not have a TV, he said.

Keith said he was duped by his wife and later filed for divorce in April - two days after she pleaded guilty to faking her own kidnapping.

The couple married in 2009 and share two children, Tyler, 8, and Violet, 10.

Sherri with her husband Keith on their wedding day. The mother of two told her ex-lover she had to run away because Keith was abusing her

Keith - with whom she shares children Tyler, 8, and Violet, 10 - filed for divorce on Wednesday - two days after she pleaded guilty

In a statement earlier this year, Papini apologized for the pain she caused her family and friends.

'I am deeply ashamed of myself for my behavior and so very sorry for the pain I've caused my family, my friends, all the good people who needlessly suffered because of my story, and those who worked so hard to try to help me.

'I will work the rest of my life to make amends for what I have done,' Papini said in the statement, as reported by ABC10.

Papini had received psychiatric care for anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder ever since her return - more than $30,000 worth of treatment for which she billed a state victim compensation fund and which is now part of her restitution.

She is ordered to repay $128,00 in disability payments, and a GoFundMe campaign that raised more than $49,000 to help the family.

In their criminal complaint, police detail how Papini and her husband spent money donated to them by strangers on her therapy and on improving their home.
Congressman Matt Gaetz told a former White House aide that he had asked then-President Donald Trump for a pardon after being investigated for sex trafficking, it is claimed.

The Florida Representative is currently being investigated in a federal sex trafficking probe involving a 17-year-old girl.

The teenager claims Gaetz paid her to travel across the state line to have sex with him, and the congressman was investigated after a close friend was convicted of similar charges.

He has denied the sex-trafficking allegations against him, and no charges have been filed against him.

Johnny McEntee, who served as director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office in the Trump administration, told investigators into the January 6 attack on the US Capitol that Gaetz was looking to be pardoned by Trump.

According to the Washington Post, Gaetz told McEntee that they are launching an investigation into him or that theres an investigation into him.'

He did not specify who was investigating Gaetz but added that the congressman told him that he did not do anything wrong but they are trying to make his life hell, and you know if the president could give him a pardon, that would be great.

The married Gaetz asked for a pre-emptive pardon from White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, with McEntee confirming it was in relation to Gaetz allegedly violating sex trafficking laws, the hearing was told.

Gaetz is currently being investigated in a federal sex trafficking probe involving a 17-year-old girl

A former White House aide has told the January 6 committee investigating the Capitol riots that Gaetz, left, was trying to be pardoned by then-President Trump

Johnny McEntee, who served as Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, claims that Gaetz told him that they are launching an investigation into him or that theres an investigation into him

Saturday's revelation in the Post is the first indication that Gaetz was specifically seeking a pardon for the probe against him, after months of calling for broad pardons in the final months of the Trump administration.

McEntee added that Gaetz met him one evening to discuss the issue of a pardon, but that he could not remember if that took place before or after the Capitol riots.

The Department of Justice is still investigating whether Gaetz paid for sex, or paid for women to travel across stateliness for sex and if he had a sexual relationship with the teenager.

It was opened during the final months of Trump being in power, with the approval of Attorney General William Barr.

The probe was sparked after a federal investigation of Gaetzs friend being convicted of sex trafficking.

Married Gaetz reportedly asked for a pre-emptive pardon from White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows

Joel Greenberg, a friend and colleague of Gaetz, pleaded guilty last year to six criminal charges, including sex trafficking of a minor

A spokesman for Gaetz said: Congressman Matt Gaetz discussed pardons for many other people publicly and privately at the end of President Donald Trumps first term.

As for himself, President Trump addressed this malicious rumor more than a year ago stating, Congressman Matt Gaetz has never asked me for a pardon.

Rep. Gaetz continues to stand by President Trumps statement.

Gaetz's friend Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty last year to six criminal charges, including sex trafficking of a minor.

He has been working with prosecutors and provided them with information about Gaetz since 2020.

After losing the election in 2020, Gaetz told Fox that Trump should pardon everyone from himself to his administration officials to Joe Exotic if he has to.

He also denied having a relationship with a minor, saying the last time I had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old, I was 17.

McEntee added that Gaetz met him one evening to discuss the issue of a pardon, but that he could not remember if that took place before or after the Capitol riots

Gaetz, pictured with Joel Greenberg and Ron DeSantis, has denied the allegations of sex trafficking. Greenberg has been working with prosecutors and provided them with information about Gaetz since 2020

Cassidy Hutchinson, a top White House aide to Meadows, also told the Jan 6 committee that Gaetz had been personally pushing for a pardon since early December.

She added: Im not sure why Mr. Gaetz would reach out to me to ask if he could have a meeting with Mr. Meadows about receiving a presidential pardon.

Former Trump White House lawyer, Eric Herschmann, also told investigators that he believed Gaetz was seeking a pardon.

In his deposition, Herschmann said: The general tone was, we may get prosecuted because we were defensive of, you know, the presidents positions on these things.

The pardon that he was discussing requesting was as broad as you can describe, from the beginning  I remember he is  from the beginning of time up until today for any and all things.

Then he mentioned Nixon. And I said Nixons pardon was never nearly that broad.

Gaetz did not receive a pardon from the former president.
Are you Jack and Zoe? Email oliver.price@mailonline.co.uk

Pair told C4 they shared great 'chat' - in what could be the start of a new romance

The queue to pay respects to the Queen lying-in-state is currently 13 hours long

Jack and Zoe met at 10.30pm last night, which Zoe called a 'blessing in disguise'

Mourners queuing to pay their respects hit it off and will see the funeral together

A budding romance between strangers who met in the queue to pay respects to the Queen may have begun in a moment which has been compared to romcom Love Actually.

Royal mourners Jack Ciuro and Zoe, who have 'loads of things in common' hit it off in the five mile queue, which currently has a 13 hour wait time according to the Government's live tracker, at 10:30pm last night.

Zoe said meeting Jack, a graduate sports therapist, was a 'blessing in disguise' as they kept each other entertained with 'crisps and chat' - and they are now planning to watch the Queen's funeral together on Monday.

She said that she was going to have 'mixed emotions' during the historic and sad funeral on Monday and she wanted to 'share that moment with someone else'.

Twitter users were quick to cheer on their budding romance - as some suggested a spiritual successor to Richard Curtis' beloved ensemble romcom Love Actually: 'Queue Actually'.

Channel 4's Minnie Stephenson, who interviewed the pair, tweeted: 'Call me queue-pid,' adding a heart-on-fire emoji.

Royal mourners Jack Ciuro (left) and Zoe (right) hit it off in the queue to pay respects to the queen after meeting at 10:30pm last night

Zoe said meeting Jack was a 'blessing in disguise' as they kept each other entertained with 'crisps and chat' while waiting in the 13 hour-long queue

The pair are now planning to watch the Queen's funeral together on Monday

Queue Actually: Twitter users said their story could be turned into a spiritual successor to Richard Curtis' hit ensemble romcom Love Actually - with a cameo from David Beckham

'Call me queue-pid,' said Channel 4 News' Minnie Stephenson, who interview Jack and Zoe

'We met at 10:30pm last night and we've been throughout the whole thing 'till now,' Jack told Channel 4 News' Minnie Stephenson this afternoon with a grin on his face.

'We've actually got loads of things in common,' he said as Zoe looked at Jack with a smile and agreed: 'Yeah'.

The Channel 4 New reporter asked the pair if they would stay in touch after they had paid their respects in Westminster Hall.

Zoe quickly replied: 'Yeah, a hundred per cent.'

'We're going to the funeral together on Monday,' Jack added.

'It's going to be mixed emotions,' Zoe said. 'And it's something that is part of history so we want to be there and share that moment with someone else.'

People queue to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II during the Lying-in State, outside Westminster Hall in London today

The five mile queue stretches from Westminster all the way to Southwark Park

Dr Vicky suggest Jack and Zoe should star in Love Actually: The Queue

Huge Norwood suggested the title: 'Four Queues and a Funeral'

Jack added: 'It's going to be sombre, really. Seeing the Queen go down through to Windsor - it's going to be weird to see really.'

When asked how the long wait in the queue was, Zoe said meeting Jack was a 'blessing in disguise'.

'I thought I was going to be exhausted but it's just gone so quickly in the queue.'

She said they kept each other going by 'sharing stories, having laughs and banter.'

'Good chat,' they said in unison, with Jack adding that 'crisps and chat' have been crucial in keeping them going.

Lots of Twitter users came up with the idea to a spiritual sequel to Love Actuall

But user Marty Perkins had a different angle, instead pitching the queue as a sentimental John Lewis Christmas advert

Twitter user Professor Ben Stanley suggested a new Richard Curtis Romcom called the Queue, with an appearance from David Beckham, who queued the full eight hours despite being offered the chance to skip ahead.

He wrote: 'Richard Curtis romcom called The Queue, back end of 2023, cameo by David Beckham. Just warning you.'

Buerstmayr replied, suggesting the title: 'Queue Actually'.

Another suggestion for a title by Hugh Norwood was: 'Four Queues and a Funeral'.

Witty pun-writer Declan Cashin joked: 'Hope they remembered the mourning after pill.'

Dr Vicky Foster suggested almost exactly the same idea, adding the Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, who did not enter Westminster Hall via the usual route, should be the villains of the piece.

She tweeted: 'Love Actually: The Queue. Starring these two, David Beckham as the cameo hero and Holly and Phil as the baddies.'

'Hope they remembered the mourning after pill'

Comedian Dara O Briain had already tweeted a similar idea with the name 'Meet Queuete' yesterday

Earlier today, Simon Crook tweeted: 'Hope everybody realises Richard Curtis & Working Title are probably brainstorming a Love, Actually-style ensemble comedy drama called The Queue.'

However, in what can be considered a strange case of life imitating art, some users tweeted the idea before Channel 4 published their interview online.

Lynsey James and Amanda Jennings brainstormed a similar idea two days ago on Thursday - which started as a four-part BBC drama starring Keeley Hawes - but then quickly transformed into a 'Richard Curtis ensemble piece much like Love Actually where the individual stories all coalesce towards the end of the queue'.

Comedian Dara O Briain tweeted yesterday afternoon: 'Pitch idea: "Meet Queuete" about a guy and girl who fall in love in an 11 wait to see the queen. Netflix already very interested.

'Things get rocky in Episode 6 when she goes for coffee and meets David Beckham.'

However, Twitter user Marty Perkins had a different angle, instead pitching the queue as a sentimental John Lewis Christmas advert.

He wrote: 'John Lewis's Ad Agency furiously rewriting the Christmas ad to be about 2 people that meet in #TheQueue and end up having Christmas together. To a slow piano version of 500 Miles by The Proclaimers.'

Are you Jack and Zoe or did you meet a special new person in the queue? Email oliver.price@mailonline.co.uk
Ask someone for the name of a famous feminist and no doubt youll get one of a few prominent women batted back to you. Germaine Greer. Gloria Steinem. Hillary Clinton. But Elizabeth Windsor? That would be a no. She looked the opposite of todays powerful women with her knee-length tweeds and distinctly unfashionable court shoes.

I, though, argue differently. As a historian with a particular interest in female power, I believe one thing above all puts the Queen in a special category of achievement. Not the length of her reign. Not even her link to the courageous wartime generation. No, it is her global impact on the cause of gender equality that should be remembered, all without donning a miniskirt or wailing MeToo. All without spilling emotions, making herself a victim or hiding the effects of age and motherhood.

I believe the Queen is the ultimate feminist icon of the 20th Century, more a symbol of womens progress in this century than other icons like Madonna or Beyonce could dream of. Females everywhere, particularly those past menopause, have much to thank her for.

As a historian with a particular interest in female power, I believe one thing above all puts the Queen in a special category of achievement

But when it has been previously suggested the Queen was a feminist, or that women should celebrate her life, critics have bitten back sharply.

In 2019 Olivia Colman, who portrayed the Queen in the Netflix drama The Crown, provoked equal cheers and jeers for describing her as the ultimate feminist. A few years before, Womans Hour chief presenter Emma Barnett had her intellectual credentials questioned for calling the Queen a feminist icon.

They justified the view for different reasons. For Colman, it was because the Queen had shown a wife could assume a mans role while retaining her femininity. The argument went in reverse for Barnett: the Queen had shown her gender was irrelevant to her capacity to do her job.

Yet no King would ever have his masculinity and the definition of manhood so conflated in the same way. Its doubtful anyone will question whether King Charles defines the essence of what it is to be a man.

In the midst of all the grief for the Queen, we should remember at the beginning of her reign Elizabeths potential power to effect change provoked as much unease as it did anticipation. In a patriarchal world, female empowerment is a force to fear. After all, we never talk about male empowerment, do we?

It is her global impact on the cause of gender equality that should be remembered, all without donning a miniskirt or wailing MeToo

Our two other long-lived queens, Elizabeth I and Victoria, had the same scrutiny. Foreign affairs, great questions of state, probity in government, what did that matter compared to the burning issue of what it meant to have a woman placed above the heads of men?

It was not easy for Elizabeth II to escape from under the shadow of Queen Victoria, the figurative mother of the nation.

Initially, it wasnt even clear she wanted to. Though the command for brides to obey their husbands had not been part of the Book of Common Prayer since 1928, Elizabeth included it in her wedding vows.

Aged 25, she was a mother-of-two when she made her accession speech before the Privy Council. Accompanied by her husband, Elizabeth looked even younger than her years, surrounded by a roomful of mostly old men. But after the Privy Council meeting, the comparisons with Victoria stopped. And you can begin to see her innate feminism come to the fore. Elizabeth did not lose her self-confidence in between pregnancies and pass over the red boxes or deputise Philip to meet her Ministers. Far from it. She took on the role of sovereign and Philip accepted his as the worlds most famous house-husband.

In reality, there were few actions or speeches of the Queens that could be classed as declaratively feminist  such as the time she drove Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia around Balmoral in her Land Rover when Saudi women were forbidden to drive, going at such breakneck speed while chatting that the Prince begged her to slow down.

I believe the Queen is the ultimate feminist icon of the 20th Century, more a symbol of womens progress in this century than other icons like Madonna or Beyonce could dream of

Or her few comments about the work of the WI, or the potential to be tapped if only society can find ways to allow girls and women to play their full part.

No, instead of examples like these, the Queen was a feminist for reasons most women can instantly relate to: first, she established clear boundaries between the demands of her job and those of her family.

Society still expects wives will drop everything for the family, no matter how consuming their careers, so husbands can go to work. Not once did the Queen say or imply she ought to shift her weekly audience with the Prime Minister, or cancel the ribbon-cutting of a hospital because of some domestic concern.

Second, society judges working mothers much more harshly than working fathers, giving the latter a free pass if their job is important enough but condemning the former as a terrible person if her children dont turn out to be outstanding successes. The Queens fitness as sovereign has never been tied to her fitness as a mother. Although she always made her family a part of her life, Elizabeth did not allow it to define her as Victoria did.

Third, society makes middle- aged women feel that they are invisible. Their opinions stop mattering, contributions dont count and their bodies, according to fashion designers, dont exist. Whispers that the Queen ought to abdicate began in her 50s. By 1977, her Silver Jubilee, critics wondered what she was good for now her youth and figure were in the rear-view mirror.

She took on the role of sovereign and Philip accepted his as the worlds most famous house-husband

In answer, she embodied the reverse of Invisible Woman Syndrome. By refusing to countenance abdication, she showed what a working woman looks like past menopause. Rather than shrinking, she revved up a gear and demonstrated a womans age has no bearing on her agency and authority.

Her fabulous colour sense and ability to match dresses to the mood excited intense interest  but this didnt make her a feminist icon. In an age when a womans sexiness is her currency, and empowerment judged by how much of her body she exposes, she refused to make any concessions to fashion.

This was a confident femininity, an inner feminism based on absolute assuredness of who she was and why she mattered. For over five decades, the Queen showed what strength and purpose look like on the body of an older woman.

The next three generations of monarchs are due to be Kings. To some extent, the old way of doing things will return. So, it is up to us to honour Queen Elizabeths memory by following her example.

She tore up the rule book on gender roles without society falling apart or families breaking down. Despite heavy restrictions on what she could do as a woman let alone a Queen, she forged her own path  and invited the rest of us to follow.
Prince Harry, finally in his military uniform, carried out a sombre guard of honour for the Queen this evening.

The Duke of Sussex stood guard at the Queen's lying in state in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening as a stream of mourners filed past after queueing for hours.

Captain Wales, as he was known in the army, joined his brother Prince William, the Prince of Wales, in military uniform for the 15-minute vigil.

Prince Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, has previously been denied the chance to wear his military uniform as he publicly mourns, because he is no longer a working royal.

But royal sources said the King decided his youngest son could wear uniform for the vigil.

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, mount a vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrive to hold a vigil in honour of thier grandmother

Duke of Sussex's tribute to the Queen in full Here is the statement released by the Duke of Sussex in full. 'In celebrating the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen - and in mourning her loss - we are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty. 'She was globally admired and respected. Her unwavering grace and dignity remained true throughout her life and now her everlasting legacy. 'Let us echo the words she spoke after the passing of her husband, Prince Philip, words which can bring comfort to all of us now: 'Life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings.' 'Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings - from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren. 'I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between. You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over. And as it comes to first meetings, we now honour my father in his new role as King Charles III. 'Thank you for your commitment to service. Thank you for your sound advice. Thank you for your infectious smile. 'We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.' Advertisement

Despite being a former Army officer, Harry has been in civilian dress for official events this week, including walking behind the Queen's coffin on Wednesday.

On Monday, the Duke recalled his 'first meeting' with his grandmother, the head of the armed forces, in 2006 when he was commissioned as an officer.

He dubbed the late monarch his 'Commander-in-Chief' in his tribute.

'Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings  from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren,' he wrote.

The tribute references the moment the Prince, then 21, smiled at his grandmother as they spoke at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, in Surrey.

In pictures from the moment, Prince Harry could be seen blushing as they spoke.

The Duke joined the Household Cavalrys Blues and Royals as 2nd Lieutenant Wales  a rank referred to as Cornet in the regiment.

He then became a Captain and served for 10 years in the British Army. This included two frontline tours to Afghanistan.

On Saturday evening, Prince Harry was wearing the Blues and Royals, No.1 Uniform, KCVO Neck Order and Star, Afghanistan Operational Service Medal, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and Army Pilot Wings.

The Duke lost his honorary military titles after he and wife Meghan Markle decided to stop being senior working royals.

This included the title Captain General of the Royal Marines.

However he still possesses the title he earned during his military service.

Prince William was wearing the Blues and Royals, No.1 Uniform, The Garter Sash, The Garter Star, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and RAF Pilot Wings.

The brothers were joined in their silent tribute around the coffin by cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Lady Louise Windsor and her brother Viscount Severn.

On Monday, the Duke recalled his 'first meeting' with his grandmother, the head of the armed forces, in 2006 when he was commissioned as an officer (pictured)

The Duke of Sussex has paid an emotional tribute to his late grandmother the Queen as he thanked her for her 'sound advice'

The Duke of Sussex and his medals: How Prince Harry has been given a number of awards for his service to the Queen 2002 - Awarded the Queens Golden Jubilee Medal, which was given to everyone who was in active service on February 6 2002 and had been in the forces for five years 2008 - Received an Operational Service medal to mark his service in Afghanistan. 2012 - Awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, which was awarded to all those in the Armed Forces, emergency services, prison services and members of the Royal Household. 2015 - Knighted by his grandmother for his service and was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO). 2022 - Awarded the Queen's Platinum Jubilee medal despite stepping back from royal duty Advertisement

Members of the public continued to file past while the Queen's grandchildren stood guard, with some women wiping tears away from their face as they left the hall.

Prince William led the group away from the coffin, followed by Zara and Peter, Louise and James, Beatrice and Eugenie, and finally Harry.

As the royals returned to their cars, Zara appeared to be linking arms with Harry, while Peter, Louise and Beatrice were walking along together.

Last night, King Charles and his siblings, Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward mounted their touching final vigil for the Queen, before the late-monarch is laid to rest on Monday.

They were all dressed in uniform, with an exception made for disgraced Andrew, who is no longer a working royal, to wear his military uniform as a 'special mark of respect' for the Queen.

As tearful mourners watched on, the Queen's four children stood guard of their mother's coffin for more than 10 minutes at Westminster Hall on Friday evening. The siblings each guarded a side of the coffin, with Charles, dressed in a Navy Admiral uniform, standing at the head.

It was their second, and final, vigil for the beloved monarch. Known as the 'Vigil of the Children' - an honour dating back to the time of George V - it mirrors a previous event held earlier this week at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.

However, unlike the previous vigil in which Charles donned a kilt and Andrew a morning suit, all four siblings were dressed in military colours.

From centre, anti-clockwise, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise, Zara Tindall, Prince William, the Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, Viscount James Severn and Princess Eugenie, bow, during the vigil of the Queen's grandchildren

The Duke of York was given special dispensation to wear uniform at the vigil, as a 'final mark of respect' for his mother.

He was stripped of his armed forces patronages earlier this year amid a sexual abuse lawsuit in the United States, allegations he denied, had previously been banned from wearing military colours at public events.

He wore the full military dress uniform of a Vice Admiral of the Navy, a title which he earned from his years serving in the Navy - including in the Falklands War.
A man has been charged with attempted murder following a knife attack which left a young female Met Police officer who suffered 'life changing injuries' in the attack on Friday night.

The officer, who was released from hospital last night, was injured alongside a male colleague who is still under medical supervision after being stabbed three times in the neck and once in the neck.

Scotland Yard confirmed the suspect, Mohammed Rahman, 24, of Westbourne Park was charged with attempted murder and GBH with intent.

'The attempted murder charge relates to a male police constable, the GBH to a female police constable.

'He was also charged with assault (ABH) and two counts of threatening a person in a public place with a bladed article. These charges relate to three other police constables.

'In addition, he was charged with robbery and possession of a bladed article.

'Rahman will appear in custody at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on Monday, 19 September.'

A young female police officer suffered potentially 'life changing injuries' after she was stabbed alongside a colleague on Friday in Leicester Square, pictured

The female officer was released from hospital following treatment while her colleague remains under medical supervision

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and assaulting an emergency worker on Friday, and he remains in custody

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and assaulting an emergency worker on Friday, and he remains in custody.

A knife was recovered at the scene, and the Met do not believe the incident was terror related.

The officers  both attached to the Met's Central West Command Unit responsible for policing Westminster  were carrying out routine duties and were not part of the wider policing operation in place following the death of the Queen.

Detective Chief Superintendent Owain Richards, from the Central West Command Unit, said: 'Every day, police officers go out on the streets to keep the communities of London safe.

'In doing so they often have to put themselves in the way of danger, putting their own welfare at risk in order to protect others.

'The actions of these two officers, and their colleagues, exemplifies the key value of courage that runs through the core of the Metropolitan Police and they will be offered all the support they need as they begin their recovery from this terrifying incident.'

His team appealed to anyone who was in the area and saw the incident, or who may have captured events on a camera or mobile phone, to contact the incident room on 020 8785 8244.

The Metropolitan Police said they do not suspect that the incident was terror related

'Witnesses can also speak to police on 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote 1080/16SEP. Information can be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111,' the force said.

Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley previously said a 'violent struggle' involving a 'frenzied individual' ensued in the West End at around 6am.

He said the female officer challenged a man she believed was carrying a knife, and he stabbed her in the arm before attempting to flee.

The male officer caught the offender, who stabbed him three times in the neck and once in the chest.

Sir Mark said a taser was deployed, and the offender was arrested while the officers were rushed to hospital.

A police cordon at the scene which covered the northern section of Leicester Square on Friday morning was scaled back in the afternoon.

Forensic officers were seen working outside a Shake Shack restaurant on Coventry Street, as well as round the corner at the junction of Rupert Street and Shaftesbury Avenue.
The cafe located at 700 Canal St. will close indefinitely on October 3 amid the street being overrun by homeless

Starbucks says it is closing down one of its New Orleans cafes due to racism - but hasn't offered any further explanation as to why.

The cafe located at 700 Canal St. will close its doors indefinitely on October 3 amid a series of issues that led the location to be a 'high incident store.'

'Our stores are windows into America, and every day, our partners witness the challenges facing our communities  challenges to personal safety and security, racism, a growing mental health crisis, and issues magnified by COVID,' a Starbucks spokesperson said in a July letter obtained by 4WWL news.

'These challenges play out within our stores  affecting our partners, our communities, and our customers alike.'

Multiple incidents have been reported at the Canal street location but specifics, including the circumstances surrounding the specific allegation of 'racism,' were not disclosed.

It is also unclear if the cafe's staff or customers were targeted during the racist incidents.

A Starbucks customer said they believe the company is prioritizing the safety of their employees with the recent decision.

'I think security is a concern on everyone's mind,' a customer told Fox 8. 'If they're making this decision, I'm sure it's based on the safety of its customers, as well as their employees.'

A Louisiana Starbucks is set to close down a popular cafe due to racism and mental health concerns amid the metropolitan street being overrun by homeless people. The cafe located at 700 Canal St. will close its doors indefinitely on October 3

Tiffany Adlers, a jewelry store owner on Canal street, acknowledged there has been an increase in crime but said her store wasn't impacted

Pictured: Current CEO Howard Schultz (left) that pass on the baton to new CEO Laxman Narasimhan (right). Narasimhan will take over in 2023

Tiffany Adlers, a jewelry store owner on Canal street, said there has been an increase in crime in the area - but hasn't run into the issue at her store.

'Security is always a concern in the metropolitan area,' Adlers said. 'I believe that other metropolitan cities all over the county are having similar issues.

'We are trying to do the best for our merchants, our customers, and everybody should do their part to sort of self-police.'

David Rubenstein, a clothing store owner, said the number of homeless people on the street either drinking or sleeping is the number one issue on the metropolitan street.

'It's not what people like to see,' he told Fox 8.

Meanwhile, Rubenstein said his business is just fine and 'better than ever.'

'Yes, [Starbucks] has had a little bit of a problem,' he said. 'I think one closure shouldn't symbolize this entire street, and that's my concern.

Rubenstein added that nothing is perfect and his company is satisfied with the location.

'We're not leaving,' he said.

The Downtown Development District of New Orleans told Fox 8 that Canal street was a busy area with heavy foot traffic. The organization spends more than half of its budget on public safety.

'We are keenly aware that public safety is a top concern for our stakeholders,' the company said while noting its disappointment with Starbucks' close.

Meanwhile, other coffee shops remain open and booming with business in the area.

Starbucks sparked fury in 2018 after staffers at one of its Philly stores called police on two black men waiting to use its bathroom.

The pair were later arrested, then released without charge amid a nationwide outcry, which saw Starbucks close its cafes for an afternoon to give employees unconscious bias training.

Meanwhile, the chain's founders are busy making over its hugely popular cafes with new gadgets including Frappuccino makers and cold-press machines designed to create drinks quicker, and make life easier for its workers.

Starbucks is also pushing back against efforts by workers to unionize stores, although 200 have so far defied bosses to form unions.
Despite the White House fury that GOP governors face for sending migrants to sanctuary cities, El Paso's Democrat-led city government has been doing the same for weeks -- and is asking for the Biden administration to pay for it.

Led by Mayor Oscar Leeser, a Democrat, the Texas border city has dispatched at least 28 charter buses filled with migrants to New York City since August 23, at a cost of more than $600,000, KFOX-TV reported this week.

City officials say that they expect the buses to be paid for by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of a quarterly reimbursement process covering emergency food and shelter for migrants.

The buses arranged by El Paso have escaped the intense criticism heaped on GOP Governors Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida, whom the White House accused of treating migrants as 'chattel' and 'political pawns.'

GOP officials say they're keen to give liberal sanctuary cities an insight into the strain uncontrolled illegal immigration is bringing to border communities.

Conservatives were quick to point out the apparent double standard, with radio host Bruce Hooley tweeting: 'Another example of, 'When Democrats do it, it's perfectly fine.''

Led by Democratic Mayor Oscar Leeser (above) the Texas border city has dispatched at least 28 charter buses filled with migrants to New York City since August 23

A charter bus that took a group of migrants from El Paso to New York City in August is seen above. The city has been arranging voluntary transit for migrants through free bus rides

Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin observed: 'The Democrat-led city of El Paso, TX has been sending its own buses of migrants to NYC, and just approved up to a $2 million contract for 16 months to bus even more migrants out of town.'

'They are also requesting federal reimbursement. El Paso, however, is not being criticized,' he added.

Abbott has been sending buses to New York, Chicago, and DC, including to the vice president's doorstep, and this week DeSantis dispatched a plane with 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard, the wealthy Massachusetts island.

The White House has decried the Republican governors' efforts, saying the migrants, mostly from Venezuela, were being used in a political stunt.

'These were children. They were moms. They were fleeing communism. And what did Governor DeSantis and Governor Abbott do to them? They used them as political pawns, treated them like chattel,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a press briefing on Friday.

She said: 'This is an issue that is inhumane it is abhorrent and we should not be using people, migrants, who are fleeing communism as a political pawn.'

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a press briefing on Friday that Abbott and DeSantis used migrants 'as political pawns, treated them like chattel'

Three new buses arrived at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan early on Saturday (above). They are also thought to be from Texas, but Abbott didn't immediately comment

Representatives for Abbott and DeSantis did not immediately respond to requests for comment from DailyMail.com on Saturday afternoon.

Since April, Abbott's state government in Texas has transported more than 11,000 migrants by bus to Democrat-controlled states and cities, including 8,000 to DC and 2,500 to New York City.

At least 600 migrants from Texas have also been transported to Chicago since late August.

El Paso has been struggling to cope with an influx of migrants crossing the border illegally, mostly from Venezuela, that has overwhelmed local shelters and Border Patrol processing facilities.

Earlier this week, nearly 1,000 migrants had been dropped off to sleep on the streets of El Paso, without access to basic sanitation facilities.

To alleviate the surge, the El Paso City-County Office of Emergency Management has been arranging voluntary transit for migrants through free bus rides, mostly to New York City, at least since June, according to the Texas Tribune.

'OEM has sponsored and provided transportation services for migrants out of El Paso, which is reimbursable through FEMA,' Deputy City Manager Mario D'Agostino told the outlet.

'OEM has sponsored charter buses to include a recent transport to New York City, this was the preferred destination for those without any means to travel,' added D'Agostino.

Migrants, mostly from Venezuela, queue to board a bus to New York at the Migrant Welcome Center managed by the city of El Paso and the Office of Emergency Management, in El Paso

A migrant bus from Texas arrives at the Port Authority terminal in New York on August 29

As well, the Biden has long been quietly chartering buses and plans to move migrants from the border to onward destinations, an apparent contradiction that Carine Hajjar noted in a Wall Street Journal opinion essay on Friday.

'The White House calls Mr. Abbotts busing shameful, but the Biden administration appears to be doing the same thing,' wrote Hajjar.

On the other side, critics of Abbott and DeSantis say that the Republican governors are misleading migrants, after reports emerged that many who were flown to Martha's Vineyard were told they would be offered housing and jobs in Boston.

US Rep Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts, accused DeSantis of orchestrating a political ploy with the lives of the migrants.

'Playing politics with people's lives is what governors like George Wallace did during segregation,' Moulton said, referring to Wallace's tactics of tricking black Southerners to move north. 'Ron DeSantis is trying to earn George Wallace's legacy.'

Speaking on Thursday, DeSantis accused critics of his move to fly migrants to Martha's Vineyard of 'virtue signaling', saying their concern for the welfare of the migrants was a 'fraud'.

He said: 'The minute even a small fraction of what those border towns deal with every day is brought to their front door, they go berserk, and they're so upset that this is happening.'




Known in Palace corridors as a 'hatchet man' for his ability to deliver bad news, particularly relating to job cuts, it is thought that his skills will come in handy.

The new King, who is served by Private Secretary Sir Clive Alderton, already has a challenge on his hands.

Last week it emerged that dozens of Clarence House staff had been notified of redundancies during a service held for the Queen at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.

Up to 100 employees of the King's former official residence were told that they could lose their jobs.

Many staff, some of whom have worked there for decades, had hoped that they would be amalgamated into the King's new office.

Sir Edward Young, the Queen's Private Secretary, (pictured) will be kept in post by King Charles III

Dozens of members of staff at Clarence House, the King's former official residence, (pictured) were notified of redundancies during a service held for the Queen at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh

But while some will be deployed elsewhere, others are likely to be made redundant. A letter sent to staff from Sir Clive reportedly said: 'I appreciate that this is unsettling news and I wanted to let you know of the support that is available at this point.'

He added that staff providing 'direct, close, personal support and advice' to the new King and Queen Consort would remain in post.

It is understood that a consultation period will begin after the Queen's funeral today.

Sir Edward, 55, joined the Royal Household in 2004, serving as the Queen's Assistant and then Deputy Private Secretary before being promoted to his current post in 2017.

He was responsible for overseeing the 'Megxit' deal struck with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex when they left their working roles within the Royal Family to live in the US.
VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh government has filed a special leave petition (SLP) in Supreme Court against AP High Courts judgement that the state is not competent to legislate on its three capitals.

In its SLP at the countrys highest court, AP government has taken a stand that if a state, reorganised as per provisions of a Central Act under Articles 3 and 4 of the Indian Constitution, is deprived of the power to reorganise its capital city, it amounts to destroying the federal structure of the Indian Constitution.

The SLP contended that the High Court has held Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority Act, 2014, as a legislation made by state government under Article 258 of the Indian Constitution, indicating that AP government legislated the said act as a delegate of Union of India.

When the CRDA Act was enacted in 2014, the text of the act made it clear that the state government is exercising its powers under List II of Entry 5 for constituting a local body. Neither the centre nor the AP government said that CRDA Act is part of delegation of the centre. In fact, the centre itself filed an affidavit in the High Court stating that shifting of capitals is within the purview of AP government.

As per the SLP, the law makes it clear that the power under Article 258 of Indian Constitution is only relatable to delegation of executive and administrative powers, but not the legislative power to the centre.

The state government maintains that it is challenging the High Courts observation for the reason that CRDA Act has been legislated as delegation of power. The delegate had not followed norms under Section 6 of AP Split Act, 2014. Moreover, the AP government took the stand that location of the capital at Amaravati is contrary to recommendations of the committee that had been appointed under the Central Act.

Basis this, the state government has raised a question of law, asking whether a decision taken by a delegate, contrary to provisions of the Central Act, could be affirmed by the High Court.

Further, the state government has challenged AP HCs findings about non-compliance with obligations under Land Pooling Scheme, as the CRDA had already extended the timeframe for compliance with LPS rules up to 2024. Therefore, the state feels there is no cause for adjudication of the dispute by High Court at the relevant stage.

AP government also asked whether adjudication of competence of legislature, which is one of the organs of the government, after withdrawal of the three capitals legislation, would constitute a breakdown of principle of separation of powers among the three organs of the government, as it is considerate as the basic structure of Indian Constitution.

The state government said it has filed the SLP in the apex court based on legal advice of experts in constitutional law, assuming that there is a legal remedy available to AP government against the AP High Courts judgement.

The SLP reiterated that Andhra Pradesh government is committed to people of the state and decentralisation of governance by way of setting up legislative, administrative and judicial capitals in Amaravati, Visakhapatnam and Kurnool respectively.
Vladimir Putin built his dictatorship on two core foundations: ruthless control of his nation, whether fleecing its wealth with his pals or silencing dissident voices, and restoration of Russian glory in the wake of the Soviet Union unravelling.

So the diminutive despot posed as the modern-day successor to Peter the Great, that 18th Century giant who created the Russian empire, while rehabilitating Joseph Stalin, stepping up repression and strengthening his armed forces.

Six of the first 11 decrees he passed after becoming President in 2000 focused on the military  and since then he has almost tripled defence spending to fund his aggressive foreign policy.

Yet Putin faces humiliation following his bungled invasion of Ukraine. First, his plan to take Kyiv in a few days was defeated. Now his cherished military has collapsed in Kharkiv, reportedly losing 3,000 square miles in just six days.

This is a pivotal moment  and a significant morale boost for both the nation under attack, suffering so much pain, and for its allies in the West as the energy crisis sparked by this crisis starts to bite.

Vladimir Putin built his dictatorship on two core foundations: ruthless control of his nation, whether fleecing its wealth with his pals or silencing dissident voices, and restoration of Russian glory in the wake of the Soviet Union unravelling

Once again, we see the trademark atrocities of Russian troops with the discovery of two mass graves in the recaptured city of Izyum, one containing soldiers, the other civilians. Some corpses are bound, showing signs of execution and torture. And we have seen the incredible bravery of a nation fighting both for survival and for the cause of democracy in this epic confrontation with dictatorship.

Like any bully, Putin responds with threats. He warns of a 'more serious' response, which is chilling given his stock of nuclear and chemical weapons  although this most likely means more hideous attacks targeting Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. And while pretending his 'special military operation' is going to plan, the killer in the Kremlin hints that he might have to mobilise more forces by calling up conscripts after seeing massive loss of men and weaponry.

Ukraine claims almost 25 per cent of Russia's troops have been killed, injured or captured, with two-thirds of Moscow's tanks and a fifth of military aircraft put out of action. One division alone lost 90 tanks in the panicked retreat from Izyum.

Russia is losing, but it has not yet lost. Putin's power is waning, but he remains in command. This is a dangerous moment in our history  and we need to show the same fortitude as the Ukrainians in defending democracy

No wonder there are signs that Putin's stranglehold on Russia is beginning to loosen. Rumblings of discontent are suddenly being heard from his most extreme supporters, including hardline nationalists, talking heads on state television and bloggers with ties to the military.

These distraught former allies fear that their nation faces defeat so they push the Russian President to escalate the war while blaming other military and political leaders for the 'catastrophe'. But some elected politicians, including those from Putin's home city of St Petersburg, dared to back a statement earlier this month demanding he resign.

There has been bloodshed with fresh border clashes in two troubled parts of the former Soviet empire. Is this another sign of the President's waning power  and possibly, a portent of the future if the Russian empire collapses in wake of his stupid war?

The West must step up support to speed the end of this terrible conflict since there can be no sustainable peace until Putin is driven off all of Ukraine's terrain.

Russia is losing, but it has not yet lost. Putin's power is waning, but he remains in command. This is a dangerous moment in our history  and we need to show the same fortitude as the Ukrainians in defending democracy.

Trawling the forest of graves: Masked against the stench, investigators in Ukraine search a mass burial site on the edge of Izyum for evidence of war crimes by Vladimir Putin's invaders

By Askold Krushelnycky in Izyum, Ukraine, for the Mail on Sunday

Ukrainian investigators are trawling through newly discovered mass graves to gather evidence against Vladimir Putin and his generals for a war crimes trial.

The remains of hundreds of corpses have been found on the edge of Izyum, a city liberated in last week's spectacular counter-offensive against Russian occupation.

Forensic investigators wearing masks against the overwhelming stench have been tirelessly digging through the site, witnessed by The Mail on Sunday.

The extent of Russian terror in this part of eastern Ukraine is only now beginning to emerge.

Many of the dead have been found with their hands tied behind their back  believed to be evidence of torture and executions in cold blood, according to local lead police investigator, Serhiy Bolivnov.

As officials painstakingly amass evidence, every examination is recorded on video. The removal of each body is overseen by two medical-legal experts and a war crimes investigator from the Prosecutor General's office.

GRIM TASK: A forensic team takes away one of the exhumed bodies from the mass graves discovered near Izyum

Many of the dead have been found with their hands tied behind their back  believed to be evidence of torture and executions in cold blood, according to local lead police investigator, Serhiy Bolivnov

Bodies will be taken to morgues in Kharkiv for post-mortems, with the results set to be handed over to the United Nations and other international bodies ahead of possible war crimes trials.

Since the start of the war, Izyum's population has dropped from 50,000 to just 12,000  many too old or infirm to leave. At present the city has no gas, electricity or water.

One elderly woman, Yevdovika, has been left homeless after her apartment was destroyed by Russian shelling.

Standing in a devastated cityscape, peppered with ruins, she said: 'The Russians, what swine, why did they come to Ukraine? They destroyed everything. They said they were here to liberate us. What did they liberate us from? From a pleasant life that was so wonderful a few months ago.'

Ukrainian emergency workers prepare to exhume bodies from graves in Izyum, pictured

A 50-year-old man, Maksym, told how he had been captured and tortured by Russian security agents, having stayed to care for his elderly mother.

He said he was repeatedly beaten and given electric shocks as he resisted his torturers' demands for names of resistance fighters. 'They used an apparatus that looked like an old-fashioned telephone with a hand crank which generated an electric shock by turning the handle. The quicker they turned it, the more intense the shock.

'They attached electrodes to my hands and my whole body quivered from pain.'

His limbs bear the marks of the handcuffs and leg-irons he was forced to wear.

Members of Ukrainian Emergency Service, police and experts work at a place of mass burial during an exhumation

Maksym found the electrocution device left behind by his captors in their headlong rush to leave Izyum, and has handed it over as part of the evidence for war crimes trials.

Visiting Izyum, Ukrainian MP and ombudsman for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets predicted: 'Very many such sites will be found.'

In recent weeks Ukrainian forces have recaptured large tracts of territory, liberating more than 150,000 of their fellow citizens and pushing back some of the occupying forces to the Russian border which they had streamed across when the invasion erupted on February 24.

Reacting to Ukraine's counter-offensive, Vladimir Putin on Friday insisted Russia's plans remain unchanged and threatened a 'more serious' response.
A dermatologist accused of poisoning her estranged husband with Drano has come face-to-face with her spouse in a court hearing in a bitter spat over their children.

Yue Yu, 45, also known as Emily was caught on camera pouring the drain cleaner into her husband Jack Chens drink - causing him serious injuries.

She was previously issued a restraining order against their two children, after Chen, 53, accused her of poisoning him with the dangerous liquid three times.

Chen, a radiologist, handed over footage of Yu supposedly pouring the Drano into his lemonade at their $2.7million mansion to cops in Irvine.

He has since filed for divorce, with a judge granting him a restraining order which also covered their two children  aged seven and eight.

However, Yu is fighting to see her children and came face-to-face with her estranged spouse in the latest custody battle on Friday in Orange, California.

She was arrested on August 4 after he accused her of poisoning him but was released a day later after posting a $30,000 bond.

Yue Yu, 45, also known as Emily was caught on camera pouring the drain cleaner into her husband Jack Chens drink earlier this year

Yu was allegedly caught on camera pouring the drain cleaner into husband Jack Chen's drink, in footage released by Chen's attorneys

Chen, a radiologist, handed over footage of Yu supposedly pouring the Drano into his lemonade at their $2.7million mansion to cops

On August 5 Chen served Yu with divorce papers and she was ordered to stay 100 yards away from the family at all times.

Steven Hittleman, a lawyer for Chen, claims that he suffered swelling in his esophagus and stomach ulcers from drinking the spiked liquid.

At a previous hearing, the court heard that he spent weeks wondering what caused him to get sick, with his legal team releasing the footage of his wife from a hidden camera in their kitchen.

Chen claims that he was tortured by his wife regularly, telling a court that he denied her a massage and she stepped on his head until he did it.

He places the nanny cam in the kitchen of their home after growing suspicious that his wife was deliberately making him ill.

She was arrested on August 4 after he accused her of poisoning him but was released a day later after posting $30,000 bond

Chen claims that he suffered swelling in his esophagus and stomach ulcers from drinking the spiked liquid

Yus attorney, David Wohl, claims that she was only using the cleaner for its intended purpose, and poured the Drano into an empty cup'

The three dates he captured the alleged criminal act on camera were July 11, July 18 and July 25.

Court documents reveal that he claims his wifes alleged rage and erratic behavior emerged early on, but he only became concerned after their children were born.

Chen, who is fighting for sole custody, claims Yu and his mother-in-law , Yuqin 'Amy' Gu, started abusing their children when they were as young as two-years-old.

He claims the children were screamed at, slapped, insulted and deprived of sleep, and locked in their rooms.

Yu would allegedly commonly use a Chinese phrase towards the kids that means 'go die!'

He said the children learned early on that 'Emily's rule is everything adding: 'Emily's parenting if you could call it that revolves around yelling, insulting, verbally abusing, hitting, pushing, pulling and being emotionally abusive.

The California dermatologist, pictured at work,is fighting her husband who wants sole cusotdy of their two children

Hittelman said Chen called him in July to share video evidence that his wife tried to spike his hot lemonade with Drano, the chemical substance typically used to rid clogs in drains

A copy of the domestic violence restraining order that was issued to Yu on August 5 after she was released

The alleged poison attacks are believed to have happened at their $2.7 million mansion in Irvine, California

Chen said that Yu tried to turn the children against him, yelling at them if they told her they enjoyed spending time with him until they assured her they would not show affection towards their father.

Yus attorney, David Wohl, claims that she was only using the cleaner for its intended purpose, and poured the Drano into an empty cup.

He also insists that his client is being set up, saying 'The idea that my client, who is a 45-year-old well-respected dermatologist in Orange County, would destroy her life, destroy her children's lives and try to kill her husband is just completely absurd and untrue - and for that matter defamatory.

'It was for facilitating use in the sink or any other part of the house that was clogged as far as the drainage goes ... but she never poured any Drano or any chemical into any drink that the father or her husband used or was drinking ever that's completely untrue.'

He also calls Chen 'desperate' to both divorce Yu and gain custody of their two children, which Hittleman denies.
Ukrainian investigators are trawling through newly discovered mass graves to gather evidence against Vladimir Putin and his generals for a war crimes trial.

The remains of hundreds of corpses have been found on the edge of Izyum, a city liberated in last week's spectacular counter-offensive against Russian occupation.

Forensic investigators wearing masks against the overwhelming stench have been tirelessly digging through the site, witnessed by The Mail on Sunday.

The extent of Russian terror in this part of eastern Ukraine is only now beginning to emerge.

Many of the dead have been found with their hands tied behind their back  believed to be evidence of torture and executions in cold blood, according to local lead police investigator, Serhiy Bolivnov.

As officials painstakingly amass evidence, every examination is recorded on video. The removal of each body is overseen by two medical-legal experts and a war crimes investigator from the Prosecutor General's office.

GRIM TASK: A forensic team takes away one of the exhumed bodies from the mass graves discovered near Izyum

Many of the dead have been found with their hands tied behind their back  believed to be evidence of torture and executions in cold blood, according to local lead police investigator, Serhiy Bolivnov

Bodies will be taken to morgues in Kharkiv for post-mortems, with the results set to be handed over to the United Nations and other international bodies ahead of possible war crimes trials.

Since the start of the war, Izyum's population has dropped from 50,000 to just 12,000  many too old or infirm to leave. At present the city has no gas, electricity or water.

One elderly woman, Yevdovika, has been left homeless after her apartment was destroyed by Russian shelling.

Standing in a devastated cityscape, peppered with ruins, she said: 'The Russians, what swine, why did they come to Ukraine? They destroyed everything. They said they were here to liberate us. What did they liberate us from? From a pleasant life that was so wonderful a few months ago.'

Ukrainian emergency workers prepare to exhume bodies from graves in Izyum, pictured

A 50-year-old man, Maksym, told how he had been captured and tortured by Russian security agents, having stayed to care for his elderly mother.

He said he was repeatedly beaten and given electric shocks as he resisted his torturers' demands for names of resistance fighters. 'They used an apparatus that looked like an old-fashioned telephone with a hand crank which generated an electric shock by turning the handle. The quicker they turned it, the more intense the shock.

'They attached electrodes to my hands and my whole body quivered from pain.'

His limbs bear the marks of the handcuffs and leg-irons he was forced to wear.

Members of Ukrainian Emergency Service, police and experts work at a place of mass burial during an exhumation

Maksym found the electrocution device left behind by his captors in their headlong rush to leave Izyum, and has handed it over as part of the evidence for war crimes trials.

Visiting Izyum, Ukrainian MP and ombudsman for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets predicted: 'Very many such sites will be found.'

In recent weeks Ukrainian forces have recaptured large tracts of territory, liberating more than 150,000 of their fellow citizens and pushing back some of the occupying forces to the Russian border which they had streamed across when the invasion erupted on February 24.

Reacting to Ukraine's counter-offensive, Vladimir Putin on Friday insisted Russia's plans remain unchanged and threatened a 'more serious' response.
King Charles has plans to turn Balmoral into a museum in honour of his mother.

The private Scottish castle which was so beloved by the Queen would be 'opened up to the public' and is likely to carry an exhibition paying tribute to her extraordinary seven-decade reign, an insider said.

'Looking at the number of properties and the number of working members of the Royal family, the King will be looking at the properties and asking: "What value does this give to the public?", a source said.

An exhibition is likely to focus on the Queen's lifetime of service and offer an opportunity to display some of the Royal jewellery collection and the outfits worn by the Queen at pivotal moments in history.

It would also honour her connection to Scotland while making good use of the grounds and maintaining staff numbers at the estate.

Charles is unlikely to require large living quarters in the Castle as he already has his own retreat in North-East Scotland at nearby Birkhall.

King Charles has plans to turn Balmoral into a museum in honour of his mother. Pictured: Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and their children at their beloved Scottish residence in 1960

It would also fulfil the King's ambition of creating spaces within existing Royal buildings where people can come together. During his time as Britain's longest-serving Prince of Wales, the King devoted time to restoring the Castle of Mey, the Caithness home of his late grandmother, the Queen Mother. A source said: 'Now he plans to do something similar with Balmoral. But all these things are likely to take some time.'

An exhibition at Balmoral, where the Queen loved to spend her summer holidays, could be opened up to the public next summer. It would draw tens of thousands of visitors to pay a tribute to the Queen in the Highlands home where she spent her final days.

The Queen's coffin later lay in the ballroom at Balmoral Castle where staff and friends of the late monarch were able to pay their respects.

Queen Elizabeth spent her final days at her Scottish retreat Balmoral, where she loved to spend her summer holidays

Six gamekeepers were chosen as pallbearers to transport the coffin last Sunday to a hearse waiting outside for a six-hour journey, accompanied by the Princess Royal, to Edinburgh where it rested overnight in the Palace of Holyroodhouse before a service in the Scottish capital at St Giles' Cathedral.

The new plans for Balmoral are all part of the new King's determination to cut back on the excess of Royalty and to foster a slimmed-down monarchy.

One of his plans is to radically reduce the number of official suites at Buckingham Palace. As one source put it, the King is most likely to adopt a 'flat above the shop' living arrangement instead.
When four magnificent horses of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police take the first steps of the Queens funeral procession tomorrow, it will mark the culmination of a 53-year love affair between the late Monarch and the Mounties.

Ridden by officers wearing the famous red tunics and stetsons, the four horses will lead the extraordinary ceremonial parade from Westminster Abbey to Hyde Park Corner.

Fittingly, one of the quartet is named Elizabeth (after the Queen Mother) and was given to the Queen as a gift in 2012.

Horses of honour: Superintendant Kevin Fahey on Sir John, Sergeant Major Scott Williamson on Darby, Corporall Justine Rogawski on Elizabeth and Constable Katy Loisel on George of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will take the first steps of the Queens funeral procession

Elizabeth, aged 17, will parade alongside George, a 22-year-old horse that has been ridden by King Charles at Trooping The Colour ceremonies since 2009, and Sir John, a 14-year-old charger currently ridden by Princess Anne.

The final member of the foursome, aged 16, is called Darby and has toured the world with the Musical Ride  a spectacular display team consisting of 32 horses bearing riders with 7ft lances, performing intricate manoeuvres.

The horses will be ridden at the procession by Superintendent Kevin Fahey, Sergeant Major Scott Williamson, Corporal Justine Rogawski and Constable Katy Loisel.

Their trained police steeds are expected to cope well with the crowds likely to be packing the route along Whitehall and The Mall.

Sgt Major Williamson, who will be riding Darby tomorrow, last night said it was incredibly humbling to be given the honour of leading the funeral procession.

The relationship that we have with Her Majesty is very special and its fair to say its even become quite personal.

Its hard to describe everything that I am feeling right now. I have the personal emotions of sadness and grief. Obviously there is a lot of pressure right now.

We are in what we would call a no fail mission right now, and that is to represent the force and the great people of this country during this ceremony.

The Queens deep affection for the RCMP began when the Mounties presented her with a horse called Burmese as a gift in 1969.

The stunning black mare quickly became one of Queen Elizabeths favourite horses, which she rode at Trooping The Colour for 18 years between 1969 and 1986.

Queen Elizabeth I riding her beloved horse Burmese in 1969 at the Trooping of the Colour

Burmese came to public prominence in 1981, when a teenager at the ceremony fired six blanks from a gun.

Although Burmese initially shied and cantered forward, the Queen, an accomplished rider, quickly regained control, to cheers from the crowd.

The following year, Queen Elizabeth was pictured on Burmese during a ride with US President Ronald Reagan in Windsor.

When her beloved horse retired in 1986, the Queen declined to ride a replacement and opted to take part in the parade from a carriage.

Burmese, meanwhile, enjoyed a pampered retirement at Windsor Castle and was put out to pasture in fields where the Queen could see her on her visits. Burmese died in 1990 aged 28 and was buried in the grounds of Windsor.

She rode Burmese for 18 Trooping The Colour and that was the beginning of a special relationship that we created with Her Majesty, Sgt Major Williamson added.

At 16 hands tall and with a calm temperament, the mare Elizabeth appeared to have captured the Queens heart in recent years in the way Burmese once did.

After receiving the horse as a gift, Her Majesty pledged to return the RCMPs generosity by breeding it and returning them its first foal.

Queen Elizabeth II inspects a detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Windsor

An initial attempt with a stallion called High Spirits was unsuccessful, so the Queen sent the mare to Germany, where success was found with a stallion named Viscount.

The subsequent foal, called Victoria, made history in 2016 when it was the first non-thoroughbred bloodstock to be born at the Queens Sandringham Estate.

The Queen kept her promise to the Mounties and presented Victoria as a gift to mark the countrys 150th anniversary.

The mare Elizabeth had a second foal, which was named Venus by the Queens granddaughter, Lady Louise Windsor.
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Senior palace advisers have asked the Prince and Princess of Wales to consider allowing Prince George to attend the State funeral of the Queen tomorrow because of the powerful symbolic message it would send.

At the tender age of nine, and having just overcome the daunting prospect of starting a new school, George is now the second in line to the throne.

With this in mind, aides have suggested it would be good for the public to see the young Prince  who affectionately called the Queen Gan Gan  and is the future of the Monarchy.

One insider said: Courtiers are keen for Prince George to be at the funeral in some capacity, if only to reassure the nation of the order of succession.

Another palace source added: Its currently under discussion. No decision has been made yet.

Senior palace advisers have asked the Prince and Princess of Wales to consider allowing Prince George to attend the State funeral of the Queen tomorrow because of the powerful symbolic message it would send

Prince George with his great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II caught in an intimate moment where he turns to her and smiles during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June

The children of the Prince and Princess of Wales have yet to be seen in public since the Queens death was announced on Thursday September 8.

Two of the late Queens other great-grandchildren, Mia and Lena Tindall, were at Westminster Hall on Friday for her lying-in-state. They were in the gallery with their parents Zara and Mike Tindall as their grandmother, Princess Anne, took her place alongside her three brothers for a silent vigil beside the Queens coffin.

There was no sign of George, Charlotte or Louis at last nights vigil by the Queens grandchildren  and the Prince of Wales might have good reason to consider whether courtiers suggestions to involve a nine-year-old in tomorrows funeral are wise.

William spoke movingly last week about how walking behind his grandmothers coffin as it left Buckingham Palace for the last time on Wednesday had evoked poignant memories of his mother Princess Dianas funeral 25 years ago.

William and Harry, then 15 and 12, found their grief thrust into the public gaze when they followed Dianas coffin along the same route down the Mall and Whitehall. It became one of the defining images of the day and left a lasting impact.

William has previously said it was one of the hardest things Ive ever done, while Harry said: I dont think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances.

Prince George tries his hand at making Christmas pudding under the watchful eye of his great-grandmother the Queen for a video broadcast on Christmas Day 2019

Prince George, pictured as a toddler in 2015, looks at his great-grandmother as they share a moment outside of the church where Princess Charlotte was christened in Sandringham

Prince George, pictured next to his great-grandmother as a two-year-old wearing red shorts and an embroidered shirt as she looks down at him in a baby pink suit and matching hat

William spoke movingly last week about how walking behind his grandmothers coffin as it left Buckingham Palace for the last time on Wednesday had evoked poignant memories of his mother Princess Dianas funeral 25 years ago

Last week, William confided to well-wishers that reprising the ceremonial procession for his grandmother had been challenging and brought back a few memories  so he might be keen to protect his own childrens grief from the same public scrutiny.

It is anticipated that tomorrows proceedings will be watched by the biggest-ever global TV audience, and the inclusion of Prince George would attract particular attention. That said, the Prince and Princess of Wales have, in recent months, increasingly included their children in public events.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte, seven, played starring roles in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations this summer.

They accompanied their parents on a trip to Wales and were seen on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Even four-year-old Prince Louis attended the Platinum Party at the Palace concert.

George was said to have a close relationship with his great-grandmother. The Queen marked his ninth birthday in July by sharing a picture of the pair together on the balcony at Buckingham Palace at the Jubilee weekend.

The Monarchs official Instagram page featured the post: Happy 9th Birthday Prince George! along with a celebratory cake emoji. Over the years she had proudly posted pictures at Christmas showing the direct line of succession, including one showing George stirring the Christmas pudding mixture as his father, grandfather and great-grandmother looked on.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte, seven, played starring roles in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations this summer

Archie and Lilibet remain 'at home' with granny Doria While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been at vigils in Westminster Hall this week and out receiving condolences from the public, their children, three-year-old Archie and 15-month-old Lilibet, are believed to have remained behind in America. According to reports, they have been at the couples home in Montecito, California, under the care of nannies and the Duchesss mother Doria Ragland. However, Doria, the only member of Meghans family to have attended her wedding, was seen out alone in Los Angeles on Friday, a two-hour drive from Harry and Meghans home. Harry and Meghan had been on a whistlestop tour of the UK and Germany and had been due to fly back to the US after attending an awards ceremony on the day the Queen died at Balmoral. Their children are thought to have last been in Britain when they joined the late Queen at a private lunch in Windsor around the time of Lilibets first birthday in June. While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been at vigils in Westminster Hall this week and out receiving condolences from the public, their children, three-year-old Archie and 15-month-old Lilibet, are believed to have remained behind in America Advertisement

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind for Prince William and his young family, who have just settled into Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Estate after moving from London. On September 7, George, Charlotte and Louis were seen attending their first day at Lambrook School, a 50,000-a-year co-education prep school set in 52 acres of Berkshire countryside.

The following morning, Prince William received the message that his grandmother was gravely ill. He joined his aunt and uncles to fly to Balmoral Castle to be with the Queen while Kate decided to stay in Windsor to be with the children.

On the Friday, King Charles made his eldest son and daughter-in-law the Prince and Princess of Wales. As heir to the throne, William has also inherited the Duchy of Cornwall and all the responsibilities which come with running the huge commercial estate.

While the public has yet to see the young Wales children since the Queens death, William and Kate have given some indication as to how their children are coping.

The new Princess of Wales told one well-wisher: Theyre in school, being well looked after. Theyre in a routine and theyre happy. Theyre with new friends.

Prince William said the children were OK, adding: Theyre settling in. Were trying to keep everything constant and settled for them.

When a member of the public said: They must be talking about it in school, William responded: They are. Theres a lot of talking.

On Saturday evening, the Queen's eight grandchildren - including Prince Harry in his military uniform - stood by her coffin in her honour as she lay in state in Westminster Hall as weeping mourners filed past tonight.

Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren Prince William, the Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, arrived just before 6pm where they held a 15-minute vigil.

Brothers William and Harry - both dressed in uniform - stood guard at the Queen's lying in state in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening as a stream of mourners filed past after queueing for hours.

Prince Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, has previously been denied the chance to wear his military uniform as he publicly mourns, because he is no longer a working royal.

But royal sources said the King decided his youngest son could wear uniform for the vigil.

Despite being a former Army officer, Harry has been in civilian dress for official events this week, including walking behind the Queen's coffin on Wednesday.

On Saturday evening, Prince Harry was wearing the Blues and Royals, No.1 Uniform, KCVO Neck Order and Star, Afghanistan Operational Service Medal, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and Army Pilot Wings.

Prince William was wearing the Blues and Royals, No.1 Uniform, The Garter Sash, The Garter Star, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and RAF Pilot Wings.

The brothers were joined in their silent tribute around the coffin by cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Lady Louise Windsor and her brother Viscount Severn.

The young royals, led by Prince William, were in position at the top of the grand committee staircase in the corner of the vast hall at 5.58pm.

At 6pm, the tapping which signifies the changing of the guard sounded and William began walking down the steps, one at a time, followed by Harry, then Beatrice and Eugenie side by side, Louise and James side by side, and Zara and Peter also side by side.

Silence fell as members of the public looked on, with the only sound being the grandchildren's footsteps on the stone.

Prince William was positioned at one end of the coffin, facing the north entrance, while Harry was positioned at the opposite end, facing the area of the hall where thousands of people have entered over the last few days.

The Prince of Wales stood with his hands clasped in front and his head bowed.

Louise and James's parents, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, looked on from a platform facing the coffin.

Members of the public continued to file past while the Queen's grandchildren stood guard, with some women wiping tears away from their face as they left the hall.

At 6.15pm, the tapping sounded and the grandchildren ended their vigil.

Prince William led the group away from the coffin, followed by Zara and Peter, Louise and James, Beatrice and Eugenie, and finally Harry.

Queen Elizabeth II 's grandchildren (clockwise from front centre) the Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, James, Viscount Severn, Princess Eugenie, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall hold a vigil

The eight sombre grandchildren arrived at Westminster Hall where they performed a vigil at the Queen's coffin

Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren arrived in Westminster just before 6pm where they will hold a 15-minute vigil

Prince William bows his head as he stands beside his grandmother's coffin in Westminster Hall

The Prince of Wales (right) and the Duke of Sussex before holding a vigil beside the coffin of their grandmother

The Queen's eight grandchildren carried out a vigil at her coffin on Saturday evening in the Palace of Westminster

The Queen's four grandchildren stand around her coffin during their own vigil, similar to the one held by their parents on Friday

Mourners watched as the vigil was held for the Queen in Westminster Hall by her eight grandchildren on Saturday evening

Mourners are continuing to file past the coffin as the royal cousins stand beside their late grandmother's coffin

The Queen's grandchildren stand in solemn silence as they mount a vigil for their late grandmother in Westminster Hall

The Prince of Wales stands vigil beside the coffin of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, as it lies in state in Westminster Hall

The Duke of Sussex wore the Blues and Royals No.1 Uniform, the KCVO Neck Order and Star, Afghanistan Operational Service Medal, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and Army Pilot Wings

The brothers wore military uniform at the Saturday evening vigil for their grandmother, the late monarch, Queen Elizabeth II

From left, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Beatrice hold a vigil in Westminster Hall, London

Princess Eugenie of York mount a vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening

Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Eugenie of York during a vigil for their grandmother in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening

Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Beatrice of York at Saturday evening's vigil in Westminster Hall

Queen Elizabeth II 's grandchildren Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, James, Viscount Severn and Princess Eugenie inside Westminster Hall

Peter Phillips and James, Viscount Severn hold a vigil in honour of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall on Saturday evening

Zara Tindall, Lady Louise, Princess Beatrice, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Eugenie, Viscount Severn and Peter Phillips hold a vigil beside the coffin

Inside Westminster Hall, mourners watched on as the vigil was held at the late Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall

Mourners watched on as the Queen's grandchildren stood around her coffin in Westminster Hall on Saturday evening

From left: Zara Tindall, Lady Louise, Princess Beatrice, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Princess Eugenie, Viscount Severn and Peter Phillips hold a vigil

The cousins performed the vigil at their grandmother's coffin on Saturday evening at the Palace of Westminster, London

The Prince of Wales looked sombre as he led the vigil for his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in Westminster Hall

The grandchildren arriving at Westminster Hall where they held a vigil for the Queen in Westminster Hall, London

Prince William leads the group of eight through Westminster Hall to the coffin on Saturday evening in Westminster Hall

Well-wishers look on in the background as the royal cousins walked into Westminster Hall on Saturday evening

The Prince of Wales leads the group of eight to the catafalque in Westminster Hall, London, on Saturday evening

The royal cousins carried out the vigil in a similar way to their parents on Friday evening, which King Charles took part in

The Duke of Sussex holds a vigil beside the coffin of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in Westminster Hall

The Duke of Sussex wore the Blues and Royals No.1 Uniform, the KCVO Neck Order and Star, Afghanistan Operational Service Medal, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee medals and Army Pilot Wings

The Duke of Sussex, Viscount Severn and Princess Eugenie hold a vigil beside the coffin of their grandmother

The cousins walked around the catafalque as they took their places for the vigil at the Palace of Westminster, London

Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex at the vigil in honour of Queen Elizabeth II

The Earl and Countess of Wessex watch their children, nieces and nephews carry out a vigil for the Queen

The Earl and Countess of Wessex watching the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise and Viscount Severn hold a vigil beside the coffin of their grandmother

The Countess of Wessex looked struck with grief as she watched her children perform a vigil at their late grandmother's coffin

Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, watched the vigil on Saturday evening in Westminster Hall

The royals stood around the Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall during a vigil on Saturday evening

Mourners continued to file past as they royals mounted a vigil around their late grandmother's coffin

People arrive to pay their respects as they pass the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

Prince William, the Prince of Wales, looked sombre as he stood silently at his grandmother's coffin

The royal cousins, some in all black, others in military uniform, took part in the mournful display on Saturday evening

Prince William, Prince of Wales, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, James, Viscount Severn, Britain's Princess Eugenie of York, Britain's Lady Louise Windsor, Britain's Princess Beatrice of York and Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, depart having held a vigil around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

Prince of Wales leaves the Houses of Parliament after attending a vigil for his late grandmother

As the group made their way back up the corner staircase, Zara bent down to retrieve one of her shoes which appeared to have slipped off.

As the royals returned to their cars, Zara appeared to be linking arms with Harry, while Peter, Louise and Beatrice were walking along together.

Speaking to Sky News, three well-wishers said that it was 'wonderful' to see the vigil.

Jane said: 'I was well worth coming back to this country for. I felt that I wanted to be, I've come from France, so I felt I really wanted to be here, and to have them there as well at the same time was just incredible.'

Shirley, said it was a 'very emotional' experience.

'I really want to come, I said I've got to because she's done such wonderful things in the 70 years,' she said.

'And even though I'm decrepit as it were, I thought "I'm going to make it by Jove I'm going to get here".

'At first I thought I was going to be very strong, but once I got past the coffin it was extremely emotional, and I've been trying to hold it back since  even now.'

Valerie, who was also with the group, added: 'It was wonderful to see them, we didn't think that we would. We thought that they were coming later this evening.

'When they were there it was absolutely incredible, it's been a wonderful day and we were really really pleased that we did it, especially as we got up at 4.30am this morning to actually make it.'

Edward added: 'Majestic is the only real word that does it justice. really, really powerful to see them standing there so still and quiet, and the Princes very professional of course.'

Last night, King Charles and his siblings, Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward mounted their touching final vigil for the Queen, before the late-monarch is laid to rest on Monday.

They were all dressed in uniform, with an exception made for disgraced Andrew, who is no longer a working royal, to wear his military uniform as a 'special mark of respect' for the Queen.

Britain's Prince Harry arrives to attend a vigil as they pay their respects to the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

Prince William, Prince of Wales, arrives at the Palace of Westminster to attend a vigil for his grandmother

A woman cries after paying her respects by the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II inside Westminster Hall

A man bows his head to the floor as he pays his respects to the late monarch in Westminster Hall

King Charles and his family held a vigil in honour of the Queen. Alongside siblings Anne, Andrew and Edward, the newly crowned monarch stood guard beside his mother's coffin (pictured)

King Charles and his siblings Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward mounted their touching final vigil for the Queen, before the late monarch is laid to rest on Monday

King Charles, Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward attend a vigil, following the death of the Queen

Mourners watch on as King Charles and his three siblings perform the Vigil of the Children beside the Queen's coffin at Westminster Hall on Friday

Now mourners sell used wristbands for up to 350 Some people have been cashing in on the Queen's lying in state by selling used wristbands for up to 350. Those joining the queue receive coloured wristbands to mark their place - so they can leave for a drink, or to go to the toilet, and then return. But it appears that some mourners have seen the system as an opportunity to make some cash by selling the wristbands as souvenirs on eBay. One person has listed an orange wristband, which features the abbreviation LISQ (Lying In State Queue), with an asking price of 350. Small print on the paper band specifies that it does not guarantee entry and is strictly non-transferable. But in the description the seller has listed it as 'brand new' and 'never been used'. Another seller has listed a similar wristband for 100, while a third person is selling a yellow band - plus a bundle of commemorative newspapers - for 122. A fourth seller has put their ripped green band on the site for 100. The item was accompanied by the description: 'Previously used or worn orange wristband from the first 24 hours of the Queen Laying-In-State in Westminster Hall. This wristband gained entry to the original wearer to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth. 'This is a piece of history. A small piece yet still a piece of history and this is your chance to own it if you did not have the chance to come yourself. 'The queue to pay respects to the Queen Lying-In-State may be London's longest. It took 7-8 hours from joining the queue to finally pay respects to the late Queen.' The seller said they were happy to send the item internationally but specified that it was being sold as 'historical memorabilia only.' They stressed that 50 per cent of the final profit will be donated to the British Red Cross which Queen Elizabeth was the longest serving patron of. Another person is trying to flog their orange wristband for the slightly lower price of 82. The cheapest band currently listed on the site is up for grabs for 10. The seller promised to donate 20 per cent of the final price to The Dogs Trust to reflect the Queen's love of animals. Official guidance published by the government states: 'When you reach the back of the queue, you will be given a coloured and numbered wristband. 'This is a record of when you joined the queue, however please note that having a wristband does not guarantee your entry to the Lying-in-State. 'Wristbands are specific to each person joining the queue, and are strictly non-transferable. You must keep this wristband on at all times as it will be checked along the route. 'Your wristband also allows you to leave the queue for a short period to use a toilet or get refreshments, then return to your place in the queue.' Advertisement

As tearful mourners watched on, the Queen's four children stood guard of their mother's coffin for more than 10 minutes at Westminster Hall on Friday evening. The siblings each guarded a side of the coffin, with Charles, dressed in a Navy Admiral uniform, standing at the head.

It was their second, and final, vigil for the beloved monarch. Known as the 'Vigil of the Children' - an honor dating back to the time of George V - it mirrors a previous event held earlier this week at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh.

However, unlike the previous vigil in which Charles donned a kilt and Andrew a morning suit, all four siblings were dressed in military colors.

This afternoon, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have paid a moving, heartfelt tribute addressed to the Queen, saying: 'Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters.'

The sisters, in a written message released as they prepared to mount a vigil around the late monarch's coffin, thanked their grandmother for 'making us laugh, for including us, for picking heather and raspberries, for marching soldiers, for our teas, for comfort, for joy'.

Beatrice and Eugenie said they missed the Queen terribly and thanked her for being 'the loving hand on our backs leading us through this world', adding: 'We, like many, thought you'd be here forever.'

The princesses - the daughters of the Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York - shared the grief they have felt since the death of the Queen at Balmoral nine days ago.

They said: 'Our dearest Grannie, We've not been able to put much into words since you left us all.

'There have been tears and laughter, silences and chatter, hugs and loneliness, and a collective loss for you, our beloved Queen and our beloved Grannie.

'We, like many, thought you'd be here forever. And we all miss you terribly.

'You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever.'

Like the Queen's other grandchildren, the princesses shared happy summers with the late monarch in the Scottish Highlands as the royals gathered each year on the Balmoral estate.

'For now dear Grannie, all we want to say is thank you. Thank you for making us laugh, for including us, for picking heather and raspberries, for marching soldiers, for our teas, for comfort, for joy,' they said.

They added, in a nod to the Queen's modesty: 'You, being you, will never know the impact you have had on our family and so many people around the world.'

Beatrice and Eugenie spoke of the Queen being reunited with her husband of 73 years the Duke of Edinburgh who died just 17 months ago.

'We're so happy you're back with Grandpa. Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters and we're so very proud of you,' they said.

They also hailed their 'dear Uncle Charles' in his new role as monarch.

'We know that dear Uncle Charles, the King, will continue to lead in your example as he too has dedicated his life to service. God save the King,' the sisters said.

The princesses ended their message to the Queen with the words: 'With our love, Beatrice and Eugenie.'

Yesterday, the Duke of York, was given special dispensation to wear uniform at the vigil, as a 'final mark of respect' for his mother.

He was stripped of his armed forces patronages earlier this year amid a sexual abuse lawsuit in the United States, allegations he denied, had previously been banned from wearing military colours at public events.

He wore the full military dress uniform of a Vice Admiral of the Navy, a title which he earned from his years serving in the Navy - including in the Falklands War.

Members of the royal family including James, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise Windsor, the Countess of Wessex, Jack Brooksbank, the Queen Consort, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Zara Tindall, Mike Tindall, the Duke of Kent, Mia and Lena Tindall, the Duchess of Gloucester, and the Earl and Countess of St Andrews all attended Friday night's vigil.

Mourners console one another in Westminster Hall as they pay a final tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Hundreds of thousands of people have joined the queue to see the Queen, despite warnings it could take them 24 hours to get to the front

Many mourners have become overwhelmed with emotion as they paid their respects to Britain's longest-serving monarch

Many shed tears as they left Westminster Hall today, bidding farewell to the Queen ahead of her funeral on Monday

Thousands have found themselves overwhelmed with emotion after leaving Westminster Hall - with most having waited more than 12 hours

Members of the public view the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II

Thousands of mourners have been overcome with emotion as they bid a final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II as she lies in state in Westminster Hall.

Vast numbers of people have been queuing since the Queen was moved from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday, with the government warning it could take them 24 hours to get to the front.

Tearful tributes have been paid at the late monarch's lying-in-state as the British public thank the Queen for her 70 years of service on the throne.

Many consoled each other as raw emotion was on display following the Queen's death at the age of 96 last Thursday.

The line, which stretches from Westminster Hall all the way to Southwark Park in south London, is thought to be the world's longest queue, and can even be seen from space.

The queue potentially even eclipses the 30,000 Russians who waited to get inside the USSR's first McDonald's restaurant when it finally opened on January 31, 1990 after the end of the Cold War.

Wait times stretched to more than 25 hours overnight as thousands of mourners wrapped up so they could keep warm, the BBC even produced a tongue-in-cheek weather forecast for the queue just before 7am this morning - a crisp 7C, while other parts of the UK hit freezing.

At about 1.15am today, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) online tracker said the expected wait time was at least 25 hours as people queued from Southwark Park in south-east London to pay their respects to the Queen's coffin in Westminster Hall, about five miles away. At around 7.20am, the tracker said mourners would have to wait at least 24 hours and warned people not to travel to join the queue - and to check back later on Saturday.

However, by 8am the Government had said that the end point of the queue was once more accessible in Southwark Park. At 10am, the DCMS online tracker said the expected wait time was around 16 hours - then at 1pm this fell further to 14 hours.

Undeterred by the extreme waiting times or cold weather, a steady stream of people continued to join the queue last night. Paul, a 49-year-old Scout Leader called his 13-hour wait to pay his respects to the Queen 'brilliant' and was adamant he would do it all again without hesitation.

'The sense of camaraderie was amazing, we've made friends for life. Everybody was handing out sweets and cakes and singing,' he said.

The queue begins on the Albert Embankment, along Belvedere Road, behind the London Eye, then crosses Lambeth Bridge and travels along the South Bank past the National Theatre, Tate Modern and HMS Belfast, before ending in Southwark Park.

Members of the public continue to wait in line to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II lying-in-state

A huge queue files near Tower Bridge this morning as mourners wait to see the Queen lying-in-state

'It means an awful lot that you're all here': Prince William thanks mourners (and Paddington Bear) queueing to see Queen on surprise walkabout with King Charles

The Prince of Wales has thanked mourners queuing 14 hours to see the Queen's coffin lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster on a surprise walkabout alongside his father King Charles III - after shaking hands and talking to hundreds of royal fans this afternoon.

Prince William and Britain's new monarch greeted hundreds of people along the South Bank near Lambeth Bridge in London earlier today ahead of the Queen's state funeral on Monday, to cheers of 'hip hip hooray' and 'God Save the King' as they passed by.

Many took photographs and pressed against the metal barriers, eager to exchange a word with the King and the heir to the throne as they shook hands with those closest.

William later thanked royal fans for queueing for 14 hours to pay their respects to his grandmother, tweeting: 'It mean an awful lot that you're all here'.

One lady offered Charles condolences as he shook her hand, and another shouted: 'I can't believe this' - while a third presented the two royals with a Paddington Bear toy, in reference to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee sketch with the beloved children's character.

As the prince shook the hands of mourners, he said: 'It means an awful lot you're here. She [the Queen] would never believe this. You'll make some friends for life [those who have met in crowd'. Revealing that his wife Kate Middleton and children George, Charlotte and Louis were 'ok' and 'all united in grief', William also said that he became emotional seeing his grandmother's corgis, adding: 'They are being looked after - they have gone to a very good home'.

Several people cried after meeting the Prince of Wales, and one woman told him: 'You'll be a brilliant king one day'.

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to see the Queen lying-in-state earlier this afternoon alongside his father, King Charles

The Prince of Wales thanked mourners queuing 14 hours to see the Queen's coffin lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to see the Queen lying-in-state earlier this afternoon alongside his father, King Charles

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall earlier this afternoon

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen in London

Earlier the royals met London Mayor Sadiq Khan, a curtseying Home Secretary Suella Braverman and London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley at Scotland Yard's special operations. During the visit today in Lambeth, the King also met police staff, who he thanked for their planning and delivery of policing in the days leading up to his mother's funeral, as well as workers at London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade, Transport for London and the Army.

The King concluded his tour of the home nations yesterday, starting his day with a visit to Wales, after trips to Northern Ireland and Scotland in recent days.

Final preparations are under way for the funeral in two days, with 2,000 VIPs - from world leaders Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and Jacinda Ardern to royals including Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia and the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima - expected to arrive throughout the weekend.

It comes after the King and his siblings last night held a silent vigil in Westminster Hall to pay a moving tribute to their beloved mother.

King Charles is presented with a Paddington Bear as he meets well-wishers in London - with some carrying Paddington Bear yous

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen - most of which were waiting for around 14 hours to see the lying-in-state ceremony

King Charles and William, Prince of Wales visit Metropolitan Police Headquarters earlier on Saturday morning

King Charles and William, Prince of Wales visit Metropolitan Police Headquarters earlier on Saturday morning

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to the Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to the late Queen

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

Prince William greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

King Charles greets people queueing to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth

King Charles meets excited royal fans queueing along the banks of the Thames

King Charles shakes the hands of well-wishers as he goes on a surprise walkabout with his son Prince William

William, Prince of Wales greets people queueing to pay their respects to the late Queen

Prince William and his father King Charles left the walkabout to cheers of 'God Save The King' and hoorays while members of the public took out their phones to picture the moment

Sophie Wessex and Prince Edward greet royal well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace ahead of Queen's funeral on Monday The Countess of Wessex cuddled a baby on a surprise and brought smiles to the faces of hundreds of well-wishers gathered outside Buckingham Palace with her husband today - after the beloved couple said the Royal Family had been 'overwhelmed by the tide of emotion' following the Queen's death. Royal fans applauded Sophie and Prince Edward and told them 'sorry for your loss' as the couple shook the hands of dozens of mourners outside the palace gates this afternoon - shortly after King Charles III and the Prince of Wales met mourners queueing along the banks of the River Thames to see the Queen lying-in-state at the Palace of Westminster. The Queen's youngest son could be heard asking mourners where they had come from and whether they were making their way to Green Park to lay flowers. He then told them that the Queen would 'appreciate' the number of people paying their respects - while his wife was given bouquets and a stuffed toy as she shook hands with those gathered. The Countess stopped to look at one young girl's T-shirt, which was printed with photos of the Queen through the decades of her reign. Sophie collected armfuls of flowers including sunflowers and roses, and was given paper tributes to the late monarch by some of the well-wishers. The couple also walked over to meet members of the public stood behind barriers on the edge of nearby Green Park. In an emotional statement released just hours before he attended a poignant vigil with his siblings the King, the Duke of York and the Princess Royal in Westminster Hall last night, the Earl of Wessex said: 'As a family, we have grown up learning to share our parents, especially our beloved mama, with the nation, her realms and the Commonwealth. 'While it has been lovely to have spent time saying our own farewell privately at Balmoral, it is now time to allow others to be able to say their farewell.' Advertisement

The King told officers it is 'encouraging' that policing plans for Operation London Bridge are working during a visit to a Metropolitan Police base.

Charles was given a tour of the Metropolitan Police Service Special Operations Room on Saturday, where he met and thanked emergency service workers for their efforts ahead of the funeral of the Queen and over the last nine days.

The Prince of Wales also briefly visited the Lambeth HQ, where he spoke to two police officers and thanked them for their service before departing in the same car as the King.

The pair later undertook a walkabout where they spoke to members of the public who were stood in the queue near Lambeth Palace to see the Queen's coffin.

During the visit to the police headquarters, the King was greeted on arrival in south London by Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, Home Secretary Suella Braverman, mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Lord Lieutenant of Greater London Sir Ken Olisa before being given his tour by Sir Mark.

As his vehicle arrived, members of the public lined the streets and cheered, with several shouting 'God save the King' as he stepped out of his car.

During the visit, the King met and spoke with several police officers involved in the planning for Operation London Bridge, the codename for the plans put in place following the death of the Queen, as well as members of British Transport Police, London Ambulance Service, the Army and London Fire Brigade.

He was seen laughing and joking with staff and asked several questions to each worker about their role in the operation and thanked them for their service.

While speaking to the operation planning team, who also prepare the policing efforts at football matches and protests in the capital, the King asked them questions relating to the planning around Operation London Bridge.

He asked the officers: 'Have you been planning for a long time... or have you just been drafted in?'

One officer responded: 'Yes your Majesty, we've been planning for about three years. There were teams before us.'

He replied: 'And the plans are working?'

The officer said: 'They are, absolutely.'

'That's the most encouraging thing,' the King said, and began to chuckle.

He also questioned the staff about crime levels during the mourning period.

Referring to his time visiting the base, the King added: 'It's nice to know where it all happens. I've been here before - this is the absolute hub, isn't it?'

The officers replied that it was. The King then described their work as 'absolutely fantastic', adding: 'Thank you'.

After the King's visit, Mr Khan said it was 'lovely' to see him be 'incredibly inquisitive' with staff.

He told journalists: 'He was really keen to see for himself the hard work to keep our city safe, to keep His Majesty safe, the royal family safe, also there'll be hundreds of leaders from across the globe coming to London.

'It was lovely to have the King show that much interest. He went around meeting people, asking questions, listening to their answers, being incredibly inquisitive but also incredibly warm.

'What's remarkable about His Majesty the King is at a time when he is grieving, he's going about his business and leading from the front.

'I know from speaking to police officers from London, from across the country who are here helping us out, speaking to staff and other members of the team, how grateful they are for His Majesty to give up his time and come here today. Charles left before William, both of them in cars surrounded by police vehicles.
Labour will break with tradition at the start of its party conference next week and play the National Anthem  despite fears that some delegates could boo.

Party sources confirmed last night that Sir Keir Starmer will open the four-day event in Liverpool with a tribute to the Queen.

It is understood the National Anthem decision came only after intense discussions by party managers over how God Save the King would be received in the conference hall.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that one key adviser even warned that Sir Keir should begin the tribute by appealing to Labour delegates not to boo the anthem.

Last night, one Shadow Cabinet member ridiculed the advice, saying: I know the Labour Party is bad but were not so bad you have to tell us not to boo the National Anthem a week or so after the Queen died.

However, several Labour MPs ignored party guidance last week to suspend campaigning and party activity, and make no media comment beyond tribute to the Queen.

In an intervention that will infuriate Sir Keir, Left-wing MP Clive Lewis said the notion of the Royal Family as a symbol of duty or sacrifice was a lie.

Labour will break with tradition at the start of its party conference next week and play the National Anthem  despite fears that some delegates could boo. Pictured: Sir Keir pays tribute to the Queen following her death

Left-wing MP Clive Lewis (pictured) said his initial response to people queuing for hours to file past the Queens coffin was bemusement followed by a touch of despair'

He said his initial response to people queuing for hours to file past the Queens coffin was bemusement followed by a touch of despair.

There are also warnings from a Shadow Minister that although the conference hall will probably be fine, a row over the Crown could erupt on the conference fringe.

Labour is riding high in polls but Left-wingers are furious at Sir Keirs apparent failure to fall four-square behind striking unions.

There may also be a bid to change Labour rules to allow ex-leader Jeremy Corbyn  forced to sit as an Independent MP  to be the partys official candidate in his Islington North seat at the next election.

Fears that conference will back scrapping Britains first-past-the-post electoral system with proportional representation were played down last night. Sources said key unions were now keener on getting Labour in power than having a conference row with the leadership.

But Tory MPs still fear a weak minority Government led by Sir Keir would do a deal with Liberal Democrats to introduce proportional representation and lock the Conservatives out of power.
King Charles III and the Queen Consort are putting together plans for a charm offensive tour of Australia and New Zealand, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, said last week that there had been preliminary discussions with Kensington Palace about a possible visit from the Prince and Princess of Wales.

But after the death of the Queen, King Charles is understood to have expressed a desire to travel to Australia, where he is now head of state, along with Camilla, the Queen Consort.

A trip to the key Commonwealth nation right at the start of his reign would be an opportunity to shore up support for the Monarchy amid growing republican sentiment.

Acknowledging his mothers belief that a Monarch must be seen to be believed, the King has made it clear to aides he wishes to greet the Australian people, speak with indigenous leaders and visit people from different faiths.

An insider said: People have been talking about Kate and William going out to Australia, and that had been a plan, but Charles is telling aides that he now feels he ought to visit himself. His Majesty is very proud of his long relationship with the country and wants to honour it.

King Charles is understood to have expressed a desire to travel to Australia, where he is now head of state, along with Camilla, the Queen Consort (Pictured: The royal couple in Adelaide in 2012)

Charles has visited Australia 16 times. He first went out in 1966 as a schoolboy and spent two terms at Timbertop, the rural campus of Geelong Grammar School in Victoria, and later recalled that he loved it all. He next visited with the Queen and Prince Philip, in 1970, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Captain Cooks arrival.

In 1974, a year after his mother officially opened Sydney Opera House, Charles went to revisit his former school and was seen taking a dip on Bondi Beach. And he was famously kissed in the surf by model Jane Priest during a visit in 1979, as the then Prince, a young bachelor, swam at Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Western Australia.

When Charles and Diana went to Australia in 1983, they took along ten-month-old Prince William.

The country is also the scene of an infamous security scare in 1994, when a 23-year-old man was arrested for firing a starter pistol at Charles as he prepared to hand out Australia Day awards at a ceremony in Sydney.

The King and the Queen Consorts most recent visit came in 2018, when they opened the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and visited Queensland, Brisbane, Cairns and the Northern Territory.

When Australia elected Mr Albanese in May this year, a poll revealed that 53 per cent of Australians disapproved of Charles becoming King. During the election campaign, Mr Albanese made it clear he did not believe his country should have a constitutional Monarchy. But his tone appeared to soften after the Queens death.

Acknowledging his mothers belief that a Monarch must be seen to be believed, the King has made it clear to aides he wishes to greet the Australian people

When asked in an interview last week, Mr Albanese said that a move to oust the Monarch as head of state was a discussion for another time.

For King Charles, it could be a make-or-break tour. A spokesman for the King said that the Royal Familys mourning period would continue for another week after the funeral, with travel plans to be finalised after that. Priority will be given to tours of key Commonwealth nations.

Prince William, the new Prince of Wales, cancelled a trip to New York this month where he was due to meet entrepreneurs linked to his environmental Earthshot project.

He is due to go to Boston in December, but he and Kate are first likely to be dispatched to the realms for whom Charles is King.

Kate and William first visited Australia and New Zealand in 2014, taking Prince George, who was then just eight months old. Crowds turned out in their droves during the ten-day visit, and some media commentators suggested the Royal guests had put the republican cause back by 20 years.
It was when I had the honour of attending the Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year that I began to reflect on what the Queens reign has meant for our country.

As we marked 70 glorious years, it seemed impossible to imagine a Britain without her. Of course, we knew she wouldnt go on for ever.

But the vast majority of us have never known another Monarch, which is why the shock of her loss is so acutely felt.

She seemed as permanent a feature of our country as the mountains near Balmoral  the place she loved so much.

Britain is facing difficult times. Whether it is the rising cost of living or the spectre of war in Europe, people are worried.

The loss of our Queen robs us of the nations stillest point, its most steadying influence, at a time when so much seems to be in flux. But the response we have seen over the last week has been heartening and has reflected the nation she knew and served.

Tributes in Parliament were a poignant display of how  despite many disagreements  our country and our politics has far more that brings us together than divides us.

As we marked 70 glorious years, it seemed impossible to imagine a Britain without her

The loss of our Queen robs us of the nations stillest point, its most steadying influence, at a time when so much seems to be in flux

King Charless tour of the country has shown that while we can mourn the end of one era, we can still look forward to a new one.

And the way people from all walks of life have patiently queued to say one final goodbye has reminded us of the quiet decency of this country  befitting of the late Queens life.

Underpinning it all is a deep respect. A British respect. For a family grieving, for the Monarchy, for public service and for each other. Of that we can be proud.

Over the last few years, Britain has been tested time and again. No one believes it is suddenly going to get easier.

But the crises of the last few years have taught us that when we pull together we are strong enough to get through. Our collective spirit saw us through the dark days of the pandemic. That collective spirit has been on display again this week.

There are those who look at Britain and see a country that is simply about tradition and ceremony.

That is only half the story. The other half is about evolution and adaptation. Of matching the times we find ourselves in. Of being proud of our history but embracing the future.

That is what Queen Elizabeths reign will be remembered for: a steadying, guiding influence during a period of huge change.

Those essential parts of our national character  our openness, pride, spirit  are what convinces me that Britains best days can still lie ahead of us.

Dare I say, I think that is what Queen Elizabeth would want us to think too.
He is tall, dark and handsome, and about to take centre stage at the Queens funeral tomorrow.

Meet Invader, the fastest horse in the Household Cavalry, who can be relied upon never to put a foot wrong, said Major Russell Bond, squadron leader of the Life Guards.

A cavalry black, Invader is 16.3 hands high  67 inches tall  with distinguished grey eyebrows, under the charge of Major Bond, escort commander.

Best foot forward: Invader, who has been selected as one of two horses riding behind the Queen's coffin, with Major Russell Bond of the Life Guards, a Household Cavalry regiment

The 19-year-old is to be one of two horses riding behind the Queens coffin  and before the King and other members of the Royal Family, who will follow on foot and in cars as the procession makes its way from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch after the funeral service.

Invader is a veteran of state visits, State Openings of Parliament, and Trooping the Colour.

He was bought by the Household Cavalry as a four-year-old failed racehorse, and learned his new role at Combermere Barracks in Windsor.

Invader is typically fed a mix of hard forage, including fresh carrots and apples, four times a day, with constant access to water.

Cavalry horses weigh up to 1,540lbs and eat up to 15lbs of hay a day. Invader will ride alongside another magnificent charger, named Javelin.

Their big day tomorrow will begin at 7am with some exercise.

We are asking the horses to walk at half their usual pace, so we want to get a bit of energy out of them first, said Major Bond.

Then, Invader and Javelin will be tacked up in their state ceremonial kit.

The horses chosen to take centre stage at the Queen's funeral procession on Monday are part of the Life Guards, a regiment of the Household Cavalry

There has been some lastminute discussion about whether to move Invader and Javelin back in the parade, with worries over horse dung immediately in front of the Royal party, most of whom are on foot.

One source also suggested there were fears that the horses being between the coffin and the King might mean he is difficult to see for a worldwide TV audience.

But Buckingham Palace insisted yesterday there were no changes to the planned order.
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has affirmed that the economy of AP is now performing better than the term of the previous TD government and of many other states.

Lambasting the Opposition and its friendly media for painting the states financial management under the YSRC rule in a poor light, Jagan gave a power-point presentation in the assembly on Friday, citing facts and figures, during a short discussion on Industrial Development, Investments-Financial Growth in the State.

The CM said that in 2018-19, the GDP of the state was 5.36% and on this count, it was in the 21st place among states. Now AP is at 6th place and we are top in the country in terms of growth rate.

Jagan said a concerted effort was being made by Chandrababu Naidu and his friendly media to show the state in dire straits, comparing it to Sri Lanka. In reality, APs growth rate is very rosy and encouraging. Braving Covid, we are balancing welfare and development. The states performance is far better than that of the previous government and even in terms of national average, the CM claimed.

Jagan gave graphic details of the comparative figures on GDP, loans taken, government guarantees and other indices to show the financial management under him was excellent.

He said only four states recorded a growth in GDP and AP joined hands with Manipur, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu in this respect. According to CAG reports, the debt at the time of bifurcation in 2014 was of Rs 1,20,556 crore, which increased to Rs 2,69,462 crore during the TD term till May 2019. This showed that in five years, the state debt increased by 123.52 per cent under Naidus tutelage.

In the month of May 2019, the debts incurred by the TD government rose to Rs 2,69,462 crore. In the three years of the YSRC rule, till March this year, the government debt rose from this level to Rs 3,82,165 crore, which was only 41.83 per cent in three years, Jagan said.

This means that the rate of debt increase in the three years after our government came to power is less than of the previous government.

Explaining about government guarantees, Jagan said that as of 2014, during bifurcation, the loans taken by state PSUs with government guarantee was of Rs 14,028.23 crore. In May 2019, when the Chandrababu government exited, the outstanding loans made with government guarantee were of Rs 59,257.31 crore.

As a result, the total loans of the previous government were Rs 3,28,719 crore. This meant the loans increased by 144.25 per cent in those five years. In terms of CAGR, the increase in the state debt in those five years was of 19.55 per cent. In these three years, as of March this year, the total of government guaranteed loans was Rs 1,17,730.33 crore, the CM explained.

This meant the total loans of the state government in these three years was Rs 4,99,895 crore. In other words, the state debt increased by 52.07 per cent, which was very less compared to the TD term, Jagan noted.

He said the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014-15 was Rs 124 lakh crore and the central debt was Rs 62,42,220 crore. "In the year 2021-22, the GDP is Rs 236,64,636 crore, while the total debt is Rs 135,88,193 crore, which shows the country faced trouble."

Jagan said, The Gang of Four that follows the principle of plunder, stash and devouring (dochuko, dachuko, thinuko) has started a vicious campaign to defame the YSRC government. The people need to know the facts. When the budget sizes of the previous government and our government are almost the same and the loans we have taken are less than that of the TD term, why could he not carry out the welfare schemes we are now implementing, he asked.
World leaders descended on London last night amid a row over whether Chinese delegates will be allowed to visit the Queens lying-in-state.

Critics of Chinas poor human rights record claimed that fearful Foreign Office officials had leaned on parliamentary authorities to allow Beijings delegation in to avoid a diplomatic row.

But this was denied by both sides  and last night it was confirmed that the delegation, led by Vice-President Wang Qishan, would be able to pay their respects.

Earlier it had been reported that Chinese officials would be banned in response to sanctions China has imposed on five MPs and two peers who have been critical of Beijing. However, the ban applies only to its London embassy staff.

In another row, critics called for Saudi ruler Mohammed bin Salman not to be allowed to attend the funeral in protest over the suspected assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The countrys embassy in London said the Crown Prince would be in the UK this weekend for his first visit since Mr Khashoggi was murdered in 2018. US intelligence reports claim that the killing had been personally ordered by the Crown Prince.

Mr Khashoggis fiance, Hatice Cengiz, said: The Crown Prince should not be allowed to be part of this mourning and not be allowed to stain her [the Queens] memory.

The diplomatic wrangles played out as dozens of heads of state, political leaders and dignitaries descended on the capital for an extraordinary reception tonight at Buckingham Palace being hosted by King Charles.

Traditionally, a Japanese emperor stays away from funerals except for those of his own parents because of a cultural belief that considers death to be impure. But Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako (pictured) were seen leaving Tokyo yesterday - highlighting the deep bond between the families

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (pictured) signed a book of condolence at Lancaster House after meeting King Charles with other world leaders at Buckingham Palace

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Australian premier Anthony Albanese were among leaders who visited the Queens lying-in-state yesterday.

They also signed a book of condolence at Lancaster House, along with other dignitaries including Dame Froyla Tzalam, Governor-General of Belize.

Mr Trudeau and Mr Albanese then met King Charles with the leaders of 14 Commonwealth countries where he is head of state. Earlier in the day, the King held a reception for his representatives in Britains former colonies, ranging from Antigua and Barbuda to Tuvalu.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill were due to touch down at Heathrow last night.

The President was travelling on Air Force One with the White Houses Chief of Protocol Ambassador Rufus Gifford, who will make sure he avoids making any of his trademark gaffes when he meets the new King.

Dame Froyla Tzalam (pictured), Governor-General of Belize also signed the condolence book at the Palace

Joe Biden and his wife Jill were seen leaving the US earlier today (pictured) as they make their way to London for the Queen's funeral on Monday

Mr Biden was expected to go to the lying-in-state today. Afterwards, the President is due to sign an official book of condolence before attending the reception at Buckingham Palace.

There has been disquiet from some world leaders after Mr Biden was told by British authorities that he could make his own travel and security arrangements, while they were told they would have to board buses to the funeral tomorrow.

Among those catching the bus will be Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, who were due to arrive in the UK last night.

Their decision to attend the Queens funeral underscores the importance and the deep bond between the royal families. Traditionally, a Japanese emperor stays away from funerals except for those of his own parents because of a cultural belief based in the Shinto religion that considers death to be impure.

Members of royal families across Europe  including Spains King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, Denmarks Queen Margrethe II and her heir, Crown Prince Frederik  are thought to be arriving today as they have less distance to travel.
Some embassies have requested exemptions - for security reasons - to have their leaders travel separately

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American President Joe Biden has touched down in London alongside his wife Jill as foreign dignitaries descend on the capital ahead of the Queens funeral on Monday.

The President and First Lady arrived at Stansted Airport on the presidential plane Air Force One having boarded in Washington on Saturday afternoon.

The couple appeared to be in good spirits as they landed just before 10pm, walking down the aircraft steps together before being greeted by a small party - including Jane Hartley, US ambassador to the UK, and Jennifer Tolhurst, the Lord Lieutenant of Essex.

After landing at Stansted Airport, the President and his wife were seen leaving the airport in the presidential armoured vehicle dubbed 'The Beast'.

Tomorrow the US President is expected to pay his respects to the Queen and sign her official condolence book, before attending a reception hosted by King Charles III.

The President and First Lady were spotted leaving the US just hours after Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were also seen taking a first class flight into London.

The emperor and empress will swap their luxury digs for a shuttle bus alongside other world dignitaries to get to the Queen's funeral on Monday. Meanwhile, the Bidens are understood to have been granted an exemption to travel in 'The Beast' while in the capital.

Mr Biden was due to hold talks with the UK's new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, but it has since been confirmed the pair will not meet in an official capacity prior to Her Majesty's funeral.

Downing Street said a 'full bilateral meeting' will take place at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday instead. The Prime Minister is now expected to hold a call with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, on Saturday evening.

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese and prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, are among some of the world leaders who have already arrived in London and visited Lancaster House on Saturday to sign a book of condolences for the royal family.

Mr Albanese said in a statement to Twitter afterwards: 'Today Jodie and I signed the condolence book at Lancaster House. In this time of great grief, we are thankful to be here paying our respects to the Queen for her services to duty, faith, family and the Commonwealth.'

The life of the late Queen will be celebrated in the 'reception of the century' this weekend before she's officially laid to rest on Monday surrounded by the who's who of the global elite.

American President Joe Biden has touched down in London alongside his wife Jill ahead of the Queens funeral on Monday

The President and his wife Jill arrived into Stansted late on Saturday night. They are due to visit the Queen's coffin tomorrow

The Bidens seemed in good spirits as they walked down to the tarmac having arrived in the UK tonight before leaving in 'The Beast'

The Air Force One plane was seen landing at Stansted Airport tonight with the President on board as he travels to London for the Queen's funeral

The President and First Lady were greeted by a small party as they stepped off the plane at Stansted Airport including Jane Hartley, US ambassador to the UK, and Jennifer Tolhurst, the Lord Lieutenant of Essex.

After landing at Stansted, the President and his wife were seen leaving the airport in 'The Beast' - the armoured presidential vehicle

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were seen leaving London Stansted airport with their motorcade

The couple travelled to London onboard the presidential plane Air Force One. Mr Biden was the 13th US president to meet the Queen

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden boarded the Marine One from the White House on Saturday before arriving in London to farewell the Queen

Joe and Jill Biden wore matching navy jackets with their names embossed on the breast as they boarded the aircraft on Saturday to commemorate the U.S. Air Force's 75th Anniversary. Mr Biden was due to hold talks with the UK's new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, but it has since been confirmed the pair will not meet in an official capacity prior to Her Majesty's funeral

The duo arrived in London this evening ahead of a state reception on Sunday and the funeral on Monday

Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophe Trudeau (left), along with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) sign a book of condolence at Lancaster House in London

King Charles III shakes hands with Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, on Saturday afternoon

The new King is meeting with realm prime ministers who are waiting to pay their respects, offer their condolences and wish him well ahead of formal proceedings on Sunday and Monday

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako have boarded a luxury first class flight en route to London this morning

Governor-General of Belize Dame Froyla Tzalam also attended Lancaster House to pay her respects

King Charles III also met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday afternoon (pictured)

The men sat for a discussion at Buckingham Palace ahead of an official 500-person reception tomorrow and Her Majesty's funeral on Monday

The emperor's journey to Britain alongside the empress - the first since acceding the throne in 2019 - is considered a sign of respect and highlights the bonds formed between the two royal families during Her Majesty's reign

Traditionally, a Japanese emperor would not attend the funeral of any person other than their own parents due to a deep-rooted cultural belief in which death is considered impure

Traditionally, a Japanese emperor would not attend the funeral of any person other than their own parents due to a deep-rooted cultural belief in which death is considered impure.

His journey to Britain alongside the empress - the first since acceding the throne in 2019 - is considered a sign of respect and highlights the bonds formed between the two royal families during Her Majesty's reign.

Leaked Government documents revealed plans for world leaders to travel en masse in a bus to Westminster Abbey for Monday's service, rather than using private cars.

British and US officials have since played down the prospect of President Biden having to travel on a bus into central London. Emperor Naruhito is expected to be among those travelling to the funeral on the shuttle.

According to Politico, the 62-year-old and other visiting royals will be bussed to the service under strict Foreign Office guidance.

The website reported Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia and the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima would also be put on a shuttle bus.

Some embassies have reportedly made as-yet unsuccessful efforts to request exceptions to the Foreign Office guidance. It's not clear if the Japanese embassy is among them.

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne has also arrived in London and paid his respects by signing the book of condolence

The Australian PM and his partner both signed the book hours after they visited Green Park to lay a wreath in honour of the Queen

David Hurley Governor-General of Australia with his wife Linda Hurley at Lancaster House to sign the book of condolence

Sir Bob Dadae, Governor-General of Papua New Guinea will attend the Queen's funeral on behalf of his nation

Despite the lavish journey to the UK, it's understood the couple are expected to be shuttled to the funeral service on a bus with other dignitaries

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko waves to a special flight carrying Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako

Some embassies have reportedly filed urgent requests to amend the transport plans for their representatives due to safety concerns

A Number 10 spokeswoman refused to comment on the arrangements for individual dignitaries but accepted they will 'differ depending on the needs of the different leaders'.

New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern was one of the first world leaders to pay her respects in London on Friday, while the prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina touched down on Thursday afternoon.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has also arrived and brought along with him 10 'everyday' guests who made 'extraordinary contributions to their communities, and who represent Australian culture and values'.

He went straight to London's Green Park early on Sunday to lay a wreath among the thousands of bouquets which have been building throughout the city since her death was announced on the evening of September 8.

'Paying our respects to Her Majesty,' Mr Albanese said as he shared a photo at Green Park alongside his partner Jodie Haydon. 'May she rest in eternal peace.'

Inside the Japanese government's new plush Boeing: An onboard conference room for government officials and aides to Imperial Family members

The plane features chairs with workspaces that senior government officials and aides to Imperial Family members can use during flights

Members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall, at the Palace of Westminster

Later on Saturday, he met with Prime Minister Truss, who has also held talks with New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern and UAE president and ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Biden congratulated Liz Truss on becoming Prime Minister on September 6.

He said he looked forward to deepening the 'special relationship' between the US and the UK, as Truss became leader of the Conservative Party.

'Congratulations to Prime Minister Liz Truss. I look forward to deepening the special relationship between our countries and working in close cooperation on global challenges, including continued support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression,' Biden wrote on Twitter.

Truss is said to be less keen on the 'special relationship' with the US than some of her predecessors. In the past she has called it 'special, but not exclusive.'

Biden and Truss have met before. She, in her role of foreign secretary, accompanied then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson on his visit to the White House last September.

She and Biden also talked when he attended the COP26 conference in Scotland last October.

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese also revealed on Sunday that he'd arrived and went straight to London's Green Park early on Sunday to lay a wreath among the thousands of bouquets (pictured with his partner, Jodie Haydon)

President Biden and First Lady Jill will be able to take the armored Beast to the Queen's funeral next week while other world leaders will be asked to take the shared bus, as is standard protocol

The Prime Minister of Bangladesh arriving at London Stansted airport on Thursday

Jacinda Ardern 'shares the sorrow' of King Charles as she prepares to meet Royal Family and new PM Liz Truss Ms Ardern confirmed she will meet the King, Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Liz Truss before the Queen's funeral, but disclosed minimal details after arriving in the UK, saying she will 'share the sorrow that New Zealand has' with the new monarch. 'I'll simply share the sorrow that New Zealand has and pass on our deepest condolences,' the visiting PM said at a press conference in London. 'At the end of the day, although this is a period of transition for him, he has also lost his beloved mother. For us and New Zealand, that's first and foremost.' Ms Ardern, who said she is planning to attend the Queen's lying in state at Westminster Hall ahead of the funeral, also confirmed she will meet with Liz Truss. The visiting PM said the Queen's death and new King will be the 'focus of conversation' when she and Ms Truss meet. She said she will also likely discuss Ukraine and the UK's free trade agreement with New Zealand. 'I am sure we will also transact our relationship as well, but it is all within the context of the week of mourning that the UK is currently in,' she said. Meeting William will be an opportunity to repay his support of New Zealand in 2019, when the royal flew to the country following the Christchurch massacre, Ms Ardern said. 'The Prince of Wales has always been there for New Zealand in its times of grief,' she said. 'He's been there for us in our times of grief and so this is a time for us to be there for him and his family too.' Advertisement

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials reportedly sent 1,000 handwritten invitations - for both the reception and Monday's funeral - to heads of state to almost every country in the world bar Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Russia, Belarus and Myanmar.

Mr Biden will arrive this evening and French president Emmanuel Macron, German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Italian president Sergio Matarella are among other notable attendees.

The US presidential plane, known as Air Force One, tends to land at Stansted Airport on visits to Britain in order to avoid disruption at Heathrow.

It's highly unlikely the president will be on board the shuttle bus with other dignitaries. Instead, he is expected travel via 'The Beast' while he's in the capital.

The custom-built Cadillac is said to have eight-inch thick doors, run-flat tires, bulletproof glass, its own oxygen supply, a couple of pints of the president's blood and a completely sealed interior to ward off a chemical attack.

It is estimated to weigh between seven and nine tonnes.

Biden's motorcade The Beast crosses a bridge on the way to his summit with Putin in Geneva. It is believed it will make an appearance in London this weekend as the leader of the free world arrives for the Queen's funeral

Floral Tributes are left at Green Park next to Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth II before her funeral preparations get underway

Mourners form a massive queue near Tower Bridge this morning as they wait to see the Queen lying-in-state

Mourners queueing at Tower Bridge in central London this morning as they wait to pay their respects to the Queen

Several hundred dignitaries from around the world will be in London to pay their respects to the Queen, in what is set to be one of the biggest logistical and diplomatic events in the UK in decades.

The official capacity of Westminster Abbey is 2,200 people, and it is expected to be full. The public will be able to watch the service live through television streams.

No 10 declined to describe the conversations with allies as formal bilateral meetings, and instead portrayed them as chats to offer condolences over the Queen's death, during which politics is likely to come up.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'There won't be formal bilaterals in the way we normally recognise them.

'But we will have a significant number of world leaders, heads of state in the country. She will be meeting a small proportion of those over the weekend.

'These will be opportunities to discuss memories of Her Majesty, but in some instances it will be the first time they've met since she became Prime Minister.'

They will join members of the royal family, UK prime ministers past and present and key figures from public life at Westminster Abbey - which can hold about 2,000 people - at 11am on Monday.

Male dignitaries at the funeral will be advised to wear morning dress or dark lounge suits with a black tie, with dark day dresses and hats for female mourners.

National dress may also be worn, while serving military officers can wear ceremonial uniforms without swords.

People wake up after a night spent at a makeshift campsite set up along The Mall as temperatures plunge
Heroes from all walks of British life will join world leaders and royals at the Queens State funeral.

NHS medics, emergency responders and troops honoured for their service and bravery will lead a procession after tomorrows funeral service as the Queens coffin is taken on a final tour of the capital.

The two-mile procession will march to the rhythm of artillery guns fired every 60 seconds and the booming toll of Big Ben.

Among those chosen to lead the procession is May Parsons, a nurse who administered the worlds first Covid-19 jab. She said she was stunned when she received a call asking her to represent all NHS staff at the funeral.

It comes two months after the 42-year-old from the Philippines, along with NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard, met the Queen at Windsor Castle to accept the George Cross on behalf of all NHS workers for service during the pandemic.

I am overwhelmed  it is such a privilege to be asked and an unexpected honour, said Ms Parsons, a matron at University Hospital Coventry, who made history in December 2020 when she vaccinated 90-year-old grandmother Margaret Keenan. Ms Parsons, who moved to Britain in 2003, said: It is a sad day of mourning that the Queen has gone, but also a celebration of her.

May Parsons and NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard met the Queen at Windsor Castle to accept the George Cross on behalf of all NHS workers

Colour Sergeant Johnson Beharry was the first living soldier in nearly half a century to receive a Victoria Cross for his heroic actions in Iraq

Major Pete Norton GC is a bomb disposal expert who lost his left leg and part of his left arm in a blast near Baghdad in 2005

Someone told me that it will be raining on Monday and I said that is probably for the best because I am probably going to be crying a lot.

Also in the procession will be Jim Beaton, 79, a former royal bodyguard awarded the Victoria Cross after he was shot three times as he stopped a crazed kidnapper from snatching Princess Anne in 1974. He later served as the Queens Police Officer until his retirement in 1992. It was a privilege to work for Her Majesty. I have many very fond memories, he said last night.

Colour Sergeant Johnson Beharry, who became the first living soldier in nearly half a century to receive a Victoria Cross for his heroic actions in Iraq, will also join the funeral procession.

He saved members of his unit, the 1st Battalion Princess of Waless Royal Regiment, from ambushes during the Iraq War in 2004, exposing himself to enemy fire.

CSgt Beharry, 43, has worn his Victoria Cross on only three occasions  for the Queen, at his wedding and when he met Harry Patch, the last British First World War veteran. He has said he is overcome by guilt when wearing it because so many of his comrades were killed.

He said he was deeply saddened by the Queens death, adding: She was a role model and an inspiration to many.

The procession will also feature Major Pete Norton, a bomb disposal expert who lost his left leg and part of his left arm in a blast near Baghdad in 2005. Despite his injuries, he continued leading his team, fearing further devices, and refused to be evacuated until he was sure all personnel knew of the danger.

Jim Beaton, the royal bodyguard awarded the Victoria Cross after he was shot three times as he stopped a crazed kidnapper from snatching Princess Anne in 1974

Lifelong royalist Ella Marks was perched on her fathers shoulders to witness King George VIs coronation in 1937

Maj Norton, 59, was awarded the George Cross and met the Queen a number of times at lunches for the Victoria and George Cross Association.

He said: She used to call us my boys. She had such warmth. She was a consummate professional.

Lifelong royalist Ella Marks was perched on her fathers shoulders to witness King George VIs coronation in 1937. She was on the Mall at his funeral in 1952, and slept out all night near Buckingham Palace to watch the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II the following year.

Now the 88-year-old will be among the invited guests at the Queens funeral at Westminster Abbey tomorrow. The cycle is complete. I am speechless, she said.

Mrs Marks was invited because she was among those awarded an MBE in the Queens Birthday Honours this year in recognition of decades of charity work and volunteering.

She said: It is a huge honour and privilege to be able to be there to pay my respects.
Liz Truss will announce her debut on the world stage this week by urging US President Joe Biden to stand firm with her against Chinas threat to freedom and democracy around the world.

The Prime Minister is expected to raise the issue of Beijings menace when she flies to New York to meet Mr Biden on Wednesday at the UN General Assembly.

Ms Trusss first visit to America since entering No 10 follows a summer of tensions over post-Brexit trade negotiations and the UK threat to rewrite the Northern Ireland Protocol, which requires extra customs checks on goods moving from Britain to Northern Ireland, against the wishes of the EU and Washington.

It had led to sometimes disparaging comparisons with Margaret Thatcher and headlines in US news- papers such as Who is Liz Truss?.

Liz Truss (pictured left with Joe Biden, centre, and his wife Jill in 2021) will announce her debut on the world stage this week by urging US President Joe Biden to stand firm with her against Chinas threat to freedom and democracy around the world

But the Prime Ministers composure in the period of mourning for the Queen and tough talking on China has helped to change perceptions across the Atlantic, with former US Ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, declaring her a worthy successor to Lady Thatcher.

Ms Truss has been a persistent critic of Chinas record on human rights, espionage and economic imperialism during her career, making political capital out of it in the Tory leadership race by accusing her rival Rishi Sunak of being soft on Beijing as Chancellor.

Last night, against the backdrop of a row over inviting China to the Queens funeral, a UK Government source said Ms Truss would warn Mr Biden that Beijing presented a greater threat to the West than Vladimir Putins Russia. The source said: Russia has demonstrated its an acute, active threat to Western stability and prosperity, but Liz believes China represents the most serious long-term threat to our values and way of life.

At the UN this week expect her to say we need to learn the lessons from Ukraine and show Beijing that we will stand up for freedom and democracy around the world.

The Prime Minister (pictured Sept. 6) is expected to raise the issue of Beijings menace when she flies to New York to meet Mr Biden on Wednesday at the UN General Assembly

Ms Truss will fly to the US after the funeral for a two-day meeting at the UN in New York, seeing Mr Biden for official talks on Wednesday.

She will also make a major speech to the UN about Global Britain before returning to the UK in the early hours of Thursday.

Last night, a senior diplomatic source said: Discussions during the funeral and events surrounding it will focus solely on the Queen and her legacy. Once she gets to New York it is all business.

The President is meeting Japanese and Korean leaders for 30 minutes but she will get much longer. Topics under discussion include Ukraine, US-UK trade relations, China, Russia and the special relationship between the US and the UK.

Former Ambassador Bolton said: An assertive Ms Truss could be a force multiplier for the US. (She has) spoken about ensuring that Putin loses in Ukraine and suffers a strategic defeat.

By contrast, Mr Biden and his more timid advisers appear to be dragged along by Congress. As Ms Truss is freed from EU parochialism she appears up to confronting Chinas aspirations for Indo-Pacific and then global hegemony.

Margaret Thatchers 1979 election as Prime Minister foreshadowed Ronald Reagans election as President. We can only hope for a reprise, and the sooner the better.

In an article before the Queens death, US website Politico lauded the next Queen Liz, dubbing her a modern Maggie Thatcher.

Ms Truss will fly to the US after the funeral for a two-day meeting at the UN in New York, seeing Mr Biden (pictured on Sept. 6) for official talks on Wednesday

US news networks featured prominently Ms Trusss speech on the death of the Queen, helping to mould perceptions of her.

A source said: Everyone loved Boris Johnson because he was such a bumbling Brit. But no one here knew what to make of Truss. What we have seen in the past few days has put paid to her critics. She has been thrust on to the world stage and not been found wanting.

We are expecting her to wow America and are planning coverage accordingly. We will broadcast her speech live and are preparing packages about her background, who she is, her beliefs.

This is her big chance to shine on a global stage. These first two weeks may be the most influential of her time in office, particularly where Americans are concerned.
Charlotte Crosby has yet to 'embrace' her pregnancy after the reality star's mum was diagnosed with breast cancer following her baby announcement.

The Geordie Shore favourite, 32, told MailOnline she's been so 'worried' by Letitia's health that she hasn't thought about giving birth, a life-changing moment, which will be filmed for her upcoming BBC series.

In an exclusive interview, Charlotte revealed the pair have spent 'the whole of her pregnancy' consumed by Letitia's diagnosis but the arrival of her new-born will give her mum, who started chemotherapy last week, a much-needed boost in happiness.

'I'm too busy worrying': Charlotte Crosby has yet to 'embrace' her pregnancy after the reality star's mum was diagnosed with breast cancer following her baby announcement

Charlotte said: 'I don't know when it's going to sink in.

'I'm going to be filming all the way up until I give birth and I will be filming the birth.

'I feel really calm about it because this show is completely different to anything I've ever filmed before. It's really relaxed, and it's really calm, it's so much like a fly-on-the-wall that sometimes I don't even notice that I'm filming so I'm fine.

'I've got my mam and I'm going to chemotherapy with her, she just started last week. I'm too busy worrying about my mam so giving birth hasn't even entered my mind.

'We were saying this morning that it's so weird to think that she got diagnosed with cancer while I was pregnant  it's literally been the whole of my pregnancy so we haven't embraced it as much as we could have but when the baby arrives, she'll be really happy.'

'It's so weird': Charlotte told MailOnline she's been so 'worried' by Letitia's health that she hasn't thought about giving birth, a life-changing moment, which will be filmed for her BBC series

Charlotte is expecting her first baby with boyfriend Jake Ankers, who she's been dating for a year.

The TV personality told her former Geordie Shore co-stars about her pregnancy on camera during filming of The Reunion, MTV's new series that follows returning cast members who have all entered new phases in their lives.

She agreed to take part alongside close friends Holly Hagan, Sophie Kasaei, and Marnie Simpson, because the new series is worlds away from their former partying days, where Charlotte became famed for wetting herself while intoxicated.

Charlotte said: 'When we first started filming, I think I was about seven weeks pregnant. I was very early on. I told the girls on camera.

Parents to be: Charlotte is expecting her first baby with boyfriend Jake Ankers, who she's been dating for a year

'It's totally different': Charlotte, who's over eight months pregnant, agreed to take part in Geordie Shore: The Reunion because it's worlds away from her former partying days on the original Newcastle series

'I would never go back to Geordie Shore as it was when we were on it  this is the reunion show. I agreed to do this series because it's a totally different kettle of fish.

'It's filmed differently, we are making the reunion show, which is where we all reunite and we see people that we haven't seen for years, sort out differences, it's not about the partying or drinking or anything like that.

'It was relatively easy for me to film while being pregnant the whole way through.'

The first episode of the new series teases the return of Gary Beadle, who's now married to wife Emma McVey and is a father to children Chester and Primrose.

While it's unclear whether the Geordie favourite does film for the reunion show, Charlotte insisted that the idea of seeing her former flame again doesn't faze her.

Charlotte said: 'No, no, no. It's been the story of my life for 12 years. I always get questioned about my feelings for Gary  it's like being asked how am I feeling today? Honestly, that's what it feels like.'

Geordie Shore: The Reunion premieres on September 20 at 10pm only on Paramount+ UK and MTV
Florence Pugh will next take on the role of a nurse in the historical drama The Wonder, hitting Netflix November 16.

The role will be the actress' first following the ongoing controversy surrounding her previous project, Don't Worry Darling.

In first look snaps Florence, 26, can be seen in a traditional dress of the period as she perilously makes her way across the Irish moors.

In character: Florence Pugh will next take on the role of a nurse in the historical drama The Wonder, hitting Netflix November 16

The movie follows her character, English nurse Lib Wright, who travels to Ireland to care for a girl who has miraculously survived without food for months.

Florence's character can also be seen running alongside her co-star Tom Burke who carries her patient as they rush to safety.

The official synopsis reads: 'The Irish Midlands, 1862 - a young girl stops eating but remains miraculously alive and well. English nurse Lib Wright is brought to a tiny village to observe eleven-year old Anna O'Donnell'.

In first look snaps Florence, 26, can be seen in a traditional dress of the period as she perilously makes her way across the Irish moors (pictured with co-stars Tom Burke and Kila Lord Cassidy)

Here to help: The movie follows her character, English nurse Lib Wright, who travels to Ireland to care for a girl who has miraculously survived without food for months

'Tourists and pilgrims mass to witness the girl who is said to have survived without food for months. Is the village harbouring a saint 'surviving on manna from heaven' or are there more ominous motives at work?'.

The psychological thriller adapted from the novel by Emma Donoghue, is inspired by the 19th century phenomenon of the 'fasting girls'.

Also starring Toby Jones, Kila Lord Cassidy and Niamh Algar the movie is directed by Oscar winner Sebastian Lelio.

Helping or hurting? In other snaps Florence's character can be seen at the patient's beside as she appeared to have a discussion with a nun

Psychological thriller: The movie sees the nurse uncover a mystery in the small Irish town

Strapping: Strike actor Tom Burke plays the tole of Will Byrne in the movie

It comes amid the recent 'Miss Flo' drama during her last film DWD, where her director Olivia Wilde referred to her as such during a leaked phone conversation with her then co-star Shia LaBeouf.

A report from Page Six in late July claimed that Florence was upset with Olivia because she was hooking up with leading man Harry Styles during the production  while still engaged to Jason Sudeikis  before they split in November.

'I can tell you for a fact that Flo seeing Olivia and Harry all over each other on set did not go down well as Olivia was still with Jason when she first hooked up with Harry,' the source said.

Others have noticed that Florence sparsely posted about the film on her social media accounts, which has also fuelled rumours of friction on the set.

Behind the scenes: Florence stops to have a discussion with the movie's direction Sebastian Leilo

Stars: (L to R) Josie Walker as Sister Michael, Toby Jones as Dr McBrearty, KAla Lord Cassidy as Anna O'Donnell, Niamh Algar as Kitty O'Donnell, Florence Pugh as Lib Wright

Coming soon: THE WONDER will launch on Netflix November 16

The actress missed the photocall for the movie during the Venice Film Festival earlier this month and kept her distance from the director on the red carpet.

Florence was asked by an Italian journalist at the event about what she found 'inspiring' in the film and appeared to make a sly dig at Olivia.

She responded: 'I think it's very very inspiring to see a woman push back and say 'no', and question everything. It's very exciting to see a woman do that on and off camera.'

Tensions: A report from Page Six in late July claimed that Pugh was upset with her Don't Worry Darling director Olivia Wilde because she was hooking up with leading man Harry Styles (pictured) during the production  while still married to Jason Sudeikis  before they split in November

Asked when she 'says 'no' off camera, Pugh jokingly responded: 'When do I say 'no'? When someone says I can't have cake.'

The rumours of tensions intensified after Olivia suggested Florence should have a 'wake-up call' in a leaked video this month.

The video was leaked after Shia refuted Olivia's claim that he had been fired from the project, and in the footage Wilde can be heard encouraging LaBeouf to stay signed on to the film, rather than leave it, while also hinting at some apparent tension with Florence.

Olivia gave an interview to Variety where she said Shia LaBeouf's process was 'not conducive to the ethos that I demand in my productions' after the role was ultimately recast with her now-boyfriend Harry.

Distance: Florence kept her distance from the director on the red carpet (L-R Gemma Chan, Harry Styles, Sydney Chandler, Olivia Wilde, Chris Pine, Florence Pugh and Nick Kroll)

In response, Shia supplied alleged evidence to refute Wilde's claims, including an email he sent to the director and a video that she allegedly sent to him, proving he walked away from the film rather than being fired.

Shia claims he 'quit the film due to lack of rehearsal time' on August 17th in 2020, and forwarded Variety two emails that he claims he recently sent to Wilde.

Some studio sources have claimed to the publication that Shia had been fired, while another said his departure was down to a 'collective recognition that LaBeouf's style of acting wasn't a good fit for Wilde's approach as a director.'

THE WONDER will launch on Netflix November 16
Katie Price showed off her sensational figure on Friday night, as she attended the National Diversity Awards at the Cathedral In Liverpool with her son Harvey and boyfriend Carl Woods.

The former glamour model, 44, looked incredible in a black strappy dress, that clung to her curves.

She added a black Moschino belt to cinch her in at her svelte waist, and sported a pair of orthopaedic boots for her ankles, which she broke last year.

Family: Katie Price showed off her sensational figure on Friday night, as she attended the National Diversity Awards at the Cathedral In Liverpool with her son Harvey and boyfriend Carl Woods

The reality star let her long blonde locks cascade around her shoulders, and opted for a full face of makeup, complete with a slick of lipgloss.

Carl looked loved-up as he planted a kiss on Katie's cheek, while dressed in sharp navy suit.

He donned a pink shirt underneath and added a pair of black loafer, while slicking his hair back.

Harvey, 20, complemented his mother in all-black, wearing a black shirt and trousers and white trainers.

Head-turning: The former glamour model, 44, looked incredible in a black strappy dress, that clung to her curves

Looking good: She added a black Moschino belt to cinch her in at her svelte waist, and sported a pair of orthopaedic boots for her ankles, which she broke last year

Stunning: The reality star let her long blonde locks cascade around her shoulders, and opted for a full face of makeup, complete with a slick of lipgloss

It marks Katie's first public event after she hit back at trolls who accused her of fabricating the story about being raped at gunpoint in South Africa.

During an appearance on Steph's Packed Lunch last week, Katie declared that she 'didn't make any of it up' and is constantly branded a 'liar'.

Katie, who is set to detail her traumatic ordeal in a hard-hitting Channel 4 documentary, previously revealed to MailOnline that she was raped at gunpoint during a 2018 carjacking, which led her to suffer a mental breakdown.

Smitten: Carl looked loved-up as he planted a kiss on Katie's cheek, while dressed in sharp navy suit

Dashing: He donned a pink shirt underneath and added a pair of black loafer, while slicking his hair back

Like mother like son: Harvey, 20, complemented his mother in all-black, wearing a black shirt and trousers and white trainers

The television personality, who is set to detail her traumatic ordeal in a hard-hitting Channel 4 documentary, previously revealed to MailOnline that she was raped at gunpoint during a 2018 carjacking, which led her to suffer a mental breakdown.

Hitting back at trolls who have accused her of making up her traumatic stories, she told Steph: 'I can't make kidnap threats, you can't make up these situations, they're events. Facts. They are real horrific things.

'I don't make any of it up. Everyone knows me, I've been called a liar so many times and the truth always come out. I'm not here for sympathy.'

Having her say: An emotional Katie recently hit back at trolls who accused her of fabricating the story about being raped at gunpoint in South Africa

'It was horrific being held at gunpoint. It was horrific. That was three years ago.'

Elsewhere in the interview she spoke about her mental health battle contributed to her drink-drive crash in her BMW last September.

She explained: 'If I was happier, I wouldn't do something stupid. That night. I'm not even a big drinker. I got a phone call which I didn't like and I got in the car.'

It comes after earlier last week Katie revealed that she attempted suicide after suffering from 'anxiety, depression and major trauma' following her horrific 2018 carjacking.

The reality star admitted she hit rock bottom after she was raped at gunpoint during the ordeal and tried to hang herself, but after passing out she 'saw her kids faces' and realised she 'never wanted it to happen again.'

Katie is mother to sons Harvey Junior, 17, and Jett, nine, and daughters Princess, 15, and Bunny, eight.
Rachel Riley looked incredible as she put on a very leggy display during her appearance on Countdown on Friday.

The television presenter, 36, wore a colourful floral print mini dress which featured a skirt with asymmetrical tiers, with the garment finishing above her knee.

And the maths whizz showcased her sensational figure as she sat on a stool during filming, showing off her impressively long legs.

Strike a pose: Rachel Riley, 36, looked incredible as she put on a very leggy display during her appearance on Countdown on Friday

Broadcaster Rachel's featured delicate white flowers across the neckline and at the side of the straps.

She added a few inches to her stature by wearing a pair of towering red heels for her television appearance.

Rachel wore lashings of make-up to highlight her pretty features and wore her blonde hair in loose waves.

Long legs: The television presenter wore a colourful floral print mini dress which featured a skirt with asymmetrical tiers, with the garment finishing above her knee

It comes after Rachel fondly reminisced about the moment she was paired with her now-husband Pasha Kovalev on Strictly Come Dancing, as she took to Instagram earlier this month.

The screen star, who competed on the 2013 series, gushed about how 'bonkers' it was that time had flown so quickly, adding how she'll 'have to show the kids' the clip.

However, it was only in November last year that Rachel revealed she 'avoids watching' the BBC show after her stint in the competition left her with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and terrible anxiety attacks.

In style: Maths whizz Rachel's dress featured stylish pleats on the skirt which were visible during her television appearance

In her social media upload, she wrote in her caption: 'Exactly 9 years ago today according to my phone. Bonkers! Will have to show the kids tomorrow [laughing and dancing emojis] @PashaKovalev #Strictly.'

The video saw Rachel being swept off her feet by the Russian dancer after she had been eagerly awaiting on the announcement with the late Sir Bruce Forsyth.

But just 10 months ago, the TV personality said she was left needing cognitive behavioural therapy after her stint in the competition left her suffering terrible anxiety attacks.

Confusing: It comes after Rachel shared a clip from her 2013 Strictly stint and reminisced on being paired with her husband Pasha Kovalev... after claiming the show gave her PTSD

Rachel ended her 16-month marriage to James Gilbert weeks after she was eliminated from series - they had met while studying at the University of Oxford.

Despite meeting the love of her life, Rachel doesn't look back at Strictly fondly.

Speaking in an interview with OK! Magazine, she said: 'No [I'm not watching Strictly], I needed cognitive behavioural therapy after competing in 2013 and developed post-traumatic stress disorder.

Throwback: The Countdown star who competed on the 2013 series, gushed about how 'bonkers' it was that time had flown so quickly, adding how she'll 'have to show the kids' the clip

Uh-oh: But just 10 months ago, the TV personality said she was left needing cognitive behavioural therapy after her stint in the competition left her suffering terrible anxiety attacks

'If I heard the theme music, I'd start reliving the experience. It was scary and unnerving, so my way of dealing with it is to avoid watching.

'Mind you, if I hadn't competed, I wouldn't have met Pasha.. he's brilliant, when you need a bit a support, that's when you know you're with the right person.'

For the first five weeks, Rachel suffered from stage fright. She previously said: 'As soon as the music would start, I would have a fuzzy brain and it was like an out-of-body experience'.

Family: Rachel and Pasha married at a Las Vegas ceremony in 2019, and they share daughters Noa, two, and Maven, 10 months

After seeing a therapist the TV star was able to learn how to control her breathing for her week six, which coincidentally turned out to be her final show.

Weeks after being partnered with Pasha, Rachel ended her marriage to Jamie, and the couple finally went public with their romance the following year.

Rachel and Pasha married at a Las Vegas ceremony in 2019, and they share daughters Noa, two, and Maven, 10 months.
Penelope Cruz's lookalike sister Monica cut a glamorous figure as she walked the red carpet at the 70th San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain on Friday.

The actress, 45, showed off her chic sense of style in a in a black dress with a plunging neckline.

The tiered circle skirt flared out as she stood on the red carpet while posing for pictures.

Glitterati: Penelope Cruz's lookalike sister Monica, 45, cut a glamorous figure as she walked the red carpet at the 70th San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain on Friday

She wore a pair of gold platform heels to add a few inches to her stature and carried a small rose gold clutch with her.

Monica wore her hair back in a ponytail and opted for a pair of small gold hoop earrings.

She was joined at the event by her fellow actress sister Penelope, 48, who is set to receive a Spanish National Cinematographic Award for her contribution to the cinema on Saturday.

In style: The actress showed off her chic sense of style in a in a black dress with a plunging neckline

Fashion focus: The tiered circle skirt flared out as she stood on the red carpet while posing for pictures

Penelope looked stunning as she posed for photographers at the event, wearing a sheer black dress with intricate lace detail and a thigh-high front split.

Her gown featured a low cut neckline and the skirt reached nearly down to the ground.

She added a few inches to her stature by wearing a pair of black heels and carried a matching clutch purse with her.

Completing the look: She wore a pair of gold platform heels to add a few inches to her stature and carried a small rose gold clutch with her

The screen star wore lashings of make-up to highlight her pretty features and accessorised with some glitzy silver pendulum earrings.

The San Sebastian International Film Festival is one of 14 annual FIAPF A category film festivals worldwide.

Earlier in the day Monica's sister Penelope as attended a screening for her new thriller-drama On The Fringe during the festival.

Stepping out: Monica's sister Penelope, 48, cut a glamorous figure as she walked the red carpet at the same event

Family affair: She looked stunning as she posed for photographers at the event, wearing a sheer black dress with intricate lace detail and a thigh-high front split

Accolade: The actress is set to receive a Spanish National Cinematographic Award for her contribution to the cinema on Saturday

The actress donned a pair of dark jeans with a geometric pattern print, tucking a black blouse with gold button detailing into the straight leg trousers.

Juan Diego Botto's Spanish-Belgian flick On The Fringe features the Vanilla Sky star as leading lady Azucena and is up for the City of Donostia Audience Award at the 70th annual film festival.

Penelope stars in the film, also called En los Margenes, alongside Spanish actor Luis Tosar.
RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under has made it's mark on our sunburnt country after the franchise garnered millions of fans worldwide.

The second season of the Stan Original series - featuring queens from Australia and New Zealand - premiered July 30 and will wrap with the Grand Finale Saturday night.

While fans might be familiar with the queens on the catwalk, here is what the epic stars of the 2022 season look like out of drag.

Kween Kong a.k.a. Thomas Fonua

Kween Kong, 29, is originally from New Zealand, and of Tongan and Samoan heritage, currently residing in Adelaide

Kween Kong, 29, is originally from New Zealand, and of Tongan and Samoan heritage, currently residing in Adelaide.

She is the matriarch of Haus of Kong, a drag collective that aims to change the lives of its young recruits both on and off the stage.

Of the three finalists, Kween has had the rockiest stint after landing in the bottom two twice, clawing two wins, and ending her other weeks as safe or on a low.

Spankie Jackzon a.k.a. Blair Macbeth

Spankie Jackzon, 37, is a New Zealand drag performer best known for winning the $10,000 cash prize on the Kiwi series House of Drag

Spankie Jackzon, 37, is a New Zealand drag performer best known for winning the $10,000 cash prize on the Kiwi series House of Drag.

She is the official host and roving reporter of The Wellington International Pride Parade, bringing drag to small towns across Aotearoa.

This drag veteran had a rocky start as she landed in the bottom two during the first week, but has since gotten three wins under her belt with the other weeks ending on a high point for her - she will be one of the three finalists on Saturday night.

Hannah Conda a.k.a. Chris Collins

After conquering the Perth drag scene, Hannah Conda, 30, took a leap of faith and made her way to Sydney in 2015

After conquering the Perth drag scene, Hannah Conda, 30, took a leap of faith and made her way to Sydney in 2015.

She co-founded 'Drag Storytime' in 2016 where she reads to children while dressed in drag to teach them about inclusion, acceptance and love.

Hannah has had a decent run this season with three maxi challenge wins under her belt, and despite ending up in the bottom two last week, she will finish the series as a finalist.

Molly Poppinz a.k.a. Ricky Eldridge

Molly Poppinz, 30, originally made a name for herself in Vancouver after struggling to find the confidence to do drag in her hometown of Newcastle, NSW

Molly Poppinz, 30, originally made a name for herself in Vancouver after struggling to find the confidence to do drag in her hometown of Newcastle, NSW.

In 2018, she was crowned Vancouver's most 'Fierce Queen', before returning to Newcastle to build a thriving drag community.

She entered the show with a bang, taking out the maxi challenge in the very first week, but it was her only win as she slowly declined before being sent home last week by Hannah Conda.

Beverly Kills a.k.a. Reece Perry Jackson

Beverly Kills, 21, started doing drag within just a few months of turning 18

Beverly Kills, 21, started doing drag within just a few months of turning 18.

Not just a pretty face, she offers something extra with her burlesque, including a good whipping and some fire breathing.

She cruised along in the safe zone for most of her stay on Down Under, before landing in the bottom two twice and later getting sent home by Kween Kong in episode six.

Yuri Guaii

Starting out at the age of 18, Yuri Guaii, 25, has been doing drag for going on eight years, making her start in the Auckland drag scene

Starting out at the age of 18, Yuri Guaii, 25, has been doing drag for going on eight years, making her start in the Auckland drag scene.

Having studied fashion design, her secret weapon is her sewing skills and she is known for creating all her own show-stopping drag looks.

The polished queen, who has not publicised her real name, won one challenge but was sent home in the fifth episode by Molly Poppinz.

Minnie Cooper a.k.a. Aaron Farley

Minnie Cooper, 49, is considered drag royalty among the Sydney circuit, with a glittering career that spans more than 20 years

Minnie Cooper, 49, is considered drag royalty among the Sydney circuit, with a glittering career that spans more than 20 years.

In 2016, she was a semi-finalist on Australia's Got Talent, combining her drag and musical theatre talents.

She placed seventh after being eliminated by Beverly Kills.

Pomara Fifth a.k.a. Brad Kennedy

Growing up in the suburbs of Western Sydney, Pomara Fifth, 28, always stayed true to herself and never let the bullies and naysayers keep her down for long

Growing up in the suburbs of Western Sydney, Pomara Fifth, 28, always stayed true to herself and never let the bullies and naysayers keep her down for long.

She represents both First Nation Australian and Maori queens and has a reputation for being a versatile, multi-talented performer and host.

Pomara was sent home by Beverly Kills in the third episode.

Aubrey Haive a.k.a. Billy Donagh

Aubrey, 25, is no stranger to being in front of the camera, as she is already a budding actor and musical artiste

Aubrey, 25, is no stranger to being in front of the camera, as she is already a budding actor and musical artiste.

This fashion-forward queen originally hails from Timaru, New Zealand, but is now based in Melbourne.

Kween Kong sent this stylish queen home in the second episode.

Faux Fur

Faux Fur, 27, has been a regular face, and the loudest voice, on the Sydney drag scene for the last seven years

Faux Fur, 27, has been a regular face, and the loudest voice, on the Sydney drag scene for the last seven years.

She is proud to represent her Asian heritage, and comes with the biggest of hearts to uplift others through all her performances.

The drag queen, who has kept her real name a secret, was sent home by Spankie Jackzon in the first episode.
The Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee on Saturday unanimously passed a resolution for making Rahul Gandhi the party's national president (Photo: PTI)

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee on Saturday unanimously passed a resolution for making Rahul Gandhi the party's national president, a state cabinet minister said.

The development comes ahead of the start of filing nominations for the election of the Congress president.

Rajasthan Food Minister Pratap Singh Khachariya said the resolution was proposed by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

He said, "The resolution to make Rahul Gandhi party's national president was passed... . Everyone supported it by raising their hands."

Khachariyawas said that the ''right to appoint state Congress president and AICC members was left to the party high command''. A resolution was also passed in this regard.

The party's state in-charge Ajay Maken, organisation election officer (PRO) Rajendra Kumpawat, state president Govind Singh Dotasra and party members from different districts of the state attended the meeting held at the party's state headquarters on Saturday.

Nominations for the post of Congress president can be filed from September 24 to September 30. The election, if required, will be held on October 17, the party has said.

State units had passed a similar resolution when Rahul Gandhi was elevated as Congress president in 2017. He resigned after the party's debacle in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
She's been dominating stages across the world on her Chromatica Ball stadium tour.

And ahead of her next concert date, Lady Gaga got gussied up in a chic all-black getup to enjoy an evening out with friends in Miami, Florida on Friday.

The Grammy Award-winner, 36, headed to Sexy Fish restaurant in a pair of sky-high black patent leather boots that she's made signature over the years.

Night out: Ahead of her next concert date, Lady Gaga got gussied up in a chic all-black getup to enjoy an evening out with friends in Miami, Florida on Friday

Gaga styled her daring lace-up heels with a pair of faded black skinny jeans with holes in the knees.

She gave a glimpse at her toned tummy in a barely-there bra top layered under a stylish oversized black blazer.

The sleeves of her jacket were scrunched up her arms and she toted her essentials in black patent leather handbag with a shiny gold handle and matching closure.

A pair of mismatched gold earrings, one of which was in the shape of a lock and the other made of three linked hoops, brushed the tops of her shoulders.

Signature style: The Grammy Award-winner, 36, headed to Sexy Fish restaurant in a pair of sky-high black patent leather boots that she's made her signature over the years

She also had a chunky gold chain fastened around her neck.

The Just Dance hitmaker wore her bright blonde tresses in a sleek bun and she shielded her eyes from the flashbulbs with black cateye sunglasses.

Her plump pout was painted a glossy nude shade and bronzing powder helped her achieve a sun-kissed glow.

Golden girl: A pair of mismatched gold earrings, one of which was in the shape of a lock and the other made of three linked hoops, brushed the tops of her shoulders

Preparing: Earlier in the day, the New York native was captured arriving to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami ahead of her final Chromatica Ball tour date in North America

She will hit the stage on Saturday, September 17. The venue has a 65,326 personal capacity

Along with a crew of gal pals, Gaga was also joined by several buff security guards.

Earlier in the day, the New York native was captured arriving to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami ahead of her final Chromatica Ball tour date in North America.

She will hit the stage on Saturday, September 17. The venue has a 65,326 personal capacity.

Headliner: The Chromatica Ball is the sixth headlining concert tour by Lady Gaga and is in support of her newest album, Chromatica; Gaga seen on September 10 in LA

Delays: The studio album was released in 2020, with the tour pushed back twice due to Covid-19 related delays; Gaga seen on September 10 in LA

The Chromatica Ball is the sixth headlining concert tour by Lady Gaga and is in support of her newest album, Chromatica.

The studio album was released in 2020, with the tour pushed back twice due to Covid-19 related delays.

Eventually, the born performer kicked off the tour in Dusseldorf back in July.
Sonia Kruger is enjoying some much needed time off.

The busy television host showed off her figure as she lazed by the pool at home this weekend in a video posted to Instagram.

The 57-year-old looked decades younger as she tended to the pool wearing a brown bikini and drinking a glass of wine.

Sonia Kruger (pictured) is enjoying some much needed time off. The busy television host showed off her figure as she lazed by the pool at home this weekend in a video posted to Instagram

The Big Brother Australia host covered up in an open white dress shirt and kept sun safe in a hat and sunglasses.

'She's busy!' she joked in her caption, indicating she was having a weekend to herself away from her packed television schedule.

It comes after the mother of one shared her health and fitness secrets, telling the Healthy-ish podcast in May that dancing keeps her looking trim.

The 57-year-old looked decades younger as she tended to the pool wearing a brown bikini and drinking a glass of wine

The Big Brother Australia host covered up in an open white dress shirt and kept sun safe in a hat and sunglasses

'She's busy!' she joked in her caption, indicating she was having a weekend to herself away from her packed television schedule

'You're working out but you don't realise how much you're working out because you're genuinely having a good time,' she said.

'It's just the kind of activity that makes everybody feel happy,' she added.

Sonia, who is a former dancer herself, praised dancing for its fitness benefits, which include cardio, strength and resistance.

It comes after the mother of one shared her health and fitness secrets, telling the Healthy-ish podcast in May that dancing keeps her looking trim

'Even your own body weight is a form of strength training and resistance training,' she said.

'And then you've got the mental health aspects of it, too, so we know that learning to dance is great for our brain.

'Learning choreography keeps the cogs ticking over. We know that these things ward off dementia and Alzheimer's in the future.'
Chrissy Teigen has addressed the 'brutal' comments she's received from online trolls after opening up about having a life-saving abortion - after doctors said her unborn son Jack was unviable in September 2020.

The actress, 36, who is married to John Legend, explained that she made the 'difficult decision' to terminate the pregnancy at 20 weeks after coming to terms with the fact that she nor Jack would likely survive if the pregnancy continued.

After discussing the experience, Chrissy has received hateful messages from critics on social media including some who accused her of 'lying' - after admitting she was forced to abort the baby in order to save her own life.

Candid: Bullying: Chrissy Teigen has addressed the brutal comments she's received from online trolls after opening up about having a life-saving abortion - which resulted in her late son Jack's passing in September 2020

Hitting back: She took to Twitter on Friday to call out the vile hate she was receiving and explained it doesn't have an impact on her

She took to Twitter on Friday to call out the vile hate she was receiving and explained it doesn't have an impact on her.

Chrissy penned: 'I knew this would happen, and honestly I've already seen you do your worst so if this makes you feel better, great. It doesn't make me feel worse though.'

Several have claimed Chrissy is 'lying' about her ordeal, with others commenting she is, 'trying to stay relevant'.

Another wrote: 'Sorry you lost your child but stop milking this story'.

A third added: She's such a drama queen, she needs therapy'.

In a follow-up tweet, Chrissy revealed these messages came from the comment section of a magazine and dubbed them 'brutal'.

Chrissy penned: 'I knew this would happen, and honestly I've already seen you do your worst so if this makes you feel better, great. It doesn't make me feel worse though.'

Earlier this week, Chrissy candidly discussed the ordeal which she had previously labelled as a 'miscarriage'.

According to THR, Chrissy said: 'Let's just call it what it was: It was an abortion. An abortion to save my life for a baby that had absolutely no chance. And to be honest, I never, ever put that together until, actually, a few months ago,'

The couple had said that Jack died as a result of complications caused by a partial placental abruption, which is when the placenta detaches from the womb depriving the baby of oxygen and causing heavy bleeding in the mother.

Chrissy is currently pregnant with her and John's fourth child. They share daughter Luna Simone, six, and son Miles Theodore, four.

Brutal: In a follow-up tweet, Chrissy revealed these messages came from the comment section of a magazine and dubbed them 'brutal'

She spoke candidly about coming to terms with her 2020 abortion while appearing at Propper Daley's 'A Day of Unreasonable Conversation' summit on Thursday in Beverly Hills.

'Two years ago, when I was pregnant with Jack, John and my third child, I had to make a lot of difficult and heartbreaking decisions,' the star began.

'It became very clear around halfway through that he would not survive, and that I wouldn't either without any medical intervention.'

'Difficult decision': The wife of John Legend, 36, explained that she made the 'difficult decision' to terminate the pregnancy at 20 weeks after coming to terms with the fact that she nor Jack would likely survive

Although she'd long considered Jack's death a miscarriage, Chrissy said that it was her husband John who helped her realize that she'd actually had an abortion.

The revelation came amid the shocking Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe V. Wade, which protected the right to an abortion, this past June.

Chrissy admitted that it came as a 'shock' to her.

'I fell silent, feeling weird that I hadn't made sense of it that way. I told the world we had a miscarriage, the world agreed we had a miscarriage, all the headlines said it was a miscarriage.

'And I became really frustrated that I didn't, in the first place, say what it was, and I felt silly that it had taken me over a year to actually understand that we had had an abortion,' she admitted.

Family: They share daughter Luna Simone, six, and son Miles Theodore, four; the family seen in April

In the final weeks of her pregnancy with Jack, Chrissy used Instagram to report on her concerning complications.

Specifically, the Cravings founder was experiencing uncontrollable bleeding. She was forced to wear adult diapers and was put on bed rest.

On September 30, 2020, Chrissy returned to the platform to report that doctors were unable to get her bleeding under control despite multiple blood transfusions.

Expecting: Chrissy is currently pregnant with her and John's fourth child

'We were never able to stop the bleeding and give our baby the fluids he needed, despite bags and bags of blood transfusions. It just wasn't enough,' she penned, before revealing that Jack did not survive.

'To our Jack - I'm so sorry that the first few moments of your life were met with so many complications, that we couldn't give you the home you needed to survive. We will always love you,' read another portion of Chrissy's post.

Along with her heartbreaking text, Chrissy included a slideshow of black-and-white photos of herself in a hospital bed as she and John grieved their child.

One shot showed the couple crying and cradling their deceased son, while another featured a distraught Chrissy sitting on the edge of her hospital bed with tears streaming down her face.

Heartbreaking: On September 30, 2020, Chrissy returned to the platform to report that doctors were unable to get her bleeding under control despite multiple blood transfusions

Not long afterwards, she revealed she would be unable to carry a child again, writing on Instagram: 'I love being pregnant, so so much, and I'm sad I never will be again.'

In a blog post published to Medium in October 2020, Chrissy described how the partial placental abruption dramatically changed the course of her pregnancy.

'At this point I had already come to terms with what would happen: I would have an epidural and be induced to deliver our 20 week old, a boy that would have never survived in my belly (please excuse these simple terms),' she penned.

In another excerpt she recalled the moment that the doctor told her that Jack would not survive and that the pregnancy was also putting her own life in danger.

'After a couple nights at the hospital, my doctor told me exactly what I knew was coming  it was time to say goodbye. He just wouldn't survive this, and if it went on any longer, I might not either.'

In honor of Jack, Chrissy and John planted a tree in their house for him in Thai tradition.

'It's important for us in Thai tradition that we always embrace the ones we've lost, and they're never, ever gone.

'This tree being planted inside the home, the whole reason why I wanted it was so Jack's ashes could be in that soil and he could be with us all the time and grow through the beautiful leaves in this tree,' she said.

Earlier this year, Chrissy informed fans that she was undergoing IVF treatment -- despite previously claiming she would not be able to conceive again.

She completed the treatment in March and by August, the couple confirmed that they were expecting their fourth child together.
They have been going from strength to strength after coming second on the ITV2 dating series Love Island in 2019.

And Molly-Mae Hague was whisked away on a romantic trip to Switzerland by her boyfriend Tommy Fury after the boxer revealed his plans to propose 'very soon.'

The couple, both 23, looked as loved up as ever as they shared a kiss in front of the countries stunning scenery before enjoying a trip to a chocolate factory.

Loved-up: Molly-Mae Hague, 23, was whisked away on a romantic trip to Switzerland by her boyfriend Tommy Fury, 23, after the boxer revealed his plans to propose 'very soon'

Taking to Instagram, Molly-Mae documented their getaway with a flurry of sweet snaps.

She went fresh-faced for their outing to showcase her flawless complexion and wrapped up warm in a khaki padded jacket.

Tommy opted for a black T-shirt with a waterproof jacket before changing into a light grey hoodie for their visit to the Lindt factory.

Adorable: The couple looked as loved up as ever as they shared a kiss in front of the countries stunning scenery before enjoying a trip to a chocolate factory

Day out: Molly went fresh-faced for their outing to showcase her flawless complexion and wrapped up warm in a khaki padded jacket

Last month, after three years together, Tommy revealed he plans on proposing to his girlfriend Molly-Mae 'very soon'.

The boxer took to his Instagram Stories to give his 4.2 million followers an update on his relationship with the PrettyLittleThing Creative Director.

While catching up with his fans during the Q&A session one person asked Tommy: 'When is Molly getting that ring... I think it's time'

His response was: 'It was probably time about six months ago but it's coming very soon'

Out and about: Tommy opted for a black T-shirt with a waterproof jacket

Molly and Tommy have been in a relationship since meeting on Love Island in 2019, the couple exceeding expectations after viewers misjudged their commitment to each other.

The couple moved in together in September 2019 and have been going from strength-to-strength ever since.

In October, Molly admitted 'I'd like a ring soon, please' while talking about her romance with Tommy, which she described as 'perfect.'

She said: 'It's been the best two and a bit years of my life with everything, with my work, with my relationship. I'm just so lucky.'

Cute: Molly and Tommy have been in a relationship since meeting on Love Island in 2019, the couple exceeding expectations after viewers misjudged their commitment to each other

It comes after the pair sparked engagement rumours when they were spotted at a jewellers in Dubai last month.

The couple eyed-up a six-figure engagement ring during their sun-drenched getaway, according to reports.

In a picture obtained by The Sun, the reality stars sat next to each other in Cara Jewellers during their trip to the United Arab Emirates, where Manchester-born Tommy allegedly insisted that his girlfriend's ring must be a 'top of the range, flawless gem'.

A source at the sophisticated showroom told the publication that Pretty Little Thing's creative director spoke for an hour about how she wanted the ring mounted, before Tommy sighed: 'I'm just here to pay for it, mate.'
Tammy Hembrow enjoyed a sunny day out at the Burleigh Festival in Queensland on Sunday.

The influencer, 28, appeared to be getting along with her fiance Matt Poole, 34, despite recent rumours of a split - but she neglected to wear her engagement ring.

The couple took their newborn daughter Posey out with them, as well as Tammy's two children from a previous relationship.

Tammy Hembrow (pictured) enjoyed a sunny day out at the Burleigh Festival in Queensland on Sunday

Tammy dressed for the warm weather by donning a white crop top that showed off lots of bust.

She matched it with a pair of loose jeans in a blue denim fabric with trendy rips near the knees.

The fitness queen opted for a soft makeup look including a peachy eyeshadow and pale pink lipstick.

The influencer, 28, appeared to be getting along with her fiance Matt Poole, 34, despite recent rumours of a split - but she neglected to wear her engagement ring. Both pictured

The couple took their newborn daughter Posey out with them, as well as Tammy's two children from a previous relationship

Tammy dressed for the warm weather, donning a white crop top

Tammy had her newly dyed red locks on display, wearing them down and straight around her face.

She completed her look with gold hoop earrings and a dainty necklace as well as white Crocs shoes.

During the outing, Tammy picked up a box of takeaway oysters, as well as indulging in a soft serve ice cream.

She matched it with a pair of loose jeans in a blue denim fabric with trendy rips near the knees

The couple took turns minding their baby girl , with Tammy handing over the tiny tot to Matt

Matt was at the festival in a professional capacity, as his Maman food stall was featured at the event

Matt was at the festival in a professional capacity, as his Maman food stall was featured at the event.

He doted on his baby daughter, holding the little one close to his chest as Tammy tended to the older kids.

The former athlete dressed down in a long white shirt and trousers and appeared in excellent spirits.

Tammy bought a tray of takeaway oysters to snack on

The popular fitness influencer also got stuck into a soft serve ice cream cone

Tammy earlier had a green hoodie on, before removing it in the heat

At one stage, Tammy entertained her baby daughter in her pram as her older children walked beside her.

The outing comes after after talk she has split from fiance Matt, just three months after welcoming their daughter Posy.

Rumours of a split were sparked after an Instagram account noticed Tammy has been wearing her engagement ring intermittently and hasn't shared a photo with the Ironman since August.

At one stage, Tammy entertained her baby daughter in her pram as her older children walked beside her

Tammy had her newly dyed red locks on display, wearing them down and straight around her face

She also failed to post a Father's Day tribute to Poole earlier this month.

'@tammyhembrow hasn't been wearing her engagement ring since 31/7/22,' the account @influencer.updates.au shared via their Story.

'She & Matt still aren't living together and didn't post any content together in Bali. I think they tried to work things out when Posy arrived, but looks like they haven't.'

She added a number of gold rings to complete her stylish ensemble

Matt was comfortable in a simple white T-shirt as he enjoyed the warm weather

The busy mama juggled carrying her baby while looking around the festival

The account then noted that the last time Tammy wore her ring was 'as recently as 20/8' - almost a month ago.

'Also: No Father's Day post for Matt,' they added.

Tammy and Matt, who got engaged in November 2021, recently travelled to Bali together with their newborn as well as her other two kids: son Wolf, six, and daughter Saskia, five.

The outing comes after after talk she has split from fiance Matt, just three months after welcoming their daughter Posy

Rumours of a split were sparked after an Instagram account noticed Tammy has been wearing her engagement ring intermittently and hasn't shared a photo with the Ironman since August

The TammyFit founder jetted off to the Indonesian island for a fitness retreat in collaboration with Journey Retreats.

While Matt was seen with the family at the airport, not a single photo was shared to his or Tammy's account enjoying the holiday together.

Matt did, however, share several adorable photos with Posy plus spent plenty of time with his mates Adam Bennetts, former Masterchef star Hayden Quinn and pro surfer Matt Wilkinson.

The flame-haired star appeared to be makeup-free during the outing

Tammy licked her fingers after finishing off her delicious ice cream

In June, days before Tammy gave birth, fans accused the former Matt of not 'stepping up' while Tammy was left 'struggling with everyday tasks'

This isn't the first time rumours swirled of a breakup for the couple.

In June, days before Tammy gave birth, fans accused the former Matt of not 'stepping up' while Tammy was left 'struggling with everyday tasks'.

'Her family had to go around to your house to help her clean rooms today and yesterday, not even going to speak about that,' one fan wrote.

Matt was every inch the doting dad, cradling little Posy in his arms

Little Posy looked adorable in her dad Matt's arms as he kept a close grip on the tiny tot

'Can you not see she is passively posting about you not helping her?'

The comment continued: 'We can all see it, why not you? Drinking can be done anytime with your besties but having the last week with Tammy to yourself is so very precious before you become parents.'

But Matt was quick to shut down the claims, insisting that fans don't know what goes on behind the scenes of their relationship.

Tammy rock-hard abs and busty cleavage were on full display in her skimpy ensemble

The busty influencer smiled and giggled as she pushed the pram along the footpath

Tammy couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she gazed down at baby Posy in the pram

'I understand your message comes from a good place. You have ZERO idea what myself and Tammy are going through, nor do you know (or need to know) what is happening with our relationship,' he wrote.

'I was around there today... you don't know that because all you see is Instagram!'

'I don't know you, you don't know me, you don't know Tammy... I understand you guys are all fans of her, but keep your opinions on OUR relationship to yourself,' he added.

'I never asked for it, nor do I care to hear it. Have some respect.'

Tammy kept a tight hold of Posy as she strolled through the festival

The couple announced they were expecting their first child together back in December 2021, just two weeks after their engagement

Tammy and Matt welcomed baby daughter Posy on June 19. Tammy is pictured cradling Posy

Tammy, for her part, shut down the claims by sharing a loved-up video of the pair getting cosy at her home.

The fitness guru announced they were expecting their first child together back in December 2021, just two weeks after their engagement.

They welcomed daughter Posy on June 19.

Tammy is also mother to son Wolf and daughter Saskia from her relationship with ex-fiance Reece Hawkins.
Lily Collins put on a loved-up display with her husband Charlie McDowell on Thursday as they prepared to go on a scooter ride in Paris.

The actress, 33, looked effortlessly chic in a white blouse and blue jeans, while wrapping up in a beige coat.

She completed the look with a pair of white trainers and accessorised with a pair of stylish sunglasses.

Couple: Lily Collins put on a loved-up display with her husband Charlie McDowell on Thursday as they prepared to go on a scooter ride in Paris

Lily opted for a blush makeup palette with a pink lip, while styling her brunette locks back in a ponytail.

Meanwhile Charlie, 38, showed off his edgy style in a pair of khaki jeans with a jumper hung over his shoulders, while accessorising with a black beanie hat.

The lovebirds, who went Instagram official in 2019, tied the knot during an intimate wedding ceremony in Colorado in 2021.

Collins initially traveled back to Europe in late May to begin work on season three of her hit show Emily In Paris.

Stylish: The actress, 33, looked effortlessly chic in a white blouse and blue jeans, while wrapping up in a beige coat

The comedy-drama, in which Collins plays an American who moves to France to provide an American point of view to the French marketing firm Savoir, premiered in October 2020.

This past January, the show got renewed for a third and fourth season by Netflix.

The couple initially met while working on the set of Gilded Rage.

Filming: Collins initially traveled back to Europe in late May to begin work on season three of her hit show Emily In Paris

Filmmaker Charlie had previously been romantically linked to figures such as Emilia Clarke and Rooney Mara.

Lily and her now-husband went Instagram official in 2019, and they made their first public appearance as a couple the following year.

The actress went on to announce that she had become engaged to the filmmaker with a post that was shared to her Instagram account in October of 2020.

PDA: Lily and Charlie married last September in Colorado after previously going Instagram official in 2019

During an interview with Vogue Australia late last year, Collins raved about getting to work with her spouse, which she said was easier than expected.

'I thought it would be harder, I have to say. I thought it would be more stressful to have to work with him, but it honestly was really amazing and freeing,' she told the outlet.

She continued: 'It was great, and I'm really, really proud of the movie and I'm proud of him. It's a different type of role for me.'

The Abduction actress also joked: 'Honestly, it was so easy working together. I would forget that it was him.'

The couple first met while working on the set of McDowell's movie Gilded Rage.
Peep show's Big Suze shocked fans on Friday when eagle-eyed viewers spotted her sitting beside senior members of the Royal Family during a vigil at Queen's coffin.

Sophie Winkleman was sighted during live coverage of the ceremony honouring Queen Elizabeth II, as King Charles III and his siblings stood around their late mother's coffin as she lies in state.

Viewers flocked to Twitter to express their shock after seeing her at Westminster Hall, with many having forgotten about her Royal connection.

Surprise: Peep show's Big Suze shocked fans on Friday when eagle-eyed viewers spotted her sitting beside senior members of the Royal Family during a vigil at Queen's coffin (L-R Princess Michael of Kent, Lord Frederick Windsor, and Sophie Winkleman)

One fan penned: 'I watched a bit if the vigil and thought I was having a mad moment seeing Big Suze with the family. Turns out she married Prince Michael's son.'

Another added: 'I am genuinely finding this all moving, but when watching some of the vigil, I couldnt help but think is that Big Suze from Peep Show??? And I believe it is!'

A third surprised viewer noted: 'Trying to come to terms with Big Suze being a Royal. Mental.'

On screen: Viewers flocked to Twitter to express their shock after seeing Sophie, with many having forgotten about her Royal connection (pictured as Big Suze on The Peep Show)

Vigil: Sophie was sighted during live coverage of the ceremony, as King Charles III and his siblings stood around their late mother's coffin as she lies in state (Pictured far right)

Sophie who married into the Royal Family is the wife of Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and 52nd in line to the throne.

Since the couple tied the knot in 2009, mother-of-two Sophie says everyone has 'looked after' her, in particular the Queen and Prince Charles, who have been 'wonderful', and Prince William, whom she described as 'heaven'.

Speaking to The Times, the London-born star said: 'I've been incredibly welcomed with open arms by all of them... They'd never tell me off at all if I wanted to play some [racy] role.'

Shock: One fan penned: 'I watched a bit if the vigil and thought I was having a mad moment seeing Big Suze with the family. Turns out she married Prince Michael's son'

She added that she hasn't watched The Crown, the latest series of which has come under fire from friends of Prince Charles who accused Netflix producers of 'trolling' the Royal Family 'on a Hollywood budget' due to the drama's largely negative portrayal of his marriage to Princess Diana.

Sophie is half-sister of TV presenter Claudia Winkleman, with whom she shares father Barry Winkleman, and was educated at the private City of London School for Girls before completing an English degree at the University of Cambridge.

She explained she and the Strictly presenter had 'very separate lives' as children because Claudia, who is nine years her senior, lived with her mother.

Connection: Sophie who married into the Royal Family is the wife of Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and 52nd in line to the throne (pictured in 2019)

Sophie, who now lives in Chelsea, married Lord Freddie in September 2009 at Hampton Court Palace, after meeting him on a night out in Soho.

The couple, who moved to LA for a number of years after their wedding for her work, welcomed their first child, daughter Maud Elizabeth Daphne Marina, in August 2013, and daughter, Isabella Alexandra May, was born in January 2016.

Maud and Isabella were among five bridesmaids for her sister-in-law Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston when they wed in May 2019 - having already been in the bridal party for Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's wedding in October.
Love Island's Ekin-Su Culculogluin was thrilled on Saturday when she found out her 'childhood idol' Vanessa Hudgens was watching the ITV2 dating show.

American actress Vanessa, 33, took to her Instagram Stories to share a picture of her feet in the bath as she sat back and relaxed while watching Love Island - in particular a scene featuring Ekin-Su, 28.

Ekin-Su, who was crowned the winner of this year's series with her boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti, was shocked when she discovered the social media snap.

Happy: Love Island's Ekin-Su Culculogluin was thrilled on Saturday when she found out her 'childhood idol' was watching the ITV2 dating show

The Turkish actress re-shared the post and penned 'My childhood idol is watching the show!'.

Earlier this year, Vanessa said: 'Love Island really had me hooked so I was there every single step of the way.

'It's just really interesting to see how people process things and how people identify love.

'I'm definitely tuning in [on Monday]. I'm still here for it. I want to watch everyone find love and watch it get messy along the way.'

Fan of the show: Vanessa Hudgens, 33, took to her Instagram Stories to share a picture of her feet in the bath as she sat back and relaxed while watching Love Island

The Turkish actress, who was crowned the winner of this year's series alongside her boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti, re-shared the post and penned 'My childhood idol is watching the show!'

Ekin-Su and Davide were crowned the winners of Love Island 2022 and voting figures have revealed they secured more than half of the public vote.

Viewers were able to vote for their favourite couple to be crowned as winners and go home with the 50,000 cash prize - which for the first time ever wasn't offered as a 'split or steal' deal.

And final voting figures released by ITV have revealed that fan favourites Ekin-Su and Davide, both 27, secured a staggering 63.69 per cent of the public vote.

They won the ITV2 dating contest by a landslide as runners-up Gemma and Luca secured just 14.47 per cent of the viewers' final votes.

Gemma and Luca followed behind as runners-up, while Indiyah and Dami came in third place and Tasha and Andrew were fourth.

Popular: Ekin-Su and Davide were crowned the winners of Love Island 2022 and voting figures revealed they secured more than half of the public vote

Ekin-Su signed a 1million deal with Oh Polly last month making it the biggest partnership in Love Island history.

She told MailOnline she is 'living the dream' after departing the Majorcan Villa to a flurry of exciting opportunities whilst she posed in her latest photoshoot for the brand.

The Turkish beauty who recently made her catwalk debut during New York Fashion Week, also gushed about her relationship with boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti after he flew out to America to show his support.

Amazing: Ekin-Su signed a 1million deal with Oh Polly last month making it the biggest partnership in Love Island history

Speaking to about her most recent work, Ekin-Su told MailOnline: 'I've lived the American dream since coming out of the villa  being in New York for Fashion Week has truly been a dream come true.

'If you'd have told me six months ago I'd be walking down a runway I'd have never believed you! I can't wait to come back and show people what I've been working on.

'It's been a really special trip for our relationship too as we're finally getting to do real boyfriend and girlfriend things exploring the city and having time to ourselves. Davide makes me so happy!'
Lady Victoria Hervey cut a glamorous figure on Saturday as she head to a swanky Private Members club in Mayfair, London.

The British socialite, 45, showed off her sensational figure in a black and white patterned mini dress at Loulou's club.

She completed the look with a pair of stylish knee-high boots and accessorised with dazzling silver jewellery.

Stunning: Lady Victoria Hervey looked the epitome of chic on Saturday in a black and white patterned mini dress as she head to a swanky Private Members club in Mayfair, London

Victoria opted for a bronzed makeup look which accentuated her natural features while styling her golden locks straight.

Loulou's is ideal for A-listers who like to party and is favoured by the likes of Harry Styles, Margot Robbie, and Mick Jagger.

Following her night on the tiles, Victoria got up early to go and join the queue to pay her respects to the Queen as she lies in state.

Gorgeous: The British socialite, 45, completed the look with a pair of stylish knee-high boots and accessorised with dazzling silver jewellery

Victoria documented the experience on her Instagram Stories as she revealed she 'couldn't believe' she had got up to venture to the queue.

The socialite, who is the daughter of the sixth Marquess of Bristol, flashed her wristband as she joined fellow mourners wanting to pay their last respects.

Victoria shared updates as she drew nearer to Westminster Hall where the late monarch's coffin is currently located.

The trip comes after she shared a tribute to Her Majesty on her Instagram, writing: 'I landed yesterday hours before the news broke.

Joining the queue: Following her night on the tiles, Victoria got up early to go and join the queue to pay her respects to the Queen as she lies in state

'When the first announcement was released I felt some dread. It didn't sound good. It has been a whirlwind 24 hours. Yesterday we lost the matriarch of our nation who has devoted her life to public service.

'She has been the most loved and well known public figure on the planet for the past 70 years leaving behind an incredible legacy. Longest reigning monarch. Rest easy. These are some of my favourite photos.

'I've been slow on here as I spent the day in hospital today doing MRI scans and tests. I recently found a lump diagnosed as a tumour on a lymph gland and I am relieved to say that it's benign so your not getting rid of me that easy.'
Machine Gun Kelly kicked off his tour with an appearance for a thousand fans from the balcony of his suite on Saturday.

The 32-year-old Billboard Music Award winner splashed the crowd with champagne and continued the celebration by stepping on the roof of his pink limo.

MGK  born Colson Baker  was dressed in head-to-toe pink, including a jacket and matching pants decorated with cursive writing.

Party animal: Machine Gun Kelly, 32, kicked off his Tour with an appearance for a thousand fans from the balcony of his suite where he sprayed the crowd with champagne before stepping on the roof of his pink limo on Saturday

He went shirtless under the suit and rocked pink-and-white sneakers, while his shaggy hair was dyed the same shade.

He completed his look with rectangular pale pink sunglasses, and carried along a skateboard deck without wheels that featured his visage on it.

Earlier this week, the rocker and his fiance, Megan Fox, dazzled in a vintage disco look on Saturday evening as they attended Beyonces 41st birthday bash at a Bel-Air mansion.

The couple matched in faux fur coats for the Roller Disco-themed A-list bash with a slew of stars, including Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Bella Hadid, Adele, and Lily Rose Depp.

On theme: MGK  born Colson Baker  was dressed in head-to-toe pink, including a jacket and matching pants decorated with cursive writing

The couple got engaged earlier this year after the father-of-one popped the question to the beauty on January 11, two years after meeting on the set of Midnight In The Switchgrass with Bruce Willis.

The Transformers star has been flaunting her fit physique in multiple photoshoots alongside MGK to promote for her new film, Johnny & Clyde.

The beauty showed off her phenomenal figure on the poster for the film, wearing a skintight ruched violet dress that displayed her ample cleavage while holding a gun.

The film is a new spin on the story of real-life criminal couple Bonnie and Clyde.

Nailed it: He went shirtless under the suit and rocked pink-and-white sneakers, while his shaggy hair was dyed the same shade

Dangerous gal: Megan Fox stunned in two new images for her upcoming thriller film Johnny & Clyde, sporting lilac-tinted strands and wearing a skintight violet dress while holding a gun

Last month during a concert in Cleveland, Ohio, the rapper/rocker delivered a performance that fans wont soon forget as he zip-lined across the entire stadium and incurred his second bloodied face injury.

He later posted the wild performance to his Instagram account, starting with the exciting zip-line moment where he soared across the FirstEnergy Stadium as he rapped his 2010 track, Cleveland.

Kelly had also made headlines following an earlier bloody-faced incident in June at the New York City venue Catch when he struck his face with a champagne glass.

According to Page Six, MGK said, 'I dont give a f***, bro, I dont give a s***,' as his forehead bled after making contact with the broken glass.
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has decided that three capitals for the state of Andhra Pradesh will be the main slogan for ruling YSRC to fight the state assembly general elections in 2024.

Party sources say this is a master stroke, as three capitals will be to the liking of more people than Amaravati being the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh, behind which Telugu Desam and other opposition parties have thrown their weight.

Jagan Mohan Reddy has made his intention clear by launching a scathing attack against main opposition TD in the State Legislative Assembly through a discussion on decentralised development in Andhra Pradesh. He has followed it up with filing of a Special Leave Petition in Supreme Court against AP High Courts verdict of developing Amaravati as the sole capital of the state.

The Chief Minister has clearly picked up the gauntlet after TD leaders led by Nimmala Rama Naidu challenged Jagan Mohan Reddy to go in for fresh elections over Three Capitals. It is now clear that the 2024 elections will be fought with Three Capitals versus Amaravati as agendas of YSRC and TD.

The main opposition has been assiduously promoting Amaravati as sole capital of AP state. It stood by the areas farmers and also backed their long march earlier to Tirumala-Tirupati on the issue, which was quite a success.

Further, along with other opposition parties, Telugu Desam is supporting Amaravati-Arasavalli Padayatra launched a few days ago by farmers of Amaravati. This walkathon has also gone on smoothly through Guntur and Krishna districts, without facing much protests.

This seems to have forced YSRC high-command to rethink its welfare strategy for Mission 2024 Elections.

Senior political analysts recall that Navaratnalu had been the main agenda of YSRC in 2019 elections. The party has fulfilled 98 percent of the promises it made during those elections. Jagan Mohan Reddy now needs a new hot topic as agenda for the 2024 assembly elections. He seems to have decided on development of all regions through Three Capitals as his main agenda. The belief is that this will attract people of north Andhra, Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra. Further, the YSRC chief has affirmed that Amaravati will continue as legislative capital of AP.

Analysts say there are 18 months to go for elections. Jagan and YSRC will utilise the period to make decentralised development through Three Capitals as their main agenda in 2024 elections.

Ministers Botsa Satyanarayana and Adimulapu Suresh, apart from other leaders have affirmed that Three Capitals is their governments policy, which would be implemented. They claim that there is need to develop backward areas of the state to avoid demands like Telangana. They maintain that Three Capitals means all round development.
Susanna Reid will not return to Good Morning Britain on Sunday morning in a shake-up of the show.

The host, 51, has been leading coverage on the ITV breakfast show since the Queen's death at Balmoral Castle in Scotland last Thursday but she will take a break on Sunday when Adil Ray, 48, and Kate Garraway, 55, will front the programme from 6.30am until 9.30am.

A special edition of the show will cover the latest ahead of the late monarch's funeral on Monday, with a number of changes being made to ITV's schedule on Sunday.

Taking a rest: Susanna Reid will not return to Good Morning Britain on Sunday morning in a shake-up of the show after leading coverage since the Queen's death

Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh will follow Good Morning Britain at 9.30am, with EFL Highlights airing at 11.25am and the ITV News and Weather at 12.30pm.

You've Been Framed will be broadcast at 1.30pm while Ainsley's Caribbean Kitchen will air at 2pm and Simply Raymond Blanc will air at 2.30pm.

James Martin's Great British Adventure will be shown at 3pm and Dickinson's Real Deal Winner will air at 3.30pm, followed by Tipping Point: Lucky Stars at 4pm and Ninja Warrior UK: Race For Glory at 5pm. ITV News and Weather will then air at 6pm followed by regional news.

Taking the helm: Adil Ray, 48, and Kate Garraway, 55, will front the programme from 6.30am until 9.30am on Sunday

Then, an episode of Emmerdale while was originally due to be the second instalment of the soap to air on Friday 16 September, will be shown at 6.30pm.

Coronation Street, the episode originally scheduled for Friday 16 September then returns at 7pm before Queen Elizabeth II: National Silence at 7.55pm.

Ridley will be broadcast from 8.05pm, the ITV News and Weather will air at 10pm, Bradley and Barney: Breaking Dad will be shown at 10pm, and Gallagher Premiership Rugby Highlights will air at 10.45pm before documentary The Queen Remembered at 11.45pm.

Farewell: The country's longest-reigning royal, Queen Elizabeth II, died 'peacefully' aged 96, at Balmoral in Scotland last Thursday (pictured in October 2021)

ITV will continue to make a number of changes to its main channel scheduled broadcasting in the coming days to reflect the important state events which culminate with the Queen's funeral in London on Monday.

A variety of documentaries about the Queen's 70-year reign and the new monarch, King Charles III, will air.

Channel bosses are reintroducing some of the channel's regular programmes this week.
It's the big-budget factual drama that promises to tell the tale of the pandemic as well as the Prime Ministers leadership. With a stellar cast including Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson and glamorous up-and-coming actress Ophelia Lovibond as his wife Carrie, all the signs are there for it to be an informed behind-the-scenes account of the once-in-a-generation Covid outbreak.

Sky Atlantic, which will screen the six-part series later this month, says it will trace the impact of coronavirus on Britain and the response of scientists, nurses and doctors as they worked tirelessly and heroically to contain and overcome the virus.

But This England  written and directed by Left-leaning filmmaker Michael Winterbottom  misses no opportunity to slur Mr Johnson personally and professionally, misrepresenting him and dragging up details from his private life unconnected to his role in leading the charge against the pandemic.

Mr Winterbottom, a staunch supporter of the Labour Party and close friend of actor Steve Coogan, penned storylines that ensure viewers are repeatedly reminded of Mr Johnsons previous romantic partners, while his relationships with his older children are painfully portrayed as being difficult.

Just minutes into the first episode, Charles Dance, playing Sir Max Hastings who was Mr Johnsons editor at The Daily Telegraph, says of him: Dignity still matters in public life, Boris Johnson will never have it.

'For many of us, his elevation will signal Britains abandonment of any claim to be a serious country. I have a hunch that Johnson will come to regret selling the prize for which he has struggled so long.

One source involved with This England told The Mail on Sunday the show 'has been used as a tool to smack Boris'

Kenneth Branagh and Ophelia Lovibond (right) play Boris and Carrie Johnson (left) in the series

Next is a crass scene where viewers hear Mr and Mrs Johnson having sex. Seconds later, it says on the screen that their son Wilfred was born nine months after they moved into Downing Street.

Meanwhile, Mr Johnsons former lovers appear in dreams, used throughout the series to peddle stories with no relevance to the pandemic. While Mr Johnson is asleep, a voice reminds him of his romance with the writer Petronella Wyatt, while film footage of blonde American entrepreneur Jennifer Arcuri is employed to haunt the then Prime Minister.

One source involved with This England told The Mail on Sunday: What some people on the crew cant understand is how the series can be described as being all about the pandemic and the heroics of the NHS when, in fact, it has been used as a tool to smack Boris.

It is glaringly obvious. It seems a pretty low blow. Youd think that their main agenda is to eviscerate Boris and Carrie, not highlight the truths about our NHS heroes.

And, writing on the opposite page, Nadine Dorries, Culture Secretary in Mr Johnsons Cabinet, calls the programme dangerously tendentious, fabricated and seeming intent on diminishing Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie in the eyes of the world.

This England also includes graphic scenes, including one where Mrs Johnsons waters break shortly before she gives birth to Wilfred. She is also seen vomiting into a toilet when she appears to be suffering from morning sickness.

And even when the series tells of Mr Johnsons own battles with Covid, the scenes come across as intrusive. He is seen sweating while in intensive care and is portrayed as being fed water through a straw.

Generally, the impression is given that the PM cares more for his dog, Dilyn, than for his wife, whose concerns about her pregnancy he often blithely overlooks

During his stay in St Thomas Hospital in London, viewers will see the then PM have deathbed dreams involving his ex-wife Marina Wheeler and daughters, who berate him. At one point, Ms Wheeler says: Here lies the man who has done me wrong, before she screams loudly.

The Johnsons are further misrepresented when their 2019 holiday to Mustique is featured.

Branagh and Lovibond are seen travelling to the West Indies on a private jet sipping champagne. In fact, Boris and Carrie flew economy with a British Airways.

In what is meant to be a humorous, recurring theme, Mr Johnson is depicted giving poo bags to his staff when asking them to take his dog Dilyn for walks. Generally, too, the impression is given that the PM cares more for the animal than for his wife, whose concerns about her pregnancy he often blithely overlooks.

Indeed, Mr Winterbottom mischievously shows Mrs Johnson confiding in a male staff member in Downing Street, whom she asks to accompany her to hospital, invites to her baby shower and confides that she is expecting a boy. There is no evidence that the real Carrie Johnson had such a male confidant.

Branaghs mimicry of Mr Johnson is charismatic  employing his experience as a Shakespearean actor to ape Mr Johnsons love of quoting the Bard at times of crisis.

Mr Winterbottom originally planned a scene involving Mr Johnsons teenage daughter from his relationship with art consultant Helen McIntyre. But that was axed after The Mail on Sunday revealed the plot to have her meeting her new baby brother Wilfred.

The programme also features stage actor Simon Paisley Day as Dominic Cummings and Andrew Buchan  star of ITV drama Broadchurch  as then Health Secretary Matt Hancock, as it documents how the two were at war during the pandemic.

The show includes Cummingss infamous trip to Barnard Castle as well as depicting him and Lee Cain, the PMs former director of communications, behaving aggressively towards staff in No 10.

Mr Winterbottom left the production during filming and was replaced by The Crown executive Julian Jarrold.

Disclaimers have been added before each episode saying that they are fiction based on real events, after inaccuracies were pointed out by The MoS.

Mr Winterbottoms last big project was directing the movie Greed, based on the downfall of retail boss Sir Philip Green, with the lead played by his close friend Coogan.
It's the unlikely news Spice Girls fans will really, really wanna hear.

More than 27 years after bursting on to the music scene as trailblazers for Girl Power, they are on the verge of an astonishing comeback deal  to headline Glastonbury.

Music industry sources say talks are well advanced, prompting the question of whether Victoria Beckham  Posh Spice  will join in the Worthy Farm mudfest next year.

Melanie Chisholm  known better as Sporty Spice  strongly hinted at her book launch at Londons Ivy Club last week that despite insisting she would never sing to a crowd again, Mrs Beckham, 48, would not turn down the chance to star on the Pyramid stage.

The fashion designer has repeatedly snubbed band reunions and the last time she performed with them was at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.

More than 27 years after bursting on to the music scene as trailblazers for Girl Power, the Spice Girls (pictured in Dublin during their 2019 tour) are on the verge of an astonishing comeback deal  to headline Glastonbury

A source said: The negotiations are ongoing but they have reached a stage where things are really looking likely, with or without Victoria. The Spice Girls are not a band to typically perform at Glastonbury but they are legendary and it will be so much fun.

Those who know Mrs Beckham well say she has resisted joining any reunions, including the 2019 tour, because she thought it might affect the reputation of her fashion label. She has also been fed up with her voice being scrutinised.

But friends say that as she nears 50, she no longer cares what people think about her.

She also faces pressure from husband David, who loves Glastonbury  so much so that the pair went there as part of their 20th wedding anniversary celebrations in 2019.

At the time she shared Instagram stories featuring the Killers performing and she was spotted kissing David on a dancefloor at 2am.

Victoria Beckham has repeatedly snubbed band reunions and the last time she performed with them was at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics (pictured)

Mrs Beckham has also learnt to embrace her singing recently. During her family holiday in July she posted a video of herself belting out the bands hit Stop aboard a yacht on the French Riviera.

A friend said: To perform at Glastonbury would be such a cool thing to do  even Victoria will see that. David has a habit of talking Victoria into things, reminding her how she would feel if she declines these things.

The Spice Girls officially split up in 2000 and were reportedly hoping to go on tour next year after the success of their UK and Ireland stadium dates in 2019.

A spokeswoman for the Spice Girls declined to comment.
Harriet Tubman: Love, Leadership, & Legacy - All girls have this inner power, which they will discover when they first learn to love themselves.

On October 8th in recognition of the International Day of the Girl Child celebrated on October 11, the first Harriet Tubman Love, Leadership and Legacy Workshop for Girls will be held at the Sinclair College Conference Center in Dayton, Ohio from 10 am to 3 pm. This workshop will provide an opportunity for girls involved in mentoring programs around the Dayton, Ohio area, for the first time, to all come together in one location to talk about love, and to meet college representatives, women entrepreneurs, and representatives from womens groups. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and this workshop will introduce girls to the importance of a cancer prevention lifestyle.

Registration is $75.00 for girls ages 10 to 20 and $25.00 for adult mentors or parents. Each girl will receive a copy of The Harriet Tubman Way book and workbook along with a gift box filled with other self-love strengthening gifts. More information is on Eventbrite. A Go Fund Me account is available to provide for the registration for underserved girls. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Contact Karol V. Brown at: www.KarolVBrown.com
While Pan India seems to be the new buzzword in the film industry, Dulquer feels the term is being overused.(DC Image)

After the super-success of Mahanati, Dulquer Salmaan is now part of another Telugu film, Sita Ramam. He talks about his decade in the film industry, what pan-India means to him, about actors from the south doing well in Hindi, about Sita Ramam, and his role as Lt. Ram in the war drama directed by Hanu Raghavapudi.

HOW CHALLENGING IT WAS TO PLAY LT. RAM IN SITA RAMAM

I think the most challenging part was shooting in Kashmir in the freezing temperatures, and that too, during the pandemic. I am much older than Ram (smiles) and my real life was very different from his. So I had to unlearn a lot of things for the part. But when I heard the story, I felt it was something that needed to be told, says the actor.

ON TRAINING FOR THE PART

An Army officer who was present on the set throughout the film, trained the actors in holding a gun, adopting the right postures, etc. In the process, Dulquer says he came to learn more about a soldiers life, and the sacrifices they have to make. SHOOTING IN HYDERABAD Dulquer has been frequenting Hyderabad as he has been doing more Telugu films. He describes the city as magical land with a mystique charm. At school, I studied about the Mughal Empire and the Nizams. We shot Sita Ramam at King Koti Palace. When I learnt that it was the royal residence of the last Nizam of Hyderabad, I was thrilled, says the actor. If you had asked me 10 years ago whether I would do a Telugu film, I would not have seen it happening. People advise against juggling multiple industries but I am following my heart and enjoying it, he reveals. Dulquer has a diverse set of films lined up in Malayalam and Tamil, apart from a Hindi film, Chup: Revenge Of The Artist.

ON STARS FROM THE SOUTH, LIKE HIM, YASH, ALLU ARJUN, DHANUSH, ETC., CURRENTLY RULING THE ROOST

I feel the current generation of actors are gaining from their life experiences. Everyone is seeking experiences  be it travelling or dancing. I resonate with that, he says, adding that as an actor, his willingness to explore and experiment has been very rewarding. I have worked with amazing filmmakers in, and I look forward to collaborating with more storytellers. I am fortunate to have worked with Mani Ratnam Sir for O Kadhal Kanmani.

TYPE OF ROLES HE PLANS TO PLAY

Dulquer says he will go easy on films belonging to the romantic genre. The audience has seen him as a romantic hero for a long time, and he wants to break that image. Also, Am I not getting older? he asks with a smile. I want to move away from the type of films I do, and work on more mature stories. He says while it is important to be challenged as an actor and learn new skills, it is equally important to unlearn skills, to discover ones hidden side. And thats exactly what I did in Sita Ramam, he beams. Doing out-of-the-box roles is something that isnt in my hands because I can only choose from what I get. But I always make an effort to look for different roles and surprise the audience with every film, he shares.

HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MALAYALAM MOVIE AUDIENCE

Dulquer may have done films in multiple languages but he feels a certain responsibility towards his core audience (Malayalam) who he loves the most. Because thats where I belong and thats where I originally got the acceptance from. Historically, actors like to explore new opportunities, and stars like Chiranjeevi Sir, Nag Sir, Rajinikanth Sir did it over the years by doing films in Hindi; but at the end of the day its their core audience who they love the most, explains the actor.

THE CURRENT CRAZE FOR PAN-INDIAN FILMS

While Pan India seems to be the new buzzword in the film industry, Dulquer feels the term is being overused. Didnt films of stars like Amitabh Sir, Rajini Sir, Chiru Sir and Nag Sir transcended boundaries long ago? I dont see this (Pan India) as a new concept, he says. When people across the country open up to a films success, we can truly become one industry (Indian cinema). I think thats a positive change and the common love for cinema will be celebrated, he believes.

ON THE CHANGED TASTES OF AUDIENCES AFTER THE PANDEMIC

Audiences have always appreciated good content and they continue to do so. Perhaps they might have become more rational in their approach and that could be due to exposure to world cinema they have seen during the lockdowns, he says, adding that such developments also challenge actors and filmmakers to be inventive.

DID HIS SUPERSTAR FATHER MAMMOOTTY INFLUENCE HIS CAREER?

I worked to have my own identity, Dulquer says. I am fortunate to have had the time to absorb so many things and observe several actors and make my choices. I have learnt my Dos and Donts and realised that its important for me to have my own identity.
One of the protesting students said that despite it being a semester break, many students wanted to stay on campus to prepare for Group 1 SI and constabulary exams.  DC File Image/Deepak Deshpande

Hyderabad: Around 100 women students of the Arts and Science colleges of Osmania University protested the universitys order asking them to vacate their hostels, along with their luggage, overnight.

The order was allegedly issued on Friday night, on the grounds that the semester ended.

The students, who were staying at the centenary block of the hostel, staged a sit-in protest and blocked the campus road, raising slogans against officials on Saturday. They contended that many students had already gone home for the semester break and that belongings couldn't be cleared.

The protesters said that they were previously assured of not being forced out of their hostel and that this was the first such instance as they used to leave behind their belongings during previous summer breaks.

Further, they alleged that the university was planning on converting it to a mens hostel and moving the women to an older building, which is riddled with issues ranging from poor washrooms to bad food.

One of the protesting students said that despite it being a semester break, many students wanted to stay on campus to prepare for Group 1 SI and constabulary exams.

Our Vice Chancellor (VC) encourages students to clear these exams, but now he is not supporting us. The exam will be held next month and we need to stay here on campus to prepare for it. We cant go home and prepare and we cannot afford to stay elsewhere, as almost all students come from middle-class families, said the student.

To dissuade protest, the dean of student affairs Prof. B. Rajendra Naik met the students and assured them that they could stay on till September 25 and that a decision on the hostel building for the next semester would be taken later.

However, the students did not budge, calling for the VC to assure them of the allotment of the centenary block building for the next semester. But, the VCs phone was switched off when they tried calling him.
CM KCR also announced that the government would implement Girijan Bandhu for landless ST community families soon by extending Rs. 10 lakh each on par with Dalit Bandh. (DC)

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday announced that the government would enhance reservations to 10 per cent for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in education and employment from next week, from six per cent at present.

He also announced that the government would implement Girijan Bandhu for landless ST community families soon by extending Rs. 10 lakh each on par with Dalit Bandhu, after giving ownership rights to eligible tribals on podu lands.

I have waited for long. I cannot wait any longer. For this reason, I have decided to issue a GO next week implementing the 10 per cent quota for STs, Rao said at a mammoth public meeting, titled Telangana Adivasi-Banjara Atmiya Sabha, at NTR Stadium here.

The Chief Minister said that he was fed up of repeatedly requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to approve the 10 per cent quota for the ST community for over five years. It could not wait any longer for the Centre's approval, he said. A GO would be issued on the enhanced reservation, irrespective of whether it has the Centre's approval or not.

Rao asked Modi to decide for himself whether he would facilitate implementation of the GO or make it a a rope to hang himself by blocking it.

The Assembly had passed the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and of Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Bill, 2017 enhancing reservations for the ST community from six to 10 per cent and for Muslims from four per cent to 12 percent under BC-E category. The Bill was referred to the Centre for approval, where it is pending. Incidentally, the Bill violates the 50 per cent upper ceiling on reservations prescribed by the Supreme Court.

If the government implements the 10 per cent quota for the ST community from next week by issuing a GO, as announced by the CM, the total reservations will go up to 54 per cent. It will go up to 62 per cent if the Centre approves enhanced quotas for STs and Muslims.

The total reservations in Telangana for the BC, SC and ST communities currently stand at 50 per cent, in line with the Supreme Court cap.

"Tamil Nadu is implementing 69 per cent reservations. The Centre has given exemption to Tamil Nadu by incorporating it under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution to ensure that it cannot be challenged in any court. Why can't the Centre extend the same exemption to Telangana? What is stopping the Prime Minister and Union home minister Amit Shah from enhancing quota for STs in Telangana in the last five years," Rao asked.

He claimed that if the Centre approves the TS reservations Bill, it would easily get the President's assent as President Droupadi Murmu belongs to ST category and she would not hesitate in giving her nod, he said.

Rao pointed out that there was no provision in the Constitution to bar reservations based on the ratio of population.

"In the undivided Andhra Pradesh, six per cent reservations were given to STs in proportion to their population. After bifurcation, the ST population in Telangana increased to 10 per cent. Telangana fulfills all the conditions to extend the 10 per cent quota for STs in proportion to their population," he said.

The Chief Minister said that he had personally met Modi several times and had written several letters to him seeking the Centre's approval to enhance the quota for the ST community.

He promised to implement Rs.10-lakh-per-family Girijan Bandhu for the landless tribals after the pending podu lands issues are resolved.

"We have set up coordination committees in all districts to resolve podu land issues. All the eligible families will get ownership rights on podu lands. I have asked the chief secretary to give the list of landless tribals who will be extended Girijan Bandhu," Rao said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah being accorded guard of honour during celebrations of 'Hyderabad Liberation Day' at Parade Ground in Hyderabad, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (PTI Photo)

Hyderabad: Union Home Minister Amith Shah on Saturday credited Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for the liberation of Hyderabad and took a swipe at those who had "turned back" on celebrating the day due to vote bank politics and the "fear" of Razakars.

Shah was addressing the Hyderabad Liberation Day event here, attended by among others,Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

If not for Sardar Patel, Hyderabad would have taken more years to get liberated and he knew that as long as Nizam's Razakars could not be defeated, the dream of Akhand Bharat will not be fufilled.

"After so many years, there was a desire in this land that the Hyderabad Liberation Day should be celebrated with the government's participation. But unfortunately 75 years are over and those who ruled this place could not dare celebrate Hyderabad liberation day due to vote bank politics," Shah said.

"So many people have promised during elections, agitations that they would celebrate the Liberation Day. But when they came to power, due to the fear of Razakars they turned back," Shah added.

He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for deciding to celebrate the Hyderabad Liberation day.

When Modi decided to celebrate the day, everyone followed suit.

"They celebrate, but not as Hyderabad Liberation day, they still have fear. I want to tell them, remove fear from your heart and Razakars cannot take decisions for this country as it got independence 75 years ago," the Home Minister added.

"I want to congratulate Modi because he understood the aspirations of the people of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana and decided to celebrate Hyderabad Liberation day," he added.

The State of Hyderabad which was under Nizam's rule was annexed into the Union of India following a police action codenamed 'Operation Polo' that culminated on September 17, 1948.
A cheetah after being released inside a special enclosure of the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (PTI Photo)

Sheopur (MP): Eight cheetahs from Namibia landed here on Saturday, as part of the programme to reintroduce the feline in India seven decades after it was declared extinct in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is celebrating his birthday, released three cheetahs in quarantine enclosures of the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh around 11.30 am.

After the modified Boeing 747 landed at the Gwalior airbase at 7.47 am, the felines were flown in two Air Force helicopters to Palpur near the Park.

A viral video showed the crates carrying the cheetahs stacked in what was earlier the economy section of the Boeing aircraft.

After the plane landed at Gwalior, the ground personnel were seen helping transfer the crates, marked Live Animals, to the waiting choppers.

The aircraft, which took off from the African country Friday night, carried the cheetahs in the special wooden crates during the around 10-hour journey.

Before their flight from Namibia, the cheetahs, the fastest land animals in the world, were treated with a tranquilizer that lasts for three to five days.

The animals were flown to the park in Sheopur district, 165 km away from Gwalior. The journey took about 20-25 minutes, an official said.

The cheetahs remained without food during the transcontinental journey and will be given something to eat now that they have been released in the enclosures, the official said.

A dais was set up in the Park under which special cages carrying cheetahs were kept and Modi, who turned 72 on Saturday, released three of them in an enclosure by operating a lever.

After that, other dignitaries released the remaining cheetahs in other enclosures.

The cheetahs were brought in a special flight of Terra Avia, an airline based at Chisinau, Moldova in Europe that operates chartered passenger and cargo flights.

Officials battled heavy rain and inclement weather to complete the preparations for Modi's programme to release the big cats in their new home in Kuno.

Two days before Modi's arrival, heavy rain lashed the Gwalior-Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh.

The Kuno National Park is situated on the Northern side of Vidhyachal mountains with an area of 344.686 sq km. It was named after a tributary of Chambal River, Kuno, a forest official said.

The last cheetah died in the country in 1947 in Korea district in present day Chhattisgarh, which was earlier part of Madhya Pradesh, and the species was declared extinct from India in 1952.

The 'African Cheetah Introduction Project in India' was conceived in 2009. A plan to introduce the big cat in the KNP by November last year had suffered a setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.
Sheopur (Madhya Pradesh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the 'Project Cheetah', under which the BJP government at the Centre reintroduced big cats in the country with the support of Nambia, is the government's endeavour towards environment and wildlife conservation.

PM Modi, in an address to the nation following the release of cheetahs into Kuno National Park Saturday, said, "We lose certain things when we move away from our roots. Hence, we should take pride in our heritage."

The Prime Minister thanked the Namibia government for cooperation in relocating eight cheetahs to India and also congratulated the citizens of India for the successful release of the cheetahs in Kuno National Park.

He said that the cheetahs will add to bio-diversity and boost tourism and generate income for locals.

"The biodiversity that had become extinct and the link that got disconnected for decades, today we have a chance to reconnect it. Today the cheetah has returned to the soil of India. And I would also say that along with these cheetahs, the nature-loving consciousness of India has also been awakened with full force," said PM Modi.

He further said that the Kuno National Park was chosen for the release of cheetahs after a detailed study by experts.

"It is unfortunate that we declared Cheetahs extinct from the country in 1952, but for decades no meaningful effort was made to rehabilitate them. Today, as we celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the country has started rehabilitating Cheetahs with new energy," said the PM.

The Prime Minister said that the grassland ecosystem would be restored again and biodiversity will increase further.

"It is true that, when nature and environment are protected, then our future is also secure. The avenues for growth and prosperity also open up. When cheetahs run again in Kuno National Park, the grassland ecosystem will be restored again, and biodiversity will increase further," said PM Modi.

PM Modi appealed to people for patience before visiting Kuno National Park to have a glimpse of cheetahs and referred to them as 'India's guests'.

"These Cheetahs have come as guests, unaware of this area. For them to be able to make Kuno National Park their home, We will have to give these Cheetahs a few months' time. Following international guidelines, India is trying its best to settle these cheetahs. We must not let our efforts fail," said PM.

"India dropped from the list of natural cheetah habitats decades back, we have to made efforts to regain that place," he said.

Emphasizing that India in the 21st century is giving a message to the world that economy and ecology are not conflicting fields and said, "For us, it is also the basis of our sensibility and spirituality."

"This is a historic moment. Cheetahs will make us more environmentally conscious", he added.

The cheetahs were declared extinct from India in 1952 but today 8 cheetahs (5 females and 3 males) were brought from Africa's Namibia as part of 'Project Cheetah' and the government's efforts to revitalise and diversify the country's wildlife and habitat.

The eight cheetahs were brought in a cargo aircraft in Gwalior as part of an inter-continental cheetah translocation project. Later, the Indian Air Force choppers carried the cheetahs to Kuno National Park from Gwalior Air Force Station.

Radio collars have been installed in all the cheetahs to be monitored through satellite. Apart from this, there is a dedicated monitoring team behind each cheetah who will be monitoring their location for 24 hours.

Cheetahs have been brought under an MoU signed earlier this year.

Under the ambitious Project Cheetah of the Indian government, the reintroduction of wild species particularly cheetah was undertaken as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines.

India has a long history of wildlife conservation. One of the most successful wildlife conservation ventures 'Project Tiger', which was initiated way back in 1972, has not only contributed to the conservation of tigers but also of the entire ecosystem.

In continuation of this, the reintroduction of cheetahs is one step ahead and a milestone in the history of wildlife conservation in India.
Heavy rains are expected in the five districts of north coastal Andhra beginning September 19 (DC File Image)

VISHAKAPATNAM: Heavy rains are expected in the five districts of north coastal Andhra beginning September 19, IMD Amaravati forecast on Friday.

Senior scientist Dr Karunasagar said an upper air circulation will form and during the subsequent 48 hours thereafter, a low-pressure area will develop over west central Bay of Bengal.

As a result, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, ASR and East Godavari districts will get rains. The intensity of these rains will be known in another 24 hours, Dr Karunasagar stated.

However, private website Skymet said the system would not bring much rain to southern parts of the countrys peninsula, as the system will move towards Gangetic West Bengal.

The Skymet report said interior Karnataka, north interior Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Kerala are expected to see very little rains in the coming days. There may be some parts that may witness a few showers of rain. Other than that, rainfall will remain only mild.

There is also no active system over the west coast, which may, however, mean some increase in rains over Kerala or adjoining areas of Tamil Nadu. East Coast is also devoid of any weather system, indicating below normal rains over south India in the coming few days, the report added.
Industries Minister Gudivada Amarnath said in the state assembly on Friday that investments of Rs 57,000 crore are coming to AP (Facebook)

VIJAYAWADA: Industries Minister Gudivada Amarnath said in the state assembly on Friday that investments of Rs 57,000 crore are coming to AP and the government is promoting MSMEs in a big way for industrial development.

During a short discussion on Industrial development, investments and financial growth in the state, the minister refuted the allegations of Telugu Desam that AP was turning into another Sri Lanka. AP is recording the best industrial growth by attracting investments, he asserted.

Amarnath said the Opposition is trying to spoil the brand image of the state and have been attempting to stall industrial growth. The government is committed to all-round growth and development. The GSDP is 11.43 % at constant prices during 2021-22, higher than the national GDP of 8.9%, he said.

He said the per-capita income of the state increased to Rs 2,07,771 in 2021-22, as against Rs 1,76,707 in 2020-21 at current prices with a jump of Rs 31,010 in a year, while the national Average stood at Rs 1,49,848.

Andhra Pradesh has got the ninth place in the overall ranking as per the export preparedness index 2021 released by Niti Aayog. AP has improved its performance on various indicators and rose to the 9th place during 2021 from the 20th rank in 2020. Another achievement is AP stood second in 2021, next to Gujarat, in the exports performance (vis-a-vis its contribution to GDP) pillar, from the 27th position in 2020.

Regarding Ease of Doing Business, Amarnath said this is a major policy initiative of the central government in collaboration with the World Bank. The government intends to make India one among the top 50 nations globally in terms of Ease of Doing Business.

He said India has emerged as an attractive destination for doing business. India jumped to the 79th position now from the 142nd in 2014 and the 63rd in 2019 in 'World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Ranking 2020.

It is a matter of pride that AP has topped the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) 2020-21 rankings under the Ease of Doing Business for the second consecutive time, based on a 100 per cent perception survey and has scored 97.89 per cent (highest in India) in the evaluation by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

Regarding business friendliness and service delivery efficiency, over 90 industry-specific services delivered through APs single desk portal with 98 per cent efficiency and more than 140 services notified under the AP public service delivery guarantee act with an average delivery timeline of 21 days and service delivery with no physical touchpoints, he said.

About investment and employment generation, the minister said, As per the DPIIT report, AP stands as India's top investment destination for 2022 (Jan-July) with Rs 40,361 crore of investments realized /materialized in the state, accounting to 23.56 per cent of India's total industrial investments of Rs 1,71,285 crore.

As per the 2021 DPIIT ranking, the Chittoor-Nellore region figures in the top-10 manufacturing destinations in the country, attracting domestic and international investors alike. During June 2019-August 2022, the investment inflow has been robust with a total realized investment of Rs 56,168 crore and these created employment opportunities for 2,93,898 people in large and mega industries, MSMEs and IT companies.
Bhopal: The special cargo flight carrying eight cheetahs from Namibia landed in Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday morning and the felines will be released in special enclosures in the state's Kuno National Park (KNP) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials said.

At around 10.45 am on September 17, which is also Modi's birthday, three of the cheetahs will be released in quarantine enclosures of the park by the Prime Minister, they said.

The flight carrying eight cheetahs and crew left Windhoek, the capital of Namibia in Africa, at around 8.30 pm (Indian time) and the plane is expected to land at Gwalior's Maharajpur air base at around 6 am on Saturday, Madhya Pradesh principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) J S Chauhan told PTI.

After completing necessary formalities, including paperwork, at Gwalior the cheetahs will be flown to Palpur village, some 165km away, in Sheopur district in two helicopters, a Chinook and a Mi category chopper, he said. From Palpur, the felines will be brought to Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur district by road, Chauhan said.

The cheetah intercontinental translocation project is taking place at a time when India has completed 75 years of its independence. The eight cheetahs - five females and three males - are being brought from Namibia as part of 'Project Cheetah', the world's first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project, officials said. In a departure statement, India's High Commissioner to Namibia Prashant Agrawal said, This is a very special moment indeed. As these magnificent cheetahs board the flight to India, we are being witness to history being made here today. This is a global first. This intercontinental translocation is the first of its kind, with no parallels ever. The reintroduction has a special significance as India marks its 75th independence anniversary this year," Agrawal said.

The Indian envoy thanked the team of Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) led by Dr Laurie Marker for making significant contributions in executing the translocation project. These cheetahs are the goodwill ambassadors for India-Namibia relations and, indeed, for the cause of conservation of the fastest land animal all over the world, he said. Prime Minister Modi will arrive at the Gwalior airport from New Delhi at around 9.20 am and leave for KNP, where he will release the cheetahs into quarantine enclosures at around 10.45 am, officials said.

As per the earlier plan, the special plane carrying the big cats from the African country was to land at the Jaipur airport, from where they were to be flown to KNP, around 400km from the Rajasthan capital. The release of wild cheetahs by the prime minister in KNP is part of his efforts to revitalise and diversify India's wildlife and its habitat, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Thursday.

The introduction of the fastest land animal in India is being done under Project Cheetah, which is world's first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project, the statement said. Cheetahs will help in the restoration of open forest and grassland ecosystems in India. This will help conserve biodiversity and enhance ecosystem services like water security, carbon sequestration and soil moisture conservation, benefiting the society at large, it said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister released a glimpse of a cheetah arriving at KNP which sounds Meow on his Twitter handle. "It is a matter of extreme happiness that cheetahs are coming to Kuno National Park. We the people of Madhya Pradesh are eager to welcome our new guests," Chouhan said in a tweet.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh tweeted, "Some more of the same Cheetah. Grateful to Dr Manmohan Singh ji Jairam Ramesh ji and now Modi ji but above all Ranjit Sinh ji Retd IAS a keen Wildlifer who led the campaign." The last cheetah died in the country in 1947 in Korea district in present day Chhattisgarh, which was earlier part of Madhya Pradesh, and the species was declared extinct from India in 1952.

The 'African Cheetah Introduction Project in India' was conceived in 2009. A plan to introduce the big cat in the KNP by November last year was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, people residing around KNP are happy that the government has selected the wildlife sanctuary for the intercontinental cheetah translocation project, and hoped the move would create job opportunities and improve the fortunes of the region. According to the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), an international not-for-profit organisation headquartered in Namibia and dedicated to saving the majestic animal in the wild, the five female cheetahs bound for India are aged between two years and five years and the male siblings are aged between four-and-a-half years and five-and-a-half years.

"It is a matter of pride for the people of Sheopur district that PM Modi has selected KNP for reintroducing cheetahs. We are waiting with bated breath to welcome the cheetahs," said Kamal Singh, who resides in Sesaipura village located in the vicinity of the national park. Bharat Sharma, a resident of Karahal, said, "We are hopeful that now our future is secure as cheetahs will be rehabilitated in Kuno National Park, which will turn the fortunes of the region for better. We are now confident that KNP and Sheopur will be known the world over now and the programme will generate employment opportunities for people, especially youths."

The Maharajpura airbase is connected with a terminal building named after BJP stalwart late Vijayaraje Scindia, which is a civil airport, and is connected with a corridor for planes to reach there after landing at the main airstrip. The cheetahs will remain without food during their air and road journey and they will be given something to eat once they are released in the enclosures, another official said.

Chief conservator of forest (CCF) Uttam Sharma said a dais has been set up in the KNP, under which special cages carrying cheetahs will be kept and PM Modi will release three of them in an enclosure by operating a lever. After that, other dignitaries will release the remaining cheetahs in other enclosures, he said. The cheetahs will be brought in a special flight of Terra Avia, an airline based at Chisinau, Moldova (in Europe) that operates chartered passenger and cargo flights. In view of the high-profile event, security in the district has stepped up. KNP is situated on the Northern side of Vidhyachal mountains and is spread across 344.686 sq km. It has been named after a tributary of the Chambal River, Kuno.
VIJAYAWADA: Indian Medical Association (IMA) has objected to appointment of a non-medicine person as director of medical education in Andhra Pradesh. It contends that AP Medical Education Rules have been violated in the process. As such, it is in the process of taking up the issue with the centre and National Medical Commission.

AP government has recently given additional charge as director of medical education to an IAS officer, as he is already serving as commissioner of the Andhra Pradesh Vaidya Vidhana Parishad (APVVP). The appointment has kicked up a row, as AP Medical Education Rules specify that a senior professor with five years of teaching experience in a medical college is to be appointed as director of medical education.

The rules underline that the director of health and family welfare, commissioner of APVVP and director of medical education should be from the medical field, having academic qualifications like masters or doctoral degrees in medicine, surgery or similar higher medical qualification.

Government doctors contend that heads of the three health wings must only be from the medical field, especially those who head health and family welfare and APVVP. They will thus be able to handle any health emergency like outbreak of viral fevers, such as dengue, by dint of their experience of having worked in hospitals from village to district level. They can immediately issue instructions as to how the situation could be brought under control. But a non-medical person will have to depend on a medical professional to handle the situation.

Citing these issues, government doctors are getting ready to stage protests; even though the state government has been maintaining that the appointment of the IAS officer as DME is only temporary.

A senior doctor from AP Government Doctors Association said, We are hoping that the government will change its decision and appoint a medical professional to head the Directorate of Medical Education, even though winter session of AP legislature is in progress and government is preoccupied with important issues.

However, the AP branch of IMA is gearing up to lodge a complaint with national IMA, so that it can take up the issue with the union minister for health and family welfare as also National Medical Commission.
Minister Rajani said the government is establishing five medical colleges on priority basis to start the MBBS admissions from 2023-24 academic year.  DC File Image

VIJAYAWADA: Even as the question hour in the state assembly was stormy on Friday with protests from the Opposition, the government announced the Kadapa Steel Plant will be made ready in the next 36 months and admissions to five government medical colleges for MBBS course would begin in the 2023-24 academic year.

Telugu Desam MLAs Veeranjaneya Swamy and K Atchannaidu raised the question about the progress of Kadapa steel plant. Industries minister Gudivada Amarnath started to give answers but the TD legislators raised their voices.

TD MLAs said it was almost three years after the work began, but except for the boundary wall, no works are being carried out at the steel plant site and no compensation was given to farmers for the land acquired from them.

Minister Amarnath said the government has alienated 3148.68 acres of land and environmental clearance has been accorded to the steel plant. Works on road connectivity from NH-67, boundary wall, power, water and operating power works were under progress.

He said the government spent Rs 46.67 crore on the steel plant so far for land acquisition and other works. The implementation of the project will be done expeditiously and completed in 36 months, he said.

Answering questions from TD MLAs Anagani Satyaprasad, Gadde Rammohan and PGVR Naidu, health minister Vidadala Rajani said the AP government gave permission to establish 16 new medical colleges at a cost of Rs 7,880 crore. Administrative sanction was given for the funds release and works were under progress.

The TD legislators alleged that there was no progress in the erection of the medical colleges. This caused a flutter.

Minister Rajani said the government is establishing five medical colleges on priority basis to start the MBBS admissions from 2023-24 academic year. Medical colleges at Vizianagaram, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Machilipatnam and Nandyala would start functioning from next year, she said.

YSRC MLA Malladi Vishnu said the Chandrababu government demolished temples unnecessarily. He sought information about the total number of demolished temples and renovation of temples. Minister for endowments Kottu Satyanarayana said 23 temples were demolished during 2014-19. Action was taken for the restoration of 19 temples.

TD MLAs Rama Naidu, Satyaprasad, China Rajappa and Veeranjaneya Swamy alleged poor progress to the Mega Housing Scheme and urged the state government to sanction Rs 2 lakh to each beneficiary to help construct the houses. Housing minister Jogi Ramesh said as many as 5.83 lakh houses were completed or nearing completion and the construction of another 7.83 lakh houses was under various phases.
Vaghela (left) meeting assumes significance as it comes amid KCRs ambition to launch a national party to take on Modi-led government at the Centre.  DC Image

Hyderabad: Former chief minister of Gujarat Shankersinh Vaghela, a veteran politician, met TRS supremo and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao at Pragathi Bhavan on Friday. The sudden visit of the 82-year old Vaghela, who floated a new regional party, Praja Shakti Democratic Party, in August ahead of the Gujarat polls scheduled for December this year, assumed political significance.

The meeting came at a time when Rao is trying for a major role in national politics to take on BJP-led NDA in 2024 Lok Sabha polls and making an effort to unite 'like-minded parties' against the BJP. In the meeting which lasted for about five hours, both the leaders reportedly discussed the need for Opposition parties to come together to oust BJP from power to save the country from 'communal and divisive politics'.

A press release issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) stated, "Vaghela affirmed that the country needs K Chandrasekhar Rao's leadership in the current national politics to thwart the BJPs wicked politics by playing an active role in the national political arena."

Inviting Rao into national politics, the release said, Vaghela expressed confidence that he would support from all senior politicians. Both leaders focused on the consequences of the selfish political game pursued by the BJP government at the Centre on the people, it added.

He said that a nationwide opposition against Prime Minister Narendra Modis divisive governance and political policies emerged and it was not good for democratic supporters and progressive thinkers to remain silent, the release noted.

According to release, Vaghela said that he had held discussions with senior leaders of various parties including the Congress. He said Congress was struggling from a lack of leadership and was failing to unite the Opposition. In this background, there is a great need for leadership like you (Chandrashekar Rao) to unite like-minded opposition parties," it said.

While thanking Vaghela for his invitation, Rao assured that he would try to a qualitative change in national politics and administration.
In an event held to mark Modis 72nd birthday, under the aegis of Atal Behari Vajpayee Foundation, Amit Shah distributed appliances and kits to differently-abled persons here on Saturday.  DC Image/Deepak Deshpande

HYDERABAD: Union home minister Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given the utmost importance to the well-being of differently-abled persons, Divyangs. Modi had devoted his life for the service of people, especially the poor, Dalits and BCs, he said.

In an event held to mark Modis 72nd birthday, under the aegis of Atal Behari Vajpayee Foundation, Amit Shah distributed appliances and kits to differently-abled persons here on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, Shah said that the Prime Minsiter wanted every person to follow the motto that service to mankind is service to God. After coming to power, Modi had concentrated on making life easier for the differently-abled persons, the minister said.

India was the only country to print currency notes Divyang-friendly, he pointed out. The currency note is embossed with the relevant figures, using which visually challenged persons can recognise the face value.

The Prime Minister has urged all government offices and public transport to be accessible to the differently-abled persons, he said. Shah appreciated his Cabinet colleague G. Kishan Reddy for taking the initiative of serving divyangs on Modi's birthday.

He said Modi tried to uplift seven crore poor people in the country by providing them a house, electricity, toilets, gas and insurance facilities. Kishan Reddy, BJP state chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar, OBC Morcha chairman Dr K. Laxman and party leaders Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, N.V. Subhash and Naidu Prakash were present on the occasion.
Britain's King Charles II meets members of the public in the queue along the South Bank, near to Lambeth Bridge, London, Saturday Sept. 17, 2022 as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday. (Photo: AP)

LONDON: King Charles III and his oldest son Prince William were on Saturday greeted by cheers as they shook hands with people queueing for hours through London to see Queen Elizabeth's coffin as it lies in state ahead of her funeral.

Cries of "God Save the King" came from the crowd as the new monarch and heir to the throne thanked members of the public before attention turns to the stream of world leaders arriving for the grand state send-off on Monday.

"I'm so happy. He was so calm, and friendly and he was so gentle," said Geraldine Potts-Ahmad, a secretary in her late 50s, as she struggled to contain her emotions after shaking hands with Charles.

"He is going to make the best king. That gentleness and that tenderness, I saw the queen in that."

The queen's death on September 8 aged 96, after a record-breaking 70 years on the throne, has sparked an outpouring of emotion.

Members of the public are braving waits that have stretched to more than 25 hours, and chilly night-time temperatures, to view her flag-shrouded coffin.

Princes William and Harry were later set to lead a vigil of Queen Elizabeth II's eight grandchildren at her coffin, joining tens of thousands of members of the public who have been queueing round the clock for days.

Lines have snaked for miles along the River Thames since Wednesday, when her coffin was brought to the UK parliament complex.

Those inside parliament's Westminster Hall for the lying-in-state received a shock late on Friday when a man burst out of the line and approached the coffin, which sits topped with the Imperial State Crown.

A live television feed of the mourners briefly cut away around 10:00 pm (2100 GMT) as police detained the man, two hours after Charles and his three siblings had held their own vigil in the cavernous hall.

"He was arrested for an offence under the Public Order Act and is currently in custody," London's Metropolitan Police said.

Fainting

Some 435 people have needed medical treatment, often for head injuries after fainting in the queue, the London Ambulance Service said.

But Jenna O'Sullivan, a charity worker from Pontypridd in Wales, said her 14-hour wait was well worth it after paying her final respects at the coffin.

"It was so emotional, with such a nice atmosphere of peace and calm," the 36-year-old said.

"The queue was long but it felt like a celebration. We made some lovely friends."

Police are mounting Britain's biggest-ever security operation for Monday's funeral, as hundreds of dignitaries including US President Joe Biden are set to jet in.

Less than two weeks into her premiership, British Prime Minister Liz Truss was on Saturday beginning a packed weekend of meetings with world leaders including her counterparts from New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, and Australia, Anthony Albanese, at the government's Chevening country residence.

On Sunday she was due to meet Biden, Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Canadian premier Justin Trudeau and Polish leader Andrzej Duda in Downing Street.

Charles, meanwhile, was on Saturday scheduled to meet the prime ministers of the Commonwealth realms -- the 14 former colonies over which he now reigns in addition to the United Kingdom -- including those of Australia, The Bahamas, Canada, Jamaica and New Zealand.

From Australia and Canada to Jamaica and Papua New Guinea, they have formally proclaimed him their new sovereign.

But republican movements are gaining ground in many of the countries, and efforts to keep them all in the royal fold will likely be a feature of his reign.

Charles on Friday wrapped up his maiden tour as monarch to the four UK nations with a visit to Wales, part of an operation dubbed "Spring Tide" to launch him in his new role.

'Tide of emotion'

Back in London, Charles joined the 15-minute vigil with his siblings -- Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward -- around their mother's casket on Friday night.

They stood, silent and eyes lowered, while members of the public filed past.

The vigil will be repeated on Saturday evening by the eight grandchildren, including the new heir to the throne Prince William and his estranged brother Harry.

Harry -- who served two tours with the British army in Afghanistan -- has been given special permission by his father to wear military uniform despite no longer being a working royal.

The move appeared to be the latest olive branch offered to Harry by Charles after the prince and his wife Meghan, now living in California, accused the royal family of racism.

The personal sorrow of the queen's family has been playing out in the glare of intense international attention.

But the queen's youngest son Edward said: "We have been overwhelmed by the tide of emotion that has engulfed us and the sheer number of people who have gone out of their way to express their own love, admiration and respect."

The public have until early Monday to view the coffin before the queen is honoured with Britain's first state funeral in nearly six decades.

The spectacular ceremony at Westminster Abbey -- expected to be watched by billions around the globe -- will see 142 sailors pulling the gun-carriage bearing her lead-lined coffin.

It will be attended by more than 2,000 guests, but leaders from countries at loggerheads with the UK such as Russia, Belarus and Afghanistan have not been invited.

China's vice president Wang Qishan will attend, Beijing's foreign ministry confirmed, after a diplomatic spat saw Chinese officials barred from visiting the coffin inside parliament.
Queen Elizabeth II smiling at children waving Kenyan flags and the Union Jack, alighting from the 'Royal Train' or shaking hands with a curious little boy -- are all previously unseen images from an enormous archive taken by celebrated photojournalist Mohamed Amin.

The black and white photographs of the queen, shown exclusively to AFP, reflect a level of access that is unheard of today, with Amin capturing candid shots of the monarch chatting with three Kenyan presidents.

Elizabeth II, who died last week at the age of 96, had a close relationship with Kenya. She learnt the news of her father's death while on her first visit to the former British colony in 1952. She arrived a princess and departed a queen.

Amin covered all her trips to Kenya as monarch.

Also Read | Queen Elizabeth II: The history of royal funerals and how this one will be different

A prolific journalist whose heartbreaking images of the Ethiopian famine in 1984 brought global attention to the crisis, Amin shot some three million photographs.

He spent decades leading his company Camerapix -- which supplied video and pictures to several news outlets -- before his tragic death in a plane hijacking in 1996, aged just 53.

His son Salim Amin now runs Camerapix and manages his father's enormous private archive in Nairobi -- filled with photos which have never gone on public display.

Despite being "a child of colonialism" -- born to a South Asian family in Tanzania -- Amin rarely expressed an opinion about the royal family, his son said.

"He couldn't afford to have an opinion because it would affect his job," he told AFP.

But Amin never kowtowed to authority or discriminated between princes and paupers, his son added, describing how a chance meeting in Saudi Arabia with a bodyguard to exiled dictator Idi Amin helped him score an exclusive interview with the so-called Butcher of Uganda.

"If he hadn't been friendly with the bodyguard (in Uganda), he wouldn't have gotten the interview!"

The queen's death has raised questions about Britain's colonial past and the abuses committed by British authorities across Africa, including during her reign.

In this context, Amin's achievements testify to a triumph against daunting odds.

A self-taught photographer, he often encountered racism in the field, with officials automatically deferring to his white colleagues.

But he also saw his identity as a source of strength.

He realised "the fundamental reason he was successful was because he was local... (because) he knew the continent inside out", his son said.

In 1992, Amin was honoured by the queen and made a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

In addition to covering the Ethiopian famine, when his images jolted the world into a huge relief effort including the massively successful "Live Aid" concert, Amin had a front-row seat to virtually every significant event on the continent.

Last year, Google Arts & Culture established an online archive to catalogue his work in collaboration with the Mohamed Amin Foundation.

Over 6,000 photos have already been uploaded to the digital archive.

More may follow, including those rare shots of Elizabeth II.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to host the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) next year after India took over the chair of the eight-nation bloc from Uzbekistan Friday.

Islamabad sought to throw a spanner in the works immediately after India took over after the 22nd summit at Samarkand in Uzbekistan. Pakistans Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that no decision had been taken yet on the participation of his countrys government in the summit to be hosted by India. Pakistans iron brother China, however, joined Russia and the other SCO nations to pledge full support to the chairmanship of India.

Also read: PM Narendra Modi calls for transit access through Pakistan

Here I wish to express Chinas congratulations to India on assuming the next SCO presidency. We will, together with other member states, support India during its presidency, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his speech at the summit at Samarkand Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin too wished India success during its SCO chairmanship as did other leaders of the bloc.

By the time Modi will host the 23rd meeting of the SCOs Council of Heads of State in New Delhi next year, it will turn into a nine-nation bloc, with admission of Iran, currently one of the four observers, as a new member.

The SCO summit is the second plurilateral conclave to be held in New Delhi next year. The prime minister will also host the 18th summit of the G20 on September 9 and 10 next year. India will take over the G20 presidency from Indonesia on December 1 this year  just after the 17th summit of the bloc, which will be held in Bali and hosted by the South-East Asian nations President Joko Widodo on November 15 and 16.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hit out at the previous governments, saying that no constructive efforts were made to reintroduce cheetahs in India after they became extinct from the country seven decades ago.

He also said that the Project Cheetah, under which the felines were reintroduced, was his governments endeavour towards environment and wildlife conservation. Modi, who turned 72 on Saturday, was speaking after releasing three of the eight cheetahs flown in from Namibia into special enclosures in the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.

"It is unfortunate that we declared cheetahs extinct in 1952, but for decades no constructive efforts were made to reintroduce them in India. Now, with new strength and vigour, the country has embarked on the project of reviving the population of cheetahs during this 'amrit kaal'," he said.

Also Read  As cheetahs come to Kuno, real estate rates in neighbouring areas surge

In his address after kicking off the cheetah introduction project conceived by the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2009, Modi also thanked Namibia for help in the programme to reintroduce cheetahs in India. "I thank our friendly nation Namibia and the government there for their help to reintroduce cheetahs on Indian soil after decades,'' he said, adding that only three cheetahs were left in the wild in India in 1947 that were unfortunately hunted.

The last cheetah died in the country in 1947 in Korea district in present day Chhattisgarh, which was earlier part of Madhya Pradesh, and the species was declared extinct from India in 1952. The 'African Cheetah Introduction Project in India' was conceived in 2009. A plan to introduce the big cat in the KNP by November last year had suffered a setback due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Project Cheetah, under which the cheetahs were reintroduced in the country after they became extinct seven decades ago, is our endeavour towards environment and wildlife conservation. Cheetahs are our guests; we should give them a few months to make Kuno National Park their home," Modi said. He asked people to wait for some time to give time to cheetahs to make their territory in KNP.

Modi said, "It is right that when nature and environment are conserved, our future becomes secure. It also opens up vistas for development and progress. India is trying to revive the population cheetahs as per the international guidelines and there is a need to ensure that these efforts do not go in vain, he added.

"Cheetahs will sprint again in KNP and will restore grassland ecosystems and bolster biodiversity...Nature and environment, animals and birds are not just the subject of sustainability and security for India, but they are also the basis of our sensibility and spirituality, he said. In the 21st century, India is sending out a message to the world that economy and ecology are not opposite fields. India has shown to the world that by protecting the environment, the country can also progress, the prime minister said.
Bollywood personality Nora Fatehi left the office of Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police after being grilled for more than five hours in connection with the Rs 200 crore extortion-cum-cheating case involving multimillionaire conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

Pinky Irani, an associate of Chandrashekhar, was also grilled along with Fatehi. Both were confronted with each other by the EOW officials, who said they had to clear a few things.

Also Read | Nora Fatehi appears before Delhi Police in connection with Sukesh extortion case

After leaving the EOW office, Fatehi didn't speak to the waiting mediapersons.

Earlier, the EOW had said that there were contradictions in the statements given by Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez and Irani in connection with the case. The two were questioned by the EOW officials on Wednesday.

Now, the EOW is likely to question both Fatehi and Irani again.

"We wanted to clarify a few things hence we had called Irani and Fatehi," said a senior police official.

The official said that Fatehi has said many times that she didn't know about the criminal record of Chandrashekhar.
A retired Derry GP who penned stories over lockdown to entertain his grandchildren has now turned his tales into an adorable childrens book, raising a staggering 25,000 for Foyle Hospice.

Dr Finlay Linton worked at Foyleside Family Practice for over 30 years, alongside his wife, Sister Marie Linton, who was the practice nurse.

Over the years, Dr Linton worked closely with Foyle Hospice and the NI Childrens Hospice.

The couple retired together in 2017 but in 2020, with the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, lockdown prevented them from visiting their two little granddaughters, Isla and Sophie, in Edinburgh.

However, Sr Linton suggested a fun way to keep their grandchildren entertained in the absence of their visits.

My wife, Marie, had the bright idea of writing them stories, to which they replied in kind, said Dr Linton.

I got in on the act and have sent them 29 children's stories that I made up. It kept the lines of communication open at a difficult time.

After seeing the joy the stories brought to his little granddaughters, Dr Linton decided he wanted to do something positive to give back to Foyle Hospice and NI Childrens Hospice, who he worked alongside over three decades.

I decided to get one of the books, Papa Gets a Job at the Zoo, illustrated, he said.

My niece, Dutch McDowell of McDowell Illustrations, did the artwork and what a great job she has done in bringing the story to life.

As a result of the book, 50,000 has been raised, of which half will go to Foyle Hospice and half to the NI Children's Hospice.

Dr Linton thanked everyone who helped in the production of the book, which helped raise an amazing 50,000, shared between Foyle Hospice and the NI Childrens Hospice.

I would like to thank all my friends who helped with the editing, my niece, Dutch, who did the fantastic illustrations and Impact Printing who helped with the final edit and printing, he said.

Dr Linton has given Foyle Hospice 500 copies of his charming and amusing book about an ambitious grandfather making a hapless attempt at becoming a zookeeper.

He hopes that this will generate more donations for Foyle Hospice and said that the book would make an excellent stocking-filler for children at Christmas.

Papa Gets a Job at the Zoo is available online at www.foylehospice.com for 5 plus postage and packaging.

Alternatively, to order copies for collection at Foyle Hospice Fundraising Department, 61 Culmore Road, call 02871 359888.
A Derry-based theatre company that works with marginalised communities is bringing a highly acclaimed play about the refugee experience to Northern Ireland.

Patricia Byrne, Artistic Director of Sole Purpose Productions, invited London-based theatre company PSYCHEdelight to perform its play, Mohand & Peter, in Derry and Belfast as part of Good Relations Week September 19-25.

Mohand & Peter will be staged at the Duncairn Arts Centre in Belfast on September 20 and 21 and Pilots Row Community Centre in Derry on September 23 and 24.

Patricia saw the play while in London in March and was determined to bring it to Northern Ireland.

She contacted the Founder of PSYCHEdelight and the plays Director, Sophie Bertrand Besse, and the pair worked together to make it happen with support from the Community Relations Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Sophie said the purpose of the play is to address the trauma of long-term exile and to rehumanise people and places. Behind each refugee and war zone there is a person and a home. With Mohand & Peter we aim to celebrate them," she said.

Mohand & Peter tells the true story of a London-based Sudanese refugee who longs to return to his homeland to see his friends and family. Despite the serious theme, it is packed full of humour, physical theatre and is suitable for adults, families and young people.

PSYCHEdelight Theatre facilitated arts-based workshops in the notorious Jungle Refugee Camp in Calais throughout 2015-2016. Sophie witnessed among the refugees an eagerness for comedy as a way to contrast and express their tragedy.

The play stars real life friends, Mohand Hasb Alrosol Abdalrahem from Sudan and Peter Pearson from Newcastle upon Tyne.

Mohand, a Sudanese refugee, is missing his home and family so he transports Peter and the audience on a wonderful journey to his homeland.

Performances will be followed by Q&As with the actors and director. The company will also run Together Workshops which will provide a space for refugees and host communities to mix, socialise and have fun.

These workshops are run regularly at the Southwark Playhouse and The Park Theatre in London.

Patricia said her interest in the situation for refugees was linked to her experience of being the child of Irish immigrants growing up in London in a multicultural, immigrant, working class area.

My parents often felt discriminated against, they remembered the signs that said no blacks, no Irish, no dogs. Ive always endeavoured to promote multi-cultural work through Sole Purpose Productions," Patricia said.

Patricia Lavery, Head of Community Arts and Education, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added, The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is proud to support Sole Purpose working with PSYCHEdelight Theatre with this latest production which demonstrates the power of using the arts to shine a light on and create open discussion around challenging, important subjects. Congratulations to all involved.

Sole Purpose has been working with refugees and asylum seekers for the past six years delivering Theatre in Language workshops and hosting Conversation Cafes in Derry, bringing refugees and local people together.

Mohand & Peter will be staged at the Duncairn Arts Centre in Pilots Row Community Centre in Derry on September 23 and 24 and Belfast on September 20 and 21 and. Tickets are 10.

The performance on Friday September 23 will be a special free event for Culture Night. Free tickets will be available for refugees and asylum seekers.

For more information about how to book tickets go to: https://www.theduncairn.com

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ mohand-and-peter-tickets- 396595496807 or https://www.solepurpose.org/
New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANS) Chip-maker Intel has bid goodbye to Pentium and Celeron processors and has introduced a new chip for upcoming essential segment or budget computers.

The company has introduced 'Intel Processor' that will replace Pentium and Celeron branding in the 2023 notebook product stack.

"The new Intel Processor branding will simplify our offerings so users can focus on choosing the right processor for their needs," said Josh Newman, Intel vice president and interim GM of Mobile Client Platforms.

Intel said that with this new brand architecture, it will continue to sharpen its focus on its flagship brands: Intel Core, Intel Evo and Intel vPro.

In addition, this update streamlines brand offerings across PC segments to enable and enhance Intel customer communication on each product's value proposition, while simplifying the purchasing experience for customers, the company said in a statement late on Friday.

Introduced in 1993, Pentium chips were first introduced in high-end desktop machines, and later to laptops.

Intel introduced Celeron for low-cost PCs in 1998. The first Celeron chip was based on a Pentium II processor.

The company said that the new 'Intel Processor' will serve as the brand name for multiple processor families, helping to simplify the product purchase experience for consumers.

"Intel will continue to deliver the same products and benefits within segments. The brand leaves unchanged Intel's current product offerings and Intel's product roadmap," it added.

The rebranding came as the company is geared up to launch its flagship 13th Gen desktop processor.

"Intel is committed to driving innovation to benefit users, and our entry-level processor families have been crucial for raising the PC standard across all price points, said Newman.

(Except for the headline, the rest of this IANS article is un-edited)

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in
Louth Volunteer Centre have put a call out to community and voluntary organisations across County Louth to attend their upcoming training sessions aimed at helping groups to create more opportunities for marginalised communities to become involved in volunteering.

The training, which will be held over two mornings on 27th and 29th September in the OConnells GFC club rooms, is part of the centres Mental Health Ireland funded New Connections project.

New Connections aims to help individuals that are classed as priority groups in the Mental Health strategy to connect to their communities in a new way through volunteering.

Community groups play a key role when it comes to inclusion. In many cases they act as the conduit for welcoming, engaging and offering a sense of belonging. Social Inclusion Week offers an opportunity for community groups to highlight and welcome new volunteers to support their work and increase their capacity.

This training is free of charge and will allow organisations to hear from experts in the field of disability, mental health and recovery as well as learning from lived experiences of volunteers from marginalised groups. For more information and booking contact Louth Volunteer Centre on 041 980 9008 or email olivia@volunteerlouth.ie
Communities across Louth are being urged to gather a group on Thursday, September 22, and do coffee their way for the 30th Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice.

And if they cant host a coffee morning social, people are being asked to donate to help raise much needed funds to support the work of North Louth Hospice Homecare.

We are delighted Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice is back for another year raising funds in support of Hospice in-patient and community services around Ireland, said Anne Newell of North Louth Hospice.

The ongoing support for this campaign over the last 30 years is a testament to the generosity of our coffee morning hosts, donors, ambassadors, and our long-time sponsor Bewleys.

The funds raised each year by the Irish public ensure we continue to provide vital support to individual patients and their families every day.

Brendan Gleeson has also called on people to donate in a bid to raise 1.5million nationwide for life affirming Hospice services across Ireland.

The Hollywood star launched the 30th Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice which has raised over 41.5 million since its inception, joining Hospice hosts and volunteers at the iconic Bewleys cafe on Grafton Street.

While your illness has defined you as a patient, hospice care looks beyond your illness and sees you as a whole person - with wishes, goals, hobbies and interests, said the legendary actor, whose late parents were cared for in St Francis Hospice in Dublin.

Gleeson, 67, whose latest film, The Banshees of Inisherin, is due out in October, insisted patients are so well looked after, allowing them to live as full and independent lives as possible, for as long as possible.

It takes great courage for patients and families to avail of hospice services to ensure that their loved ones needs are met at this important time in their lives. In my experience, hospice care is life affirming and enriching, he said.

This year we really want to see people in Louth get creative with their events and coffee creations and take time together with loved ones to help make this the best year yet.

And if you cant host a coffee morning social, please donate to your local hospice at www.hospicecoffeemorning. ie/donate.

Together for Hospice, The National Hospice Movement represents 26 Hospice and specialist palliative home care providers supporting patients and their families nationwide.

Funds raised locally stay local and go back into each local hospice service, helping to pay for medical and general staff, palliative care beds, home care visits, specialist equipment and new hospice builds.

Jason Doyle, Managing Director at Bewleys Ireland & UK, described the 30-year partnership with Hospice as very special.

After a difficult couple of years for fundraising, we hope people across Ireland will dig deep and make this a landmark year for the Bewley's Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice, he said.

At the heart of our business is a commitment to care for people and communities, so we urge everyone to host a coffee morning social to help support the incredible work Hospice carries out every day.

Register to host a coffee morning on Thursday, September 22, or on a date that suits you, at www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie or Call save 0818 995 996.

Hosts are provided with a free Coffee Morning Pack containing Bewleys coffee, posters and invitations.

If you can't host, you can make a donation to your local hospice at www.hospicecoffeemorning. ie/donate.
Central hospital faces closure risk due to anesthetic shortage

The Hanoi Central Odonto-Stomatology Hospital could temporarily shut due to a shortage of anesthetic, said a hospital leader.



According to Dr. Pham Thanh Ha, deputy director of the Hanoi Central Odonto-Stomatology Hospital, the hospital would run out of anesthetic in around two weeks. If the problem is not settled, the hospital would be temporarily closed as up to two-thirds of its outpatient services rely on anesthetic for treatment.





A surgery at the Hanoi Central Odonto-Stomatology Hospital



Doctors already are using anesthetic alternatives. However, in many cases, this has failed to meet patient needs. For instance, people with heart and high blood pressure need anesthetics that do not contain vasopressin substances, Ha added.



He noted anesthetic circulation licenses of pharmaceutical firms have not yet been extended, which is blamed for the slow supply to both private and state-owned hospitals.



Vietnam is importing anesthetics from two to three producers but global anesthetic supply sources are limited. It could take three to four months to import anesthetics into Vietnam.



The hospital has reported the problem to the Ministry of Health for solutions, but it has not yet received ministry feedback.
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.
Early on Saturday, the ministry of defence reported that Israel had carried out an airstrike on sites south of the city, including the Damascus International Airport, which resulted in the deaths of five soldiers and material damage. According to a ministry statement, Syrian air defences intercepted the attack and were able to destroy the most of the missiles.

There was no immediate confirmation if the strike has affected airport operations. If the strike had an affect on airport operations, it wasnt entirely apparent.

According to regional diplomatic and intelligence sources, Israel has escalated its strikes on Syrian airports in an effort to disrupt Tehrans growing reliance on aerial supply routes to transport weapons to allies in Syria and Lebanon, particularly Hezbollah.

Following difficulties in land transfers, Tehran has resorted to air transport as a more reliable method of transporting military supplies to its forces and partner fighters in Syria.

Since 2011 protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad turned into a civil war that drew in foreign powers and left Syria divided into zones of control, hundreds of thousands of people got killed and millions have been made homeless.
The European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen says that the natural gas shortage is due to the weaponization of energy that led to the natural gas shortage for the bloc. To prevent further gas problems, the EU should develop strategies to maintain gas supply by identifying unreliable sources and friends.

Deals With Other Suppliers Aside From Russia

According to von der Leyen, the new plans to tightly control energy suppliers via a classification based on their perceived reliability, reported RT.

The president of the EC mentioned last week at the European Parliament that a set of guidelines will be developed with member states to profile the unique nature of the relationship with suppliers, which tend to range from undependable suppliers like Russia to trust-worthy friends, noted Mass News.

She attacked Russia as a bad actor and highlighted one of her significant accomplishments, the drop in the proportion of Russian gas in the EU's energy mix from 40% to 9% one year ago. Conveniently the EC chief name Russia undesirable; but called the US, Norway, and Algeria good guys.

The European Commission's head identified nations such as the US, Norway, and Algeria as friends replacing Russia in the European market to avoid another natural gas shortage. According to this claim, Moscow is allegedly manipulating the EU market and choosing to burn gas. Due to the sanctions on Russia, the industry is accused of not functioning as it ought to, citing MenaFN.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Net Worth 2022: Does Anyone Know Russian President's Hidden Wealth?

Von der Leyen' s State of the Union Speech

When she spoke at the union, she detailed how Vladimir Putin used gas to strangle the bloc, which gave rise to controlling the providers and demanding cheap gas. The EU is in talks with Norway about supplying the EU. If no discounts are given, the EU will struggle to remain competitive.

European Commission necessitates that all bloc members abide by an unwavering use cap and share the gas equally. Energy providers will be subject to a windfall tax; the justification is that Brussels wants to set the gas price in a cartel-like manner. It is against the law for businesses to profit significantly from expensive energy purchased at a premium.

The logic derived from such control is that profits must be used when they should be most. Notwithstanding the fact sanctions have boomeranged back at western nations.

The reaction of Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, hearing the EU officials and dismissing them because now Brussels has shifted from green agendas to communist red, as she mocked the bloc. She added that, ironically, they would unite all workers and allow Lenin to get out of his grave as a stinging retort on social media.

European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen forgets the natural gas shortage is brought about by the mistakes of Brussels, not choosing independence from Washington, choosing Ukraine over their well-being.

Related Article: EU Mulls Over Removing Sanctions for Some Russians Over Legal Reasons

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Tell us about yourself:

My name is Maev OShea, Cork-born and -bred, I am mother to three fabulous young women: Aisling (21), Clodagh (18), and Roisin (16). I work as education and community manager at The Everyman, as well as creative associate with the Arts Council.

A graduate of UCC, I have worn many different hats in my working life: Teacher, drama facilitator, education manager, arts administrator, fundraiser, marketing manager, and, since 2020, I work on building youth and community engagements in our beautiful, vibrant, and historic theatre: The Everyman.

The Everyman is for everyone and my job, together with The Everyman team, is to ensure that this is true!

Having lived abroad in Germany and Switzerland for a few years and landed back in Dublin, like many Corkonians, I finally settled in Cork; now living in Ballintemple. I grew up in The Everyman: I attended the opening of the Everyman Palace Theatre back in 1990 and am thrilled to be part of the team welcoming audiences back.

What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?

For me, Culture Night  which takes place on September 23 this year  is the perfect way to spend a Friday night! All the cultural venues are open and buzzing.

The streets are alive with performance, music, circus, and much much more!

Because theres so much on offer, I love the way that you can happen upon some brand-new way of being creative and taking part in the arts.

Friday night can also be family night, so experiences for everyone, regardless of age, are the best, I think. This Culture Night Friday, Im really looking forward to welcoming smallies and their adults to a fun afternoon event with some very special panto guests and our free theatrical tour, Behind the Scenes, too  oh yes I am!

Lie-ins or up with the lark? Which is it for you?

I am naturally an owl, but by necessity a lark: No lie-ins for me!

Does work creep into your weekend at all?

Yes, without doubt: When you work in the theatre, weekends are part and package of the job.

If money were no object, where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you?

If money were no object, I would love to head to Venice on a city break during Carnevale and bring all the family, too!

Inch Beach at Power Head, East Cork, where Maev likes to walk. Picture Dan Linehan

Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries?

In Cork, there is an abundance of beautiful places to choose from to rest and relax.

I am a big fan of East Cork, from Cobh to Midleton, Ballycotton to Youghal. Inch beach, in particular, is a gorgeous place for a dip and a walk  its really family friendly.

Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?

The weekend is an ideal opportunity to catch up with family and friends! On Saturday mornings, I usually practice yoga at Yoga Republic on Douglas Street with my yoga family. Saturday nights can find me out on the town with my gals and pals. My partner, Matthias, lives in Germany, so we set aside one weekend a month for time together in person!

Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator?

In addition to yoga, I am a reluctant runner and trot out two to three times a week with my extremely patient running buddy.

I love to read: Most recently, Donal Ryans The Queen of Dirt Island; Rachel Englishs The Letter Home; and The Amusements, by Aingeala Flannery. I found my bookclub through Cuidiu Cork (Irish Childbirth Trust). However, now that weve graduated from the smallies stage, weve decided to call ourselves Cui-DONE Book Club!

Entertain or be entertained? If its the latter, do you have a signature dish?

While I would never say no to an evening out at one of the many brilliant eateries in Cork city and county  and someone else doing the washing up  I do love to host.

During the summer, weve been having lots of fun with the BBQ, but my signature dish is a real Irish Mammy dinner: Roast chicken with potatoes and veg.

We have so many places to eat out in Cork: Where are your go to spots for coffee/lunch/special meal?

Such a variety of wonderful restaurants, growers, and makers in Cork  and, in particular, on MacCurtain Street. My favourite spot changes according to the day, the meal, and position of the sun! Favourites in the VQ for coffee and lunch include Cork Coffee Roasters, Isaacs Restaurant, and Five Points. For a really special meal, I like to head east to either Ballymaloe House or The Cush in Ballycotton.

Sunday night comes around too fast.. how do you normally spend it?

Sunday night, we might extend the weekend with an early evening trip to the cinema. Its a guilty pleasure. Alternatively, we invite family around for a Sunday roast. This is followed then by necessary panic/preparation for the week to come.

What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?

If Im not awake beforehand, then Mondays alarm is at 7am.

Anything else you are up to right now...

Together with the rest of The Everyman team, Im putting the final touches on our autumn-engagement activities for the autumn winter brochure.

As well as Culture Night, were getting ready for two youth programmes of weekly drama workshops  Theatre Making and Citizenship Cork (15  18 years) and Everyman Young Company (18  25 years).

Our post-show talk calendar is filling up with opportunities to meet the cast and creative teams behind The Steward of Christendom, Solar Bones, to name a few.

I am lucky to hold the position of creative associate to the Arts Council and am working with two East Cork schools  Walterstown National School, Cobh and Scoil Realt na Mara, Ballycotton  on their plans to place art at the heart of school life. Its challenging and exciting.

I completed a leadership and drama facilitation course with Youth Theatre Ireland this year. Results are out soon.
Osmania University (OU) is again witnessing protests on its premises in front of its Vice-Chancellor's building, today, September 17. Hostel facilities have been a concern at Osmania for quite some time now and on and off protests have been staged on the premises of the campus. This time, the first-year students are protesting after they learnt that from their second year onwards, they would be shifted from the new Centenary building to the old building of the Ladies Hostel Complex. It may be noted that the old building is usually assigned to second-year students. They are also protesting because they have only two to three days to evacuate their rooms.

What the students have to say

When we took our admissions, this new building is the one we saw. Now shifting to the old building which already has so many issues is not something we are okay with, says Jadala Sandhya, a first-year student of Journalism and adds, It was the same hostel where we recently had the issue where students found glass bangle piece in food.

The students are also demanding an extension for their lodging at the hostel for another month so that they can attempt their Group 1 exam of Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC). Officials, however, find this demand unreasonable as such norms never existed in the university and an extension would require extra funding which is not how the University works.

Official's point of view

We run on government funding and it costs us about a lakh per day. Providing these students hostel extension for competitive exams does not fall in the domain of our duties, says Director of womens hostels Dr Hima Bindu. She goes on to add, The students have to pay only Rs 1,600 or Rs 1,700 rupees a month and that covers all the facilities they get here. We try to give the best that we can within the capacity of our budget.

Although Dr Bindu acknowledges that things arent always perfect, she also insists that students can get unreasonable with their demands at times. She refers to the bangle glasses in the food issue, which she shared pictures of with EdexLive, to say, There was one bangle piece that we found in the food and that was immediately catered to by providing fresh food but the students exaggerated it with pictures of food plates containing so many pieces of glass bangles. How is that even possible?

Further, when asked about students being reluctant about shifting hostels she says, Initially, they were unwilling to shift to the new building because it is a little far off, students staged protests for that as well. Now they dont want to shift to the main old building. How would we keep up with all the demands like this?

Other demands of the students

The first-year students completed their exams on September 15 and were asked to evacuate their rooms within the next two or three days. This has also been difficult for a couple of students and they demand a few days of extension to be able to make different arrangements. We demand at least a five-day extension because we cannot immediately arrange for accommodation outside. Also, we are not economically that well off to afford hostels outside, says another first-year journalism student on the condition of anonymity.

Additionally, as the protests continue, the official alludes that these protests might have a different agenda, There are a lot of internal politics on the campus that instigate these protests. Few male student leaders have a personal grievance because we refused their request of having boarders from outside the university, adds the Director of the womens hostel.

Despite what the officials have to say, the issue of food and hygiene is pertinent and has been a constant issue on the Osmania campus. Most of the students agree that the food quality could be better.
A recent survey has revealed that American voters consider the US is divided, and Joe Biden has a hand in that outcome. Many see him as the source of division, and one out of five see him as the uniter, not the disrupter that began when he entered office.

Most Americans Are Dissatisfied

According to a recent survey, 58.7% of American voters believe that US President Joe Biden has split instead of united the country during his tenure as president, reported RT.

This comes at a time when he struggles with low popularity ratings and after he accused his political adversaries of jeopardizing "democracy" itself when it was him doing it.

The poll, commissioned by the Convention of States and published on Wednesday, discovered that 58.7% of Americans feel the POTUS had already polarized the country, even as 20.6% assume he has helped bring it together. 20.7% are quite unsure, noted GenX Newz.

Breitbart, which acquired the new survey results next, disclosed that although 64.1% of independent voters and 92.8% of Republicans say the US is divided, 43.6% of Dems presume he has accomplished his campaign pledge to be "a prez for all Americans."

However, a different Trafalgar survey released Monday demonstrates that 39.3% of individuals endorsed Biden, even as 54.8% rejected him. Even though the prominence of the US president differs from survey to survey, the numbers have steadily declined over the previous year, citing the Good Word News.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Net Worth 2022: Does Anyone Know Russian President's Hidden Wealth?

Based on a Yahoo News and YouGov study questionnaire earlier in the month, more than 60% of Americans, which includes roughly half of Democrats, genuinely think that the US is "on the wrong course."

Biden's Performance

Many who were queried about Biden's efficiency said they disapproved of how he managed critical issues, such as the economy, racial issues, firearms, crime, global warming, abortion, and health-care issues.

In light of this, he gave a ferocious speech in Philadelphia at the beginning of the month, asserting that erstwhile President Donald Trump and the MAGA Republican voters "reflect a radicalization that endangers the very underpinnings of our democracy."

The 46th president began his attack on Donald Trump by branding his MAGA supporters as "semi-fascists" because they don't recognize him as the legitimate president, which enrages him. When criticized, he used words like "deny" and "violent" and called his detractors "haters of democracy" by those who disagreed with him.

Blowback for the ill-advised attempt to muddle the political waters only gelled more opposition. Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel took the time to take a shot at him. She claimed that he said things that were abhorrent to the other half of the nation. According to Trafalgar, 56.8% of voters did believe it was intended "to incite discord among Americans."

In a separate survey, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Tuesday that nearly half of San Franciscans had encountered theft in the past five years, and almost a quarter had experienced serious violence or threats, per YRT News.

The statistics indicate that 24% of survey participants have encountered violence or are at risk of it, even as 45% of participants have faced theft. A new survey shows how many respondents feel the US is divided due to the president acting not as an agent of unity but as his campaign vow.

Related article: US Strategic Petroleum Reserve Might Be Refilled If Oil Prices Fall Below $80 per Barrel

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Department of Justice has asked a US federal judge to participate in the upcoming appeals case between Epic and Apple, according to court documents seen by Reuters . The companies will return to court next month to argue over the outcome of their 2020 antitrust case.

The Justice Department filed a brief to enter the case at the start of the year. The agency said it was concerned that Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers had improperly interpreted US antitrust law. In 2019, reports surfaced that the DOJ was preparing to launch a probe of Apples business practices. A decision to uphold the company's win over Epic could limit the DOJs ability to sue it for antitrust violations.

"The United States believes that its participation at oral argument would be helpful to the court, especially in explaining how the errors (in antitrust law interpretation) could significantly harm antitrust enforcement beyond the specific context of this case," the Justice Department wrote on Friday.

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The agency has asked for 10 minutes of the courts time. Neither side is against the Justice Departments involvement, though Apple has requested that the DOJs argument time count against Epics total time allotment or that the court extends the proceedings.
Russian FM Sergey Lavrov will attend UN meetings after Washington ordered a visa for him after a long wait. The top Russian diplomat informed that he'd be part of 20 bilateral meetings while in New York.

Lavrov To Represent Moscow in the United Nations

FM Lavrov will have a busy schedule for the upcoming UN General Assembly, according to his ministry, reported RT.

Before this week, it was uncertain whether he would be able to attend the international event because the US could decide not to grant him a visa at any time.

At one briefing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova outlined the senior Russian diplomat's tentative schedule during one briefing on Thursday, noted Posts of Asia.

She said he would speak at the UN and attend a BRICS and Economic Club meeting, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Before receiving the visa, it was uncertain whether he would attend the 77th UN General Assembly.

According to Moscow, the US did not issue the Russian FM a visa until almost just a few days before the event, despite it having brought to bear personal punitive measures on him.

US Slammed for Blocking Attendance at the UN

Zakharova chided the United States for using what she considered a sneaky tactic. By trying to invent visa rules and making logistical challenges for entry to the UN headquarters in New York, she asserted that Washington discredits its position as the host.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Children: Does Russia's President Have Kids?

The US has a history of barring undesirable foreign politicians from participating in UN events.

A new instance occurred in January 2020 when the US rejected Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's then-foreign minister, for a visa. In the month when the US assassinated Iranian General Qassem Suleimani, and he sought to personally lambast it at a UN Security Council meeting,

The US was mandated to provide access to foreign representatives "as quickly as possible" under the terms of the 1947 agreement on hosting the UN headquarters. However, the US is adamant that it has the authority to refuse visas for security reasons and international policy.

The UNGA will start on Friday and run through September 26. The major parts of the key events are planned for the next week.

Russian spokeswoman stated that one of the goals of the Russian delegation is to make use of the opportunity to share their opinions on topics they believe to be crucial. Moscow plans to call for the reduction and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, speak against the militarization of space, promote the idea of establishing global rules for the use of cyberspace and denounce attempts to glorify Nazism, Zakharova stated.

Zakharova makes it clear Moscow seeks to endorse the reduction and non-proliferation of WMD, speak out against the militarization of space, back the idea of establishing universal guidelines for the use of cyberspace, and repudiate any attempts to glamorize Nazi ideology. Despite becoming subject to US sanctions, the Russian foreign minister will be allowed to visit New York, per Good Word News.

The Russian FM Lavrov got the US visa to attend the UN meetings, but as Zakharova said, Washington is playing a really twisted game.

Related Article: Russian Foreign Minister Says the Kremlin Wants To End US-World Domination that Allegedly Violates International Law

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The next time you build a gaming PC, you probably won't be adding an EVGA GPU to your list of possible components. The company, which is best known for manufacturing NVIDIA GeForce-based video cards, is getting out of the GPU-making business. As Tom's Hardware and Ars Technica report, company CEO Andrew Han sat down with YouTubers JayZTwoCents and Gamers Nexus in a closed-door interview to reveal EVGA's decision. He also talked about his grievances with NVIDIA.

Han told the YouTubers that NVIDIA had stopped treating EVGA as a true partner over the years despite their history. NVIDIA had allegedly stopped informing EVGA about new product announcements and important information, such as suggested retail pricing and availability. That left add-in board partners like EVGA to find out details about the latest products on stage, the same time we all do. Further, NVIDIA's first-party Founders Edition cards undercut the prices of their counterparts from EVGA and other partners, forcing the vendors to mark down their prices.

EVGA, Han said, will continue selling cards based on older GeForce GPUs like the RTX 3000 series. After it runs out of stock, though, that's it  the company has no plans to team up with NVIDIA rivals AMD or Intel. EVGA has been selling other computer components and accessories, such as power supplies and gaming mice, for a while now. But according to Gamers Nexus, 80 percent of the company's revenue comes from GeForce sales, so this decision could put the company's very existence in jeopardy. When the YouTuber commented that this must have been a difficult decision to make, the CEO reportedly replied that this was easy and it was working with NVIDIA that was hard.

In its forums, EVGA has posted the following statement:

EVGA will not carry the next generation graphics cards. EVGA will continue to support the existing current generation products. EVGA will continue to provide the current generation products. EVGA is committed to our customers and will continue to offer sales and support on the current lineup. Also, EVGA would like to say thank you to our great community for the many years of support and enthusiasm for EVGA graphics cards.

As for NVIDIA, Bryan Del Rizzo, the director of global public relations for GeForce, told Tom's Hardware:
In August, LastPass had admitted that an "unauthorized party" gained entry into its system. Any news about a password manager getting hacked can be alarming, but the company is now reassuring its users that their logins and other information weren't compromised in the event.

In his latest update about the incident, LastPass CEO Karim Toubba said that the company's investigation with cybersecurity firm Mandiant has revealed that the bad actor had internal access to its systems for four days. They were able to steal some of the password manager's source code and technical information, but their access was limited to the service's development environment that isn't connected to customers' data and encrypted vaults. Further, Toubba pointed out that LastPass has no access to users' master passwords, which are needed to decrypt their vaults.

The CEO said there's no evidence that this incident "involved any access to customer data or encrypted password vaults." They also found no evidence of unauthorized access beyond those four days and of any traces that the hacker injected the systems with malicious code. Toubba explained that the bad actor was able to infiltrate the service's systems by compromising a developer's endpoint. The hacker then impersonated the developer "once the developer had successfully authenticated using multi-factor authentication."

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Back in 2015, LastPass suffered a security breach that compromised users' email addresses, authentication hashes, password reminders and other information. A similar breach would be more devastating today, now that the service supposedly has over 33 million registered customers. While, LastPass isn't asking users to do anything to keep their data safe this time, it's always good practice not to reuse passwords and to switch on multi-factor authentication.
Tesla has crossed another significant manufacturing milestone. As caught by Electrek , the automaker shared on Saturday that its Texas Gigafactory recently produced its ten thousandth Model Y SUV . The achievement could be good news for those hoping to buy a Cybertruck next year. Tesla plans to build the pickup truck primarily in Texas. The automaker initially expected to begin volume production in 2021 but then delayed the Cybertruck to 2022 and then 2023 .

10,000 Model Ys built at Giga Texas to date pic.twitter.com/4cOlnpCRa0  Tesla (@Tesla) September 17, 2022

According to multiple reports , one of the reasons Teslas next EV hasnt arrived yet is due to a bottleneck related to the companys next-generation 4680 battery cells . In 2020, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the technology would lead to electric vehicles that cost less than cars with combustion engines. At that point, however, Tesla and battery partner Panasonic had yet to produce the cells at scale, and it was only this past June that they looked ready for a production surge .
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Speed limit reduction to go into effect on section of MT 82 between Bigfork and Somers
The prime minister has sacked Zac Goldsmith as an environment minister and told him he will no longer be attending the cabinet.

The Conservative peer has been stripped of his brief overseeing animal welfare at Defra by Liz Truss, the new prime minister.

In a farewell letter to Defra staff, published on social media, Mr Goldsmith said he was 'very sad' to be leaving after a 'whirlwind' three years.

My thank you letter to colleagues in ?@DefraGovUK? as I shift to the @FCDO. It has been a privilege working with you.https://t.co/IRaoF3rBRX pic.twitter.com/vFMmTm6vju  Zac Goldsmith (@ZacGoldsmith) September 16, 2022

A close ally of former prime minister Boris Johnson, the peer listed his achievements, including in forestry, plastic pollution and the oceans.

We have so much more to do to turn the tide here. The UK is, after all, one of the worlds most nature-depleted countries," he said.

"But if Defra continues to get the backing you need and deserve across government, you can and you will turn the tide.

It comes after Ranil Jayawardena was appointed the new Defra Secretary earlier this month following a reshuffle PM Truss.

Responding to his new role, Mr Jayawardena said it was a 'privilege' to be appointed the Secretary of State for Defra.

"From food security and backing British farmers, to water security and growing our rural economy, I know that there is much to do," he said, adding that it was also important to recognise where food came from.

"I recently met local farmers with the NFU, to discuss the governments support for British farming and the export growth ahead."

Meanwhile, former Chief Whip Mark Spencer was appointed Defra Minister of State, replacing Victoria Prentis who was in the role for over two years.
Tehran has started the path to be part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a full member after having observer status in the body. Iran has finally been inducted as part of the non-EU bloc after signing a memorandum and adding to the Russia and China lead organization.

Eastern Nations Challenge Washington, Its Allies

The Middle Eastern country that the US has long aimed to destroy through diplomatic solitude and trade embargoes became the organization's ninth member last Thursday, reported RT.

Moscow and Beijing are the SCO's heavyweights and superpowers, and they are gaining ground on a terrified Washington that is fearful of losing ground.

It was first established in 2001 to function as an alternative intragovernmental forum aimed at fostering trust and developing economic and humanitarian ties in Asia, noted Telesur.

The eastern bloc comprises eight countries: China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan hosts the annual summit of the member states' leaders.

For the record, Iran has been an SCO observer since 2005. President Ebrahim Raisi, who met with senior Uzbek officials on Wednesday, is responsible for its delegation to the summit.

According to the foreign ministry of the host nation, the document was executed by Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Zhang Ming and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

It describes in detail the commitments Tehran will take on to participate in the SCO, citing Social News XYZ.

In the last week, Yury Ushakov, a foreign policy adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, recommended that Iran could be qualified for full membership after observer status even before the SCO summit in India the very next year.

Read Also: Kim Jong-un Net Worth 2022: How Wealthy Is North Korea's Leader?

Shanghai Cooperation Organization Is Fast Growing

Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the president of Uzbekistan, hailed this year's event as a pivotal moment for the collective.

He emphasized the size of the group, which collectively accounts for about half of the world's population and a quarter of its gross domestic product. Its size surpasses the EU's, and all of its assets exceed those of the west.

Belarus, another group member, will be admitted as a full member in 2022. Last Wednesday, Qatar and Egypt became dialogue partners, adding more Middle Eastern nations to the list.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Myanmar, and the Maldives are all expected to join the SCO. These members, unlike the EU, have oil and gas resources that the US and EU want to control, but that will not happen if the SCO acts as a stronger bloc.

SCO To Accept More Members Soon

At the forthcoming summit, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will expand with the entry of Iran and Belarus, based on the president of Uzbekistan, remarked President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, per Thread Times.

In a story published on his official site on Monday, Mirziyoyev expressed optimism that the occasion set for September 15-16 will "underline the beginning of a new stage" in the organization's history.

Tehran is set to become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) after observer status next year, after Belarus.

Related Article: BRICS President Says Russia and India Have No Need for US Dollar After Payment Mechanism

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Scottsdale, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - September 16, 2022) - Adagio Healthcare Consulting Group (Adagio) is now working to enhance patient care and improve healthcare administration in the Scottsdale, Arizona, area. The healthcare consulting firm, founded by Dr. Alena Fuchs DHA, MSN, RN, recently opened its new office and is now meeting with leaders of hospitals, government agencies, long-term care facilities, clinics, and medical groups to help strengthen HR, staffing, management, business strategy, and EMR technology selection and implementation.

Adagio states that while Dr. Fuchs initially considered establishing a location in other cities, including Las Vegas or Phoenix, Scottsdale presented the right combination of factors, including population growth and proximity to medical facilities. The city has several large clinics and hospitals, including the Mayo Clinic, Banner, and Honor Health. In Phoenix, which is only thirteen miles from Scottsdale, the Mayo Clinic of North Phoenix is in the process of expanding its patient-centered model of care and development of a transformative biotechnology corridor.

"We decided that Scottsdale would be the right location for us to open our doors and continue on our mission to improve how medical professionals are recruited, hired, and retained," says Adagio. "With our decades of consulting expertise in everything from healthcare to management, we feel ready to cultivate opportunities in Scottsdale and beyond."

Adagio will prioritize working with regional healthcare clients to find solutions to staffing shortages often experienced at medical facilities. "We also would like to help reduce the need for traveling nurses and to assist our clients with attracting and retaining more long-term staff," Adagio says.

The company remains focused on improving patient care and streamlining healthcare administration. "Our main goals are to pinpoint any issues our clients may be having and to create detailed, actionable plans to solve them," Adagio states. "By optimizing their operations, we aim to help everyone - including doctors, patients, and staff - to experience the benefits of a medical facility that operates to its fullest potential."

Adagio Healthcare Consulting Group was founded by Dr. Alena Fuchs DHA, MSN, RN to help transform America's healthcare industry. Adagio's team of industry professionals are working to improve daily processes for doctors, patients, and intermediaries. Through strategic changes, Adagio is eliminating outdated procedures from medical facilities and improving the overall care of patients.

For more information about Adagio Healthcare Consulting Group, please contact:

Adagio Healthcare Consulting Group

alenafuchs@adagioconsultinggroup.com

(775) 557-7791

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/137544
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 16, 2022) - Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc. (CSE: VEGI) (OTCQB: VGGIF) (FSE: 77i) ("Boosh" or the "Company") a premier plant-based brand in the "better for you" food sector, is pleased to announce that it intends to conduct a non-brokered private placement (the "Financing") of 10% secured convertible debentures (the "Convertible Debentures") for total gross proceeds of up to $250,000 (Canadian).

The net proceeds of the Financing will be used for working capital. The Financing of the Convertible Debentures is anticipated to close on or before September 20, 2022 (the "Closing"). It is anticipated that one arm's length subscriber will acquire all of the Convertible Debentures.

The Convertible Debentures will bear interest at 10% per annum, calculated in Canadian dollars, from the date of issuance, payable in arrears quarterly during the first year of the Convertible Debenture term and monthly thereafter and upon maturity or redemption. The Convertible Debentures will mature on the date that is two (2) years from the date of issuance (the "Maturity Date"). The Convertible Debentures will be secured by a general security interest over the Company's assets.

The Convertible Debentures are convertible into common shares ("Common Shares"), at the holder's option, at a price of $0.075 per Common Share (the "Conversion Price"), subject to adjustment in certain events, at any time prior to the Maturity Date.

The Company may redeem, in cash, any or all of the Convertible Debentures at any time prior to the Maturity Date upon not less than five business days prior written notice for an amount equal to the principal amount of the Convertible Debentures plus accrued interest.

No finder's fees are payable in connection with the Financing. The Convertible Debentures and the Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring on the date that is four months and one day after Closing.

The securities of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirement of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. 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.

The Company continues to work with its auditors to complete the audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements and expects to file the Documents by September 29, 2022.

Connie Marples

Founder/President

connie@booshfood.com

Telephone: 778 840 1700

www.Booshfood.com

About Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc.:

Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Boosh Food (www.booshfood.com), offers high quality, non-GMO, gluten free, 100% plant-based nutritional comfort foods for the whole family. Through a separate subsidiary, Beautiful Beanfields, the Company owns Beanfields, a plant-based chip brand sold in over 7,000 stores throughout North America. Boosh, good for you and good for planet earth.

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Company's expectations concerning the size of the Financing, its ability to close the Financing in whole or in part or at all and its plan for the proceeds of the Financing. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/137548
ANKARA, Turkey, Sept. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 1, J.D. Power, a world-renowned market consulting and research company, released the 2022 China Initial Quality Study (IQS). According to the study, Chery ranked 9th among mainstream brands including GAC Honda, FAW Toyota, Buick, and SAIC Volkswagen. Chery ARRIZO 6 PRO, TIGGO 8 PRO MAX and many other vehicle models ranked first and second in several market segments. The steady improvement of "internal strengths" has promoted the continuous enhancement of product competitiveness and become the internal driving force of growth for vehicle sales of Chery Group.





Initial Quality Study (IQS) is mainly measured by the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) by car owners with 2-6 months of ownership, with a lower score reflecting less problems and higher quality. The 2022 China Initial Quality Study (IQS) is based on the real feedback obtained from 34,914 car owners who purchased cars between June 2021 and March 2022, which covers a total of 247 models from 56 brands.

According to the Initial Quality Study (IQS) this year, Chery brands improve their rankings among the mainstream brands by two places compared to that of last year; Chery's ARRIZO 6 PRO surpasses many competitors and ranks No. 1 in the medium-sized SUV segment; TIGGO 8 PRO MAX ranks No.2 in the most competitive medium-sized SUV segment of the auto industry, while TIGGO 4 PRO ranks third among the mini-SUV segment.

The significant improvement in the quality and performance of Chery Group's products has led to a sustained increase in market competitiveness, driving the Group's sales in a fast track for growth. In the past August, Chery Group achieves a sales volume of 141,767, an increase of 111% year on year, achieving the "doubling" of sales year on year.

From January to August, the sales volume of Tiggo 8 and Tiggo 7 series both exceeded 100,000, contributing a global sales volume of 117,700 and 100,700 respectively, which were appreciated in both domestic and overseas markets.

According to news in the market, Tech Chery 3 SUVs have arrived in Turkey. If the quality can be completely accepted by customers as in China, then there will be good prospects in the future.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1901205/Chery_chart.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tech-chery-ranks-among-the-top-10-for-mainstream-brands-according-to-jd-power-to-facilitate-another-breakthrough-in-global-sales-301626579.html
According to two local leaders who are speaking out against President Vladimir Putin, Russia's military setbacks in its conflict with Ukraine are igniting fresh resistance to him.

The failure to achieve an immediate triumph, the failure to capture Kyiv, and now the effective counteroffensives by Ukraine while Russia has suffered such heavy losses in personnel and material have sparked resentment and discontent that Putin's adversaries are attempting to capitalize on.

Local Russian Lawmakers Urge Putin To Resign

Liberals like him opposed the invasion of Ukraine for ethical and legal reasons, but local lawmaker Dmitry Palyuga in St. Petersburg told CNN that he now saw a chance to win over more people. Opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who has been one of his fiercest critics, was first poisoned and then imprisoned.

Boris Nemtsov, a different political rival, was shot in the back by as-yet-unidentified hitmen. Vladimir Kara-Murza, a writer and politician, is incarcerated after speaking out against the invasion of Ukraine. He is a victim of the Kremlin's growing control over free speech following the start of what it terms a "special military operation" rather than a war.

Palyuga claimed that Putin's most recent detractors are taking great care to adhere to the text of the law. Ksenia Thorstrom, a local councilor or municipal representative in St. Petersburg, agreed with that strategy.

Thorstrom distributed her own version of Palyuga's petition to other legislators, and she now claims to have dozens of signatures. She claimed that the military issues in Ukraine were not the only ones affecting Russia.

Read Also: Xi Jinping Is All Set To Hold Meeting with Vladimir Putin in Uzbekistan; Will Russia, China Discuss War Against US?

Putin's Allies Drink Excessively Amid Tension in Ukraine War

Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin is reportedly concerned that numerous of his advisers and important political allies have started drinking excessively since his invasion of Ukraine.

Russian independent media source Meduza stated that Putin is particularly bothered by heavy drinking among "some persons from his inner circle," as Kremlin elites go for the bottle in vain attempts to soothe their worries.

It is said that senior officials are abusing alcohol to such an extent that discipline has collapsed, with some slurring their remarks in public and arriving late to significant events.

Per Daily Mail, rather than terminating the violators right away, the warmonger will continue to "suggest" that he wants their behavior to improve. He nevertheless made his unhappiness about the drinking known by lecturing two gullible regional governors on the necessity of combating alcoholism in their areas.

Although neither governor thought that drunkenness was rife in their own regions, it was Putin's way of making the problem known to his staff. Putin gave a video link lecture to Alexander Avdeyev, the governor of the Vladimir region, advising him to take action about the territory's "increasing problem with alcoholism."

Instead, men should be the focus of "healthy lifestyle marketing. Develop infrastructure for people to exercise and give cultural organizations the attention they deserve," the bewildered regional administrator was told.

Related Article: Ukraine War: Volodymyr Zelensky Slams Russia Over Devastation in Cities, Promises To Lead Nation to Victory

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Q: On August 19, US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said in his interview with CNN that China overreacted to House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan, and that China has now become an agent of instability in the Taiwan Strait and manufactured the crisis in China-US relations. He also mentioned that Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng summoned him after the plane carrying Pelosi landed in Taiwan. The meeting was quite contentious, he noted. What is Chinas comment?

A: The remarks of Ambassador Burns confound right with wrong and once again show the USs distorted and hegemonic logic.

Before US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis provocative visit to Chinas Taiwan region, the Chinese side made serious demarches to the US side at various levels to repeatedly tell the US the grave nature and serious harm of the visit and make it clear that all consequences arising therefrom should be borne by the US side. It would be unfair to say that the US had not been warned about the consequences if the visit took place.

Right after Pelosis arrival in Taiwan, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Xie Feng urgently summoned Ambassador Burns to make serious demarche and strong protest to the US side on behalf of the Chinese government. He pointed out that the US insisted on following through its wrong decision and must pay the price for it. He also urged the US to immediately redress the mistake by taking concrete actions to undo the egregious impact of Pelosis visit.

However, instead of reflecting on its wrongdoing and changing course, the US has sought to deflect the blame on China. Several senior US officials have made public statements one after another that mischaracterized the course of events. They sought to explain away the USs responsibility for escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait and depict China as the guilty party.

On the night of August 8, Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng summoned Ambassador Burns once again to make serious demarche over the USs reckless remarks on Chinas countermeasures against Pelosis provocative visit to Taiwan. He made it clear that it is the US, not China, that started the crisis; it is the US, not China, that has changed the status quo across the Taiwan Strait; it is the US, not China, that has undermined cross-Strait peace and stability; it is the US, not China, that has been flexing muscles across the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific; it is the US, not China, that has been wielding the big stick of sanction and bullying the world; it is the US, not China, that has shaken the political foundation of China-US relations and shown no sincerity at all about communication; and it is the US, not China, that has sabotaged China-US cooperation.

The Chinese side pointed to the plain fact that it is the US that made provocations first, imposed an avoidable crisis on the Chinese people, and yet falsely accused China of starting the crisis; it is the US that has applied the salami-slicing tactics to repeatedly cross the red line and undermine the one-China principle and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and yet falsely accused China of changing the status quo; it is the US that has been conducting gunboat diplomacy at Chinas doorstep, and yet sought to stigmatize and demonize Chinas legitimate, lawful, professional and transparent military drills; it is the US that has been undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and yet it tries to shift the blame for making provocations and escalating tensions onto China; it is the US that blatantly infringed on Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity and trampled on Chinas red line, yet it falsely accused China of overreacting and manufacturing the crisis. What the US has done has completely gone over the line. It is not China that is being irresponsible. It is Pelosi and the US government that are being extremely irresponsible.

I want to reiterate that the one-China principle is at the heart of Chinas core interests. No country, force or individual shall ever underestimate the firm resolve, staunch will and strong capability of the Chinese Government and people to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity and to achieve national reunification and rejuvenation. China once again urges the US side to abide by the basic norms of international relations including respecting other countries sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in others internal affairs, return to the right path of the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiques and stop doing anything that undermines Chinas core interests.
On the afternoon of 14 September local time, President Xi Jinping arrived in Nur-Sultan on the special plane and began his state visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan.

He was warmly received by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan accompanied by senior Kazakh officials including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi and Mayor of Nur-Sultan Altai Kulginov at the airport. Some 70 ceremonial guards stood in two ranks saluting the leaders as the military band played a fanfare. Two beautifully dressed Kazakh girls, with flowers in their hands, welcomed the arrival of President Xi.

President Xi issued a written address, in which he extended, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, sincere greetings and best wishes to the Kazakh government and people. He pointed out that China and Kazakhstan, connected by mountains and rivers, are good neighbors, good friends and good partners with a shared future. Over the past 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-Kazakhstan relations have progressed by leaps and bounds and reached the high level of permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. He noted that, during the visit, he will hold talks with President Tokayev to jointly chart a new blueprint for all-round China-Kazakhstan cooperation. He also expressed his confidence that this visit will inject fresh and strong impetus into the common development and prosperity of both countries.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and other accompanying officials arrived on the same plane.

Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Zhang Xiao also came to the airport to receive the delegation.

The golden autumn brought fair winds and wispy clouds to the city of Nur-Sultan. On the flagpoles lining the streets, five-starred red flags were flying high. Accompanied by a motorcycle escort, the state guest motorcade of President Xi arrived at the Ak Orda Presidential Palace. He was warmly received by President Tokayev as he exited the car. The two heads of state then proceeded together to the main hall of the Presidential Palace.

In the brightly lit, elegant and august main hall, ceremonial guards stood tall and straight.

President Tokayev held a grand welcome ceremony for President Xi. The two heads of state jointly stood on the podium as the military band played the national anthems of China and Kazakhstan. Accompanied by President Tokayev, President Xi inspected the honor guard.

After the welcome ceremony, President Tokayev invited President Xi to an art exhibition titled Kazakhstan-China: A Dialogue Across Millennium. On display were Chinese and Kazakh art treasures from the State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The exquisite Chinese paintings and porcelains and the Kazakh silks and ceramics are vivid testaments to the mutual learning between the splendid Chinese and Kazakh civilizations over the millennium. They also bear historical witness to the friendly exchanges between generations of Chinese and Kazakh people.

The two Presidents held formal talks.

President Xi pointed out that over the past three decades since China and Kazakhstan established diplomatic ties, the bilateral relationship has stood the test of the changing international landscape, achieving greater substance, higher levels and more fruitful outcomes. The two countries have created many firsts in their relations, including the first in settling the boundary question, the first in laying cross-border oil and gas pipelines, the first in conducting international production capacity cooperation and the first in building a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. China highly values its relations with Kazakhstan, and firmly supports Kazakhstan in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in taking reform measures to preserve national stability and development. China will always be a trustworthy and reliable friend and partner of Kazakhstan. China is ready to work with Kazakhstan in firmly supporting each others development and rejuvenation, and helping each other achieve development and prosperity. The unbreakable friendship between China and Kazakhstan will contribute to the growth of positive and progressive forces in the world and to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

President Xi stressed that China-Kazakhstan cooperation enjoys a solid foundation, huge potential and broad prospects. The two sides should make good use of the existing mechanisms such as the regular Prime Ministers Meetings and the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee to synergize development strategies, leverage each others comparative strengths and bring bilateral cooperation to a new scale and new level. It is important that the two sides work together for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, boost cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, production capacity, connectivity and COVID-19 response, and expand innovation cooperation in such fields as big data, artificial intelligence, digital finance, cross-border e-commerce, green energy and green infrastructure. The two sides need to forge closer people-to-people ties and promote friendly exchanges and mutual understanding between their peoples.

President Xi underscored that China supports Central Asian countries in safeguarding political security and social stability and in enhancing cooperation for integration. China will maintain close communication with Kazakhstan to properly handle various new problems and new challenges, oppose external forces interference in the affairs of Central Asian countries, and jointly uphold lasting stability and security in the region. The two sides need to enhance cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the SCO, CICA and China+Central Asia, and jointly support efforts for a successful SCO Samarkand Summit, in order to inject new impetus into the Organizations future development. The two sides should also step up international coordination, practice true multilateralism and contribute their shares to building a more just and equitable global governance system.

President Tokayev expressed warm congratulations to China on its great development achievements under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, and wished the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China a full success. President Tokayev said the fact that President Xi chooses to visit Kazakhstan on his first overseas trip since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of China-Kazakhstan diplomatic relations, fully reflects the high degree of mutual trust between the two countries and the high-level nature of the Kazakhstan-China permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides will sign a joint statement to demonstrate their firm commitment to another golden 30 years of Kazakhstan-China relations, which is of special and great significance in the current volatile and complex international environment. It is believed that President Xis visit will mark a new milestone in the history of Kazakhstan-China relations and bring new substance and impetus to the growth of the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Kazakhstan will continue to firmly uphold the one-China policy and be a good partner and good friend that China can always rely on under all circumstances. Next year will mark the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by President Xi. The BRI has become an important engine driving the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Kazakhstan will continue to actively support and participate in the BRI. President Tokayev expressed appreciation to China for the valuable support Kazakhstan had received in its battle against COVID-19 and pursuit of economic development. Kazakhstan hopes to better synergize development strategies with China, intensify exchanges at various levels, and deepen cooperation across the board including in economy and trade, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, science and technology, tourism and people-to-people engagements. Kazakhstan stands ready to work with China to implement the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative, enhance coordination and collaboration within frameworks such as the SCO, CICA and China+Central Asia, and jointly safeguard security and stability in the region and promote common development.

The two heads of state signed and issued the Joint Statement Between the Peoples Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, and announced that China and Kazakhstan will work for the goal and vision of building a community with a shared future defined by lasting friendship, a high degree of mutual trust and sharing weal and woe.

Relevant departments of the two sides signed bilateral cooperation documents in such areas as economy and trade, connectivity, finance, water conservancy and the media. The two sides decided to set up consulates general in Xian and Aktobe respectively.

After the talks, President Xi attended the welcoming banquet hosted by President Tokayev, and the two leaders had an in-depth exchange of views on issues of shared interest.

After the banquet, President Xi concluded his state visit to Kazakhstan and left Nur-Sultan for Samarkand on the special plane. He was seen off at the airport by President Tokayev and other senior Kazakh officials.

President Tokayev said that President Xis visit, albeit a short one, is highly productive and fruitful. The two leaders reached much important consensus, which will steer Kazakhstan-China relations to an even higher level. President Xi pointed out that his visit is a new starting point for bilateral relations and believed that with the joint efforts of the two sides, China-Kazakhstan relations will enjoy greater development in the future. The two heads of state agreed to keep in close contact through various means.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and other officials attended the relevant events.




On the morning of September 15 local time, President Xi Jinping met with Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhamedov at Forumlar Majmuasi Complex in Samarkand.

President Xi Jinping said that since China and Turkmenistan established diplomatic relations 30 years ago, the two countries have enjoyed sustained, sound and steady growth of bilateral relations, and the strategic partnership has reached a high level. China always views China-Turkmenistan relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, respects Turkmenistans independently chosen development path that suits its own national conditions, and opposes any external interference in Turkmenistans internal affairs and process of stability and development. China will continue to work with Turkmenistan to firmly support each other, advance bilateral relations and deliver more benefits to the two peoples.

President Xi emphasized the need for the two sides to increase the size and scale of natural gas cooperation and inject new impetus into the development and revitalization of the two countries. He noted the need to accelerate cooperation in non-resource fields and to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Turkmenistans strategy to revive the Great Silk Road. The two sides need to deliver on mutually setting up cultural centers as soon as possible to provide a new platform for people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. The Chinese side is ready to set up a Luban workshop in Turkmenistan at an early date and continue to strengthen COVID response cooperation with Turkmenistan. The Chinese side is ready to strengthen cooperation with the Turkmen side within the China+Central Asia (C+C5) Meeting mechanism, implement the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative, enhance international coordination, uphold the converging interests of the developing countries, and contribute to world peace and development.

President Serdar Berdymukhamedov wished the 20th CPC National Congress a full success and expressed his conviction that under the wise leadership of President Xi Jinping, the 20th CPC National Congress will draw a blueprint for Chinas future development and guide China toward more great achievements. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and China 30 years ago, bilateral relations have developed smoothly and cooperation in various fields has been expanding. Turkmenistan highly values its strategic partnership with China, and is ready to further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China in various fields including economy and trade, natural gas, cross-border transportation, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Turkmenistan firmly supports the one-China principle and firmly supports China in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Turkmenistan supports a series of major initiatives put forward by China, which are conducive to maintaining international peace and security and achieving the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. Turkmenistan is ready to work with China to build stronger synergy between the BRI and Turkmenistans strategy to revive the Great Silk Road, and closely cooperate with China within multilateral frameworks of the United Nations, the C+C5 Meeting mechanism and so on.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and other officials attended the event.
On 15 September local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan in Samarkand. The two heads of state announced that, bearing in mind the long-term development of China-Uzbekistan relations and the future welfare of their people, the two countries will expand mutually beneficial cooperation, cement their friendship and partnership, and implement the vision of a community with a shared future at the bilateral level.

The meeting took place at the newly built International Conference Center, which was ingeniously designed and magnificent, on a refreshing autumn day as the sun shone brightly on Samarkand.

At 9:45 a.m. local time, President Xi arrived in a motorcade at the International Conference Center where he was warmly received by President Mirziyoyev as he exited the car. Accompanied by President Mirziyoyev, President Xi walked to the square outside the north entrance through the central hall featuring both traditional Uzbek patterns and modern design.

President Mirziyoyev held a grand welcome ceremony for President Xi. The two heads of state stood on the podium as the military band played the national anthems of China and Uzbekistan. Accompanied by President Mirziyoyev, President Xi inspected the honor guard. They introduced to each other their accompanying officials and watched the parade of the honor guard together.

Following the welcome ceremony, the two heads of state held official talks.

President Xi pointed out that over the past 30 years of their diplomatic relations, China and Uzbekistan have always respected each other, enjoyed good-neighborliness and worked in partnership for mutual benefits. They have kept deepening their strategic trust and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, fully promoted their lasting friendship and elevated China-Uzbekistan relations to the new height of a comprehensive strategic partnership, creating strong impetus for their common development and prosperity. As a good friend, a good partner and a good brother, China firmly supports Uzbekistan in following a development path compatible with its national conditions, supports its efforts to uphold national independence, sovereignty, security and social stability, and opposes interference by any forces in its internal affairs. China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to implement the vision of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future, deepen all-round cooperation for mutual benefit and jointly usher in a better future.

President Xi emphasized that China and Uzbekistan should firmly support each other on issues concerning sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and other core interests, move faster to synergize their development strategies and promote common development. The two sides need to accelerate the bilateral cooperation and make it even more fruitful. It is important to scale up cooperation on trade and investment, and step up collaboration on digital economy and green development. Uzbekistan is welcome to take an active part in the China International Import Expo to share in more of the development opportunities brought by Chinas massive market. China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to improve the trans-Eurasia transportation corridor and make an early start in constructing the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. The two sides need to expand energy cooperation, jointly ensure the safe operation of the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline and extend cooperation to new energy, with a view to fostering a new pattern of all-dimensional energy cooperation. The two sides need to promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in areas including education, culture, tourism, sub-national exchanges, environmental protection and archaeology. China supports and will actively take part in Uzbekistans initiative of year of culture and art between the people of Central Asian countries and China. The two sides also need to work together to speed up the establishment of culture centers in each others country and the building of a Luban Workshop, and communicate the facts of China-Uzbekistan friendship in the new era, so as to lay a solid public and societal foundation for the sustained and sound growth of China-Uzbekistan relations. Young people from Uzbekistan are welcome to study Chinese in China. The Chinese side will continue to carry out healthcare, vaccine and pharmaceutical cooperation with Uzbekistan, and support the building of vaccine production centers in Uzbekistan. The two sides need to enhance cooperation on poverty alleviation, and inspire and support each other in promoting growth and improving livelihoods.

President Xi pointed out that China and Central Asian countries have a shared future and a deep stake in each others security and stability. China is ready to work more closely with Uzbekistan to firmly oppose external interference in internal affairs, firmly safeguard domestic stability and firmly defend the security interests of the region. China appreciates Uzbekistans important contributions to the success of the SCO Samarkand Summit and is ready to work with Uzbekistan to promote the steady and sustained development of the SCO. China will work with Uzbekistan and other regional countries to strengthen the China Plus Central Asia meeting mechanism and open up broader space for the cooperation between China and Central Asian countries. China will also work with Uzbekistan to actively implement the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and Global Security Initiative (GSI), uphold the common interests of developing countries and contribute to building a more just and equitable international governance system.

President Mirziyoyev noted that under the wise leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has made remarkable achievements in its development and the friendly people of China are making firm strides toward realizing the Chinese Dream. He extended best wishes for a successful 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Noting that this year marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of strategic partnership between the two countries, President Mirziyoyev pointed out that President Xis historic state visit to Uzbekistan will certainly consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries, chart the course for future cooperation, and elevate the Uzbekistan-China comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height featuring new vitality and new prospect. China is a reliable friend and comprehensive strategic partner. Uzbekistan-China relations fully embody the principle of mutual respect, good-neighborliness and mutual benefit. Uzbekistan appreciates Chinas valuable support for its national development and fight against COVID-19. Uzbekistan is firmly and unequivocally committed to the one-China policy, and firmly supports Chinas position on matter concerning its core interests including those related to Taiwan and Xinjiang. Uzbekistan will always be trustworthy as well as a good neighbor, good friend and good partner for China. Uzbekistan would like to learn from Chinas poverty alleviation experience. It will continue participating actively in the Belt and Road cooperation, advance the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, and enhance cooperation with China in trade, investment, natural gas, new energy, agricultural infrastructure, culture, sub-national ties and people-to-people exchanges. Uzbekistan fully supports the GDI and the GSI, and appreciates Chinas strong support for Uzbekistans SCO Presidency. President Mirziyoyev also expressed readiness to work more closely with China in the SCO, China Plus Central Asia, and BRICS-plus mechanisms, to uphold the Shanghai Spirit and to jointly safeguard security and stability of the region.

Following the official talks, the two heads of state signed and issued the Joint Statement Between the Peoples Republic of China and the Republic of Uzbekistan. Relevant departments of the two governments signed multiple cooperation documents covering agriculture, digital economy, green development, culture, sub-national cooperation and media.

During the visit, Chinese, Kyrgyz and Uzbek officials signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding concerning cooperation on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway (the section in Kyrgyzstan).

After the official talks, President Mirziyoyev held a banquet for President Xi, during which they had an in-depth exchange of views on matters of shared interest.

Following the banquet, President Mirziyoyev invited President Xi to jointly plant an oak tree at the square outside the north entrance of the International Conference Center. Together, the two heads of state earthed up and watered the seedling. A symbol of longevity, the oak tree signifies that China-Uzbekistan friendship will thrive and endure.

President Xi pointed out that although this may not be a long visit, he had productive discussions with President Mirziyoyev and achieved fruitful outcomes. The world faces many new risks and challenges that require their collective response, according to President Xi. He expressed his readiness to stay in communication with President Mirziyoyev to promote sound growth of China-Uzbekistan relations.

Describing President Xi as his respected elder brother, President Mirziyoyev said he always benefits from their meetings. He noted the fruitful outcomes of this historic visit which would point the way for Uzbekistan-China relations and expressed his expectation to maintain close exchanges with President Xi.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi and He Lifeng were present at the relevant events.
On the morning of 16 September local time, President Xi Jinping met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at Forumlar Majmuasi Complex in Samarkand.

President Xi pointed out that China and Iran enjoy a longstanding friendship and that their relations have stood the test of a changing international landscape. To consolidate and grow the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries is the common strategic choice of both sides. China views its relations with Iran from a strategic and long-term perspective, and stands ready to increase strategic communication and coordination with Iran to push for new progress in bilateral ties.

President Xi underscored that China supports Iran in safeguarding its sovereignty and national dignity and will work with Iran to uphold the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and the common interests of developing countries. The two sides should make active efforts to implement their Comprehensive Cooperation Plan, advance Belt and Road cooperation, and strive for more deliverables of cooperation. Iran is welcome to join the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. China congratulates Iran on becoming a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and stands ready for closer coordination and cooperation with Iran within the SCO framework. China will continue to take a constructive part in the negotiations on resuming the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and support Iran in safeguarding its legitimate and lawful rights and interests.

President Raisi noted the profound tradition of friendship between Iran and China and the great strategic significance of the bilateral relationship. Iran is firmly committed to strengthening cooperation with China across the board and intensifying exchanges at various levels to further grow the Iran-China comprehensive strategic partnership. Iran is convinced that under the able leadership of President Xi, China will effectively safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and realize the great goal of building a modern country. Iran appreciates Chinas position of upholding fairness and justice in international affairs. With Iran becoming a full member of the SCO, Iran and China will be better able to step up cooperation within multilateral frameworks at both regional and international levels. Iran supports cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and is prepared to work more closely with China to uphold true multilateralism.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi and He Lifeng were present at the meeting.
A United States report claims that the Chinese military's lack of cross-training could be a major weakness that would hamper Beijing's ability to wage a war similar to what Russia has done with Ukraine.

The U.S. National Defense University's report identifies the issue as a possible Achilles' Heel within the People's Liberation Army (PLA). However, analysts remain wary of underestimating China's offensive capabilities and warn against comparisons with Russia's forces.

China Military's Weakness

The report also delved into the backgrounds of more than 300 of the PLA's top officers across its five services, army, navy, air force, rocket force, and strategic support force, in the six years leading up to 2021. The analysis found that in each service, leaders were unlikely to have operational experience in any branch other than the one they began their careers in.

This means that PLA soldiers stay soldiers, sailors stay sailors, and airmen stay airmen. It is extremely rare for them to venture outside of those silos, said the report, noting that it was a sharp contrast to the U.S. military, where cross-training has been a legal requirement since 1986, as per CNN.

The 73-page report continued by adding that this "rigidity could reduce China's effectiveness in future conflicts." This is particularly true in conflicts requiring high levels of joint-service action, and suggests PLA forces would become bogged down by the same sort of issues that have bedeviled their Russian counterparts in Ukraine, "where the overall cohesion of forces was low."

Read Also: Far-Right Swedish Party Wins Narrow Majority in Parliament in Historic Political Overhaul

Since the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, deficiencies in the Russian military structure have become obvious to outside observers. Recently, Ukraine staged a counteroffensive and was able to push back Moscow's forces as the latter lacked air cover, said analysts.

According to Reuters, the situation comes as Germany is observing China's military build-up and drills with Russia with concern while signaling its commitment to a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific with its growing presence in the area.

International Tensions

Currently, Germany is focusing on the Ukraine war but did not take its eyes off security developments elsewhere, whether that be on its doorstep in the west Balkans or in the Indo-Pacific. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said that they were naturally observing China's build-up with concern and are "observing very exactly every single step there."

Germany is increasingly joining other Western nations in showing more muscle in the Indo-Pacific region amid growing concern over Beijing's territorial ambitions. Berlin sent its first warship last year, the first in the last two decades, to the disputed waters of the South China Sea. This month, Beijing sent 13 military aircraft to join exercises in Australia.

On the other hand, China has lodged a complaint as a United States Senate panel advanced a Taiwan Bill. The legislation would enhance U.S. military support for Taiwan, which Beijing claims is part of its territory.

The bill, if passed, would greatly affect U.S.-China relations, said a foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, during a regular media briefing. The Chinese official also described the new U.S. legislation as sending "a serious false signal to the separatist forces of Taiwan independence," Channel News Asia reported.



Related Article: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping Meet! US Official Sends Strong Warning to China Amid Support for Russia

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West Virginia has passed an abortion ban that prohibits nearly all cases with some exceptions, including certain medical situations or cases of rape or incest.

On Friday, Gov. Jim Justice announced that he has signed the bill into law after the GOP-led legislature passed House Bill 302 on Tuesday in a special session. The passing of the law makes West Virginia the second state to pass a restrictive abortion bill after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade this year.

West Virginia Abortion Ban

The abortion ban goes into effect immediately, with the bill's criminal penalties to take effect after 90 days. The legislation allows abortion in the cases of rape or incest up to eight weeks of pregnancy for adults and the first 14 weeks of pregnancy for minors. But the incident has to be reported to law enforcement at least 48 hours before the abortion.

The law also allows exceptions if the embryo or fetus is nonviable, a medical emergency exists, or an ectopic pregnancy, a rare event in which the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus and cannot survive, as per CNN.

Justice, who is a Republican, said during a Friday morning news conference that he has done exactly what he said he would do. The GOP member said that he was proud to have signed the legislation and said he believes wholeheartedly that it does one thing, which is to protect life.

Read Also: Republicans Begin To Back Away From Restrictive Abortion Bans Amid Widespread Criticism

In July, HB 302 stalled when lawmakers failed to come to a consensus about key details of the bill. But this week, when the legislature returned, abortion rights advocates slammed lawmakers for voting to ban abortion "after weeks of discussions behind closed doors."

Abortion had been legal in West Virginia up to 20 weeks of pregnancy after a state court judge indicated that hse had decided to block a state abortion ban dating to the 1800s. That month, Justice called lawmakers back for a special session and, at the last minute, added abortion to the legislative agenda.

According to Politico, the new law requires abortions to be performed by a physician at a hospital, a provision that at least two Republican lawmakers said was intended to shut down abortions at the Women's Health Center, which has provided the procedure since 1976 and was the state's sole abortion clinic. Now, providers who perform illegal abortions can face up to 10 years in prison.

Closing Down Providers

On Tuesday, shortly after lawmakers passed the anti-abortion bill, Women's Health Center of West Virginia Executive Director Katie Quinonez said that the clinic's lawyer advised them to suspect abortions immediately. Staff spent Tuesday night and Wednesday canceling dozens of appointments and providing them with resources to book appointments out-of-state and funding to help cover travel and the procedure.

The first state in the country to pass anti-abortion legislation was Indiana, which prohibits nearly all procedures among its more than 1.5 million people of reproductive age in the region. The passing of the law also comes amid a lawsuit filed by abortion providers challenging the legality of the law under the state's Constitution, ABC News reported.



Related Article: Indiana Passes Near-Total Abortion Ban With Narrow Exceptions, Forcing Clinics To Close

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A new Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study warned astronomers that they could be misinterpreting the space data provided by the James Webb Space Telescope due to a lack of accurate technology that could analyze the information.

The problem lies specifically with opacity models, which are the tools that model how light interacts with matter as a function of the matter's properties. They may need significant retuning in order to match the precision of JWST data, said the researchers.

Scientific Limitations

The researchers predict that, if these models are not refined, the properties of planetary atmospheres, such as their temperature, pressure, and elemental composition, could be off by an order of magnitude.

Assistant professor in MIT's Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS), Julie de Wit, who is the co-leader of the study, said, "There is a scientifically significant difference between a compound like water being present at 5% versus 25%, which current models cannot differentiate."

EAPS graduate student Prajwal Niraula added that the model currently in use to decrypt spectral information is not accurate enough to meet the precision and quality of data provided by the James Webb Space Telescope. She noted that the opacity problem has to be addressed, as per MIT News.

De Wit, Niraula, and their colleagues have published their study today in Nature Astronomy, and co-authors include spectroscopy experts Iouli Gordon, Robert Hargreaves, Clara Sousa-Silva, and Roman Kochanov of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center of Astrophysics.

Opacity is a measure of how easily photos pass through a material as photons of certain wavelengths can pass straight through a material, be absorbed, or be reflected back out depending on whether and how they interact with certain molecules within a material.

Read Also: A Core Principle of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity Passes Most Stringent Test Yet

According to SciTechDaily, the problem comes as NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is revealing the universe with breathtaking, unprecedented clarity. The observatory's spectacular ultrasharp infrared vision has already cut through the cosmic dust to illuminate some of the earliest structures in the universe.

Accuracy Wall

On top of seeing farther into the universe than ever before, the space telescope will capture the most detailed view of objects in our own galaxy. One example is that it will turn its razor-sharp eye on some of the 5,000 exoplanets that have been discovered in the Milky Way galaxy.

By harnessing the telescope's light-parsing precision, astronomers are able to decode the atmospheres surrounding some of these nearby worlds. They provide clues to how a planet formed and whether it harbors signs of life, things that can be deciphered from the properties of their atmospheres.

The MIT team said that they put the most commonly used opacity model to the test during their experimentation. They looked to see what atmospheric properties the model would derive if it were tweaked to assume certain limitations in our understanding of how light and matter interact.

The researchers created eight such "perturbed" models, and for each, including the real version, they fed "synthetic spectra," patterns of light that were simulated by the group and similar to the precision that the JWST would see in outer space.

The team discovered that, based on the same light spectra, each perturbed model produced wide-ranging predictions for the properties of a planet's atmosphere. After analyzing the data, the researchers concluded that if existing opacity models are applied to light spectra taken by the James Webb telescope, they will hit an "accuracy wall," Mirage News reported.



Related Article: NASA's Perseverance Rover Discovers 'Organic Matter' on Mars, Suggesting Habitable Conditions in the Past

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
New York, NY, Sept. 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recently, a company in the hedge fund industry has caught the interest of individuals from all walks of life. This company is "NORDLYS INVESTMENTS" from Australia, and in addition to its superb team system and accomplishments, it has also grown quickly, which is incredibly eye-catching.

There are many funds on the market today, and each one has a team to trade for its clients, but if you want to qualify among many competitors and achieve the conditions for a rapid rise, you must have a certain amount of strength and vision. Given the current environment, it may still be difficult for the newly established rising star to oust the status of the top leading companies in the original market.



How did NORDLYS INVESTMENTS reach its prominent position in the market? First of all, the team of analysts at NORDLYS INVESTMENTS deserves a lot of credit. The NORDLYS INVESTMENTS analyst team is made up of a group of experienced market professionals including Mark Connors, Global Head of Securities and Markets Advisory at Credit Suisse, and Jim Roppel and Paul Scumbougeras, founders of Roppel Capital Management. increase. A team of analysts is like a strategist in the hedge fund organization itself and must, among other things, estimate risk gains and losses, assess market conditions, and present market observation reports. As a result, there is a near direct link between the effectiveness of the analyst team and the operations and profits of the company as a whole.



Additionally, NORDLYS INVESTMENTS effectively trades on the market by utilizing a variety of trading instruments, such as leveraged trading, contracts for difference, and two-way stock arbitrage methods. Diversified operating modes can reduce trading risks and preserve different channels for trading methods for consumers to refer to and select from, giving customers more investment options. In fact, more customers at various levels may also want a choice.

Having stated that, NORDLYS INVESTMENTS has an excellent innate constitution, but acquired efforts are still the most important key to obtaining today's accomplishments; and looking forward to the future, NORDLYS INVESTMENTS still aspires to continue to produce breakthroughs, no matter what the obstacles of the world scenario are.





Contact:

Cathy Brown

media@nordlys.investments

https://www.nordlys.investments/
TEMPE,ARIZONA, Sept. 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Joyfy, a party brand, presents exciting toys and festivity items at amazing rates with care and accuracy.





Joyfy is a well-known party supply organization based in the US. The company provides all kinds of party stuff used in celebrations and occasions such as Halloween, Easter, Christmas, and much more. Recently Joyfy announced that the company is going to expand its business into the European market. With this decision, Joyfy intends to give party pleasure to its clients all through Germany, the United Kingdom, and other European nations with its dazzling array of bubbly home styles, party props supplies, toys, and much more.





Joyfy presents its significant clients with great quality toys and celebration items at reasonable costs. The company provides the most excellent quality items and controls each step of item creation and conveyance in-house with accuracy and care. The company spends more time making toys, outfits, and decorations for different occasions.

Joyfy offers a large scale equipped with party props and has the ability to deal with a wide range of decorations and help to vibe up the climate and take any occasion to a whole new degree of fun. It doesnt matter what the event is, Joyfy can always deal with it. As a worthwhile company with an incredible emphasis on client satisfaction, Joyfy focuses on providing the noteworthy grade and nature of a wide range of party suppliers. Joyfy has already provided a huge number of party supplies and toys to the clients. The company has arrived at its memorable achievement of 10,000,000 unit deals in 2019.

Joyfy focuses on providing great services to its clients and offering premium quality party frills. The company believes the fun is unfinished without a few assertions, beautifications, crafts, occasional outfits, and toys. That is why Joyfy always likes to enhance the fun on any occasion. While focusing on client reviews, Joyfy responded to the convincing requests of their satisfied clients. Presently it works with a rumored retailer to bring a similar experience of Joyfys party supplies close to the store.

With an increasing demand for additional items, Joyfy designed and fabricated over 10000 occasion home enhancements, toys, crafts, and preferences. The company is devoted to launching in excess of 2000 new plans and embellishments every year.

The Marketing Director of Joyfy, Daniel ZHU, said: We couldnt be more pleased with the next phase of our global expansion. He also included, We believe it is our responsibility to make the world a better place by providing what we can when we can. With todays announcement, we are excited to be able to bring our quality, yet highly affordable, party products to our friends in Europe, just like weve done in the United States and Canada.

About Joyfy

Joyfy was founded in 2015 and settled in Arizona, USA. With more than 200 employees, Joyfy recently extended its offices in California, USA, and Shanghai, China. In Joyfy, more than 200 employees work for it and 50 in home decors around the planet. On any holiday, there is no occasion where Joyfy cannot provide its outstanding services.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Motion2AI introduced MotionInsight, its latest innovative solution for warehouse management. The product harnesses data captured by Motion2AI's MotionKit and MotionAPI to provide supervisors and managers unmatched visibility into the operations and performance of their warehouses.

MotionInsight harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to analyze warehouse operations data and highlight specific actions to improve productivity and safety. With MotionInsight, warehouse managers can optimize vehicle management, labor management, inventory strategy, and safety management while highlighting opportunities to apply automation. For each suggested improvement, the solution offers a summary of supporting data. MotionInsight gives users new ways to apply warehouse data. Data visualizations and graphics enable performance tracking to support informed decision-making.

"Warehouse managers and supervisors often have access to raw data, but they struggle to extract meaningful insights that can improve their operations," said Byungsoo Kim, founder and CEO, Motion2AI. "MotionInsight addresses this challenge by using AI to recommend clear distinct projects across all facets of warehouse management."

MotionInsight also offers users an intuitive interface to simplify the warehouse reporting process. Monthly reports that display data on key metrics can be generated with a few keystrokes and shared with team members and stakeholders via email. Users also have easy access to underlying report data in raw format for customized analysis. Automated email notifications ensure that all stakeholders have access to the latest data.

MotionInsight is the latest addition to Motion2AI's MotionOS warehouse suite that also includes MotionKit, MotionStudio, MotionApp, and MotionAPI.

Kim added, "We are continuing to explore how data and AI can provide warehouse managers a granular understanding of their operations. The combination of human and artificial intelligence gives companies an advantage as they pursue greater efficiency, performance, and safety."

******

About Motion2AI

Motion2AI is an artificial intelligence company offering warehouse logistics solutions in safety, monitoring, and real-time workflow optimization. Based in Mountain View, California, Motion2AI employs colleagues worldwide and has received $16 million in funding. Current clients include CJ Logistics, LG Electronics, Steelcase, and Utz Quality Foods.

Contact Information:

Byungsoo Kim

CEO

media@motion2ai.com

(650) 668-4662



Related Images











Image 1: Motion2AI - VertBlk









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Daniel Group, a leading Customer Experience consulting firm, announces the theme of its annual client conference, Dollars & Sense: What's Next in CX? The conference will focus on helping clients move their CX programs into the future. This year's conference will be held on Oct. 19-20 at the Hyatt Centric Southpark Hotel in Charlotte, N.C.

Keynote Speaker, Fred Reichheld, is the creator of the Net Promoter system of management, the founder of Bain & Company's Loyalty practice, and the author of five books, including the New York Times bestseller The Ultimate Question 2.0. Mr. Reichheld is a frequent speaker at major business forums, and his work on customer loyalty has been widely covered in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Times, Fortune, Businessweek, and The Economist.

The conference will kick off with Mr. Reichheld's presentation, spotlighting what to do (and what not to do) when using NPS and Earned Growth Rate (EGR) to make a case for CX. This session will conclude with a Q&A with Mr. Reichheld.

The second session, Measuring CX Outcomes Now, How is One Client Doing It?, will be led by Lynn Daniel, Founder and CEO, of The Daniel Group, and Marty Yuzwa, Six Sigma Program Champion, Ohio Cat.

The third session, Customer Experience and Your Marketing ProgramWhat is the connection?, will be led by Doug Fowler, President & COO, of The Daniel Group, and Denise Wieters, Customer Experience Manager, HOLT CAT. They will explore the relationship between CX performance, customer referrals, and marketing efforts.

The fourth session, Lessons Learned from a CX Leader, will be led by Lynn Daniel, and Carol Tesarek, Director, Customer Experience, Equipment Depot. They will discuss CX program implementation, ongoing challenges and opportunities after the program is underway, and creating CX disciples within your organization.

The Daniel Group's cloud-based platform, ExperienceConnect, provides customer feedback to its clients in real time via the web. ExperienceConnect is a secure, robust, cloud-based customer experience management system. It gives clients a complete 360-degree view of their customer experience status and progress, incorporating both Customer Feedback and Employee Feedback.

The Daniel Group, formed in 1989, serves approximately 75% of all Caterpillar dealers in North America and Navistar (IC Bus), AGCO, and Blue Bird Corp., and other heavy equipment dealers and manufacturers with their customer experience feedback programs. Their array of B2B services includes customer feedback, employee feedback, strategic planning, and market research.

Net Promoter, NPS, NPS Prism, and the NPS-related emoticons are registered trademarks of Bain & Company, Inc., Satmetrix Systems, Inc., and Fred Reichheld. Net Promoter Score and Net Promoter System are service marks of Bain & Company, Inc., Satmetrix Systems, Inc., and Fred Reichheld.

Contact Information:

A. Lynn Daniel

Founder & CEO

lynndaniel@thedanielgroup.com

704-749-5018



This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.
Political discord explodes over migrants transported from border states to U.S. cities

Xinhua) 09:47, September 17, 2022

A migrant bus from Texas arrives at the Port Authority terminal in New York, the United States, on Aug. 29, 2022. (Photo by Emma Li/Xinhua)

U.S. President Joe Biden criticized Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other Republican governors Thursday evening over the relocation of migrants, saying that they are "playing politics with human beings, using them as props."

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Discord between U.S. Republicans and Democrats is exploding over migrants sent from the country's southern border states to cities in the northeast.

Two buses from Texas dropped off over 100 migrants outside U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., Thursday morning.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has chartered buses to transport migrants from Texas to the U.S. capital since April, said that the latest group of individuals came from Colombia, Cuba, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, and Venezuela.

A Republican, Abbott accused U.S. President Joe Biden and his deputy, Harris, of "ignoring and denying the historic crisis at our southern border, which has endangered and overwhelmed Texas communities for almost two years."

Biden, a Democrat, criticized Abbott and other Republican governors Thursday evening over the relocation of migrants, saying that they are "playing politics with human beings, using them as props."

"What they're doing is simply wrong," Biden told attendees at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Gala. "It's reckless. And we have a process in place to manage migrants at the border."

Abbott added New York City and Chicago as additional drop-off locations last month. His "busing strategy" has sent over 10,000 migrants to what Republicans call "sanctuary cities."

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has made a similar move and bused thousands of migrants to states and cities run by Democrats over the past few months.

Migrants arrive at the Port Authority terminal in New York, the United States, on Aug. 29, 2022. (Photo by Emma Li/Xinhua)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, another Republican, sent two planes of migrants to Martha's Vineyard, an island in Massachusetts, on Wednesday.

"In Florida, we take what is happening at the southern border seriously," DeSantis tweeted Thursday. "We are not a sanctuary state, and we will gladly facilitate the transport of illegal immigrants to sanctuary jurisdictions."

Massachusett Governor Charlie Baker announced on Friday a new shelter at Joint Base Cape Cod "for the approximately 50 migrants who arrived in Martha's Vineyard this week."

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, took a shot at DeSantis over the flights of migrants to Martha's Vineyard, tweeting on Thursday that "exploiting vulnerable people for political stunts is repulsive and cruel."

California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried have suggested separately that they would ask the U.S. Department of Justice to look into DeSantis over the migrants sent to Massachusetts.

U.S. federal agents have made about 1.82 million arrests at the country's southern border so far this fiscal year, according to figures released by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection last month.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji)
One lady searching for her lost dog in Youngstown, Ohio, last month discovered human remains wrapped in fabric.

The dog owner took the bones home and alerted police, who initiated an inquiry and sent them to the coroner.

Authorities revealed at a news conference on Tuesday that the remains belonged to Amy Hambrick, a 29-year-old woman who went missing in November 2017, People reported.

Although Hambrick's cause of death is unknown, dental records assisted in identifying her. Investigations into the case are ongoing.

Chief of Detectives Captain Jason Simon stated during the news conference that the investigators would be speaking with and re-speaking with anyone who may know the case and Hambrick's cause of death.

Authorities are certain that at least one person knows what happened to her, he claimed. According to Simon, it is uncertain how long her remains have been in the region or how long she has been deceased.

How Did Authorities Identify the Remains?

Hambrick departed Youngstown on November 11, 2017, to see a friend in North Jackson but was never seen or heard from again. Hambrick was the mother of Jayden.

Hambrick's mother Debby Dolin said during an interview with WKBN in 2018, "She and Jayden were like two peas in a pod, always together... She misses her mommy so much."

Inside Edition reports that since Hambrick vanished in November of 2017 her family has tried offering a reward and created a Facebook page, a website, and a billboard to find their loved one for more than 5 years.

Meanwhile, it took some effort for the authorities to identify the remains. Dr. Loren Lease of the anthropology department at Youngstown State University put the bones together. The experts first concluded that the bones belonged to a female person. Using dental data, authorities concluded that the jawbone and teeth in the skull belonged to Hambrick.

Read Also:US Ransomware: 3 Iranian Hackers Charged Over 100+ Cyberattacks

To find Hambrick, many law enforcement agencies collaborated with her family. According to Simon, who noted that the investigation finally went cold, every investigative option was explored over the previous five years, including many interviews, inspections of dwellings, the employment of cadaver dogs, and the serving of legal process on digital and cellular data.

More Questions To Be Answered

Even though Hambrick's bones have been discovered, there are still unanswered concerns regarding her specific cause of death and how she ended up in the woods, per NBC News. Given the state of her remains, the cause of death will be classified as "undetermined" while the inquiry is still ongoing, according to Simon.

Simon asked the public for information about her last known location. The officer believes there are individuals aware of what happened to the victim. He added that the authorities would like to talk with that person to know the other sides of the story or if someone else knows what Hambrick uncovered.

Three members of Hambrick's family were present at the news presentation, but they made no comments about the finding.

Youngstown Police may be reached at (330) 746-CLUE or (330) 746-8YPD if you have any information on the case of Hambrick.

Related Article: Donald Trump Claims US Government Will Have 'Big Problems' if He's Indicted Over Mar-a-Lago Documents

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) investors who suffered significant losses to submit your losses now.



Class Period: Feb. 19, 2021  June 8, 2022

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Oct. 31, 2022

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/ABT

Contact An Attorney Now: ABT@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) Securities Fraud Class Action:

The action challenges Defendants statement and omissions concerning what the FDA called "egregiously unsanitary" conditions at Abbotts infant formula manufacturing facility, Sturgis.

Specifically, the complaint alleges that Defendants: (1) touted the strength and safety of Abbotts infant formula brands, despite knowing Sturgis was in flagrant violation of FDA and other health, safety, and manufacturing regulations; (2) concealed those violations from investors; and, (3) as a result, put Abbotts infant formula business in dire jeopardy and left the company exposed to a risk of severe regulatory consequences, including the recall of its products and closure of Sturgis.

The truth began to emerge on Feb. 17, 2022, when the FDA announced that, after reports of babies becoming seriously ill, it commenced inspections of Sturgis and to date found contamination results from environmental samples for a bacteria linked to infant illness and death. The same day, Abbott issued a sweeping recall of Sturgis-manufactured infant formulas.

In the following days, Abbott was forced to close Sturgis due to severe safety problems.

Then, on Mar. 22, 2022, the FDA released Sturgis inspection reports concluding that controls to ensure against adulteration and contamination were lacking.

Further, on Apr. 28, 2022, a whistleblower complaint sent to the FDA in Oct. 2021 became public, revealing that Abbott management (i) knew Sturgis FDA violations far earlier, (ii) had falsified testing records at Sturgis, and (iii) attempted to mislead the FDA during an earlier inspection audit.

Finally, on June 8, 2022, investors learned that Abbott was aware of the whistleblowers allegations in early 2021.

Each of these events sent the price of Abbott shares significantly lower, wiping out billions of dollars in shareholder value.

Were focused on investors losses and proving Abbott put profits ahead of infant safety, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in Abbott and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Abbott 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 ABT@hbsslaw.com.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
English French



PRESS RELEASE  SEPTEMBER 17, 2022

Laurent Mignon is appointed Group CEO,

effective at the latest on January 1st, 2023

On September 2022, the Supervisory Board of Wendel, chaired by Nicolas ver Hulst, appointed Laurent Mignon Member of the Executive Board and Group CEO of Wendel with effect on January 1st, 2023, at the latest. He will succeed Andre Francois-Poncet, Wendels current Group CEO, who will remain in this function until Laurent Mignon joins Wendel, at which point in time, Wendels Executive Board will then be made of Laurent Mignon, Group CEO, and David Darmon, Deputy Group CEO and Member of the Executive Board since 2019.

Nicolas ver Hulst, Chairman of Wendels Supervisory Board, said: On behalf of the Supervisory Board, I am extremely pleased that Laurent Mignon is joining us to become Group CEO of Wendel. Laurent has held a number of leaderships positions in the financial industry, and he brings a wealth of experience. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in transforming the companies he has run, focusing on creating value for the long term. Laurent shares Wendels values and displays all the qualitiespersonal and professionalto open a new chapter in our long history. He will partner with David Darmon and lead Wendels talented teams.

On behalf of the entire Supervisory Board, I would like to pay tribute to Andres remarkable achievements as Wendel Group CEO since January 2018. Andre has perfectly executed the mission he was given, and this in spite of difficult business environment with Covid19 followed by the current war in Ukraine. He leaves Wendel in order, with a simplified portfolio, a good financial standing, and a recognized ESG performance. We would like to thank him for all he has accomplished, and also for contributing to todays transition.

Laurent Mignon said: I am proud and happy to join Wendel and its teams, and I would like to thank Nicolas ver Hulst and all the members of the Supervisory Board. I am honored by the trust they have placed in me by appointing me Group CEO. They can count on my commitment to develop Wendel while respecting its history and values, in the interest of all its shareholder.

Biography

Laurent Mignon has been CEO of Groupe BPCE since June 1, 2018. He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Natixis and a director of CNP Assurances. In addition to his duties within Groupe BPCE, he sits on the Board of Directors of Arkema and the AROP (a not-for-profit association promoting the Paris National Opera) and as a censor of Oddo BHF and Fimalac boards.

After graduating from HEC in 1986 and from the Stanford Executive Program, Laurent Mignon worked for Banque Indosuez for over 10 years, initially in capital markets, then in corporate & investment banking. In 1996, he joined Banque Schroders in London, then AGF (Assurances Generales de France) in 1997 as Chief Financial Officer. He was appointed to the AGF Executive Committee in 1998, then as Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Banque AGF, AGF Asset Management and AGF Immobilier (Real Estate) in 2002, then in charge of life insurance & financial services and credit insurance in 2003. In 2006, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Committee. From 2007 to 2009, he was a managing partner at Oddo & Cie. From 2009 to 2018, Laurent Mignon has served as Chief Executive Officer of Natixis and has been a member of the Management Board of BPCE since 2013.

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2022  Valley International Cold Storage Acquisition, LLC, a Harlingen, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 22,061 pounds of frozen beef products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains milk, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.







The frozen products are labeled as Korean-Style Beef, but contain a chicken sausage and pepper product, which contains milk. These items were produced on July 22, 2022. The following products are subject to recall [view labels]:







9.25-oz. cartons labeled as Healthy Choice POWER BOWLS Korean-Style Beef with lot code 5246220320 and a best if used by date of 04-18-2023.



The products subject to recall bear establishment number 34622 on the end flap of the carton. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.







The problem was discovered when the producing establishment notified FSIS that it had received consumer complaints that the Korean-Style Beef cartons contained a chicken-based product.







There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.







FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.







FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution lists will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.







Consumers with questions about the recall can contact the Conagra Consumer Care line at 800-672-8152. Members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Daniel Hare, Senior Director of Communications, Conagra Brands, Inc., at 312-549-5355 or Daniel.Hare@conagra.com.







Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.




On Thursday, James Tupper alleged that Anne Heche had appointed him as the executor of her estate in order to prevent her oldest son, Homer Laffoon, from taking over.

The actor claimed Heche sent him and two other people a copy of her will through email on January 25, 2011, when they were still dating, according to court records obtained by Page Six.

Anne Heche's Family Clash Over Her Estate

He added that the late actress, who passed away in August following a catastrophic collision, named him as the executor of her estate so he could fulfill her financial directives. Tupper, who had a son named Atlas with Heche, also attacked Laffoon, saying he "is not suitable" to handle his mother's fortune because he is only 20 years old, unemployed, and was not close to Heche when she passed away.

The actor alleged in the lawsuit that Laffoon had changed the locks on Heche's apartment, which she shared with Atlas, and had so prevented his younger brother from accessing the contents.

In 2011, Anne Heche sent her ex James Tupper a foreboding email designating him as the executor of her inheritance. Laffoon petitioned to manage his mother's inheritance and to be designated as her sole heirs, along with his half-brother Atlas Heche Tupper, 13, whose father is James Tupper.

Laffoon claims that his mother, who tragically passed away last month, didn't leave a will. Tupper, 57, asserts in his filing that Heche's email from January 25, 2011 makes it crystal obvious that he receives ownership of all assets.

Heche sent Tupper an email with the subject line "WILL" that also includes copies for Kevin Yorn and Melodie Moore, two legal representatives. The document specifies that her two boys will get equal distribution of her assets when they turn 25, as per Daily Mail.

Heche gave her nephew Eliot Bergman the authority to distribute her assets evenly among her nieces and nephews in the case that her two sons and Tupper both pass away. Tupper claimed that Laffoon, the son of real estate agent Coleman Laffoon, changed the locks on the flat Heche shared with Atlas in order to purportedly prevent the younger sibling from retrieving his possessions.

The two half-brothers have reportedly not spoken to each other since Heche's passing, according to Tupper. In response, Laffoon has accused Tupper of controlling the 13-year-old's phone and keeping him away from Atlas. The oldest son was named temporarily in control of the estate on Thursday; and according to Laffoon's counsel, they are convinced he will prevail in court.

Read Also: Britney Spears' Father Challenges Singer to Deposition, Appeals Judge's "Unfair Ruling" Over Conservatorship Case

Anne Heche's Memoir Details Relationship with Ellen DeGeneres

Before she passed away, Anne Heche, 53, was prepared to share with the world the full account of the animosity she faced in Hollywood while dating Ellen DeGeneres in the late 1990s.

Heche, who died on August 11 in Los Angeles after a terrible vehicle accident, discussed the discrimination she experienced as one-half of Tinseltown's first openly homosexual pair in her upcoming memoir 'Call Me Anne,' according to the Associated Press.

Heche struggles with how to categorize her sexuality at the time in the book, which will be published in January by independent publisher Start. She felt she didn't identify as a lesbian or a straight woman at the time.

"I received the moniker "outrageous" because I had a romantic relationship. Before dating Ellen, I had never been with a woman," Heche said in the memoir. Due of her relationship with DeGeneres, who later became the first openly homosexual sitcom host, the 'Donnie Brasco' actress talked about being blacklisted.

Related Article: Anne Heche Car Accident: Actress Declared Brain Dead, But Still on Life Support for Potential Organ Donation

@YouTube

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Paolo Scalera

There was 'team play' between Zarco and Bagnaia, for sure. But Quartararo has lost 89 points in the last 7 Grands Prix, Ducati is responsible for that up to a certain point: he (and Yamaha) is losing...
In light of the criticism the Biden administration is receiving for its immigration policy, Vice President Kamala Harris focused on abortion rights on Friday when she visited Chicago.

Harris landed in Illinois a few days after Governor J.B. Pritzker declared a state of emergency due to a disaster in order to assist the hundreds of unauthorized immigrants that Texas Governor Greg Abbott had bused into the state.

Harries Declines To Answer Questions About Border Crisis

The Republican governor is continuing his campaign to oppose President Joe Biden's administration over its stance on immigration with his efforts to transfer migrants to Illinois. This week, Abbott dispatched illegal immigrants to Washington, DC, and dropped them off in front of Harris' house, Newsweek via MSN reported.

On Friday, Harris visited Chicago and took part in a roundtable discussion regarding reproductive rights and the effects of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling with other prominent Illinois Democratic politicians, including Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

Later in the day, Pritzker, who is up for reelection in November, and Harris were both supposed to show up at a rally. In order to "provide sufficient capacity to address the requirements of more than 500 asylum seekers who have already arrived, with more buses arriving virtually every day," according to Pritzker's office, the declaration was required.

As they prepared to transfer unauthorized immigrants from their jurisdictions this week, Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott drew vehement criticism from Democrats and plaudits from conservatives.

Harris, who was receiving South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for breakfast before he met with President Joe Biden at the White House, did not respond to a query Friday morning regarding migrants being dropped off in front of her Naval Observatory home in Washington, DC.

Per Daily Mail, Ramaphosa and Harris turned and entered the residence without answering any queries. Following her speech at the White House on Thursday, she declined to respond to a similar query regarding the migrants.

Read Also: Biden Urges Enforcement in Crypto, Digital Asset Rules as Administration Warns These Markets Pose Threat to Financial Stability

Doug Emhoff Calls Republicans' Move "Shameful"

Doug Emhoff, Harris' husband, paid a visit to Washington, DC, on Friday at a vaccination center. A reporter questioned him about his reaction to the migrants being dropped off in front of his Washington, DC, home.

He said, "I do have a reaction. I consider it to be shameful. These are actual people. They are individuals. They required respect and decency, yet neither were shown to them."

When asked if the administration had requested the Republican governors to stop during the White House briefing on Friday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she had no calls to read out but expressed rage that DeSantis and Abbott would pull off these political stunts.

Jean-Pierre made note of the fact that Boston jobs had been promised to the migrants who ended up on Martha's Vineyard. Border officers criticized Vice President Kamala Harris' claims that the border is "secure," telling Fox News Digital that the situation caused by the influx of illegal immigrants into the country is escalating daily.

Despite the tens of thousands of illegal immigrants who frequently enter the country each month, Kamala Harris stated twice in an interview on Sunday that the southern border of the US is "secure." President Biden assigned Harris to handle the border situation shortly after they took office in 2021. Harris was in the Lone Star State last week for a series of activities.

Related Article: Sen. Joe Manchin Slams VP Kamala Harris for Guaranteeing Southern Border Situation Is "Secure"

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Uber's users are seemingly safe from being hacked or attacked.

The company behind the popular ride-hailing app recently announced that the hacker who hacked into its databases was unable to access or tamper with users' private data.

Uber promises to post additional updates for users to read while its investigation continues. It is also in touch with law enforcement and is currently coordinating with them to aid in its investigation.

Uber Hack Investigation Details

Uber mentioned in its recent security update that it found no evidence that the hacker that caused the cybersecurity incident on Sept. 16 was able to access sensitive user data.

The company also added that its Slack internal messaging service and engineering systems are back online following their abrupt disconnection on Sept. 16, which Uber decided to do as a precaution.

Additionally, all of Uber's offerings and services, such as its ride-hailing service, food delivery through Uber Eats, item delivery via Uber Freight, and the Uber Driver app, are operational.

However, Uber didn't mention any information about the hacker or the nature of the incident, per Engadget. There are also concerns that the hacker might have obtained access to the company's source code, which he could sell to other hackers for them to use on their own hacking campaigns.

The company didn't mention how much data was stolen or how long the hacker was able to remain inside the company's network.

You may remember that the hacker listed several internal databases that he allegedly compromised. According to Bleeping Computer, the hacker shared screenshots of the company's internal systems, email dashboard, and Slack server.

Read More: California Governor Passes Children's Online Safety Bill to Protect Underage Social Media Users

To be specific, the hacker has screenshots that prove he has access to many critical Uber IT systems, including its security software and Windows domain. He also has access to:

Uber's Amazon Web Services console

VMware vSphere/ESXi virtual machines

Uber's Google Workspace admin dashboard used to manage the company's email accounts

The publication also reported the hacker posted memes and jokes to Uber's employees on the company's Slack internal messaging service before posting his "I announce I am a hacker..." message.

Uber is still investigating the hacker's attack while being in touch with law enforcement.

More Details About the Hacker

Following his cyber attack on Uber, the hacker, who identified himself as an 18-year-old, told two security researchers that he wanted publicity. However, he didn't give any indication that he destroyed the data he obtained, per NPR.

He also gave more information about how he managed to get into Uber's network. You may remember that he talked to and convinced an Uber employee to give them their login credentials while pretending to be a corporate information technology person.

However, because the account he compromised has multi-factor authentication (MFA) enabled, the hacker allegedly used an MFA Fatigue attack and convinced the employee in question to accept the MFA request.

For those unaware, hackers use MFA Fatigue attacks involve the repeated sending of MFA requests until the victim gets tired of receiving them and accepts the notification.

After getting access, the hacker logged into Uber's internal network through the company's corporate VPN. While there, he began to scan Uber's Intranet for sensitive information, allowing him to find the credentials he needed to access the company's other internal services.

Related Article: Uber Is Investigating a Recent Cybersecurity Incident After Employees Received a Suspicious Message
For the first time since finalizing the acquisition of Meritor last month (earlier post), Cummins will showcase Meritors 17Xe ePowertrain assembled with a Cummins battery system during the IAA Transportation tradeshow in Hannover, Germany. The 17Xe is designed for heavy-duty trucks in the 4x2 and 6x2 segment, with capacity to support 44 tons of gross combined weight, or more in some applications.

The assembly also features a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, a new arrival to Cummins battery line-up.





17Xe Gen3 ePowertrain

Cummins is integrating Meritors ePowertrain with battery and fuel cell electric drivetrains to meet the growing demand for decarbonized solutions. Cummins suite of clean drivetrain options offers performance and packaging advantages to suit diverse applications across the globe, with significant benefits to heavy- and medium-duty truck and bus work cycles and ranges.

In addition to the ePowertrain, Meritors Power Control and Accessory System (PCAS) will be on the show floor. The PCAS is the brains of the electric powertrain and controls speed, acceleration, braking and thermal management. Through innovative software controls it can be configured to maximize performance and overall system efficiency. Its integrated system design also reduces packaging size and integration complexity.
Westport Fuel Systems announced its new H 2 HPDI fuel system. For the first time in Europe, Westport will display an H 2 HPDI fuel system-equipped demonstrator truck at IAA Transportation 2022 in Hanover. H 2 HPDI is designed for use in internal combustion engines. The system, when fueled with hydrogen, offers more power and torque than diesel while significantly reducing emissions.

Westports H 2 HPDI fuel system provides the following benefits:

Up to 20% more power than diesel

Up to 18% more torque than diesel

Near zero CO 2 emissions

Preserves existing diesel engine architecture

Preserves existing engine manufacturing infrastructure and investment

Lowest cost to achieve CO 2 compliance

We unveil today to the European audience a new CO 2 reduction solution for heavy-duty transport. Westports H 2 HPDI fuel system powering an internal combustion engine turns innovation into answers, creating sustainability we are very proud of. We like to think of it as a game changer without the change. Our technology achieves better performance than diesel engines, with near zero CO 2 emissions, all while utilizing existing manufacturing capital investment and infrastructure. David Johnson, CEO, Westport Fuel Systems

The European Union has set a 2050 deadline to achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral, and hydrogen fuel in the heavy-duty vehicle sector is expected to play a substantial role in this decarbonization strategy. According to European Commission data, about 20% of the future overall transport fuel mix will be from H 2 with an additional 20% composed of low-carbon synthetic fuels derived from H 2 .

Westports H 2 HPDI fuel system offers a cost-effective solution. H 2 HPDI uses the same technology and shares many of its components with existing LNG HPDI powertrains. As a result, H 2 HPDI can utilize existing manufacturing infrastructure, with reduced capital investments, thus expediting time to market.
Germanys Federal Government placed Rosneft Deutschland GmbH (RDG) und RN Refining & Marketing GmbH (RNRM) under the fiduciary management of the German Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency). This means that the Bundesnetzagentur is assuming control of Rosneft Deutschland and thus also its respective shares in the three refineries PCK Schwedt, MiRo (Karlsruhe) and Bayernoil (Vohburg).

Rosneft Deutschland holds a total of around 12% of German oil refining capacity, making it one of the largest oil-processing companies in Germany.

Each month, the German Rosneft subsidiaries import several hundred million euros worth of crude oil from Russia to Germany.

The legal basis of the order is section 17 of the Energy Security of Supply Act. According to this provision, a company which operates critical infrastructure in the energy sector can be placed under fiduciary management if there is a specific danger that, without fiduciary management, the company will not fulfil its tasks serving the functioning of the commonweal in the energy sector, and there is a danger that the security of supply will be impaired. Following the issuing of the order, the shareholders can no longer exercise their voting rights, and their powers to dispose of and manage the company are restricted.

The Bundesnetzagentur is acting as the fiduciary manager; the voting rights deriving from the shareholdings are transferred to it.

The order imposing the fiduciary management was issued by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. It took effect on 16 September 2022 when it was published in the Federal Gazette, and is initially effective for 6 months. The RDG and the RNRM must bear the costs of the fiduciary management themselves.
The successor to the PSVR may already still be on its way, but new information about the VR headset and controllers have been released since its announcement. The latest news involves the compatibility of the original PSVR games.

If you are a PSVR gamer planning to buy the upcoming PSVR2, there is something that you should take note of. Unfortunately, games for the original PSVR are not compatible with the PSVR2.

Yes, that means if a certain title is available for both the PSVR and the PSVR2 and you want to play it on both, you will have to buy a game for each of them. There is a reason why this is the way it is and it has been discussed by one of the PlayStation executives.

Here is what you have to know about PSVR game compatibility as well as what is known as of writing about the PSVR2:

PSVR Games are Not Compatible with PSVR2

So, who exactly said that you cannot play original PSVR games on the PSVR2? Well, it is none other than Hideaki Nishino, PlayStation's EVP of platform experience. According to a report by Eurogamer, the PlayStation EVP made the confirmation during the Official PlayStation Podcast's latest episode.

"PSVR2 is designed to deliver a truly next-generation VR experience," Nishino explains. He also points out that the new hardware and features that the PSVR2 has means that "developing games for PSVR2 requires a whole different approach than the original PSVR."

The new hardware and features include 4K HDR support, inside-out tracking, and a controller with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, among others.

Read Also: PlayStation VR Makes It Into Time Magazine's 2016 Best Inventions List

PSVR2  Is There a Launch Date Already?

Aside from the new hardware and features already mentioned above, the PSVR2 will also have Fresnel lens, a vent in the headset that allows for air to flow to the lenses, and Tempest 3D AudioTech, according to the PlayStation website.

Specs for the the PSVR2 headset include an OLED display, a 2000 x 2040 per eye resolution, and approximately 110 degrees of field view, among others. On the other hand, its controller will have a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery, motion sensor, capactive sensor, and more.

Per a report by Polygon, the PSVR2 was announced in January and is expected to be released in early 2023. As of press time, there is no exact release date available.

PSVR2 Games

Polygon also notes that Sony is preparing release 20 games at launch. What these 20 games are have yet to be confirmed as of press time, but it has been reported that the following games are in development for the PSVR2:

Among Us VR

Firmament

Horizon Call of the Mountain

No Man's Sky: PlayStation VR2

Resident Evil Village

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge - Enhanced Edition

The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners - Chapter 2: Retribution

Related Article: Sony Plans To Release 20 Major Games for PlayStation VR2
PRIVATE SCHOOLS

St. Johns School

St Johns School Starry Knights 60th Anniversary Gala with a silent auction, performances and raffle prizes will take place 6-9 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Dale Jenkins Gymnasium. Tickets are $150 per person and $1500 for a table of 10. Proceeds will be given to scholarships. Purchase tickets at the business office or at stjohnsguam.com/60th-anniversary.html

.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Felix M. and Gov. Carlos G. Camacho Scholarship Foundation

The Felix M. and Gov. Carlos G. Camacho Scholarship is open to Guam Community College full-time students who are Guam residents. Applicants must be in good standing, pursuing an associate degree in liberal studies business track, accounting, marketing or supervision and management. The application, along with your official high school transcript, two recommendation letters from a high school principal, teacher, counselor or a business or professional person in the community and a copy of your households 2021 tax return are due 4 p.m. Sept. 30 to the GCC Financial Aid Office. Awardees will be granted $3,000, in increments of $750 per semester. For more information or to fill out an application, visit bit.ly/3RwJplK.

AGA Guam Chapter: Herminia Dierking Scholarship

Full-time incoming juniors or seniors in the University of Guam School of Business and Public Administration can apply to the AGA Guam Chapter: Herminia Dierking Scholarship. Applicants must be a major in accounting, business administration, finance, economics or public administration with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 as of Spring 2022. Awardee will be given $1,000. Complete an application at bit.ly/3ehyEVM. Deadline is 2 p.m. Sept. 30 to the UOG Financial Aid Office at finaid@triton.uog.edu.
Through Pay-Less Annual Rummage Sale, employees raised money to help support cancer awareness and survivorship for the American Cancer Societys Relay For Life. Representing the American Cancer Society is Ed Lee.
Guam Premium Chocolate resumed making macadamia-wrapped chocolate goodies after a 28-month pandemic closure, but the factory has fewer workers and lower output for now.

It closed its remaining Chocolate store at Micronesia Mall early this year, after more than two years of significantly low revenue.

Guam Premium Chocolate president and owner George Patterson said the $8 million state-of-the-art chocolate factory in Barrigada resumed operations in mid-August as duty-free shops and retailers such as Kmart and ABC Stores placed orders for Made in Guam chocolate products.

The factory completely halted production in April 2020, he said, but the slowdown started months before, when tourist arrivals began declining.

Even with recent orders, demand is still not enough to bring back all 35 employees, Patterson said.

Production resumed with only 10 workers.

With the tourist market, our sales have dropped. Were only doing 10% of what we were doing back then, Patterson said, while giving the Pacific Daily News a tour of the Barrigada chocolate factory.

Japanese tourism

Prior to the closure, the factory was churning out anywhere from 150,000 to 300,000 chocolate goodies a day.

These days, thats down to about 20,000 to 30,000 a day.

Patterson said it could take two years to return to pre-pandemic production levels, based on the slow return of tourists, especially Japanese visitors.

The Japanese have always been coming back with chocolates and confectionery products to take back with them to Japan and given as gifts, saying they were here because we have Made in Guam in all of our products, he said.

Japanese arrivals to Guam have remained at below 3,000 a month, compared with more than 50,000 a month prior to the pandemic.

South Korean travelers are leading the tourism comeback for Guam, with more than 20,000 a month. Thats still significantly lower than pre-pandemic numbers.

Patterson, who also owns Suncare Distributors, said Korean travelers mostly buy vitamin products and other goods.

As far as chocolate, thats not what they usually buy to take back as gifts, he said.

Patterson said the government, particularly the Guam Visitors Bureau, could do more to go out there and market Guam to the Japanese and others.

We cant do it alone. We need the governments help, he said, adding that other pandemic problems were created by shutdowns and lockdowns.

Using federal pandemic relief and recovery funds, the government of Guam provided financial aid to small businesses on top of direct federal aid. But for many, the economic fallout from the pandemic and its restrictions resulted in permanent business closures.

Patterson said while more chocolate factory employees wanted to come back, the business is cautiously weighing several factors. They dont want to hire back more people, only to furlough them weeks later if arrivals decrease or another variant leads to more government restrictions.

Everythings gone up

Guam Premier Chocolate, according to Patterson, is the only factory on Guam that makes use of real chocolate, which is pricier than the compound chocolate that others use.

Since the temporary closure, the cost of shipping ingredients such as real chocolate from Belgium and macadamia nuts from Hawaii has gone up.

That means the cost of production is much more than before.

Cookies they used to get from Saipan for $4 a pound have gone up to $8.50 a pound, Patterson said.

So its doubled. Shipping has gone up, everything has gone up, he said.

They had to temporarily discontinue some products while waiting for a higher tourist volume.

Patterson said the company has not raised product prices and has been absorbing added production costs to maintain a share of the market.

Our profit margin is the one thats suffering, he said.

Although the factory wasnt churning out products during the pandemic, it still had to keep the air conditioners on, and machines had to be maintained to prevent deterioration. Those costs never went away, he said.

Losing money

Guam Premium Chocolate closed its Chocolate store at the Guam Premier Outlets in October 2020. But it kept the store at Micronesia Mall, hoping tourism would come back sooner.

Every single month, were losing money. Were just to a point where we had to close it, he said. When things were starting to look up late last year, the delta variant forced tourists to cancel their flights.

Following the uptick in tourism during the summer, the factory got orders from duty-free shops and retailers. Orders began coming from Saipan.

Were getting quite a bit of orders coming back in, Patterson said. But nowhere close to what it was before.
While there are notable increases in the authority of the Office of Public Accountability in the recently signed 2023 Budget Act, the agency responsible for combing through GovGuams books as local government spending reaches historic highs still faces one uphill battle according to Public Auditor B.J. Cruzkeeping experienced staff from leaving for greener pastures.

Pay is the problem, Cruz said. The office, which had six of 20 staff positions vacant at the start of the fiscal year, lost another auditor in recent months, staffing patterns show.

Sen. Joanne Brown during budget discussions proposed increasing the salaries for the offices auditors to the level of the highest paid accountants in autonomous agencies like the Guam Power Authority, who regularly poach OPA staff, plus a 10% pay differential. But Brown compromised following concerns from several senators about the pay hike, and OPA staff were ultimately allowed only to get raise in line with a study completed by Leading Edge Consulting Group back in 2014.

It would have been hypocritical for the Office of Public Accountability to accept the higher back of the cocktail napkin pay raise, Cruz admitted, it really would look bad. He said he was thankful, but an evidence-based, properly documented pay study needed to be done to get the OPAs pay on track.

The 2014 study will give an auditor I with his office, previously making about $37,000 a year, a one-step pay increase of $4,000. My auditors who have a BA in accounting, theyve been here two years, and they have two years experience. GPA just announced two positions for an accountant I, and theyre offering $50,000.

The OPA isnt the only agency responsible for large sums of GovGuam money that needs to adjust the pay for accounting and auditing staff. Cruz said pay at the Department of Administration and the Guam Department of Education also needs to be addressed.

Based on the 2014 Competitive Wage Act, entry-level accounting staff at both agencies make around the same $37,000 that OPA staff made prior to the recent pay raise. Cruz said neither department will be able to keep its books straight if they cant hold on to the staff responsible for doing so.

The Department of Administration, responsible for moving all of GovGuams money around, only recently hired a chief financial officer, Cruz said. Guam DOE, which accounts for the largest portion of the GovGuams general fund next year, about $231 million, still doesnt have one.

Unless the government addresses the salary at GDOE, were going to continue to pay $3 million in third-party custodian fees. And I assure you, that paying them the correct salary will not cost $3 million a year, Cruz said.

"All three of us have to be upgraded so that we can get the record straight.

Ernst & Young takes over

Auditing firm Ernst & Young will be picking up the auditing contracts left behind now that current third-party auditor for GovGuam, Deloitte & Touche, is shutting its doors on island.

According to Cruz, Deloitte & Touche was initially going to stay on as the governments auditor until the firm closed. But a large number of the firms staff fled to Ernst & Young, prompting the bids to be reissued. Ernst & Young was awarded all of the contracts, he said.

The OPA will be responsible for paying Ernst & Young for audits of the autonomous agencies and instrumentalities of the government, such as the Government of Guam Retirement Fund, thanks to an amendment passed into the upcoming budget act by Brown.

The various departments will have to deposit the cash for the audits into an account administered by the public auditor. Cruz earlier this year said that allowing the agencies to pay third-party auditors themselves led to the habitual delay of their books being released, as discrepancies were cleaned up.
The Mangilao donne Festival made its heated return on Saturday at the Night Market Grounds.

Despite the weather, the public attended the festival to get a hold of the spiciest peppers on island and enjoy some live music, local crafts, performances, carnival games and food trucks.

Mangilao Mayor Alan Ungacta said the festival is a welcome return to normalcy and an opportunity for families and friends to reunite and have fun. The festival was postponed for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The festival will continue today from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and will include a donne dinanche competition, with awards to follow at 2 p.m., and fireworks at 7:30 p.m.

This is where we started, these festivals and night markets that give local entrepreneurs a chance to showcase their products and flavors, said Marvin Crisostomo, owner of Local Jerk Dinanche.

He said making dinanche and other food where donne peppers are the main ingredients is a tradition passed down from his family and friends and has always been a way to bring them together.

Its a breath of fresh air. This festival gives us a chance to come out and meet our customers again to get feedback if we are doing something right or something needs to be changed, said Crisostomo.

Sylvia Lizama, of Mangilao, said she lives up the street from the night market, but this is her first time attending the festival.

Its within walking distance and a nice gathering to come see the vendors and what the community has to offer and how we celebrate our donne peppers, she said.

Lizama encouraged the community to come to the festival, which highlights the beauty of the village and supports local businesses.

The business manager of Farm to Table Guam, Roland Santos, said the organizations farm is located in Mangilao so the festival is very appreciated as a way to promote buying locally produced vegetables, fruit, eggs and honey.

The festival is supported by a grant from the American Rescue Plan, along with the Guam Economic Development Authority, National Endowment for the Arts, Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency, government of Guam and Office of the Governor.
Rep. Anna Eshoo has written a letter to the FTC's chair to "immediately investigate" the company over surveillance issues.

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo of California has formally called upon the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate Fog Data Science LLC, a company that was this month found to have allegedly provided US authorities with a "mass surveillance" tool. In a letter dated September 13, Rep. Eshoo urged FTC Chair Lina Khan to "immediately investigate" the company over its cellphone tracking technology that was said to enable police to track users' movements.

In the letter, Rep. Eshoo said that an investigation into Fog Data Science LLC was necessary "to ensure that surveillance advertising becomes a prohibited business practice."

Police Reportedly Using a Cellphone Tracking Tool Provided by Virginia-based Tech Company

Earlier this month, AP News reported that authorities in Southern California and North Carolina have been using an "obscure tracking tool, at times without search warrants," that enables them to track a user's movements even "months back in time." This tool was called "Fog Reveal" and enabled law enforcement to go through hundreds of billions of records from up to 250 million mobile devices.

Law enforcement then used this data to analyze the locations of users and determine "patterns of life." Fog Reveal was marketed by a company in Virginia called Fog Data Science LLC and has been used by investigators since 2018 to solve crimes.

The aforementioned AP report revealed that Fog Data Science LLC was founded by two former high-ranking employees of the Department of Homeland Security under the George W. Bush administration. The surveillance tool uses advertising identification numbers from smartphone apps such as Waze, Starbucks, and other apps that use targeted ads based on the user's interests and movements.

Read Also: South Korean Government Fines Google, Meta Approx. $71.8M for Violating Privacy Laws

How Fog Reveal Takes Advantage of a Constitutional Loophole

The data gathered from the surveillance tool is then purchased by Fog Data Science and repackaged to be sold to "at least two dozen agencies for investigative purposes," Gizmodo reported. This system of collecting data and selling it to authorities was uncovered by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which advisor Bennett Cyphers described as "a mass surveillance program on a budget." Fog Data Science allegedly sold the packaged data for just $7,500 annually.

The report also revealed that Fog Data Science is able to carry out such actions without violating the law because they are exploiting a "loophole" in the Fourth Amendment, experts believe. As per a 2018 Supreme Court opinion, the US government is prohibited from obtaining sensitive location data without a warrant, but many government agencies have interpreted the law to apply to merely "demands" for this kind of data and not "purchases."

Fog Data Science managing partner Matthew Broderick defended the use of collected data from users, explaining that Fog Reveal was critical to law enforcers and suggesting that authorities often lacked the resources to carry out investigations as they were ill-equipped and relied on dated technology, Ars Technica reported. Broderick argued that his company "[fills] a gap for underfunded and understaffed departments."

As per the report, Broderick added further that Fog Data Science does not have actual access to users' personal information and is instead using data that is commercially available and free to use, essentially placing responsibility and accountability on the apps to create better restrictions on user privacy.

Related Article: Facebook, Instagram Can Track Users by Using In-App Browsers, Researcher Says
James Moylan is a senator in the 36th Guam Legislature. Editors note: This letter has been edited for length. It can be read in its entirety online at

guampdn.com.




Haiti - FLASH : The fever of looting seizes the demonstrators





Friday, September 16, 2022, scenes of looting multiplied in several regions of the country plagued by protest movements against the significant increase in fuel prices at the pump https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37644-haiti-flash-new-prices-of-petroleum-products-at-the-pump-preview.html , the high cost of living and the departure of the Prime Minister...



Looting operations have been reported in Saint-Marc where public institutions, residences and private businesses have been attacked, vandalized and looted.



The office of the National Old-Age Insurance Office (ONA) was set on fire and that of Ouanaminthe attacked and looted. Pierre Motler Saint-Jacques Administrative Director of the ONA strongly condemns these two attacks against the regional offices of the institution.



In Ouanaminthe, the office of the Jesuit migrant service charity was also looted.



In Gonaives, a Brasserie de la Couronne warehouse, several educational establishments including the Sainte-Famille college, the Immaculate Conception College, the public University of Artibonite and Catholic institutions, a Digicel warehouse and the premises of the United Nations Office for Project Services in Haiti (UNOPS) were attacked, looted and vandalized.



The Departmental Input Supply Center of the Artibonite Department, where drugs and inputs for 15 communes and 140 health centers and hospitals in the department were stored, was vandalized for fun, the demonstrators , the demonstrators threw tons of inputs (medicines, gowns, syringes, vaccines, etc...) out of the building. A generator that supplied the building was badly damaged). The looters who were obviously not trying to steal medicine, left with 7 of the 10 refrigerators of the establishment (the 3 others were destroyed), 36 solar panels installed on the roof, 24 new batteries and 4 new motorcycles among others...



In Leogane, looters in balaclavas broke into the offices of the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI) and left with computer equipment, furniture and batteries before vandalizing and setting fire to the premises.



The generator of the UNIBANK branch (opposite the DGI) was destroyed by fire. Other private businesses, including a supermarket, were looted by masked individuals...



Protesters also vandalized several gas stations.



During the day, injuries were reported, including several by bullets. There have been reports of numerous clashes with the police trying to prevent the looting of businesses whenever possible...



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37657-haiti-gonaives-protesters-loot-caritas-and-wfp-warehouses.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37651-haiti-notice-the-embassies-are-closing-one-after-the-other.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37641-haiti-demonstrations-the-revolt-rumbles-at-least-2-dead-and-several-injured.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37638-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37607-haiti-flash-demonstration-one-death-warehouse-and-containers-looted-in-les-cayes.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37593-haiti-politic-demonstrations-violence-vandalism-looting-several-victims.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37590-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37584-haiti-demonstrations-protection-of-banks-and-blocking-of-roads-the-pnh-deploys.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37520-haiti-flash-demonstrations-and-violence-at-least-2-dead-about-fifteen-injured-and-numerous-damages.html



TB/ PI/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - FLASH : Soon Haitian women will be able to give birth for free in Haiti Thanks to the efforts of President Abinader





Friday, September 16, 2022, following a press conference on the results of his trip to Washington, President Luis Abinader revealed that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) had committed to donating two maternity wards to the border, whose construction will be carried out on Haitian territory to the North and South. These two maternities will be financed by the IDB to the tune of 40 million US dollars.



Furthermore, Abinader clarified that the IDB has promised to supervise the construction of the two maternities and provide the necessary resources. In addition, Abinader pointed out that the IDB will also support the first five years of maintenance, in collaboration with an American NGO working in Haiti.



"The IDB has promised to direct and seek the necessary funds to build these maternities, both in the North and in the South of Haiti, near the border, so that the thousands of Haitian women can have hospitals where they will not be invoiced," underlined the Dominican President.



Abinader explained that he reached this agreement during a meeting with the President of the IDB, Mauricio Claver-Carone during his recent visit to the United States.



In addition, he wished to recall that this project is the culmination of nearly 16 months of effort in accordance with the commitments listed in point 2 of the joint declaration he had signed with the late President Jovenel Moise in January 2021 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32758-haiti-flash-9-joint-commitments-between-haiti-and-the-dominican-republic.html



Abinader recalled that since the beginning of his administration in August 2020 he maintained that the construction of maternities in Haiti at the level of the border would help control the number of Haitian women giving birth on Dominican territory in search of better care and services https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37188-haiti-health-tens-of-thousands-of-haitians-continue-to-give-birth-each-year-in-the-dominican-republic.html .



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37188-haiti-health-tens-of-thousands-of-haitians-continue-to-give-birth-each-year-in-the-dominican-republic.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32758-haiti-flash-9-joint-commitments-between-haiti-and-the-dominican-republic.html



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Towards a declaration of a state of emergency ?

According to rumors circulating in the corridors of the National Palace, the Government is preparing to declare a state of emergency in Haiti accompanied by a curfew.



American justice : A first for a Haitian

The American of Haitian origin Markenzy Lapointe was appointed Thursday, September 15 Prosecutor for the Southern District of Florida by President Joe Biden. If ratified by the Senate, Lapointe who was raised in Haiti will become the first African-American to hold this position in Florida.



Latortue rejects Beauzile's accusations

Former Artibonite senator Youri Latortue rejects the accusations of Edmonde Supplice Bhttps://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-37660-icihaiti-politic-the-residence-of-former-senator-edmonde-supplice-beauzile-burned-and-looted.html suggesting that he would be one of the sponsors of the fire and the looting of the private residence of his former colleague in the Senate.



Looting : The Minister of Justice promises to crack down

"In the name of the Government of the Republic, I condemn with the utmost rigor the acts of violence, looting and vandalism perpetrated against the premises of public and international institutions, private companies, as well as the residences of political leaders and peaceful citizens https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37665-haiti-flash-the-fever-of-looting-seizes-the-demonstrators.html . These are barbaric, outrageous, reprehensible acts contrary to the law, the rule of law and democratic standards. The public authorities concerned have been instructed to take action against the intellectual authors and performers of these acts, by bringing them front the courts to respond for their crimes," Berto Dorce, Minister of Justice and Public Security.



The residence of the Minister of Planning under attack

The private residence in Soisson, of the Minister of Planning, Ricard Pierre, was attacked by individuals under the name of protesters. At least 1 dead and several wounded during this attack. The victims come from the Thomassin 48 area.



Crisis in Haiti : UN Statement

Haiti is going through an unprecedented crisis on the political, security, economic and humanitarian levels, warns in a press release the United Nations (UN) which underlines "The Haitian crisis affects to the highest degree the most vulnerable populations, particularly those living in areas controlled by armed gangs."



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Ahn Sung-ki, one of the most respected actors in Korea, has received treatment for blood cancer for more than a year, his management agency said Saturday.







"He has recovered a lot as he usually takes care of his health thoroughly," Artist Company said. "We'll focus on his recovery and treatment so that he can greet you in good health."







There were rumors about his health problems when the 70-year-old actor was hospitalized in October 2020, which he denied. Last year, he appeared in public for a press conference in Seoul to promote his new film.







But on Thursday he looked much different at a special screening for films by master Korean director Bae Chang-ho. He required the aid of a fellow actor when he entered the theater in southern Seoul. He wore a wig, his face was swollen, and he had lost most of his eyebrows.







He then struggled to speak on stage in celebration of the special screening event. He left the theater without watching all of the opening film.







Debuting at age 5, he has appeared in more than 100 films, including "Good Windy Day" (1980), "Deep Blue Night" (1984), "Two Cops" (1993), "Silmido" (2003), "Radio Star" (2006) and "Unbowed" (2011). Most recently, he played a small role in "Hansan: Rising Dragon," the 2022 Korean historical epic about the country's legendary naval hero Yi Sun-shin. (Yonhap)


















Korean Movie | 2010

 Thriller

Directed by Na Hong-jin ()

Written by

156min | Release date in South Korea: 2010/12/22

Links

Also known as "The Murderer"

Synopsis

Na Hong-jin, director of the 2008 award-winning film The Chaser, is back with another action thriller that crosses borderlines. He brings with him The Chaser stars Ha Jeong-woo and Kim Yoon-seok, who are once again in the lead.



Gu-nam (Ha), a taxi driver in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin Province, in Northeastern China, is living with a mounting debt. His wife left for South Korea six months ago and he hasnt heard from her since. He starts gambling to make money but always ends up losing.



One day, Gu-nam is offered a job that will pay off all his debts. The job is to assassinate someone in South Korea. He takes the job without knowing much about his target and to see his wife. But when he arrives in Seoul, he ends up being chased by the police because he is wanted for a murder that he did not commit. Gu-nam is starting to realize that he has been tricked into a dangerous trap. But the police arent the only ones looking for Gu-nam. Myun-ga (Kim), a professional assassin who also lives in Yanbian, is sent to Seoul to look him as well. Gu-nam has two choices: solve the mystery of who hired him and why Myun-ga is after him by himself or end up in jail for the rest of his life.

Source
Published on 2022/09/17 | Source

Korean-Japanese documentary "Soup and Ideology" added to HanCinema database

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"Soup and Ideology" (2021)

Directed by Yonghi Yang

With Yonghi Yang,...

A Japanese-Korean co-production

Synopsis

The parents were vehemently opposed to the Japanese son-in-law. The mother carefully cooks stuffed chicken for her Japanese son-in-law who is greeting her for the first time in Osaka. Her family is full of incomprehensible things, but it's just amazing to the husband. One day, the mother tells her memories of her hometown, Jeju Island, which she had never told anyone. Now, with painful memories that are gradually being forgotten, they go to Jeju Island together for the first time since born eating white boiled chicken cooked by the son-in-law.



"Even if we have different opinions, let's eat together". We are a family.

Release date in Korea : 2022/10
Korea's vice defense and foreign ministers - Shin Beom-chul, right, and Cho Hyun-dong, second from right - pose for a photo with Colin Kahl, left,, undersecretary of defense for policy, and Bonnie Jenkins, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, at a session of the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG) in Washington D.C. on Sept. 16. Yonhap



South Korea and the United States warned North Korea would face an "overwhelming and decisive" response in the event of a nuclear attack, as the allies had a high-level deterrence dialogue in Washington D.C. on Friday (local time).



The two sides agreed on a "strong and resolute whole-of-government" response in case Pyongyang presses ahead with another nuclear test and "all available levers" to address its evolving military threats, according to a joint statement on the results of the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG) meeting held after a nearly five-year hiatus. The session came amid a view that the North has already completed preparations for what would be its seventh nuclear test.



The EDSCG, a gathering of the allies' vice-ministerial diplomatic and defense officials, resumed just a week after the North codified a nuclear policy that leaves open the possibility of a preemptive strike in case of a regime security threat.



"The United States and the ROK made clear that any DPRK nuclear attack would be met with an overwhelming and decisive response," the statement reads, using the acronyms for the official names of South and North Korea, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.



The U.S. reiterated its "ironclad and unwavering" commitment to draw on the full range of its military capabilities, including "nuclear, conventional, missile defense, and other advanced non-nuclear capabilities," to provide extended deterrence for the South.



Extended deterrence refers to America's stated commitment to mobilizing the whole of U.S. military capabilities to defend its ally. Topping the EDSCG talks was the joint endeavor to enhance its credibility.



"The September 16 dialogue highlighted the commitment by both partners to use all available levers, including diplomatic, informational, military, and economic tools, to strengthen and reinforce the U.S. security commitment to the ROK, strengthen deterrence against DPRK aggression and more broadly counter the DPRK threat," the statement said.



Pointing out the North's assertive nuclear policy enshrined in a recently enacted law, the allies voiced "serious" concern and decried it as "escalatory and destabilizing messaging."



"The two sides committed to continue efforts to employ all elements of both countries' national power to strengthen the alliance deterrence posture," the statement said.



Touching on concerns about the possibility of the regime staging a nuclear test, Seoul and Washington highlighted their readiness against it.



"The United States and the ROK reaffirmed that a DPRK nuclear test would be met with a strong and resolute whole-of-government response," it said. "The two countries are closely coordinating in detail and stand ready for all possible scenarios."



As part of efforts to strengthen deterrence, the U.S. reiterated its commitment to reinforce coordination with the South to continue to deploy and exercise its strategic assets in the region in a "timely and effective" manner, according to the statement.



In addition, both sides agreed on the importance of fully implementing U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions on North Korea, noting the North's continued development of ballistic missiles and other weapons of mass destruction undermines global security.



"The two sides also agreed that they will enhance cooperation to address DPRK sanctions evasion and illicit cyber activities using diplomatic, economic, and military tools," the statement said.



The U.S. renewed its support for the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's "audacious" plan designed to help the North improve its economy if it takes steps towards denuclearization.



Seoul's Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul and Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong attended the session, with the U.S. represented by Colin Kahl, undersecretary of defense for policy, and Bonnie Jenkins, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security.



The two sides agreed to hold the high-level EDSCG annually. In the first half of next year, they plan to have the next EDSCG engagement at the "expert level" prior to the high-level session.



The EDSCG session had been suspended for years since its second and last session in January 2018, when the then liberal Moon Jae-in administration pushed for an initiative to promote inter-Korean rapprochement.



The reactivation of the EDSCG followed a Seoul summit deal in May between South Korean President Yoon and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden. (Yonhap)






A SERVICE of commemoration for the Queen will take place at St Marys Church in Henley on Sunday.

The rector, Father Jeremy Tayler, says all are welcome at the service, which will begin at 4pm.

He will lead prayers for the late monarch and will deliver a sermon.

Fr Jeremy said: I hope people of the town will come together. I want to open the doors to anyone  those who have never been to church before as well as those who have been coming for years.

The Church has a historic legacy of being a space and place for people to come together. That has changed over the years as religious commitment is not as strong but I hope people will come no matter their history.

There is an inclusivity written into the way the Church of England works. Just looking around Henley and the surrounding area over the last few days  it is great to see all the churches open and welcoming people. This is the time for churches to step up as they are needed in times like this more than ever.

St Marys has a book of condolence, as does St Nicholas in Remenham, where Fr Jeremy is also rector.

He said: We have seen some lovely messages over the past few days, many from all over the world.

As Henley is a hot spot for tourists, we have been seeing just how much the Queen meant to other countries, not just the UK.

Something that keeps cropping up is messages from children. They seem to have had just as much affection for the Queen and many have wished her well in heaven.

Overall, we have seen an awful lot of gratitude, with so many people thanking her for all her service over the years.

Jeremy Bray, a leader at Henley Baptist Church at the d:two centre in Market Place, said: It will be another very positive time to get together again on Sunday. We get together regularly and I think its a wonderful thing that we enjoy being together.

Last Sunday we spent some time as a church praying for the Queen and thanking God for her.

We tried to engage the kids so we played the Paddington TV sketch from the Queens platinum jubilee celebrations for them to have memories of her and see her character and fun personality.

We all felt rather sad but we wanted to give thanks.

Our cafe is open if people want to come in to chat.

The d:two centre will be open from 10.15am on Monday for people to watch the procession and funeral on a big screen.

Everyone is welcome, particularly if you would prefer not to watch the events on your own at home, said Mr Bray.

Christ Church in Reading Road held a memorial service for the Queen on Sunday.

Rev Glyn Millington, the minister, said: She has always been there, throughout my lifetime, so its quite an odd time. Most people who have spoken about it have said the same  96 is not a tragedy but it is definitely the end of an era.

One of my favourite recent memories of the Queen was with Captain Tom Moore which must have been the last time she knighted someone older than herself. We owe her so much. We hope to get together with the other churches at St Marys this Sunday.

Holy Trinity Church in Church Street opened after the Queens passing and will remain so until after her funeral.

The church bells were rung on Friday at noon and there was a special service on Sunday.

Rev Duncan Carter, the vicar, said: We gave thanks for the life of Her Majesty and prayed for King Charles III.

We are planning what we could do on the day of the Queens funeral. We want people to feel welcome to come in and say a prayer.

Mass was said for the Queen at Sacred Heart Church on Sunday.
Busan Global Village, where visitors learn English with native speakers, was founded by Busan Metropolitan City and its Office of Education in 2009. Newsis



Korean language supporters decry city government's efforts to become English-friendly



By Ko Dong-hwan



The quest to learn English has been one of the pillars of education for Koreans of all ages for decades. Different municipalities across the country have introduced various measures to make English education more accessible and enjoyable to the broader public.



One program that created a boom was the introduction of English villages, educational theme parks where visitors could meet native English speakers in person and practice basic conversation. Their popularity declined from about a decade ago and many of them have since shut down, becoming but a vestige of the past.



Busan is now turning a new page. The city government, following Mayor Park Heong-joon's pledge made while running for re-election last June, is pushing forward with making English the city's new "common language." The move was also confirmed during the mayor's interview with The Korea Times in July . He said in the interview it will also help the city win its bid to host the World Expo 2030.



The problem is that there has been a growing number of protests against the move, raising concerns that if English usage is increased, it might interfere in the preservation and promotion of the Korean language.



But Busan Metropolitan City told The Korea Times on Thursday that they will continue advocating for the use of English.



"It seems that the term 'common language' is confusing to some people who mix it up with 'official language,'" said Na Yun-bin, a spokesperson of Mayor Park. "The principal goal is that we make Busan a city where English can be used more conveniently without affecting the use of Korean by members of the public."



The authority has begun hiring private firms to take preliminary steps for the execution of the plan. One of the steps is surveying the opinions of city residents about the use of English in their daily lives.





Students at Busan Global Village learn how to use English in an airplane in a lesson provided by Air Busan, 2009. Korea Times file



Facing rising criticism from those opposed, the city government has also rolled out an FAQ sheet to address the complaints. It said the initiative considers use of Korean to be "most essential" while English has a "supplementary" function to help people in specific situations where English can be helpful. The sheet also explains that public services will better cater to foreign visitors by showing both Korean and English in official administrative forms and publications for certain government bureaus or public places where multilingual services are needed.



As to one of the concerns from critics that the initiative could force people to spend more money than before on learning English, the sheet explained that people have already been doing so for years. It cited data from the Ministry of Education showing that the number of people learning English at private language academies in metropolitan cities before entering university or college jumped from 7.9 percent in 2017 to 11 percent in 2021.



The city also said that Busan's latest education initiative will be different from past ones by other municipalities in the country that ultimately failed. "Our initiative will be limited to public institutions and places in need of English for official purposes as well as those interested in learning English, so that the policy can focus effectively on selective areas," the sheet explained.



"The big English Village in Paju went bust. What we aim to do here won't be as big as that but rather a smaller educational center that provides easier access to the public, particularly for those who couldn't afford to study English privately," Na said. "Besides, Busan currently has Busan Global Village, an English Village that has proven to be the most successful in the country."



Busan Global Village is operated independently by KNN, a regional broadcaster covering Busan and South Gyeongsang Province, under the city government.





Representatives of civic groups from across the nation that advocate the use of Korean protest against Busan Metropolitan City's plan to introduce English as a common language, Aug. 29. Yonhap
Kwon Oh-sung, the president of the organizing committee for the Defense Expo Korea, poses at the headquarters of the Association of the Republic of Korea Army in Seoul. Courtesy of Association of the Republic of Korea Army



DX Korea to take place at KINTEX Wednesday through Sunday



By Kang Seung-woo



Korea has been expanding its presence in the global defense industry on the back of its recent massive arms deal with Poland, worth an estimated 20 trillion won ($14.3 billion), an achievement bringing more attention to Korean-made military hardware.



The agreement even encouraged President Yoon Suk-yeol last month to unveil a plan to make Korea one of the world's top four weapons suppliers.



Amid the winning vibes, Kwon Oh-sung, the president of the organizing committee for the Defense Expo Korea (DX Korea), believes that the biennial defense fair can play a role in helping the country to establish itself as a solid international powerhouse in the sector.



DX Korea, hosted by the Association of the Republic of Korea Army and co-organized by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), is the nation's lone exhibition for equipment of ground forces and marketing defense products to not only international buyers but also to defense purchasing decision makers from all around the world. Since its first iteration in 2014, DX Korea has solidified its position as the platform for international cooperation in constructing cutting-edge national defense power.



This year's edition is scheduled to take place Wednesday through Sunday at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, with 210 international and local exhibitors participating.



"The defense industry is a difficult sector to access and hold exhibitions for, so the DX Korea has served as a place helping people with mutual interests to meet each other," Kwon said in an interview with The Korea Times.



"As top military brass, government officials and representatives from defense companies flock to DX Korea, arms deals can be made, while each country's military requirements can be confirmed as well."



Kwon, a former Army chief of staff, said the upcoming DX Korea will be different from its predecessors in a few ways.



"Amid increasing interest in defense exports, we have extended 'customized' invitations strategically," he said.



According to him, the defense ministry, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the Army and defense firms each invited players, based on respective needs.



Kwon also said this year's edition will come up with a new program helping small and mid-sized defense companies promote their products.



"In general, exhibitions proceed centered on major firms, so we have devised the 'Pitch Program' that will introduce smaller exhibitors' new products and technologies," he said, adding that 12 companies have applied for the program.



Unlike other international military fairs, DX Korea stages a massive live fire and maneuver demonstration, with the 2022 edition to feature 19 types of military vehicles and equipment at the Republic of Korea Army's training Center in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province.



"It is a large-scale firing demonstration that is not usually feasible in other military expos," Kwon said.





Foreign soldiers visit a booth at DX Korea 2020. Courtesy of the organizing committee for the DX Korea
Xi urges SCO to strengthen cooperation, promote building of closer SCO community with shared future

Xinhua) 09:49, September 17, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping makes remarks while attending the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the International Conference Center in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to uphold the Shanghai Spirit, strengthen unity and cooperation, and promote the building of an even closer SCO community with a shared future.

Xi made the remarks while attending the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO, during which he delivered a speech entitled "Ride on the Trend of the Times and Enhance Solidarity and Cooperation to Embrace a Better Future."

In the speech, Xi pointed out that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Guided by the two founding documents, the SCO has succeeded in exploring a new path for the development of international organizations, and there is much to be drawn upon from its enlightening practices, including upholding political trust, mutually beneficial cooperation, equality, openness and inclusiveness, and equity and justice. These five points fully embody the Shanghai Spirit, namely mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development, said Xi.

To promote the building of an even closer SCO community with a shared future, Xi called on SCO members to enhance mutual support, expand security cooperation, deepen practical cooperation, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges and uphold multilateralism.

Leaders of SCO member states signed and released the Samarkand Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

At the meeting, several statements and documents were issued on protecting international food and energy security, tackling climate change, and keeping supply chains secure, stable and diversified; a memorandum of obligations on Iran's SCO membership was signed; the procedure for Belarus' accession was started; MOUs granting Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar the status of SCO dialogue partners were signed; agreement was reached on admitting Bahrain, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Myanmar as new dialogue partners; and a series of resolutions were adopted, including a Comprehensive Plan for the Implementation of the SCO Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation for 2023-2027. It was decided at the meeting that India will assume the SCO rotating presidency for 2022-2023.

Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with other leaders and guests ahead of the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16, 2022. Xi attended the meeting and delivered a speech. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji)




The minor progressive Justice Party (JP) on Saturday adopted a resolution pledging a massive overhaul of itself in a bid to win back the minds of the people.







The resolution, which was adopted at the party's convention held at the National Assembly, calls for a set of reform measures, including renaming and recreating the party.







The JP, which champions liberal agenda, such as labor rights and social welfare, suffered a crushing defeat in June's local elections, failing to win any mayoral, governor or ward office and county head seats, and low approval ratings.







It formed an emergency committee after the failure in June and has sought ways to carry out sweeping reforms.







As part of efforts to overcome the crisis, the party earlier introduced a motion calling for the mass resignation of all five of its lawmakers holding proportional representation seats as part of reform measures, but it was voted down at a party referendum held earlier this month.







"With today's party convention, the main role of the emergency committee ends," said Rep. Lee Eun-ju, chairperson of the party's emergency committee. "The Justice Party's progressive politics will make a new start today." (Yonhap)










North Korean refugee Han Song-mi, center, poses with Casey Lartigue of Freedom Speakers International, left, and Park Jin, second from left, foreign minister, at the Harvard Club of Korea's annual alumni dinner on Dec. 1, 2019. To Han's left are Park Jae-Joon of Yonsei University College of Medicine, and Park Young-sun of Hackers English Institute. Courtesy of Casey Lartigue.



By Han Song-mi



I attended elementary school for only one year when I was growing up in North Korea. My life was unstable in North Korea as I moved from home to home, my mom and I were homeless for a while, and I was usually starving and in poverty.



My mom escaped to South Korea then later rescued me from North Korea. I struggled with adjusting to life in South Korea. I even contemplated suicide at one point. As I was going through that dark time, I was trying to find something to save myself.



I tried several things, including re-starting learning English. In late 2019, a friend told me about an organization named Freedom Speakers International. I was so amazed as I watched the videos and read articles about the organization. It seemed to be a dream come true for a North Korean refugee like me who can't afford private tutoring.



I learned that the co-founder was an American named Casey Lartigue Jr. I contacted him to ask about applying to the organization as a student. He directed me to the online application process. A few weeks later, I met with him and FSI co-founder Lee Eun-koo. Was there really an organization that focused on helping North Korean refugees learn English? I told them a little about my struggles, that I was trying to find something meaningful.



After my second visit, Casey and Lee Eun-koo had talked about me. Casey invited me to the most wonderful event. The Harvard Club of Korea held its annual alumni dinner at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul. I felt like I was dreaming the whole night.



I wanted to understand everything being said, but my English was so poor. Even when I understood, I was too nervous and shy to speak. My eyes shone with happiness as I smiled the whole night, unable to hide my feelings. It was an elegant night. We had a fancy dinner. Educated and professional people were drinking nice wine and talking about many things, much of which I couldn't understand.



I met Park Jin, a member of South Korea's National Assembly who greeted me. He was so nice. Later, I saw in the news that he had become South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs. I can't believe that such a high-ranking person in the South Korean government knows who I am.



The most exciting moment of the night was when they had a quiz about Harvard University's history. When the announcer asked a few of the questions, Casey pointed at me, trying to get the announcer's attention. Then, it happened! The announcer pointed at me. I stood up, excited as a person brought the microphone over to me. Casey whispered to me, "Just say 'eight.'" I had been shy all night, but not at that moment. Very loudly and proudly, I said, "Eight!"



The announcer said I was right, and I won co?ee from a Harvard alumni! I was in a room with Harvard professors and alumni, and I was the person with the right answer! The right answer was "eight." Eight what, I didn't know. Casey later told me that "eight" was the number of Harvard graduates who had become president of the United States. Casey could have won the co?ee, but instead he told me the answer so I could win. It was an amazing night.



Later that night, I sent the photos to my mom. "Mom, I went to this event. It is really special."



She asked, "Why is it special?"



"I met Harvard professors."



She also got excited as she heard more details. Her daughter who didn't study or read a book for years when she was in North Korea was in the same room with Harvard alumni as a special guest. Mom said to me, "I think you are a lucky girl to have met Harvard professors. I am so grateful Casey took you there." Mom is always worried about me. After we reconciled in South Korea, our relationship got even stronger than before. It was a wonderful moment. I was a daughter telling her mom about a special night.



I didn't know anything about Harvard University when I was in North Korea. Before I went to the dinner, I searched online to learn more about it. I was so excited as I told mom about Harvard University as if she also had never heard of it.



Mom asked, "Are you crazy? You didn't know about Harvard?"



"Mom," I said. "I had never heard about Harvard when I was in North Korea. I had to work to survive. I feel so lucky."



I sent the photos to a long-time friend who is like an aunt to me. She also posted the photos on her social media. She was so proud that I had gone to a Harvard University event.



I was still going to have a lot of trouble over the next few months and year, and had struggled so much for several years, but that night was a bright spot. When I was on the subway going home, I couldn't stop smiling.



I later told Casey more about the problems I had been going through. He was disappointed that I had not told him earlier. He said that I should have told him sooner, and that he would help me organize my life.



At the end of 2019, I was looking for something to save myself. I am now in a different place in my life, as an author, speaker, people from around the world have contacted me, and I have numerous organizations inviting me to participate in their activities.



I will never forget going to that Harvard Alumni Dinner as a special guest. I will soon have a Part 2 to my Harvard story.



Next week I will be visiting the U.S to give speeches in Nashville (TN), New York City (NY) and Cambridge (MA) for the U.S. release of my memoir, Greenlight to Freedom. My trip to the U.S. will end with a visit to Harvard University. Casey will be giving a speech at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. I will be joining him, and I will have a chance to speak at Harvard University.



Oct. 3 is a special day in my life. On Oct. 3, 2011, I was released from South Korea's re-education center for North Korean refugees and became a citizen of South Korea. I will be celebrating my freedom day this year speaking at a famous university I never heard of when I was in North Korea.





Han Song-mi is co-author with Casey Lartigue of the book Greenlight to Freedom: A North Korean Daughter's Search for Her Mother and Herself. She is a Keynote Speaker with Freedom Speakers International and was the winner of the organization's 16th English Speech Contest on Aug. 27.








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MountanOne Named a Top Insurance Employer

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  MountainOne Insurance, a full-service insurance agency with offices in North Adams, Pittsfield, and Williamstown, has been named a "Top Insurance Employer by Insurance Business America (IBA).

IBAs annual Top Insurance Employer program ranks leading U.S. insurance organizations based on a series of employee satisfaction metrics, including benefits, compensation, culture, employee development, and diversity. It is the third time that MountainOne Insurance has been recognized, having achieved this distinction in 2019 and 2021.

"We are incredibly proud to be recognized once again by Insurance Business America as a Top Insurance Employer, said Jonathan Denmark, MountainOne Insurances President and Chief Operating Officer. "In a challenging employment environment, we strive to offer flexibility and first class benefits to our employees."

IBAs Top Insurance Employer program has a two-phase qualification process, including an employer and an anonymous employee satisfaction survey. Company results are distributed across three categories based on employee size and overall satisfaction scores.

"I am especially proud of our employees over the past year as the Insurance Agency expanded and we welcomed many new team members," Denmark said. "With a strong culture, we have been able to reach new heights in delivering Personal, Commercial and Employee Benefit insurance solutions throughout our region."

MountainOne Insurance was one of the twenty-six organizations recognized in the 26-100 employees category for 2022. To learn more, visit here.
Worcester State Dominates MCLA Women

WORCESTER, Mass. -- Jillian Currier made 37 saves for the MCLA women's soccer team in a 3-0 loss to Worcester State on Saturday.

Haley Mignon scored a pair of goals for Worcester State, which outshot the Trailblazers 40-2.

MCLA (0-4-1, 0-1 MASCAC) hosts Eastern Nazarene on Tuesday.
Pravind Jugnauth va assister aux funerailles de la Reine Elizabeth II et puis se rendra a New Your pour prendre part aux travaux de la 77e Session de la United Nations General Assembly qui auront lieu du 20 au 26 septembre 2022.

Cabinet has taken note that the Prime Minister would lead a delegation to New York to participate in the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) which will be held from 20 to 26 September 2022.

Prior to the UNGA Session, the Prime Minister would attend the State Funeral Service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in London on Monday 19 September 2022.

During his absence, the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management would act as Prime Minister until the return of the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education and Science and Technology and the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism.
Based on real events, the fictional drama Jogi takes place in Delhi during the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. The terror that followed the death of the country's first lady, Indira Gandhi, in October84, is shown in the movie Jogi. The main character Jogi, played by Diljit Dosanjh, tells this horrifying story from his point of view.

Jogi vows to put up a fight to try and save as many people as he can from the quagmire of violence that will soon engulf the city when Delhi turns its back on Sikhs and indulges in rioting.

Screengrab

Two of Jogi's buddies, a Hindu policeman named Rawinder Chautala and a Muslim truck owner named Kaleem, step up to offer their assistance. Like the proverb that goes, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Even in the conclusion, the narrative praises their friendship.



The story of Jogi is about a young man trying to survive as the entire city is burning down, saving people and working alongside them rather than only thinking about himself.

As the everyday person determined to help as many people as he can, Diljit provides a sincere performance. Every facet of his performance skillfully combines the bewilderment at the intense hatred that is erupting in Delhi while the sorrow of losing his loved ones and protecting his community.

Jogi Screengrab

The movie is an emotional rollercoaster that will undoubtedly give you the chills. For instance, when Jogi visits Baoli to cut his hair in order to save his people.



For unversed, In Sikhism, the practice of letting one's hair grow naturally out of appreciation for the perfection of God's creation plays a significant part.

We would highly recommend you watch Jogi, it's an eye-opener with a great cast.

just watched #Jogi on netflix and my heart feels so heavy. its hurts so so much. And the fact that the victims hv not got their justice till now, its just so unfair. Hats off to diljit cuz remembering those dark times nd acting it out so nicely, man i respect him sm.   (@sugar_n_kookies) September 16, 2022

#Jogi outstanding work and must watch Jogi movie

Hats off to you @diljitdosanjh   Rakesh Sharma (@srakesh563) September 16, 2022

Indeed!

It was a well planned & executed #SikhGenocide1984

Just 5 minutes into watching #JogiOnNetflix and I was already in tears !#neverforget1984

Some wounds are just beyond healing !

Must watch #Jogi pic.twitter.com/W0EE9zPD0Q  Manpreet Kaur (@Kaur4Ever) September 16, 2022

#Jogi made me cry, a heart wrenching movie! @diljitdosanjh shines as Jogi, putting up a great performance @Mdzeeshanayyub charms giving up a strong controlled performance @tentej & @AmyraDastur93 are the suprise packages, watch out for them! Hats off @aliabbaszafar @NetflixIndia pic.twitter.com/h90O6j4WNR  Pulkit Sudan (@Pulkit_polo) September 16, 2022

Those who cheers for hate and lynching, should watch #Jogi . This film would definitely help them to cure their phobia.



It's a heartwarming story depicting the incidents of 1984 riots.



A must watch  pic.twitter.com/UoYsEiAUBl  Shailesh Pyasi (@ShaileshPyasi) September 16, 2022

#JogiReview



An intense drama. Bit off & slow but Keeps you hooked throughout. #Jogi touches some raw nerves with facts & soul shaking scenes from 84 Sikh genocide. An outstanding performance by @diljitdosanjh. Best by any punjabi actor till date. Good camerawork & BGM.



  Review Junkie (@jagatjoon12) September 16, 2022

Ive no words Ive been crying for more than 20minutes now.This isnt even 50% of what Sikhs went through during the genocide and its still so tough to watchEveryone needs to watch #JogiOnNetflix We can feel the pain in your eyes @diljitdosanjh Respect #Jogi #NeverForget84 pic.twitter.com/ZRRbbJKYOs  PB31 JATTI (@_sekhon) September 16, 2022

Waheguru meher Kari  watching movie #Jogi #JogiOnNetflix @diljitdosanj all the actors my respect to you all.

Still getting goosebumps memories came back my sister saw everything she had to cut kesh for her husband nd uncle cause they got stuck in the train in Haryana. pic.twitter.com/42xedJozes  Simi Johal  (@Simi83262223) September 16, 2022

One of the most powerful scenes from #Jogi is when @diljitdosanjh cut his hair (Kesh) one of the most important parts of a Sikhs life, and his Kadha is taken away as he impersonates being a non-Sikh. This is the kind of movie that we should support, the real Delhi Files.  Ankur Bagai (@ankurbagai) September 16, 2022

The cast of the film includes Diljit Dosanjh, Amyra Dastur, Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub, Hiten Tejwani, Neelu Kohli, Kumud Mishra, and many others.

Watch Jogi On Netflix.

(To read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading Indiatimes BINGE)
Best known for his films like Gangaajal, Apaharan, Raajneeti and Aarakshan among others, national award-winning director Prakash Jha has slammed "legendary" actors of Bollywood for endorsing tobacco brands. He also revealed that they get Rs 50 crores for one advertisement. Why will they work in my movies, he asks.

Prakash Jha on legendary actors of Bollywood for endorsing tobacco brands

AFP

Jha made the revelation while talking about his previous remark that he struggles to cast big actors in his projects. As he divulged details on his statement, he revealed big stars get a humongous amount to star in Gutka brands' commercials.

He said that these actors will come to him automatically when they focus on content.

Also Read: Ajay Devgn Defends Pan Masala Ads, Says 'If Certain Things Are Wrong, They Shouldn't Be Sold'

Twitter

"There are 5-6 actors. Look at the condition of these actors. Why will they work in my films when they get 50 crores for doing one gutka advertisement? The actors are selling gutka. Can you imagine? What are these top, legendary actors doing? We had gone to a school for location scouting."

Also Read: Case Registered Against Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh And Ajay Devgn For 'Promoting Gutka

Twitter

"The principal of the school asked me what are you guys doing in the Mumbai film industry? The boys in our school are caught chewing gutka. Roam around the north through Lucknow, Prayagraj and Mugalsarai, there are big hoardings put up where all our big stars are selling all types of gutkas (tobaccos) and paan masalas.

"When stars take time out from selling gutkas and want to focus on content, they will come to me automatically", he told The Times Of India.

TOI

Prakash Jha had earlier said that he was disgusted with actors in India. He made a controversial statement while talking about actors abroad.

"I was disgusted with actors working here in India. They dont know what acting is about. No actor has asked me questions about shoot days, shoot timings, locations, action sequences, and more. And thats the difference between Hollywood actors and Bollywood ones. The actors there attend workshops and keep on practising and improving their art," he told Bollywood Hungama.

FILE

Also Read: 'One Needs To Write A Good Story', Prakash Jha Shares His Two Cents On 'Laal Singh Chaddha'
A Tesla owner in Canada claimed he is locked out of his vehicle after the battery died, with the electric automaker telling him the replacement would cost $26,000 (Rs 20 lakh).

Tesla owner locked out of his car after battery dies

Mario Zelaya, known as @supermariozelaya, posted a video on TikTok explaining his ordeal. He said his "piece of trash" Model S died and that the car is locked, preventing him from being able to get inside.

Representational Image/Wikipedia

"$26K for a new battery. Locked out of car. Recalls are needed," he captioned the video.



Zelaya said he had bought the car in 2013 for $140,000 but explained that some 2013 and 2014 models had issues with fluid from the air conditioning system dripping into the battery.

"You're probably thinking I'm full of crap, I'm making this stuff up. I'm not," he said.

TikTok

"I got Transport Canada involved and they actually did an investigation on the car. Not only did they do an investigation on this car, they're gonna be doing one that Tesla doesn't realize is coming up," he revealed.



He claimed to have contacted another Tesla owner, who experienced the same battery issue. He criticised Tesla and said the company will not give them an explanation.

"Tesla's trying to sweep it under the rug. They won't give them any explanation of why their battery died," he added.

This isn't the first instance of a Tesla owner having trouble with their expensive electric car.

California man's Tesla freezes, leaves him stuck

Earlier in April, a Tesla owner said that his Model 3 vehicle allegedly got stuck at 133 kph on a freeway.

Javier Rodriguez, from California, said he realised something was wrong when it became hot inside the car while driving on the 10 freeway in Cabazon.



Rodriguez said the main screen was frozen when the he was at going at 133 kph. He said all of the buttons and switches - including turn signals and hazard lights - were not working.

He was able to make it off the road, and a few minutes later, the car rebooted. That's when everything seemed normal.



The California Highway Patrol (CHP) helped Rodriguez, get off the freeway, where he eventually had the car towed.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.


Le gouvernement a donne son feu vert pour la signature dune accord de principe entre ses deux institutions dans le domaine pharmaceutique et la biotechnologie.

Cabinet has agreed to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Mauritius Institute of Biotechnology Ltd and the Department for International Trade of the United Kingdom on cooperation in the fields of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. The Memorandum of Understanding would, inter alia, cover the following areas of cooperation:

(a) promotion, development and acceleration of manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, including vaccines and other drugs;

(b) facilitation of business opportunities for bilateral investment including joint commercial ventures and partnerships;

(c) negotiations for securing licensing agreements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; and

(d) training and human resource development, as well as technology transfer and innovative practices.

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People moving to Ireland face a severe house crisis and will struggle to find accommodation, the French embassy there has warned its citizens.

The Dublin-based embassy posted advice, titled lodging with a warning sign next to it, on its website.

It wrote: Ireland is currently experiencing a severe housing crisis.

The French embassy in Ireland has warned those relocating to Ireland about the countrys housing crisis (PA)

New arrivals, including students, face significant difficulties in finding accommodation.

The strong demand and the saturation of the rental market have led to a sharp increase in rents, which are currently much more expensive than in Paris, including shared accommodation.

It is therefore advisable for people planning to settle in Ireland to allow sufficient time for this search for accommodation (which can take several weeks).

The embassy warned of scams on various ad sites and called for great vigilance when looking for accommodation.

It also advised against signing a contract or paying a deposit without visiting the accommodation and meeting the owner or real estate agency.

It is essential to have solid financial guarantees and, if possible, certificates of payment of rent from your previous owners (reference letter) in order to be able to present a rental file, it added.

Also note that many rental contracts prohibit pets.

In addition to the classic hotels, there are B&Bs (Bed and breakfasts) in Ireland.

It is advisable to consult the list in the yellow pages of the directory, or to request it from the Irish tourist office.

Youth hostels can also offer a solution for more modestly priced accommodation, usually in a shared room.

It comes after gardai warned students in Cork to be on the guard against accommodation fraud.

A French student who moved to Cork to study was targeted by fraudsters over a room apparently available for rent.

They handed over 3,000 euro before realising  after turning up at the property  the man she gave the money to was not actually the landlord.

Beth OReilly, president of the Union of Students in Ireland, said international students have been misled on the availability in accommodation in Ireland.

She said the issue was previously raised with Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris.

Still no action to protect students, Ms OReilly posted.

Colleges and the Department of Higher Education are more than happy to keep international students in the dark as they are the primary money maker in the sector  allowing colleges to profit and the government to continue underfunding our universities and colleges.

Up until a few weeks ago, the Education In Ireland site displayed hugely outdated information on the cost of living in Ireland  saying rent was 425 euro per month for students. When we brought this up as an issue the figures on the page were deleted  not updated.

Our international students deserve the full story before they choose to study in Ireland. They should be aware of all of the costs associated with studying here, as well as the abysmal accommodation situation.

Ill be reaching out to more embassies in the coming weeks to encourage them to display similar warnings. Hopefully more will follow suit in helping to educate students on the accommodation crisis.

The Department of Housing and Department for Higher Education has been contacted for comment.
The chief executive of Drinkaware has warned that many Irish people are in denial about their drinking habits, with some "binge drinkers" not realising that they are imbibing extremely dangerous levels of alcohol.

A report by the Health Research Board (HRB) has indicated that two in three individuals fail to recognise when their alcohol intake is at an excessive level.

The study found that people tend to underreport or underestimate how much alcohol they drink, with results from alcohol consumption surveys not matching up with alcohol sales figures.

Drinkaware chief executive Sheena Horgan said there is a "knowledge deficit" among drinkers.

"If people don't know what low risk is and they don't know what high risk is, then how can they understand what binge drinking is?"

The HSE advises no more than 11 standard drinks a week for women and 17 for men, with at least two alcohol-free days.

The HRB report found that 97% of adults who drink alcohol don't know the HSE's low-risk weekly guidelines.

A standard drink is the equivalent of a half-pint, a 100ml glass of wine, and a pub measure of spirits. A "binge" is six drinks or more in a sitting  or three pints.

Between 2020 and 2021, the frequency of binges increased among drinkers, with the figure doubling in the 18-24 age group.

Ms Horgan said that a person who drinks six or seven pints and then doesn't drink for a month is still classed as a binge drinker.

"Hazardous drinkers are those that are drinking at a risky level but may not have experienced harm.

"That particular person (drinking six or seven pints) may be absolutely fine. It doesn't mean to say there aren't harms that will come further down the line or harms that maybe they're not cognisant of around sleep, mental health, relationships," she said on Newstalk.
Extra-terrestrial water has been found for the first time in a meteorite that has fallen in the UK.

The Winchcombe meteorite, which crashed into a driveway in the Gloucestershire town last February, is also thought to hold clues about where the water in the Earths vast oceans came from.

Ashley King, a researcher in the planetary materials group at the British Natural History Museum, said 12% of the sample was made up of water, and, as the least contaminated specimen to be collected, it offers a lot of insights.

He told the British Science Festival: The composition of that water is very, very similar to the composition of water in the Earths oceans.

Its a really good piece of evidence that asteroids and bodies like Winchcombe made a very important contribution to the Earths oceans.

Dr King also confirmed that Winchcombe was the first time a meteorite containing extra-terrestrial water  albeit locked up in minerals  had fallen in the UK.

He added that, because of how quickly the 0.5kg (1lb) meteorite was retrieved  within about 12 hours  it was not contaminated by water and materials on Earth.

He said: We always try and match the composition of the water meteorites and other extra-terrestrial materials to the composition of the water on the Earth.

For most meteorites the challenge we have is that they are just contaminated, whereas with Winchcombe we really know that it really hasnt been contaminated, so its good evidence.

The Winchcombe meteorite on display at the Natural History Museum in London (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

Dr King went on: One of the big questions we have in planetary sciences is where did the water on Earth come from? And one of the obvious places is either through comets that have loads and loads of ice in them, or asteroids.

Theres always a debate  were comets the main source, were asteroids the main source?

Explaining that data from missions to comets suggests they are not a good match for the water on Earth, he added: The composition of the water in Winchcombe is a much better match, so that would imply that asteroids  carbonaceous asteroids  were probably the main source of water to the inner solar system, to the Earth.

Dr King continued: Weve had a hint that some asteroids match back nicely to the Earth.

But now we have a meteorite which is really fresh that we know hasnt been modified, and its confirming that same story.

The meteorite, which is an extremely rare type called a carbonaceous chondrite, crashed into a driveway in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, last February (Trustees of the Natural History Museum/PA)

Speaking at De Montfort University, which is hosting the festival, Dr King said analysis has revealed that the meteorite came from an asteroid somewhere near Jupiter.

It formed some 4.6 billion years ago, with its journey to Earth taking about 300,000 years.

There are approximately 65,000 known meteorites on Earth.

This is the first known carbonaceous chondrite to have been found in the UK, and the first meteorite recovered in the UK in 30 years.
The eight grandchildren of Britain's Queen Elizabeth together staged a heart-rending evening vigil around their beloved grannys coffin ahead of the final day of the lying in state.

Prince William, at the head of the coffin, with his brother Prince Harry at the foot, both in the Blues and Royals No 1 uniform, stood with their heads bowed in her honour in sombre silence in the vast Westminster Hall.

Future king William was flanked at the corners by his cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Philips.

The grandchildren walking in formation to their vigil (Aaron Chown/PA)

Harry was between Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with 18-year-old Lady Louise Windsor and he brother James  the Queens youngest grandchild who is just 14  at the middle on either side of the coffin.

Mourners filing past slowed almost to a stop to look upon the younger generation of the royal family as they stood in the spotlight, united in grief for their grandmother but maintaining their composure  just as the Queen was famed for  throughout.

The grandchildren, invited by the King, had wanted to pay their respects as their parents had done the evening before.

It is the only time Harry, who was stripped of his honorary military titles by the Queen post-Megxit, will be seen in military dress at ceremonial occasions as he mourns the Queen, having been given permission to do so by his father the King.

Sophie Wessex looked grief-stricken as she watched her children Louise and James take on the difficult role.

Viscount Severn and Princess Eugenie during the vigil (Aaron Chown/PA)

Eugenie closed her eyes as the cousins remained stock still with their heads bowed, staring downwards.

Beatrice and Eugenie just an hour before had paid an emotional tribute addressed to the Queen, saying: Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters.

The sisters, in a written message, thanked their grandmother for making us laugh, for including us, for picking heather and raspberries, for marching soldiers, for our teas, for comfort, for joy.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex watching the vigil (Aaron Chown/PA).

The princesses said they missed the Queen terribly and thanked her for being the loving hand on our backs leading us through this world, adding: We, like many, thought youd be here forever.

With just two days until the Queens state funeral, William and the King went on a walkabout on Saturday afternoon to greet mourners in the queue for the lying in state, after King Charles was given a tour of the Metropolitan Police Service Special Operations Room.

Hundreds of people in line at Lambeth, south London, cheered and applauded, with William and Charles shaking scores of hands and the prince discussing how long people had waited and whether they were able to keep warm.

The Prince of Wales meets members of the public in the queue (Aaron Chown/PA)

Several people cried after meeting William, and one woman told him: Youll be a brilliant king one day, while another told Charles the Queen would be proud of him.

Prince Edward and his wife Sophie also met well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace.

Edward told the crowd: I know that my mother would really appreciate this fantastic support.

The King greeting people in the lying in state line (Aaron Chown/PA)

With world leaders and dignitaries from around the world arriving throughout the weekend, the King embarked on a host of diplomatic duties as head of state.

He held audiences with five prime ministers  Canadas Justin Trudeau, Australia leader Anthony Albanese, The Bahamas Philip Davis, Jamaican PM Andrew Holness, and New Zealands Jacinda Ardern.

He also staged a palace lunch for governors-general from the Commonwealth realms, where he was joined by the Prince William and his wife Kate and the Queen Consort Camilla.

Kate was seen deep in conversation with Camilla during royal engagement.

The Queen Consort and the Princess of Wales during a lunch held for governors-general of the Commonwealth realms at the Palace (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The princess, who had her hair down, wore a long three-strand pearl necklace and pearl earrings  both of which were a gift from the late Queen.

At Westminster Abbey, final preparations are being put in place ready for the funeral on Monday.

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, who will lead the ceremony, said the service would be a wonderful mixture of great ceremony and some very profound but very ordinary words.

Its on a scale that even Westminster Abbey doesnt often do, he said.

Hundreds of people have been involved in the preparations inside the gothic church, working through the night as they put in 19 and 20-hour shifts to stage the historic ceremony.

The Dean said: The business about it being a state funeral is really important. Its meant to be visual. Its meant to be grand.

He added: Part of this is about remembering (the Queens) significance, her place in history, her place in the nation and Commonwealth.

But its a funeral. Its for a grieving family. Thats really important, personal sorrow at the heart of this.
Junta Watch Junta Watch: Coup Chief Drops Pretense on ASEAN Deal; COVID Lies; and More

Min Aung Hlaing at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia on Sept. 9.

Singing a new tune on ASEAN Consensus

In an interview with Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti during his recent visit to the country, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing distanced himself from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)s Five-Point Consensus on the Myanmar crisis. At a regional summit last year, he agreed to implement the pact.

In April 2021, two months after the military coup, the leaders of the nine other ASEAN countries and junta chief Min Aung Hlaing agreed to five points, including the need for an immediate end to violence in the country; facilitating humanitarian assistance by ASEAN; and allowing the ASEAN special envoy to visit Myanmar and meet with all parties.

Since then the junta chief has defied each point as he oversees a brutal nationwide crackdown aimed at suppressing millions of people opposed to military rule.

In a televised address on Aug. 1 to mark 18 months since the putsch, Min Aung Hlaing blamed COVID-19 and political instability for his failure to implement the consensus.

But during his recent trip, he changed his tune, telling RIA the agreement was put together in a one-sided manner by ASEAN leaders, according to a report published in junta-controlled Burmese-language newspapers. In the interview, he even said ASEAN must accept his regime because it was formed in line with the military-drafted 2008 Constitution, while accusing certain countries of interfering in the internal affairs of Myanmar.

This years ASEAN chair, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, has suggested rethinking the consensus, while bloc member Malaysia has refused to recognize the junta, saying it would engage with the parallel National Unity Government.

Endless liesthis time its COVID

Just a few days after Min Aung Hlaing told Russias RIA news agency that COVID-19 was under control in Myanmar, a surge in cases was reported with fatalities.

According to the junta-controlled Ministry of Health, 384 cases were reported in the first half of September with six fatalities. Quarantine centers have been reopened in Naypyitaw, the administrative capital. And due to large clusters of infections among the staff of the Transport and Communications Ministry, staff were on Sept. 12 ordered to work from home for two weeks in shifts.

Amid the new wave, large crowds of military supporters led by deputy junta chief Soe Winincluding traditional dance troupes and those bearing bannerswelcomed Min Aung Hlaing home on his return from Russia on Sept. 12

Contrary to what Min Aung Hlaing told the Russian news agency, the juntas Health Ministry called for active cooperation to prepare for a possible health crisis.

Accommodating a new friend

With the Myanmar military regime growing increasingly reliant on Russia, including militarily, regime leader Min Aung Hlaing said there are opportunities and prospects for cooperation when asked by the Russian RIA news agency about the possibility of Russian troop deployments in Myanmar.

Faced with a leading question from RIA about whether he would welcome Russian Defense Ministry delegations and accept Russian military bases on Myanmars territory, for the sake of geopolitical balancing, Min Aung Hlaing replied that while the Myanmar constitution does not allow deployment of foreign troops on Myanmars soil, ways could be sought to find out how to best cooperate within the framework of the 2008 charter.

Myanmar has no tradition of allowing foreign troops being deployed on its soil, and Section 42 (b) of the military-drafted 2008 Constitution also bars deployment of foreign troops in the territory of the Union.

Isolated by Western sanctions, Russia might be considering cementing its ties with the regime, one of its major arms buyers, to engage in trade in various sectors and to use Myanmar to expand its influence in the Asia-Pacific region including Southeast Asia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called Myanmar a long-standing and reliable partner in Southeast Asia. And it appears Min Aung Hlaing will ignore Myanmars traditional active and non-aligned foreign policy and dance according to Putins tune.

Playing with Daw Aung San Suu Kyis fate

In his latest comments on his arrest of Myanmar democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, regime leader Min Aung Hlaing told Russian news agency RIA that no further decisions will be taken regarding the detained State Counselor until all her legal trials are complete.

In August, he told UN Special Envoy Noeleen Heyzer: We will consider how to proceed depending on the response our actions receive after the completion of the judiciary process.

His comments simply reveal that he will continue to hold Daw Aung San Suu Kyi hostage in order to further his political interests. He will use her depending on the extent to which there is local and international pressure against his regime in the coming months. Sending her back to house arrest from solitary confinement in Naypyitaw Prison, where she has been since June, after all the trials against her are done may be one possible option for him to manipulate international opinion. For the vast majority of Myanmar people, who want to get rid of him, such a hidden agenda would not impress them.

So far, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in 11 cases filed against her by the regime. Many believe the cases are politically motivated by the regime to keep her out of Myanmar politics forever. She still faces another eight cases.
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.
Launched in 2016, the Young Rural Enterprises Project in the Central West of Madagascar has helped improve agricultural yields. Yields of rice and maize doubled, according to a project progress report released by the African Development Bank) on 30 August 2022.

The African Development Fund, the Bank Groups concessional window, provided the project with $23.42 million in financing, which was supplemented with $11.28 million from the Bank Groups Transition Support Facility.

Even before the end of the project, scheduled for 2023, rice yields in the Bongolava and Amoroni Mania regions have increased from 2 to 6.6 tonnes per hectare. Maize yields reached 4 tonnes, compared to 1.5 tonnes in 2015. As for groundnuts, the yield reached 1.5 tonnes per hectare, compared to 0.75 tonnes before the project. Production in the region has thus jumped to 47.43 tonnes of rice, 30.63 tonnes of maize and 9.3 tonnes of groundnuts, compared to 16, 10 and 4 tonnes respectively in 2015.

The project has enabled the development of 13,086 hectares of land, including 2,064 hectares in the lowlands. Around 11,000 hectares of land were equipped with irrigation kits for youth enterprises. Around 165 kilometres of rural tracks were developed and support was provided to 82 seed production units. Seven land offices were built, enabling 5,654 title deeds to be issued to producers.

Two school buildings, 40 housing units for young entrepreneurs and 14 wells have been built out of the 50 planned. The construction of the rest of the wells will continue, as will the construction of health facilities, police stations and other facilities, the Bank Group report states.

The project also recorded several successes in supporting livestock production. Of note is the distribution of 154 indigenous piglets in the Bongolava region in 2019; the distribution of 330 improved breed piglets in the Bongolava region (220 piglets) and in the Amoroni Mania region (110 piglets) in 2020. Support to the 139 pig breeders operating in the two regions has resulted in the production of 90.4 tonnes of pork, including 26.08 tonnes for Amoroni Mania and 64.32 tonnes for Bongolava.

A total of 379 youth-owned enterprises are benefiting from financing through the National Bank of Industry, a partner bank.

The completion of this project and especially the implementation of the second phase, which will cover more regions, will have a definite impact on production and productivity for better food security in the projects intervention zone. It will also have an impact on job creation and poverty reduction in Madagascar, concludes Moussa Morou, project manager at the African Development Bank.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that Russia was behaving "horrifically" and was likely responsible for war crimes after the discovery of mass graves in Ukraine and hailed what he saw as pressure on Moscow from China and India.

"This is part, horrifically," Blinken told reporters, "of an ongoing story whenever we see the Russian tide recede from the parts of Ukraine that it's occupied."

"We see what's left in his wake. And this latest discovery of apparently 440 mass graves in Izyum is a reminder of that," he said, referring to the eastern city where Ukrainian forces have driven out Russian invaders.

Blinken called on Ukrainians to maintain evidence to document atrocities, saying, "There needs to be accountability."

"In many instances, these will amount to war crimes, which I think is the appropriate frame through which to look at this," Blinken said.

Blinken also welcomed what he called growing pressure on President Vladimir Putin who met the leaders of China and India at a regional meeting in the Uzbek city of Samarkand.

"I think what you're hearing from China, from India, is reflective of concerns around the world about the effects of Russia's aggression on Ukraine, not just on the people of Ukraine," said Blinken, speaking alongside Jordan's foreign minister.

"I think it increases the pressure on Russia to end the aggression."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, a historic partner of Russia which has growing ties with the United States, told Putin on Friday that it was "not a time for war."

A day earlier, Putin raised eyebrows by noting the "concerns" of Chinese President Xi Jinping, seen as Russia's most powerful ally on the global stage.

US officials say that China's support for Moscow has been mostly rhetorical and that Beijing has rebuffed requests for military equipment, forcing Moscow to turn to North Korea and Iran.

Blinken last week met with Ukrainians documenting abuses as he toured Irpin on the capital Kyiv's outskirts where he was told of indiscriminate attacks during Russia's 25-day occupation at the start of the war.

But Blinken repeated President Joe Biden's view against designating Russia to be a state sponsor of terrorism, a major step that has been sought by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US lawmakers across party lines.

Blinken said that the terrorism designation could have "unintended consequences." US officials have previously voiced worry that it could stop shipments of grain from Ukraine's ports under a deal brokered with Russia by the United Nations an Turkey.

He said that, even without the designation, Western sanctions were already "having a profound impact on Russia, one that is growing every single day."

"It's going to get to be a heavier and heavier burden."
Western leaders voiced revulsion and outrage Thursday after Ukraine found a mass grave outside the formerly Russian-occupied city of Izyum and said that almost all of the exhumed bodies showed signs of torture.

Officials counted 450 hastily dug graves, some marked by rough wooden crosses at the site in a pine forest only recently recaptured by Ukrainian fighters.

"Among the bodies that were exhumed today, 99 percent showed signs of violent death," Oleg Synegubov, head of Kharkiv regional administration, said on social media.

"There are several bodies with their hands tied behind their backs, and one person is buried with a rope around his neck," he added.

"Russia leaves only death and suffering. Murderers. Torturers," said Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. Some of the remains exhumed included children and people who were likely tortured before dying, he added.

The European Union is "deeply shocked" at the newest discovery of a mass grave left by the Russians in the nearly seven-month-old war, said the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

"This inhuman behaviour by the Russian forces, in total disregard of international humanitarian law and the Geneva conventions, must stop immediately," he said in a statement.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the graves likely provided more evidence that Russia is committing war crimes in its pro-Western neighbor, and French President Emmanuel Macron said what happened in Izyum were atrocities.

"I condemn in the strongest terms the atrocities committed in Izyum, Ukraine, under Russian occupation," Macron tweeted.

Those responsible "will have to answer for their acts. There is no peace without justice," he added.

- Putin sticks to his guns -

The discovery added to the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, after his forces were driven into retreat in Kharkiv and are under heavy pressure from Ukrainian troops ion Donetsk and Kherson.

Putin, at a regional summit in Uzbekistan, was told by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that now was "not a time for war".

The discovery also came a day after Putin admitted that China, whose leader Xi Jinping was also attending the summit, had expressed "concerns" about the situation in Ukraine, which Russian forces invaded on February 24.

"I think what you're hearing from China, from India, is reflective of concerns around the world about the effects of Russia's aggression on Ukraine," Blinken said in Washington.

But Putin remained steadfast, despite strong evidence that his forces incurred heavy losses in the Ukraine counteroffensive this month, and as Washington announced another $600 million in arms and ammunition for Kyiv.

"The plan is not subject to adjustment," Putin said. "Our offensive operations in Donbas itself do not stop. They are going at a slow pace... the Russian army is occupying newer and newer territories."

Putin said the main goal of the campaign was "the liberation of the entire territory of Donbas."

He accused Ukrainian forces of attempts to carry out "terrorist acts" and damage Russian civilian infrastructure.

"We are really quite restrained in our response to this, for the time being," Putin said. "If the situation continues to develop in this way, the response will be more serious."

- UN speech -

As the investigation into the Izyum mass grave opened, the United Nations overcame Russian opposition and voted to allow Zelensky to address next week's General Assembly by video.

Of the 193 member states, 101 voted in favor of allowing Zelensky to "present a pre-recorded statement" instead of in-person as usually required.

Seven members voted against the proposal, including Russia, and 19 abstained.

"We deeply regret that Russia's war does not allow our president to participate in person," said Ukraine's ambassador to the UN, Sergiy Kyslytsya.

Zelensky's address is slated for the afternoon of September 21, but changes are likely due to many leaders heading to London for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday.

- Graves without names -

The exhumations at the forest grave near Izyum were just a part of the horrific revelations of the impact of the war and Russia's occupation of the area between March and early September.

"This is part, horrifically ... of an ongoing story whenever we see the Russian tide recede from the parts of Ukraine that it has occupied," said Blinken.

Ukraine national police chief Igor Klymenko said they had found multiple torture rooms in the town of Balakliya and elsewhere in Karkhiv since the Russians were driven out.

The United Nations in Geneva said it hopes to send a team to determine the circumstances of the deaths.

At the Izyum site two men in white overalls were digging the sandy soil.

Soon they reached the first body, exhumed it and placed it in a white plastic body bag. As more bodies appeared, the strong smell of rotting flesh spread among the trees and rough wooden crosses.

Where identification was possible, names were attached to the crosses.

At one spot, a family with a young child was buried, said Oleg Kotenko, the government official in charge of the search for missing persons nationwide.

"They were killed. There are witnesses from the same building. They saw what happened and buried these people here," he said.

"The graves without names are for those found dead in the street," he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday condemned what he described as the "atrocities" committed in the eastern Ukranian city of Izyum, which Kyiv's forces have recaptured from Russian troops.

He joined a growing chorus of outrage in western countries at reports by Ukrainian officials that they had uncovered a mass grave just outside the city containing hundreds of bodies.

"I condemn in the strongest terms the atrocities committed in Izyum, Ukraine, under Russian occupation," he tweeted.

Those responsible "will have to answer for their acts. There is no peace without justice," he added.

Kyiv officials say they have counted 450 graves at the mass burial site and found 10 alleged "torture centres" after the Kharkiv region was recaptured from Russian invaders.

Earlier Friday, the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc was "deeply shocked" at the "inhuman behaviour by Russian forces".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday Russia was behaving "horrifically" and was likely responsible for war crimes.

Oleg Synegubov, head of Kharkiv regional administration, where the city is located, said on Friday that 99 percent of the bodies recovered showed signs of a violent death.
The Czech Republic, which currently holds the EU presidency, on Saturday called for the establishment of an international tribunal for war crimes after new mass graves were found in Ukraine.

The appeal follows the discovery of around 450 graves outside the formerly Russian-occupied city of Izyum with most of the exhumed bodies showing signs of torture.

"In the 21st century, such attacks against the civilian population are unthinkable and abhorrent," Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on Twitter.

"We must not overlook it. We stand for the punishment of all war criminals," he added.

"I call for the speedy establishment of a special international tribunal that will prosecute the crime of aggression," Lipavsky said.

Investigators said some bodies in the graves found near the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum had hands tied behind their backs. They also found the bodies of children.

The Czech Republic, a former communist country and now EU and NATO member, has received around 400,000 refugees from Ukraine and provided military aid worth some $150 million to the country invaded by Russia on February 24.
Naperville Patisserie invites the public and community to celebrate the launch of their new flagship retail location.

NAPERVILLE, IL  September 16, 2022  (Newswire.com)

A LA FOLIE, a Naperville-based pastry shop, today announced a grand opening of its flagship retail location, which opened its doors today. In honor of this momentous occasion, A LA FOLIE invites the local community to celebrate the brand new location and enjoy a selection of their handmade French pastries, finest Creme Glacee (French for ice cream) and signature macarons. The new location is at the Naperville Crossings Shopping Center: 2835 Showplace Drive #127, Naperville, IL.

We are very excited to invite the community to our new store. We are always moved by the positive response our customers have to our products and their support inspires us to continue to create new and delicious recipes, said Alexis Karter, co-founder of A LA FOLIE. It feels incredible to have built this growing company and I am very proud of our team and their dedication to creating the best culinary creations.

A LA FOLIE creates unique sweets according to authentic French tradition under chef de cuisine Jerome Landrieu. A LA FOLIE was founded in 2019 by chef Jerome and his wife Alexis Karter. The name A LA FOLIE comes from a French expression often used by the founders: Je taime a la folie, which translates to I love you like crazy. The name A LA FOLIE is symbolic for the love the founders share for each other, their work and their community.

Chef Jerome was attracted to A LA FOLIEs idea of ??sharing his work directly with the public: Ive always felt a lack of connection with the customer as Ive spent most of my career helping other chefs to train. In a way, A LA FOLIE is our love letter to the community. Its about making people happy through our creations. When asked what makes his patisserie special, chef Jerome replied: At A LA
The contenders are gearing up for the race to succeed Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, with Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum in the running to become the countrys first female head of state.

The presidential election is not until July 2024, and the election campaign has not officially started yet.

But a war of likes is already raging on social media between Sheinbaum  a scientist by training and a close ally of Lopez Obrador  and Secretary of State Marcelo Ebrard.

Both hope to become the presidential candidate of the ruling Morena party, which is holding its annual congress this weekend.

A woman can be an astronaut, a lawyer, a police officer, deputy governor and president of the republic, Sheinbaum said during a recent visit outside the capital to greet supporters.

Party members will decide Morenas candidate in 2023, and opinion polls suggest her choice will be the governments favorite for another six years.

Meanwhile, anyone can ask Ebrard, 62, questions on WhatsApp after posting a contact number, or watch TikTok videos declaring himself a fan of K-pop superstars BTS.

People can also watch Sheinbaum, 60, on TikTok as she plays with a yo-yo or laughingly admits that contrary to her serious adult image, she was the school classroom spokesperson.

An opinion poll released in late August by Enkoll found that 35 percent of respondents would prefer Sheinbaum as Morenas presidential nominee, versus 26 percent for Ebrard.

And 82 percent said they would vote for a woman president, marking a sea change for a country with a longstanding culture of machismo.

But another poll released by Poligrama on Sept. 6 showed that Sheinbaum and Ebrard were almost level.

 To Lopez Obrador Unwavering 

While Lopez Obrador has said he will support whoever wins, he often shows support for Sheinbaum, whom he describes as incorruptible and a person of convictions.

Ebrard, himself a former mayor of Mexico City, knows how to govern and is efficient, but isnt as close to Lopez Obrador as the presidents steadfast confidante Sheinbaum, analyst Pablo Majluf said.

Weak opposition means the big winner of the early campaign is Lopez Obrador  with an approval rating of more than 60 percent  as only his candidates are in the running so far, political analyst Carlos Bravo Regidor said.

Sheinbaum, who is of Lithuanian and Bulgarian descent, feels very motivated to continue Lopez Obradors reform agenda and to be the first female president in Mexicos history, a source close to her told AFP.

Ebrard, who has French roots, is trying to raise his profile with domestic travel on top of his international agenda, which includes attending Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral in London on Monday.

In videos shared on social networks, Mexicos top diplomat can be seen harvesting agaves on a tequila plantation and performing traditional dances in Bolivia.

Its not Ebrards first chance at the presidency.

He was defeated by Lopez Obrador in the internal Morena vote as the partys candidate for the 2018 presidential election.

Mexicos constitution limits presidents to six-year terms, and the incumbent has vowed not to run again.

Some analysts believe Lopez Obrador will seek to exert his influence beyond 2024 to preserve his reform agenda.
The Romanian village of Viscri in the scenic region of Transylvania won the heart of then-Prince Charles on his first visit in 1998.

Enchanted by its dirt roads, horse-drawn carriages and colorful houses nestled in green hills, the environmentalist and nature lover has become a regular visitor.

He even bought his first house there in 2006: a light blue building that is familiar to all locals.

What was originally an occasional princely residence has now been converted into a museum dedicated to botany, another passion of the new king.

His Majesty the King hasnt been here for a few years, but he left a lot of footprints, Caroline Fernolend, president of the Mihai Eminescu Trust, told AFP.

Under Charles patronage, the foundation has renovated several properties in Transylvania using traditional methods and materials to preserve the heritage.

He also funded a reed-based ecological sewage treatment plant and a new water drainage system for the village without promoting it, she said.

Every year tens of thousands of tourists discover the timeless atmosphere of Viscri.

Guest houses have sprung up in response to its popularity  in contrast to the desolation that characterizes much of the Romanian countryside, one of the poorest members of the EU.

Viscri was a forgotten village and now small houses are being sold for over 40,000 euros! said retired physical education teacher Ion Stoica, who cycles from his neighboring village to Viscri every evening.

That sum is a small fortune in this region, he added.

 Royal Stamp 

Not all residents of the hamlet, home to 400 residents and dominated by a UNESCO-listed church, share Stoicas enthusiasm.

Royal honors brought no prosperity to Viscri residents, says another resident, sitting on a bench in the village.

Yet no one disputes the restoration efforts undertaken under Charless leadership.

Charles claims descent from a 15th-century prince known as Vlad the Impaler, the historical inspiration for Bram Stokers Count Dracula. He even said that Transylvania is in my blood.

Its such a beautiful region, said Ana Maria Plopeanu, 35, whose grandparents are from Transylvania and who visited Viscri with her partner.

Everything is so simple here, so calm  we understand why the prince fell in love with the region.

But instead of staying in Viscri, in recent years Charles has lived in Valea Zalanului, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) west.

There his residence is tucked away at the end of a dirt road, where a black veil is now hung on the gate as a sign of mourning after the death of Charles mother, Queen Elizabeth II last week.

A sign forbids entry for the curious  not enough to deter two British royalists, a mother and daughter, who said they have traveled from London to see the places dear to their new king.
The faded photo shows two tiny but distinctive figures atop the imposing Caernarfon Castle in Wales, a snap taken by a schoolgirl in 1969 that captured a moment in history.

He came here to stand on this balcony with his mother, says Maria Sarnacki, holding the picture in front of the balcony where Queen Elizabeth II and the newly anointed Charles, Prince of Wales, greeted the crowd.

It was a fantastic day. I was convinced she was pointing and waving at me  as a little girl of 11 it was like something you see in movies, adds Sarnacki, now 66.

The inauguration of todays King Charles III. as Prince of Wales through his mother in an archaic ritual at the magnificent 13th-century castle was watched live on television by millions around the world.

But I dont think theres any purpose left, says Sarnacki, who is now mayor of the mountain-lined city on the north coast of Wales.

Charles investiture could be his last at the castle, with growing opposition to a similar ceremony for his son William, whom he made Prince of Wales last week.

The Queens death has also sparked calls for the centuries-old title to be abolished altogether as nationalist sentiment swells in Wales and other parts of the UK.

Nearly 25,000 people have signed a petition to end the title as an insult to Wales and a symbol of historical oppression.

 Divided 

There are mixed opinions. A lot of people dont want the title of Prince of Wales because they think it should be a Welshman, said Sarnacki.

The Welsh dragon flag and British Union Jack fly together at half-mast over the castle after the Queens death, but Caernarfons royal history doesnt make it royalist.

Opinions on proclaiming William Prince of Wales would be very divided, said Geraint Thomas, 49, who runs a photo gallery in Caernarfon.

The city has the highest percentage of people in Wales who speak Welsh  which Charles spent a semester trying to learn at university before taking office.

While children play with toy spears in the castle courtyard, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the bloody history of England and Wales has never been forgotten.

The title Prince of Wales was originally used by local princes, but the last, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, was killed in 1282 during the conquest of Wales by the English King Edward I.

His head was then mounted on the Tower of London.

To tame Wales Edward began building castles which gave rise to Caernarfon where his heir, the future Edward II, was born in 1284.

 Provocative Title 

He would then bestow the title of Prince of Wales on his son in 1301, and the English monarchs would continue the tradition for their heirs.

Historically it was a provocative title, said Thomas, whose gallery flies two red flags for the Welsh independence movement.

The Queens decision to conduct Charles investiture in Caernarfon in 1969 was controversial even then.

Amid rising Welsh nationalism, protesters took to the streets outside the castle ahead of the ceremony and there was even a spate of bombings.

The investiture, which was recently dramatized on TV series The Crown, showed the Queen placing a crown on 20-year-old Charles head as he knelt on a granite pedestal.

He then swore to be her liege man for life and limb.

Since then, Wales have gained more political freedom from London and distanced themselves from a royal family that seems more closely linked to Scotland.

 Independent Country 

Personally, I think we should have a Welsh prince, said Rhiannon Evans, 23, a barista in Caernarfon. We should also be an independent country.

King Charles is due to visit Cardiff on Friday, having already visited Edinburgh and Belfast on a tour that pinpoints the unions future in his mind.

But he was criticized for having appointed William Prince of Wales without consulting the Welsh people, including by the First Minister of Wales.

Selwyn Jones, who works in a bookshop, said the investiture at Caernarfon would be much more toxic than it was in 1969 as the decision about William was forced on us by the new king.

Reports suggest there could be a reduced investiture for William in Cardiff next year.

Locals said they respected William and his wife Kate, who lived on Anglesey, just opposite the castle, while William was an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot.

But that doesnt necessarily mean support, and the Queens death could be the catalyst for change.

For Sarnacki  whose late brother served as the Queens butler for ten years and idolized her  that could mean the historic investiture she photographed will never be repeated.
China, ASEAN to build closer community with shared future: vice premier

Xinhua) 09:58, September 17, 2022

Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, addresses the opening ceremony of the 19th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

NANNING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng on Friday called on China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take the opportunity of the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to build a closer community with a share future.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 19th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Han called on the two sides to further enhance strategic alignment, comprehensively implement the Joint Statement of the ASEAN-China Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, build their comprehensive strategic partnership well and discuss the joint implementation of the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative.

He called on the two sides to promote economic and trade cooperation, ensure the high-quality implementation of the RCEP and work toward an improved version of the China-ASEAN free-trade zone.

China will increase the import of high-quality products, particularly agricultural products from the ASEAN countries, said Han, calling on the two sides to facilitate a deeper integration of the industrial, supply and value chains.

The vice premier called on China and the ASEAN countries to promote the interconnectivity of infrastructure and the joint construction of a new international land-sea trade corridor.

On green development cooperation, Han called on the two sides to enhance cooperation in areas including environmental protection, climate change response and biodiversity, promote the green upgrading of industrial structures, jointly develop clean energy, and strengthen marine ecosystem protection and the sustainable utilization of marine resources.

On promoting people-to-people exchanges, Han said the two sides should enhance the research, development and production of COVID-19 vaccines, vigorously promote culture, education, youth, local-level and media exchanges and cooperation, and consolidate the foundation of public opinion for people-to-people exchanges.

Speeches were delivered via video by Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi.

After the opening ceremony, Han toured the exhibition hall and exchanged views with owners of participating enterprises, noting that China will unswervingly open up wider to the outside world and actively foster a market-oriented and law-based international business environment.

The RCEP is unlocking the potential of the integrated market and injecting strong impetus into China-ASEAN cooperation, Han said, stressing that China welcomes foreign companies to invest and do business in China, as well as encouraging Chinese companies to actively explore the international market.

Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, tours the exhibition hall and exchanges views with owners of participating enterprises after addressing the opening ceremony of the 19th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji)
Poiesis is a Greek term that evolved into the word poetry in English. According to Wikipedia, in philosophy, poiesis is the activity in which a person brings something into being which did not exist before. Etymologically derived from the ancient Greek term which means to make. The word is used as a suffix, as in the biological term hematopoiesis, the formation of blood cells.

In the book All Things Shining, Hubert Dreyfus and Sean Dorrance Kelly say, Everyone should seek to be a craftsman whose responsibility refine their faculty for poiesis to achieve existential meaning in their lives and to reconcile their bodies with whatever transcendence there is to be had in life itself. The craftsmans task is not to generate the meaning but rather to cultivate the skill for discerning the meanings already there.

The art and craft of being a physician and finding meaning in our care of others are to make poetry out of our lives.

The wealthiest and most intellectually gifted doctor I know often hassles me for helping the homeless. For years hes asked me, Steve, what do the homeless want? They dont just want housing; they just dont want to be like everyone else. They dont know what they want, so why do you bother to try to help them. Our verbal and written conversation has extended for decades.

Just before Christmas, I received an email from him after I sent him an article from the County Department of Health numerically outlining the severity of our local homeless populations. In his email, he said, I try, very hard, to tolerate your bleeding heart B.S. You say you help the homeless. How do you help the homeless? Almost, if not all, non-profit entities are B.S. The only thing you do is act like you are doing something. My eyes show me that there are a thousand times more homeless than ten years ago. You achieve nothing. Your charities achieve nothing. He also says he despises the homeless and doesnt give money to any charity as he does not trust the distribution of the funds. He also gives no money to schools, hospitals, his family, etc., for the same reason.

My response to the most prosperous doctor I know on why I help the homeless:

What you call the great unwashed are the sick, the ill, the down and out, the mentally disabled, those with other substance abuse and mental health issues, the jobless, the lazy, and the lost fill our streets. How are they treated? They know how you feel about them. They feel your displeasure. They feel your anger. They feel your distaste for them.

You find these people impossible to care for because you are approaching these individuals as if you were an orthopedic surgeon. Let me set your bone. Let me operate to fix you, and then you can go on with your life. Their life is not a broken bone that needs to be set straight.

We cannot fix everything. We dont try. What we try to do is to care for people. We try to show compassion.

Compassion fatigue is every doctors reality. We often face patients who challenge our ability to be compassionate, such as the homeless. It is easier to reject people from your life than meeting them where they are and actually walking with them  not walking in their shoes but walking beside them to treat them with the dignity that Gods fellow creatures deserve.

It is hard to empathize when the homeless experience is so far removed from your own experience. But we are one earthquake away from being homeless. So, is their experience so beyond your imagination that you really cant grasp walking in their shoes?

The question isnt why I help my fellow man, homeless or not homeless. The real question is, why dont you help them? You of infinite IQ and infinite money. You give advice but have a hard heart, and honestly believe in your hard heart. You write that you would rather send money to an animal shelter than a homeless shelter for people. Its easier for you to help an animal shelter because an animal has no soul, and an animal has not made choices, good or bad, that placed them in harms way and onto the street.

You argue that human beings cause their own misfortune, and a human could be more like you if they had worked harder or followed directions or gone and stayed in a mental hospital or a prison. But an animal cannot be like you, so you dont judge the animal as harshly.

Maybe you dont agree, or perhaps it confuses you. For clarity, let me introduce you to the thoughts of kindness. For whatever reason, I have chosen in my heart to accept you, warts and all. You dont need my acceptance, nor do you care if I accept you for who you are. My opinions are not on your radar. You know, despite our disagreements, that I care about you as a human, as a man. Right or wrong, that is my gift to you. You neither need it nor need to accept it. I give it freely to you.

I dont know each homeless person as I know you. But I choose not to turn my back on them. I decided to open my heart, time, and wallet to them. Maybe it is just a waste of my time. Perhaps it is just a waste of my money. Perhaps I am an enabler and make the life of the homeless worse through my actions.

But just as I embrace your spirit and your life, I welcome the spirit and life of all I can try to help. I dont try to help everyone. I neither can nor do I choose to. But I feel I can help some.

You fashion yourself as the unredeemed Scrooge. Yet, you miss the point of the story. Scrooge was not the hero at the beginning of the story; he was the hero at the end of the story when he gained wisdom. The grand theme of A Christmas Carol, is: how you treat others, changes their destiny, and it changes your destiny. The grand theme of our lives  what we make of our lives  it is our life masterpiece. This is our life poetry. To help all  especially the least of those in our communities.

To make a difference.

If your vision of caring can be more expansive, you will be surprised how you can help change the destiny of others and, ultimately, your destiny. Caring is our poetry as doctors. It is what we make. It is how we change our world and ourselves.

Steven Kamajian is a family physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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As he was being wheeled in for surgery, President Reagan joked, I hope you are Republicans. The surgeon, a liberal Democrat, replied, Today, Mr. President, we are all Republicans.

All very appropriate and from another era. As a usually intelligent and intellectual segment of society, it is not surprising that physicians should have opinions, including politics. As citizens, they are entitled to them too.

In fact, one would hope that physicians participate in political dialogue with a diversity of opinions to benefit society, their profession, and most importantly, their patients.

However, questions do arise about the manner of expression. More specifically, the impact of doctors statements upon their patients. Expression is of particular concern in this age of social media, be it the potential for sanctimonious rambling on Facebook or telegraphic and curt messaging on Twitter. Sans nuances and the person making the statements, opinions are fraught with the risk of being badly misunderstood. Humor comes across as not so funny, wit as an insult, compliments as sarcasm, conviction as extremism, and so on.

In the current environment of intolerance for opinions other than ones own, imagine your patient reading your strong views on social media. Despite your capacity to put all that aside when treating a patient with views or beliefs incongruent with yours, the patient just may have ascribed all the negative traits to you that belong to members of the enemy camp.

Not just Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you become the living embodiment of Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, fascism, and communism rolled into one. Or, you are one with that tree-hugging dopehead sleepwalking everyone to ruin by handing out freebies to the parasites that are their voters. You are no longer the good doctor.

The result may be a severance of the doctor-patient relationship. It is a real shame if the patient is worse off for it from a health perspective. Goodwill and trust may be the casualty of ill-advised expression from any side.

Case in point: views for or against abortion rights or Roe v. Wade.

The differences have gone to the extremes of physicians being senselessly killed, if not harassed, just for doing their job. The other party, of course, are ignorant plebeians.

Physicians would be well advised to tread gently when dealing with hot-button issues. There is an Indo-Pakistani proverb: When you live in the river, dont hold grudges against the alligator.

In that vein, one can be doing oneself no favor fervently pontificating blue views in the red locale where one practices and vice versa.

Frequently, we become different, blunt, impolite, abrasive, or confrontational in our online interactions. The dogmatic nature of statements leaves little room for being extended the benefit of the doubt.

While such behavior may be transiently gratifying, it may significantly dent ones practice and trust and respect with colleagues and patients in the long run. The patient may find another doctor, and your miffed colleague may decide to refer patients elsewhere. The result is not just a blow to ones practice but a deeper estrangement between opposing political camps.

By no means am I suggesting self-censorship. By all means, voice your red, blue, gray, or green views in camps flying a flag of a different color.

But how?

With prudence!

Remember that childhood fable about the sun and northwind making this bet, about compelling an unsuspecting traveler down below to take off his cloak? We may all agree that as bets usually go, it is all quite silly! The northwind huffs and puffs, to no avail. The sun beams warmly and, you know who won!

Opinions are not changed by sledgehammer pontification. Acknowledging the opposing view respectfully and gentler suggestions or probing may go much farther. Certainly, consider refraining from lecturing the patient or launching into a political diatribe by assuming the wretched soul on the receiving end shares ones views or needs converting.

They come to you for treatment, not political indoctrination. The same goes for ones colleagues. When the opportunity arises to air ones views, why not demonstrate the gravitas expected of well-developed and well-exercised gray cells adept in the art of comprehending and explaining complex issues without talking down? Instead, we regress to become one with the name-calling schoolyard bullies. Who knows more about nudge being better than steamroll? Ever told your patient to Just stop smoking. It is bad for you,  wasnt effective, was it?

Perhaps, the cure for the current social malady lies with us. As a scientific discipline, we are adept at equipoise. We must display it in our discourse. When we resent dogma in medicine, how can we pontificate like preachers when the whitecoat is off?

What if we were to concede as to the bona fides of an opposing view; express our own respectfully without condemning anyone with a divergent viewpoint as the evil denizen from the deepest pits of hell, appeal artfully not just to emotion but intelligence, and do so with integrity? Then, we would have done our overworked gray matter some justice. We would also be instrumental in initiating the cure of the prevalent malady.

Shah-Naz H. Khan is a neurosurgeon.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
The Board of Management of St Kieran's College in Kilkenny have applied to the local authority for permission to commence significant demolition, construction and refurbishment works on the school grounds.

A section of the submitted plans seeks the demolition of the existing Kilkenny City Vocational School (KCVS) on the school grounds and the construction of 7834sqm of new general and specialist classrooms, a general purpose space, Special Needs Unit and ancillary accommodation.

The Kilkenny People understands that these development works, if granted, will only commence once KCVS has relocated to its new campus in the city.

Below are further details on the application:

The applications seeks the demolition of a two-storey VEC building (KCVS) and the removal of the associated car park and existing gates/pillars to lower New Street and the construction of 7834sqm of new general and specialist classrooms, a general purpose space, Special Needs Unit and ancillary accommodation in part three, part two and part single-storey accommodation, located to the north and west of the protected 1933 wing with PV panels on the new single-storey roof.

The application also seeks the demolition of a single-storey five classroom block (320.5sqm), a two storey changing room block (402sqm), a three storey toilet block (55.5sqm) and the part-demolition of a single-storey toilet block (204sqm), all attached to the north of a protected structure.

The demolition of a single-storey 'Bantile structure' (241.6 sqm) to the west and a single-storey glass corridor (287.2sqm) to the south of the 1933 wing is also sought.

Refurbishment internally of the 1933 building/Doody wing (2635.2sqm) to provide administration, library and teaching spaces and the re-rendering of the 1933 wing externally with refurbishment of existing timber windows is planned.

So too is the creation of a new quadrangle space enclosed to south of the 1933 building with the 19th Century Protected Structure is also planned as is the refurbishment of the existing detached gym internally and full recladding externally with new roof glazing and fenestration to Lower New Street with a single storey extension to gym (199sqm) to south west providing replacement changing facilities.

A new entrance avenue with new gates/pillars and associated lighting from reconfigured entrance to Lower New Street features in the plans.

Three additional universal access car parking spots and 348 bicycle parking spots are also included.

Also sought is an opening in the stone boundary wall to College Road and the relocation of gas skid to provide construction and fire tender access during construction with reinstatement upon completion.

Provision of temporary modular teaching accommodation (368.4sqm) within the future new quadrangle also features in the plans.
This week, the HSE showcased and celebrated examples of the great work that is happening every day across its services at the 2022 Health Service Excellence Awards.

At an occasion presented by TV personality Brendan Courtney and held in Farmleigh House, Dublin, guest speakers included the Minster for Health Stephen Donnelly TD and CEO of the HSE Paul Reid.

The Health and Wellbeing Department in HSE/South East Community Healthcare were the winners in the Excellence in Quality and Patient Safety category. They were lauded for their project titled Supporting Pregnant Women and Extended Family to Quit and Stay Quit as an outstanding example of how a service made made things better and improved the quality and patient safety for the patient/service user/client.

The annual Health Service Excellence Awards encourage and inspire people to develop better health services. The awards also promote shared learning for other teams through the award winners success stories.

Since the launch in January of 2020 of its Supporting Pregnant Women to Quit and Stay Quit, over 120 Smoke Free Babies have arrived at the maternity departments of University Hospital Waterford, Wexford General Hospital, St. Lukes General Hospital Carlow/Kilkenny and Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel. Supported by the governments Slaintecare strategy for its aims of integrating hospital and primary care services, Supporting Pregnant Women and Extended Family to Quit and Stay Quit operates as a free, dedicated support for pregnant women.

The programme takes referrals of pregnant women (in addition to partners and family members) from the four maternity departments in the South East and from primary care and community services in counties Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

In its two and a half years of operation, over 1,600 referrals have been made to the Supporting Pregnant Women and Extended Family to Quit and Stay Quit programme. Working with specially trained Smoking Cessation Officers, over 370 participants have achieved a quit date within weeks. In December 2021, upon completion of its pilot phase, the project was selected for ongoing funding and two new Health Promotion Officers were appointed to deliver dedicated services to the maternity population and their extended family.

Speaking at the Awards ceremony this week, Kate Cassidy (General Manager SECH, Health and Wellbeing/Project Lead for Supporting Pregnant Women and Extended Family to Quit and Stay Quit):

Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for yourself and your baby. We know, of course, that it can be difficult to do. We also know, however, that parents want to give their baby the best possible start in life. By using our 1:1 intensive stop smoking service or telephone support, participants can increase their chances of quitting fourfold. Nearly half of pregnant women who set a quit date with their stop smoking service go on to quit successfully. No matter what stage you or your partner are at in your pregnancy, it is never too late to stop smoking.

You will get the support you need and not be judged. Ask your midwife, GP, healthcare provider or practice nurse to refer yourself to the Supporting Pregnant Women and Extended Family to Quit and Stay Quit programme. Once referred, a Smoking Cessation Officer will talk to you about your smoking habits and help you to build a plan to quit smoking. They will help you build confidence and motivate you to quit.

Speaking at the event in Farmleigh House, the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD congratulated all involved and thanked them for their commitment to improving services in both a patient-centred, innovative way. HSE CEO Paul Reid said many of the projects reflect the values of Slaintecare  providing the right care at the right time in the right place and in developing change to bring services closer to our public.
Families of two IRA men shot dead by the SAS have expressed concern that a timeline has slipped for disclosing sensitive state files ahead of an inquest.

Danny Doherty, aged 23, and William Fleming, who was 19, were killed by soldiers in the grounds of Gransha Hospital in Derry in 1984.

It has been alleged the republicans, who were from Derry, were planning to attack an off-duty member of the UDR when the SAS ambushed them, firing almost 60 shots.

A six-week inquest into the killings is due to begin next April.

It has been scheduled amid continued uncertainty over whether some outstanding inquests may not get the chance to be heard due to planned UK Government laws intended to prevent future legacy probes.

The PSNI and Ministry of Defence are in the process of examining sensitive documents ahead of an anticipated Public Interest Immunity (PII) hearing to consider whether certain materials should be withheld from the inquest on national security grounds.

The PSNI previously signalled it would have completed the required preparatory work for a PII hearing by mid-September.

At a preliminary inquest hearing in Belfast on Friday, a barrister for the PSNI told coroner Mr Justice Ian Huddleston that timeline had not been met.

Mark Robinson KC cited increased demands on personnel dealing with legacy inquests.

These matters can take time simply because of the complexities of the material involved, he said.

Peter Coll KC, representing the MoD, also told the court that more work was required on the PII preparatory process.

He compared it to at times wading through treacle.

Both the PSNI and MoD barristers expressed confidence that the start date for the inquest could still be met.

The coroner replied: For reasons I need not rehearse its important that that remains the position.

The Government is currently putting controversial legacy laws through Parliament.

The draft legislation would offer immunity from prosecution for people accused of Troubles offences, as long as they cooperate with a new truth recovery body, and also halt future civil cases and inquests linked to killings during the conflict.

The Coroners Court in Northern Ireland is working its way through a schedule of legacy inquests related to the Troubles, some covering incidents from 50 years ago.

While many of the inquests have concluded, several have yet to begin.

A barrister for the next of kin of the two men, Leona Askin, said the families were very concerned at the prospect of delay.

Were concerned about delay and would ask that your lordship would put in place a strict timetable that these matters be complied with, she said to the coroner.

Justice Huddleston said he intended to schedule more regular review hearings to monitor progress of the disclosure process.

I am not enthused by the timetable we have discussed this morning, he added.

The next hearing was listed for October 14.
The 50 migrants who were sent to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts by Florida's governor will be transported to a military base September 16 to receive shelter and humanitarian support. A migrant is pictured here in Massachusetts, on September 14.
An Oak Grove HS student also died from a fentanyl overdose at the beginning of the school year, and now three student overdoses were reported this week.
A jury on Septermber 16 found the son of Sweetie's Pie's owner guilty in a murder-for-hire plot that killed his nephew in 2016. James Timothy Norman is seen here in November 2015.
Dr. Terry Gaff is a physician in northeast Indiana. Contact him at drgaff@kpcmedia.com or on Facebook. To read past columns and to post comments go to kpcnews.com/columnists/terry_gaff.
New Delhi, Sep 17 (PTI) A 15-day blood donation drive began on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday on Saturday, with Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya donating blood at a camp set up at Safdarjung Hospital here.

The minister urged citizens to register on the Aarogya Setu app or e-Raktkosh portal to donate blood as part of the 'Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav', which will be held till October 1 -- National Voluntary Blood Donation Day.

Also Read | Fact Check: Scripted Video of 'Maulana' Dragging Unconscious Woman Inside Mazar Goes Viral With False Claim, Here's the Truth.

So far, 5,857 camps have been approved across the country and 55,8959 donors have registered, an official said, adding 4,000 people have donated blood so far.

"Blood donation - great donation! Donated blood under #RaktdaanAmritMahotsav starting from today on the birthday of Prime Minister @NarendraModi. It is heartwarming to be involved in #RaktdaanAmritMahotsavumanity. Be a part of this great work too," Mandaviya said in a tweet in Hindi.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Birthday: Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Wishes Prime Minister on His B'day.

According to an official source, the drive aims to collect close to one lakh units of blood in a day, besides raising awareness about the need for regular non-remunerated voluntary blood donations.

One unit translates to 350 ml of blood.

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others  Mahatma Gandhi. With this spirit, join Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav beginning on September 17. Every blood donor is a life-saver," Mandaviya had said on Friday.

According to the source, the main purpose of the drive is to create a repository of voluntary blood donors so that those in need can get help on time and minimise the need for replacement blood donation.

Every blood bank is being encouraged to organise at least one blood donation camp as part of the mega drive.

There are more than 3,900 blood banks in the country with adequate storage and processing capacity.

So far, 3,600 blood banks have been linked with the e-Raktkosh portal and efforts are on to rope in the remaining ones, the source said.

Healthy people have about five to six litres of blood in their body and one can donate blood after every three months, an official said.

The shelf life of the donated blood is 35 to 42 days. The blood is also processed into components like plasma, red blood cells and platelets. Frozen plasma can be used for up to a year, while red blood cells can be used for up to 35-42 days. Platelets need to be used within five days, the official added.

All ministries and departments of the Centre, states and Union territories, non-government and community-based organisations and other stakeholders will be involved in the event.

States have been requested to disseminate information about the drive to all medical colleges, hospitals, healthcare organisations, blood banks and other stakeholders.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bhubaneswar, Sep 18: Around 700 active Maoist supporters of different villages located on the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border Saturday surrendered before police and BSF in Malakangiri district, an official said.

All these villages are located on the Odisha-AP border and were the erstwhile stronghold of Maoists. These Maoist supporters used to assist in the violent activities and were involved in killing of security forces, civilians and also used to supply logistics to them, the official said. Madhya Pradesh: Maoists Kill Villager on Suspicion of Being Police Informer in Balaghat

Police said the surrendered militias/supporters of Odisha and bordering AP exhibited their opposition towards the Maoist ideology by burning the dress materials and effigies of Maoists and shouted slogans "Maobadi Murdabad Ama Sarkar Zindabad" in front of media before surrendering. Madhya Pradesh: CRPF Launches Bike-Ambulances for Tribals in Remote Forests of Maoist-Hit Balaghat

"These Maoist supporters used to assist in the violent activities and were involved in killing of security forces, civilians. They also used to supply logistics to Maoists taking shelter in dense forests," said Malkangiri SP Nitesh Wadhwani.

BSF, DIG Madan Lal, said the developmental initiatives in the area coupled with the strategic deployment of security forces inspired the villagers to join the mainstream.

Series of developmental works like construction of new roads, bridges, medical facilities, installation of mobile towers, project to supply drinking water, electricity to all the houses of the area had its impact on the people earlier supporting the Maoists, the officials said, adding that these people have pledged to join the mainstream.

So far as many as 1,647 Maoist supporters and militia have surrendered before the police and BSF in Malkangiri district this year. This has impacted others also to surrender in coming days, police said.

(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], September 17 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi after its MLA Amanatullah Khan was arrested yesterday in connection with the Waqf Board corruption case and said the party, whose a number of representatives are behind the bars, has become a "curse" for the city and the country.

The BJP's attack comes a day after Khan was arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau on Friday in a case which pertains to financial misappropriation and other irregularities in the functioning of the Delhi Waqf Board.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Unveils National Logistics Policy, Says Will Address Challenges of Transport Sector.

Speaking to ANI, BJP Delhi chief Adesh Gupta, said, "The character of the AAP has come before the people today. Arvind Kejriwal should dismiss Amanatulla Khan if he cares about honesty."

"The BJP is saying AAP nahi PAAP hai, bhrashtachar ki BAAP hai (it is not AAP, but a sin, it is the father of corruption). The AAP has become a curse for Delhi and the country. Our protest against corruption in the Delhi government and its leaders will continue and we will take the issue to the people," he added.

Also Read | AAP Presents Report Card of Bhagwant Mann-Led Punjab Govt's 6 Months; Hits Back at Opposition.

Accusing the AAP MLA from the Okhla constituency of having a number of criminal cases registered against him, the BJP sought his dismissal from the party.

Gupta alleged that Khan's arrest shows the "character" of the AAP which "speaks of honesty". He further said that those who "talked about Anna Hazare" are "found drowned in the swamp of corruption".

"Ammunition was recovered from Kejriwal's special man's home and cash was recovered from Khan's aide. It is not the first instance. Khan who is the chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board carried out the recruitment by accepting money illegally and he also encroached on the lands belonging to the Waqf Board. Various criminal cases are already registered against him. The way he has been arrested shows that it has become a character of the AAP that they speak of honesty in the beginning and then their MLAs and Ministers are found involved in the corruption," he said.

Earlier today, the Delhi Police on Saturday arrested the business partner of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan under the Arms Act.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) raided the premises of AAP MLA and his business partner Hamid Ali on Friday.

The ACB has recovered one Breta pistol and several cartridges from Ali's premises. The police also recovered cash of Rs 12 lakh from his house.

A weapon was found at one of the locations. It is learnt that he could not show any licence of the recovered arms (Breta Pistol).

However, the party came out in defence and said that he was arrested in a "baseless and outright fake" case.

The AAP MLA was arrested after the ACB raided four locations related to Khan and his business partner, from where cash and weapons were recovered.

The ACB had summoned Khan in connection with the case which pertains to financial misappropriation and other irregularities in the functioning of the Delhi Waqf Board.

According to the officials, a total of Rs 24 lakh in cash was recovered along with two illegal weapons. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Sep 17 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday and said he is the most beloved leader of the country and an inspiration for everyone.

Modi, India's 15th prime minister, was born on September 17, 1950 at Vadnagar in Gujarat.

Also Read | Dehradun Shocker: Teen Girl Dies by Suicide After Mother Doesn't Cook Her Favourite Food.

"I wish Prime Minister @narendramodi a very happy birthday. He is the most beloved leader of the country and an inspiration for all of us. I wish him good health and a long life. PM Modi has shown that it is possible to complete impossible tasks with his India-first thinking and determination for the welfare of the poor, Shah tweeted in Hindi.

Modi took oath as prime minister of the country for the first time in May 26, 2014. His second consecutive term as prime minister began on May 30, 2019.

Also Read | A Look at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Different Costumes on His 72nd Birthday.

He is the first-ever prime minister to be born after Independence.

Modi has the distinction of being the longest serving chief minister of Gujarat with his term spanning from October 2001 to May 2014.

(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, Sep 17 (PTI) Reacting to Waqf Board chairman Amanatullah Khan's arrest, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday accused the BJP of continuing with its "Operation Lotus" to "break" the AAP leaders.

Khan, Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Okhla, was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch on Friday in connection with alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board recruitment, officials said.

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"First, they arrested Satyendar Jain but there is no evidence against him in court. They raided my residence. Nothing was found. Then they initiated a fake probe against Kailash Gahlot, and now they arrested Amanatullah Khan. Operation Lotus continues to break each leader of AAP," Sisodia said in a tweet in Hindi.

Earlier, the AAP leaders had alleged that the BJP was trying to buy AAP MLAs by offering them Rs 20 crore each to topple the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Birthday Wishes: President Droupadi Murmu, Ministerial Colleagues Extend Greetings to Prime Minister As He Turns 72.

The Delhi chief minister even brought a confidence motion in the Assembly last month to prove all the AAP MLAs were with him and asserted that "Operation Lotus" had failed in Delhi.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lucknow, Sep 17 (PTI) The BJP-led government in the state is against backward classes and the underprivileged, alleged Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav as he slammed the dispensation for cancelling the public holiday on Vishwakarma Jayanti.

According to a release, Yadav added that the government insulted the Vishwakarma society through the move.

Also Read | Rajasthan Shocker: 70-Year-Old Woman Raped By Drunk Neighbour in Dausa; Manhunt Launched For Accused.

The Samajwadi Party government in the past introduced a number of schemes for the community while a public holiday was declared for the day.

The government should declare a public holiday on the day, he demanded.

Also Read | Narendra Modi Birthday 2022: Prime Minister Addresses Women SHGs Conference in Madhya Pradesh.

The Uttar Pradesh government in 2017 had cancelled 15 public holidays, including Vishwakarma Jayanti.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said there should not be a holiday on the birth anniversary of great men and children should be told about them through special programmes.

SP's chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said on the instructions of Akhilesh Yadav, Vishwakarma Jayanti was celebrated at party offices across the state.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata, Sep 17 (PTI) A crude bomb exploded on the roof of a school building in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Saturday when classes were in progress, a senior police official said.

There was no casualty in the incident as students and teachers were in rooms located on the first two floors of the three-storied building, he said.

Also Read | Narendra Modi Birthday 2022: Prime Minister Addresses Women SHGs Conference in Madhya Pradesh.

The students got panicked hearing the sound of the explosion and left the premises helter-skelter, while teachers went upstairs to find bomb splinters close to the roof, according to a managing committee member of the state-aided institute at Titagarh in the industrial belt of the district.

A top official of Barrackpore Police Commissionerate told reporters after visiting the spot that the blast was caused by a single crude bomb.

Also Read | Gujarat: Thousands of Govt Employees Join 'Mass Casual Leave' Stir in State Over Old Pension Scheme.

He said that it would be investigated whether the bomb was hurled from a nearby building or it had been kept there and suddenly went off.

Barrackpore MP Arjun Singh told reporters at the spot that whoever was responsible for the blast would have to be arrested and punished.

"Had any child been around the spot, I shudder to think what could have happened. I have urged the commissioner of police and other top officials of Barrackpore Police Commissionerate to find out the culprits," said Singh who returned to the TMC from the BJP last May.

BJP's Hooghly MP Locket Chatterjee demanded a CBI probe into the incident.

"Even school children are not safe in the rule of Mamata Banerjee. Bombs are discovered in houses and party offices across West Bengal. Today's incident is a pointer to the grim law and order situation. We don't have faith in the state police or CID. We want CBI probe to unravel the truth," she said.

When asked to comment on Chatterjee's claims, I don't want to join the issue with her. Let the police investigate the case first.

(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, Sep 17 (PTI) The Delhi High Court has appointed senior advocate Rebecca John as amicus curiae to assist it in deciding a plea against revelation of identity of the Hyderabad rape victim by certain media houses.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma said the matter has to be heard on merits and directed that its order be communicated to the senior lawyer along with the complete set of documents.

Also Read | Watch Live | Prime Minister @narendramodi to Launch National Logistics   Latest Tweet by Prasar Bharati News Services.

"The matter has to be heard on merits, and, therefore, to assist this court Ms. Rebecca M. John, sr. advocate is appointed as amicus curiae in the matter," stated the bench also comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad in its order dated September 14.

Petitioner, Delhi-based lawyer Yashdeep Chahal, had approached the high court in 2019, alleging that there was blatant violation of Section 228A of Indian Penal Code by individuals and media houses who published elaborate reports revealing the identity of the victim and the four accused in Hyderabad rape case on various portals.

Also Read | Narendra Modi Birthday 2022: Prime Minister Addresses Women SHGs Conference in Madhya Pradesh.

Section 228A makes disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences, including rape, punishable with imprisonment of a term that may extend to two years and a fine.

The high court had earlier issued notice and sought the stand of the Centre, the governments of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi, as well as some media houses and social networking platforms on the petition.

The plea has sought initiation of appropriate proceedings against the media houses and individuals who have allegedly revealed the identity of the rape victim, which is an offence under the law.

The plea, filed through advocates Chirag Madaan and Sai Krishna Kumar, also alleged that there was inaction of the state police authorities and their cyber cells to curb the constant revelation of identity of the victim and the accused persons.

A 26-year-old doctor was allegedly raped and killed in Shamshabad, Telangana, by four men on the night of November 27, 2019.

According to the Cyberabad Police, the four accused had punctured the rear wheel of her scooter, offered to help her, dragged her to a secluded spot close to a toll plaza and raped her.

It had said the victim died due to suffocation and the accused later burnt her body. The four accused were arrested and sent to judicial custody.

The matter would be heard next on January 12.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jaipur, Sep 17 (PTI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will on Saturday launch the MSME Policy-2022 with a vision to set up 20,000 new MSME units with a total investment of Rs 10,000 crore and creating jobs for 1 lakh people.

Gehlot will launch the new policy in presence of Industries Minister Shakuntala Rawat and other dignitaries on the MSME Day.

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The policy proposes to give a relaxation of five years in approvals and inspections for setting up and promotion of the MSME units, an official statement said.

In the 2019 policy, the relaxation period was three years, it said.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Birthday: Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Wishes Prime Minister on His B'day.

In the last four years, over 37.33 lakh people have got jobs in the micro, small, and medium enterprises, or the MSME sector, and its contribution to the GDP has been estimated to be 24.50 per cent.

In the financial year 2021-22, the total export of MSME industries was 72,000 crore.

The new policy is being brought to increase the contribution of MSMEs in the state's Gross Domestic Product (GSDP), as well as exports, the official statement said.

Under this policy, the government will seek to create a favourable regulatory environment for the MSME units and also extend more financial and technical assistance to the entrepreneurs.

The Chief Minister on Saturday will also release a new Handicrafts Policy to encourage manufacturers.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], September 17 (ANI): Ahmedabad Metro Police Court on Friday sentenced Gujarat Congress working president and MLA Jignesh Mevani and 18 others to 6-month imprisonment following a 2016 case.

Mevani, along with other Dalit rights groups had held a protest in 2016 regarding the change of name of the law building of Gujarat University. They demanded the building be named after Dr BR Ambedkar.

Also Read | Narendra Modi Birthday Special: 10 Most Notable Quotes of Indias Prime Minister.

However, Appellate Sessions Court has stayed the sentence till October 17 to enable them to file appeals and granted bail to the accused. The court granted bail to all 19 persons.

Notably, Jignesh Mevani is currently out on bail granted by the Assam court. He was arrested in connection with his purported tweets against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mevani was arrested by an Assam police team from Palanpur town in Gujarat over a couple of his tweets.

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In May this year, a Gujarat court sentenced Mevani to three months in jail in a 2017 case for taking out a rally without permission.

Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani, Reshma Patel, Kaushik Parmar of National Dalit Adhikar Manch, Kaushik Parmar, Subodh Parmar including 10 others were sentenced to three months imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1000.

Mevani and his associates led an 'Azadi Kooch' from Mehsana to Dhanera of the neighbouring Banaskantha district in 2017. In 2017, the Mehsana police registered an unlawful assembly case against Mevani and others under Section 143 of the Indian Penal Code.

The Assam state Congress unit had protested the arrest of the Gujarat legislator. Elected as an independent MLA, Mevani extended his support to Congress in September 2019. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Sep 17 (PTI) It is imperative to recognise the existence of the digital divide in the country and take steps to bridge this gap, Justice D Y Chandrachud said on Saturday.

Speaking at the inauguration of paperless courts in 30 districts in Odisha, he said the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic required us to make radical changes to the justice delivery system, by conducting remote hearings and transitioning to e-filing.

Also Read | Rajasthan Shocker: 70-Year-Old Woman Raped By Drunk Neighbour in Dausa; Manhunt Launched For Accused.

He said in doing so, the pandemic laid bare the limitations of the system and presented us with an opportunity to strengthen the justice delivery system.

Justice Chandrachud said while courts across the nation quickly and efficiently adapted to what we have come to term as the "new normal", it is important to remember that reactive policymaking rarely results in the development of sustainable and bankable solutions.

Also Read | Narendra Modi Birthday 2022: Prime Minister Addresses Women SHGs Conference in Madhya Pradesh.

He said courts at all levels must build digital capabilities that are scalable, stable and designed for use by laypersons and lawyers.

The digitization of courts will not only assist in crisis proofing our justice delivery system but will also ensure that it is one which is open, transparent, accessible, and cost-effective, Justice Chandrachud said.

"It is imperative to recognize the existence of the digital divide and take steps to bridge this gap. We must and will ensure that the digitization of the court process does not disadvantage the common citizens in any way," he said.

The top court judge said technology is not just for the elite; it is for all those for whom the delivery of justice is intended.

"Paperless courts will also save precious time for lawyers, who may soon find themselves burning less midnight oil stitching together paper-books and preparing volumes upon volumes of annexures," he said, adding that paperless courts are environmentally sustainable because they will (as their name suggests) reduce the consumption of paper.

Justice Chandrachud said it is estimated that the Indian legal system is responsible for the use of millions, if not billions, of sheets of paper in any given year.

"The inauguration of paperless courts in Odisha will certainly go a long way in ensuring that this number is reduced. All the advantages that I have listed are doubly beneficial in the context of the district courts because it is there that a lion's share of the country's litigation takes place.

"In a lighter vein, the only disadvantage of paperless courts is that young lawyers will be deprived of the daily workout or exercise that comes with carrying voluminous paper books. We may witness a rise in the number of gym subscriptions in Odisha after the inauguration of paperless courts," he said.

Justice Chandrachud said the term 'paperless courts' can sound like an oxymoron to those who are familiar with the legal system because they are aware that litigation is often accompanied by voluminous case files.

"But we must make every effort to remember that our courts are not incompatible with the use of technology. On the contrary, they are ripe with potential for the many uses that technology offers.

"The current initiative is certainly tapping into that potential. A paperless court, as the name suggests, is a court which functions without physical paper books, where judges rely on digitised court records during court proceedings. Advocates are not required to file physical copies of paper books and the state may be served with an e-copy of the paper," he said.

He said the paperless courts initiative is also a step towards ensuring that our legal system is more accessible for judges and lawyers with disabilities.

"Apart from e-sewa kendras, the e-committee of the Supreme Court of India has entered into an MoU as a result of which all the e-services which we provide free of charge will be available in every gram panchayat throughout the territory of India. It would not be possible to implement the initiatives of the e-committee of the Supreme Court of India or of the high courts without the cooperation and enthusiasm of both judges and advocates.

"It is true that many of us may be unfamiliar with the use of technology and therefore uncomfortable with using it in court proceedings. As a former member of that group, I am happy to report that familiarizing oneself with technology is not as difficult as it may initially seem," he said.

Justice Chandrachud said after the COVID-19 pandemic, his chamber functions almost entirely without paper.

"I encourage the legal fraternity to participate in training programs which are being conducted throughout the country to instruct lawyers on the use of technology. One such training program is being conducted for lawyers appearing before the 'green bench' which I am presiding over. Today, a 'green bench' does not mean a bench hearing environmental cases but a bench which aims to conduct proceedings with zero physical filings, as will hopefully, be the case in paperless courts.

"The National Judicial Data Grid which is being put forth by the e-committee in conjunction with the National Informatics Centre has a source and availability of 75 lakh decided cases and judgments of the High Courts. Now, these 75 lakh judgments which we have made available on the National Judicial Data Grid are equipped with a free text search portal and engine, as a result of which every lawyer across India will be able to source these judgments without payment to a private software provider," he said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lucknow, Sep 17 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday claimed that India was the only country in the world during the coronavirus pandemic that did not go give freebies but helped 80 crore people with free ration.

The chief minister said this addressing a gathering here at Indira Gandhi Prathisthaan after inaugurating an exhibition to mark the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Also Read | Puducherry: LKG, UKG Classes Too Shut in Union Territory Following Increase in Flu Cases.

"India was the only country, which did not distribute any 'revrhi' (freebies) but when the need arose, free ration was provided to 80 crore people. And, more than 200 crore free vaccine doses were also made available," he said.

"India was the only country that did not waver during the coronavirus pandemic and but continued its journey forward with full patience and strength. The credit for this goes to the leadership of the PM," Adityanath said.

Also Read | Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur Reviews Preparations for PM Narendra Modis Visit to Mandi.

The chief minister said it is a matter of pride that the country has emerged as the fifth largest economy in the world. India's ability is being recognised at the global platform under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Katara (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 17 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Police officials on Friday held a meeting to ensure fool-proof security of the pilgrims in view of the forthcoming Navaratri festival.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Udhampur-Reasi Range Mohd Suleman Choudhary headed a security review meeting at Katra in view of the visit of pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Katra.

Also Read | Narendra Modi Birthday Special: 10 Most Notable Quotes of Indias Prime Minister.

The meeting emphasized ensuring fool-proof security of the yatris at track upto Bhawan and the direction has been given regarding this.

"The troops will carry out checking of all the suspected people so that no unwanted elements are allowed to indulge in any kind of criminal activities or any action which may prove prejudicial to the security of the area, besides this joint long-range patrols of JKP and CRPF have also been launched round the clock in the entire area of Katra and Bhawan and its surrounding areas," the official informed.

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In the meeting Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi Amit Gupta presented a detailed security grid in place for Katara town and discussed various security measures going to be placed.

DIG highlighted the major challenge for the deployed security forces in the coming days and stressed frequent verification and census of migrants in and around Katra town.

He also reviewed each and every security drill of the Shrine, yatra enroute, safety and security of pilgrims visiting to pay obeisance to the Shrine on a daily basis and the massive volume of visitors during the festival and directed to conduct joint security drill with CAPF for the security of the shrine and mentioned it as the top priority of police of this jurisdiction.

Character antecedents pony porters and other people entering the town should also be checked on priority required to segregate the suspicious elements.

DIG also directed to conduct checking of the hotels and other residential accommodations regularly for verification of character antecedents of the person visiting there.

All concerned officers were further directed to revisit the list of OGWs of the Police Stations and monitor social media including Facebook, and WhatsApp to curb the new pattern of radicalization.

SSP Reasi Amit Gupta, Commandant CRPF, SP Katra, SDPO Katra, Deputy SP Bhawan, SHO Police Station Katra and Bhawan and Officers from Army, IB, CID, Railway and other intelligence agencies were present at the meeting.

Earlier, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board introduced RIFD-equipped Yatra cards for Vaishno Devi Pilgrims. RIFD-equipped Yatra cards system has been started at 29 locations and various antennas and readers have been installed.

Prior to RIFD system, the yatra parchi system was available for Pilgrimage available online and on the counter. Under this new project, CCTV cameras have been installed at 40 new locations and 7 verification counters. A new Control centre has also been set up. (ANI)

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Hazaribagh (Jharkhand) [India], September 17 (ANI): A pregnant woman died after she was allegedly mowed down under the wheels of a tractor by a recovery agent of a finance company in the Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand.

The incident took place on Thursday under the Ichak police station. The victim was the daughter of a specially-abled farmer and she was three months pregnant.

Also Read | Narendra Modi Birthday Special: 10 Most Notable Quotes of Indias Prime Minister.

District Superintendent of Police, Manoj Ratan Chothe told ANI that an argument broke out between the finance company official and the farmer when they reached the farmer's house to recover the tractor. Following the argument, his daughter was crushed under the wheels of the tractor.

"A case of murder has been registered against four persons, including the recovery agent and manager of the private finance company," DSP said.

Also Read | Truck Carrying Sex Toys Overturns, Leaves Hundreds of Dildos and Lubricant Packets on Oklahoma I-40 Highway in US.

A relative of the victim said that Mahindra finance company officials came to her house without informing them.

"She came in front of the tractor and when an argument broke out they crushed her to death. She was later brought dead to the hospital," he said.

Local police of Hazaribagh also told ANI that the officials of the finance company did not inform the local police station before going to the residence of the victim for the recovery of the tractor.

The managing director and chief executive officer of Mahindra group, Anish Shah on Friday said that the company would investigate all aspects.

"We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the Hazaribagh incident. A human tragedy has occurred. We will undertake an examination of the practice of using third-party collection agencies that have been in existence," Shah said in a statement.

He assured his support in the investigation into the case. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jharsuguda (Odisha) [India], September 17 (ANI): At least six persons died and 20 others got seriously injured after a speeding coal-laden truck hit a bus on Odisha's Jharsuguda-Sambalpur Biju Expressway on Friday.

The incident took place near Rourkela Bypass on Jharsuguda-Sambalpur Biju Expressway.

Also Read | Narendra Modi Birthday Special: 10 Most Notable Quotes of Indias Prime Minister.

As per information, the coal-laden truck collided with the bus head-on near Power House Chhak on the Jharsuguda bypass road. The bus was carrying employees from the JSW plant to Jharsuguda town.

As per reports, the deceased were returning after completing their work in the plant when the mishap took place.

Also Read | Truck Carrying Sex Toys Overturns, Leaves Hundreds of Dildos and Lubricant Packets on Oklahoma I-40 Highway in US.

As per the latest report, as of now, six people have died and at least 20 people have sustained injuries in the accident. The injured persons have been shifted to the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla of Sambalpur.

"6 dead, over 20 injured as a bus carrying employees of a company met with an accident in Jharsuguda after a coal-laden truck collided with the bus. Most employees are severely injured. 10 people have been referred to a hospital in Burla, Sambalpur while 14 under treatment here," Jharsuguda Deputy Superintendent of Police N Mohapatra told ANI.

Jharsuguda DM and officials have reached the hospital as the death toll may increase. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], September 17 (ANI): Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday approved the proposed master plan for the development of Veer Surendrasai University of Technology (VSSUT) Burla by 2026.

It will be developed as a centre of excellence for technical education.

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As per Chief Minister's Office, arrangements will be made for more than 10,000 students to study in 24 undergraduate departments in this institution. The state government will spend Rs 2,000 crore for the purpose in three phases.

According to the master plan, the VSSUT will be developed as a Multi-Disciplinary Engineering and Research University by 2030 on the line of premier engineering institutions of the country like IIT and NIT, it will have seven schools like School of Engineering, Skill Development Centre, School of Medical Technology and School of Basic Science.

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According to the master plan, arrangements will be made for 10,864 students to study in this institution. Currently, 2,849 students are studying in various courses. In these Seven Schools 24 engineering programs, more than 14 departments and more than 27 centres of excellence will be established.

"State-of-the-art research centres and laboratory facilities will be available in all these schools. Each Center of Excellence will be partnered with the industry and at least one alumni will take over as mentor," said the CMO,

With this, each Center of Excellence can act as a state-of-art research and consultancy centre for industries and also as a nodal centre for rural and urban development.

CM Patnaik directed to complete the construction of all smart classrooms within 3 months. The hostel and other general repairs will be completed immediately and the institution will be provided with a 24-hour power supply. The Chief Minister discussed with the chancellor and professors of the university.

On August 25, a team of senior government officials comprising Chief Secretary, Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, Secretary to CM (5T) VK Pandian, Principal Secretary, Technical Education, Hemant Sharma visited the University on the instructions of the Chief Minister and held the discussion with University staff students. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], September 17 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said bringing cheetahs back to India will help in the restoration of open forest and grassland ecosystems and also lead to enhanced livelihood opportunities for the local community.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turned 72 today, released cheetahs flown in from Namibia into a special enclosure at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

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Cheetahs - brought from Namibia - are being introduced in India under Project Cheetah, the world's first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project.

The Prime Minister also interacted with Cheetah Mitras, Cheetah Rehabilitation Management Group and students at the venue.

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Addressing the nation on the occasion, Prime Minister expressed gratitude by highlighting a handful of opportunities that give humanity a chance to rectify the past and build a new future.

PM Modi said, "Decades ago, the age-old link of biodiversity that was broken and became extinct, today we have a chance to restore it. Today the cheetah has returned to the soil of India."

The Prime Minister underlined that this monumental occasion has led to the nature-loving consciousness of India being awakened with full force. Modi congratulated all the countrymen on this historic occasion while making a special mention of Namibia and its government with whose cooperation, the cheetahs have returned to Indian soil after decades.

"I am sure, these cheetahs will not only make us aware of our responsibilities towards nature but will also make us aware of our human values and traditions," he said.

PM Modi remarked that even though cheetahs had become extinct from India in 1952, no meaningful effort was made to rehabilitate them for the past seven decades.

"In 1947, when only the last three cheetahs were left in the country, they too were hunted mercilessly and irresponsibly in the Sal forests," he added.

He mentioned that a detailed Cheetah Action Plan was prepared while Indian scientists conducted extensive research, working closely with South African and Namibian experts. The Prime Minister further added that scientific surveys were conducted across the country to locate the most suitable area for cheetahs, and then Kuno National Park was chosen for this auspicious start.

The Prime Minister reiterated that when nature and the environment are protected, the future becomes secure and the avenues for growth and prosperity open up.

He said, "When the cheetahs sprint in Kuno National Park, the grassland eco-system will be restored and it will also lead to an increase in biodiversity. Employment opportunities will increase as a result of the growing eco-tourism in the area thereby opening up new possibilities for development."

Prime Minister urged all the countrymen to act with patience and wait for a few months to witness the cheetahs released in Kuno National Park.

"Today these cheetahs have come as guests, and are unaware of this area. For these cheetahs to be able to make Kuno National Park their home, we have to give them a few months' time," he remarked.

PM stressed that international guidelines are being followed and India is trying its best to settle these cheetahs.

"For India, nature and environment, its animals and birds, are not just about sustainability and security but the basis of India's sensibility and spirituality. We are taught to care about even the smallest creatures living around us. Our traditions are such that if the life of a living being goes away without any reason, then we are filled with guilt. Then how can we accept that the existence of an entire species is lost because of us?" he stated.

The Prime Minister added that today cheetahs are found in some countries of Africa, and in Iran, however, India's name was removed from that list long ago. "Children will not have to go through this irony in the years to come. I am sure, they will be able to see the cheetah running in their own country, in Kuno National Park. Today a big void in our forest and life is being filled through the cheetah," he said.

PM Modi remarked that the India of the 21st century is giving a message to the whole world that economy and ecology are not conflicting fields. He said that India is a living and breathing example that economic progress of the country can take place along with protecting the environment. "Today, on one hand, we are included in the fastest growing economies of the world, at the same time the forest areas of the country are also expanding rapidly," he said.

Prime Minister said that since the formation of his government in 2014, about 250 new protected areas have been added in the country. There has also been a big increase in the number of Asiatic lions here and Gujarat has emerged as a dominating sphere of Asiatic lions in the country.

PM further pointed out that country has achieved the target of doubling the number of tigers ahead of time. He recalled when the existence of one-horned rhinoceros was in danger in Assam, but today their number has also gone up. The number of elephants has also increased to more than 30,000 in the last few years.

He said that the life and needs of crores of people all over the world are dependent on wetland ecology.

"Today 75 wetlands in the country have been declared as Ramsar sites, of which 26 sites have been added in the last four years," he added.

According to Prime Minister's Office, Project Cheetah is in line with the Prime Minister's commitment to environmental protection and wildlife conservation, and will also lead to enhanced livelihood opportunities for the local community through eco-development and ecotourism activities.

The historic reintroduction of Cheetahs in India is part of a long series of measures for ensuring sustainability and environment protection in the last eight years which has resulted in significant achievements in the area of environment protection and sustainability.(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, Sep 17 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his counterpart in Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday.

Greetings to Prime Minister of the country @narendramodi ji on his birthday, Mann said in his tweet.

Also Read | Actress #KanganaRanaut Wished Prime Minister #NarendraModi on His Birthday. She Shared a   Latest Tweet by IANS India.

Modi turned 72 on Saturday, with politicians and dignitaries extending their best wishes to him.

Birthday greetings to respected @narendramodi ji, who undertook a historic journey from a worker to the post of Prime Minister on the strength of selfless service, Khattar said in a tweet.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Birthday: Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Wishes Prime Minister on His B'day.

Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also greeted the PM.

Warm birthday greetings to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji. May god bless you with a long & healthy life in the service of our nation, he said in a tweet.

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa tweeted: Warm Birthday wishes to Honourable Prime Minister narendramodi ji. God bless you with good health and long life.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jaipur, Sep 17 (PTI) The Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee on Saturday unanimously passed a resolution for making Rahul Gandhi the party's national president, a state cabinet minister said here.

The development comes ahead of the start of filing of nominations for the election of the Congress president.

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Rajasthan Food Minister Pratap Singh Khachariya said the resolution was proposed by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot

He said, "The resolution to make Rahul Gandhi party's national president was passed... . Everyone supported it by raising their hands."

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Khachariyawas said that the ''right to appoint state Congress president and AICC members was left to the party high command''. A resolution was also passed in this regard.

The party's state in-charge Ajay Maken, organisation election officer (PRO) Rajendra Kumpawat, state president Govind Singh Dotasra and party members from different districts of the state attended the meeting held at the party's state headquarters on Saturday.

Nominations for the post of Congress president can be filed from September 24 to September 30. The election, if required, will be held on October 17, the party has said.

State units had passed a similar resolution when Rahul Gandhi was elevated as Congress president in 2017. He resigned after the party's debacle in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Amritsar, Sep 17 (PTI) SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami on Saturday said a legal fight for the release of Sikh prisoners, who it claims have completed their sentence, will be intensified.

The apex gurdwara body has been pressing for the release of Sikh prisoners- 'Bandi Singhs', many of whom were arrested in connection with terror and separatist activities in Punjab during militancy years, claiming that they were being discriminated against in the grant of remission.

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The chief of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee was speaking after meeting senior lawyers and retired judges to seek their suggestions on the issue.

He said this issue is "'most important for the community as Sikh prisoners have not been released even after they have completed their sentences''. Dhami said although the SGPC is already providing legal assistance to 'Bandi Singhs', now the case of Sikh prisoners will be presented jointly in view of different legal aspects.

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The SGPC chief also said apart from working for the release of Sikh prisoners lodged in different jails for a long time, efforts will also be made for the release of Sikh youths implicated in several cases in recent years.

He said the issue of Sikh prisoners is related to the sentiments that "erupted from the circumstances at that time" and the governments should understand this reason.

Early this month, the SGPC had sought time from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a meeting to discuss the issue of the release of Sikh prisoners.

In the letter to the PM, Dhami had mentioned the names of nine Sikh prisoners, who had not been released even after they served their sentences.

The letter included the names of Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, a 1993 Delhi bomb blast convict, and Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict in former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh's assassination case.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Panaji, September 17: A team of Central Burea of Investigation along with forensic experts arrived at the resort in north Goa where late BJP leader Sonali Phogat stayed before her death. This comes as CBI took over the probe into Sonali Phogat's death from Goa Police on September 15, 2022, and registered an FIR into the case followed by an order for a detailed probe in the case.

Regarding the same CBI along with a forensic team have arrived at the resort located on the Anjuna beach in North Goa. Earlier, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that he would request Union Home Minister Amit Shah to hand over the Phogat case to the CBI. On September 12, the Ministry of Home Affairs recommended CBI investigation into Sonali Phogat's death.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court adjourned till September 26 Curlies restaurant's plea against the NGT order and extended its interim order on stay against the demolition till the next date of hearing. The Curlies restaurant was being demolished for allegedly violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms but the owners of the restaurant have moved the Supreme Court challenging the demolition action. Sonali Phogat Murder Case: CBI Team Arrives in Goa To Probe BJP Leaders Murder Mystery.

Actor-politician Sonali Phogat was found dead in Goa last month. Her family immediately alleged foul play. Following allegations by her family, the Goa Police lodged a case of murder and arrested a couple of Phogat's associates.

Sonali Phogat, who rose to fame with her TikTok videos, contested the 2019 Haryana election as a BJP candidate but lost to then Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi (he has since joined the BJP). She also appeared in the reality show Bigg Boss in 2020.

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Thane, Sep 17 (PTI) Thane district of Maharashtra has reported 88 new coronavirus positive cases, which took its infection tally to 7,44,323, a health official said on Saturday.

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With the addition of these cases on Friday, there are now 885 active cases in the district, he said.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Birthday: Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Wishes Prime Minister on His B'day.

The death toll remained unchanged at 11,958 as nobody succumbed to the infection during the day, the official said, adding that the recovery count has reached 7,32,145, he added.

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Srinagar, Sep 17 (PTI) Three terrorists involved in the killing of a non-local labourer in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir last month have been arrested, police said on Saturday.

Mohammad Amrez, a labourer from Bihar, was shot dead by militants on the intervening night of 11 and 12 August in Sadunara area of the north Kashmir district.

Also Read | Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad Houses Cheetah Gifted by Saudi Arabia.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Bandipora, Mohammad Zahid, said immediately after the incident, a special investigation team (SIT) of police was constituted to investigate it.

We have solved the case within a month. Three people have been arrested by a joint team of police, army and the CRPF. The weapon of offence has also been recovered, the SSP said.

Also Read | Rajasthan: Man Gets Life Term for Unnatural Sex With Minor Boy in Kota.

He said all the three involved are from Sadunara and were identified as Waseeem, Yawar and Muzammil.

The officer said the trio had kept a watch on outside labourers and wanted to strike fear among them by such killings.

They were in touch with a Pakistan handler code named Babar. This killing took place on his direction, he added.

The SSP said human and technical intelligence was used during the investigation of the case and many people were questioned.

We got clues which we put together and zeroed in on the suspects, he said, adding it was their first terror act, but they were planning more.

A Chinese-made pistol and some pistol rounds were recovered from their possession, he said.

(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, Sep 17 (PTI) Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the BJP has emerged as an organisation working for humanity, party president J P Nadda said on Saturday as he inaugurated various welfare programmes to mark the prime minister's birthday.

The BJP president inaugurated an exhibition, a blood donation drive and other programmes at the party headquarters here.

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BJP workers are celebrating Modi's birthday by organising a 'Seva Pakhwada' (service fortnight), Nadda said.

As part of the fortnight, the party is distributing equipment among differently-abled people, promoting khadi products and organising free health check-up camps.

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Prime Minister Modi's life is dedicated to human service and therefore, the BJP organises 'Seva Pakhwada' to mark his birthday. Under his leadership, the BJP has emerged as an organisation serving humanity and not merely a political party, Nadda told reporters.

The BJP will also organise cleanliness drives, exhibitions showing everything about the PM's life from his childhood adventures to his political career, and free health check-up camps across the country, he said.

The BJP has been celebrating Modi's birthday as 'Seva Diwas' (Day of Service) for years.

This year, BJP workers will also organise 'Unity in Diversity' festivals across districts to send out the message of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' (One India, Great India) to people.

As part of these festivals, BJP functionaries will identify a state different from theirs and adopt its language and culture for a day.

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New Delhi, Sep 17 (PTI) Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday took a swipe at the BJP over the announcement that Maharaja Hari Singh's birthday would be a public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the ruling party must explain the decision to honour the erstwhile ruler and "dishonour" the terms of the accession to India which the royal had signed on.

The former home minister also said in the absence of Maharaja Hari Singh, only the people's elected representatives can determine their future. The decisions of August 5, 2019 were not the decisions of the people or of the elected Legislature, or of the duly constituted government, he added.

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On August 5, 2019, the Centre had scrapped J and K's special status and bifurcated it into Union Territories --- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said the BJP has discovered the virtues of Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, and has declared his birthday as a holiday.

Also Read | Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad Houses Cheetah Gifted by Saudi Arabia.

The most important act of Hari Singh in his lifetime was the decision to sign the Instrument of Accession and accede to India on certain terms, he said.

"Will the BJP please explain the decision to honour Hari Singh and the decision to dishonour the terms of the Accession," the former home minister asked.

As the Maharaja, Hari Singh had the right to speak for his people and determine their future and in his absence, only the people's elected representatives can determine their future, he said.

"The decisions of 5th August 2019 were not the decisions of the people or of the elected Legislature or of the duly constituted government," Chidambaram said.

Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided to declare Maharaja Hari Singh's birth anniversary on September 23 as a public holiday, an official spokesman had said on Thursday night.

The announcement was made by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha following his meeting with a delegation comprising prominent political leaders, members of Yuva Rajput Sabha, civil society members at the Raj Bhavan in Jammu on Thursday, the spokesman had said.

"The government has taken a decision to declare Maharaja Hari Singh Ji's birthday as a public holiday. Maharaja Hari Singh was a great educationist, progressive thinker, social reformer and a towering man of ideas and ideals. The public holiday will be a fitting tribute to Maharaja Hari Singh Ji's rich legacy," Sinha had said.

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New Delhi, Sep 17 (PTI) State-owned power sector finance company REC Ltd on Saturday said that the government is considering a proposal to accord the firm the status of a development financial institution.

REC Limited, under the ministry of power, is being considered for the status of a Development Financial Institution (DFI) by the government of India, a company statement said.

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The objective behind the move is to enable REC to steer global climate funding and net zero investment in the country, it explained.

In the annual general meeting of the corporation held on September 16, the investors were apprised by the chairman and managing director Vivek Kumar Dewangan about the company's plans to diversify into energy transition and future technology funding, it stated.

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The estimated fund requirements for transitioning towards a net-zero economy would be around USD 3.5 trillion till FY50 and around USD 10 trillion till 2070, out of which a large share of investment will be required in the power sector, it explained.

REC as a DFI will analyse end-to-end capital flow requirements and bridge the gap by large-scale fund mobilisation and monitoring the funds, it stated.

With a strong domain expertise and appraisal capabilities, REC is strategically placed to dispense off the duties and responsibilities of a DFI, it pointed out.

Established in 1969, REC Limited is an NBFC focusing on power sector financing and development across India.

It provides financial assistance to state electricity boards, state governments, central/state power utilities, independent power producers, rural electric cooperatives and private sector utilities.

(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, Sep 17 (PTI) India and Singapore discussed fintech, investment opportunities and regulatory cooperation among others during a ministerial roundtable on Saturday.

The Indian side was represented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, and commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, while the Singapore delegation was led by its Deputy Prime Minister and finance minister Lawrence Wong.

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During the meeting, the leaders emphasised ways of enhancing cooperation between India and Singapore in emerging and futuristic areas, the finance ministry said in a series of tweets.

"Both sides deliberated upon wide range of issues which inter alia included #Financial Sector Operations, #Fintech, #Regulatory Cooperation, #Investment Opportunities and Current Economic Arrangements," it said in a tweet.

Also Read | Cheetahs Back in India After Seven Decades: What Are Major Differences Between a Cheetah, Leopard and Jaguar?.

(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, Sep 17 (PTI) The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on Saturday said that the requirement of necessary cyber security certifications for the Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) has been removed.

The ministry in a series of tweets said RVSF will not be required to verify the record of the vehicles with local police before the scrapping of vehicles.

Also Read | UPSC CAPF Result 2022 Declared at upsc.gov.in; Know Steps To Check Score.

The deregistration process has been more simplified and made IT-driven, it added.

The ministry also said that it notified new rules to simplify and streamline the Trade Certificate regime in a bid to promote ease of doing business. There were some anomalies in the existing regulations, which were causing harassment in business establishments.

Also Read | Cheetahs Back in India After Seven Decades: What Are Major Differences Between a Cheetah, Leopard and Jaguar?.

" Accordingly, Trade Certificate will be required only in case of vehicles which are neither registered nor temporarily registered.

"Application for Trade Certificate can be made electronically on Vahan portal, without visiting the RTO, it said.

The vehicle scrappage policy has come into effect from April 1, 2022.

Announced in the Union Budget 2021-22, the policy provides for fitness tests after 20 years for personal vehicles, while commercial vehicles will require it after 15 years.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Dhaka, Sep 17 (PTI) Bangladesh on Saturday asked Myanmar to exercise restraint as tensions escalated in frontiers over the use of artillery guns along the borders by its forces which killed a Rohingya child and wounded several others in the past several days.

Bangladesh does want war, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told reporters here when asked for comments on the Myanmar security forces actions on the borders, frightening both Bangladeshis and Rohingyas who took refuge in makeshift camps in the neighbourhood.

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Kamal said Bangladesh would inform the United Nations if Myanmar does not end the firing near the Bangladesh border as "we have repeatedly warned Myanmar through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but they did not heed the warnings".

He said Bangladesh wanted to resolve issues with Myanmar peacefully and expected the neighbour to realise their mistake and refrain from doing anything in future that impedes bilateral relations.

Also Read | Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Likely To Meet US President Joe Biden During His UNGA Visit, Says Report.

"As we do not want conflict, our efforts are underway to find a peaceful solution with Myanmar. We will do everything, Kamal said, attributing Myanmar actions to its internal conflicts with rebel groups like the Arakan Liberation Army.

"Sometimes a good relationship was seen between Myanmar and the Arakan Army, sometimes it turned into war, for reasons unknown to us. But definitely their war should remain within their boundaries," he said.

Kamal said Dhaka was observing that Myanmar forces were engaged in near identical conflicts with their own rebel groups in India's Mizoram borders and frontiers with Thailand and China but conflicts in their country (Myanmar) should remain within their borders.

He said Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is keeping a strict vigil on the situation on the frontier with Myanmar to prevent influx of people from the neighbouring country.

"Our Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) never wants war, we want a peaceful solution. Let their internal conflict keep within their boundaries. We are always protesting what is happening in our soil from outside," he said.

The minister's comments came a day after one teenage Rohingya boy died and six people, including a Rohingya child, sustained critical injuries in firing and mortar shelling from across the Myanmar border in Gumdhum area of Bangladesh's southeastern Bandarban district on Friday.

On the same day, a Bangladeshi youth was injured and lost one of his legs in a landmine explosion along the Headmanpara border area.

Reports from the borders said Bangladeshis as well as Rohingyas, who fled their homeland in the Rakhine state on the other side of the frontier to take refuge in Bangladesh were passing days in fear in view of indiscriminate gunfire while bullets and mortar shells often continued to land inside Bangladesh.

Officials said BGB stepped up patrols and surveillance ever since two unexploded mortar shells from Myanmar landed in Bangladesh territory on August 28.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already summoned the Myanmar envoy to Dhaka thrice over the issue.

Bangladesh currently offers refuge to over 1.1 million Rohingyas as a ruthless Myanmar military cleansing campaign in August 2017 forced their influx to the country.

Dhaka earlier said it hoped that repatriation of the Rohingya would start later this year, but experts said the clashes between the Myanmar military and rebels indicated that the conditions did not exist for the Rohingya to agree to return to their homeland.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
By Ayushi Agarwal

New Delhi [India], September 17 (ANI): In yet another attempt to protect Pakistan-based terrorists, China has put a hold on a proposal moved at the United Nations by the US and co-supported by India to designate Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Sajid Mir, one of India's most wanted terrorists and the main handler of 2008 Mumbai attack, as a global terrorist.

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Experts have termed the decision by China as "pathetic and highly irresponsible". Ironically, both China and Pakistan are members of Shanghai Corporation Organization (SCO), which witnessed a big discussion on terrorism and how to deal with it on Friday.

The experts also said that China's action was not surprising as Beijing, being an "all-weather friend" of Islamabad, has a history of taking such a stance.

Also Read | Military and Diplomatic Pressures Mount on Russia President Vladimir Putin.

"I'm not surprised. China has a history - even if it is not directly involved in promoting terrorism by supporting terrorists - of putting technical holds on their listing at the UN Security Council 1267 committee. It tends to convey the message that terrorism is fine, terrorists are okay. I think this is something that China has to understand that by doing so they cannot fight terrorism. They cannot go outside and tell that they are fighting terrorism," Anil Kumar Trigunayat, a former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta, told ANI.

"It is ironic, highly irresponsible and pathetic for a country like China to do this," he added.

He referred to steps to tackle terrorism being a significant part of Samarkand Declaration issued after the SCO Summit which was attended by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The declaration said that the mmber states, in accordance with their national legislation and on the basis of consensus, will seek to develop common principles and approaches to form a unified list of terrorist, separatist and extremist organizations whose activities are prohibited on the territories of the SCO member states. The SCO member states, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed deep concern over the security threat posed by terrorism, separatism and extremism in all its forms and manifestations and strongly condemned terrorist acts around the world.

Trigunayat said the Chinese action has come a day after the SCO summit.

"What we are looking at is that China again goes ahead and puts a technical hold on Sajid Mir, another terrorist. Just few days before they had done it with another Masood Azhar's younger brother. SCO is having a country like Pakistan, which is involved, has indulged in promoting terrorism, cross-border terrorism against several countries, mostly against India for decades, as its member."

MS Pratibha, Associate Fellow, IDSA and an expert on China said that Beijing's decision was political.

"For China, it is not a decision based on technical considerations. It is a political one. Due to its close relationship with Pakistan, they will block Indian attempts. We will likely see more of such blocking in the future too. Another possibility is that they believe India should handle these issues unilaterally rather than through the UN (which will force them to diplomatically choose between India or Pakistan). Other possible reasons include US-China bickering about the delisting in 2020 of ETIM, which China considers as a terrorist organisation, form the 1267 Sanctions Committee," Pratibha said.

Mir is one of India's most wanted terrorists and has a bounty of USD 5 million placed on his head by the US for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Beijing has repeatedly put holds on listings to blacklist Pakistan-based terrorists under the sanctions committee of the UN Security Council.

It is the third time in recent months that China has blocked an India-US proposal. Earlier, Abdul Rehman Makki, a leader of the LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), and Abdul Rauf Azhar, the brother of Jaish-e Mohammed (JEM) founder Masood Azhar, were given "protection" by Beijing in the sanctions committee. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
London [UK], September 17 (ANI): All heads of state visiting London for Queen Elizabeth's funeral have been invited to attend the lying-in-state in Westminster Hall ahead of Monday's state funeral, and to sign a book of condolences at Lancaster House.

However, opening a fresh diplomatic rift with Beijing, a Chinese government delegation has been refused permission by the House of Commons authorities to attend the queen's lying-in-state in Westminster Hall, London, Politico reported citing a senior parliamentary figure familiar with the matter.

Also Read | SCO Summit 2022: PM Narendra Modi Presses Russia President Vladimir Putin To End Conflict in Ukraine; Says 'Today's Era Is Not of War' (Watch Video).

House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle fired new diplomatic salvos when he told his colleagues that he declined a request for Chinese officials to be allowed to access Westminster Hall, where the late queen will lie in state until her funeral on Monday. Hoyle's office said it did not comment on security matters, reported Politico.

It must be noted that Westminster Hall forms part of the Palace of Westminster, over which the Commons and Lords speakers have authority.

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This key development comes at a time when the UK government has toughened its stance on China. The newly appointed UK Prime Minister Liz Truss during the Tory leadership debates indicated that she will be more hawkish towards Beijing than her predecessor Boris Johnson.

Truss also raised her voice for the formal recognization of the Uyghur genocide and rejig its long-term foreign and defense strategy -- with stronger language on China, reported Politico.

The UK attitude towards China was also highly visible when the then foreign secretary, Truss, in August, summoned the Chinese ambassador over Beijing's aggression towards Taiwan and said there had been "increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from Beijing in recent months, which threaten peace and stability in the region."

In a similar instance to the barring of the Chinese delegation from Westminster Hall, last year, the Commons and Lords speakers banned the Chinese ambassador, Zheng Zeguang, from entering parliament after Beijing imposed sanctions on a number of British politicians who have been critical of its treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.

The invitations to the queen's funeral were drafted by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office last week. Chinese President Xi Jinping received an official invite as China's head of state, though is not expected to attend in person.

Helena Kennedy, a Labour peer who is among the politicians sanctioned by Beijing, said: "I feel very strongly that Chinese government officials should be barred from participating in this occasion where the nation of Britain is celebrating the life of our queen," she said. "They are attacking our parliamentary and constitutional system through members of our legislature." (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
RTHK: Martha's Vineyard migrants to be housed at base

Fifty or so migrants sent to the wealthy island of Martha's Vineyard in the northeastern United States as part of a political battle over immigration will be temporarily housed at a military base not far from there, the governor of Massachusetts said Friday.

The migrants, mostly Venezuelans and including children, arrived on Wednesday at Martha's Vineyard, a Democratic stronghold and popular vacation spot for the country's political elite.

They had been put on board flights from Texas which the Republican Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, says he chartered.

Despite local mobilisation to help the new arrivals, the island is "not equipped to provide sustainable accommodation, and state officials developed a plan to deliver a comprehensive humanitarian response," said a statement from the administration of Governor Charlie Baker.

On Friday, the state authorities offered to move the migrants, on a voluntary basis, to temporary accommodation at the nearby Joint Base Cape Cod.

"Families will not be separated," the statement said, noting that the base had previously served as an emergency shelter and that the migrants would have access to care and legal services.

According to local media, the migrants were on their way to the base by midday Friday.

Some of them had said they had not known they were being sent to an island.

Local Democrat legislator Julian Cyr called for an investigation.

"Whether or not this meets the legal threshold for human trafficking, this meets the moral threshold of human trafficking," he told local television, adding that he hoped the Department of Justice would look into the incident.

Sending migrants to Democratic strongholds has become a political cudgel for the American right as a means of denouncing President Joe Biden's immigration policy, which they say has allowed undocumented migrants to cross the border with Mexico in large numbers.

It is also a way to try to place immigration at the centre of the campaign for the mid-term elections in November.

On Thursday morning, two buses carrying migrants arrived near the official residence of Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, DC, a place chosen on purpose because she is overseeing the explosive issue of immigration for the White House. They had been sent by Texas' Republican Governor Greg Abbott. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2022-09-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
China Focus: Remains of 88 Chinese martyrs in Korean War return

Xinhua) 10:26, September 17, 2022

SHENYANG, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Escorted by two Chinese J-20 stealth fighter jets, a Y-20 military transport aircraft carrying the remains and belongings of the fallen soldiers landed at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, at around 11 a.m.

This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014.

Around 400 representatives from central and local authorities, the military, veterans of the war, family members of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs and students attended a ceremony at the airport to welcome the remains of the soldiers.

Following the event, the remains were escorted to the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, where a burial ceremony will be held on Saturday.

"I don't know their names, but I know they are heroes and deserve our memory forever," said Chen Meixu, a student in Shenyang, who attended the ceremony.

"Today, my brothers finally return home," said Li Weibo, a CPV veteran, wiping tears from his eyes.

"Sometimes, I forget what happened yesterday, but I have never forgotten what happened more than 70 years ago," the 90-year-old said.

Escorted by police motorcycles, the motorcade carrying the remains of the CPV martyrs drove past thousands of residents who packed the street to take part in the solemn procession.

The remains of 825 soldiers returned from the ROK and were laid to rest in the cemetery between 2014 and 2021.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji)
Brussels [Belgium]/Patna (Bihar) [India], September 17 (ANI): EU- funded Electrification Financing Initiative (EDFI ElectriFI) signed a microgrid debt facility with Husk Power Systems to drive net-zero economic growth in 80 new communities in rural India.

Husk Power Systems, operator of the largest fleet of solar-hybrid microgrids across rural Asia and Africa, will electrify 80 additional communities in India with USD 6 million in new debt financing from the EDFI ElectriFI, read Husk Powering Possibilities press release.

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The 80 solar microgrids will benefit an estimated 60,000 people and connect nearly 10,000 new customers. It will allow Husk to double its customer base of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which drive rural economic activity but still rely heavily on polluting and expensive diesel generation.

The new microgrids will displace a significant amount of diesel generators, avoiding the equivalent of 11,640 tons of CO2 added.

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Besides providing electricity to the communities, Husk's platform strategy to address the entire rural energy ecosystem offers access to productive and lifestyle appliances, allowing customers to purchase affordable, modern and efficient appliances for both business and home use.

The long-term USD 6 million debt financing is one of the largest investments in the microgrid industry by EDFI ElectriFI. It is a clear indication that investing in leading developers like Husk allows de-risking financing facilities to scale the market at speed, added the release.

This investment complements Husk's largest-ever local currency debt financing in the microgrid industry from the India Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), announced earlier this year.

Prior to the EDFI ElectriFI debt, Husk Power already had about 150 net-zero microgrids in operation in India. Husk is also present in Nigeria, with plans to further expand in Sub-Saharan Africa.

"The EDFI ElectriFI debt will enable Husk to become EBITDA positive before the end of 2022, and demonstrates our increased ability to absorb larger amounts of long-term, low-cost debt, which is necessary to scale microgrids profitably. More importantly, we will be achieving a net zero, broad-based economic impact on businesses and households in rural India, and help MSMEs double their income through reduced energy costs," said Manoj Sinha, co-founder and CEO, Husk Power.

"Minigrids are at the heart of EDFI ElectriFI's strategy. We have been following Husk's progress in the last years with attention and are very pleased to add this leading developer to our portfolio. The new facility will enable the company to reach the next stage of growth, achieve profitability and create long-term impact in rural India," said Corentin Billiet, ElectriFI Senior Investment Officer, EDFI Management Company. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad, September 17: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to meet US President Joe Biden during his visit to New York to attend the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly next week, a media report said on Saturday.

Sharif on Saturday left for the United States via London to participate in the UN General Assembly Sessions beginning from September 20, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. Also Read | Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Will Appoint New Army Chief in November, Says Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

He will also represent Pakistan at the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London on September 19 and later depart for the US on a five-day trip during which he will also hold meetings with the heads of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB).

Cash-strapped Pakistan is seeking help from close allies to overcome its financial woes. Last month, the IMF approved a USD 1.1 billion bailout package for Pakistan.

The IMF has approved the disbursement of more than USD 1.1bn to Pakistan, reviving a stalled USD 7bn assistance package expected to help stave off default despite a severe economic crunch and devastating floods.

He is scheduled to address the UNGA on September 23. Officials said that among other issues, he would also highlight the issue of floods and climate change that triggered unprecedented rains in Pakistan that have so far killed over 1,400 people.

Though his meeting is not on the schedule, Pakistan Foreign Office officials are hopeful that he would get an opportunity to meet the US President Biden due to improvement of ties in recent weeks, The News International newspaper reported.

Prime Minister Sharif along with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto will attend the dinner reception hosted by President Biden for the heads of state and government.

After a chill in Pak-US ties, a flurry of activities have been witnessed recently, including the big decision by the Biden administration to provide essential parts of F-16 fighter jets. Washington has also been playing a key role in providing assistance in the wake of disastrous floods.

Separately, the Dawn reported that on September 20 Prime Minister Sharif will address a summit meeting on education reforms, which will also consider how to deal with the pandemic's negative impact on education. He will return to Pakistan on September 24.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, Sep 17 (PTI) Russian President Vladimir Putin is isolating himself from the international community, the White House said Friday a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him that it is not the time for war in Ukraine.

"Today's era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this," Modi told Putin during their meeting in Samarkand on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. "I know about your concerns. We want all of this to end as soon as possible," Putin told Modi.

Also Read | SCO Summit 2022: PM Narendra Modi Presses Russia President Vladimir Putin To End Conflict in Ukraine; Says 'Today's Era Is Not of War' (Watch Video).

The White House was asked about this.

"I think what you heard in Uzbekistan by both the leaders of China and in India are indicative of the fact that Mr. Putin doesn't have a whole lot of sympathetic ears out there to what he's been doing in Ukraine, John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, told reporters at a news conference.

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"This was supposed to be a show of unity around Vladimir Putin, and the Indian Prime Minister just told him that it is not the time for a war in Ukraine. So is it your view that maybe the alliances that Putin was able to forge or to maintain around the war in Ukraine are, you know, weakening or crumbling? a reporter asked Kirby.

"And do you expect other countries to change their stance publicly like India just did? he was asked.

"He (Putin) is only further isolating himself from the international community. We don't believe that now's the time to be doing any business as usual with Russia with respect to what they're doing in Ukraine, Kirby said.

"Again, look at the imagery out of Izium. I don't know how any world leader can look at that and determine that it's okay to do business as usual in Russia. I think you're starting to see even countries who were not vociferous and strident in opposing him are beginning to question what he's doing in Ukraine, and rightly so, because it's just brutal, said the White House official.

"It's absolutely depraved and brutal. And I think it's becoming more and more obvious to the rest of the international community what Mr. Putin and his soldiers are capable of in the worst possible way, Kirby said in response.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beirut, Sep 17 (AP) An Israeli strike on the Damascus International Airport and nearby military posts south of the Syrian capital killed five soldiers, state media reported Saturday.

State news agency SANA, quoting an unnamed military official, said the strikes happened after midnight Friday, causing material losses as well. It added that some of the Israeli missiles were shot down before reaching their targets.

Also Read | Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Will Appoint New Army Chief in November, Says Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the strikes killed five Syrian soldiers and two members of Iran-backed groups.

The Israeli army declined comment, saying it does not react to foreign reports.

Also Read | WHO Has Advised Against the Use of Antibody Therapies Sotrovimab and Casirivimab-imdevimab Against COVID-19.

The strike on the Damascus International Airport came 10 days after Israel launched a missile attack Syria's Aleppo airport in the north that put it out of commission for a few days. It was the second attack on Aleppo's airport within a week.

On June 10, Israeli airstrikes on Damascus International Airport caused significant damage to infrastructure and runways and rendered the main runway unserviceable. The airport opened two weeks later following renovation work.

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of Syria in recent years, but rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations.

Israel has acknowledged, however, that it targets bases of Iran-allied militant groups, such as Lebanon's Hezbollah, which has sent thousands of fighters to support Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces.

The Israeli strikes comes amid a wider shadow war between the country and Iran. The attacks on the airports in Damascus and Aleppo are over fears it was being used to funnel Iranian weaponry into the country. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, September 17: The mainstream American media on Friday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for telling Russian President Vladimir Putin that this is not the time for war in Ukraine. The Modi-Putin conversation in Samarkand was widely carried by the mainstream American media.

"Modi rebukes Putin over war in Ukraine, The Washington Post reported in a headline. In a stunning public rebuke, Modi told Putin: Today's era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this," the daily reported. "The rare reproach showed the 69-year-old Russian strongman coming under extraordinary pressure from all sides, the Post said.

Responding to Modi, Putin said, "I know your position on the conflict in Ukraine, about your concerns that you constantly express. We will do our best to stop this as soon as possible. Only, unfortunately, the opposing side, the leadership of Ukraine, announced its abandonment of the negotiation process, declared that it wants to achieve its goals by military means, as they say, on the battlefield.' Nevertheless, we will always keep you informed of what is happening there." SCO Summit 2022: PM Narendra Modi Presses Russia President Vladimir Putin To End Conflict in Ukraine; Says 'Today's Era Is Not of War' (Watch Video).

It was the lead story on the webpage of both The Washington Post and The New York Times. "India's Leader Tells Putin That Now Is Not an Era for War, The New York Times said in its headline. The tone of the meeting was friendly, with both leaders referring to their long shared history. Before Mr. Modi made his comments, Mr. Putin said he understood India's concerns about the war in Ukraine, the daily said.

"Mr. Modi's comments came a day after President Xi Jinping of China -- in his first face-to-face meeting with Mr. Putin since the invasion began -- struck a far more subdued tone than the Russian president, and steered clear in his public comments of any mention of Ukraine, reported the New York Times.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington [US], September 17 (ANI): US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on Friday (local time) will depart for the UK to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The latter breathed her last on September 9.

In the morning, the President and the First Lady will leave the White House and reach Joint Base Andrews to depart for London. The departure from the South Lawn will be open press, read a White House press release.

Also Read | WHO Has Advised Against the Use of Antibody Therapies Sotrovimab and Casirivimab-imdevimab Against COVID-19.

The President and the First Lady will pay respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday. Both of them will sign the Official Condolence Book for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the venue.

They will also attend a Reception hosted by His Majesty King Charles III.

Also Read | Tropical Storm Fiona Heads for Puerto Rico with Heavy Rains, To Pass Over US Territory by Tomorrow.

Biden and Jill will attend the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19 and depart for the US on the same day, said the release.

All heads of state visiting London for Queen Elizabeth's funeral have been invited to attend the lying-in-state in Westminster Hall ahead of Monday's state funeral and to sign a book of condolences at Lancaster House.

However, opening a fresh diplomatic rift with Beijing, a Chinese government delegation has been refused permission by the House of Commons authorities to attend the queen's lying-in-state in Westminster Hall, London, Politico reported citing a senior parliamentary figure familiar with the matter.

People of the UK will relive the glorious life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II at her state funeral on Monday.

For the funeral, many guests from political heads of countries to distinct royal family members and dignitaries from across the globe will fly to the UK.

Although the official guest list hasn't been released yet, New York Post has shared the names of a few countries that didn't make the cut. They are - Russia, Belarus, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria and Venezuela.

According to the online publication, Russian President Vladimir Putin wished King Charles III on his accession recently, however, the country was still snubbed by the UK as they reportedly didn't get an invite for the funeral.

It's also interesting to note here that North Korea, Iran, and Nicaragua were sent invites however those were only sent out to their ambassadorial representatives and not the head of state.

Another news that recently made rounds was that former US President Donald Trump would also be in attendance however, the UK government, according to New York Post, has squashed the rumour saying that only the sitting US President and his wife will be attending.

New York Post further reports that 750,000 people will be present at the funeral.

More than USD 7 million (around INR 59 crores) will be shelled to beef up the security for the Queen's funeral on September 19.

According to New York Post, protecting Queen Elizabeth's funeral will be the most expensive single-day operation in UK history, costing over USD 7.5 million.

To secure the unprecedented number of foreign leaders, who are expected at the funeral on Monday, the British Mi5 and Mi6 intelligence agencies, London's Metropolitan Police, and the Secret Service will work together.

"This is the biggest policing operation that the United Kingdom policing has ever undertaken," New York Post quoted Simon Morgan, a former Royal security officer, as saying. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Puducherry, September 17: Following closure of schools for students studying from classes 1 to VIII after a rise in flu-like illness among children, the Puducherry government on Saturday announced that classes will also be closed for LKG and UKG.

The Health Department of Puducherry has opened dedicated clinics in all hospitals and primary health centres to treat children for flu like fever cases.

A spokesperson of the Health Department had told PTI on Friday that in view of the 'sharp rise' in number of children turning up for fever, cold and cough, the hospitals have intensified treatments.

Private clinics across Puducherry were also receiving cases of influenza for some days now. The Health Department's recommendation to the government to close schools to prevent spread of the flu like fever has been conceded by the administration. Monkeypox in India: ICMR Performs Genome Characterisation of MPV Cases, Identifies 3 Sub-Clusters Among A.2 Lineage.

Chief Minister N Rangasamy and Home Minister A Namassivayam in-charge of Education have given their nod to the Education Directorate's decision taken in the wake of the Health Department's recommendation to declare holiday for LKG, UKG and also for classes I to VIII from Saturday till September 25.

All government run schools and private institutions have shut the classes as a precautionary measure, a spokesperson of the Education Department said.
Khan said in an interview that the incumbent was not competent enough to appoint the new Army chief and that the issue should be left for the next government. He also demanded fresh elections.
Call for proposals: NASA is looking for companies interested in developing and demonstrating astronaut Moon landers for future #Artemis missions beyond Artemis III. https://t.co/h9pG9VzwCV pic.twitter.com/JC7mBMUBen NASA (@NASA) September 16, 2022

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not invited to a state reception that will be held for world leaders and foreign royals at Buckingham Palace.

Daily Mail reported that it was believed that the couple received an invitation to the event earlier in the week. It will be hosted by King Charles III and his wife Camilla.

However, officials at Buckingham Palace insisted that the state reception was for working royals only, which would imply that the Sussex couple is unlikely to attend the event.

World leaders, ambassadors, and foreign royals will be attending a reception at the Palace. Among those who will greet the visitors will be Prince William and Kate Middleton.

It was not the only confusion that the Sussex couple faced regarding the funeral events, with Harry initially not being allowed to wear a military uniform.

READ NEXT: Jill Biden Says Queen Elizabeth II Admonished Her Not to Help Serve Tea During Her Windsor Castle Visit With Joe Biden

Prince Harry Military Uniform at Queen's Funeral

King Charles has, later on, given his permission for his son Prince Harry to wear military uniforms during their vigil for Queen Elizabeth.

A Kensington Palace source noted in a Page Six report that Prince Harry and Prince Andrew will both be in uniform.

The Duke of Sussex had previously been banned from wearing his military uniform and was stripped of his military titles when he decided to quit royal life in 2020 and moved to California with Markle.

One source noted that it was a "ludicrous situation," with Harry having served in the army for 10 years, which included two active tours in Afghanistan.

He also created the Invictus Games, which is an international sporting event for wounded servicemen and women.

One source noted that Harry did not request the change in the decision, adding that he was "simply prepared to wear whatever his grandmother made plans for" and that the Duke of Sussex was focused on honoring her.

Queen Elizabeth Funeral

Prince Edward said that the royal family has been "overwhelmed by the tide of emotion" in light of the queen's death, as reported by NBC News. He then thanked people for their support, adding that his mother's memory should be "long cherished as the baton she carried for the past 70 years."

Meanwhile, a London Ambulance Service spokesperson noted that hundreds of people were treated by first responders as they lined up to see the queen's coffin. The spokesperson noted that they cared for 435 patients up until midnight and worked with their partners.

It was not immediately clear how many people were treated on Friday. The British government said that the line had to be paused for hours after reaching capacity.

The British government said that those looking to join the line will have to face a 24-hour wait while warning that temperatures overnight will be cold for those waiting in the line.

The government earlier advised the public not to join the waiting line until the pause has been resumed.

READ MORE: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Opt Not to Hold Daughter Lilibet's Christening in the U.K. As It's Likely Be in California: Royal Sources

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are 'very irritating': Piers Morgan - from Sky News Australia


Vice President Kamala Harris has continued to remain silent about the arrival of two buses from Texas carrying migrants near her Naval Observatory residence in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. In contrast to her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who had shared his thoughts about it.

Kamala Harris appeared with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in front of the press Friday. A White House Press release said Harris hosted a breakfast for Ramaphosa at the Naval Observatory to discuss and strengthen the ties between the U.S. and South Africa.

As the vice president thanked the press with Ramaphosa, a reporter shouted a question about her thoughts on the two busloads of migrants sent by that Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

Harris ignored it and immediately went inside with the South African president without taking questions. Fox News reported that the vice president similarly refused to comment on the migrant buses after delivering remarks in the White House on Thursday.

In the United We Stand Summit hosted in the White House, Harris also immediately walked out of the East Room following her speech. She continued to walk without answering the reporter who asked for her comment on the arrival of migrants near her D.C. home.

Kamala Harris Ignoring The Immigration Problem?

In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" last Sunday, Kamala Harris claimed that the border was "secure" despite the thousands of illegal immigrants crossing the border from Mexico to the U.S.

"We have a secure border in that that is a priority for any nation, including ours and our administration. But there are still a lot of problems that we are trying to fix given the deterioration that happened over the last four years," Harris noted.

"You're confident this border is secure?"



KAMALA HARRIS: "We have a secure border in that that is a priority for any nation."  pic.twitter.com/D2GDj4JUgH  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 12, 2022

Republicans have criticized President Joe Biden and the Democrats for their welcoming policies on migrants. Greg Abbott had already sent dozens of buses filled with migrants to Washington, D.C., New York City, and Chicago in recent weeks.

Abbott has devised the multimillion Texas migrant busing program to solve the state's border crossing problem. It is reportedly the Republican governor's way of going against Biden's immigration policies.

The program, which Abbott refers to as "Operation Lone Star," was said to have provided the state the "much-needed relief" to their overwhelmed border communities.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis followed Abbott's plan as he sent two planes full of migrants to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts on Wednesday.

The Republican governor said it was part of the state's relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to "sanctuary destinations" that support the Biden administration's open border policies.

Kamala Harris' Husband Douglas Emhoff Reacts to Greg Abbott's Busing Program

Kamala Harris' husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, did not hold back his thoughts about the issue. He reacted on Friday to the "shameful" shipment of migrants in buses near their D.C. residence.

After taking a COVID-19 booster shot, the press asked the second gentleman about his thoughts on the surprising arrival of almost 100 immigrants near their residence.

Emhoff then said: "These are human beings... These are people. They needed to be treated with dignity, with kindness and respect, and they weren't. And we have so-called leaders in this country who rather than focusing on what's good for the public within their own states, they're using people as pawns for a political stunt."

READ MORE: Florida: Ron DeSantis Vows to Use 'Every Penny' of $12 Million Budget to Transport Migrants to Other States

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ivan Korrs

WATCH: President Cyril Ramaphosa Meets U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris - From eNCA
The families of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, both currently detained in Russia, finally met with President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday.

Biden met with the families separately, the first time he met with them since their loved ones were detained. According to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the president reiterated his commitment to work using all available avenues to bring Griner and Whelan home.

She added that Biden appreciated the opportunity to bring the two American citizens home from those who loved them. The president also acknowledged that "every minute they are being held is a minute too long."

Brittney Griner's Wife Says Meeting Is Critical Assurance From the Government

Cherelle Griner, Brittney Griner's wife, told CNN following her meeting with Joe Biden that the meeting served as a critical assurance from the White House that they were committed to bringing the two-time Olympic Gold Medalist home.

Cherelle said that while this was not a meeting where Biden told her what she wanted to hear, she still considered it a pivotal meeting. She noted that the meeting gave her the confidence that the president was working to bring her wife back home.

For months, Cherelle Griner had tried to get this meeting to happen. She said Biden alluded to the report about the administration's prisoner swap offer. However, she noted that the U.S. government still has not figured out what Russia wants in return for Griner.

According to the Associated Press, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced two months ago that the U.S. made a substantial proposal to Russia. The U.S. has repeatedly pressed that offer in the hope of getting some serious negotiations for the release of Griner and Whelan.

Unfortunately, the relations between Moscow and Washington have been further strained with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as Russia resisted discussing the deal that the Americans have offered.

READ NEXT: Brittney Griner Update: LeBron James Makes Heartbreaking Admission About Detention of WNBA Star, USA's Response

WNBA Star Brittney Griner 'Devastated' After 9-Year Prison Sentence Announced

Brittney Griner was arrested at a Russian airport after officials "discovered" that her vape pens contained cannabis oil. She was charged with drug smuggling and sentenced to nine years in prison. Her lawyers are trying to appeal the ruling.

Griner's two lawyers, Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov, told People that the sentence was nearly double what they previously expected. Her lawyers said the WNBA star was devastated and very upset.

When Blinken announced that they were proposing the prisoner exchange for Griner and Whelan, the WNBA star became quite happy, knowing that her government had still not forgotten about her.

As for Whelan, his sister previously spoke to Joe Biden on the phone. However, like Cherelle, his sister also wanted a personal meeting with the president.

Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan, was arrested in Russia in 2018 and was sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in prison on espionage charges, which he denies.

READ MORE: Brittney Griner Update: WNBA Star Sends Emotional Letter to Joe Biden Amid Russia Detention

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: President Joe Biden Meets With Families of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan - From CBS News
Laois has its first columbarium walls to store cremated ashes of loved ones but its construction has caused controversy in the county town.

The structure, commissioned by Laois County Council, in SS Peter and Paul's Cemetery, Portlaoise, contains 80 niches none of which have yet been occupied. However, a row has broken out over its commissioning.

Councillors in the Portlaoise Municipal District have accused Laois County Council of excluding any Laois construction companies from applying for the job of installation.

They claim the tender contract stipulated that the applicants must have built at least two columbarium walls already. However, the walls are relatively new to Ireland, meaning few companies or individuals could qualify with none from Laois having previously built any.

The meeting was told that Terry Swayne, Managing Director of Portlaoise Stone, met with Laois County Council's CEO John Mulholland. Mr Swayne, who volunteers on the cemetery committee, initially tendered in a joint bid but withdrew due to the lack of experience.

The local businessman was supported by councillors at the September meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald led calls to install the walls for the past year, but criticised how it turned out. She is disappointed with not only the tender process.

"I welcome them however I am disappointed with the design. It is very different from what I was shown and agreed on. If it had to be changed, councillors should have been informed. We were told the design was in a semi circle. I am so disappointed.

"I am disappointed with the tender. No locals could apply because there was a clause that they had to have built two. I think our stonemasons in Laois are well capable of building one. The fact they were excluded while we spend our time promoting local business. Some do volunteer work in the cemetery as well. The fact that they couldn't apply was really wrong. Is that clause in for any other town? We are pro Laois and pro enterprise. Lessons need to be learned from this," she said.

Cllr Willie Aird named Mr Swayne.

"We need to get deliverance on who set this down. Terry Swayne has been onto us all. I got a meeting for him with the Chief Executive. I wasn't privy to the outcome, but we will wait and see what he has to say. It defies logic, it is mind boggling. Even if the stonework was of the highest spec, it could have been done by any contractor with experience," he said.

He also wants information on the prices for customers.

"I'm very concerned at the price they are going to cost. I presume you have had all this discussed. Are we going to be told and have nothing to do with the decision? If you are to divide the cost, is it self financing? Is there a clause for maintenance? Can you get more than one name in, like a family plot?

"All these questions need to be answered. I ask Laois County Council to discuss them with Portlaoise Municipal District, or the wider county, because anybody can be buried there if they ask. People who left Ireland are going to say they want their ashes brought back to Portlaoise," Cllr Aird said.

Cllr John Joe Fennelly felt the contract should have been awarded locally.

"The fact that nobody locally could apply to tender is an absolute shame. These people are giving their time and their skills to volunteer in some cemeteries. It is a shocking story," he said.

Cllr Noel Tuohy points out that if the clause means nobody in Laois will ever qualify.

"It is a slap in the face for locals, and a slap in the face for the future," he said.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley was also annoyed.

"It is very disappointing that this person didn't have the right but were excluded, it's an absolute disgrace," she said.

"It's like asking somebody to do road marking but they have to show they did the very same thing," Cllr Thomasina Connell said.

The Portlaoise Town Manager is Director of Services Simon Walton.

"This tender would have been developed by the community department. In the normal course we are very keen that local enterprise be facilitated. Interested parties would appear to have been disqualified. It is obviously unsatisfactory. I will bring it to the attention of the community section," he said.

He suggested inviting an official to the October meeting of the district, but Cllr Aird objected and said the CEO John Mulholland must speak about it sooner.

"The buck stops with him," he said.
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Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English, T.D., visited the Leitrim Local Enterprise Office (LEO) on Wednesday, September 7, where he met with council officials and members of the LEO team as well as some of their client companies.

Minister Englishs first stop was the Food Hub in Drumshanbo where he was greeted by Minister of State, Frank Feighan, Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Ita Reynolds-Flynn and Leitrim Chief Executive, Lar Power.

Pascal Gillard, Jinnys Bakery, Damien English, T.D., Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Sinead Gillard, Jinnys Bakery, Ita Reynolds Flynn, Cathaoirleach Leitrim County Council, Frank Feighan, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy.

The Minister then heard from Director of Services, Joseph Gilhooly and LEO Head of Enterprise, Joe Lowe about developments in the county and their future plans and priorities.

Minister English said, I am delighted to be here in Leitrim and to meet the LEO team. Whether it is through the provision of training, mentoring or through other important assistance, the LEOs are a fantastic support for local businesses.

I am also pleased to visit the Food Hub which is part of the Leitrim Food Enterprise Zone. This project has received funding from my Departments Regional Enterprise Development Fund and the initiative will ultimately see Drumshanbo and its hinterland develop as an area of food excellence and production.

Minister English with Detta McNiffe of McNiffes Bakery

At the Food Hub the Minister met several LEO client companies to find out about their produce. First he was introduced to McNiffes Bakery, famous for its boxty which is stocked in shops throughout Ireland.

Next he spoke to John Brennan of Blakes Always Organic which was established in 2012. The company produces organic kefir and whole-bean artisan organic coffee beans.

Minister English with John Brennan of Blakes Always Organic

Sinead and Pascal Gillard then told the Minister about their family business, Jinnys Bakery and Tea Rooms. They now supply bread to retailers nationwide as well as to Supermacs and hotels across the country.

Minister English then spoke with Lisa Gifford of Leitrim Hill Creamery who told him about her business that produces hard and soft goats cheeses.

Lisa Gifford, Leitrim Hill Creamery, Damien English, T.D., Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Richelle South and Gypsy Gifford, Leitrim Hill Creamery.

Finally, the Minister met with Georgia Visnyei of Artessa, a coffee roastery that supplies coffee to customers in Ireland, the UK and across Europe.

Frank Feighan, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy, Damien English, T.D., Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Georgia Visnyei, Artessa Coffee, Ita Reynolds-Flynn, Cathaoirleach Leitrim County Council

The Minister then travelled to the Leitrim Design House in Carrick-on-Shannon, one of the leading craft and design outlets in the country. It was established by the Leitrim County Enterprise Board in 2000 and has become one of the most progressive craft and design clusters in Ireland. The Design House assists businesses to develop and showcase their designs.

Damien English, T.D., Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Emily Sachs Eldridge, Artwood

Here Minister English met with some more LEO clients including Artwood, a family craft business run by Giolla Liddy and Emily Sachs-Eldridge. The company makes suncatchers from native Irish wood and crystal.

12 Quail Farm Soap Studio was set up to supply quail eggs and then diversified into handmade donkey milk soap production.

Cianan Redmond runs Heartfelt Gifts, a small company which produces robin wall art gifts using needle felting techniques.

Cianan Redmond, 12 Quail Farm Soap Studio, Fenagh, with Damien English, T.D., Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail

Stephen Keane runs News Mag Media which publishes curriculum linked news magazines for children.

Minister English also learned about the Creative Heartlands/Fab Lab that was funded by the Regional Enterprise Development Fund. It is a three-year project developed by Leitrim, Sligo and Roscommon Arts Offices and Local Enterprise Offices that aims to strengthen economic growth and sustain existing enterprises in the film sector and in the design and digital fabrication sector.

Stuart Lawn, Creative Heartlands, with Damien English, T.D., Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Lar Power, Leitrim Chief Executive, Joe Lowe, Local Enterprise Office Leitrim, and Minister of State, Frank Feighan T.D.

On the conclusion of his visit, Minister English said, The spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and well in Leitrim. The variety of businesses here really underlines the type of talent that exists in regions all over the country.

The potential in Leitrim for the food industry, craft and design and many other innovative sectors is clear to see.

It is wonderful to see people identifying these business opportunities and through the LEO network and other supports, the Government will continue to back these businesses and help them to grow and thrive.

Underpinned by our progressive Regional Enterprise Plans, this will ensure job creation and economic growth in every part of the country.

Pictured outside The Dock and Leitrim Design House are, from left, Joe Lowe (Leitrim Enterprise Office), Minister of State, Frank Feighan, Johanne Cox, Carol Philpott, Minister of State, Damien English, Carmel Coll, Lar Power (Chief Executive, Leitrim County Council), Sheena Cannon, Geraldine Reynolds and Joseph Gilhooly (Director of Services, Leitrim County Council).
Do you know someone who has contributed to life in Leitrim in a special way?

Anyone can nominate a person that they think deserves this special recognition of Leitrim Guardian Person of the Year 2023 by their community.



It could be someone who always helps others in some voluntary way or someone who has faced difficulties in life and has shown great bravery and acceptance.



It could be anyone from 18 to 80 who has shown a generosity of spirit and thereby has been an inspiration to us all.



Nominations for Leitrim Guardian Person of the Year 2023 should be forwarded to Fr John Sexton by Friday, September 30 by email at :

fjsexton@gmail.com.

Or by post to:

Fr John Sexton, Parochial House, Rossinver, Co. Leitrim.



Please make sure permission has been sought from the nominee before putting them forward.

Nominations must include relevant information about the nominee, their contribution to the county and why you are nominating them.
The following deaths have occurred in the wider Leitrim area:

Maureen Barron (nee MacPherson), Upper Marian Road, Boyle, Roscommon



The death has occurred of Maureen Barron (nee MacPherson), Upper Marian Road, Boyle, Co. Roscommon, unexpectedly, on the 13th of September 2022. Predeceased by her husband Eddie Barron (Kilkenny), brothers Paul (UK), John (Boyle) and sister Dorry (UK). Maureen will be sadly missed by her sisters Kathleen, Josephine and Philomena, her brother-in-laws Phillip, Vincent and Jim, sister-in-law Jean, her nieces Caroline and Joanne, nephews Paul, Gary, David, Martin, Eric and Shane, her great-grandnieces and grandnephews, whom she adored, her wider family, neighbours and friends. Reposing in Higgins and Sons' Funeral Home, Ballinameen, on Thursday, 22nd of September, from 6pm to 8pm. Removal on Friday morning to arrive at St. Joseph's Church, Boyle, for funeral Mass at 11am. The funeral Mass can be viewed on www.boyleparish.ie. Cremation afterwards at Lakelands Crematorium Co. Cavan (H12 RF78). The Lakelands service can be viewed on www.churchservices.tv/Lakelands.

James (Jim) Pettit, Ballinamana, Clarinbridge, Galway / Boyle, Roscommon



The death has occurred of James (Jim) Pettit, Ballinamana, Clarinbridge, Co. Galway and formerly of Boyle, Co. Roscommon. James slipped away suddenly but peacefully in University College Hospital Galway on Friday, September 16th 2022. Beloved husband of Bridie (nee McLoughlin) and much loved father of Louise, Edel, Michelle, James, Eoghan and Miriam. Adored grandad of Hannah, Mark, Ben, Isabel, Gavin, Dylan and Noah. Treasured father-in-law of Fred, John, Carthage, Ausias and Emma. Mourned and sadly missed by his sisters Delia Naughton and Marcella Keavney, his brothers and sisters in law, nieces, nephews, his extended family, neighbours and friends. We are comforted in the knowledge that he is now reunited with his predeceased parents, brothers and sisters. Removal on Monday evening from 5pm to 7pm in Maree Pastoral Centre. Funeral Mass on Tuesday at 12 noon with burial afterwards in Renville Cemetery. Family flowers only. Donations, if desired, to your preferred charity. House private by request.

Mary Kate Reilly, Altachullion, Swanlinbar, Cavan



Peacefully at Cavan General Hospital, daughter of the late Thomas and Kathleen and sister of the late Philip. Deeply regretted by her loving sister Margaret Flynn, (Ballyorriln, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford), brothers John (Wales), Tossie (Cheltenham), brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, relatives and friends. Mary Kate's remains will repose at Lakelands Funeral Home, Dublin Road, Cavan, Eircode H12 RF78, on Sunday, 18th September, from 5pm concluding with prayers at 7pm. Mass of the Resurrection will take place in Saint Patrick's Church Corlough on Monday at 11am with burial in adjoining cemetery

May they all Rest in Peace.
Residents of the village of Pianello di Ostra, in the aftermath of the deluge ALESSANDRO DI MEO / AFP

"God help us" was Riccardo Pasqualini's Facebook message to his constituents during the night of Thursday, September 15. The mayor of Barbara, a town of 1,257 inhabitants in Italy's Marche region, could only watch helplessly as the deluge poured down. In the message, Mayor Pasqualini implored residents to shelter in their homes and under no circumstances get in their cars and drive, which could cost them their lives.

In just six hours, more than 400mm of rain fell on the region. According to Fabrizio Curzio, the head of Civil Protection, who arrived at the scene on Friday morning, this represents a third of the local average annual rainfall. In the village of Cantiano, 50 kilometers inland from Barbara, some residents filmed water reaching waist level. Videos on social media showed cars washed away by rivers of mud.

Read more Rescue operations underway as deadly floods sweep through Italy

The toll of this latest extreme weather event is heavy. The Civil Protection department has so far counted 10 dead and three missing, including two children. Fifty people have been hospitalized and 150 have been forced to leave their homes.

Nearly 200 firefighters have been mobilized to help the victims, with some rescue workers coming from the neighboring regions of Abbruzzo and Emilia Romagna. Images showed them on rubber dinghies going up alleyways transformed into torrents. The army has provided two helicopters to assist in the rescue operations.

Seven violent weather events since July

A few hours after the tragedy, shocking images from the European Copernicus satellite showed the measure of the violence of the storm and the destructive force of the gullying. These images from space reveal that mudslides penetrated the Adriatic Sea up to 80km beyond the coast.

The storm was just the latest in a series of climatic disasters that this area of the Mediterranean basin has suffered since the beginning of the summer. "It is a situation very similar to the violent storms that swept Corsica on August 18, as well as Liguria and Tuscany," said climatologist Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorological Society, who called for residents to be better informed. "Italians have no education on how to behave" in these sudden and extreme circumstances, he said.

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The repetition of extreme weather events and their acceleration are causing concern in the country. "Italy has experienced no less than seven violent climatic phenomena since July," Mr. Mercalli explained, citing in particular the landslide in Val di Fassa in the Dolomites on August 5, which cut off many roads and forced 100 inhabitants to flee their homes.

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NEW RESEARCH from the University of Limerick has revealed that net zero greenhouse gas emission status will be difficult to achieve by 2050 and challenging to maintain.

Under the governments Climate Action Plan, Ireland is committed to a legally binding target of net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions no later than 2050, and a reduction of 51% by 2030.

Scenarios modelled by researchers at University of Limerick and University of Galway show how difficult these will be to achieve and maintain.

The results, which have just been published in the prestigious Nature Sustainability journal, show that drastic action is needed in the agri-food and forestry sectors if Ireland is to meet its targets.

Using Ireland as a specific case study, 850 randomised scenarios were modelled, with 128 achieving net zero status in the agriculture, forestry, and other land use sector and a further 38 scenarios contributed to the achievement of national level net zero status.

However, extending this analysis to 2100, only 40  or around 5%  of scenarios maintained net zero status.

Dr Colm Duffy, Research Fellow at University of Limericks School of Engineering and lead author of the paper, explained: "The goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions for 2050 sets clear targets for measures relating to energy generation and use.

"However, there is a lack of clarity regarding how this is best achieved in the land use sector, which is responsible for one quarter of global GHG emissions but is also vital for our food security.

The study assessed the GHG footprints of 850 different land use combinations to identify those options capable of meeting Irelands 2050 target and sustaining it through to 2100.

The best-case scenario saw milk output sustained at 87% of 2015 levels if beef output was significantly reduced. High rates of afforestation also proved to be essential to achieve net-zero.

"The agri-food sector alone cannot achieve net-zero by 2050 and must look towards offsets using new forests comprising a mix of varied coniferous and broadleaf tree species that also support biodiversity and wider amenity value," explained Dr David Styles.

As the share of Irelands land under forest cover is among the lowest in Europe, there is high potential for new planting, Dr Duffy also noted.

"Owing to the rotational nature of commercial forestry, carbon offsets from new forestry will weaken through time, so that only one scenario tested sustained net-zero at the national level to 2100," the UL research fellow explained.
GARDAI in Listowel are advising those from Limerick attending the Harvest Racing Festival that an extensive traffic management plan will be in place.

It's the first full festival since 2019 and race-goers are being urged to comply with gardai and race stewards to ensure the smooth running of the event and the safety of all patrons.

The seven-day festival begins this Sunday afternoon which seven races each afternoon.

Sergeant Diarmuid OBrien of Listowel garda station says he wants everyone to have a safe and enjoyable experience at the races and he is warning members of the public to be aware of pickpockets.

Lock your cars when leaving them and do not leave valuables in them. Every person attending the races is asked to take sensible precautions in respect of their own property and their personal safety, said Sgt OBrien.

Gardai are warning of delays at certain times due to the large volumes of traffic which will be converging on junctions within close proximity to and in the immediate vicinity of Listowel Rcecourse.

"Non-race traffic should, where possible, divert away from routes used by motorists attending race meetings on each race day," said Sgt O'Brien.

No road closures are in place and patrons attending from Limerick are strongly advised to park in the car parks at Greenville (entrance off Grenville Road), Greenville (entrance off Convent Street), Tralee (entrance off the N69- Listowel-Tralee road) and Barretts Field (entrance off Bridge Road, Listowel).

While parking is also available in Listowel town centre, restrictions will be in place in residential areas and illegally parked vehicles will be towed and fines issued.

Sergeant O'Brien is warning there will be a zero tolerance policy towards underage drinking throughout the week.

Traditionally, Friday, which is Ladies day sees the attendance of young persons in large numbers. We welcome these young people and want them to enjoy their day. However, in the past there were incidents of underage drunkenness on the Friday evening where youths were conveyed to the garda station and their parents contacted. Incidents such as these draws significantly from our resources at busy times, said Sgt OBrien.

Ahead of the festival, gardai have written to secondary schools and bus operators in the west Limerick/north Kerry area advising them of the legislation relating to underage drinking.

Spot checks will be conducted at pick up locations and gardai will be operating a stop and search policy at entrances to Listowel Racecourse.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to press his attack on Ukraine despite that countrys latest counter-offensive.

He also warned that Moscow could ramp up its strikes on vital Ukraines infrastructure if Ukrainian forces target facilities in Russia.

Speaking to reporters after attending a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Mr Putin said the liberation of Ukraines entire eastern Donbas region remained Russias main military goal and that he sees no need to revise it.

We arent in a rush, the Russian leader said, adding that Moscow has only deployed volunteer soldiers to fight in Ukraine.

Some hard-line politicians and military bloggers have urged the Kremlin to follow Ukraines example and order a broad mobilisation to beef up the ranks, lamenting Russias manpower shortage.

Russia was forced to pull back its forces from large swathes of north-eastern Ukraine last week after a swift Ukrainian counter-offensive.

Ukraines move to reclaim control of several Russian-occupied cities and villages marked the largest military setback for Moscow since its forces had to retreat from areas near the capital early in the war.

In his first comment on the Ukrainian counter-offensive, Mr Putin said: Lets see how it develops and how it ends.

He noted that Ukraine has tried to strike civilian infrastructure in Russia and we so far have responded with restraint.

If the situation develops this way, our response will be more serious, the Russian leader added.

Just recently, the Russian armed forces have delivered a couple of impactful strikes, he said, in an apparent reference to Russian attacks earlier this week on power plants in northern Ukraine and a dam in the south.

Lets consider those as warning strikes.

Mr Putin alleged, without offering specifics, that Ukraine has attempted to launch attacks near our nuclear facilities, nuclear power plants, adding that we will retaliate if they fail to understand that such methods are unacceptable.

Russia has reported numerous explosions and fires at civilian infrastructure in areas near Ukraine, as well as munitions depots and other facilities. Ukraine has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks and refrained from commenting on others.

Mr Putin also sought to assuage Indias concern about the conflict in Ukraine, telling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO summit that Moscow wants to see a quick end to the fighting. He also alleged that Ukrainian officials have refused to negotiate.

I know your stand on the conflict in Ukraine and the concerns that you have repeatedly voiced, the Russian leader told Mr Modi.

We will do all we can to end that as quickly as possible. Regrettably, the other side, the leadership of Ukraine, has rejected the negotiations process and stated that it wants to achieve its goals by military means, on the battlefield.

I praise the decision by @POTUS to allocate up to $600 million as another defense aid package for . Our interaction proved its efficiency on the front. strives for freedom. And with the solidarity & sincere support of partners, it amazes the whole world. Together well win!    (@ZelenskyyUa) September 16, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said it is Russia that allegedly does not want to negotiate in earnest. He also has insisted on the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied areas of Ukraine as a precondition for talks.

Mr Putins remarks during the talks with Modi echoed comments the Russian leader made during Thursdays meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping when Mr Putin thanked him for his governments balanced position on the Ukraine war, while adding that he was ready to discuss Chinas unspecified concerns about Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mr Putin said he and Mr Xi had discussed what we should do in the current conditions to efficiently counter unlawful restrictions imposed by the West.

The European Union, the United States and other Western nations have put sanctions on Russian energy due to the war in Ukraine.

Mr Xi, in a statement released by his government, expressed support for Russias core interests but also expressed an interest in working together to inject stability into world affairs.

Chinas relations with Washington, Europe, Japan and India have been strained by disputes about technology, security, human rights and territory.

Zhang Lihua, an international relations expert at Tsinghua University, said the reference to stability is mainly related to China-US relations, adding that the United States has been using all means to suppress China, which forced China to seek cooperation with Russia.

China and India have refused to join Western sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine while increasing their purchases of Russian oil and gas, helping Moscow offset the financial restrictions imposed by the US and its allies.

Mr Putin also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss bolstering economic cooperation and regional issues, including a July deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations that allowed Ukrainian grain exports to resume from the countrys Black Sea ports.

Speaking at the SCO summit on Friday, Mr Xi warned his Central Asian neighbours not to allow outsiders to destabilise them.

The warning reflects Beijings anxiety that Western support for democracy and human rights activists is a plot to undermine Mr Xis ruling Communist Party and other authoritarian governments.

We should prevent external forces from instigating a colour revolution, Mr Xi said in a speech to the leaders of SCO member nations, referring to protests that toppled unpopular regimes in the former Soviet Union and the Middle East.

Mr Xi offered to train 2,000 police officers, to set up a regional counter-terrorism training centre and to strengthen law enforcement capacity building.

His comments echoed longstanding Russian grievances about the colour-coded democratic uprisings in several ex-Soviet nations that the Kremlin viewed as instigated by the US and its allies.

Had productive multilateral and bilateral engagements at the SCO Summit. I thank the people and Government of Uzbekistan for their hospitality.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 16, 2022

Mr Xi is promoting a Global Security Initiative announced in April following the formation of the Quad group by the US, Japan, Australia and India in response to Beijings more assertive foreign policy.

US officials complain it echoes Russian arguments in support of Moscows actions in Ukraine.

Central Asia is part of Chinas multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative to expand trade by building ports, railways and other infrastructure across an arc of dozens of countries from the South Pacific through Asia to the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was formed by Russia and China as a counterweight to US influence.

The group also includes India, Pakistan and the four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Iran is on track to receive full membership.
New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh will pay an official visit to Egypt from September 19 to September 20 to further consolidate defence cooperation and the special friendship between India and Egypt, the Ministry of Defence stated on Saturday.

During the visit, Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral talks with the minister of defence and defence production, General Mohamed Zaki, read the defence ministry press release.

The two ministers will review the bilateral defence ties, explore new initiatives to intensify military-to-military engagements and focus on deepening cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries.

An MoU to provide further impetus to enhanced defence cooperation between India and Egypt will also be signed, added the release.

The defence minister will also call on the president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
China has once more blocked efforts by the US and India to designate Sajid Mir, a terrorist with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a "global terrorist". The most wanted terrorist in India took part in the 2008 attacks in Mumbai. Mir was suggested by the US and co-designated by India as a global terrorist under the 1267 Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.

Also Read: Who is Ayman al-Zawahiri? An eye surgeon who became Osama bin Ladens successor

It is the third time in recent months that China has prevented an India-US proposal. Earlier, Abdul Rehman Makki, a leader of the LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), and Abdul Rauf Azhar, the brother of Jaish-e Mohammed (JEM) founder Masood Azhar, were given protection by Beijing.

Hafiz Saeed, the LeT's founder, is the brother-in-law of Abdul Rehman Makki, a deputy commander for the organisation. Additionally, the JuD, the LeT's political wing, has been designated a terrorist front organisation by the UN Committee. Sanctions are outlined in Resolution 1267 against people and organisations that aid or finance ISIL, Al-Qaida, and other affiliated individuals, groups, undertakings, and institutions.

Also Read: Jamia student arrested for sending crypto to Islamic State terrorists

Leading Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Commander Sajid Mir is in command of the LeT's India setup. He was one of the terrorists behind the Mumbai attack on November 26, 2008. He was in charge of the deadliest foreign LeT terror strike in history, which claimed the lives of citizens from many nations, including India and Western nations.

During the attack, 18 Police personnel, 122 people, 26 Foreigners and 9 terrorists were killed while 291 - including terrorist Ajmal Kasab - were injured. For the Mumbai terrorist attacks in November 2008, Mir served as the LeT project manager. He gave orders to the terrorists carrying out the attacks through satellite phone to execute hostages while the operation was still going on.

Also Read: Indian Army nabs suspected suicide attacker in Jammu

Additionally, he actively participates in the introduction of LeT agents into India. He was in charge of ensuring the safety of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the LeT's operations chief and the mastermind of terror attacks against India.

Sajid Mir travelled to the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Saudi Arabia as part of his operational duties while taking part in LeT's international recruitment and training activities. A LeT module he was in charge of was discovered in Australia in 2003. 2008 reportedly saw Sajid Mir have plastic surgery.

(With ANI inputs)
Home Minister Amit Shah wished Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 72nd birthday referring to him as the most beloved leader and praising his efforts to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks via his commitment to the welfare of the underprivileged and "India first" thinking.

Shah shared his wishes through Twitter,he wrote, on Twitter, Wishing the country's most beloved leader and our inspiration Prime Minister Narendra Modi a happy birthday. I pray to god for his good health and long life. Modi Ji with his India-first thinking and commitment to the welfare of the poor has made impossible-seeming tasks possible"

He reiterated his remarks at in Hyderabad at an event to kick off the celebrations of Hyderabad Liberation Day. He paired these remarks by saying, "With the parallel coordination of welfare of poor, good governance, development, national security and historical reforms, Narendra Modi ji has fulfilled his resolve on the ground by placing Mother Bharati at the highest position once again. This has been possible only because of his decisive leadership and the unwavering faith of people in that leadership,"

The home minister added, "The life of Narendra Modiji, the creator of a safe, strong and self-reliant new India, symbolises service and dedication. For the first time after independence, Modiji has instilled a sense of hope and faith in crores of poor by giving them their rights. Today, every section of the country is standing with Modiji like a rock,"

Calling PM Modi the "conductor of Indian culture" who has worked to take the country forward in every field by connecting it to its original roots he said, "New India has emerged as a world power under the vision and leadership of Modiji. Modiji has made his mark as a global leader, who is respected by the whole world,"

Amit Shah will also be attending a 'Sewa karyakram' organised in Hyderabad to celebrate the Prime Minister's birthday. Bharatiya Janta Party(BJP) is running various programmes under the "Seva Pakhwada" initiative across the country from September 17 to October 2.

While in the city, he will also distribute toilet cleaning machines in government schools and community hostels and equipment to divyangs.

With inputs from ANI
The shifting of cheetahs from Namibia to Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park (KNP) is great gift to the state, said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, adding that it is a historic step to reintroduce the spotted cat species in the country. The Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers carried the eight cheetahs from Gwalior to KNP in the morning.

No greater gift for MP than the fact that the cheetahs from Namibia are coming to Kuno National Park. They had gone extinct & it's a historic step to reintroduce them. This is the biggest wildlife incident of this century. This will rapidly boost tourism in MP," the chief minister told ANI.

The special chartered cargo flight has landed at the Indian Air Force Station in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh on Saturday morning. These Namibian cheetahs were airlifted to India on Friday, part of an ambitious project to reintroduce the big cats after they were driven to extinction there decades ago.

#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh: Indian Air Force choppers carry the 8 Cheetahs - who were brought from Namibia this morning - to Kuno National Park from Gwalior Air Force Station. pic.twitter.com/0V4evVjxjk  ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his 72nd birthday today, will release the cheetahs into Kuno National park in Madhya Pradesh.

The wild cheetahs were moved by road from a game park north of the Namibian capital Windhoek to board a chartered Boeing 747 dubbed "Cat plane" for an 11-hour flight.

The project is the world's first inter-continental translocation of cheetahs, the world's fastest land animal, according to the Indian high commissioner to Namibia, Prashant Agrawal.

"This is historic, global first. Game-changing," he told AFP. "We are all the more excited because it is happening in the 75th year of Indian independence".

India was once home to the Asiatic cheetah but it was declared extinct there by 1952. The critically endangered subspecies, which once roamed across the Middle East, Central Asia and India, are now only found, in very small numbers, in Iran.

New Delhi has since 2020 been working to reintroduce the animals after the Supreme Court announced that African cheetahs, a different subspecies, could be settled in a "carefully chosen location" on an experimental basis.

(With inputs from agencies)
Lawrence says if one of her birds became sick with the Avian Flu she would have to contact the Department of Agriculture for testing and they would have to put down her entire flock of endangered birds.
Workhas been completed on the upgrade of four of the countys eight Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) and on the new co:worx digital hub in Edgeworthstown.



The upgrade work, which was funded by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, as part of the Connected Hubs Call, enhances the facilities already on offer at Abbeyshrule, Moydow, Mullinalaghta, Moyne and Edgeworthstown with improved equipment, additional functionality, and more privacy.



Over 234 thousand (234,677.84) was allocated to the work under the Connected Hubs Call in July 2021. This aimed to add additional capacity to the existing remote working infrastructure in Ireland by upgrading existing hubs and BCPs.



Additional funding of 119,993.15 was announced in June under the Connected Hubs Call 2022. This will further enhance the facilities at Abbeyshrule Airfield, Latin School Community Centre in Moyne, and Moydow Community Centre, as well as at Ardagh Hub.



The Connected Hubs Call was designed to support and complement the development of a National Hub Network which is a key action of the Rural Development Policy Our Rural Future and the National Remote Working Strategy Making Remote Work.



The BCPs at Abbeyshrule Airfield, Moydow Community Centre, Mullinalaghta Community Centre, and the Latin School Community Centre in Moyne have been upgraded to a very high standard. Both Abbeyshrule Airfield and the Latin School Community Centre in Moyne have been completely renovated including restructuring, installation, electrics, and heating system.



They now provide additional functionality for example, individual office space and privacy booths as well as an improved equipment offering. This includes items like docking stations, dual monitor webcams, headsets etc. Overall, the BCPs provide a variety of spaces for hire at a minimal rate, to suit all needs. They include hot desks, coworking and training facilities for residents, visitors, and entrepreneurs and can also offer office space to start-up entrepreneurs.



This funding was also used to improve facilities on offer at the new co:worx Edgeworthstown digital and remote working hub, which opened 31 March. It included the purchase of elements such as podcasting equipment, digital screens and furniture.



All these upgrades will offer people in Longford a better work-life balance through the availability of high-quality office space in their local communities, helping people to live, work and participate locally.

Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Turlough McGovern welcomed the completion of upgrade work. I want to pay tribute to Minister Humphreys, her Department of Rural and Community Development and especially our IT and Regeneration Departments here at Longford County Council and more importantly the local BCP committees, for the very quick turnaround on putting this funding to such great use. We also welcome the additional funding announced earlier this year, with this work already well underway to further enhance remote working hubs in Longford. These hubs positively impact community life and our local economy.

Chief Executive Paddy Mahon added, Longford has been a leading light in making remote working hubs an operational reality in rural Ireland and this development brings that one step further again with these facility upgrades already proving popular in our BCPs.



There have been over 2157 guests using this service this year so far, with 80% of those returning, regular users.



For more information on booking a workspace, visit Longfordcoco.ie and follow Longford County Council on social media for the latest updates.
Brendan Gleeson has called on coffee lovers in Longford to get brewing in a bid to raise 1.5million for life-affirming Hospice services across Ireland.



The Hollywood star recently kick-started the Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice, which has raised over 41.5 million since its inception and this year celebrates its 30th anniversary.



He joined Hospice hosts and volunteers at the iconic Bewleys cafe on Grafton St., urging hosts to get creative with their coffee morning social and organise an event on Thursday, September 22.



While your illness has defined you as a patient, hospice care looks beyond your illness and sees you as a whole person - with wishes, goals, hobbies and interests, said the legendary actor, whose late parents were cared for in St Francis Hospice in Dublin.



Gleeson, 67, whose latest film, The Banshees of Inisherin, is due out in October, insisted patients are so well looked after, allowing them to live as full and independent lives as possible, for as long as possible.



It takes great courage for patients and families to avail of hospice services to ensure that their loved ones needs are met at this important time in their lives. In my experience, hospice care is life affirming and enriching.



This year we really want to see people in Longford get creative with their events and coffee creations and take time together with loved ones to help make this the best year yet.



Together for Hospice, The National Hospice Movement represents 26 Hospice and specialist palliative home care providers supporting patients and their families nationwide.



Funds raised locally stay local and go back into each local hospice service, helping to pay for medical and general staff, palliative care beds, home care visits, specialist equipment and new hospice builds.

Communities right across Longford are urged to simply gather a group on Thursday, September 22, and do coffee your way, to help raise much needed funds to support the work of Longford Hospice Homecare.



Dan Rooney, Chairperson of Longford Hospice, said We are delighted Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice is back for another year raising funds in support of Hospice in-patient and community services around Ireland.



Mr Rooney added, The ongoing support for this campaign over the last 30 years is a testament to the generosity of our coffee morning hosts, donors, ambassadors, and our long-time sponsor Bewleys.

The funds raised each year by the Irish public ensure we continue to provide vital support to individual patients and their families every day.

* Register to host a coffee morning on Thursday, September 22, or on a date that suits you, at: hospicecoffeemorning.ie or Callsave 0818 995 996. Hosts are provided with a free Coffee Morning Pack containing Bewleys coffee, posters and invitations.
Schools across county Longford are being encouraged to sign up for this years Student Enterprise Programme.



An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, the countrys largest enterprise programme for second level students begins its 21st year and over 300,000 students have taken part since it began.



Every year around 25,000 students take part from almost 500 schools all across the country, competing in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories. Participants learn how to create and run their own business, picking up key skills along the way such as ideation, marketing, finance and sales and its open to all secondary schools.



Recent ambassadors for the programme have included Derval ORourke, Josh Van Der Flier and Limerick All-Ireland winner Sean Finn.



The programme is run through the network of Local Enterprise Offices, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, with local coordinators in every area to support teachers and students through the year of the programme, which helps foster entrepreneurship in students and gives them key skills they can bring with them into later life. The programme is open to all secondary school students from 1st year through to 6th year.

Longford has had success over the years in the competition. Recent national awards won by local secondary schools have included Best Endeavour in 2022 for Saoirses Bakes and Cakes from Moyne Community School, Best Commercial Potential in 2021 for Handy Hooks from Ballymahon Vocational School, Best Commercial Potential award 2018 for Reel Easy from Moyne Community School and 2nd place in the Senior Category in 2017 for J & S Kitchen Aid from Mercy Secondary School in Ballymahon.



Michael Nevin, National Chair of the Education Sub-Committee of the Local Enterprise Offices, said; This year the Student Enterprise Programme will be celebrating its 21st year and despite all the challenges of the last few years, the standard continues to improve. Weve seen some amazing ideas from across the country and students can be very proud of what they have achieved. We would advise any budding young entrepreneurs in the County to join the programme, the experience will stand to them forever and hopefully will light the spark of entrepreneurship in them that they will carry into later life.



Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 300,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business. The Student Enterprise Programme also has a new range of online resources for 2022/2023 at www.StudentEnterprise.ie, which will feature regular blogs and houses a full range of Student Enterprise resources for students and teachers.



Schools who wish to participate should contact Anna Lane, at alane@longfordcoco.ie (043-3343349)
(Alliance News) - Officials believe the Queen's funeral will be the "largest international event" the UK has held in decades, possibly ever.

Around 500 dignitaries from around the world are expected to attend  with US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern among those making the trip to Britain for the occasion.

UK government sources said all those involved in the Civil Service view their part in the proceedings as an "absolute privilege" and a "genuine honour".

Some staff immediately volunteered to return to their old posts to help out in the wake of the monarch's death.

The sources described the Queen's funeral as "the largest international event that the UK has hosted in decades, possibly ever".

There are more than 100 civil servants working shifts on the central operational team handling events related to the Queen's death, with the efforts headed up by the permanent secretary at the Department for Culture, Media & Sport.

"Planning has been going on for years for this," the sources said.

"There are people that otherwise might have moved on in their roles that have stayed in their roles because of the privilege that it is to support the planning for this.

"There were quite a lot of people who worked on this in previous roles, who the moment that we heard the news immediately volunteered to come back."

The state funeral is likely to attract one of the largest UK television audiences of recent decades.

World leaders will join members of the royal family, UK prime ministers past and present and key figures from public life for the occasion at Westminster Abbey  which can hold about 2,000 people  at 11am on Monday.

source: PA

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Award-winning Australian journalist and presenter Chris Reason had to cut a brief holiday in northern Queensland short to fly to London to cover the death of the Queen; he had only just returned from another stint in Ukraine. But having spent many years based in London for Channel 7, he has covered numerous royal stories, not to mention the divorce of Prince Charles and Lady Di and all the other scandals during 1992 - including the great fire at Windsor Castle. His first year in London was, as the late Queen called it, her Annus Horribilis.

Now he is back in London covering what he describes as a momentous moment in history.

We all knew her death was coming. The past few months appeared to have taken its toll on the Queen and not only the media in Australia but I would presume around the world, especially the Commonwealth, were on alert. That said, the news broke early in the morning where we were, and it was an extremely sad moment. I wouldnt say it was a shock, but I was out early and I could see people stopping what they were doing, taking a deep breath and contemplating what had just happened.

The conversation about the monarchy in Australia has been going on for years, perhaps ever since settlement in 1788. But monarchists and republicans in Australia loved and respected the Queen. She lived an extremely great life, accomplished a great deal and she had an extraordinary impact on people wherever she went and the various administrations which make up the Commonwealth. She never got too involved, she let politics take its course and for those reasons she was dearly loved all over the world. What happens now remains to be seen.

Weve already witnessed the likes of Barbados exit the Commonwealth and no doubt there will be other members which may follow suit once things settle down.

But in Australia, my gut feeling is that any attempts by the republican movement to push for another referendum and independence will fail.

We had a referendum in 1999 and it failed, mainly because the republicans did not have a proper plan. They do now, however, and that would involve each of the six states and two territories nominating a candidate to be president, and then they would be put forward for a national popular vote.

That all sounds very simple, but for Australia to become a republic it would involve rewriting the constitution and changing the whole political system. And to be honest, my gut feeling is that most Australians would again vote against it. As they say, if it aint broke, dont fix it, and I think most Australians would rather wait. The vast majority are Elizabethans and I think the saving grace is that not too far down the line are William and Kate and the kids, and they are hugely popular in Australia and New Zealand.

I not only covered their wedding but also their tours Down Under and were a huge success.

One has to take into account that there is a whole young generation which did not vote in the 1999 referendum, but they would be able to if there was one now. I think many of them would vote in favour of keeping the monarchy, with the expectation of William coming to the throne sooner rather than later. They will save the monarchy in Australia and I think in many other Commonwealth countries.

A recent poll carried out in Australia showed that support for the monarchy has actually risen by five percent, so its now a 60-40 split, and I think events over the past week may have pushed that support up even further.

Charles is not that popular and he is certainly not his mother, but I think most people will give him the benefit of the doubt, knowing what is going to come next.

But for sure, once things die down, I am sure Australia will have the conversation again and it will be interesting to see how that develops.

There are pockets which are very strongly republican, plus one has to take into account the Aborigines. The Aboriginal people were greatly weakened as a result of the British arrival in January 1788 and have never recovered, although that is also partly due to how previous Australian governments have treated them. So, there is a great deal of bitterness there. And the ARM, Australian Republican Movement, argues that Australia should replace the monarchy with an Australian as president and head of state. It contends that the benefits of this system are a head of state who can exclusively represent Australian interests, a system that better aligns with democratic institutions, a fully independent constitution and a head of state who can represent Australian values. But my feeling is that, right now, they would fail again.

While Australia deep down may be a republican country, most people are rather conservative, and such a drastic change to the political system would not appeal to the majority of voters.

That said, things did come to a head in 1975 with the Australian constitutional crisis, also known simply as the Dismissal, which culminated in the dismissal from office of the prime minister, Gough Whitlam of the Australian Labour Party, by the Governor-General Sir John Kerr, who then commissioned the leader of the opposition, Malcolm Fraser of the Liberal Party, as prime minister. It has been described as the greatest political and constitutional crisis in Australian history and if ever there has been a time to break away, that was probably the closest Australia has come so far, Chris said.

But having covered nearly all of the major royal stories since first being posted to London in 1992, Ive seen how the Australian public react and their fascination and relationship with the royal family.

Yes, the monarchy has hit some very low moments, but it was the Queen who managed to hold it all together, all across the Commonwealth and most people will agree that she did a sterling job and led by example. Well never see anyone like her again. Her legacy is truly amazing and worthy.

I remember my first week in London. No sooner had I landed than Charles and Di first applied for divorce, so those four years were dominated by the numerous royal stories and break-ups. My leaving present was a copy of the official divorce settlement, Chris told the Bulletin in between reporting from outside Buckingham Palace this week.

Those were tough years for the Queen and then the tragic death of Lady Di in 1997. But somehow she was able to find great inner strength and not only hold the family together but the nation and the Commonwealth when the odds were stacked against her at times. But with William and Kate on the horizon, I think much of the Commonwealth are looking forward to the new generation taking over. They are a rounded and grounded family who appeal to all generations, in particular the younger generation, and their vote in any referendum will prove crucial.

From what Ive heard on the streets in Australia and witnessed during their tours, they have massive appeal and are extremely popular.
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Following their nuptials in May 2018, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle received the royal titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex from Queen Elizabeth II.

Since then, Harry and Markle have come under intense media attention. In 2020, they resigned from their top royal positions and relocated to Montecito, California.

The Duke and Duchess' royal titles have been demanded to be revoked in a number of internet petitions.

Meghan Markle awkward moment with ceremonial flowers

According to Royal expert Hilary Fordwich via Fox News, Meghan and Harry were "welcomed with open arms at the time" after their title appointing.

"We saw the royal wedding, we saw the outpouring from the public in support of them. She was welcomed with open arms at that time. Don't forget Prince Harry was one of the favorites. He's plummeted in the polls now but he was one of the Royal favorites."

Harry has come under media and public criticism since since the people's opinion of him decreased and internet petitions became more popular.

Following the couple's relocation to the United States, the Parallel Parliament submitted a petition with the following description:

"The title was given to them at marriage on the basis that they would be working royals serving the monarchy. As this is no longer the case, this title cannot be used for personal financial gain. It therefore has no purpose and must be removed."

What's next for Harry and Meghan?

After Markle and Harry decided to stand aside from their positions as senior royals, a petition was started online asking that the Duke and Duchess lose their titles so they "cannot be used for personal financial gain."

"There has been a petition, a movement from the people of the county of Sussex, they're supposed to represent, to remove them. Why? Because they're taking the name but they're not doing anything for the people of Sussex," added Forwich.

"This is a dilemma. This is not a celebrity role. It is a role of duty. So you need to do your duty, and then hold the title. Why would anybody want the title if they don't want to do their duty to the people of the county of Sussex? You either do or you don't. You can't have your cake and eat it too."

After Markle and Harry moved to the US in 2021, Buckingham Palace released a statement that said: "Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service."

"While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family," emphasized the statement.

In his first address as the head of state of the United Kingdom on Friday, King Charles III discussed the change-or lack thereof-in royal titles within the family.

Prince Charles expressed "love" for Harry and Meghan "as they continue to build their lives overseas" as Prince William and Kate Middleton were titled Prince and Princess of Wales. Harry and Meghan will continue to keep their royal titles "unless Parliament says otherwise."
The Royal Family's hectic schedule continues as the country prepares for the Queen's funeral. In the meantime, the King, Princes and other members of the family have been busy with royal duties, which is to be expected after the death of Britain's most iconic and longest serving monarch.

Alongside Kate Middleton, Prince William and Queen Consort Camila, King Charles welcomed various leaders and dignitaries from a total of fourteen countries. Present were governors from 'Commonweath' countries such as Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, New Zealand, Papa New Guinea and more.

They were visiting to pay their respects to the late Queen, who passed away last week. The event took place in preparation for tomorrow's grand reception, in which 500 world leaders will gather at Buckingham Palace in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.

Prior to today's lunch, King Charles and Prince William made a surprise visit to all those queuing to pay their respects in Westminster to the Queen. There are waits of more than 20 hours to pay a visit to the site where the Queen's coffin is currently being held.

All those present were delighted to see the royal father and son, and chants of 'God save the King' were being sung as they greeted the mourners waiting to pay say their final goodbye.
Technically, Kate Middleton is now the new Princess of Wales like the late Princess Diana was in her time. This is the new title that King Charles III bestowed upon her and his eldest son, who is the new Prince of Wales. A title that goes to the direct person who is next in the line of succession for the British Crown.

Part of the younger generation of Royal fans who didn't have a full experience of Princess Diana's mystique are the ones willing to strip her from her monker and give it to Kate. She was known as the 'People's Princess' due to how relatable and approachable she was with everybody. Kate Middleton doesn't seem as approachable as Princess Diana was in her day, but the fans are still determined to grant her the moniker.

Who named Diana the 'People's Princess'?

Back in the late '90s, former minister Tony Blair paid tribute to Princess Diana right after her tragic passing from a car crash. He was the one who dubbed her as the 'People's Princess'. This same unofficial title is getting thrown around easily by fans who perhaps don't understand the significance of it.

On the day Prince William and Kate visited Sandringham to look at all the Queen's floral tributes, the Royal fans started calling her that on social media. But their reasons might be different than the reasons Princess Diana was called by that moniker. It's not even a contest between the two.

Fans started pointing at Princess Catherine's class, elegance, beauty and devotion to duty all rolled into one. But they are missing the part where Middleton appears approachable to everybody. But what do you think? Do you agree with this moniker passing from Princess Diana ro Kate Middleton?
Roundup: Uganda, China mark 60th anniversary of bilateral ties

Xinhua) 10:31, September 17, 2022

KAMPALA, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- A webinar was held on Thursday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Uganda.

The webinar, attended by about 150 people, including officials, diplomats, and scholars from China and Uganda, was organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the Chinese embassy in Uganda, and the Ugandan embassy in China.

China and Uganda established formal diplomatic ties on Oct. 18, 1962, just nine days after Uganda gained independence.

Vice President of CPAFFC Jiang Jiang said China supported African countries to fight imperialism and colonialism. Africa also supported China's resumption of lawful seat in the United Nations in 1971, signaling the deep ties between the two sides.

"African brothers have withstood tremendous pressure, carried China to the United Nations, and always firmly supported China in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests and core interests on international occasions," Jiang said.

Zhang Lizhong, Chinese Ambassador to Uganda said Uganda unwaveringly holds the one-China principle, which forges the core of the ties between the two countries.

Zhang noted that China and Uganda, and Africa at large, have always stood on the same side regarding matters of mutual interest in international affairs.

"Together, we have written a splendid chapter of mutual support amid complex changes, and set a good example for building an even stronger China-Africa community of shared future in the new era," Zhang said.

"Over the 60 years, we have nurtured our fraternity through safeguarding international fairness and justice, enhancing our political mutual trust," he added.

China and Uganda in June 2019 elevated their bilateral ties to the level of Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership.

ECONOMIC TIES

The trade volume between the two countries in 2021 amounted to 1.07 billion U.S. dollars, registering a 28.5 percent increase, against the shock waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of 2020, China's direct investment in Uganda reached 710 million U.S. dollars and the investment is mainly focused on manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and logistics.

Uganda's ambassador to China Oliver Wonekha said that China has been playing a central role in building transport and energy infrastructure in Uganda. China is financing the expansion of the country's Entebbe International Airport, the main gateway to the world. China also financed the construction of the Kampala-Entebbe expressway linking the capital Kampala to the airport.

In the energy sector, China financed the construction of the Karuma Hydro Power Plant and Isimba Hydro Power Plant which helped address Uganda's energy deficit, a major bottleneck to the country's development, the ambassador said.

"China has assisted Uganda to move faster on the path of development," Wonekha said.

Figures by the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), a state-run agency, showed that China ranks among the top five sources of Foreign Direct Investment. Several Chinese-owned industrial parks have opened in the country and created much-needed jobs, according to UIA.

China National Offshore Oil Corporation is also implementing its investment of 4.7 billion U.S. dollars in Uganda's oil sector which would help stimulate the country's economic development, experts say.

Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong said China and Uganda are working closely to implement the nine programs on China-Africa cooperation, which were announced at the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in November last year in Senegal's capital of Dakar.

Jiang hoped that China and Uganda would continue to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure construction, digital innovation, green development, and other fields.

PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES

Apart from political and economic ties, people-to-people relations between the two countries are greatly improving, according to Benon Mugarura, president of China-Africa Friendship Association Uganda.

Mugarura said several events, including the Dragon Boat Festival, have been held, which have brought together Ugandan and Chinese peoples to appreciate cultural diversity.

The Confucius Institute at Makerere University is also helping to promote Chinese culture and language. Besides teaching the Chinese language to students, the institute is also training local language teachers who then will teach the Chinese language in schools.

Hong Yonghong, a professor with the Law School at Xiangtan University in central China's Hunan Province and former Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University, said the cultural exchange between the two peoples is very critical in deepening bilateral ties, adding strong people-to-people relations provide a firm foundation to bilateral relations.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji)
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  Cyprus on Saturday hailed the full lifting of a U.S. arms embargo on the ethnically divided island nation as a milestone reaffirming increasingly tighter bilateral bonds that serve to bolster stability in the turbulent east Mediterranean region.

President Nicos Anastasiades tweeted his gratitude to the chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, New Jersey Democrat Robert Menendez, for helping to lift the embargo.

Turkey, which maintains more than 35,000 troops in the northern third of Cyprus, condemned the decision. Turkeys Foreign Ministry urged the U.S. to reconsider, warning that the move would harm efforts for a Cyprus peace deal, lead to an arms race on the island and undermine regional stability.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in in a statement that Secretary of State Antony Blinken determined Cyprus met the conditions to allow for exports, re-exports and transfers of defense articles ... for the fiscal year 2023.

The U.S. will assess annually whether Cyprus complies with conditions for the embargo lift, including implementing anti-money laundering regulations and denying Russian military vessels access to ports for refueling and servicing.

Cyprus barred Russian warships from using its ports in early March following the invasion of Ukraine.

The conditions are enshrined in the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act that the U.S. Congress passed in 2019. The law underscores U.S. support for closer ties among Greece, Cyprus and Israel based on recently discovered offshore gas deposits.

The U.S. enacted the embargo in 1987 to prevent a potential arms race from harming peace talks with the Mediterranean island nation's breakaway Turkish Cypriots. Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup aimed at union with Greece.

Barred access to U.S. weapons, Cyprus turned to Russia to procure Mi-35 attack helicopters, T-80 tanks and Tor-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems.
CHEYENNE  A quasi-military academy in Guernsey is closing and may not soon reopen, officials indicated Thursday. Officials with the Wyoming National Guard will look to move the facility elsewhere in the state, with the goal of possibly reopening in a few years.

According to a two-page news release emailed Wednesday evening by the Wyoming Military Department after the Wyoming Tribune Eagle's inquiries, the Wyoming Cowboy Challenge Academy "will shut down for an indefinite amount of time based on the inability to recruit and retain staff." The release said "shutdown procedures are underway" and indicated the organization has operated for almost 20 years.

It was so difficult to hire civilians to work at the academy, the government has been using several members of the military who stepped forward to work at the facility. Even with their help, it still was a few people short of having all of the allocated staff. The positions of the almost 40 current civilian employees are fully funded through this year, and after that, they may need to look for work elsewhere, officials told the WTE Thursday.

Most immediately, the closure will affect the current cadet class of about 60 participants, who are 16 to 18 years old. Those students can choose to go to other states' similar academies, they can continue their studies remotely once the Wyoming Cowboy Challenge Academy ceases in-person learning at month's end, or they can simply go back home on Oct. 1. This is according to U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David Pritchett, who helps to oversee the academy, among other duties, as director of the Wyoming Military Department's joint staff.

"The first piece of this is we are trying to place all these cadets" at other academies, Pritchett said by phone. And then officials will assess "when can we, with some degree of confidence, start the program back" up, he added. "We can't sustain it here, so we are not going to come back in two years and try to do it here."

Those who might have applied to the program for future sessions  there were two, five-and-a-half month classes held annually  can instead go to other states' programs. There is a special arrangement with Nevada's academy, so that Wyomingites aren't completely left in the lurch.

Filled a Gap

Politicians and other stakeholders, who shared their reaction to the news, said they are sad the facility will close. The academy's Facebook page also saw an outpouring of disappointment over the action.

"The decision to close the Wyoming Challenge Academy was not made lightly, and (was) made in consultation with" Gov. Mark Gordon, his spokesman, Michael Pearlman, wrote in an email to the WTE. "It is directly related to the inability to staff the facility in a manner that ensures a safe environment for the cadets that attend. The health and safety of those cadets and its staff are the governor's number one priority." Pearlman said "staff attrition that occurred since the current cohort of cadets started has exacerbated a challenging staffing situation."

Stakeholders all agreed the Wyoming Cowboy Challenge Academy met an important need to provide a different kind of education to teenagers who experienced difficulties at home and/or at traditional high schools. They said that given its remote location and the difficulty employers here and across the U.S. are experiencing in being fully staffed, continuing to operate with fill-in military employees was not a viable long-term option.

"We will likely look at where (there) are some larger areas, if you will, that have a little bit more of a talent base to draw from," Pritchett predicted. He said it's possible the new location could be at a mothballed school, which would then be retrofit with barracks and dining and other facilities.

Such a search process could start soon, and might take a few years. Hopefully, everything could be in place in time to have a class of cadets who would start in July 2025, the officer said. "I think that is a realistic timeline."

Cost

The federal government paid the bulk of the cost for Wyoming Cowboy Challenge Academy, officials said. For 2022 and 2023, there was $5.2 million budgeted from the feds, with another $2.3 million from the state, Pritchett said.

According to the announcement of the closure, the current cadet class has almost 60 members, and almost 1,500 have graduated from the program through the years.

"We understand the hardship this places on families and cadets, but we simply cannot sustain our current program, given our staffing issues," said Maj. Gen. Gregory Porter, the adjutant general of the Wyoming National Guard, in the prepared statement. "We are committed to helping the cadets achieve their educational and individual goals, and will work with them to find alternate means to meet them."

Following the residential academy, there is a year-long "mentorship program, designed to provide structure, instill discipline, and help young men and women recognize and achieve their potential in a quasi-military training environment," the release said. "All cadets volunteer to take part in the program." The goal is for "nontraditional learners" to "improve their educational level and employment potential and become responsible productive citizens of" Wyoming.

The mentorship meant adult volunteers would check in with their mentees, according to those who have been involved with the process. They credited the program with helping participants get their necessary high school credits or certificate, so they could either go on to community or other colleges or enter the workforce.
BEIRUT (AP)  An Israeli strike on the Damascus International Airport and nearby military posts south of the Syrian capital killed five soldiers, state media reported Saturday.

State news agency SANA, quoting an unnamed military official, said the strikes happened after midnight Friday, causing material losses as well. It added that some of the Israeli missiles were shot down before reaching their targets.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the strikes killed five Syrian soldiers and two members of Iran-backed groups.

The Israeli army declined comment, saying it does not react to foreign reports.

The strike on the Damascus International Airport came 10 days after Israel launched a missile attack Syrias Aleppo airport in the north that put it out of commission for a few days. It was the second attack on Aleppos airport within a week.

On June 10, Israeli airstrikes on Damascus International Airport caused significant damage to infrastructure and runways and rendered the main runway unserviceable. The airport opened two weeks later following renovation work.

Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets inside government-controlled parts of Syria in recent years, but rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations.

Israel has acknowledged, however, that it targets bases of Iran-allied militant groups, such as Lebanons Hezbollah, which has sent thousands of fighters to support Syrian President Bashar Assads forces.

The Israeli strikes comes amid a wider shadow war between the country and Iran. The attacks on the airports in Damascus and Aleppo are over fears it was being used to funnel Iranian weaponry into the country.
The Cubs are making a batch of roster moves prior to todays game, per reporter Mark Gonzales. Right-hander Adbert Alzolay has been reinstated from the 60-day injured list while infielder Esteban Quiroz has had his contract selected. In corresponding moves, outfielder Seiya Suzuki was placed on the paternity list while left-hander Sean Newcomb and first baseman Frank Schwindel were designated for assignment.

Quiroz, 30, has taken an unusual path to the big leagues as he was playing in the Mexican League for years, not signing with an affiliated club until he was nearing his 26th birthday. Hes spent time in the minor league systems of the Red Sox, Padres and Rays, before coming to the Cubs as part of the Harold Ramirez trade in March. Hes only been healthy enough to get into 40 Triple-A games this season, hitting .212/.358/.322 in that time for a wRC+ of 89. However, hes been much better since returning from the injured list at the start of August, hitting .299/.450/.442 in that time. Hes played second base and third base this year, though has also played some shortstop in previous season and some outfield work back in Mexico.

With the Cubs well out of contention and just over two weeks remaining on this years schedule, they can use those games to audition players for future roles on the team. Quiroz will jump into an infield mix that also includes Zach McKinstry, Christopher Morel, Patrick Wisdom, Alfonso Rivas, David Bote and Nico Hoerner, though Hoerner might not be a factor for a while. Hes missed time recently with an injury and an MRI just revealed a moderate right triceps strain, per Gonzales. It was a little worse off than we thought, manager David Ross told Gonzales.

Schwindel, 30, got a nice stretch of play last year after the Cubs traded away many of their regular at the deadline. He made the most of that opportunity, hitting 14 home runs in 64 games, slashing an incredible .326/.371/.591 for a 154 wRC+. He couldnt keep the fairy tale alive this year, however, as hes hit just .229/.277/.358 for a wRC+ of 76. With the trade deadline passed, hell be placed on waivers in the coming days to see if any other team believes theres more magic left in Frank the Tank.

Newcomb, 29, once seemed like a rotation stalwart in Atlanta but has fallen on hard times recently. He was bumped to bullpen work and eventually designated for assignment earlier this year, getting traded to the Cubs. The change of scenery hasnt helped much as Newcomb has a ghastly 8.78 ERA in 27 2/3 innings this year, walking 14.2% of batters faced in the process. This is the second time the Cubs have designated him this year, with the previous instance resulting in Newcomb clearing waivers and accepting an outright assignment. Based on his unfortunate results this year, hell likely pass through waivers unclaimed again. With minor league seasons winding down, its possible he could accept another outright and make a couple of appearances in the minors, though its also possible he just decides to get an early start on free agency.
Let us begin with the right foundation to drive home the relevant education to guide organizations and provide insights to invigorate the well-informed. Privacy Policy and Privacy Notice are two different documents, but privacy policies have been used significantly to represent privacy notices. Both terms have been used interchangeably, but the difference is clear, and they serve different purposes. The difference is explained below.

Privacy policies are internal documents that tell your employees how to protect customer data whiles privacy notices are external documents that inform visitors, users of your system, and other stakeholders about how their data is used and the privacy rights they can exercise. So, technically, the term privacy policy on various websites, mobile apps, portals, etc. should read privacy noticethis is the external document on privacy you present to your stakeholders to read. The privacy policy is the internal document for internal use, and this may contain some critical or privileged information that is reserved for only employees of that organization.

Privacy Noticewhat is it?

The privacy notice is a document you present to people who visit your website, download, and use your mobile apps, install your applications, subscribe to your products and services, use your portals, etc. This is the document used to explain to your audience how you collect their information and how they can opt-out. Most data privacy laws, acts, regulations, and directives require organizations (data controllers or processors) to provide a privacy notice.

The privacy notice tells your customers, regulators, and other stakeholders what your organization does with personal information. It answers questions about the types of personal data processed, the lawful basis for processing personal data, and the data being transferred to third parties. A privacy notice must also tell users how long the organization will store their data, the users rights to data collected, and the privacy teams contact information. A privacy notice is sometimes referred to as a privacy statement or a fair processing statement.

Your Personal Responsibility.

It is important to actively seek to always protect your privacy. Before you give any personal or identifiable information out, you need to learn and understand how the organization will use your personal information. It is a good personal practice to read an organizations privacy notice before you fill out a form, install an app, subscribe to their service, use their products, or continue to browse their website. If you are unhappy with the privacy notices terms - or if you are told there is no written privacy notice, your best option is to STOP. At this point, it is best you consider looking for an alternate service provider that respects its customers enough to explain how it handles and protects their personal information.

A privacy policy should answer at least the following basic questions. Be deliberate to seek answers to these questions.

Q1: What personal information is collected?

What kinds of personal information does the organization collect from you? The mere statement that they collect personal data is not enoughyou need to go in more depth. Another important thing to look out for when you read a privacy notice is the exact types of personal data that the organization collects or processes.

For example:

We request the processing of personal data of visitors, such as IP address, a cookie identifier, and email address (but only if visitors request information be sent by email). We also collect non-personal data to learn how visitors found our website, what kind of device they are using, how long they stayed, which pages they visited, etc. This non-personal data is tied to a temporary identifier that is removed after the end of each browsing session.

Q2: How is the information collected?

Besides asking you to provide personal information either manually on a sheet of paper or via an online form, an organization may collect information "automatically" using cookies or other related technologies through its website, mobile apps, or other platforms. A cookie contains information on you that your browser saves and sends back to a website when you revisit it. Websites can use cookies to track your purchases and the different pages you visited or ads that you clicked on. Such information can create a more detailed profile on you that may be sold to marketers. Look for a description of the site's use of cookies or other tracking technology in its privacy policy.

Q3: Why is the information collected?

Does the personal information asked for seem appropriate to the transaction? For example, your name, home address, phone number, and credit card number may be necessary for making and shipping your purchase. Your household income and hobbies are not. Pay attention if a business asks for information beyond what is needed for the transaction. The purpose of the extra information should be clearly stated. Look for an opportunity to opt-out of, or say no to, giving the extra information. Consider going somewhere else if you can't complete the transaction without giving up personal information you think is unnecessary.

Q4: How is the information used?

A privacy notice should explain how the organization collecting the personal information intends to use it. Will it be used just to complete the transaction you requested? If additional uses are intended, you should be given the opportunity to opt-out of them. For example, if the company plans to use your information to market to you, you should be given an easy way to say no to this. You should get this opportunity right up front before you receive any unwanted email ads, telemarketing calls, or mail offers.

Q5: Who will have access to the information?

Does the company share your information with other companies? Government agencies, service providers, etc.? Does it share information with its affiliates or companies in the same "corporate family"? The privacy policy of a commercial website or online service that collects personal information on Accra consumers must list the categories of third-party persons or entities with whom that personal information may be shared.

Q6: What choices do you have?

Look for opportunities to opt-out of the use of your information for marketing and the sharing of your information with others. There should be an easy way to opt out, such as by calling a toll-free phone number or emailing.

Q7: Can you review or correct your personal information?

An organization may give you the opportunity to review or request changes to the personal information that it has collected from you. Look for instructions on how to do this. Many organizations allow a customer to review and request changes in the customer's own personal information. A company that collects personal information on its consumers must describe its process for giving consumers access to their own personal information, if it has such a process, in the privacy notice posted on the site.

Q8: What security measures are used to protect your personal information?

The privacy notice should give a general description of the security measures the organization uses to keep customers' and visitors' personal information safe. It should also cover security safeguards that the organization requires its business partners and vendors to use.

Websites requesting personal information should use Secure Socket Layers (SSL), the industry standard for protecting private information sent over the Internet. Good security also means using strong security measures, such as encryption, to protect personal information when it's stored on company computers. It includes technology and procedures to limit access to customers' personal information to only those who need it to perform their duties.

Q9: How long will the organization honour its privacy policy?

What is the effective date of the privacy policy? Does the policy state that the organization will honor its current policy in the future? Does it say that if they change the policy, they will notify customers and site visitors? Or, it says they will give customers and visitors a chance to opt-out of having their information used according to the terms of the new policy?

The privacy policy of a commercial website or online service that collects personal information on Accra consumers must include a policy effective date and information on how consumers will be notified of changes.

Q10: Who is accountable for the organization's privacy practices?

Someone in the organization should be responsible for its privacy policy and practices. Does the notice give you someone to contact with questions and concerns? Is there an easy way to contact the correct person by email or by a toll-free phone number?

Author: Emmanuel K. Gadasu

(Data Protection Officer, IIPGH and Data Privacy Consultant and Practitioner at Information Governance Solutions)

For comments, contact author [email protected] com or Mobile: +233-243913077
President Emmanuel Macron says France will begin debating a bill on asylum and immigration at the start of 2023 to put an end to "an absurd policy" he considers "inefficient and inhumane".

Macron told a meeting of prefects on Thursday that existing policies involved putting women and men who arrive in France and "who are in the greatest misery into poor neighbourhoods.

He said this was ineffective because we find ourselves with more foreign people in a difficult situation than many of our neighbours, and inhumane because this pressure means they are too often badly received".

Macron called for asylum seekers to be distributed around the country, especially to areas where population levels are dropping.

Marine Le Pen, leader of the anti-immigration National Rally, was not swayed.

"Emmanuel Macron wants to distribute illegal immigrants in rural areas. We consider they should go home," she tweeted on Friday. "We will oppose this new madness."

Selective immigration

Macron also promised to improve the effectiveness of policies on deportation for illegal aliens, and said France needed to make the granting of visas more conditional on the spirit of cooperation to take back illegal foreigners, starting with those who disturb public order.

During his recent trip to Algeria, Macron and his counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune paved the way for relaxing the visa regime between the two countries, in exchange for increased cooperation from Algiers in the fight against illegal immigration.

Aurore Berge, the head of Macron's Renaissance group at the National Assembly, said on Friday that France should have "a sovereign policy" on immigration and should be able to decide "who we want to welcome.

Questioned about "selective immigration" on Cnews TV, she said that "all French people are in favour of it".

No need for new law

The existing law on immigration, introduced in 2018, was designed to accelerate asylum procedures by cutting down the maximum processing time from 120 to 90 days after entering France.

It also aimed to make it easier to deport those whose claims were turned down.

France Terre d'Asile, a non-profit working with asylum seekers and migrants, said France didn't need a new law to better welcome foreigners" but agreed the 2018 law needed to be evaluated.

There's an "urgent" need to guarantee asylum seekers a real and dignified welcome and to stop the absurdities and hypocrisy, Helene Soupios-David, part of France Terre d'Asile's legal team, told France Info.

The majority of asylum seekers arriving in Paris had lived on the streets at some point, she said.

We need to change the conditions of integration, allow them to learn French as soon as possible, have unimpeded access to the job market.

"All of this is more linked to administrative obstacles or lack of means, rather than legislation."
Eight Namibian cheetahs were on Friday airlifted to India, part of an ambitious project to reintroduce the big cats after they were driven to extinction there decades ago, officials and vets said.

The wild cheetahs were moved by road from a game park north of the Namibian capital Windhoek to board a chartered Boeing 747 dubbed "Cat plane" for an 11-hour flight.

They will be personally welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, his 72nd birthday.

He will swing open the gates of Kuno National Park, a new sanctuary created for the cats, 320 kilometres (200 miles) south of Delhi.

The 750-square-kilometre (290-square-mile) protected park was selected as a home because of its abundant prey and grasslands.

The project is the world's first inter-continental translocation of cheetahs, the world's fastest land animal, according to the Indian high commissioner to Namibia, Prashant Agrawal.

"This is historic, global first. Game-changing," he told AFP. "We are all the more excited because it is happening in the 75th year of Indian independence".

Critics have warned that the Namibian cheetahs may struggle to adapt to the Indian habitat and may clash with the significant number of leopards already present.

But organisers are unfazed.

"Cheetahs are very adaptable and (I'm) assuming that they will adapt well into this environment. So I don't have a lot of worries," said Dr Laurie Marker, founder of the Namibia-based charity Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), which has been central to the project logistics.

The project has been in the making for more than a decade. Initial discussion started in the 1990s, she told AFP.

India was once home to the Asiatic cheetah but it was declared extinct there by 1952. The critically endangered subspecies, which once roamed across the Middle East, Central Asia and India, are now only found, in very small numbers, in Iran.

New Delhi has since 2020 been working to reintroduce the animals after the Supreme Court announced that African cheetahs, a different subspecies, could be settled in a "carefully chosen location" on an experimental basis.

The five females and three males, aged between two and five and a half, will each be fitted with a satellite collar.

They are a donation from the government of Namibia, one of a tiny handful of countries in Africa where the magnificent creature survives in the wild.

Negotiations are ongoing for similar translocation from South Africa, a government official told AFP on Friday, with vets suggesting 12 cats could be moved.

Cheetahs became extinct in India primarily because of habitat loss and hunting for their distinctive spotted coats.

An Indian prince, the Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo, is widely believed to have killed the last three recorded cheetahs in India in the late 1940s.

One of the oldest of the big cat species, with ancestors dating back about 8.5 million years, cheetahs once roamed widely throughout Asia and Africa in great numbers, said CCF.

But today only around 7,000 remain, primarily in the African savannas.

The cheetah is listed globally as "Vulnerable" on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

In North Africa and Asia it is "Critically Endangered".

Their survival is threatened primarily by dwindling natural habitat and loss of prey due to human hunting, the development of land for other purposes and climate change.
About 1,000 residents of Nyiaeso in the Obuasi Municipality and surrounding towns have benefited from AngloGold Ashantis mini-clinic initiative.

Introduced in 2021, the Mini Clinic is an initiative of the mining company to support the health needs of residents of Obuasi in the Ashanti region.

It is meant to promote frequent health screening in rural communities and introduce quality healthcare delivery to the doorsteps of the people.

As an important feature in its 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan, the Mini Clinic forms part of the plethora of health intervention initiatives intended to bring quality health care to the people within the Mine's operational area. Others include the Construction of CHPS compounds and renovation of existing health facilities in Obuasi.

The Stakeholders Engagement Superintendent of Anglogold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine, Edmond Oduro Agyei who spoke with the media on the sidelines of the program said, the Mini Clinic and Health Outreach is among the many health intervention programs the company has lined up to improve the health needs of the people of Obuasi.

" We are not only giving free screening here, AngloGold Ashanti in collaboration with AGA Health Foundation, the Obuasi Municipal Health directorate as well as the Obuasi East directorate is also giving free medical counselling and free drugs to the people who show up at this venue ".

WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING FOUR MINI CLINICS EVERY YEAR

Dr. Justin Sonaa Dakorah, a Medical Officer of the AGA Health Foundation reiterated the commitment of AngloGold Ashanti to sustain the Mini Clinic program. He said the pr

ogram has come to stay hence four of them would be rolled out at different locations every year.

He mentioned that people were screened on various ailments such as hepatitis b, blood pressure, malaria, oral health and HIV.

He lauded the Otumfuo Foundation for providing services on oral health at the program.

Nana Amoanimaa Dede II, Adansihemaa cautioned the youth against HIV/AIDS. She said recent information gathered indicates that a number of youth in the country are being affected by the disease, a situation she said was very worrying.

"Recently I was at a program in Kumasi when the issue of HIV/AIDS was mentioned and the indication is that a lot of the young ones are being infected with the disease lately. The youth needs to be educated on the prevalence of the disease especially in Obuasi. We should all educate the youth on condom use and I assure you, Nananom will take this up".

Residents from Nhyiaeso and adjourning communities who thronged the venue to access healthcare lauded Anglogold Ashanti for the program.

Daniel Osei, the Assembly member for Binsere electoral area which has Nyiaeso as one of the communities said the community has been yearning for such an impactful program. He appealed to Government to establish a health facility in the area to see to their immediate health needs.
The Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has reaffirmed his decision to contest the flagbearer position of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), with an assurance to tackle the unemployment challenge in the country head-on.

Mr Agyapong said he would prioritise job creation to deal with the youth unemployment challenge the country is grappling with.

He noted that as someone who currently employs 7,158 workers across the globe, he was better placed to create employment opportunities for the youth.

Courtesy call

The Assin Central MP gave that assurance when he paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Tepa, Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampem I, at his palace in the Ashanti Region.

The MP was accompanied by a delegation from his campaign team.

He used the occasion to inform the chief of his intentions to contest the NPP flagbearership position.

Industrialisation

Mr Agyapong said his job creation initiative would be hinged on massive industrialisation drive.

I have plans to create globally competitive industries, make commercial farming attractive like what pertains in Cote d'Ivoire and other industrial countries. Tourism will be made to attract more patrons as part of moves to reduce poverty to the barest minimum in the country, he said.

He gave an assurance that he would develop the country through tourism, because my aim is to create jobs for people including graduates who need jobs and create vast employment through tourism.

He added that he would not only transform the country by instilling discipline and dealing with corruption, but also give hope to the hopeless and voice to the voiceless.

Virtues

The MP said his leadership would hinge on the virtues of patriotism, honesty and discipline as well as recognition of traditional leaders.

These three virtues are the hallmarks of success. We need patriotic citizens, honest citizens and disciplined citizens to develop Ghana. Ghana can be made like Dubai. A poor person from Assin Dompim, I now have successful life, he said.

He told the chief that he would use his salary and allowances to establish a scholarship scheme to give higher education to the less privileged in society.

I will not take a salary. It will be used as scholarship to pay the fees of the poor, and I believe it will bring the change Ghana needs for accelerated development, he stated.

Mr Agyapong thanked Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampem I, for the immense support the government had received over the years from the traditional rulers of Tepa.

He assured the chief and his subjects of the partys continuous collaboration with the traditional leadership and religious authorities to promote national development.

Response

Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampem I, was grateful to the MP for his visit and assured him of warm reception at all times.

The Chief admonished him not to abandon his boldness after victory to lead the party to iron out all differences that could rise in the primaries, and unite with the rank and file of the party to break the eight-year jinx of governance.

You have my support. Work extremely hard by improving the partys grassroot structure. Work with traditional leaders and, most importantly, ensure that the government focuses on the eradication of poverty, creation of jobs and construction of roads, the chief told the delegation.

The Chief observed that hard work, love, unity and grassroots involvement remained the only sure way of keeping the NPP in power.

He also encouraged Mr Agyapong never to neglect truth and honesty which have endeared him in his journey thus far.

The Tepahene believes in his vision and his experienced entourages, and expressed certainty of delegates votes for Mr Agyapong.
Dr Angela Lusigi, United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative in Ghana has reiterated the need to empower women as they were the bedrock of economic growth.

Dr Lusigi noted that more women are breadwinners of their homes and does menial jobs such as petty trade and developing local businesses to grow the local economy. She add that however it would be prudent to empower them with modern technology to produce more to sustain society.

Dr Lusigi was speaking during a durbar of women farmers and processors of food products including groundnuts oil and paste at Ayorya in Kintampo South of the Bono East Region to compliment them on their efforts to grow the local economy.

She indicated that women were developers and the need to link them with modern technology was important since this would allow them to improve on productivity. She said the trend of food and other products produced around the world was changing and that putting women on the modern scale would create the way forward.

Dr Lusigi who inspected a groundnuts oil and paste processing factory for the Ayorya Women Association expressed optimism about the current productivity indicating that this would go a long way to make them financially independent since they would sell the products to earn some income.

She mentioned that the facility which was commissioned in June 2021 is expected to serve communities around. It is also expected to produce about 200 metrics tons of paste and oil monthly.

Dr Lusigi hinted that over 300 women and their communities are expected to benefit from the facility. She urged the women farmers including the Fama Nyame Women Farmers Association to produce enough raw materials to feed the factory so it does not run out of materials that would force it to collapse.

Madam Hannah Chiama, President of the Ayorya Women Association expressed gratitude to the UNDP for empowering them economically, saying this has made them financial independence to support their husbands to take care of their families among other things.

She mentioned that aside the factory, the organization has also initiated the Village Savings and Loans programme which allows them to save the income they make. She added that it allows them to access loans from their savings anytime they were in financial crisis.

Madam Chiama commended the UNDP for improving their livelihood and urged other organizations to emulate since other communities in the region were facing severe financial difficulties.
Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has urged Nigerians to maintain the highest level of alertness ahead of the 2023 general elections as the alleged enemies of democracy will go to any length in their many attempts to deny the country free and fair elections.

In its reaction to an alarm raised by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), alleging a plot to use the courts to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

The CNPP said that it was not surprised at any such attempts.

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the umbrella body of all the registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria said any such court cases or efforts to truncate the ongoing process should not come as a surprise to any Nigerian.

What must be done is that citizens must maintain highest level of political alertness and ensure that they stand up for credible elections in 2023 in the same manner they stood and saw through the amendment and assent to the 2022 Electoral Act.

Plots to compromise INEC and the voters' register, as CUPP alleged, should be taken very seriously by all lovers of democracy in Nigeria, particularly the civil society despite the CNPP's belief that INEC is on the side of the people on transparent elections next.

The enemies of free, fair and transparent elections failed to stop the amendment and assent to the 2022 Electoral Act, and they later went to court to annul the contentious Section 84(12) of the Act in a secret suit which culminated into a court order directing the Attorney General of the Federation to delete the said clause in an obvious black market judgment.

So, after losing Osun State governorship election due to the deployment of technology and the vigilance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during the election, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will stop at nothing to compromise the electoral process.

The CNPP therefore warns both INEC and the Nigerian judiciary to take special note that there will be grave consequences for the future and unity of the country if the renewed hope of Nigerian youths in the current electoral process is dashed.

The aftermath will be unimaginable and could threaten the country's fragile peace and security and must be averted at all costs.

Politicians must note that they are only running in the 2023 political race because there is one united country, Nigeria.

Those in the judiciary must not allow themselves to be used to set Nigeria on fire as the inferno may not spare anyone if the ongoing electoral process is compromised by any means.

The CNPP, therefore, joins the CUPP to call on international partners, local and international observer groups, civil society and the general public to join the struggle to protect democracy in Nigeria and ensure that the 2023 general elections are not compromised in any way as the corporate existence of the country largely depends on the process that leads to the eventual outcome."

Source: Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP)
Women walk in front of a Somaliland sign in the city of Hargeisa. In a September 6, 2022, letter, the minister of information Suleyman Yusuf Ali, also known as Koore, said he was revoking CBA TV's right to operate in Somaliland. (AFP/Eduardo Soteras)

17.09.2022 LISTEN

The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday called on authorities in the breakaway region of Somaliland to allow the privately owned CBA TV broadcaster to resume operations and to desist from using bans to silence the press.

In a September 6 letter, the minister of information Suleyman Yusuf Ali, also known as Koore, said he was revoking CBA TVs right to operate in Somaliland because the broadcasters license had expired and it had aired content that threatened peace in the region, according to a copy of the letter posted to Facebook by CBA TV, a statement by local rights group Human Rights Center, and an interview with Hussein Jama Haji Hasan, director general of CBA TV, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. The ministers letter did not cite specific content aired by the broadcaster.

CBA TV, which covers news and analysis about the Horn of Africa region, denied the allegations, saying its reporting is balanced; that permits allowing it to operate, issued in 2018 by the ministry of information and attorney generals offices, do not expire, and that it complied with local tax requirements, according to Hussein, a CBA TV report, and a September 10 letter from the broadcaster to the ministry of information, which CPJ reviewed.

In its statement, the Human Rights Center questioned the legality of the ministers order, saying that the ministers letter accused CBA TV of breaching Article 45 of Somalilands press law, which he said prohibits media from propagating content harmful to the stability of Somaliland. However, the press law has only 32 articles, according to CPJs review of the law and the Human Rights Center.

The closure of CBA TVs operations on dubious and vague legal grounds is the latest act of repression in a fast-closing space for critical journalism in Somaliland, said CPJ sub-Saharan Africa representative Muthoki Mumo. Somalilands ministry of information should allow CBA TV to continue operating without interference or harassment, and authorities should nurture rather than undermine the work of journalists.

Hussein told CPJ that after receiving the ministers letter on September 7, CBA TV ordered its journalists in Somaliland to cease working, but he said the outlet was still broadcasting via satellite and posting content on its social media platforms from offices in Nairobi, Mogadishu, and Lagos.

According to Hussein, the closure in Somaliland, where CBA TV is headquartered, would significantly affect revenue flow and he was worried about how long the broadcaster could keep paying the salaries of about 48 staff members in the region. Hussein said CBA TV plans to challenge the ban in court. He added that the outlets audiences in Somaliland would lack local news coverage due to the operations ban.

It is not only about us being blocked, but also about the freedom of our viewers to get information, Hussein said.

CPJ has documented recent press freedom violations in Somaliland including the shuttering of the BBCs operations in July and the detention of journalists in August.

CPJ sent written queries to information minister Suleyman via WhatsApp and text message on Wednesday, September 14. In a call on Thursday, September 15, the information minister said he was busy and had not had a chance to review queries from CPJ. He said he would respond to those queries but had not done so by publication time. An email to Somalilands ministry of information returned an error message; queries sent via Twitter direct message to the ministry also went unanswered. A phone number of Hassan Aden, Somaliland attorney general, did not go through when CPJ called and queries sent to him via WhatsApp and email went unanswered.
17.09.2022 LISTEN

MONROVIA, LIBERIA September 15,2022: The Liberia Maritime Authority is exerting all efforts in making sure that the captain and crew members of Panama -flagged vessel, MV Ophelia, that allegedly cast overboard more than a dozen people are apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with Liberian and international laws.

The incident is said to have involved about 12 stowaways claiming to be Nigerians who were found hidden on the ship. Two of them are reported to have died in the process.

Maritime Commissioner Lenn Eugene Nagbe has said LiMA has initiated a full investigation of the incident and ensure everyone involved is made to account.

He said the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) and other agencies of the Government of Liberia, including the Liberia Immigration Service, are currently conducting a full-scale investigation.

While this is ongoing, LiMA has taken several actions in line with various national and international maritime standards.

Key among these measures are as follow:

1. Transmitted a formal communication to the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization informing him of the incident. The communication is also soliciting the cooperation and support of the IMO in the investigative process;

2. Informed the Panamanian government through available diplomatic channels including a transmittal from Liberia IMO Permanent Representative Moses Owen Browne to his Panamanian counterpart. Being the flag state of the vessel, Panama has the responsibility to ensure the enforcement of relevant international instruments on the vessel, including the International Convention for the Facilitation of Maritime Trade. The communication is also intended to request representation from the Panamanian authorities during the investigation and the processes leading to the repatriation of the stowaways;

3. Communicated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia for a Note Verbale to be sent to the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria near Monrovia informing the Nigerian government officially through its Embassy of the incident. Nigeria is both the state of embarkation and the state of claimed nationality of the stowaways.

4. Communicated with other regional bodies including the Abuja MOU on Port State Control to assist in apprehending the vessel;

5. Communicated with the ship-owner and the agent to make representation and participate in discussions regarding arranging and financing the maintenance and repatriation of the stowaways.

On Monday, September 12, local fishermen off the Coast of Grand Kru in southeastern Liberia rescued the men. Preliminary investigation showed that they were stowaways aboard the Panama flagged vessel with IMO Number 9228083.

Signed: ____________________________

Gola M. Traub

Director, Corporate Communications

Liberia Maritime Authority
The University of Ghana chapter of the Graduate Students' Association of Ghana (GRASAG-UG) is unhappy about the delay in the payment of bursaries of graduate students.

According to the association, the 2020/2021 academic year ended with no commitment from the government to pay bursaries due to graduate students.

As a result, many graduate students were unable to complete their thesis due to the non-disbursement of the bursaries which has hampered the flow of academic work.

In a statement, GRASAG-UG has expressed displeasure with the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat and Government for the delay in paying bursaries of graduate students.

The Association is dissatisfied with the over one-year delay in payment of funds to our members for the 2021/2022 academic year, part of a release from the association dated September 16 said.

GRASAG-UG further appeals to the Minister of Education, Yaw Osei Adutwum to intervene for all monies owed members to be paid.

GRASAG-UG further requests for an increase in the current amount of GHS420 for each student pursuing a masters programme.

The association argues that the current amount is woefully inadequate and insignificant under the current economic circumstance to funding academic research.

We wish to state explicitly that should government continue with its present disposition as far as the disbursement of graduate students bursaries are concerned, we may advice ourselves in a manner most appropriate and lawful. We implore government to make payments into the accounts of our members by Thursday, September 22, 2022, the GRASAG-UG statement concludes.
South Africa's leader on Friday agreed to cooperate closely with US President Joe Biden on health, security and climate but warned against punishing African nations for maintaining ties with Russia.

The Biden administration has put a new focus on Africa after being taken aback by the reluctance of some nations to condemn Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which has triggered sweeping Western sanctions.

President Cyril Ramaphosa enjoyed unusually warm treatment from Biden, who walked him back to his motorcade at the White House, weeks after Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to South Africa and promised that the United States will listen more to Africans.

"We really need to make sure we fully understand one another," Biden said as he welcomed Ramaphosa in the Oval Office. "Our partnership is essential."

Ramaphosa said he sought to work together on security, including in South Africa's troubled neighbor Mozambique, as well as on climate change, a key priority for the Biden administration.

Starting his visit over breakfast with Vice President Kamala Harris, Ramaphosa voiced gratitude to the United States for its "considerable support" on the Covid pandemic as the Biden administration donates 1.1 billion vaccine doses around the world.

"The visit really is about strengthening the relationship between South Africa and the United States," Ramaphosa said, adding that Washington had a "key role" to play on security across Africa.

But Ramaphosa warned Biden over a piece of legislation that has passed through the US House of Representatives which would require a strategy to counter Moscow's role in Africa.

US Vice President Kamala Harris welcomes South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to her residence at the US Naval Observatory. By Jim WATSON (AFP)

Ramaphosa said he explained that Africans should not be "punished" for their historic non-aligned position among major powers.

"I think it will harm Africa and marginalize the continent," Ramaphosa told reporters after his meetings.

"We should not be told by anyone who we can associate with."

The legislation, called the Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act, has yet to clear the Senate and US policymakers stress that it does not in itself lay out any repercussions for African countries.

'Histories' behind Russia stance

Successive US administrations have focused much of their energy in Africa on countering the growing influence of China, which has become the continent's dominant trading partner.

But Russia's invasion of Ukraine has triggered a new front in the battle for influence in Africa, where many nations have been reluctant to embrace the West in its campaign to pressure Moscow.

South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor denied being neutral but said "there are reasons for the perspectives that exist and one should never, I think, try to pretend that there aren't histories."

She pointed to the former Soviet Union's championing of anti-apartheid forces compared with periods of Western cooperation with South Africa's former white supremacist regime.

Ukrainians living in South Africa demonstrated in the summer of 2022 in front of a Johannesburg hotel where a Russian business delegation was staying. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP/File)

"I think we've been fairly clear, in our view, that war doesn't assist anyone and that we believe the inhumane actions we have seen against the people of Ukraine can't be defended by anybody," she said this week at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington.

The United States has sought to highlight the invasion's role in soaring food prices, as Ukraine was one of Africa's largest suppliers of grain.

Russia has sought to blame food scarcities on Western sanctions, an argument dismissed by the United States, which says it is not restricting agricultural or humanitarian shipments.

South Africa's top diplomat broke with the usual polite bipartisanship of foreign dignitaries visiting Washington, not mincing words on Biden's Republican predecessor Donald Trump, who notoriously referred to nations in the developing world with an epithet.

"We relate very well, I think probably better, with the Democrats than the Republicans," she said. "You will recall how President Trump described Africa and no one has apologized for that as yet."

Trump was the first US president in decades not to visit sub-Saharan Africa. Biden has not yet visited but has pledged a renewed interest, including with a summit of African leaders planned in Washington this December.
Queen Elizabeth II smiling at children waving Kenyan flags and the Union Jack, alighting from the "Royal Train" or shaking hands with a curious little boy -- are all previously unseen images from an enormous archive taken by celebrated photojournalist Mohamed Amin.

The black and white photographs of the queen, shown exclusively to AFP, reflect a level of access that is unheard of today, with Amin capturing candid shots of the monarch chatting with three Kenyan presidents.

Elizabeth II, who died last week at the age of 96, had a close relationship with Kenya. She learnt the news of her father's death while on her first visit to the former British colony in 1952. She arrived a princess and departed a queen.

The photos of the queen reflect a level of access that is unheard of today. By Kabir Dhanji (AFP)

Amin covered all her trips to Kenya as monarch.

A prolific journalist whose heartbreaking images of the Ethiopian famine in 1984 brought global attention to the crisis, Amin shot some three million photographs.

He spent decades leading his company Camerapix -- which supplied video and pictures to several news outlets -- before his tragic death in a plane hijacking in 1996, aged just 53.

His son Salim Amin now runs Camerapix and manages his father's enormous private archive in Nairobi -- filled with photos which have never gone on public display.

Despite being "a child of colonialism" -- born to a South Asian family in Tanzania -- Amin rarely expressed an opinion about the royal family, his son said.

In 1952, Elizabeth arrived in Kenya a princess and departed a queen. By Kabir Dhanji (AFP)

"He couldn't afford to have an opinion because it would affect his job," he told AFP.

But Amin never kowtowed to authority or discriminated between princes and paupers, his son added, describing how a chance meeting in Saudi Arabia with a bodyguard to exiled dictator Idi Amin helped him score an exclusive interview with the so-called Butcher of Uganda.

"If he hadn't been friendly with the bodyguard (in Uganda), he wouldn't have gotten the interview!"

Google archive

The queen's death has raised questions about Britain's colonial past and the abuses committed by British authorities across Africa, including during her reign.

In this context, Amin's achievements testify to a triumph against daunting odds.

Mohamed Amin's son Salim manages his enormous private archive. By Kabir Dhanji (AFP)

A self-taught photographer, he often encountered racism in the field, with officials automatically deferring to his white colleagues.

But he also saw his identity as a source of strength.

He realised "the fundamental reason he was successful was because he was local... (because) he knew the continent inside out", his son said.

In 1992, Amin was honoured by the queen and made a Member of the Order of the British Empire.

In addition to covering the Ethiopian famine, when his images jolted the world into a huge relief effort including the massively successful "Live Aid" concert, Amin had a front-row seat to virtually every significant event on the continent.

Saidi Suleiman Salim is head archivist of Amin's private collection. By Kabir Dhanji (AFP)

Last year, Google Arts & Culture established an online archive to catalogue his work in collaboration with the Mohamed Amin Foundation.

Over 6,000 photos have already been uploaded to the digital archive.

More may follow, including those rare shots of Elizabeth II.
We publish below a press release from Postkolonial Berlin urging Germany to surrender all ownership rights to colonial cultural artefacts it acquired by use of force or without the consent of the owners.

This demand summarizes in many ways what the whole debate on restitution is about. Despite the complications that illegal holders of looted artefacts may present or create, the main question has always been: should colonial or former colonial powers be allowed to continue holding on to cultural objects they acquired through the use of force or without the consent of the African owners?

Should the museums in the Western world, such as British Museum, Humboldt Forum, Musee du Quai Branly, Louvre, Victoria and Albert Museum, World Museum, Vienna, be allowed to continue to enjoy and display cultural artefacts to which they have no moral right? The answer has been in recent times a resounding no. Many museums have tried to respond to the demands of our times and have returned a few objects or at least discussing with the African owners about possible restitution.

Germany has clearly seen the necessity for restitution and has surrendered ownership rights in 1130 Benin bronzes to Nigeria. But this is only a part of all the Benin artefacts in Germany. What about the rest? What about all the other Nigerian artefacts in German museums? What about the Yoruba, Igbo, Ibibio artefacts? What about the other African artefacts? Cameroonian objects such as the famous Bamum throne are still in Germany.

Germany must clearly adopt a general renunciation or several renunciations of ownership rights to colonially acquired artefacts.

The final opening of the Humboldt Forum may create a certain amount of euphoria leading many to believe or act as if the main objectives of the demands for justice and reparation have been satisfied. This is not true

We must continue the fight for the restitution of all African artefacts and in this respect, the press release of Postkolonial reminds us that the work is far from over even if Germany has taken the right steps as regards the restitution of the Benin artefacts.

Kwame Opoku.

PRESS RELEASE BERLIN POSTKOLONIAL ON FINAL OPENING OF HUMBOLDT FORUM

16.09.2022

Final Opening of the Humboldt Forum: Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation must surrender ownership rights to all cultural treasures and body parts of colonized people

On the occasion of the final opening of the Humboldt Forum on September 16, 2022, we protest against the cynical display of cultural objects and even human bones from colonial contexts of injustice in the reconstructed palace of the Brandenburg-Prussian enslavement traders and the German colonial rulers.

Berlin Postkolonial welcomes the property restitution of the Benin bronzes as a success of the descendants of colonized people, who were able to break the current owners' decades-long resistance to restitution. However, the cultural treasures captured in Benin City represent only the tip of the (colonial) iceberg.

The vast majority of the colonial-era exhibits on display at the Humboldt Forum were appropriated without the consent of their rightful owners and are still being presented today without their explicit consent. We demand a nationwide regulation that grants the descendants of the colonized the right of ownership to their cultural treasures and ancestors.

No colonial objects or ancestors should be exhibited in the Humboldt Forum. Instead, the exhibition spaces should be used to critically address German and European colonialism and Imperialism and to honor anti-colonial resistance.

Contact: buero(at) berlin-postkolonial.de
17.09.2022 LISTEN

In Vienna, Chinas permanent mission to the United Nations has been rather exercised of late. Members of the mission have been particularly irate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and its Director General, Rafael Grossi, who addressed the IAEAs Board of Governors on September 12.

Grossi was building on a confidential report by the IAEA which had been circulated the previous week concerning the role of nuclear propulsion technology for submarines to be supplied to Australia under the AUKUS security pact.

When the AUKUS announcement was made in September last year, its significance shook security establishments in the Indo-Pacific. It was also no less remarkable, and troubling, for signalling the transfer of otherwise rationed nuclear technology to a third country. As was rightly observed at the time by Ian Stewart, executive director of the James Martin Center in Washington, such cooperation may be used by non-nuclear states as more ammunition in support of a narrative that the weapons states lack good faith in their commitments to disarmament.

Having made that sound point, Stewart, revealing his strategic bias, suggested that, as such cooperation would not involve nuclear weapons by Australia, and would be accompanied by safeguards, few had reason to worry. This was all merely a relatively straightforward strategic step.

James M. Acton, co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, was far less sanguine. [T]he nonproliferation implications of the AUKUS submarine deal are both negative and serious. Australias operation of nuclear-powered submarines would make it the first non-nuclear weapon state to manipulate a loophole in the inspection system of the IAEA.

In setting this damaging precedent, aspirational proliferators could use naval reactor programs as cover for the development of nuclear weapons  with the reasonable expectation that, because of the Australia precedent, they would not face intolerable costs for doing so. It did not matter, in this sense, what the AUKUS members intended; a terrible example that would undermine IAEA safeguards was being set.

A few countries in the region have been quietly riled by the march of this technology sharing triumvirate in the Indo-Pacific. In a leaked draft of its submission to the United Nations tenth review conference of the Parties to the Treaty of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT RevCon), Indonesia opined that the transfer of nuclear technology for military purposes was at odds with the spirit and objective of the NPT.

In the sharp words of the draft, Indonesia views any cooperation involving the transfer of nuclear materials and technology for military purposes from nuclear-weapon states to any non-nuclear weapon states as increasing the associated risks [of] catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences.

At the nuclear non-proliferation review conference, Indonesian diplomats pushed the line that nuclear material in submarines should be monitored with greater stringency. The foreign ministry argued that it had achieved some success in proposing for more transparency and tighter scrutiny on the distribution of such technology, claiming to have received support from AUKUS members and China. After two weeks of discussion in New York, in the end all parties agreed to look at the proposal as the middle path, announced Tri Tharyat, director-general for multilateral cooperation in Indonesias foreign ministry.

While serving to upend the apple cart of security in the region, AUKUS, in Jakartas view, also served to foster a potential, destabilising arms race, placing countries in a position to keep pace with an ever increasingly expensive pursuit of armaments. (Things were not pretty to start with even before AUKUS was announced, with China and the United States already eyeing each others military build-up in Asia.)

The concern over an increasingly voracious pursuit of arms is a view that Beijing has encouraged, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian having remarked that, the US, the UK and Australias cooperation in nuclear submarines severely damages regional peace and stability [and] intensifies the arms race.

Wang Qun, Chinas Permanent Representative, told Grossi on September 13 that he should avoid drawing chestnuts from the fire in endorsing the nuclear proliferation exercise of Australia, the United States and the UK. Rossi, for his part, told the IAEA Board of Governors that four technical meetings had been held with the AUKUS parties, which had pleased the organisation. I welcome the AUKUS parties engagement with the Agency to date and expect this to continue in order that they deliver their shared commitment to ensuring the highest non-proliferation and safeguard standards are met.

The IAEA report also gave a nod to Canberras claim that proliferation risks posed by the AUKUS deal were minimal given that it would only receive complete, welded nuclear power units, making the removal of nuclear material extremely difficult. In any case, such material used in the units, were it to be used for nuclear weapons, needed to be chemically processed using facilities Australia did not have nor would seek.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning was less than impressed. This report lopsidedly cited the account given by the US, the UK and Australia to explain away what they have done, but made no mention of the international communitys major concerns over the risk of nuclear proliferation that may arise from the AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation. It turned a blind eye to many countries solemn position that the AUKUS cooperation violates the purpose and object of the NPT.

Beijings concerns are hard to dismiss as those of a paranoid, addled mind. Despite Chinas own unhelpful military build-up, attempts by the AUKUS partners to dismiss the transfer of nuclear technology to Australia as technically benign and compliant with the NPT is dangerous nonsense. Despite strides towards some middle way advocated by Jakarta, the precedent for nuclear proliferation via the backdoor is being set.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He currently lectures at RMIT University. Email: [email protected]
The next general election in Haiti must not be held without the new constitution. Former President Jovenel Moise announced a new constitution and referendum for the country. There are leaders who did not accept, but the majority of leaders and the population accepted.

The date of the referendum was postponed because several people were infected with the covid. But the new constitution and the referendum are still in the plans for the country.

One part of the new constitution that the majority of residents in all parts of the country support the most is the part that says that candidates starting at 25 years old and older can participate in elections. This means they can submit their candidacy in the next general election held in the country.

Unfortunately, President Moise was assassinated before the referendum was held so that a new President could be elected in the election before leaving power.

"We are all in it. A new constitution is what the People demand. Haitians all over the world, let's put all our strength into the fight to give Haiti another constitution. Don't miss this chance. Dear friends of the youth, peasants, and diaspora, where the women, the small traders, and the traders in the four corners of the country, have come together to give Haiti a constitution that adapts to our reality. This time we are all in it" said President Moise about the new constitution on April 18, 2021.

President Moise chose the current Prime Minister Ariel Henry and gave him a job and mission to fulfill. The current Prime Minister Ariel has to establish the new constitution, establish security in the country, and hold a general election where candidates starting at 25 years old and older can submit their candidacies. The current Prime Minister accepted this job and mission. This means that if there's a general election without the new constitution, it would be a violation of the country and the rights of the new candidates.

"I appointed citizen Ariel Henry to the post of Prime Minister. He will have to form an opening government including the living forces of the Nation, solve the problem of insecurity and support the CEP for the realization of the general elections and the referendum", said President Moise about why he chose the current Prime Minister Ariel.

President Moise did not choose the current Prime Minister Ariel to set up a transitional government or participate in the Montana agreement. Putting in a transitional government, and holding an election without the new constitution will be a violation of the country and the rights of the candidates.

Werley Nortreus is one of the leaders who support the part where candidates who are not yet 35 years old can participate in the elections in the new constitution. According to what he said about this matter, he stated that it is the greatest move that will be done for the country if new and young visionary candidates have the chance to participate in the election for the benefit of the country.

"President Moise came up with the new constitution and the referendum for Haiti. In the new constitution, a candidate who is 25 years old and older will have the right to participate in elections. Although the referendum was postponed, President Moise chose the current Prime Minister Ariel to establish the new constitution, establish security in the country, and hold a fair election. A general election in the country without the new constitution will be a violation", says Werley about the new constitution and the country's future.

For a general election to be held in Haiti, the new constitution and the referendum must be established. A general election without the new constitution will be a violation.
17.09.2022 LISTEN

"What a terrible era in which idiots govern the blind." - William Shakespeare

Sums up the Ghana-predicament perfectly, does it not, old chap? No? We have greed-filled, too-clever-by-half big-thieves-in-high-places, destroying our nation with:

1) Their infernal arrogance, and stupid desire to perpetuate themselves on Mother Ghana (for at least the next thirty years, apparently. Imagine that). Doesn't bear thinking, ooooo, Ghanafuo.

2) Their endless revisionist-historical-lies: to foist Dr. J. B. Danquah (a known well-paid-agent of Western intelligence agencies), on our younger generations, as the one-man-thousand-creator-in-chief, of modern Ghana. Hmmm, ey3nsem piiiiii, oooo, Ghanafuo.

3) Their nation-wrecking, elitist-and-nonsensical Akan tribal supremacist-rubbish (not so fast, dear critical-reader: Although it matters not a whit to me, I am actually an Akan royal with roots in Akyem Osiem and Akyem Tontro, oooo, wai, Massa). Tweaaaaaa...

Imagine all that, dear reader. Pure nonsense on wiggly bamboo stilts. Fools. They will all be hoisted on their own petard, to a man, in the fullness of time. None of them will be spared, for their many crimes against Mother Ghana, then. All those now lining up to participate in the ongoing brutal gang-rape of Mother Ghana, will be held to account when the time finally comes. For sure. That's not a threat. It's a solemn promise. Yoooooo...
President Nana Akufo-Addo has paid a working visit to the Netherlands where he met with various partners and stakeholders contributing to the Ghanaian economy.

On 7th September, 2022, the President visited the Cargill Chocolate facility in Zaanstad, Netherlands where he learnt how cocoa beans obtained from Ghana are processed at the factory. Key among the discussions was how to improve collaboration in the cocoa sector and to enhance processing in Ghana.

The President of Ghana H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo was also welcomed to the World Horticulture Center in Westland where greenhouse farms produce vegetables, fruits and flowers. One of the pillars of the visit was to appraise himself with research and private-public partnerships with the view to improving the yields of smallholder farmers in Ghana by using Dutch technology and training.

Also present on the tour were the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie and the CEO of COCOBOD, Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo and other government officials.

The officials of the Embassy of Ghana in the Netherlands and a delegation from the Dutch Embassy in Ghana lead by Ambassador Jeroen Verheul were also present during the tour.

By Samuel Lartey || Akwaaba Holland
Former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Mr. Charles Bissue, says there was some suspicion that Aisha Huang returned to Ghana a few weeks after she was repatriated in December 2018.

We had wind about two or three weeks later that she has actually come back into the country. Somebody informed us so we, in turn, spoke to the then CID boss and she swiftly sent men to check if she is back into the country, Mr. Bissue recounted on Eyewitness News.

What we heard was that the lady had returned into the country through Togo we couldn't actually find her, but then we acted upon it, he added.

Mr. Bissue, however, noted that the suspicions were never confirmed.

I cannot actually place my hands on my heart to say that it was a hoax or was it true or not. With this information, once it comes to notice, you notify the appropriate authorities, and they trigger their investigation.

Talking to you now, I could not substantiate if it was a hoax or if it was something that was true, he added.

There have been several claims about how Aisha Huang, left the country in 2018 and when she re-entered.

Despite the government providing evidence of a repatriation notice and the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, saying she was repatriated, the prosecutors in court on Wednesday stated that Aisha Huang sneaked out of Ghana after her arrest in 2017.

The initial reporting on the case was that she had been deported in 2018 after filing a nolle prosequi to discontinue an earlier case against her.

But North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, claimed Aisha Huang was not escorted during her supposed deportation as was required.

In the days after Mr. Ablakwa's comments, President Akufo-Addo also said he was unsure whether Aisha Huang was deported from Ghana in 2018 or fled .

This prompted the government to share documents indicating she was given a notice of repatriation in December 2018.

She and her four accomplices who were arrested and brought before a court in Accra earlier this month have been slapped with four new charges at the High Court.

By Citi Newsroom
A Deputy Communications hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Akatsi South Constituency, Unity Edem Avege has described claims government paid Ghc14 million to former President John Dramani Mahama so strategy to divert attention from the hardships faced by Ghanaians.

He said cost of living in Ghana is now high and the hardship is unbearable.

In a short statement, he said government must rather prioritize bringing back the economy on track and stop peddling falsehood.

"All in attempt by this incompetent mother serpent of corruption and his government to defuse the anger of the citizens from the hardships we are undergoing as a country.

"It is clear that Nana Addo and his government never paid H.E Mahama any entitlements apart from his 2013 salary arrears.

"Starting from September 19, Ghanaians are to buy a sachet of water for 50p and a bag of water at GH7 and 9. Ghanaians who engage the services of commercial vehicles (trotro) would from September 21, 2022, pay 30% more for transport. Rents had also gone up by 5% to 10% depending on your location," he intimated.

He stressed that it is evidently clear Nana-Bawumia led NPP government has lost track on building the economy they promised.
The Ghana Police Service has taken steps to ensure residents of Wa and its environs in the Upper West Region are protected.

Residents are living in fear following recent strange killings and disappearances of some people in the region.

To address the safety concerns of the people, the Police have now beefed up security in Wa and its surrounding communities.

In a Police statement, it says visibility and crime combat teams have been deployed for the safety of the people.

The Police Administration wishes to assure the people of the Wa Metropolis and its environs that it has taken cognizance of their security concerns and the Administration has therefore put in place measures to support the Regional Police Command to beef up security to ensure the safety of all persons in the Metropolis.

In this regard, special purpose investigation and intelligence teams, as well as additional police visibility and crime combat teams, have been deployed to Wa under the leadership of the Director-General of Operations, a police statement read in parts.

The Police are giving the assurance that it will continue to work towards ensuring the safety and security of all persons across the country.
The National Identification Authority (NIA) insists it should not be blamed for notorious galamsey queen Aisha Huangs possession of a Ghana card despite her repatriation from the country in 2018.

According to NIAs Executive Secretary, Prof. Kenneth Attafuah, the Ghana Immigration Service did not return the non-citizen card issued to Aisha Huang [captured on NIAs system as En Huang] as required by law when she was kicked out of Ghana in 2018.

He said this prevented NIA from flagging her name from its database.

Ghana Immigration Service did not give Aisha Huangs card to us [when she was repatriated]. There is no human in the national identity register called Aisha Huang. Nobody has ever registered called Aisha Huang. It may be someones nickname or pet name, but it is not a name that exists in our register.

The cards that Immigration gives to us are cards of persons who have gone through the judicial process and had been found to have offended the laws of the Republic of Ghana and are deserving of deportation or repatriation, as the case may be. The Ghana Immigration Service takes charge of their cards, facilitates their exits and then returns the card to the custody of NIA as required by law.

He said, in this case, the person the NIA knows is En Huang, but they did not receive her ID card as required by law.

Immigration has not given us En Huang's card and I suspect that it was because on the occasion she had come to our attention, she had not gotten to the attention of the Immigration and judicial process. If it were so, I am confident that the Ghana Immigration Service would have done the needful, Prof. Attafuah noted.

The NIA Executive Director said because this process was not carried through, when En Huang tried to renew her identification, there was no suspicion because she was being a lawful foreigner resident in our country.

Prof. Attafuah said this may be why she was found with an updated Ghana Card when she was re-arrested earlier in September.

It emerged that, Aisha Huang in the wake of her re-arrest over illegal mining activities in the country despite her deportation was found to be in possession of a Ghana Card bearing the name Huang En.

Explaining the viral Ghana card image suggesting that the suspected illegal miner has been given the Ghana card, the NIA earlier said that the particular registration was done in 2014 with the name Huang En and was renewed in 2016 and 2018 in Kumasi.

It said a Chinese national tried to register a new non-resident Ghana card in August 2022 with the name Ruixia Huang, but its system flagged it because the biometric details matched that of Huang En.

She is currently standing trial with four other Chinese nationals.

citinewsroom
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that many Ghanaians do not know that this is not the first time the notorious Aisha Huang has claimed to be married to a Ghanaian.

According to Mr Ablakwa, she first made the claim over a decade ago when she told Ghanaian immigration authorities that she married a Ghanaian called Anthony Fabian at a 2007 wedding in China.

She then used that to secure an indefinite permit from the Ghana Immigration Service allowing her to travel to Ghana at will without a visa.

Mr Ablakwa said it turns out Anthony Fabian was her clever phantom creation. It remains a mystery how she managed to obtain a Ghanaian male passport in the name of a ghostly Anthony Fabian with Passport Number: H2554456, the lawmaker said in a Facebook post.

He noted that court documents in his possession from her 2017 and 2018 aborted prosecution and other intercepted official records reveal that the Passport Office and the Foreign Ministry had absolutely no information about any application by the said Anthony Fabian for a Ghanaian passport. There was also no manual or biometric trace.

Ghanas Birth and Death Registry also has no record of anyone called Anthony Fabian.

When investigators demanded that she produce Anthony Fabian, Mr Ablakwa said Aisha told them her husband was domiciled in New York. However, system checks on PISCES (Personal Identification Secured Certified Evaluation System) returned negative. The New York phone number she provided to security operatives was never picked. She could also not provide a valid New York address.

The lawmaker further disclosed that immigration records confirm that no Anthony Fabian has ever used the Kotoka International Airport or any of our approved entry points.

Pictures of Aishas Anthony Fabian (not the Anthony Fabian who is a British film producer, writer and director) do not appear to exist  not even wedding pictures. Anthony Fabian has remained a mystery husband since 2007, the Facebook post said.

Her lawyers, Mr Ablakwa said should tell Ghanaians how many husbands Aisha Huang is married to or when exactly the duppy Anthony Fabian was divorced for the current love of her life who according to Nkrabeah Effah Dartey is a Kumasi-based businessman.

Aisha Huang is not our in-law, and we really dont care if she is  this sympathy wheeze by her legal team is most ridiculous. Ghanaians must not fall for this latest gobbledygook, he stated.

En Huang with her numerous aliases is unmistakably a modern female version of Al Capone and must be made to suffer severe punishment for her many crimes. Thanks to her and her collaborators, we face an existential threat. I am therefore extremely disappointed in the prosecution that she hasnt been charged with offences relating to her Anthony Fabian grand criminal enterprise and for illegally obtaining a dubious male Ghanaian Passport which she used to mislead immigration officials to entrench her stay in Ghana, he concluded.

Source: Classfmonline.com
If anyone, whether they reside in Ghana or elsewhere, believes that Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah is doing a decent job, they should seek mental health therapy because Ghana wouldn't be in such a precarious position if the Chief Justice wasn't corrupt and performed his duties efficiently. Ghana may be improved with intelligence, but those in positions of power lacked it.

Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah should have since been removed from his position as Chief Justice of the High Court if Ghana is a good nation free from corruption. Because Ghana is an African nation and the globe is changing quickly, Ghanaians should not allow or accept persons like Kwasi Anin-Yeboah if they want their country to progress so that the common people can live better lives.

As soon as a Chief Justice was linked to a corruption scandal, he should have resigned immediately in the majority of developing nations, let alone developed ones. Together with Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, Paul Adom-Otchere, the ghost of Sir John, Eugene Arhin, and many others, the current government kept them, despite trumpets being blown to safeguard the public's purse.



If individuals like the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, and the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, continue to hold such positions, Ghana won't be able to properly recover as a nation in the next 20 years. Photo credit: Ghana media

How intelligent are you, as a Ghanaian journalist or writer, not to care about these individuals' actions, including the president's, which are harming the nation and depriving the populace of a better standard of living and employment, and to instead criticize a former president who is trying to improve things for the good of the nation?

No matter how dishonest Mahama was, Ghanaians never saw this level of violence, crime, and theft of public cash. Without replacing it, the current president has utterly destroyed a good hospital that serves the communities of La-Teshie-Nungua. Additionally, he has demolished the judge's apartments without replacing them. If Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah is an intelligent person, he should have already asked the president to replace those projects since Ghanaians own them, not a political party.

Sadly, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah has fallen short of his obligations as Chief Justice, which include managing the operations of the court employees generally and coordinating the work of the court. He also has to create the rules of the court's internal order but has also failed in that.

Even though every Ghanaian was counting on the Chief Justice to act honorably, he disregarded the Holy Bible with which he took an oath before entering the office and misused his position to declare a loser in a presidential election the winner. Why did Kwasi Anin-Yeboah neglect to invite the head of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, to respond to queries from Ghanaians if he believes Akufo Addo won the 2020 presidential election?

Today, the Chief Justice has got back the favor as CHRAJ refuses to investigate the alleged bribe case involving a 5 million dollars bribe he received. Kwasi Anin-Yeboah has denied receiving any bribe but the question on the lips of the intelligent Ghaianians is why President Nana Akufo Addo dismissed a petition to impeach the Chief Justice.

Addo believes it's his turn to fight for Chief Justice to keep his job because the Chief Justice and the Electoral Commission's boss, Madam Jean Mensah, stole the election victory of John Mahama, to declare the loser the winner. In reality, it was possible because Ghana is on a shithole continent.

Perry Fortunato Sr., a judge in Pennsylvania, accepted bribes, unlike corrupt judges in Ghana who accept goats and lambs as payment, Fortunato accepted bribes for shrimp and crab too. Due to his ill health, he was found guilty and given a two-year federal probationary period.

Under the protection of another corrupt president, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah feels untouchable, evading punishment for his crimes that have harmed thousands of Ghanaians. A good Chief Justice should serve the entire country of Ghana, not just the president or a particular political party. Therefore, just because the past president has condemned you for not doing a good job, it doesn't mean he intends to boss you around.

How I wish Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, the Chief Justice, is wise enough to see the bloodshed and crime that have exploded since the NPP entered power. Since crime is an unavoidable act, there will always be a crime. However, since Akufo Addo became president, crime in Ghana has soared by more than 200 percent. These are indications that there is a crisis in the nation's judicial system.

Hence, just because everyone is afraid to criticize Kwasi Anin-Yeboah for running a corrupt, feeble judiciary that allows all crimes in the nation to go unpunished, including the leaders of churches and the Ghana Bar Association, doesn't mean Mahama intends to order the Chief Justice around. Kwasi Anin-Yeboah is not giving the common people the safety, security, and peace they need.

It seems like many people don't care about the serious crisis Ghana has gotten into and are instead promoting and encouraging tribalism, nepotism, corruption, and crime in our country, even though the fact that our nation has been devastated by bad governance, ongoing corruption, and debts with no accountability. At times, reading certain articles on ModernGhana makes me feel embarrassed.

Whatever evil deeds Ghanaians support and encourage in this NPP administration, everything will grow and those responsible will reap the rewards. However, what pains me the most is that even if they do, they won't feel it because they have accumulated enough wealth to address their problems, while the common people suffer the most.

I shall warn Ghanaians that the crime and poor governance that continue to harm the country's citizens are merely the tip of the iceberg. Ghana won't be able to fully recover as a country in the next 20 years if people like Kwasi Anin-Yeboah and Godfred Dame remain in those positions.

Even though I am a regular writer and not a prophet, my writing has never been ineffective because I attentively observe, analyze, and evaluate Ghana's political developments. This should clarify why I'm happy and proud that I have thousands of viewers on this page, despite the reading decline brought on by video clips and YouTube. I purposefully created my column's heading so that readers could quickly recognize me and it has worked for me.
17.09.2022 LISTEN

Wednesday 21 September, 2022 has been declared a public holiday by the Ministry of the Interior to mark Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.

An official statement issued in Accra said the day has been set aside to remember and honour Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president.

The general public is hereby informed that Wednesday, September 21, which marks Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, is a statutory public holiday and should be observed as such throughout the country, the statement signed by the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, said.

Nkrumah was born on 21 September 1909 at Nkroful in the Western Region.

He attended Achimota School and also trained as a teacher. He moved to the United States in 1935 to pursue further studies, receiving a BA from Lincoln University in 1939.

He also received an STB (Bachelor's degree in sacred theology) in 1942, a Master of Science in education from the University of Pennsylvania in 1942 and a Master of Arts in philosophy the following year.

DGN online
17.09.2022 LISTEN

The Director of the Communications Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Gerry Rice has reiterated how badly Ghana's economy has been hit by the Russia-Ukraine war and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Responding to criticisms of the IMF's assessment of Ghana's economy by former President John Dramani Mahama at a press briefing, Mr. Gerry Rice re-emphasized that the country's plight has been worsened by the Russia-Ukraine war as it had already injected a lot of fiscal power into the pandemic.

I would say, as just to repeat, the war in Ukraine has triggered a global economic shock that's hitting Ghana and, as I said, many other countries, and all at a time when, for many of these countries, their room for fiscal maneuver, if I could put it that way, is already extremely limited because they've used a lot of fiscal power already in the pandemic.

He noted that the shock coming from the war in Ukraine compounds other pressing policy.

And we're very cognizant of that. And that's why we are, as I described at the beginning, stepping up to help countries where we can, and that includes Ghana.

Mr. Gerry Rice further indicated that the IMF team will revisit the country in the coming weeks.

I don't have a date for you, but [it will be] in the coming weeks, he added.

Ghana returned to the IMF for support after months of struggle with the economy and a cost of living crisis.

Ghana is expecting $3 billion from the IMF.

citinewsroom
17.09.2022 LISTEN

K1  Koo, you won't believe this but

K-2  You have managed to obtain an exclusive interview with Aisha Yuang?

 Hahahahaha! I should be so lucky! No, but

 You have seen letters from influential persons close to the President, telling him that they are resigning from their posts because they have severally embarrassed him and exposed him to public ridicule..?

 Ghana should be so lucky! Have you heard of any Ghanaian who has ever held his head in his hands, expressed regret and said: Mea culpa! Ergo, I resign!?

 But we inherited our public service system from the British and there.

 Boris Johnson resigned as Prime Minister when he deceived the nation about his activities during the Covid-19 lockdown?

 Yes.

 And before him, Theresa May?

 Yes, yes. They do resign over there. But we are now independent and don't need to copy anything from them.

 Yes  this we are independent mantra answers every question doesn't it? We are so independent that we independently allow foreigners to kill our water sources; we independently allow our Immigration Service to be unable to say whether they allowed a deportee back or not

 Deportee? Are we sure that we deported anyone?

 No, we are not sure! But

 Do we know why our Attorney-General issued a nolle prosequi to stop the prosecution of the person we are not sure whether we deported?

 No!

 Do we know why our Attorney-General has once again intervened in the prosecution of the alleged-deportee-whohas-returned?

 No. But.

 Aha? The Attorney-General gave the impression, did he not, that he was going to supervise the prosecution himself this time and so the court should remand the accused, pending investigations?

 Yes! But.

 But didn't the lawyer of the deportee-who-returned remark to the media, during the second appearance of the deportee-who-returned, that the charges against her were minor and that the Ghana media had over-hyped the case?

 Yes, but..

 Have you read the Ghana Minerals and Mining Amendment Act 2019?

 You mean Act 995?

 Yes.

 No, I haven't read it. But.

 Well, go and read it and tell me whether there is any offence in that Act that can be described as a minor offence!

 You are not suggesting that the Attorney-General has allowed the deportee-who-has returned to be charged under a law other than Act 995?

 Well, wasn't there an earlier Act of 2016 that was amended by the 2019 Act? Under that Act, were galamsey activities treated as relatively minor!

 Yieee! What are we doing to ourselves in this country?

 You want to know? We have independently allowed our police service to keep mute over why the prosecution of those who killed a 70-year-old woman (Ama Hema) was ended. She was burnt alive in broad daylight for witchcraft, ELEVEN YEARS AGO!

 What? Are you kidding?

 Go to the web and click on: Ghanaian woman burned to death for being a witch

Ghanaian woman burned to death for being a witch

Evangelical pastor among five people arrested for dousing 72-year-old Ama Hemmah in kerosene and setting her ablaze

 Oh, I remember! It was a front-page story in the Graphic?

 Yes, and since the prosecution was stopped, the question WHY? Has been asked again and again. But no answer and no-one bothers to find out why there is no answer.

 Not even her Member of Parliament has followed it up?

 No!

 Nor the Ministry of the Interior?

 No!

 Nor the Cabinet Secretary?

 No!

 Nor the Chief of Staff?

 No!

 What about the The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, CHRAJ?

 No! The CHRAJ lack of curiosity, in particular, is most difficult to understand. For this is a case that should light up all the buttons that alert CHRAG to breaches of our human rights laws.

 Hmmm! Every word concerning our law and politics has been copied from somewhere else. But when it comes to implementing them, we, pretend, as a proud and independent nation, that we can op out! To us, ideas expressed in words, are just words, full stop.

 Koo, so how will we end up?

 Oh, don't worry. It's very nice to sit down and be praised by foreigners for being independent and sovereign!

 Foreigners will change the colour of our water for us and tell us that it is our own sovereign and independent people who took them to our water source?

 Yes! They will also remind us that it's our people who feed and house the foreign galamseyers and who give them excavators and bulldozers to ruin our environment and pollute our water?

 Yes!

 They will applaud us if we fail to brief our own elected President about what we do in Ghana's name?

 Yes!

 But that IS treason!

 Ha! Ha! Isn't treason a mere imported word?

 When will it stop?

 It won't stop until we bombard our officials with requests for CORRECT ACTION. Right now, we should ALL be sending petitions to our President to request that he sets up an independent enquiry into why he was placed in a position of not being sure whether the alleged deportation occurred or not; and how he was led to make a mistake about the deportation, in the first place.

 But that can cause the President embarrassment?

 Ah? Is he not embarrassed already? What we suggest would rather save him from future embarrassment!

 And also set a precedent which other Presidents can follow?

 Yes! What one President has learnt from experience would be the best guide to another. A new one.

 Koo, oyiwa! [There you are!]

By CAMERON DUODU
17.09.2022 LISTEN

The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has made a shocking revelation about Aisha Huang.

The MP is the one who first revealed that there was no record to show that the accused Chinese illegal miner was indeed deported and handed over to the Chinese when she faced illegal mining charges in 2018.

In a post today, the North Tongu MP has revealed that Aisha Huang is claiming to have a Ghanaian husband different from the one she had the time she was first arrested.

Samuel Okudzeto is asking for the whereabouts of the first Ghanaian husband.

The MP also wants the lawyers of Aisha Huang to come clear and let the people know the number of husbands Aisha Huang has.

Her lawyers should tell us how many husbands Aisha Huang is married to or when exactly the duppy Anthony Fabian was divorced for the current love of her life who according to Nkrabeah Effah Dartey is a Kumasi-based businessman, Okudzeto Ablakwa notes in his post on Facebook.

The MP adds, Aisha Huang is not our in-law, and we really dont care if she is  this sympathy wheeze by her legal team is most ridiculous. Ghanaians must not fall for this latest gobbledygook.

Below is the full post on the Facebook of Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa:

Where is Aisha Huangs first Ghanaian husband?

Many Ghanaians do not know that this is not the first time the notorious Aisha Huang has claimed to be married to a Ghanaian.

She first made the claim over a decade ago when she told Ghanaian immigration authorities that she married a Ghanaian called Anthony Fabian at a 2007 wedding in China.

Interestingly, she then used that to secure an indefinite permit from the Ghana Immigration Service allowing her to travel to Ghana at will without a visa.

It turns out Anthony Fabian was her clever phantom creation. It remains a mystery how she managed to obtain a Ghanaian male passport in the name of a ghostly Anthony Fabian with Passport Number: H2554456.

Court documents in my possession from her 2017 and 2018 aborted prosecution and other intercepted official records reveal that the Passport Office and the Foreign Ministry had absolutely no information about any application by the said Anthony Fabian for a Ghanaian passport. There was also no manual or biometric trace.

Curiously, Ghanas Birth and Death Registry also has no record of anyone called Anthony Fabian.

When investigators demanded that she produce Anthony Fabian, Aisha told them her husband was domiciled in New York. System checks on PISCES (Personal Identification Secured Certified Evaluation System) returned negative. The New York phone number she provided to security operatives was never picked. She could also not provide a valid New York address.

Immigration records confirm that no Anthony Fabian has ever used the Kotoka International Airport or any of our approved entry points.

Pictures of Aishas Anthony Fabian (not the Anthony Fabian who is a British film producer, writer and director) do not appear to exist  not even wedding pictures. Anthony Fabian has remained a mystery husband since 2007.

Her lawyers should tell us how many husbands Aisha Huang is married to or when exactly the duppy Anthony Fabian was divorced for the current love of her life who according to Nkrabeah Effah Dartey is a Kumasi-based businessman.

Aisha Huang is not our in-law, and we really dont care if she is  this sympathy wheeze by her legal team is most ridiculous. Ghanaians must not fall for this latest gobbledygook.

En Huang with her numerous aliases is unmistakably a modern female version of Al Capone and must be made to suffer severe punishment for her many crimes. Thanks to her and her collaborators, we face an existential threat. I am therefore extremely disappointed in the prosecution that she hasnt been charged with offences relating to her Anthony Fabian grand criminal enterprise and for illegally obtaining a dubious male Ghanaian Passport which she used to mislead immigration officials to entrench her stay in Ghana.
King Charles III and his oldest son Prince William were on Saturday greeted by cheers as they shook hands with people queueing for hours through London to see Queen Elizabeth's coffin as it lies in state ahead of her funeral.

Cries of "God Save the King" came from the crowd as the new monarch and heir to the throne thanked members of the public before attention turns to the stream of world leaders arriving for the grand state send-off on Monday.

"I'm so happy. He was so calm, and friendly and he was so gentle," said Geraldine Potts-Ahmad, a secretary in her late 50s, as she struggled to contain her emotions after shaking hands with Charles.

"He is going to make the best king. That gentleness and that tenderness, I saw the queen in that."

The queen's death on 8 September aged 96, after a record-breaking 70 years on the throne, has sparked an outpouring of emotion.

Members of the public are braving waits that have stretched to more than 25 hours, and chilly night-time temperatures, to view her flag-shrouded coffin.

Princes William and Harry were later set to lead a vigil of Queen Elizabeth II's eight grandchildren at her coffin, joining tens of thousands of members of the public who have been queueing round the clock for days.

Lines have snaked for miles along the River Thames since Wednesday, when her coffin was brought to the UK parliament complex.

Those inside parliament's Westminster Hall for the lying-in-state received a shock late on Friday when a man burst out of the line and approached the coffin, which sits topped with the Imperial State Crown.

A live television feed of the mourners briefly cut away around 10:00 pm (2100 GMT) as police detained the man, two hours after Charles and his three siblings had held their own vigil in the cavernous hall.

"He was arrested for an offence under the Public Order Act and is currently in custody," London's Metropolitan Police said.

14-hour wait

Some 435 people have needed medical treatment, often for head injuries after fainting in the queue, the London Ambulance Service said.

But Jenna O'Sullivan, a charity worker from Pontypridd in Wales, said her 14-hour wait was well worth it after paying her final respects at the coffin.

"It was so emotional, with such a nice atmosphere of peace and calm," the 36-year-old said.

"The queue was long but it felt like a celebration. We made some lovely friends."

Police are mounting Britain's biggest-ever security operation for Monday's funeral, as hundreds of dignitaries including US President Joe Biden are set to jet in.

Less than two weeks into her premiership, British Prime Minister Liz Truss was on Saturday beginning a packed weekend of meetings with world leaders including her counterparts from New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, and Australia, Anthony Albanese, at the government's Chevening country residence.

On Sunday she was due to meet Biden, Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Canadian premier Justin Trudeau and Polish leader Andrzej Duda in Downing Street.

Charles, meanwhile, was on Saturday scheduled to meet the prime ministers of the Commonwealth realms - the 14 former colonies over which he now reigns in addition to the United Kingdom - including those of Australia, The Bahamas, Canada, Jamaica and New Zealand.

From Australia and Canada to Jamaica and Papua New Guinea, they have formally proclaimed him their new sovereign.

But republican movements are gaining ground in many of the countries, and efforts to keep them all in the royal fold will likely be a feature of his reign.

Charles on Friday wrapped up his maiden tour as monarch to the four UK nations with a visit to Wales, part of an operation dubbed "Spring Tide" to launch him in his new role.

'Tide of emotion'

Back in London, Charles joined the 15-minute vigil with his siblings - Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward - around their mother's casket on Friday night.

They stood, silent and eyes lowered, while members of the public filed past.

The vigil will be repeated on Saturday evening by the eight grandchildren, including the new heir to the throne Prince William and his estranged brother Harry.

The personal sorrow of the queen's family has been playing out in the glare of intense international attention.

But the queen's youngest son Edward said: "We have been overwhelmed by the tide of emotion that has engulfed us and the sheer number of people who have gone out of their way to express their own love, admiration and respect."

The public have until early Monday to view the coffin before the queen is honoured with Britain's first state funeral in nearly six decades.

The spectacular ceremony at Westminster Abbey -- expected to be watched by billions around the globe -- will see 142 sailors pulling the gun-carriage bearing her lead-lined coffin.

It will be attended by more than 2,000 guests, but leaders from countries at loggerheads with the UK such as Russia, Belarus and Afghanistan have not been invited.

China's vice president Wang Qishan will attend, Beijing's foreign ministry confirmed, after a diplomatic spat saw Chinese officials barred from visiting the coffin inside parliament.

(with AFP)
CHRISTIANS LIKE all human beings tend to forget, be distracted, discouraged or go astray from the path shown them to pursue. For this reason, they need exhortation, encouragement, direction and guidance. It is in the spirit of this ministry that Paul, the apostle, writes to the church in Corinth as presented below:

Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So RUN TO WIN! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it TO WIN A PRIZE that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. (1 Corinthians 9: 24- 25)

Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) in London calls his television broadcast, Winning Ways. Pastor David Quansah, senior Pastor of Mid-Country Chapel International in Kumasi a few years preached a sermon entitled, Winning Always. I should not forget Winners Chapel a great charismatic church led by Dr. David Oyedepo with its headquarters in Nigeria.

Interestingly, most Christians generally subscribe to the saying that, winners never quit, quitters never win. Winning is a word which is commonly confessed by Christians particularly when they are faced with life's challenges or trials and temptations. As a matter of fact, even non-Christians also confess winning. Who wants to lose?

During elections, each presidential candidate expresses optimism of winning even when voters are in queues to cast their ballot. On most election days, leading political parties begin to assure their supporters of winning even when the Electoral Commission has not collated the results. In Ghana, this is commonly done by both New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Now, let me now ask you a question. Are you winning an eternal prize in Christ? Are you winning the race set before you? Life here on earth is full of competitions. Let me narrow the discussion to say that life in this world involves two main races on two major roads  the road to heaven and the road to hell. Each one of us needs to be aware of this reality and know the one we are actually travelling on.

You may not see it now until after your death.

Contact Bishop James Saah of Action Chapel International and he will quote John 11:25 and teach you that this earth on which we live is not the land of the living as we have been made to believe.

Rather, it is the land of the dead. We actually live hear shortly and die and continue living eternally in another world which cannot be seen with our physical eyes.

You must understand that your body dies on earth but your soul which is a spirit being lives on. Your soul will be saved and rest in a peaceful heavenly dwelling of God if you have sincerely believed in the sacrificial blood which the Lord Jesus Christ shed for the remission of the sins of the world. But a person who rejected Christ and mocked His death and resurrection will have his soul suffer eternal destruction.

This is why the gospel of Jesus Christ is being preached all over the world through various media  newspapers, magazines, television, radio, Internet and face to face interactions. People who believe their messages and are baptized shall be saved on the day of redemption.

In proclaiming the gospel of salvation, preachers speak of two gates  narrow and wide gates  which talk about two separate ways of life each one of us may choose to live. However, the preachers command people to enter by the narrow gate.

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Matthew 7: 13- 14).

Dear reader, on which of these roads are you travelling currently? Who are you following, the Lord Jesus Christ or the devil? Exactly, where will your soul be should you leave this world right now? Paul, the apostle, a man of faith we all cherish knew where he was going before his death. He died knowing the prize he would win. What about us?

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing (2 Timothy 4: 6- 8).

As Christians, we must learn from the believers especially the ministers of the Early Church.

Timothy, a young preacher of the Early Church who was fathered in the Lord by Paul learnt from him. I believe Timothy did not only learn Paul's teaching but also his conduct, aim in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions and sufferings (2 Timothy 3: 10- 11).

We must also learn from their determination and endurance in walking the narrow gate to eternal glory. We can even learn from the fortitude of politicians who patiently fight to win political power to enjoy life for four years in government. As children of God, we must continue to learn. We must examine our hearts to see if indeed we are winning our prizes in heaven.

A Christian who is winning will know it. He will have assurance of salvation in his heart. The Bible says the Holy Spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are a child of God (Romans 8: 16). And if you are a child of God, then you are in Christ with whom you cannot be condemned (Romans 8: 1).

Moreover, we also know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, the idolaters, nor adulterers, nor thieves, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6: 9- 10).

By James Quansah

[email protected]
17.09.2022 LISTEN

They variously call themselves Christians, Muslims, Idol worshippers or atheists, yet they are unforgiving lots. They have created a vast space in their individual hearts to hold grudge against those they perceive to be their enemies. However, the central core of every faith or religion is forgiveness and to love your neighbour as thyself.

It has been the observation of, and pronouncement by, former President John Dramani Mahama that the ensemble of Ghanaians have a short memory, thus, they easily forget whatever happens to them, or happens in the country, whether sweet or sour.

I stand to be corrected, if I assert that the former president was wrong in his supposition. This is because of the unforgetting and unforgiving attitude by our brothers and sisters in both the former and present Volta region, thus, former Trans Volta Togoland.

They have always remembered the alleged insult of inward-looking they erroneously believe to have been tagged on them by the late member of parliament and presidential-candidate on the ticket of Popular Front Party (PFP), Victor Owusu (Hon). This accusation of inward-looking was a banter directed solely at the late Gbedemah when arguing with him on the floor of parliament.

However, when it was misunderstood and taken for insult against the entire Voltarian tribe, Victor Owusu retracted his statement and apologised profusely to the entire Voltarians (Ewes and Anlos). This incident happened over four decades (forty years) ago, yet, the Voltarians always painfully remind themselves of it to keep burning their flame of anger against the Ashantis, the tribe of Victor Owusu.

By the unforgetting pain they hold in their heart, they have resolutely determined never to vote in their majority for any political party that has its leader as Akan, or majority of its members being Ashantis or Akans. No wonder that they have a distaste for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the metamorphosed PFP.

Additionally, and lately, Kennedy Agyapong (Hon), the member of parliament for Assin Central was invited to the climaxing and rounding off of the annual yam festival celebrations by the Asogli Traditional Area in the Volta region. He reached there only to be humiliated. He was booed with the chanting of away, away. His gifts presented to the Asogli Council or the organisers of the festival were scornfully rejected by the Overlord of Asogli traditional area, Togbe Afede XIV.

I understand Kennedy had once accused Togbe Afede XIV of corruption. If that was his reason for ordering the rejection of the gifts by Kennedy with the ensuing boos of away, away, then I will say without mincing words the traditional Overlord had acted childishly. Chasing Kennedy out of the festival ground does neither pacify the chief in any way, nor does it exonerate him from blame if indeed, he had involved himself in any corrupt practices as is said to be alleged by altruist Kennedy Agyapong.

The chief could have taken Kennedy to court if he felt injured by his allegation of corruption against him to clear his name. Chasing him out of a festival ground does not remove any stain attached to him as a result of that correct or false allegation.

This publication is meant to question my fellow Ghanaians in the Ewe-Anlo land about why they are that unforgiven and unforgettable to their own detriment?

When it comes to general elections, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) keep drumming into their ears what Victor Owusu said about them to ignite their anger. Subsequently, they decide to not vote for the NPP, although they may stand a better chance of getting their region developed if they had voted massively for NPP.

Is it not utter stupidity on anyones part to say, Opoku nnfa ne nkun, me dware a me ho mpae? to wit, If its by Opoku that I can be saved or prospered, I will rather prefer suffering to having anything doing with him. This is the mentality of most Voltarians hence the chronic underdevelopment they are faced with.

Nonetheless, the NDC politicians who constantly keep opening their old warts as against the saying, Dont open old warts because they hurt, do absolutely nothing for them once they get elected. Is that not an irresponsible attitude on the part of my brothers and sisters in the Volta region?

Why are you allowing your long memory bordering on the hold of grudge against others to hold you back?

Former President Mahama must understand that it is not all Ghanaians that have a short memory. The Voltarians have a long memory but unfortunately, for bad reasons.

Rockson Adofo

Saturday, 17 September 2022
As twilight nestles behind the mountains in Nongoma town, the birthplace of South Africa's ethnic Zulu group, thousands of young women bathe in a cold, shallow river.

Bare-breasted, the gleaming young women wearing in colourful traditional beads, pick up reeds which they will carry as they file past the newly crowned Zulu king MisuZulu Zulu.

The King emerges from a tight circle of Zulu warriors to accept his first ever reed as the new monarch, smiling as the crowd sings unending praises.

The rest of the girls walk past the king in a colourful ceremony lasting several hours.

Every September - the start of southern hemisphere spring, tens of thousands of women, known locally as maidens, participate in the "reed dance" in KwaZulu-Natal province which opens into the Indian Ocean.

It is an age-old annual ceremony in celebration of sexual purity and promotion of sexual abstinence among young girls.

The ceremony is a traditional rite of womanhood, rooted historically in an occasion for the king to select new wives among his subjects.

The 47-year-old new head of South Africa's largest ethnic group is also known by his official title as MisuZulu kaZwelithini.

The new Zulu king Misuzulu kaZwelithini at his coronation last month. By Phill Magakoe (AFP)

He was recognised as monarch at a traditional ceremony last month following the death last year of his father King Goodwill Zwelithini, who had reigned for 50 years.

This year's festivities were eagerly awaited.

It is the first time the dance is taking place since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, and MisuZulu's first time to preside over the reed dance.

'Excited'

It is also 16-year-old Amahle Shange's first time attending the festival.

Zulu maidens carrying the long reeds used in the ceremony. By RAJESH JANTILAL (AFP)

"I had always seen older girls going to 'umhlanga' (reed dance) and found myself so curious," she told AFP as she walked away from the river with her friends.

"I am excited to be here for the first time, I can't believe it's finally happening and I'm seeing things I've never seen before".

The "reed dance" was abolished for several years but revived in 1984 by MisuZulu's father.

This year's event is however clouded by an ongoing succession battle.

One faction of the royal family believes MisuZulu is the rightful heir as his late mother, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu the third queen consort and sister to Eswatini King Mswati III, was a royal princess.

Some of the tens of thousands of young Zulu women preparing for the reed dance. By MARCO LONGARI (AFP)

But Prince Simakade, the late king's first-born son who was born out of wedlock, has been championed by dissenting relatives by virtue of being the late king's eldest son.

Prior to the reed dance, the participants had their genitalia inspected, a practice condemned by rights advocates who say it is demeaning and an invasion of privacy.

Traditional doctor and virgin inspector Nomagugu Ngobese defended the practice, saying it's accepted across different societal classes.

"I've got teachers here, engineers, they have cars; there are attorneys, which goes to prove wrong those who say our culture is outdated," she told AFP.
UNIFIL today celebrated the inauguration of gender-sensitive accommodations for the Ghanaian Battalions women peacekeepers at the Ghanaian headquarters in south Lebanon.

The cost of the project was covered by the Elsie Initiative Fund, which aims to increase the sustainable deployment and meaningful participation of uniformed women in peace operations, and to accelerate progress towards achieving the UNs gender targets in the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy 2018-2028.

Women are often discouraged from deploying to peacekeeping operations due to inadequate facilities and lack of safe spaces and infrastructure in field missions. UNIFILs project, designed to tackle these challenges, is the first in UN peacekeeping to deliver gender-sensitive accommodation to house increased numbers of Ghanaian women peacekeepers.

For the first time, Ghanaian battalion 89 is bringing to UNIFIL 173 female peacekeepers, increasing by 50 the number of women deployed by the previous battalion, and amounting to 20% of the total number of deployed troops, said UNIFILs Force Commander and Head of Mission Maj. Gen. Aroldo Lazaro in his speech at the inauguration.

Also attending the event was an eight-member Ghanaian delegation headed by the Honorable Kofi Amankwa-Manu, Ghanas Deputy Minister for Defense; representatives of the Elsie Initiative Fund; and Ambassadors and representatives of the Embassies of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom, who finance the Elsie Initiative Fund.

Promoting womens full and equal participation in UN Peacekeeping is at the heart of both UNIFILs and the Elsie Initiative Funds work. Together, we continue to support troop and police-contributing countries to attain gender parity.
I often hear some Ghanaian Christians, although carnal-minded as most of them are, say, if the Jews knew by them killing Jesus Christ would raise his name higher above any name in the world and most loved the world over, they wouldnt have killed him in the first place.

Similarly, if the Asogli Traditional area Overlord, Togbe Afede XIV, knew that his rejection of the gifts presented to him by Kennedy Agyapong during the day of the climax and rounding off of their celebrations of the yam festival, coupled with Kennedy being booed would court him (Kennedy) an outpouring of public sympathy while Togbe suffers condemnation, he would not have dared do it.

If Kennedy had turned up uninvited, he could have been treated with disdain and Togbe would have been exonerated from blame. Even in that situation, Togbe will have still been wrong since the festival was a public activity open to all interested Voltarians, if not all Ghanaians. However, Kennedy was officially invited to the festival by the very secretary of Togbe Afede XIV.

Why should a chief hold grudge against people who are capable of helping him to achieve his purpose of service to his people?

Now that it has turned out Kennedy was officially invited to the festival, whether or not, with the knowledge of the traditional overlord, what is Togbe doing? Will he render an unqualified apology to Kennedy for humiliating him or not?

Let Togbe understand that it takes a gentleman to swallow their pride and put up their hand to say sorry, when they err. Therefore, he must come off his high horse to render an apology to Kennedy for the humiliation and embarrassment he subjected him to when he showed up at the festival ground.

Next time, our leaders will look before they leap, thus, will think deeply before taking decisions in order not to find themselves disgraced as may have happened to Togbe Afede XIV.

All those that booed Kennedy, chanting, away, away, must bury their head in their palms in shame!

Kennedy, I will strongly advise you to accept without reservations the apology so far rendered to you by the secretary who sent you the invite. Put this problem behind you. Dont comment about it. Just assume that it had never happened and move on with your plans to help mother Ghana.

In life, one is bound to encounter such mishaps.

Rockson Adofo

Saturday, 17 September 2022
Prof. Lucija Mulej, Ph.D is an author, columnist, professor and creator of the non-technological innovations (such as her own method: Connectivity of Intelligences 4 Q)

17.09.2022 LISTEN

Observing todays world and all conundrums of postmodernism, along with pluralism and the tyranny of choice, one can witness an era of gaps, where great lack of common denominators is a contemporary hazard. The situations redefine diligence and empowers individuals to act like agents of change, not solemnly passive receivers. Now in the era of artificial intelligence, a new underreported challenge has emerged  when will humans become obsolete? If one believes that this question is yet another example of philosophical melodrama, it is important to consider that society will soon have to redefine what it considers to be life itself (Bajrektarevic, 2020).

In this article I discuss and investigate the idea of unity and pluralism, inclusion nor integration of EU Members and mostly focus on philosophical and existentialistic constituents of stability in the post-covid era of meaning loss. I specially introduce the triad trust-collaboration- mediation.

PLURALISM, ECOSYSTEM OF DEMOCRACY

Many contemporary reflections on the events of last few decades are surmounting the genuine role of pluralism to unfold democratic standards. Major changes and shifts were induced by general alternations of beliefs, conduct and perception. When our sporadic breakthroughs finally became faster than their infrequent transmissions, this marked a major turning point in the history of human development. Simply put, our civilizations started to significantly differentiate from each other in their respective techno-agrarian, politico-military, ethno-religious, ideological, and economic structures (Bajrektarevic, 2020).

We can bow to the idea of multilateral and plural, dignifying understanding of many different views, aspects, and perceptions. Unquestionably we as humanity are denoting diversity of views or standards alongside our brutal colonial, postcolonial and post war conditions. Pluralism can be an answer, side off totalitarianisms and one-sided approaches. Since everyone is unique from one another, whilst there are infinite differences in humans, our backgrounds, education, and expectation, we must learn to recognize, interlace, and adapt to historic and social-economic context of our fellow beings. We need to question our grounding positioning and reembrace the idea of enlightened argumentation.

Essential question here is, who is managing common denominators of the modern and contemporary pluralisms? Who is translating the gaps of meaning, contexts, and perceptions? To whom we justify our modus operandi? Is there any kind of individual responsibility behind the international clusters and organizations?We do not dispute the idea and practice of pluralism rather searching for unfolded ground, solid in structure and prone to any kind of criticism. But we encounter technological devolvement of human affairs; engendering the idea of biological relativity upholds the question of what life really is. For example, AI now has it all  quantum physics, quantum computing, nanorobotics, bioinformatics, and organic tissue tailoring. All of this could eventually lead to a synthesis of all the above into what are usually referred to as xenobots  a sort of living robot  and biodegradable symbiotic nanorobots that exclusively rely on self-navigable algorithms (Bajrektarevic, 2020).

Pluralism certainly is an ecosystem of democracy, shielding the subtle nuances of partitions, supporting the core, and distinguishing it from the tainted and awry interpretations. The diligence of modern diplomacy faced with conundrum of believes and brown-nosing interests, outdoes the schism, self-regarding positioning, and frictions in the map of human empathy and wisdom.

This is also a reason why diplomats need to respond to cumbersome media in the wake of interpretative realties attacks (e.g. fake news), lukewarmly summoned in social media and e-worlds.

Todays pundits are more likely to study neuroscience, philosophy, and anthropology rather solely art of diplomacy against contemporary labyrinth of possible realities, yielding and era where no mind can encompass it all, rather estimates, prescribes, visions, and predicts. And all we can dwell into is a structure of possible scenarios, relying only on our knowledge, clean perception and trustworthy colleagues, social groups, and intimate circles. And we need to search for common denominators where we suggest one of them.

PRIMAL COMMON DENOMINATOR, TRUST

Trust is a new category not just in contemporary workplaces where we need to create environments of psychological safety to support mutual and successful cooperation. As well it is a genuine link in the chain of negotiating in desultory or hostile environments of contemporary global politics.

Since each international milieu deploys a diverse team of people, reflecting their own culture and believes, we need to be aware of a fragile equilibrium to support strong HR inclusion politics. As definitions says, diversity encompasses the spectrum of infinite dissimilarities that distinguish individuals from one another. Whilst search for common denominator is a big ask, one must conscientiously foster and uphold focus on things that bind, not separate us. Impactful are diverse surroundings we originate and derive from, that can easily put question mark to our cognition, hence to possible misunderstandings: citizenship status, cognitive abilities, cultural differences, education, ethnicity, family, gender, gender expression, geographical location, ideologies, income, language, marital status, morals, neurodiversity, parental status, physical abilities, political beliefs, privilege, race, religious beliefs, skills, social roles, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, upbringing, work experiences etc.

But if we follow the formula of three stated notions, is clear that what we UNDERSTAND, we can ACCEPT; what we FEEL, we can CO-RELATE TO and what we INTERNALIZE, we can CO-CREATE.

In pursuing the goal of collective abundance and stability, leaders sometimes carry to heavy burden. They need to address collective imagination of peoples and create framework of shared reality, identity, bringing together four particulate and individual dimensions: body (healthy living), mind (smart decisions), heart (trustworthy relationships) and spirit (contribution to the benefit of all) and other important cultural beliefs of EU.

While social scientists classically studied trust, conceptualized it as a mental state and measured as such, they were assuming that high levels of trust reflect a social reality in which people are more trustworthy and tend to cooperate more frequently. Only actors who trust one another should cooperate with each other, e.g., exchange information, resources, etc. Of course, reality is relentlessly far away from stated ideal; entering a cooperative relationship normally requires a certain level of trust, and the same is necessary to sustain that relationship. We have accounts of trust as a form of moral commitment, a character disposition, or a dynamic of encapsulated interests, where trust emerges as a mutual co-implication of interests on all transacting parties.

These conceptions turn on a notion of trust as a cognitive category because all depend on assessments of the trustworthiness of the potentially trusted person. (Hardin 2006: 17)

We could estimate that trust emerges as an epiphenomenon of social knowledge: what peoples relationships look like after the fact of cognitive re-appraisals is a sine qua non of the idiom of trust. Can we just bluntly trust, willing to meet all perils of such an irrational decision?

There is more to trust that its relation to cognitive and knowledgeable structures. Trust may be encapsulated in reciprocal expectations (Hardin 2006), but it is also distributed in a variety of human and nonhuman forms; it is as much as cognitive category as it is a material one; indeed, it belongs to the realm of the intersubjective in as much as it belongs to the interobjective. It is as much an anthropological object (of theory) as an object of social knowledge. The question of trust therefore qualifies as an anthropological concept.

In this respect we introduce the TABLES OF TRUST.

TABLE 1.: LEVELS OF TRUST

Personal, intra-personal, inter-personal Cultural, intracultural, intercultural Social, institutional, organizational National, civilizational Etc.

TABLE 2.: WHOM WE TRUST TO?

Family members (wife, husband, children, siblings, parents) Strangers (B2B, rental business) Officials Politicians Scientists Doctors (MDs) Professors Etc.

TABLE 3.: IN WHAT WE TRUST

Knowledge Experience Religion Truth Memories Interpretations Histories Projections Wishes Individual cosmologies Etc.

TABLE4.: LEVELS OF TRUST / MATERIAL, SPIRITUAL

MATERIAL/visible give-get principles calculations instrumental approach to reality utilitarian approach (usefulness)

SPIRITUAL/ invisible sharing principle higher vision approach reap what you sow (law of karma), cause and effect

MEDIATION (ADR, alternative dispute resolution), VALUES AND TRUST

Collaboration is an old way to work efficiently; at the core of collaboration is trust and exercise of agreed meaning, which can be achievable in many ways, one of which is mediation. Sincerely trust needs to be evident in the relationships  how work is done, how words are spoken, and how the results are driven. Without trust, collaboration falls apart quickly and, sometimes, irreparably.

Before entering any sorts of ADRs, one must ask oneself the following introspective questions, regarding ones inner inclination towards trust to be sincere, truthful or the opposite:

TABLE 5: ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS BEFORE ADR

HOW DO OUR EXPECTATIONS CHANGE THE BEHAVIOUR OF OTHERS? HOW DO OUR BELIEFS CHANGE THE BEHAVIOUR OF OTHERS? HOW DO OUR PROJECTIONS CHANGE THE BEHAVIOUR OF OTHERS? HOW DO OUR THOUGHTS CHANGE THE BEHAVIOUR OF OTHERS? HOW DO OUR EMOTIONS CHANGE THE BEHAVIOUR OF OTHERS?

Meanwhile, The Trust Game, designed by Berg et al. (1995) and otherwise called the investment game, is the experiment of choice to measure trust in economic decisions. The experiment is designed to demonstrate that trust is an economic primitive, or that trust is as basic to economic transactions as self-interest (give and get, get, and give). What about higher visons, missions, and inspiration? Of goodness, sacred and beneficial to all? How can we discern the subtle and hidden pivots of status quo or change in the process of mediation for example? How can we set the grounding for effective collaboration in international set up?

We generally expect the role of the mediator is to consist in assisting the parties, finding common ground and business interests that may be explored to settle the dispute through reaching a mutually satisfactory settlement agreement. The mediator is bound to always keep the substance of the mediation confidential. Also, mediators are independent and impartial and may not be involved in any further proceedings involving the case at issue, or any related case. As we know the European Union actively promotes methods of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), such as mediation. The Mediation Directive applies in all EU countries. The Directive concerns mediation in civil and commercial matters. Mediation is at varying stages of development in Member States. The role of the mediator consists of assisting the parties in finding common ground and business interests that may be explored to settle the dispute https://euipo.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/mediation.

So, the mediation as a process needs to be aware of gaps in meaning and trust algorithms described above. The rapid growth of social networks facilitates the exchange of information, whereas malicious behaviours in those ecosystems are also steadily increasing, meanwhile the chances to find correct common denominators vary distinctively. This results in a challenging situation for individuals to trust other parties, mediators or new models and approaches of ADR.

EPILOGUE:

This reflection on pluralism, trust and collaborations shows the propagation of trust within a chain of trust relations.

The precise selection of trustworthy paths as well as the integration of indigenous values, contexts, and inherent plurality of idioms, shows the significant importance of awareness and mindfulness.

What we allocate and are ready to reflect upon or project in comparison to ability to observe with trust and introspection, is pivotal.

Therefore, trust models play a significant role in the context of social, political, and geopolitical trustworthiness. Inferring the trust levels between two unknown parties is a challenging task, specially in the realm of ADR methods, what would certainly be a major and crucial future agenda.

References:

Hardin, Russell (2006): Trust. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Mollering, Guido (2001): The nature of trust: from Georg Simmel to a theory of expectation, interpretation

and suspension. Sociology 35(2):403-420.

O'Hara, Kieron (2004): Trust: from Socrates to spin. Duxford: Icon Books.

O'Neill, Onora (2002): A question of trust. The BBC Reith Lectures 2002. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

https://euipo.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/mediation

A future filled with empty choices? | New Europe

Prof. Lucija Mulej, Ph.D is an author, columnist, professor and creator of the non-technological innovations (such as her own method: Connectivity of Intelligences 4 Q )
Dakar, Senegal 17 September 2022: African Climate campaigners have slammed President Joe Bidens Special Climate Envoy John Kerry for showing a lack of comprehension of the magnitude climate change portends on the African people. They were responding to a speech delivered by the Envoy at the resumed 18thb session of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) taking place in Dakar, Senegal.

Coalescing under the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA),the groups drawn from diverse backgrounds and in 40 plus countries and sectors said the US Climate Envoy chose to play with semantics and termed his presence at AMCEN as a public relations gimmick which they noted is a characteristic of the US Government.

Africa is disappointed that John Kerry came to AMCEN without coming out strongly to deliver a bold commitment that would offer hope to families in the Horn of Africa, Sahel and the rest of Africa whose livelihoods have been turned upside down by a problem they have very little to do with, said Mithika Mwenda, the Executive Director of the PACJA.

In his speech during the AMCEN, Kerry denied that the West and developed nations bear responsibility on climate change and urged every country to bear the burden of its impacts. Further, he rubbed the Africans the wrong way by stressing the need for mitigation. Africans tend to favour a focus leaning towards adaptation.

According to Mamadou Barri, an activist from Senegal, Africans had expected Kerry to commit to supporting its agenda for the 27th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change set for Egypt in November. Chief of our agenda in COP27 is recognition of Africa as a region of special circumstances and circumstance, he said.

Mithika noted that for the last eight months, since the beginning of the year, African CSOs have conducted several consultations among themselves and governments, both formal and informal, and have identified critical no-go zone areas in engaging with the global community in COP27, the boundary through which the negotiators should not pass.

A COP in Africa, undoubtedly, should recognize what has united all of us; special needs and circumstances on the continent that personify the impacts the climate crisis has condemned on humanity, said Mithika.

Mithika said African CSOs consider it a mockery to the people on the continent when a top US diplomat spews out what Africans have heard over the years without telling them why his country continues to churn out tonnes of carbon emissions across the Atlantic and on its failure to honour its commitments on climate finance.

Kerrys mere recognition of the climate crisis facing the African Continent is just a tired rhetoric which we hardly want to hear, he said.

Augustine Njamnshi, Chair, the Technical and Political Committee, PACJA said actions speak louder than words, and it is our call for the United States to stop dancing around the graves of dead corpses and deliver adequate money to enable communities to rebuild their livelihoods.

We take note of his acknowledgement of the current devastation occasioned by floods in South Africa, Mozambique, and Uganda, which have killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands and the Horn of Africa countries which are on their fourth year of drought, with more than 18 million suffering food insecurity as a result, he said adding that mere acknowledgement does not help if the largest GHGs emitter fails to honour its historical commitments and pay its climate debt.

Ndjamnshi noted that the US$8.2 billion acknowledged by Kerry as having been given to Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Mauritania in response to their unprecedented drought crisis, is, to say the least, a drop in the ocean based on the massive losses and damages being faced by communities at the frontline of the climate crisis.

We thus call on the US to stop dilly-dallying and avail to African people its fair share of climate finance to build their resilience, he said.

Julius Ngoma, from the Civil Society Network on Climate Change in Malawi said more perturbing to Africans is the shameless announcement by Kerry of his governments intention to set US$5 million for Africa to scale up methane reduction. Our urgent need is for efforts that address adaptation needs and building for climate resilience among frontline communities, said Ngoma.

Ngoma criticised the Envoys announcement of U$25million to be made in Sharma-El-Sheikh as part of the US$50 Million promised by the US in Glasgows COP21 Adaptation Fund, terming it hopelessly inadequate.

The CSOs asked African governments to avoid carrot dangling and manipulations from the US and other reluctant rich countries, which want to advance their selfish interests in the name of climate action.

About PACJA

The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance is a consortium of more than 1000 organisations from 48 African countries that brings together a diverse membership drawn from Grassroots, Community-based organizations, Faith-based Organizations, Non-Governmental organizations, Trusts, Foundations, Indigenous Communities, Farmers and Pastoralist Groups with a shared vision to advance a people-centered, right-based, just and inclusive approach to address climate and environmental challenges facing humanity and the planet.

www.pacja.org

For more information, contact Mr Fidele Niyigaba, Communication and Knowledge Management Manager, PACJA. Tel: +254743236888 [email protected]
Ghana and the United State of America has started a discussion on prevailing issues in the nations fisheries industry as well as concerns relating to ocean governance, nature conservation, and particularly on how to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF).

Key amongst the issues of discussion were the restoration of lost fisheries habitat, the impact of mining in water bodies of fisheries, and food security, the menace of IUUF.

Others focused on maritime security including in water bodies of fisheries and food security, maritime crimes, excess fishing vessel capacity and the concomitant challenge of teaming unemployed/semi-employed youth within the fishing industry in Ghana.

A 13-member delegation from the United States House of Representatives, House Committee on Natural Resources led by Rep. Raul Grijalva, Committee Chairman, and joined by Virginia Palmer, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana met officials of NAFAG a statement issued and copied to the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema stated.

The statement signed by the newly elected NAFAG Secretary Mr Richester Nii Amarh Amarfio, stated that the two entities also held extensive discussions on key sector issues, challenges and areas of additional cooperation.

The delegation was in the country from September 10 to 13, 2022, a statement from NAFAG copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tema has stated.

The statement said NAFAG, led by its Acting President, Mr Simon Agah, and the visiting delegation and the Ghanaian industry players concluded on the need to work on all aspects of the fishing industry, which include social, economic, scientific and planning aspects to ensure that life is returned to the sector.

To get first-hand information on Ghanas entire industrial fishing value chain, the delegation toured the Tema canoe landing beach, anchovies drying site, fish smoking centre, as well as the fishing harbour where they observed inshore (semi-industrial vessels), trawl vessels and tuna vessels.

According to the statement, Mr Kwabena Frimpong, the Fishing Harbour Manager, called for greater collaboration to deliver effective Port-State measures against IUUF and other maritime crimes.

The US Ambassador, on her part, said they were supporting Ghana with two patrol boats to fight piracy and IUUF amongst others.

The National Fisheries Association of Ghana (NAFAG), is the umbrella body of all the fisheries sector associations, made up of Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council, Ghana Inland Fisheries Council, Ghana Inshore Fisheries Association, Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association and the Ghana Tuna Association.
The chairman for the council of elders at Kantanka Group of Companies, Lawyer Owusu Badu has said that it is high time we reverse to the effective and efficient use of organic fertilizer since it yields more results than the regulated application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to our soil.

He said this at an event which was designed to commemorate an agreement between the University of Cape Coast and the Kantanka Group of Companies to enable students and researchers of both institution have full access of facilities and other logistics of each institution.

Lawyer Badu further indicated that one major challenge facing the agricultural industry is the depletion of soil fertility which could be attributed to a number of stressors including the application of some inorganic fertilizers. According to Lawyer Badu, the situation led to a practical research conducted by the founder and leader of Kantanka Group of Companies, using well-planned organic fertilizer for bumper harvest of crops.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony held at the University of Cape Coast, the Provost of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CANS), Professor Moses Jojo Eghan who represented the Vice Chancellor of the University said, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) serves as an official document which will coordinate the relationship between the University and Kantanka Group of companies. He indicated that although the two institutions were already collaborating in agriculture and other science and technology related fronts, this agreement has well-defined roles and responsibilities of each party fashioned out, to enhance development of the country as it pursues to minimize unemployment as well.

The five (5) year renewable agreement which was signed by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong and the leader and founder of Kantanka Group of Companies, Nana Kwadwo Safo Akofena is designed to bridge the gap between academic training and industry operations as it seeks to promote trans-disciplinary research into science and technology.
First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has signed the Book of Condolence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II at the British High Commission in Accra.

Queen Elizabeth, you truly served humanity with grace, dignity, and courage, she wrote.

Rest In Peace, Your Majesty!

Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday, September 8, 2022, at Balmoral, aged 96.

She came to the throne on February 6, 1952, succeeding her father, King George VI, and brought enormous social change to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

GNA
Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, has underscored the Ministry's collaboration with the United States Department of Labour to address child labour in Ghana.

That, he said, was part of efforts to ensure Ghana achieved the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7 in collaboration with other partners.

The SDG 8.7 seeks to take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers.

It seeks to end child labour, in all forms, by 2025.

Mr Baffour-Awuah said this on Friday when Madam Virginia Evelyn Palmer, the United States Ambassador to Ghana, paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Accra.

He highlighted the good working relations between the Ministry and Madam Palmer's predecessor, Madam Stephanie S. Sullivan, and the need to deepen that cordiality and diplomatic ties for the benefit of both countries.

The US had supported Ghana in critical sectors including employment, trade, agriculture, education, health, peace and security, energy, oil and gas and climate change, he said.

The Minister also acknowledged the support by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) towards the elimination of child labour on cocoa farms.

He said through those interventions, Ghana's ranking on the US Department of State Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report had seen much improvement from a Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 2 since 2018, which had been maintained till date.

Mr Baffour-Awuah mentioned the Child Protection Compact (CPC) partnership, funded by the US in 2015, and focused on the four Ps  Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnerships, which improved inter-agency responses to child labour and trafficking related issues.

He said there was, therefore, the need to learn from the review of the Compact to sustain it.

Mr Baffour-Awuah touched on the many US funded Forced Labour Projects in the country, notable among them being the $4million project on Cooperatives, VERITE and the International Labour Organization collaboration in fishing projects.

He said the Ministry was promoting the green initiatives in support of the Paris Agreement on Climate change  The Green Jobs strategy that emphasised on the creation of green enterprises, green skills, green financing and general coordination of green jobs.

Touching on the elimination of worst forms of child labour, the Minister acknowledged the partnership at the Child Labour Cocoa Coordinating Group since 2010 on the Harkin Engel Protocol, which focuses on the child and not the product.

He called for US collaboration with Ghana to strengthen labour migration governance, adding that currently, there were very weak structures and systems to regulate labour migration, especially to destination countries, and clamp down on charlatans exploiting workers.

He urged the US to support Ghana in skills training; especially in information technology, engagement in exchange programmes, notably US sending more Peace Corps Volunteers to Ghana, while Ghana sends its professional nurses to the US.

Madam Palmer, on her part, assured the Minister that his requests would be given the needed attention.

She commended Ghana for publicly publishing the Ghana Living Standard Survey, which showed the country's willingness to be transparent about issues.

GNA
September 17, 2022

Ukraine - Dissecting Some War Propaganda News Items - Addendum

This is a follow-up to yesterday's piece about Reuters unfounded propaganda claims and distribution:

Ukraine - Dissecting Some War Propaganda News Items

Reuters via Yahoo:

Multiple bodies found at mass burial site in Ukraine's Izium with rope around necks

Hours later:

Advisory - Story has been withdrawn - Multiple bodies found at mass burial site in Ukraine's Izium with rope around necks

While Yahoo and others have deleted the body of the story, its false headline is still up.

Repeating the closing sentences of yesterday's pamphlet:

It is not the 'fog of war' that clouds such new reporting. It is the propaganda that was ordered up to incite the 'western' population against Russia and its citizens and soldiers. Without further backup and proof one can not, and should not, believe any news item coming from the Ukrainian and other wars.

Added (6:10 UTC):

Interestingly the British Telegraph is more skeptical than the 'British' news agency Reuters:

Inside Izyum  and the Russian command centre destroyed by Himars missiles

Anton Herashenko, an advisor to the Ukrainian interior ministry, told the BBC on Thursday that about 1,000 bodies had been found in Izyum and that more civilians had died there than in Bucha. The Telegraph did not see any evidence of that scale of death during a visit on Thursday. Hrigory[, a 63-year-old civil engineer ,] denied knowledge of any war crimes. We didnt interact with them, and they didnt interact with us, he said of the Russians. From what I know, there wasnt detentions, executions, torture. There were a lot of young men who would say we wont shoot any bullets, he added.

And another one from the Telegraph:

'Tortured' bodies unearthed in mass graves of liberated town Izyum

Oleksandr Filchakov, the head of the Kharkiv prosecutor's office, said some showed signs of torture. Reporters at the scene did not see proof of that.

Posted by b on September 17, 2022 at 4:53 UTC | Permalink

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The Marshall Islands ended over three years of a State of Health Disaster and opened its borders to normal travel as of this week.
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Yves here. Your humble blogger is no Trump fan. However, the way the Federal government, and in particularly the intel state, has gone after him ferociously and has repeatedly come up empty.despite Trump often having terrible representation when he does go to courtis revealing. As I said in 2016 when the accusations started almost immediately after he won, A lot of college tuitions must have depended on a hot war in Syria.

It is alarming to see that if anything, Team Dem and other anti-Trump forces have if anything gotten even more into The ends justify the means mode over time. I havent run this clip in years, but it might be a useful teaching tool for those who have gotten a little too worked up:

By Leonard C. Goodman, a Chicago criminal defense lawyer and an adjunct professor of law at DePaul University. Originally published at ScheerPost and distributed in partnership with Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute

Whatever your feelings about former President Trump, there are reasons to be skeptical when government officials say it was necessary to raid his Florida home to recover classified documents that threatened national security.

Like the former president, I was once accused by the government of mishandling classified information connected to my representation of a detainee at Guantanamo Bay. There was nothing in my clients file that posed any danger to national security. My client was an innocent shopkeeper who was sold to the Americans back in 2003 when the U.S. was paying bounties to corrupt Afghan warlords to turn in Al Qaeda or Taliban fighters, and then shipping those men 8,000 miles to our newly built prison camp in Cuba. The government decided to classify every document in the detainee files as secret, not to protect national security, but so it could lie with impunity and tell the American people that the prisoners at Gitmo were the worst of the worst,and terrorists captured on the battlefield.

I never revealed any classified information. I got into trouble after writing an article criticizing the governments practice of classifying certain evidence above the security clearance level of the detainees lawyer, making it impossible to challenge. Following a hearing at the Department of Justice, I was allowed to keep my security clearance long enough to see my client released back to his home and his family after 12 years of unjust imprisonment.

I was never in serious legal jeopardy. But the experience opened my eyes to the ways that our government abuses its power to classify information as secret to protect its own officials from embarrassment or criminal exposure. Since 9/11, the people most aggressively pursued for mishandling classified materials are whistleblowers, not traitors.

Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange revealed official crimes such as the murder of unarmed Iraqi civilians and journalists. Daniel Hale revealed that our drone assassination program regularly slaughters innocent civilians, contrary to public statements about surgical strikes. John Kiriakou revealed inconvenient facts about our torture program. Edward Snowden revealed an illegal mass surveillance program. All these truth-tellers were aggressively pursued under the Espionage Act. Assange may die in prison for telling the truth about the crimes of our leaders.

While Trump may not fit the mold of a selfless whistleblower, there is still cause for concern. First, the official justifications for the raid on Mar-a-Lago are highly suspect. Initially we were told that Trump possessed classified documents relating to nuclear weapons that he might sell to a foreign government like Saudi Arabia. This shocking accusation has been quietly dropped. Now we are told that the government has grave concernthat Trump might blow the cover on clandestine human sources described in the mainstream media as the lifeblood of our intelligence community. Disclosure could jeopardize the life of the human source, a former legal adviser to the National Security Council told the New York Times.

This second justificationto protect sourcesis also dubious. The DOJ has been in negotiation with Trumps lawyers since he left the oval office with his boxes of documents. If the government was just concerned about protecting its informants, a deal could have easily been struck wherein government lawyers would go to Mar-a-Lago and redact the lines in the documents that identify informants without the need for a full-blown raid.

The sudden concern in the mainstream media about protecting informants in order to take down Trump is short-sighted. The U.S. has a long and sordid history of using corrupt, lying informants to launch disastrous policies like the Iraq War. In 2002-03, we were told by Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Powell that the government had solid intelligence that the Iraqi regime possessed mobile production facilities for biological and chemical weapons. Had ordinary Americans then had access to the intelligence reportsleaked years later, after the disastrous war was in full flightwe would have learned that the solid intelligence about mobile weapons labs came from a single informant named Curveball, who had been described by his handlers as crazy and probably a fabricator and his intelligence as highly suspect. Had some brave patriot leaked these reports in real time, millions more Americans would have taken to the streets in 2002 to stop the planned invasion of Iraq.

The media should be demanding more information from our government, especially about its use of informants, and not more secrecy. It is a basic rule of journalism that governments lie, and they often bribe (and sometimes torture) informants to support those lies.

Many innocent men, including my client, were sent to Guantanamo Bay on the word of informants who were bribed with large cash rewards. If these informants are the lifeblood of our intelligence service, then that service should be defunded.

A more plausible explanation for the Mar-a-Lago raid was provided by two high-level U.S. intelligence officials who told Newsweeks William M. Arkin that the true target of the raid was a personal stash of hidden documents that Justice Department officials feared Donald Trump might weaponize. This stash reportedly included material that Trump thought would exonerate him of any claims of Russian collusion in 2016 or any other election-related charges. Trump was particularly interested in matters related to the Russia hoax and the wrong-doings of the deep state, one former Trump official told Newsweek.

This explanation is corroborated by former senior director for counterterrorism Kash Patel, who prepared a key House report that revealed significant intelligence tradecraft failings in connection with the Intelligence Communitys Assessment on Russian interference. But the CIA has blocked the release of Patels report by classifying it as secret.

Kash Patel, who is a current board member of Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), began his career in government under President Obama as a national security prosecutor and later held several positions in the Trump administration. In April 2017, he was picked to lead a team of investigators for the House Intelligence Committee, chaired by Republican Devin Nunes (now CEO of TMTG), and tasked with evaluating the Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) on Russian interference. Although the media touted the ICA as the consensus view of all 17 U.S. intelligence agencies, it was in fact a rushed job completed in the final days of the Obama administration by a small group of CIA analysts led by then-CIA Director John Brennan.

Patels team obtained and reviewed the key documents underlying the ICAs conclusions, and interviewed around 70 witnesses under oath. His demands that intelligence agencies produce relevant documents caused a stir among deep state officials unaccustomed to being called to account for their actions. As the Washington Post reported, Democrats criticized the unusual direct requests to the agencies by Patels team of investigators. Patel, a former public defender, apparently believed that even the intelligence community should be subject to the rule of law.

In March 2018, Patels team produced a report that found serious flaws in the CIAs Russia investigation and called into question the intelligence communitys key claims that Russia ordered a cyber-hacking and interference campaign to help Trump. The CIAs response to Patels report was to classify it as secret and block its release.

During the next three years, Patel and others, including then-President Trump and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, pushed for declassification of Patels report on the ICA. But the heads of the intelligence agencies continued to obstruct, claiming that releasing the report would compromise intelligence sources and methods and cause harm to national security, including specific harm to the military. Trump eventually backed down.

Then in December 2020, according to the Post, Trump tried to fire Gina Haspel as CIA director for resisting efforts by Trump and Patel to declassify Patels report. But once again, Trump backed down and the document still remains under lock and key. Not surprisingly, in its article about Patels battle with the intelligence community, the Washington Post sides with the CIA, describing CIA Director Haspel and her colleagues, who demanded that Patels report criticizing their work be kept secret, as courageous officials who sought to protect the government.

Patel has publicly voiced his frustration with the CIA for blocking release of his report on the ICA. I think there were people within the IC [Intelligence Community], at the heads of certain intelligence agencies, who did not want their tradecraft called out, even though it was during a former administration, because it doesnt look good on the agency itself, Patel said in an interview. Patel also said he has been threatened with criminal prosecution just for talking to the media about his classified report. The power of government officials to say, we have classified your report and if you even talk about it to the media we might put you in jail, is the power of a despot.

In an interview with the Grayzones Aaron Mate, Patel disputed the claim that releasing his report harms national security, noting that his committee released similar reports of its other investigations and we didnt lose a single source, we didnt lose a single relationship, and no one died by the public disclosures we made, because we did it in a systematic and professional fashion.

For example, in January 2018, Patel authored a report that showed serious abuses by the FBI in the Carter Page investigation, which caused a former FBI lawyer to plead guilty to falsifying information that was used to apply for warrants from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. This report criticizing the FBI was released to the public, suggesting that it is still permissible to criticize the FBI, but not the CIA.

Patels public statements suggest his agreement with Newsweeks report that the true motivation for the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago was seizing documents relating to the Russia investigation that Trump took with him when he left the White House. In a recent interview with Real Clear Politics, Patel noted that the same corrupt FBI government gangsters, the same agents that were involved in Russiagate, the same counterintelligence agents that were involved in making the bad false call on Hunter Bidens laptop, are also involved in the raid on President Trumps home, with the intent to make sure the American public never gets the full story on Russiagate.

The saga of the Mar-a-Lago raid sheds some light on the important question of who really controls what we are permitted to see about the inner workings of our own government. While the sitting president may in theory have unilateral authority to declassify and release information to the American people, the deep state bureaucracy still holds the power to obstruct the president. As one former bureaucrat told CNN, the process for declassification must include signoff from the agency that classified the information in the first place in order to protect the intelligence-gathering process, its sources and methods.

Whatever one thinks of Trump, is it really in the public interest to have a deep state controlling what information gets out to the public? In 1953, the CIA directed a military coup that overthrew democratically elected Iranian leader Mohammad Mosaddegh, and in 1973, the CIA helped overthrow democratically elected Chilean leader Salvador Allende. These leaders were targeted not because they were unfriendly to the American people but because they were unfriendly to international oil and copper interests that wanted to exploit those countries resources. And while the people of Iran and Chile knew in real time who was responsible, the American people were kept in the dark for decades until key historical documents were finally declassified.

Many scholars believe the CIA was complicit in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Yet 60 years later, thousands of key documents remain redacted or under seal. President Trump came to office promising to release those records, as required by the JFK Records Act. But deep state bureaucrats opposed the release, claiming it would cause potentially irreversible harm to our Nations security. Trump backed down, quite possibly recalling the fate of the last president to go to war with the CIA.

Its not necessary to side with Trump to oppose excessive secrecy. Its our government. We have a right to see whatever secrets Trump had hidden in his basement. And if government bureaucrats are truly concerned that one of their informants might be outed, they can redact those few lines from the reports. But show us the rest.
(Natural News) The Danish Health Authority has announced that just about every young and middle-aged person in Denmark is now prohibited from getting vaccinated for covid.

If you are under the age of 50, the Danish government says, then you are not allowed to take the shots. Previously, the Danish government prohibited the drug injections for everyone under the age of 18. (Related: Last fall, Denmark joined Sweden in banning Modernas covid injection after it was determined to cause myocarditis in young people.)

The only people under 50 who can receive the shots are those who are deemed to have a higher risk of becoming severely [emphasis added] [ill] from Covid-19, the government of Denmark said.

How this will be determined has yet to be fleshed out, but what we know is that the vast majority of Denmark is not only no longer at risk of being forced to get jabbed, but is actually prohibited from ever doing so again.

This is the kind of just say no to drugs campaign that we wish would launch in the United States and elsewhere, but pigs will fly before that ever happens.

Implicit in the Danish announcement is the idea that messenger RNA (messenger RNA) injections specifically come with far greater risks than any purported benefits. The same is true for the non-mRNA covid jabs still being pushed as well.

Denmark expecting another large wave of covid over winter, but since the jabs dont help there is no reason to allow them

To be clear, the Danish Health Authority is not necessarily saying that covid has ended. To the contrary, the government there says it expects a large wave of [covid] infection in the coming months.

At the same time, government officials in Denmark are admitting that the jabs have not helped, and will never help, thus the new ban.

The purpose of vaccination is not to prevent infection with covid-19, and people aged under 50 are therefore currently not being offered booster vaccination, the Danish Health Authority announcement reads.

The announcement goes on to explain that younger people have an almost zero risk of becoming seriously ill from Chinese Germs, and many of them are already protected anyway  some of them because they have previously been infected with covid-19.

In other words, the Danish Health Authority is acknowledging two important things that American health officials deny:

1) Covid injections do not prevent infection  and by the looks of it, they actually cause more infection while increasing the risk of death

2) Natural immunity is real, and those who have previously tested positive for the Fauci Flu are now protected against it.

If only we could get these same types of acknowledgements in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and many other places that are ruled with an iron fist by globalists with a penchant for unrelenting medical fascism and abuse of citizens.

The Danish move is particularly significant because Denmark has an excellent national health care system and has aggressively collected data on Covid and vaccines, wrote Alex Berenson on his Substack about the situation.

Denmark was among the first countries to stop giving Covid shots to healthy children and teenagers. Now other European countries are beginning to follow, with Britain ending mRNA shots for almost all children 10 and under.

Big Tech, meanwhile, is already trying to spin the announcement out of Denmark to imply that it has nothing to do with actually stopping the injection of people for the Wuhan Flu.

Good luck with that, Berenson joked about the failing agenda of the tech giants.

The latest Chinese Virus injection news can be found at Vaccines.news.

Sources for this article include:

AlexBerenson.substack.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Energy ministers from the European Unions member countries agreed to reduce their overall electricity consumption by a minimum of 10 percent.

Based on a draft document seen by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), countries in the EU will specifically reduce electricity consumption by at least five percent during peak price hours. This followed the blocs agreement last summer to reduce gas consumption by 15 percent, beginning in the fall through the winter.

According to WSJ, the suggestion to ration electricity gathered support from most of the EUs member states. The energy ministers who attended also expressed openness for the energy rationing measures to be made mandatory should the need arise.

The Sept. 9 summit of the energy ministers discussed skyrocketing consumer energy bills and a price cap on natural gas coming from Russia, which had fallen by almost 90 percent in the last year following the Russia-Ukraine war. However, the meeting concluded without a concrete plan as ministers have clashed over the plan to put price caps on natural gas.

Nothing is decided on proposals to curb Russias income on oil, said Kadri Simson, the EUs energy commissioner. She, however, defended the plan to put a price cap on Moscows gas as reasonable.

The context of this measure is that Russia is gaining huge profits by manipulating and limiting, artificially, supply to drive up prices, Simson told reporters. The cap would reduce these profits.

Despite this plan to put a cap on natural gas prices, Moscow still continues to reap billions of dollars by channeling its oil exports eastward  to Asian markets.

Price cap setting up Europe into long, freezing winters

Several nations voiced out their agreement to cap Russian gas prices.

Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten warned that the next few years to a decade of winters in Europe will be so bad unless the EU urgently puts a price cap on runaway gas prices.

The next winter will be terrible if nothing is done, she tweeted. We must act at the source, at the European level, and work on freezing gas prices.

Van der Straeten also remarked that the European electricity price formation system needs to be reviewed.

Electricity is produced today at a price that is much lower than the price at which electricity and gas are sold. There is no longer any link between the cost of production and the selling price.

Meanwhile, German Economic Affairs and Climate Action Minister Robert Habeck said he was in favor of a price cap on Russian gas  but only if countries like Hungary were on board with the idea. Despite this, he said that Germany can now manage without natural gas supplies from Moscow.

But it appears that Habecks proposal wont take off. Prior to the Sept. 9 assembly, Hungary already expressed opposition to any price cap as doing so would go against the interests of Budapest and Brussels. The Central European nation, highly dependent on Russian gas, has expanded its imports.

Nevertheless, the EU is still deliberating on the proposal to cap the price of Russian gas until mid-September.

In response, Moscow announced on Sept. 1 that it will ban exports of oil and other petroleum products to countries that would impose a cap on the price of Russian crude. (Related: Russia to halt oil exports to nations that impose a price cap on Russian crude.)

We will simply not supply oil and petroleum products to companies or states that impose restrictions, as we will not work non-competitively, said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.

The deputy prime minister warned that the price cap would completely destroy the market. Moreover, he also argued that interference with market mechanisms in commodities like oil would have a destabilizing impact on energy security worldwide.

Visit EnergySupply.news for more news related to electricity shortage.

Watch the below video that talks about European leaders mandatory reduction of electricity use to flatten the curve.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Russias Putin confirms he is using the countrys vast energy reserves as leverage to force the EU to drop economic sanctions.

Russia postpones restoration of gas flow to Europe, citing oil leakage in Nord Stream 1 pipeline.

1 in 4 Brits wont use their heaters this winter amid skyrocketing energy prices.

LEFT IN THE DARK: European businesses forced to close as energy prices skyrocket 10 times over.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

OilPrice.com

TheGuardian.com

DW.com

CNBC.com

TheEpochTimes.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Facebook has been spying on the private messages and data of American users and reporting them to the FBI if they express anti-government or anti-authority sentiments  or question the 2020 election  according to sources within the Department of Justice.

(Article by Miranda Devine republished from NYPost.com)

Under the FBI collaboration operation, somebody at Facebook red-flagged these supposedly subversive private messages over the past 19 months and transmitted them in redacted form to the domestic terrorism operational unit at FBI headquarters in Washington, DC, without a subpoena.

It was done outside the legal process and without probable cause, alleged one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Facebook provides the FBI with private conversations which are protected by the First Amendment without any subpoena.

These private messages then have been farmed out as leads to FBI field offices around the country, which subsequently requested subpoenas from the partner US Attorneys Office in their district to officially obtain the private conversations that Facebook already had shown them.

But when the targeted Facebook users were investigated by agents in a local FBI field office, sometimes using covert surveillance techniques, nothing criminal or violent turned up.

Facebook spied on the private messages of Americans who questioned the 2020 election, DOJ souces said. NurPhoto via Getty Images

Under the FBI collaboration operation, someone at Facebook red-flagged supposedly subversive private messages over the past 19 months. NurPhoto via Getty Images

It was a waste of our time, said one source familiar with subpoena requests lodged during a 19-month frenzy by FBI headquarters in Washington, DC, to produce the caseload to match the Biden administrations rhetoric on domestic terrorism after the Jan.?6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Red-blooded Americans

The Facebook users whose private communications Facebook had red-flagged as domestic terrorism for the FBI were all conservative right-wing individuals.

They were gun-toting, red-blooded Americans [who were] angry after the election and shooting off their mouths and talking about staging protests. There was nothing criminal, nothing about violence or massacring or assassinating anyone.

As soon as a subpoena was requested, within an hour, Facebook sent back gigabytes of data and photos. It was ready to go. They were just waiting for that legal process so they could send it.

Facebook denied the allegations yesterday.

In two contrasting statements sent one hour apart, Erica Sackin, a spokesperson at Facebooks parent company, Meta, claimed Facebooks interactions with the FBI were designed to protect people from harm.

Former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago home was raided last month. AP

In her first statement, she said: These claims are false because they reflect a misunderstanding of how our systems protect people from harm and how we engage with law enforcement. We carefully scrutinize all government requests for user information to make sure theyre legally valid and narrowly tailored and we often push back. We respond to legal requests for information in accordance with applicable law and our terms and we provide notice to users whenever permitted.

In a second, unprompted updated statement, sent 64 minutes later, Sackin altered her language to say the claims are wrong, not false.

These claims are just wrong. The suggestion we seek out peoples private messages for anti-government language or questions about the validity of past elections and then proactively supply those to the FBI is plainly inaccurate and there is zero evidence to support it, said Sackin, a DC-based crisis response expert who previously worked for Planned Parenthood and Obama for America and now leads Facebooks communications on counterterrorism and dangerous organizations and individuals.

Google, Facebook and Twitter, these companies are globalist, a whistleblower says. AP

Agency doublespeak

In a statement Wednesday, the FBI neither confirmed nor denied allegations put to it about its joint operation with Facebook, which is designated as unclassified/law enforcement sensitive.

Responding to questions about the misuse of data only of American users, the statement curiously focused on foreign malign influence actors but did acknowledge that the nature of the FBIs relationship with social media providers enables a quick exchange of information, and is an ongoing dialogue.

The FBI maintains relationships with U.S. private sector entities, including social media providers. The FBI has provided companies with foreign threat indicators to help them protect their platforms and customers from abuse by foreign malign influence actors. U.S. companies have also referred information to the FBI with investigative value relating to foreign malign influence. The FBI works closely with interagency partners, as well as state and local partners, to ensure were sharing information as it becomes available. This can include threat information, actionable leads, or indicators. The FBI has also established relationships with a variety of social media and technology companies and maintains an ongoing dialogue to enable a quick exchange of threat information.

Facebooks denial that it proactively provides the FBI with private user data without a subpoena or search warrant, if true, would indicate that the initial transfer has been done by a person (or persons) at the company designated as a confidential human source by the FBI, someone with the authority to access and search users private messages.

In this way, Facebook would have plausible deniability if questions arose about misuse of users data and its employees confidentiality would be protected by the FBI.

They had access to searching and they were able to pinpoint it, to identify these conversations from millions of conversations, according to one of the DOJ sources.

None were Antifa types

Before any subpoena was sought, that information had already been provided to [FBI] headquarters. The lead already contained specifics of the information inside the [users private] messages. Some of it was redacted but most of it was not. They basically had a portion of the conversation and then would skip past the next portion, so it was the most egregious parts highlighted and taken out of context.

But when you read the full conversation in context [after issuing the subpoena] it didnt sound as bad  There was no plan or orchestration to carry out any kind of violence.

Some of the targeted Americans had posted photos of themselves shooting guns together and bitching about whats happened [after the 2020 election]. A few were members of a militia but that was protected by the Second Amendment 

They [Facebook and the FBI] were looking for conservative right-wing individuals. None were Antifa types.

Mark Zuckerberg previously said he regretted suppressing stories about the 2020 election. Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images

One private conversation targeted for investigation spun up into multiple cases because there were multiple individuals in all these different chats.

The DOJ sources have decided to speak to The Post, and risk their careers, because they are concerned that federal law enforcement has been politicized and is abusing the constitutional rights of innocent Americans.

They say more whistleblowers are ready to join them.

Unrest has been building among the rank and file across the FBI and in some parts of the DOJ for months. It came to a head after the raid last month on former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

The most frightening thing is the combined power of Big Tech colluding with the enforcement arm of the FBI, says one whistleblower. Google, Facebook and Twitter, these companies are globalist. They dont have our national interest at heart.

Read more at: NYPost.com
(Natural News) President Biden will convene a forum Thursday at the White House aimed at confronting what civil rights groups, local officials and academics say is an explosive rise in extremism and White supremacy that threatens the core of Americas democracy.

(Article by Kerry Picket and Joseph Clark republished from WashingtonTimes.com)

The United We Stand summit builds on the administrations push to root out racially motivated domestic violent extremists. The threat sparked a sweeping strategy that included the creation of a specialized Justice Department unit to combat domestic terrorism. Mr. Biden will deliver the keynote address to highlight the administrations response to hate and put forward a shared vision for a more united America, officials said.

Current and former FBI agents tell The Washington Times that the perceived threat has become overblown under the administration. They say bureau analysts and top officials are pressuring FBI agents to create domestic terrorist cases and tag people as White supremacists to meet internal metrics.

The demand for White supremacy coming from FBI headquarters vastly outstrips the supply of White supremacy, said one agent, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. We have more people assigned to investigate White supremacists than we can actually find.

The agent said those driving bureau policies have already determined that White supremacy is a problem and set agencywide policy to elevate racially motivated domestic extremism cases as priorities.

Read more at: WashingtonTimes.com
(Natural News) A new report published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet suggests that it is feasible that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) actually originated from a lab in the United States.

The paper, published on Wednesday, Sept. 14, has caused an uproar, most of which has been directed at economist Jeffrey Sachs, who was involved in research for the publication. Sachs has stated on multiple occasions that he is certain the coronavirus came from an American lab. (Related: The Lancet suddenly switches sides, admits COVID lab leak theory deserves transparent debate.)

At a conference in Madrid earlier this year, he said there is enough evidence to investigate the U.S., but nobody is doing so. He added that U.S. officials may be preventing these kinds of investigations because they dont want to look under the rug too much.

During a podcast interview with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Sachs said he was pretty convinced that SARS-CoV-2 came out of a U.S. lab of biotechnology, not out of nature.

When approached by mainstream publications for comment, Sachs said he stands by the reports conclusions, adding that he personally oversaw this part of the work on the emergence of SARS-CoV-2.

Everybody has signed off on the final text, he said. The question of a possible laboratory release mostly involves the question of U.S.-China joint work that was underway on SARS-like viruses.

A spokesperson for The Lancet also defended the report and its collaboration with Sachs. He said the medical journal regularly evaluated the work of each Task Force as scientific evidence about COVID-19 evolved, to ensure that the final peer-reviewed report will provide valuable new insights to support a coordinated, global response to COVID-19 as well as to prevent future pandemic and contain future disease outbreaks.

Investigations need to be conducted in US labs

The 58-page report published in The Lancet does not discount the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 has a natural origin.

Most epidemics in history have involved the passage of a pathogen from an animal host to humans, followed by human-to-human transmission, the report stated.

But the report noted there is very strong evidence that the coronavirus came from a laboratory accident. It recommended the introduction of more safeguards in biological laboratories to reduce the risk of either eventuality leading to bigger outbreaks.

The report is the result of over two years of work investigating the origins of the coronavirus. It suggested that American researchers could be culpable and could have deeper connections with similar biolabs in China, specifically the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV).

The report has not ruled out the possibility that a leak in the WIV caused the pandemic, but The Lancet report noted that independent researchers have not yet investigated biological laboratories in the U.S., and that the National Institutes of Health has resisted all attempts by investigators to disclose details regarding its work.

The Lancet commission that researched the origin of the coronavirus made other recommendations. These include stronger regulation of the wild animal trade, the creation of a new World Health Organization-led biosecurity oversight authority, better international coordination in the face of large infectious disease outbreaks and a new $60 billion a year Global Health Fund to support health systems and pandemic preparedness programs in lower-income countries.

Learn more about the coronavirus at Pandemic.news.

Watch this short clip of Professor Jeffrey Sachs talking about how he is certain the coronavirus came out of an American lab.

This video is from the channel GreekInsider on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Why did Collins and Fauci try so hard to quash the lab leak theory and hide coronavirus gain-of-function research they approved?

COVID-19 is Man-made: From Fauci, to Gates, to Daszak; a timeline of bio-terror.

Some of the worlds most dangerous bioweapons are made at a lab in Maryland (not just in China and Ukraine).

China accuses USA of having bioweapons research program in strategic retaliation against accusations of coronavirus origins.

Peruvian court rules that Bill Gates, George Soros and Rockefeller family created coronavirus pandemic.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

Telegraph.co.uk

Express.co.uk

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The infamous Hawaiian Democrat Sen. Mazie Hirono is once again calling for violence against her political opponents, including her constituents who support the preservation of unborn human life.

In a rant she spewed on the Senate floor the other day, Hirono blasted the pro-life movement and issued literally a call to arms in our country against it (Related: Remember when Mazie Hirono called for a blanket ban on white people occupying any positions within Joe Bidens cabinet?).

When I hear my colleagues talking about how it should be states rights or government should not be telling us what to do, the word hypocrites, it doesnt even go far enough to call them out on what theyre doing, Hirono belched.

This is an outright attack on women in this country. That is how I see it.

Hirono went on to claim that more and more women feel the same way that she does about our right to make decisions about or own bodies.

Fighting the pro-life movement, she continued, is literally a call to arms in our country  watch below:

She meant literally figuratively, obviously  Democrats media apologists, surely https://t.co/JVzAWTLqtd  Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) September 14, 2022

Tim Ryan, another Democrat, says weve gotta kill and confront  MAGA Republicans

Not to be outdone by Hirono in the extremism department, Tim Ryan, a fellow Democrat out of Ohio who is running for state senate, spoke to the corporate-controlled media about the problem of Trump supporters.

Like Hirono, Ryan wants Democrats and people who support their efforts to kill and confront that movement  watch below:

Tim Ryan: We have to kill and confront that movement of extremist Republicans. pic.twitter.com/ETITYgjGsj  Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 13, 2022

Ever since the Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade, far-left extremists like Hirono and Ryan have been spouting hateful, violence-inducing rhetoric against conservatives and Republicans.

Such rhetoric has already resulted in a spate of violent acts against crisis pregnancy centers in America, which exist to help women with unwanted pregnancy find solutions that do not involve murdering their unborn children.

The left has become so unhinged concerning the abortion issue, in fact, that some leftists put together an interactive map tool for Democrats to use to more easily target crisis pregnancy center facilities

Two-time failed presidential wannabe Hillary Clinton also piped about these and other issues during a recent appearance on CNN where she compared MAGA Americans, referring to the Make America Great Again movement (or perhaps she meant this kind of MAGA?) to the Al-Qaeda terrorist group.

Democrats and their ilk are coming unhinged before our very eyes, calling for their own insurrection against pro-lifers and others who oppose the leftist agenda.

Call to arms? I thought the Democrats were against guns, wrote a commenter in response to Hironos statements.

Globalists and their establishment lackeys want a civil war, or at least constant division, added another. Part of the big picture  that along with destroying the U.S. financially, and socially, and every other way.

That woman is a fool, but what is important is what all the Democrats are saying collectively which is a call to violence against any who oppose them, wrote someone else. Very Orwellian and totalitarian of these commie wannabes.

Shes dumber than a box of rocks, and shes evil and twisted as well, said another. This is the type of person Democrats elect: people in line with their own low levels of intelligence, and satanic evil hearts. This dimwit doesnt even get that abortion has just been sent back to the states.

The latest news about left-wing hatemongers like Mazie Hirono can be found at Libtards.news.

Sources include:

Infowars.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com

Adrenogate.net
(Natural News) Research shows that almost everyone has experienced (or will experience) motion sickness at some point in their life. Western medicine attempts to treat motion sickness with drugs like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), but this antihistamine can cause negative side effects like dizziness, drowsiness and decreased mental alertness, all of which can make a fun trip seem like a chore.

Fortunately, there are natural remedies that can help relieve the symptoms caused by motion sickness without any side effects.

Check the remedies below and see which one works best so you can enjoy your next trip even if you experience motion sickness.

Acupressure

Acupressure bands, also called seasickness bracelets and sea bands, work by applying mild pressure on the wrist. Some bands also deliver a small electrical charge.

According to Dr. Randy Horwitz, an integrative physician, these acupressure bands can be helpful for motion sickness without any of the negative side effects caused by other options like over-the-counter medicines.

If you forget your acupressure band, you can mimic the effect of one by pressing your middle and index finger on the point two inches above your inner wrist, between the two tendons. Pressure on this point, which is called nei-guan in Traditional Chinese Medicine, has long been believed to help relieve nausea and dizziness.

Aromatherapy with lavender essential oil

Motion sickness is caused by a conflict between your inner ear, which senses movement based on changes in fluid and pressure, and the visual information that your eyes receive.

It is believed that stimulating your other senses can be a beneficial distraction.

Aromatherapy, particularly inhaling the scent of lavender essential oil, has been shown to help alleviate nausea.

In the results of a 2018 review published in the journal Complementary Therapeutics and Medicine, scientists reported that aromatherapy with lavender could be used as an alternative or complementary therapy for postoperative nausea.

If you dont like the scent of lavender essential oil, you can also try inhaling the aroma of ginger or peppermint essential oils.

Chamomile tea

Chamomile is an herb that can help soothe the stomach, reduce acids and relax stomach muscles.

Buy chamomile tea at most grocery stores and at online retailers. If youre going on a long trip, steep chamomile tea before leaving and store it in a travel mug. You can drink the tea hot or cold.

Water or a carbonated beverage

When you start feeling nauseous, take small sips of cold water or a carbonated drink like seltzer or ginger ale to relieve your nausea.

Avoid caffeinated beverages such as coffee and certain sodas, which may contribute to dehydration and worsen your nausea. Consuming other beverages like apple juice or milk can also help with motion sickness.

Healthy snacks

Eating a light snack, like saltine crackers, can help relieve nausea. Avoid foods that are heavy, greasy or acidic since theyre slow to digest and may make your sickness worse.

Plan ahead if the road stops on your travels mostly offer fast food options. Alternatively, you can eat healthy snacks like apples, bananas, bread, cereal or other grains.

Ginger tea

Ginger is often considered the gold standard of herbal anti-nausea remedies because it is considered one of the most effective.

Ginger contains an active ingredient called gingerol that has been shown to be effective against indigestion and morning sickness. Research suggests that gingerol may also help post-surgical and chemotherapy-related nausea.

Before leaving for your trip, steep a soothing ginger tea. First, chop up an inch or two of fresh ginger root into thin slices. Add the ginger to a cup of boiling water, then set it aside and let it steep for five to 10 minutes.

Once the tea is cool, strain it before drinking or bring it with you in a travel tumbler on your trip.

You can also use ginger while youre traveling by mixing ginger essential oil and a carrier oil and rubbing the mixture into pressure points on your wrist and forehead. Like other essential oils, ginger oil is intended for aromatherapy or topical application. Do not take it internally. (Related: 4 Natural solutions for motion sickness.)

Getting some air (fan or outdoors)

If youre overcome with motion sickness, crack a window in your car or go outdoors if possible.

If the weather or your mode of travel doesnt permit you to go outside, turn the air vents toward you or use a fan to blow air on your face. Note that cigarette smoke may also make your sickness worse.

Licorice root lozenges

Licorice root is used to soothe stomach acid irritation and stomach ulcer pain. It can also help digestion.

Taking licorice root lozenges may also help prevent nausea and vomiting. Buy lozenges at online retailers.

Other techniques to relieve nausea

If youre on a cruise and suffering from seasickness, try to focus your eyes directly in front of you while looking at the horizon or at a motionless object on the shore. Try not to look at the surface of the water and avoid focusing on ripples and waves.

According to a study published in the journal PLoS One, people who focused their eyes directly in front of them were able to reduce body sway, which is helpful because it seems to be linked to motion sickness.

If possible, sit at the front of a boat and bypass the upper levels. When traveling by car or bus, take the front seat. If you are prone to motion sickness on airplanes, choose a window seat overlooking the wing.

Dont try to distract yourself by reading if youre experiencing motion sickness because this can make your condition worse. The same goes for using a laptop or your cell phone. If youre prone to motion sickness, avoid sudden or rapid head movements.

Eat a small but nutritious meal at least one hour or two before starting your journey. Chew on gum or suck on ice chips if you start feeling dizzy during the trip.

Visit Remedies.news to learn more about natural remedies for common health complaints like dizziness and nausea.

Watch the video below for tips on how to make candied ginger at home.

This video is from the Vegan Shenanigan channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Looking for remedies to everyday illnesses? Look no further than your own kitchen.

10 Possible causes of dizziness and how to address them.

Five healthy reasons why ginger should be part of your meals.

Sources include:

NaturalHealth365.com

Healthline.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Senator Rand Paul interrogated Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday, September 14, regarding his promotion of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines for all Americans, regardless of whether or not they have already obtained natural immunity from a previous infection.

Paul played a video of Fauci from back in 2004 at a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing, where he confirmed that natural immunity has the same effect as a vaccination, which means that those who have been previously infected with a virus would no longer need to receive an additional vaccine.

In the video Paul presented, Fauci was asked whether someone who got the flu should still get the flu shot, to which he responded no. Those who have gotten the flu are as protected as anybody can be because the best vaccination is to get infected yourself, Fauci said at the time.

After playing the clip, Paul asked Fauci why he has chosen to ignore the effectiveness of natural immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Weve had ever-evolving opinions from you, Dr. Fauci, Paul pointed out. Currently, antibody surveys show that 80 percent of children  approximately 80 percent of children  have had COVID, and yet there are no guidelines coming from you or anybody in the government to take into account their naturally-acquired immunity.

You seem quite certain of yourself in 2004, but in 2022 theres a lot less certainty. So when we look at this, we wonder why you seem to really embrace basic immunology back in 2004 and how you, or why you, seem to reject it now, he continued.

Fauci struggled to find the words to defend his choices or his change of opinion, and instead, insisted that the vaccination following the infection gives an added, extra boost.

He also tried to claim that there wasnt enough context in the 2004 video clip  the woman who called in for advice about getting the flu shot previously explained that she had an adverse reaction to one. While this could explain Faucis recommendation against getting the flu vaccine, this does not explain his promotion of the benefits of natural immunity at the time.

When youre trying to tell us that kids need a third or a fourth vaccine, are you including the variability or the variable of the previous infection in the studies? No, youre not, Paul shot back.

You can give kids hundreds of jabs and theyll make antibodies every time, but that does not prove efficacy. Almost none of your studies, from the CDC or from the government, have the variable of whether or not youve been previously infected, the senator went on.

Paul vows to hold Fauci, others responsible

After grilling Fauci about his stance on the vaccines, the senator also lambasted him for failing to be transparent about royalties that he or others in the public health sector may or may not have received from health companies.

Weve been asking you, and you refuse to answer whether anybody on the vaccine committees gets royalties from the pharmaceutical companies. I asked you last time, and what was your response? We dont have to tell you,' Paul said.

Fauci previously said federal regulations do not require individuals to divulge royalties under the Bayh-Dole act, but publicly disclosed some of the royalties he received during the hearing anyway.

Paul then explained that he sought information via the Freedom of Information Act about possible payments to Fauci and others received from companies, but was unsuccessful in this endeavor.

Instead, he dropped a warning that Republicans would get to the bottom of any possible conflicts of interest if they get the chance to retake control of Congress. (Related: Sen. Rand Paul: Dr. Fauci should testify under oath about money given to Wuhan lab.)

Ill tell you this: When we get in charge, were going to change the rules, and you will have to divulge where you get your royalties from, from what companies, and if anybody on the committee has a conflict of interest. Were going to learn about it. I promise you that, he told Fauci.

Visit Vaccines.news for more stories about the dangers of COVID-19 vaccines.

Watch the video below to know more about the conflict between Sen. Paul and Dr. Fauci.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Video: Rand Paul calls for five years in jail for Fauci lying to congress.

Video: Rand Paul warns authoritarian Faucis casual disdain for rights is recipe for totalitarianism.

Sen. Rand Paul vows to probe Anthony Fauci if GOP wins back Senate in 2022.

Sources include:

100percentfedup.com

WashingtonExaminer.com

Brighteon.com
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Top Sudanese military leaders have reiterated their pledge to leave the political scene and restrict their role to the duties stipulated in the Constitution and the law, the state-owned Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported on Friday, quoting Lieutenant General, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the Vice-President of the Transitional Sovereign Council (TSC)
(Natural News) The transgender madness that has taken over society is based on pseudo-science, lies, and deception that is wreaking havoc on children but fortunately is being and will be exposed, warned American College of Pediatricians President Dr. Quentin Van Meter in this interview on Conversations That Matter with The New American magazines Alex Newman. Transitioning children to a new gendersterilizing them and even surgically mutilating themis wrong and is not based on science or medicine, said the pediatric endocrinologist who completed a fellowship at Johns Hopkins University and knew the man behind the original craze. Neither do these gender-affirming care protocols help reduce suicide, Dr. Van Meter added.

(Article republished from TheNewAmerican.com)

The goal of the forces pushing this, he said in this warning, is to tear the family apart. In Europe, the negative effects and dangers are already becoming obvious to policymakers and medical professionals. That realization is coming to America but about 10 years behind. In this explosive interview, Dr. Van Meter discusses the implications and the importance of people taking this seriously.

Read more at: TheNewAmerican.com
(Natural News) Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), admitted that her agency spread misinformation about the safety of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines.

In a Sept. 2 letter addressed to Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), the CDC director admitted that the agency did not analyze certain types of adverse event reports at all in 2021. This contradicted the public health agencys earlier remarks that it had scrutinized these reports as early as February of that year.

CDC performed PRR [proportional reporting ratio] analysis between March 25, 2022 through July 31, 2022, she wrote. CDC also recently addressed a previous statement made to the Epoch Times to clarify PRR [analyses] were not run between Feb. 26, 2021 [and] Sept. 30, 2021.

However, an earlier June 16 letter by CDC Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Director Roger Andoh stated that the agency did not conduct PRR analysis.

Program staff within the Immunization and Safety Office inform me that no PRRs were conducted by the CDC, he replied to Divyanshi Dwivedi, legal consultant for Childrens Health Defense (CDC). Furthermore, data mining is outside of the agencys purview.

A month after Andoh sent his letter, CDC official Dr. John Su told the Epoch Times that the agency began performing PRR analysis in February 2021 and continues to do the same. Su heads the CDCs Vaccine Safety Team in charge of the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

This inconsistency led the Epoch Times to reach out to the CDC to clarify if either Andoh or Su was telling the truth. A spokesperson for the public health agency responded in an email: At no time have any CDC employees intentionally provided false information. (Related: CDC found lying about COVID-19 vaccine monitoring.)

According to the spokesperson, the false and contradicting information was given because the CDC thought the Epoch Times and CDC were asking about Empirical Bayesian (EB) data mining. Walensky described EB data mining as a more robust technique used to analyze disproportionate reporting. However, both the news outlet and health freedom organization specifically indicated PRRs in their queries.

Johnson dissatisfied with Walenskys explanation

Johnson, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, did not hide his dissatisfaction over Walenskys inadequate and unacceptable response.

You have failed to explain why the CDC made inconsistent statements about the data it generates to track these adverse events, he wrote in a Sept. 12 letter. Your lack of clarity calls into question whether CDC has and continues to sufficiently monitor COVID-19 vaccine adverse events.

Johnsons letter also stated that the public health agency lacked any justification for why [it] performed PRRs during certain periods and not others. Moreover, he accused Walensky of providing no explanation as to why Sus assertion contradicted her Sept. 2 letter and Andohs June 2022 response to Dwivedi.

Moreover, even though I clearly asked CDC to provide the data that it supposedly generated to track vaccine adverse events, you failed to do so. This data should be made public immediately to better inform the American people about risks of specific adverse events relating to the COVID-19 vaccines.

The Republican senator then asked Walensky several questions, some of which are indicated below.

Why did CDC not conduct PRRs from Feb. 26, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2021 and then decide to conduct PRRs from March 25, 2022 through July 31, 2022?

Why and when did CDC decide that it would stop conducting PRRs?

Why did CDC misinform the public when it asserted no PRRs were conducted and that data mining is outside of [the] agencys purview? Who at CDC approved the release of this misinformation?

Johnson gave a deadline of Sept. 19 for Walensky to respond. The CDC, meanwhile, refused to comment on the matter.

Watch CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky admit in the video below that vaccines no longer prevent COVID-19 transmission.

This video is from the Jerusalem Cats channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

CDC admits KILLER BATCHES of COVID-19 shots are still given to the public.

After destroying American society, the CDC admits natural immunity works better than COVID jabs.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky admits her agency made critical mistakes regarding COVID vaccines.

CDC now says covid jabs causing myocarditis isnt misinformation after all, after YEARS of Big Tech censorship for those who said it first.

CDC now admits covid vaccines never really worked against Omicron AFTER relentlessly pushing it and lying about its safety and effectiveness.

Sources include:

NewsPunch.com

DocumentCloud.org 1

DocumentCloud.org 2

DocumentCloud.org 3

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) New research from University College London (now formally known as Londons Global University) warns that so-called green energy and the political push behind it is driving a shortage of sulfuric acid, a fertilizer component also found in lithium-ion batteries.

Published in Geographic Journal, the study reveals that upwards of 80 percent of the global supply of sulfur comes from the desulfurization of fossil fuels, which the climate brigade has pronounced as evil because they are supposedly heavy polluters.

The push to decarbonize the planet in order to cool it and prevent global warming and climate change is making sulfur much harder to come by. By 2040, the greenification of the planet will create a shortfall in the annual supply of sulfur ranging between 100 and 320 million tons.

Meanwhile, demand for sulfur appears to be increasing by the day, not only in agriculture but also within the electric vehicle (EV) industry, which requires sulfur to continue producing batteries, as well as in battery-powered electronics like computers and mobile phones. (Related: The United Nations is warning that global grain production could drop by 40 percent due to lack of fertilizer.)

With increased farming and the world moving away from fossil fuels, geographers estimate global demand for sulfuric acid will rise to 246 to 400 million tons by 2040, the paper reads. However, depending on how quickly decarbonization happens, there may only be 100 to 320 million tons available for use.

Embracing a green energy future means starving much of the world

If fossil fuels go away like the greenies want them to, then we will also see global shortages of other fertilizers such as phosphorus, which is also used not only in agriculture but also in heavy industry to extract rare metals such as cobalt and nickel.

Those metals are used in lithium-ion batteries that power up numerous electronic devices from cell phones to laptops, the study explains.

Simon Day, a researcher at UCLs Institute for Risk & Disaster Reduction and one of the studys co-authors, warns that a dwindling supply of sulfur could lead to a transition period when green tech outbids the fertilizer industry for the limited more expensive sulfur supply.

The study poses three scenarios depicting possible sulfuric acid demand between 2021 and 2040. In all of them, demand exceeds supply, which means there are going to be serious problems in the future unless the green energy kick goes by the wayside  and soon.

Think the food crisis is bad now? Just wait a year, wrote a commenter at Natural News about where he thinks things are headed. 75% of all grain goes to livestock. When farmers cant get grain, they butcher their herds. Watch the price of meat rise.

The fertilizer problem will significantly drop crop harvests and that will raise the price and decrease the availability of food dramatically starting next year. This will affect EVERYBODY, both rich and poor. You cannot buy what isnt there, though the rich will fare better as food prices rise dramatically next year.

Another wrote that the problems cropping up in our world seem to be never ending.

Whats next: a shortage of medical supplies? China makes most of our medical supplies. If China attacks Taiwan, how can the U.S. put sanctions on them?

The war in Ukraine has very little to do with the coming food crisis, added another, speculating that there are multiple wars against humanity taking place on numerous fronts.

The Climate Change farce has everything do to with it. Just ask the farmers in The Netherlands.

The latest news about the energy crisis and how it affects the food supply can be found at FoodCollapse.com.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NaturalNews.com
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the importance of climate action and mitigation at the U.N General Assembly press conference. He urged countries to commit to emissions reductions and help poorer countries with climate action.

The report said that the massive flooding in Pakistan was brought about by the inadequacy of global solutions to the climate crisis, showing devastating loss of life and massive damage to infrastructure.

Moreover, he added that greenhouse gas emissions come from the wealthiest countries because of climate change, but the devastating effects fall on the poor countries.

In a statement, Guterres stressed that wildfires and heatwaves would worsen and break records with alarming frequency. He added pressing environmental issues in different countries: heatwaves in Europe, severe droughts in China, Africa, and the U.S., and the colossal floods in Pakistan.

Climate change
Deep sea mining has long been thought to be a controversial issue due to its perceived negative impact to the marine ecosystem and its natural habitats.

For years, scientists have reportedly denounced it. The operation involves extracting mineral deposits from the deep ocean floor or deep seabed. It is similar to underground mining conducted on land of excavating soil and sediments using large machineries.

Now, a deep sea mining company named The Metals Company was approved by the International Seabed Authority to trial its machinery at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean for the first time since the 1970s.

Various sources reported it was a controversial claim, citing that prevailing research shows it has environmental repercussions, including the destruction of habitats and extinction of marine species.

Some Pacific Island countries are also reportedly against the decision, which is decades in the making. However, mining companies and governments in the past have long sought of considering legalizing the deep sea operation. There are expected benefits from it such as the acquisition of rare metals, which can be used for manufacturing and in various industries. Yet, its environmental impact outweighs its benefits.

The underwater mineral extraction in the ocean floor seeks to find rare metals such as polymetallic nodules, ferromanganese crusts, and polymetallic sulfides. These materials can be used to manufacture smartphones and rechargeable batteries. Rare Earth elements like diamonds, gold, and nickel can also be harvested from the sea floor, which considered to be a widely untapped resource.

Trial Deep Sea Mining

ABC News on Thursday, September 15, describes the move as a controversial trial since this will allow the deep sea mining operator to use electric robots and make them crawl to the sea floor and suck precious metals by using a giant straw.

The Metals Company Chief Executive Gerard Barron told ABC News that the move was a very significant progress towards deep sea mining in a commercial level.

Also Read: 30 Potential New Species Found in the Depths of the Ocean

Deep Sea Mining Machinery

The trial machinery will involve a giant vehicle that will crawl along the ocean floor, collecting rocks and sediment, through a vacuum-like device called a "riser." Barron states that the operation will mobilize in the coming days.

In fact, of the company's vessels is already stationed in Mexico, with another marine craft surveying the lucrative mining zone situated between Mexico and Hawaii.

According to Gavin Mudd, an associate professor at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), the main concern for deep sea mining is its potential disruption to biodiversity and cause of extinction, as cited by Newsweek.

What is Deep Sea Mining?

Deep sea mining takes place approximately below 200 meters where the deep seabed is located.

Back in May, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said deep sea mining begin soon due to rising demand for metals and the depletion of terrestrial deposits.

The IUCN demands that deep sea mining should be stopped unless a criterion is established, including assessments, effective regulation, and mitigation strategies.

Related Article: New Research Shows Potential of Deep Sea Noise Pollution Can Affect Species Under the Sea
A hunter from Colorado suffered severe injuries when a moose attacked him in the woods.

Dangerous Miss

The male moose attacked the hunter after the hunter's arrow missed its target. On Tuesday around noon, the man used his GPS device to send an SOS signal, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.

An account owned by the sheriff's office posted on social media that When the deputy arrived, the hunter must have hiked about 1.5 miles to Long Draw Road and was receiving help from bystanders. The deputy gave the hunter first aid right away, applying a tourniquet to his arm as well as keeping him comfortable until Poudre Canyon Fire Protection District paramedics could attend to him.

The hunter had to be transported to a nearby hospital by air ambulance due to his injuries being of a life-threatening severity.

Moose Attacks

Unless provoked, moose are not typically aggressive toward humans. They do, however, attack more people compared to bears and wolves put together, albeit frequently with less severe results.

Each year, 5 to 10 people are attacked by moose in Alaska. The moose attack that happened near Long Draw Road on Tuesday was Colorado's fourth this year, according to reports.

To attract female attention, male moose may become especially aggressive during the mating season. September through October is the time when mating occurs.

A man in Idaho was attacked by a moose earlier this year while walking his dog. Moose can also become hostile if a human is with a dog.

Read also: Moose Drool Undermines Toxic Fungus in Plants

Safety Measures

After an incident in June, Shannon Schaller, deputy regional manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife's northeast region, issued a statement urging people to ensure that all dogs are on leashes. Dogs can cause aggressive behavior, and moose and elk will pursue a dog back to its owner, creating a potentially dangerous situation.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife also suggests that the best course of action in the event of a moose charge is to flee as quickly as possible and hide behind a large rock, tree, or other objects, Newsweek reports.

Moose: Large Deers

The largest member of the Cervidae, or deer family, is the moose. According to National Geographic, they can weigh up to 1,800 pounds and grow as tall as 6.5 feet at the shoulder. The males' antlers can expand up to five feet in width.

Because they have difficulty lowering their heads to the ground due to their height, moose prefer to graze on higher grasses and shrubs. They consume shrubs and pinecones during the winter, but they also clear snow with their massive hooves to make space for moss and lichen browsing. In addition to supporting the massive animals in soft snow and muddy or marshy ground, these hooves also serve as snowshoes.

Moose were once scarce in Colorado and the surrounding areas, but Colorado Parks and Wildlife reintroduced them in the late 1970s. Approximately 3,000 moose are currently present in the state.

In North Park, Middle Park, and the vicinity of the Laramie River, limited moose hunting is permitted.

Related article: Poachers Arrested for Slaughtering Pregnant Moose, Cutting 3 Babies Outside the Womb
In the attempt to dodge the dangerous Marche flood, people clung to trees as well as sought shelter on roofs as torrential rains inundated the roads and farmlands of central Italy.

Marche Flood Death Toll

In Italy's Marche, a coastal region in the center of the country, a sudden rainstorm that dumped over a foot of rain early on Friday morning left at least 10 people dead and several others still missing.

According to Franco Scarsella, a local journalist, and accounts from the state radio, at least four people, the count includes two children, were still missing and the death toll was rising. Additionally, at least 50 patients with injuries were taken to nearby hospitals.

Intense Rainfall, Worst Flood

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys claims that some of the mountainous areas of Marche have experienced some of the heaviest rainfall. Around 16.46 inches of rain had already fallen by early Friday in Cantiano, Italy, which is located at an elevation of 1,181 feet, according to AccuWeather data. Drastic flooding was seen along the coast as the heavy rain moved down the mountains.

Alessandro Piccini, the mayor of Cantiano, claimed that the town's historic center had been completely swept away, along with its bars, shops, pharmacies, and homes.

Ancona, the capital of the Marche region and a city on Italy's Adriatic coast, saw some of the worst floodings.

Senigallia, a town near Ancona, was also devastated by deep, rushing floodwaters. Floodwaters submerged garages, cars, and the first floor of some homes and businesses after riverbanks overflowed.

Stefano Aguzzi, the head of civil protection for the regional government of Marche, said that although they received the usual rain alert, nobody anticipated anything this severe.

About 700 emergency workers had been sent out, according to the department as well as Italy's fire and rescue organization, Vigili del Fuoco, who also confirmed that dozens of people had taken refuge on roofs and stayed close to trees to survive the dangerous floodwaters.

Read also: Typhoon Merbok Remnant Set to be Alaska's Strongest Storm in Over a Decade

Extreme Weather

Social media users have posted pictures and videos of the raging floodwaters rushing through villages and towns, carrying cars and anything else in their path.

About 1,300 residents of Barbara, a town 24 miles from the capital Ancona, are without drinking water and have patchy phone service as a result of the flooding.

The nation has just experienced a summer of extremes when flooding occurs. One of the worst droughts and most severe heat waves in decades hit Italy and the rest of Europe.

A statement from Coldiretti, an association of Italian agricultural producers, claims that this summer has seen a five-fold increase in extreme weather events in Italy. 1,642 incidents of severe weather, including tornadoes, hailstorms, flash floods, and severe rainstorms, were reported by the agency.

According to climatologist Massimiliano Fazzini, who spoke to state television, the recent flooding was more than just an exceptional occurrence; it was an extreme event.

More rain is expected Friday as locals begin to put the pieces together. According to Roys, sporadic thunderstorms could cause some localized rain throughout the region on Friday night, and Saturday is expected to bring about more consistent rain. The storms and showers will start to dissipate by Saturday night, and dry conditions will prevail through Sunday, AccuWeather reports.

Related article: Tropical Storm Watch Over the Caribbean as Fiona Brings Gusty Winds, Heavy Rains


After a Californian summer marked by a historic heat wave, high humidity, and thunderstorms, concerns about potential "earthquake weather" are raised as tremors shake the ground.

The Bay Area has experienced an uptick in seismic activity over the past week.

Oakland experienced a 2.9-magnitude earthquake late on Sunday. On Tuesday night, two more powerful quakes with magnitudes 4.4 and 3.9 occurred close to Santa Rosa. Early on Thursday morning, Berkeley was the location of yet another earthquake that struck East Bay.

Weather - Earthquake Correlation

The question now is: Are these earthquakes being caused by the weather in some way?

Despite how much people would like there to be a connection between weather and earthquakes, according to Angie Lux, a seismologist with the Berkeley Seismology Lab, there is no connection between the two natural occurrences.

If there were, it would be much simpler to predict earthquakes.

ShakeAlert and other earthquake early warning systems do offer a heads-up that trembling is imminent. However, instead of foretelling an earthquake, these systems identify its initial waves and promptly notify nearby communities of impending tremors. There is currently no reliable way to monitor or identify warning signs of a seismic event before it occurs, including the weather.

California has experienced an unprecedented heat wave, very high humidity, rain, and sporadic thunderstorms over the past few weeks. There has been unusual weather.

However, Warren Blier, a science officer with the Bay Area National Weather Service, also asserted that there is no connection.

Whatever the past or even the present weather conditions, earthquakes still happen.

Drifting Slabs Beneath California

Two tectonic plates, which are vast chunks of the Earth's crust that are slowly drifting above the molten rock, meet in California. Over billions of years, as these plates slowly shifted, they gradually shaped the continents and oceans of our planet, and they're still doing so. Places, where plates contact each other, are ripe for seismic activity.

The San Andreas Fault, which runs directly through the Peninsula, is where the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate collide, making the Bay Area ready. Parallel faults are also present, including the Rodgers Creek Fault, which caused the earthquakes in Santa Rosa.

Plate motions are moving only a few inches per year, according to geophysicist Andy Michael of the US Geological Survey Earthquake Science Center.

However, these movements are not fluid. The plates may become stuck together due to friction.

Lux explained that The pressure increases when they are confined together. An earthquake occurs when something has to release in some way and slips.

A large portion of this movement takes place underground, away from the Earth's surface's heat waves and tropical storms.

According to Michael, earthquakes in California typically begin several miles below the surface of the earth, where weather patterns are unable to travel.

Read also: Scientists Uncovered the Earthquake That Cause the Mysterious Tsunami of 2021

Study Says...

According to a 2018 study, Northern California experiences a very slight summertime expansion of the Earth's crust. Seasonal changes in groundwater, according to the researchers, may be a significant factor. The crust expansion causes additional stress when these underground water reserves are low, which may have contributed to the South Napa earthquake in 2014.

Michael explained that there is an increase in the frequency of earthquakes as droughts develop or as more water is used than is being replenished in aquifers. This effect mainly applies to smaller earthquakes.

These, however, are long-term trends rather than daily patterns. "Earthquake weather" not a thing in general. In contrast, when people attempt to link the trembling earth to the weather, it is because they are looking for order in a world full of erratic events like earthquakes.

Blier said there is something about how people think that causes them to constantly look for patterns.

Some people may believe that cloudy days herald earthquakes, while others may interpret wind as a bad omen. However, it is impossible to predict with certainty when a particular location will feel an earthquake.

An earthquake does increase the possibility of an aftershock, another earthquake. However, these are only probabilities, not promises. Earthquakes are frequently regarded as independent events, especially over extended periods.

Lux added that predicting the future would be nice, but it is not currently possible, San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Related article: Mountain-Sized Rock Beneath Japan May Act as Magnet for Mega Earthquakes
Monkeypox patients have higher infection rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) amid the current global monkeypox outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The report means that HIV and STIs are highly prevalent for persons infected by the monkeypox virus called poxvirus, which belongs to the family Poxviridae.

The rare disease has long been thought to be transmitted through physical contact, specifically skin-to-skin and bodily fluid transmission. While first identified in 1958, monkeypox cases were only endemic in western and central Africa.

However, the current outbreak since early May led to a surge of cases in multiple locations outside Africa, with the United States and Europe being the epicenter of the infections.

In the past few months, growing evidence from health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO), suggests that many cases of monkeypox infection were caused by sexual intercourse or sexual transmission, particularly between men. With the latest CDC reports, previous claims that the disease is more of a sex-driven infection is relatively gaining ground.

By mid-September, global monkeypox cases has infected tens of thousands of people in several dozens of countries, with the US having the highest number of infections.

The North American nation also recorded its first monkeypox fatality this week, indicating the potential lethality of the virus in spite of the current distribution of monkeypox disease vaccines worldwide.

CDC Monkeypox Report

The CDC report show that among 1,969 individuals infected with monkeypox in eight US jurisdictions, 38% of them had HIV infection and 41% had an STI in the preceding year. In addition, the US health body found that hospitalization is more common for monkeypox patients with HIV infection than those without HIV infection.

The diagnosis of the patients was from the period between May 17 and July 22 this year. The result concludes that monkeypox transmission could be linked to people with HIV infection, emphasizing on the significant of prioritizing monkeypox vaccination for individuals with HIV and STIs, News Medical reports.

Also Read: WHO Declares Current Monkeypox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

Sexual Transmission Incidence

In August, emerging scientific evidence from academic papers and reports from health authorities indicate that expert may have established notions of monkeypox transmission backwards, according to NBC News.

The evidence primarily attributes that the main driver global monkeypox transmission is through sex between men, including anal and oral transmission. Yet, the experts behind the scientific data consider skin contact is a less risk factor.

The US media outlet reported that scientists told them that the CDC and other public health officials should update their "monkeypox communication strategies." This is to reportedly emphasize the source of monkeypox transmission centering around intercourse among gay and bisexual men, which comprises of almost all US monkeypox cases.

In its 2022 Outbreak Cases and Data, the CDC says the US has recorded a total of 23,499 confirmed cases of monkeypox or orthopoxvirus, with the states of California, New York, and Florida, having the highest number infection as of 2:00 p.m. EDT (local time) on Friday, September 16.

Related Article: United States Records First Monkeypox Fatality Since Global Outbreak Began in May
One discovery can change the world, but it is not something anyone can stumble upon. However, scientists and volcanologists uncovered significant findings on how people understand volcanoes.

UC Santa Barbara Earth scientist Matthew Jackson and his team unfolded a process that they considered far more dynamic than anyone assumed in studying volcanoes for centuries, according to an article published in ScienceDaily.

The majestic view of Fagradalsfjall volcano is on the Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Iceland.

It was a long time before Jackson and his team witnessed the birth of Fagradalsfjall in Iceland. The findings of the geologists' study are published in the journal Nature.

According to the Earth Observatory of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a new volcanic eruption happened in Fagradalsfjall on Iceland's Reykjanes on August 3, 2022. It added that Meradalir Valley, the eruption site, was about a kilometer in the last year's eruption in Geldingadalir. The eruption was preceded by weeks of the earthquake.

Reports said that the Fagradalsfjall volcano's eruption did not threaten people's lives and property. The volcano showed effusive eruption in which the lava did not burst from the earth's crust.

Fagradalsfjall volcano

According to earth scientist Jackson who witnessed the Fagradalsfjall, the earthquake swarm was intense, reaching 50,000 or more earthquakes that shook the earth for weeks and brought Iceland's population on edge. He said that the earthquakes were magnitude four or higher.

On the other hand, he said that there could be more than a factor of 1,000 rates of change for chemical indicators and the samples from the volcano in Iceland.

What is fascinating was the Fagradalsfjall eruption revealed more compositional variability than Mount Kilauea in decades. Kilauea is located in the islands of Hawaii, and it is considered active in volcanic mass.

When the volcano erupted, visitors and scientists were astonished to witness a closer look at spattered lava flowing slowly due to the winds blowing the gases away.

In ScienceDaily, the research paper describes the eruption as 'depleted magma.' Experts said they have never observed before in near real-time.

By April, evidence revealed that the chamber was said to be recharged. It can be by deeper and enriched type melts with a different composition sourced from regions of an upwelling mantle plume beneath Iceland.

The new magma showed a less modified chemical composition, noting carbon dioxide gas's higher magnesium content. It indicates that the deeper magma's fewer gases escaped.

By May, the magma dominated by flow was enriched and deeper.

Also Read: Six Climate Tipping Points that Could Trigger Climate Emergency

Challenges

According to the study, geologists led by Smundur Halldorsson of the University of Iceland wanted to find answers to the biggest challenges of scientists studying the volcano.

How deep in the mantle from which magma originated

What happens in the volcano reservoir before or during eruptions, and how beneath the surface was it stored?

However, they are hampered by the eruption unpredictability, inaccessibility, and remoteness of the volcano's active sites.

Jackson shared that they were surprised when he thought he was close to figuring out how volcanoes work.

Related Article: Japan: Volcanic Eruption Spews Large Rocks 2.5 Kilometers Away, 51 Residents Evacuate

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
CPEC adds new dimension to Pakistan-China cooperation: Pakistani official

Xinhua) 10:38, September 17, 2022

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani foreign ministry's Additional Secretary Asia-Pacific Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had added a new dimension to Pakistan-China cooperation.

The official made the remarks during two rounds of briefings on the CPEC for resident diplomatic missions of several countries, which were convened on Thursday and Friday, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Pakistan welcomes development partners and enterprises from around the world to strengthen investment and trade linkages and consider opportunities in special economic zones," said the statement.

Thanking the Pakistani foreign ministry and relevant government departments for the briefings, participating diplomatic missions underscored abiding mutual interest in enhancing economic cooperation, according to the statement.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji)
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
Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.

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Blocking the inhibition of PKD1 and PKD2 gene expression by deleting a binding site for microRNAs hindered the formation and growth of kidney cysts in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) models, UT Southwestern researchers reported. The findings, published in Nature Communications, suggest a strategy for gene therapy with the potential to arrest or cure ADPKD.

For more than 25 years, we have known that ADPKD is caused by mutations of PKD1 or PKD2 genes. Yet, no therapeutic strategy exists to go after these root causes." Vishal Patel, M.D., Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology at UTSW and corresponding author of the paper

ADPKD is among the most common human genetic conditions and the most frequent genetic cause of kidney failure, affecting an estimated 12.5 million people worldwide. ADPKD is an inherited disease in which patients typically inherit one mutated copy of PKD1 (or PKD2) and one normal copy. The disease is characterized by the frequent formation of many small fluid-filled sacs called kidney cysts, which are believed to form when the levels of PKD1 or PKD2 fall below a critical threshold. This can occur when the normal copy of the gene does not produce enough of the proteins Polycystin-1/Polycystin-2.

Proteins are produced (or translated) from a gene's messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). At one end of the mRNA strand is a region of code that helps protect it from degradation but can also control how much of the protein is made. The binding of microRNAs to this region of the mRNA code can block translation, leading to production of less protein.

PKD1 contains a binding site for miR-17, a microRNA that is highly expressed and active in models of ADPKD. So, Dr. Patel and his colleagues asked if blocking the binding of miR-17 to PKD1 could prevent kidney cyst formation.

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The researchers deleted the miR-17 binding site from PKD1 mRNA in cell cultures and an ADPKD mouse model. Their results indicated that deletion of the binding site increased stability of the mRNA strand, raised Polycystin-1 levels, and decreased kidney cyst growth. Moreover, the group found that blocking miR-17 binding to PKD1 mRNA with an anti-miR-17 drug after cyst formation also decreased cyst growth, indicating that this interaction could be a promising target for polycystic kidney disease (PKD) treatment.

"There are numerous genetic conditions where one copy of the causative gene is mutated, but the other copy is still normal. Our approach to harnessing the remaining normal copy is likely applicable to many other diseases besides PKD," said Dr. Patel.

UT Southwestern opened a PKD and genetic kidney disease clinic in 2016 that is co-led by Ronak Lakhia, M.D., Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Nephrology at UTSW. Dr. Lakhia is the co-first author on this study with Harini Ramalingam, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in the Patel lab. The UTSW PKD clinic is now the largest such clinic in Texas, said Dr. Lakhia, gaining recognition as a site for innovative clinical trials.

Other researchers who contributed to this study include Patricia Cobo-Stark, Laurence Biggers, Andrea Flaten, and Jesus Alvarez, all of UTSW; and Chun-Mien Chang, Tania Valencia, Darren P. Wallace, and Edmund C. Lee.

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01DK102572) and the Department of Defense (D01 W81XWH1810673). Dr. Patel has patents involving anti-miR-17 for the treatment of ADPKD and serves as a scientific consultant for Regulus Therapeutics and other companies as disclosed in the paper.
Kathmandu, Sep 17 (PTI) The current session of both Houses of Parliament in Nepal will be expiring Saturday midnight.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari at the recommendation of the Council of Ministers will end the sessions of the House of Representations and the National Assembly as per the Constitution of Nepal. Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota on Saturday read out a letter from the President to this effect.

The first meeting of the House of Representatives took place on May 17, 2022.

The Himalayan nation will hold the elections of the members of the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly on November 20. Both the elections will be held in a single phase.

There are a total of 275 seats in the House of Representatives in Nepal, and out of that 165 members are directly elected.

Nepal's ruling coalition government last month announced that the elections will be held on November 20 as proposed by the Election Commission.

The government was facing criticism for not declaring the election date even after the commission recommended a date.

The previous elections for the lower House and assemblies of the country's seven provinces were held in two phases on November 26 and December 7 in 2017. PTI SBP PMS PMS
The Assistant Secretary for the Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training Service, the Honorable James D. Rodriguez along with representatives from Fort Wainwright and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Hiring Our Heroes stop for a quick photo at the U.S. Army Garrison Alaska headquarters building between meetings on Fort Wainwright, Wednesday, Sept. 14. (Photo by Brian W. Schlumbohm, USAG Alaska, Fort Wainwright Public Affairs)
Army Futures Command

U.S. Army PFC. Benjamin Sargent, assigned to 82nd Airborne Division, prepares a multi-mission payload Unmanned Aerial System for launch during Project Convergence at Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz. on October 26, 2021. During PC21, Soldiers are experimenting with ways to use UAS to help Soldiers see on the battlefield. Project Convergence is the Armys campaign of learning designed to aggressively advance and integrate our Armys contributions, based on a continuous structured series of demonstrations and experiments throughout the year. It ensures that the Army is part of the joint fight and can rapidly and continuously integrate or converge effects across all domains: air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace; to overmatch our adversaries in competition and conflict. Project Convergence ensures the Army has the right people with the right systems, properly enabled in the right places to support the joint fight. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Marita Schwab)
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Nargis Al Banna

Special arrangements will be in place for voters and candidates infected with Coronavirus across voting centres on the 12th of November this year when Bahrain will go to polls to elect its new Parliament and municipal councils.

Special measures will be in place for those infected and wishing to run for office to file their nomination in association with the Ministry of Health.

This was announced by the Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments and Chair of the High Elections Committee, Nawaf bin Mohammed Al Maawda, during a press conference at Isa Cultural Centre yesterday.

He highlighted the commitment to upholding citizens constitutional rights of choosing their representatives throughout the two decades since the launch of the first legislative term in 2002.

Minister Al Maawda stressed that the electoral process would be monitored and supervised by the judiciary throughout all its stages to ensure transparency and integrity of the elections. He added that the higher committee would continue cooperating with independent civil societies to monitor the electoral process.

The Supreme Elections Committee will start accepting applications from societies soon, said Al Maawda. For his part, the President of the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission (LLOC), Executive Director of the Elections, Chancellor Nawaf Abdullah Hamza, stated the preliminary plans for holding the upcoming Parliamentary and Municipal Elections are ready.

He added that the voters list had been prepared and uploaded, calling on voters to ensure their names and other details were correct and up-to-date. The President of the LLOC added that measures to ensure that those who may be COVID-19 positive during the elections can practice their democratic right are taken by dedicating a polling station for them with the aid of experts from the Ministry of Health.

Hamza said the authority started preparing for the elections in March this year. There will be 14 polling centres across the Kingdom. Between September 15 and 21, voters can request changes to their address or other corrections for updating the list.

They can file complaints or appeals before the supervisory committees until the 24th of September. Judicial authorities will issue final decisions in cases of disputes before the 4th of October. Candidates can file their nominations from the 5th to the 9th of October 2022.
By Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Saudi Arabia Shahin Abdullayev

Over the past month, the provocations of the Armenian armed forces have exaggerated in Azerbaijans Dashkasan, Lachin and Kalbajar districts, near the state border. Azerbaijani Armys positions in those districts have been fired from different types of weapons which are intensive, including mortars. The recent attacks clearly manifest Armenias hypocrisy and rivalry against Azerbaijan and the peace process. The most troubling reality is that the last meetings held in Brussels between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Armenias premier Nikol Pashinyan, and European Council President Charles Michel both states with the facilitation of the European Union were just a false front of cooperation from the Armenian side. The leadership of Yerevan was never true to the cause of peace and humanity. The hostile armed forces have been continuously escalating conflict and military interventions near Azerbaijans border areas along with the deployment of large-caliber weapons and heavy equipment which is a vivid example of Armenias vicious agenda to sabotage peace.

Official Yerevans action undermines the Brussels meeting after which Azerbaijan proposed to hold a meeting between the foreign ministers of two countries at the end of September, to launch negotiations on the normalization of relations between the two countries based on mutual recognition and respect for each others territorial integrity, sovereignty, and state borders but the peaceful proposal of Azerbaijan was left unanswered by Armenia.

The Azerbaijani government and Foreign investors has allocated state funds (3 billion) towards rebuilding territories liberated from Armenian occupation along with wide-range post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation works. Military clashes are an immediate danger to these projects because Azerbaijan is trying to take reciprocal measures to ensure the safety and security of the civilian workers involved in infrastructure activities in the Kalbajar and Lachin districts. However, ceasefire violation, provocation, ecological crimes, state-sponsored terrorism, and planting landmines have remained noticeable strategies of the Armenian offensive realist approach. Also just a few days ago, the Azerbaijani side demonstrated another good-will gesture and released five more citizens of Armenia detained in Azerbaijan.

This process took place directly between Azerbaijan and Armenia without mediation of any third party as an indicator of goodwill with a view to contributing to the peace process. The Republic of Azerbaijan, demonstrating its commitment to the international humanitarian law and the values of humanism, calls on Armenia to ceasefire and states that they are ready to hand over corpses of about 100 Armenian servicemen, who were killed while preventing provocation committed against the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan on September 12-13 of this year. The International Committee of the Red Cross was also informed of this issue. Armenia without any delay must come back to the table of peace talks. Peace agenda is extremely required for security, prosperity, and coexistence in our neighbourhood. As a result of Armenias thirty-year illegal occupation of Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, large-scale and difficult humanitarian demining activities were carried out, but Armenia continues to plant mines in the territories of Azerbaijan deliberately.

Therefore, it is a high-time the international community must witness Armenian aggression toward Azerbaijan and stark violation of the fundamental norms and obligatory rules of the ceasefire agreement. The country must be held accountable for its provocative acts and violations. These recent military escalations, vandalism of resources, and blasts have sabotaged the trilateral truce protocol and regional stability due to the Armenian conventional nature of war.

The leadership has been yet again exposed due to its aggression and pessimistic strategic approach. Moreover, during the nearly 30-year illegal Armenian occupation of the Karabakh region, environmental crimes, including deforestation, illicit trafficking of natural resources, and contamination of water reserves, became common. It has also been confirmed that Armenians have been deliberately contaminating the rivers to disturb the environment, and agriculture and create humanitarian disasters in Azerbaijan. The Pashinyan administration has been fully trying to overturn the trilateral ceasefire agreement.

It wants to wage war to redraw the political map of the Caucasus region. War has always been pointless, yet Armenia, through its hostile moves continue to annihilate deaths, atrocities and jeopardize security via agreement violation. Despite the international interventions to establish peace, the ill-will of Yerevan is blunt to challenge the efforts. The war has been over, and the world has come to know the rightful claim of Azerbaijan as it liberated the regions.

However, Armenia has been still trying to light a fire beneath the ashes and igniting hostile sentiments through its violations, resulting in chaos and causalities. Yerevan leaders have a narcissist approach and are war-obsessed, aiming at creating instability in the region. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, has always remained true to the cause of peaceful co-existence and cooperation. The visionary leader, President Ilham Aliyev has showcased strategic discipline and followed all protocols for regional development and joint collaboration.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Daily Tribune)
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Shipment made to an established pharmaceutical distributor and clinical research organization in the Czech Republic , focused on medicinal grade cannabinoids

TORONTO and RIONEGRO, Colombia, Sept. 15, 2022 /CNW/ - PharmaCielo Ltd. ("PharmaCielo" or the "Company") (TSXV: PCLO) (OTCQX: PCLOF), the Canadian parent of Colombia's premier cultivator and producer of dried cannabis flower and medicinal-grade cannabis extracts, PharmaCielo Colombia Holdings S.A.S. ("Holdings"), today announced that it has made its first shipment of THC-dominant dried cannabis flower to a customer in the Czech Republic, in the EU market. The customer is an established cannabinoid-focused pharmaceutical distributor and clinical research organization in the country. The customer currently imports cannabinoids from The Netherlands and Canada.

Management Commentary

Bill Petron, CEO of PharmaCielo, commented, "PharmaCielo's global business development team continues to make substantial progress growing the Company's sales pipeline and setting the stage for accelerated growth beginning in 2023. The EU is the biggest opportunity for global cannabinoid exporters, and PharmaCielo is positioned to win market share against current suppliers, with a combination of proprietary Colombian strains, high quality products and low production costs. Our team has made substantial progress in several markets recently, including Germany, Israel, Brazil, Mexico, Poland, and now the Czech Republic. We expect the combination of these recent developments and sustained sales efforts to make the next eighteen months a pivotal period for the Company."

About PharmaCielo

PharmaCielo Ltd. (TSXV: PCLO, OTCQX: PCLOF) is a global company, headquartered in Canada, with a focus on ethical and sustainable cultivating, processing and supply of all natural, pharmaceutical-grade medical dried cannabis flower and cannabis products to large channel distributors. PharmaCielo's principal (and wholly owned) subsidiary is PharmaCielo Colombia Holdings S.A.S., headquartered at its cultivation and processing center located in Rionegro, Colombia.

The board of directors and executive team of PharmaCielo are comprised of a diversely talented group of international business executives and specialists with relevant and varied expertise. PharmaCielo recognized the significant role that Colombia's ideal location plays in building a sustainable business in the medical cannabis industry, and the Company, together with its directors and executives, is executing on a business plan focused on supplying the international marketplace.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expects", "is expected", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may" or "will" be taken, occur or be completed or achieved.

Forward-looking statements can be affected by known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including changes to PharmaCielo's development plans, the failure to obtain and maintain all necessary regulatory approvals relating to the export of cannabinoid products and the import of these products into other countries, TSX Venture Exchange approval, the inability to export or distribute commercial products through sales channels as anticipated due to economic or operational circumstances, risks associated with operating in Colombia, fluctuation of the market price for the Company's products, risks associated with global economic instability relating to COVID-19 or other developments, risks related to retention of key Company personnel, currency exchange risk, competition in PharmaCielo's market and other risks discussed or referred to under the heading "Risk Factors" in PharmaCielo's Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2019, which is available at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, PharmaCielo undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

SOURCE PharmaCielo Ltd.

For further information: Ian D. Atacan, Chief Financial Officer, +1 416-562-3220, [email protected]; Media and Investor Inquires: [email protected]
Haryana Governor Honours Rajya Sabha MP Kartik Sharma wit...

The Champions of Change event was organized by the Intera...

2 October, 2022

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Ahead of the 2023 elections, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expelled its presidential candidate, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu from the par...





Ahead of the 2023 elections, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expelled its presidential candidate, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu from the party.





The National Chairman of the party, Ralphs Nwosu in a statement issued Saturday said Kachikwu was expelled for anti-party activities and violation of the partys constitution.





He said the seven-man panel set up by the party which sat for six days submitted its report on Thursday.





Nwosu said the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party on Friday deliberated on the report and accepted the report of the panel with modification.





Other people expelled from the party are Kennedy Odion, Kingsley Oggah, Musa Hassan, Bello Isiyaka, Clement Ehiator, Kabiru Hussaini and Alaka Godwin.





The statement read: The seven-man Disciplinary Panel set up by the African Democratic Congress, ADC to look into the allegations of gross misconduct, anti-party activities and gross violations of the partys constitution amongst others levelled against Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu and others, sat on the 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th of September respectively and submitted its report formally to the leadership of the party on the 15th of September 2022.





The panel found Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu and others guilty of the allegation levelled against them, subsequently in accordance with article 15 of the partys constitution recommended that Mr.Dumebi Kachikwu & others be expelled from the party.





The NWC met on the 16th of September 2022 to deliberate on the report and accepted the report of the Panel with modification.





With this development, the party has taken strategic steps to clean its stables and is determined to move into reckoning across the country. NWC urged all the candidates and members to focus on the 2023 general election while rededicating themselves to the ideals of the party.





The NWC also commended the members of the Committee for the courage and commitment shown in the quality of their work and called on all its members to remain focused and continue to be good ambassadors of ADC.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has condoled with Kabiru Gaya, senator representing Kano south, over the death of Sadiq, his son. The cir...

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has condoled with Kabiru Gaya, senator representing Kano south, over the death of Sadiq, his son.

The circumstances that led to the death of Sadiq is not clear, but the police have reportedly arrested five suspects inconnection to it.

He died on Tuesday.

Gaya was director-general of the support groups of Osinbajo when the vice-president sought the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement on Friday, Laolu Akande, the vice-presidents spokesman, quoted Osinbajo as saying Sadiq was like a son to him.

This is a very, very sad visit. Sadiq was a young man. He was like a son to me, Osinbajo said when he visited the senator.

He has visited me a few times. He was a lawyer also like me. So, I had a very special relationship with him

I feel a very personal loss. I commiserate with and condole the distinguished Senator and all members of his family, the Government and the people of Kano State who have lost a very precious son in this young man.

We believe in God, he is the only one who can give and take life. No matter what the circumstances are, only God can decide how long a man would live.

All will be well, I know that even with his own family  his wife and his children, all will be well with them.

I want to express my sincere condolences to all of us that are here and to pray that the Almighty God will give the family peace and that we will not see this kind of thing again. We will not experience the death of young people in our midst again.

The younger Gaya was a staff member of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

He was a graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the University of Wales, United Kingdom.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, has revealed that he received several threats from some citizens followi...

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, has revealed that he received several threats from some citizens following the National Identity Policy Implementation.

Also, Pantami disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari administration has increased the National Identity Database by 150% in three years.

Pantami made this disclosure in his remarks at this years National Identity Day commemoration titled, Institutions as Critical Stakeholders for Citizens Mobilisation, in Abuja on Friday.

He lauded the success story of the policy despite stiff opposition.

He added that the digital Economy sector remitted more money to the FG government more than any other sector.

Explaining the importance of digital identity to development, he noted that, According to World Bank, one billion people dont have any legal identification, especially in Africa. That is why we have uncountable challenges in Africa, because we dont have data to plan for our citizenry.

He emphasized that Nigeria has captured more citizens into her National Identity Database than other African countries.

The minister said that the essence of the event is to remind citizens why digital identity is important.

We can only get our digital economy right when we continue to improve and encourage our citizens to enroll in our national database. By the time I took supervision of NIMC, the total number of registration centres were not up to 1,000 but today, we have over 5,000.

Today our national database is on auto drive. We have established over 19 national policies and all of them are being implemented. This has never happened in the history of Nigeria.

When we commenced the process, many people turned against me.

My life was threatened because of the introduction of NIN and sim registration on BBC radio and many more and I resisted believing that nobody can control my life in this world, only Almighty God. They have been defeated.

Earlier, the Director General/CEO, NIMC reiterated commitment to partner traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders to ensure that majority in rural communities are captured.

He further added that the commission has achieved tremendously infrastructural development resulting in increased NIN enrolment across the country in the last three years.

NIMC has made great strides on so many fronts in the last three years. From just over 1,000 enrolment centres and 2,000 enrolment devices across the country, NIMC in partnership with its licensed enrolment partners now has over 15,000 enrolment centres and over 29,000 enrolment devices deployed nationwide. This is one of the reasons enrolments have increased tremendously with over 89 million NINs generated successfully.

On the international level, NIMC today has diaspora enrolment centres in over 40 countries, with more centres and countries scheduled to be added in the coming months. This gives Nigerians in the Diaspora opportunities to enrol and have their national identity even while outside the shores of Nigeria, he stated.

Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Kwarra, Executive Chairman of the ID4Africa, Dr. Joseph Atick, Representatives of National Information Technology Development Agency, Director IT Infrastructure Solutions, Dr Usman Abdullahi, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other agencies were present.

Recall that in April Buhari directed the Implementation of NIN-SIM Policy and ordered Telephone companies (Telcos) to bar all outgoing calls on unlinked cell phone lines. Subsequently Government agencies such as Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS), Federal Road Safety Corp(FRSC) and others made NIN mandatory.

In 2019, the Federal Government of Nigeria approved the recognition and observance of September 16 of every year as National Identity Day.
Lagos residents took to social media on Friday to lament their experiences with law enforcement agents in the state over alleged traffic o...

Lagos residents took to social media on Friday to lament their experiences with law enforcement agents in the state over alleged traffic offences.





The state government on Thursday auctioned 134 forfeited and abandoned vehicles at the Taskforce compound in Alausa, Ikeja.





An aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Jubril Gawat, on Friday, said the owners of the impounded vehicles ran away and failed to turn up for court process.





While several social media users backed the governments action, others described it as harsh.





Ismail Oduneye, a lawyer, shared via his Twitter handle that he was a victim in 2016.





I remember back then in 2016, a drunk driver drove on a one-way road while myself and my colleague were on a bike and this drunk person hit us and ran away, leaving my colleague dead after 3 days while I sustained a gruesome injury in my leg, he said.





Sir, I sincerely have no iota of pity on these Lawbreakers who paint emotional sympathy after committing offences relating to road trafficking. I am sure my colleague who died 6 years back, his parents would find it hard to forget his death.





@fimiletoks said people who drive against traffic in Lagos, especially on the highways are murderers until proven otherwise.





Your car will be forfeited to the government and auctioned to normal people. You can tell the judge that you left jollof rice on fire at home hence the need to drive against traffic





@Ogbeni_Skrtel said: My leaders brother-in-law was knocked down by a car driving against traffic over a year ago. Its to the glory of God that the Egbon is still alive and as of that, he cant walk by himself again till today.





Hard for me to say the punishment is too severe mehn.





Tunde Aluko also narrated a sad experience of how his uncle was knocked down by someone driving against traffic.





My uncle died after almost 4yrs of total memory loss, he remembered nothing till his last day, he was knocked down by someone riding against traffic, if your vehicle is impounded for driving against traffic or youre even jailed for life, zero sympathy!





@I_AM_ILEMONA, shared his displeasure at the public auction.





He said he was once fined N25,000 for driving against traffic flow after he was misdirected by a LASTMA officer.





In a state where there are some roads with no signs indicating it is one way?





I have been a victim of a LASTMA official directing me down a road in Bariga that was one way then being among the people that administered my N25k fine. LASTMA officials routinely lie that people jumped traffic lights.





@Omogbajabiamila in his post said that the state government enforced traffic offences in mafia-style.





He also shared a video of a part of Lagos that has no one-way signage.





In the video, an unidentified man had taken a one-way unknowingly and was confronted by a LASTMA official.





The man insisted that he wasnt aware because there was no signage to direct road users. However, the officer said he had flouted the traffic law.





Similarly, Adetutu Balogun claimed that the auctioned vehicles were bought by government cronies.





Lagos state government of Emilokan is selling them to their friends, she said. Nigeria is a crime scene!





Unconstitutional

Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, described the public auction of the vehicles as unconstitutional because the offenders were not given an opportunity to be heard in court.





Any law that empowers the government to confiscate and/ or auction the vehicle or other property of a citizen for an alleged offence (s), without a fair hearing and due process is unconstitutional and void, the lawyer said.

Such a law offends the fundamental rights to fair hearing and property.





The court of law will declare such a law inconsistent with the provisions of 36 and 43 of the Constitution which guarantees the rights of every person to fair hearing and ownership of property, respectively. Lagos State Government claims that Mobile Courts permitted the auctions.





That is not a sufficient answer to the constitutionality issues arising from the auctions.





The lawyer queried the procedures followed in securing the orders for forfeiture from the mobile court.





He also said that since traffic infractions are criminal offences, then offenders must first be tried in court before punishment can be imposed.





If the owners or drivers of some of the vehicles didnt appear in court, and were not convicted, as alluded to by agents of the Lagos State Government, should we infer that they were tried in absentia? How did the Mobile Courts assume jurisdiction over the cases? Who were the parties?





Or should we assume that the orders authorizing the vehicles to be auctioned were made in civil proceedings, and not in criminal cases? The basis of the auction is that offences were committed. Where are the charge sheets? Those vehicles most likely had license plate numbers.





Mr Effiong asked if the state government took any steps to locate the owners of the vehicles through their licensed number plates before auctioning their vehicles.





To those defending the auctioning of the vehicles because it has been claimed that Mobile Court authorized it, have you been to the Lagos State Mobile Court before?





From my experience, the Mobile Court operates basically like a revenue court. I wont say more than that.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will on Saturday depart Abuja for London to represent Nigeria at a number of events on Sunday and Monday, inc...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will on Saturday depart Abuja for London to represent Nigeria at a number of events on Sunday and Monday, including the State funeral for Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Prof. Osinbajo departs Abuja today and will join members of the Royal Family, world leaders  including members of the Commonwealth, Heads of State, Governors-General, Prime Ministers, and foreign royal families  at the ceremonies, including the funeral service scheduled to hold at Westminster Abbey on Monday, a statement signed by the VPs Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, read on Saturday.

Queen Elizabeth II, 96, passed away on September 8, 2022 at the Balmoral Castle in Scotland, the United Kingdom.

Until her demise, she was the Head of the Commonwealth and the longest serving British monarch, reigning for 70 years.

Akande added, Ahead of the funeral service, the Vice President will be among guests and dignitaries to be received by King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, at a reception in Buckingham Palace on Sunday.

Earlier on that day, the VP will hold a bilateral meeting with the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly.

The Vice President will return to Nigeria after Mondays State Funeral.
Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie, on Saturday knocked his colleague, Uche Maduagwu, for giving him marriage advice. Maduagwu had on Friday slamm...





Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie, on Saturday knocked his colleague, Uche Maduagwu, for giving him marriage advice.





Maduagwu had on Friday slammed Edochie and his second wife, Judy Austin, for sending birthday wishes to the actors first wife, May.





Reacting to Maduagwus post, Yul berated him for speaking of marriage when he (Maduagwu) was not married.





Yul knocked Maduagwu, who was famous for putting on a red bra, over his gender, as he (Yul) listed out his achievements.





Yul wrote, Everybody don turn to marriage adviser for my matter. Even mad man wey never marry na marriage adviser too. Craze man who is yet to make up his mind whether to be a man or woman, is also giving me marriage advice.





My first child is 17 years old; in the university. I have four more very handsome and intelligent children. You, its not even confirmed wether your manhood fit stand, na you wan give me marriage advice?





For the past 12 years I have been at the top and crested my name as one of the greatest actors in Africa, what have you achieved?





In 2017, I set a record as the only Nollywood actor who has contested for Governor and ran the race till the end. Since then Ive been a constant advocate for good governance.





What have you achieved within those years? Nothing, you bought a red bra.





If youre this messed up in 2022, only God knows how messed up you were in 2004, the year I got married. Na you wan advise me on marriage? Sad. This world don scatter honestly.





Social media has made people not to know their mates anymore. Any matter you see wey no concern you, you jump on it just to chase clout.





Mr red bra, First of all, make up your mind whether na man or woman you wan be, then you get married. Have children.





If na manhood you get, use am born. If na womb you get, use am born. Raise a family, achieve some successful years in marriage, then you can come back and start giving marriage advice. Good luck.





Yul had faced a lot of criticism after he unveiled his second wife in April 2022, despite being married to his first wife, May, for over 17 years.
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By SA Commercial Prop News

Soweto businessman Richard Maponya.



Four years after opening the multi-million rand Maponya Mall, Soweto businessman Richard Maponya plans to invest just over R1.1 billion within two years in building another mall and a motor dealership network.

Known as the founding father of black retail business in SA, Maponya, who built the R650-million Maponya Mall, that is located in the heart of Soweto, in 2007, says it has "been a success".

In an exclusive interview with I-Net Bridge/BusinessLIVE, the entrepreneur said on Tuesday that he planned to list his business interests on the JSE "soon".

As part of his new investment plans, Maponya intends to spend R650 million, with the help of financial institutions, to build a mall in his home town of Polokwane, in Limpopo Province. He said he wanted to open this mall in the first quarter of next year.

"There is a beautiful spot in Polokwane and I will possibly be putting another mall there," Maponya said.

He said he felt that without all the restrictive laws and red tape involved, he would have started the Polokwane project already.

"You know things are delayed by the red streams that have to be cut, despite the fact that the playing field is level. But there are still laws that are really restrictive, laws that should be done away with if we want to see ourselves progressing in creating more jobs and putting up businesses that will employ more people," Maponya said.

He said he was inspired by China's business policies.

"In China I am told that if you are a businessman and want to start something you are actually being assisted by taking away all the restrictive laws that waste time. Yet in our country you would come up with a good idea of establishing something and that will take you six months or more, discussing the same thing and to me that is unacceptable," he added.

To further expand his business empire, Maponya also said that he planned to open the R450-million Maponya Motor City dealership in a 50-50 partnership with Barloworld, the JSE-listed industrial group.

This partnership will initially bring one Toyota dealership and one Volkswagen outlet to Soweto before the end of this year.

Maponya said the launch of two additional dealerships next year was in the pipeline, adding that he was in discussions with Mercedes-Benz SA and General Motors SA.

The 91-year-old businessman said that he was embarking on these business ventures in Soweto because of the contribution of the Soweto people to his successes. He believes that the best way to thank them is by creating more jobs for them, and making their lives easier.

He said that he felt that the unemployment rate in SA was too high and vowed that he would not rest until he saw a difference through his Maponya Institute, where people were being taught the required skills for starting and running their own businesses.

Maponya said he had accomplished "what I had dreamt about", but was still planning to build more malls if possible. "As far as I am concerned I am going to be working until the end of the day," he said.


file photo Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that he could not visit to his mother to seek her blessings on his birthday, but she will be happy to see that thousands of mothers have gathered to bless him on the day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that he could not visit to his mother to seek her blessings on his birthday, but she will be happy to see that thousands of mothers have gathered to bless him on the day.



The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing the gathering of over one lakh women associated with self-help groups (SHGs) in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district.



Prime Minister Modi on his 72th birthday visited to Madhya Pradesh where he released eight African cheetahs into enclosure at Kuno National Park. Following which, he graced a women SHGs conference being organised in Sheopur district.



"I would have gone to my mother to seek her blessings on my birthday, if today's programmes weren't organised here. But, thousands of mothers have come to bless me here and after seeing all this, my mother would be very happy that I am getting blessings of thousands of mothers here," Prime Minister Modi said.



He was welcomed with great enthusiasm by artists who performed tribal dance and other cultural programmes organised by the state government. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister recounted several women beneficiary schemes for women under his government.



On the occasion, Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who is a prominent political face from Gwalior-Chambal region, said that around 60 per cent area of Sheopur district have dense forest zone. "Sheopur is a very small district, however, it is filled with natural resources. There are several ancient temples of Lord Shiva and that is why this area was named Sheopur."



Notably, Sheopur has two assembly seats - Sheopur and Vijaypur, and the BJP and Congress each has one MLA. However, the fact that, Sheopur, which is the part of Gwalior-Chambal region, is also considered the most remote area in the state and has highest malnutrition cases in the state.



The women SHGs participating in the conference were those who run several initiatives being promoted under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).



DAY-NRLM aims at mobilising rural poor households into SHGs in a phased manner and provide them long-term support to diversify their livelihoods, improve their incomes and quality of life.



On the day, the Prime Minister also inaugurated four Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) skilling centres under PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana.




For those in the anti-cracklings camp, two words: Cracklin nachos.

This dish is a game changer. And its back now that Kingfish has reopened  more than two years after the pandemic shutdowns began. The French Quarter restaurant, one of the gems in the Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts portfolio, opened its doors on Labor Day weekend, with the same chef in the kitchen and a concise menu.

Chef Jamaal Foley explains the magic that transforms a piece of pork skin into something almost fluffy in the crackling nachos. The pieces of skin expand rapidly, he says. When youre frying them, its important to not overfill the basket; to drop them in one at a time and give them room to expand. Theyre like popcorn puffing up.

Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails What Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails Where 337 Chartres St., (504) 598-5005; kingfishneworleans.com When Lunch and dinner Thu.-Mon. How Dine-in Check it out Contemporary Creole cuisine in the French Quarter

The resulting bed of airy, crunchy cracklings is topped with pulled pork, diced tomatoes, poblano peppers, bread-and-butter pickles and a drizzle of sour cream. Its served with a bowl of melted pimiento cheese.

You cant stop eating them, even if you dont like pork rinds, Foley says. Hes been with the company for four years and worked at six of its restaurants while waiting for Kingfish to reopen. Foley is a self-taught chef, passionate about cooking since he was a kid growing up in the Lower 9th Ward, when he was charged with cooking for his two siblings while his mom worked two jobs.

Im so happy to be back in the Kingfish kitchen, he says.

Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails is inspired by Gov. Huey P. Longs nickname. Other dishes borrow terms from the Kingfishs era. The menu riffs on the election promise a chicken in every pot with a chicken on every plate.

New to the menu is a red beans and rice dish and a fried chicken entree. The chicken breast tenders are marinated in buttermilk and spices and arrive moist and tender.

For a starter, a Louisiana crab cake is served with corn maque choux, and theres cheesy crawfish bread. The menu also includes a Kingfish cheeseburger and a grilled chicken Cobb salad. The pepper-crusted filet is a winner, served with lyonnaise potatoes and vegetables. The pairing of seared scallops and barbecue butter sauce is not as successful, with the heavy sauce eclipsing the flavor of the scallops. For dessert, there is a choice of bourbon pecan pie and a brulee cheesecake.

We kept the dishes our customers really loved, and well be expanding the menu in the fall, once we see how things go, Foley says.

The U-shaped bar has always been the restaurants centerpiece, and it offers a robust cocktail program. Drinks, drafts and wine are discounted during weekday afternoon happy hours. Also featured are $9 small plates, including the crab cake and fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade.

Adjacent to the dining room, theres a banquet room with its own kitchen ready to serve the groups and conventions that are slowly bringing business back to the Quarter.

For Creole Cuisine President Marv Ammari, the Kingfish reopening is a milestone. Our company started in the daiquiri business in 1989, says Ammari, who runs the company with his brothers Richey and Zeid Ammari. We opened our first restaurant, Charter House, in 2005, and then continued to expand with fast casual places in the French Quarter. When we opened Kingfish, that was our first polished place, borderline fine dining.

The company has had to rebuild from the pandemic.

We went from roughly 1,500 (employees) to 38, in a week, he says. Its taken a lot of effort to get that team back in place.

The company opened a few restaurants early in the pandemic, including the Elmwood location of Boulevard American Bistro in May 2020 and A Tavola in Metairie in December. In April 2021, a Boulevard American Bistro opened in Covington. The company anticipates opening Boulevard and A Tavola locations in markets within a three-hour drive of New Orleans.

We were top-heavy in the French Quarter, Marv Ammari says. Were looking at it from a smarter approach. We need to be regional. Covid taught us lessons.
Ron Faucheux: To know where national politics is going, watch these gubernatorial elections
Page Content

The planned Saturday, September 17, free breast exams, and health screenings has been cancelled due to the anticipated passing of Tropical Storm Fiona over the weekend.





The American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) will be contacting all participants who were registered for September 17 and will provide them with another appointment date.





Appointments are still available for the following dates: October 22nd, November 12th, and November 26th.





Women aged 18 and older who are interested in the screening program should mark their calendars.





Persons are requested to make an appointment by contacting: 721-545-2298 ext. 404 2357 or Emailing: aszeinfeld@aucmed.edu. Persons can also contact CPS at 914 for assistance.




Page Content

Tropical Depression #7 was upgraded to Tropical Storm Fiona on Thursday night. The Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten (MDS) has issued a Tropical Storm Warning for the country.





A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions can be expected within 36 hours. According to MDS on Thursday, Fiona is expected to pass 60 miles south of the country on Saturday, however impacts are expected by Friday afternoon.





Fire Chief and National Disaster Coordinator of the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) Clive Richardson is calling on residents and the business community to be prepared.





ODM is advising boat owners/mariners to implement their storm/hurricane season action plans in order to safeguard their vessel.





Residents and businesses along the countrys coastal areas or flood-prone environs, should take action to protect property as such properties could be inundated by possible storm surge.





Coastal areas of Sint Maarten are mostly found on the south side of the island, and these are: Beacon Hill, vicinity of the Princess Juliana International Airport Road connection to Beacon Hill, Simpson Bay beach, Pelican, Philipsburg, the Great Bay beach (along the boardwalk), Point Blanche, Oyster Pond/Dawn Beach, and Guana Bay.





The building sector should implement their storm-ready plans. Construction activities, trenching and excavation works, are taking place throughout the country, and at building and construction sites, materials and debris laying around could pose a threat in the event of a storm. Contractors and builders are requested to make sites storm ready.





Food wholesalers and warehouse depots are requested to implement their storm ready plans for their establishment by





securing their properties.





Residents and the business community are advised to continue to pay keen attention to weather reports from MDS in the coming hours in order to be able to take the appropriate action when called upon to do so by the ODM/Emergency Operations Center (EOC).





In the meantime, residents and business owners are reminded to review their hurricane season preparations, and to make sure their property is storm/hurricane ready.





Additional information will be forthcoming from the ODM as the weather system approaches the Leeward Islands.





The community is urged to learn more about hurricane hazards and how to prepare for a storm/hurricane strike by visiting the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your Hurricane Season Readiness Guide and Hurricane Tracking Chart.





Listen to the Government Radio station  SXMGOV 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane.





For official weather-related information, check out the website of the Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/
104-year-old radio ham is on the air ARRL report one of their members, Oscar Norris W4OXH, of Gastonia, North Carolina, will turn 105 on September 25, 2022, and he is still on the air



ARRL say:



Norris lost his sight when he was 24 in 1942, and it was his blindness that led him to amateur radio. He earned his license in 1949, and has been on the air for 73 years.



Tony Jones, N4ATJ, has known Norris since he was 14 and remembers the first time he met Norris. It was at a bicycle shop and Norris, blind, was still able to tear down a wheel, replace the spokes, and spin the wheel until it was balanced. Several years later, Norris gave Jones a book on how to earn an amateur radio license.



"Over the years, the book got misplaced," said Jones. "I would give anything to find that book today." Jones continued, "Oscar has the personality of one of the kindest people you would ever want to meet, and he never has an unkind word for anyone."



Norris communicates mostly using digital mobile radio (DMR) on a handheld radio, and he has been a member of the Gaston County Amateur Radio Society (GCARS), an ARRL Affiliated Club, since 1979.



In honor of his 105th birthday, GCARS members will be operating the special event station N1O from 00:01 UTC on September 20 through 20:00 UTC on October 1. Operations will be on the HF bands, 2 meters, 1.25 meters, and 70 centimeters. Modes used will be CW, SSB, FT4, FT8, DMR, and D-STAR.



Source ARRL Letter Sept 15, 2022

http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter
VK6WIA NewsWest



NewsWest for Sunday 18th September 2022 is the History of Amateur Radio edition, and we have a swag of historical items for your enjoyment.

LAST MINUTE NEWS: Australians can use the AX prefix from 19th to 23rd September to commemorate Queen Elizabeth 11.

We have a wrap on past weekends HamCamption, updates on PerthTech, news on the Oceania DX Contest committees view on competitors from Russia and Belarus, and more, on NewsWest.

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MERRILLVILLE  People still can obtain reproductive and other health services at the Planned Parenthood facility in Merrillville  even though a new Indiana law prohibits doctors from performing abortions at the clinic.

Planned Parenthood officials confirmed its Merrillville health center, 8645 Connecticut St., is remaining open for contraception services, gender-affirming care, sexually transmitted infection screening and treatment and other health care needs.

"Planned Parenthood remains fully committed to Indiana. We aren't going anywhere," said Katie Rodihan, Planned Parenthood communications director.

Senate Enrolled Act 1, which took effect Thursday, prohibits all abortions in Indiana from the moment of conception, except within 10 weeks of fertilization for pregnancies caused by rape or incest, or 20 weeks if necessary to prevent serious physical impairment or the death of a pregnant woman, or because of a lethal fetal anomaly.

The statute, approved Aug. 5 by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, also shuts down abortion services at Planned Parenthood clinics by requiring every abortion be completed in a hospital or hospital-owned surgical center, and it puts doctors at risk of losing their medical license if they fail to sufficiently justify the legal basis for an abortion.

According to the Indiana Department of Health, a total of 1,145 abortions, or 13.6% of the state's total, were performed last year at the Planned Parenthood facility in Merrillville.

A lawsuit challenging the constitutional legitimacy of the abortion restrictions, filed by the Indiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers, is set for a hearing Monday in Bloomington.

A separate lawsuit claiming the near-total abortion ban runs afoul of Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act is scheduled for review next month by an Indianapolis court.

In the meantime, Hoosier women still can access abortion care through Planned Parenthood just across the state line at 19831 Governors Hwy. in Flossmoor, Illinois.

Records show Indiana was the first state to legislatively impose new abortion restrictions following the June 24 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that rescinded the right to abortion established by the high court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
Nucor, a main competitor of Cleveland-Cliffs and U.S. Steel, is investing $200 million over five years to modernize a steel mill in South Carolina.

The Charlotte, North Carolina-based steelmaker, one of the nation's largest, with mini mills around the country, plans to build a new air separation unit at its Nucor Steel Berkeley division in Huger, South Carolina. It will supply industrial gases for the mill's steelmaking operations.

The mill currently has a long-term agreement supplying industrial gases but will bring it in-house to become more vertically integrated.

UIG LLC, a Nucor subsidiary that focuses on industrial gas supply, will operate the Nucor-owned air separation unit. It will produce and supply all the gases needed itself.

"Nucor acquired UIG in 2019 so that we would have the capability to build and operate our own air separation units, giving us an alternative to long-term service contracts with outside providers," said Mike Lee, vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel Berkeley. "We are proud of our company's long-time partnership with the State of South Carolina, and we are excited to continue to invest in the state where Nucor first began operating nearly 60 years ago."

The steel mill makes about 3.5 million tons of flat-rolled sheet and structural steel and employs about 1,000 workers.
Eads Elementary School staff James E. Eads Elementary School staff is pictured. Eads was named a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School.

The U.S. Department of Education named three schools in Northwest Indiana as 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools on Friday.

Central Elementary School and Saint Paul Catholic School in Valparaiso and James E. Eads Elementary in Munster were each named as exemplary high performing schools. According to the Department of Education, schools in this category have their states highest high school graduation rates and students who score in the top 15% in English and mathematics, measured by state assessments.

Central Elementary and Eads Elementary were part of 273 public schools nationally recognized by the program in 2022, and Saint Paul was one of just 24 private schools recognized.

Central Elementary and Eads Elementary are part of the federally funded Title I schools program, which provides over $7 billion to school systems across the country for students at risk of failure and living in or near poverty, according to the Department of Education.

Out of 297 schools nationwide, 10 schools in Indiana received the Blue Ribbon School distinction, an increase from seven Indiana schools named in 2021.

Eads Principal Linda Bevil said the school has a "culture of kindness and inclusiveness," evidenced by the hard work of students, staff and parents who have a passionate commitment to learning.

Being named a National Blue Ribbon School is a tremendous honor for the students, staff and parents of Eads Elementary School," Bevil said. "I could not be more proud of the hard work of the entire school community. This achievement is a dream come true."

State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, recognized both Valparaiso schools and praised them for their efforts.

"Our local schools are constantly working to help our children gain the most from their education, and it is truly excellent to see their hard work pay off. I am pleased that our local students and educators are receiving recognition for all their efforts."

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona made the National Blue Ribbon Schools announcement during his Road to Success Back to School bus tour.

I applaud all the honorees for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for creating vibrant, welcoming and affirming school communities where students can learn, grow, reach their potential and achieve their dreams, Cardona said.

Since 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed almost 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools, according to the Department of Education. National Blue Ribbon Schools are honored at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., at which each receives a plaque and flag to signify its exemplary status.
Chad Clifford didnt want to freeze in fear when he took the stage at the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool, England.

So he created a 12-song set list on his phone featuring a few of his favorite all-time tunes: Watching the Wheels, Band on the Run, Ill Follow the Sun, and Got to Get You Into My Life, among others.

Clifford played the first two songs, took a deep breath, and paused for a moment to fully absorb the surreal experience. After decades of playing Beatles songs at countless venues, he couldnt believe the stage he stood upon that night.

Wow, he said to himself, looking around the nightclub birthplace of the Beatles.

Then he joyfully strummed through the rest of his playlist in front of an appreciative crowd, many who knew him from our Region, including his wife, Michelle.

It was amazing, Clifford recalled in a husky voice from thousands of live performances.

Last month, he co-hosted a one-week magical mystery tour to Liverpool and London, literally walking in the famous footsteps of his musical heroes. In coordination with Valparaiso-based Authentic Irish Tours, they were joined by eight couples from Northwest Indiana, all Beatles fans whove enjoyed listening to Cliffords renditions as a member of MegaBeatles and the Crawpuppies.

This opportunity allowed me to see things and places I never thought Id be able to enjoy in person, said Clifford, owner of Front Porch Music in Valparaiso.

Those iconic places included Penny Lane, Abbey Road Studio, Strawberry Field, and 3 Savile Row, where the Beatles performed their last public performance in 1969. The tour also included the childhood homes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon, where Clifford sat in rooms that once reverberated with melodies that have since become the pop music soundtrack of our lives.

In the Lennon home, Clifford heard the same acoustic echoes that Lennon heard while crafting his early songs. Clifford was invited inside after first playing a song outside the home. He played In My Life, singing lyrics that transcend music: All these places have their moments.

In the McCartney home, the 53-year-old lifelong musician was invited to play piano in the living room, singing When Im Sixty-Four.

When Clifford was 4, he experienced his first Beatles moment, watching the movie Help! on TV with his father. His dad soon introduced him to his first Beatles album, which he played nonstop, then another, and another. Clifford later began emulating McCartney, playing a guitar his grandmother bought him while singing into a vacuum cleaner hose.

Since those early days, Clifford has attended 13 live performances by McCartney.

For many of us, we dont know what a world is like without Paul McCartney, Clifford said.

The true beauty behind Beatles music is how tightly its woven into the tapestry of our daily lives.

Keep in mind that the Beatles changed everything in just seven years, Clifford said.

The bands deep catalog of familiar music is threaded throughout multiple generations of fans from every continent. Together, we can sing their songs word for word, note for note, even if we dont speak the same language. Clifford has done this in pubs with Beatles fans who otherwise couldnt converse with him.

We dont need a translator for Beatles music, he said.

His next MegaBeatles show will be Oct. 8 at Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, Michigan, to celebrate John Lennon's birthday, then on Dec. 17 at LaPorte Civic Auditorium.

During his first-ever trek to England last month, Clifford and his wife visited Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, and St Pauls Cathedral, as well as stops at the Cotswolds stone architecture and the marvel of Stonehenge.

I liked London, but I loved Liverpool, Clifford said. They know why people make a pilgrimage there.

Cliffords pilgrimage across the pond was four years in the making, with three cancellations for different reasons. Plans for a return trip are already in progress for "Beatles Forever 2024." (For details, contact Authentic Irish Tours at 219-246-5163.)

Once the tour group arrived in London, Clifford began sharing their experiences on social media. My friends feedback and appreciation for our experiences made the trip even more special, he said.

Clifford and his wife were the youngest ones on the tour with eight other couples. They became fast friends, bonded by Beatles music.

I think they enjoyed being with a Beatles fanatic like me who has an authentic appreciation for the bands music," Clifford said. "It may sound a little sappy but we were able to enjoy a shared experience of joy. Plus, we avoided talking politics.

They capped off their trip with Cliffords performance at the Cavern Club, a sacred place for Beatles worship. The clubs owner invited him back later that night for two more hours with other musicians. Yet it was Cliffords opening set in the middle of the day that played all the right notes for an unforgettable show. Some of his tour guests livestreamed it on social media to their friends back in the U.S.

That set list included Youve Got to Hide Your Love Away, All Ive Got To Do, and I Saw Her Standing There.

After Clifford left the stage, he looked for his wife, who is often his toughest critic after any show. Not on that night, though. He saw her standing there with tears in her eyes. Imagine that.
This past June marked the 10th anniversary of Evelyn Hernandezs near-death experience in the dangerous waters of Lake Michigan.

On June 12, 2012, Hernandez and her boyfriend, Leonel Dominguez, went to Beverly Shores to enjoy the 85-degree weather and watch the sun descend below the horizon. Unfortunately, Hernandez would be the only one of the pair to see the sunrise the next morning.

Since 2010, there have been 1,139 Great Lakes drownings. In 2022 alone, 92 drowned across the Great Lakes with 39 of those in Lake Michigan, according to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project.

For more information on water safety in the Great Lakes, visit glsrp.org

Hernandez, a resident of Beverly Shores, recalled that fateful day in 2012.

Leo arrived from New York, and we were very excited to spend two weeks together. We went to Target and bought an umbrella and purchased a float to watch the sunset together, she said. The raft got pulled about a quarter-mile out. He said something was wrong, and before I could explain the raft flipped and it flew away.

Hernandez, 53, said the couple drifted nearly 8 feet apart as both struggled to stay afloat in the cold water.

Him and I were good swimmers, we were trying not to panic, she said. Your heart is pounding, youre breathing and the waves are hitting your face. All of a sudden youre looking around and cant tell if youre making progress because you cant see the shore.

She said she recalls getting her head above the water and realizing she was going to die.

I was about to let go and submerge and heard someone say I hear you, I cant see you,'" she said.

Soon after, she felt a young man grab her to help her to the nearest sandbar. Hernandez then turned around and realized her boyfriend had submerged. After a decade, Hernandez said shell never be able to overcome that pain and loss, but it has allowed her to appreciate life and educate others about the importance of water safety.

In August, Hernandez began working with Lynn Jaynes and the Rev. Lowell Black from First United Methodist Church to create a water safety initiative for Lake Michigan. Hernandez said the goal of this initiative is to unite families and friends of Lake Michigan drowning victims and to take action to increase water safety.

The Lake Michigan Waterfront Safety Initiative-Indiana is partnering with GLSRP and community members. Hernandez said the goal of the initiative is to place safety rings and updated water safety hazard signage across all nearby Lake Michigan beaches.

Jaynes, a Chesterton resident, lost a friend who drowned this past summer at Porter Beach. Thomas Kennings, 38, was at the beach with family in July when he noticed a teenage girl in the water who appeared to be in distress. Kennings entered the water and managed to save the girl but drowned doing so.

It hit close to home. I feel horrible for all of these drowning victims. The whole family was out there for Tom, but there were no safety tools on the beach, Jaynes said. Our ultimate goal is to make the beaches of Lake Michigan safer by taking small steps initially and getting the equipment and tools out there.

Jaynes said he hopes for safety equipment across Northwest Indiana beaches by Memorial Day.

Some Lake Michigan beaches in Indiana already have safety stations in place, like Wells Street Beach, located in the Miller section of Gary. There have been 22 safety stations put in place on all beachfronts from County Line Road to Lake Street in Gary, said Mary Ann Best.

Best, whose mother owns Wells, encourages people to take full advantage of the safety stations at the beaches and borrow life jackets whenever necessary. Best wants beachgoers to understand that no matter where you go around water, its vital to read up on potential hazards beforehand.

One of the biggest hazards is the uneven bottom, Best said. Because of the sandy bottom, the waves change it all the time. You can walk in and it immediately be hip-length deep. You can also walk 30 feet in and only be ankle-deep. Its something people need to be aware of.

Best said that if consistent and accurate information is put forth to the public, fewer drownings may occur.

In 2021, Forbes Magazine published an article which concluded that drowning is the leading cause of death at all national parks. Not falling off of a cliff, bear attacks or car crashes  drowning, said Dave Benjamin, co-founder and director of the Great Lake Surf Rescue Project. Several more beaches in Indiana have now become part of the National Parks Service, including Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk, Porter Beach and several others.

Benjamin, who has been promoting water safety for over a decade, said hed like to see safer swimmers, safer water and safer responses. He said there needs to be more swim lessons and water survival strategies be made available in addition to public water safety equipment. Benjamin also wants lifeguards and at all local beaches.

Most people dont equate swimming as an endurance sport, Benjamin said.

On average, half of all Great Lakes drownings occur in Lake Michigan, Benjamin said. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children under age 4 and the second leading cause of injury-related death from children 1 to 14, he said.

For the cost of installation of safety equipment stations, its a small cost to pay compared to body recovery, he said. There are always hazards around every body of water, thats what we want people to know.

Hernandez said Dominguez was one year away from graduating college and becoming an emergency room nurse.

You dont know why you survived and they had to pass away, Hernandez said. Leos life got cut short. It reminds me how delicate life is, and at a moments notice, life can change.
Arkansas fugitive captured by Indiana State Police Police arrested Jones for illegally carrying the above handgun.

LAKE COUNTY  Indiana State Police apprehended an Arkansas fugitive while investigating a vehicle crash Friday morning.

Two state troopers investigating a crash on Interstate 80/94 and Indianapolis Boulevard conducted a routine license check on the victims, only to discover one of them had a nationwide extradition warrant out for his arrest.

Myron Jones, 26, of Moro, Arkansas, is wanted on a full extradition warrant from Memphis, Tennessee, on charges of aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, reckless endangerment, theft of property, vandalism and domestic assault.

Troopers determined Jones was carrying a handgun, which is prohibited in Indiana by a fugitive of justice, according to police. Jones is charged with a local misdemeanor for carrying the handgun.

Jones was booked into the Lake County Jail and awaits extradition to Tennessee.
CROWN POINT  A Lake Criminal Court judge denied a bail reduction and granted the state's request for a no-contact order Friday in a case against a man accused of ramming his estranged wife's home with his truck.

Anthony E. Sailors, 57, of Hobart, refused to sign the order prohibiting him from having any contact with his estranged wife, defense attorney John Maksimovich said.

Sailors also wanted his bail reduced from $65,000 surety or $6,500 cash to $5,000 surety or $500 cash, he said.

Lake Criminal Court Judge Gina Jones said she wanted to be clear about Sailors' requests.

"You want to reduce bail to $500 and not sign a no-contact order?" she said.

Maksimovich replied, "That's Mr. Sailors' request."

Sailors is accused of ramming his estranged wife's SUV with his pickup truck and hitting her Hobart home Aug. 10 while she and several relatives, including children, were inside. A neighbor told police Sailors yelled, "I will kill everyone on the block."

Investigators later learned Sailors had been sending threatening messages before the crash, court records state.

Sailors ran into a wooded area when police arrived, and police released a K-9. Sailors is accused of kicking at the dog after it found him and reaching for an officer's gun during a struggle.

He's pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon, attempted disarming of a law enforcement officer, criminal recklessness, resisting law enforcement and misdemeanor attempted striking of a law enforcement animal.

Maksimovich said he didn't think Sailors would be a threat to the community if released.

Sailors wouldn't be a flight risk because he doesn't have any money to leave, he said. Sailors planned to live with a friend in Hobart if released.

Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Jessica Arnold objected to any reduction in bail, saying Sailors would be a threat to the victims in the case and the community.

The man Sailors planned to live with was facing several felony cases of his own, she said.

Sailors has several battery cases in his past, making his latest arrest appear to be part of a pattern, she said.

Arnold also asked Jones to grant her request for a no-contact order over Sailors' objection.

One woman in the house when Sailors allegedly rammed it was planning on seeking a civil protection order, and another woman already has a civil protection order against Sailors in place in Porter County, she said.
Israel hosts dragon boat race to mark 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties with China

Xinhua) 10:41, September 17, 2022

JERUSALEM, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- A dragon boat race was held in northern Israel on Friday to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and China.

More than 400 athletes from 10 Israeli teams competed in the event at Akko, a port city with thousands of years of history. The Akko Dolphin Dragon Boat Club won the race, which was jointly sponsored by the Chinese embassy to Israel and the municipal government of Akko.

"The dragon boat race is more than a competition. It has turned into a cultural carnival that helps to forge closer bonds between the Chinese and Israelis," Chinese ambassador to Israel Cai Run said, adding he looked forward to more people-to-people exchanges and fruitful cooperation between the two countries.

Yaniv Ashur, Akko municipality's CEO, hoped more similar events could be held to promote mutual understanding between the peoples from both Israel and China.

On Friday, cultural events such as martial arts, Chinese folk music performances, and Chinese calligraphy and painting, as well as tea art were staged simultaneously with the dragon boat race.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji)
Part of this act of dignity includes refusing to allow her countrys airport to be used as part of the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since 2002, several brave people have entered the airport and have attempted to deface U.S. aircraft.

by Vijay Prashad

This is not a regular airport, Margaretta DArcy said to me as we heard a C-130T Hercules prepare to take off from Shannon Airport in Ireland after 3 p.m. on September 11, 2022. That enormous U.S. Navy aircraft (registration number 16-4762) had flown in from Sigonella, a U.S. Naval Air Station in Italy. A few minutes earlier, a U.S. Navy C-40A (registration number 16-6696) left Shannon for the U.S. military base at Stuttgart, Germany, after flying in from Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia. Shannon is not a regular airport, DArcy said, because while it is merely a civilian airport, it allows frequent U.S. military planes to fly in and out of it, with Gate 42 of the airport functioning as its forward operating base.





At the age of 88, DArcy, who is a legendary Irish actress and documentary filmmaker, is a regular member of Shannonwatch, comprising a group of activists who havesince 2008held monthly vigils at a roundabout near the airport. Shannonwatchs objectives are to end U.S. military use of Shannon Airport, to stop rendition flights through the airport, and to obtain accountability for both from the relevant Irish authorities and political leaders. Edward Horgan, a veteran of the Irish military who had been on peacekeeping missions to Cyprus and Palestine, told me that this vigil is vital. Its important that we come here every month, he said, because without this there is no visible opposition to the footprint of the U.S. military in Ireland.

According to a report from Shannonwatch titled Shannon Airport and 21st Century War, the use of the airport as a U.S. forward operating base began in 2002-2003, and this transformation was, and still is, deeply offensive to the majority of Irish people.

Article 29 of the Irish Constitution of 1937 sets in place the framework for the countrys neutrality. Allowing a foreign military to use Irish soil violates Article 2 of the Hague Convention of 1907, to which Ireland is a signatory. Nonetheless, said John Lannon of Shannonwatch, the Irish government has allowed almost 3 million U.S. troops to pass through Shannon Airport since 2002 and has even assigned a permanent staff officer to the airport. Irish airspace and Shannon Airport became the virtual property of the U.S. war machine, said Niall Farrell of Galway Alliance Against War. Irish neutrality was truly dead.

Pitstop of Death

Margaretta DArcys eyes gleam as she recounts her time at the Greenham Common Womens Peace Camp, located in Berkshire, England, and involving activists from Wales, who set up to prevent the storage and passage of U.S. cruise missiles at this British military base. That camp began in 1981 and lasted until 2000. DArcy went to jail three times during this struggle (out of a total of at least 20 times she was in prison for her antiwar activism). It was good, she told me, because we got rid of the weapons and the land was restored to the people. It took 19 years. Women consistently fought until we got what we wanted. When DArcy was arrested, the prison authorities stripped her to search her. She refused to put her clothes back on and went on both a hunger strike and a naked protest. In doing so, she forced the prison authorities to stop the practice of performing strip searches. If you act with dignity, then you force them to treat you with dignity, she said.

Part of this act of dignity includes refusing to allow her countrys airport to be used as part of the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since 2002, several brave people have entered the airport and have attempted to deface U.S. aircraft. On September 5, 2002, Eoin Dubsky painted No way on a U.S. warplane (for which he was fined); and then on January 29, 2003, Mary Kelly took an axe onto the runway and hit a military plane, causing $1.5 million in damage; she was also fined. A few weeks later, on February 3, 2003, the Pitstop Ploughshares (a group of five activists who belonged to the Catholic Worker Movement) attacked a U.S. Navy C-40 aircraftthe same one that Mary Kelly had previously damagedwith hammers and a pickaxe (a story recounted vividly by Harry Browne in Hammered by the Irish, 2008). They also spray-painted Pitstop of Death on a hangar.

In 2012, Margaretta DArcy and Niall Farrell marched onto the runway to protest the airport being used by U.S. planes. Arrested and convicted, they nonetheless returned to the runway the next year in orange jumpsuits. During the court proceedings in June 2014, DArcy grilled the airport authorities about why they had not arrested the pilot of an armed U.S. Hercules plane that had arrived at Shannon Airport four days after their arrest on the runway. She asked, Are there two sets of rulesone for people like us trying to stop the bombing and one for the bombers? Shannon Airports inspector Pat ONeill replied, I dont understand the question.

This is a civilian airport, DArcy told me as she gestured toward the runway. How does a government allow the military to use a civilian airport?

Extraordinary Renditions

The U.S. government began illegally transporting prisoners from Afghanistan and other places to its prison in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and to other black sites in Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. This act of transporting the prisoners came to be known as extraordinary rendition. In 2005, when Dermot Ahern, Irelands minister for foreign affairs, was asked about the extraordinary rendition flights into Shannon Airport, he said, If anyone has any evidence of any of these flights, please give me a call and I will have it immediately investigated. Amnesty International replied that it had direct evidence that up to six CIA chartered planes had used Shannon Airport approximately 50 times. Four years later, Amnesty International produced a thorough report that showed that their earlier number was deflated and that likely hundreds of such U.S. military flights had flown in and out of the airport.

While the Irish government over the years has said that it opposes this practice, the Irish police (the Garda Siochana) have not boarded these flights to inspect them. As a signatory of the European Convention on Human Rights (signed in 1953) and the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (adopted in 1984 and ratified in 1987), Ireland is duty-bound to prevent collaboration with extraordinary rendition, a position taken by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. In 2014, Irish parliamentarians Mick Wallace and Clare Daly were arrested at Shannon Airport for trying to search two U.S. aircraft that they believed were carrying troops and armaments. They were frustrated by the Irish governments false assurances. How do they know? Did they search the planes? Of course not, Wallace and Daly said.

Meanwhile, according to the Shannonwatch report, Rather than take measures to identify past involvement in rendition or to prevent further complicity, successive Irish [g]overnments have simply denied any possibility that Irish airports or airspace were used by U.S. rendition planes.

In 2006, Conor Cregan rode his bicycle near Shannon Airport. Airport police inspector Lillian OShea, who recognized him from protests, confronted him, but Cregan rode off. He was eventually arrested. At Cregans trial, OShea admitted that the police had been told to stop and harass the activists at the airport. Zoe Lawlor of Shannonwatch told me this story and then said, harassment such as this reinforces the importance of our protest.

In 2003 and 2015, Sinn Feinthe largest opposition party in the Northern Ireland Assemblyput forward a Neutrality Bill to enshrine the concept of neutrality into the Irish Constitution. The government, said Sean Crowe of Sinn Fein, has sold Irish neutrality piece by piece against the wishes of the people. If the idea of neutrality is adopted by the Irish people, it will be because of the sacrifices of people such as Margaretta DArcy, Niall Farrell, and Mary Kelly.

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 an 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 books are Struggle Makes Us Human: Learning from Movements for Socialism and (with Noam Chomsky) The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power.
LAPORTE COUNTY  The LaPorte County Sheriff's Office joined forces with other law enforcement Wednesday in a multistate speed enforcement project to reduce speeding along U.S. Route 20.

The LCSO was included in the project due to major concerns with speeding motorists on the highway and heavy traffic. Agencies from Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio were included in the project.

"The safety of motorists traveling along US 20 continues to be a major concern of the La Porte County Sheriffs Office," Capt. Derek Allen said. "Deputies will continue to seek out and address aggressive drivers who put others at risk and in danger."

Deputies worked throughout the day and issued six citations and 27 warnings in total. The project was paused around 4 p.m. when a motorcycle crashed into the back of a truck, killing the rider.

"Unfortunately, Wednesdays fatality crash is yet another example of a US 20 crash that was avoidable and could have been prevented by following the traffic control devices," Allen said.

Law enforcement conducted a similar project with other states July 13. They issued 42 citations, 82 warnings and arrested multiple subjects on U.S. 20.

U.S. 20 runs through Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties. It is the largest highway in the country, stretching from Oregon to Massachusetts.
Seiji Ando never had to learn how to make miso soup. In Japan, it was the kind of thing they taught in elementary school. But as far as he can remember, he never really had to learn because he just always knew. His father and his grandfather were chefs who owned a sushi restaurant in Osaka, so he was around miso soup often growing up. At home, it was breakfast every morning; at his fathers restaurant, it was an after-school snack.

The standard version of miso soup might involve little more than soft tofu, rehydrated seaweed and a lily-pad suspension of scallions, but at home, Ando said, there are no rules. You could add thinly sliced shiitake mushrooms at the end; fried agedashi tofu, clams and even chicken are all fair game when bulking up miso soup at home. Anchored by miso, the Japanese paste made from fermented soybeans and grains, the quotidian dish is riffable, restorative and easy on the stomach. Its the perfect soup.

Ando, now 66, has been living in the United States since 1979 and runs his own restaurant, Benkay, in Portland, Maine. It was there that I had the best miso soup of my life. Last December, when his wife, Hyon, who was working as a server, asked why I was eating alone, I said that I was visiting from New York  and that I loved the soup. This guy from New York likes the soup! she shouted to the kitchen, then turned to me and told me she has a daughter my age.

She sneaked me a second bowl. It tasted even better than the first. What she didnt know was that I hadnt eaten in nearly 24 hours, after a grueling bout of airport drama I wont get into here. I was nearly floating away until that miso soup pulled me back down into my seat. Hot sake washed my day away (or was it her kindness?), and I was able to lean into my evening.
Its influence was less about Oh, I like that sweater and more about this kind of attitude, Mr. Sternberg said of the Godard aesthetic. It was about not trying at all, just about being yourself  youthful, unstudied, rooted in the moment yet, somehow, timeless.

For Agnes Trouble, the creative force behind the Parisian label agnes b., and a friend of the filmmaker, Mr. Godards clothes have a requisite antifashion appeal. l love clothes, but I hate fashion, Ms. Trouble said. Her decidedly muted, insouciant approach has filtered into her collections in the form of lean leather jackets, white shirts and jeans. She has always aimed, she said, to keep things pure and simple.

Anna Sui, a devout Godard follower, was introduced to French New Wave cinema by friends and spent the summer of 2012 immersed in the directors filmography. She was so taken with his film Band of Outsiders (1964) that she paid rapt homage to it with her fall/winter 2013 collection.

Ms. Sui was particularly influenced by a dance sequence in the film, which she replicated in her show. The films central figures gather at a bar and feed a jukebox. The actress Anna Karina, as the punkish schoolgirl Odile, is wearing a kilt, slouchy sweater, knee-high socks and kitten heels. She and her companion, Arthur, played by Claude Brasseur in a beefy argyle sweater, take a spin on the dance floor.
Yeshiva University abruptly announced on Friday that it had placed all undergraduate club activities on hold, the latest maneuver in the legal battle by the Modern Orthodox Jewish institution to keep from recognizing an L.G.B.T.Q. student group.

The move came two days after the U.S. Supreme Court had ordered the university to recognize the student group. In a 5 to 4 vote, the justices said the university would first have to make its arguments in New York State courts before returning to the Supreme Court.

If applicants seek and receive neither expedited review nor interim relief from the New York courts, they may return to this court, the Supreme Court order said.

Citing the upcoming Jewish holidays, the university sent out a terse, unsigned email at midafternoon on Friday that said it would hold off on all undergraduate activities while it planned its next steps to follow the road map provided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
My son is 8 years old. He tells me he wants to be a scientist when he grows up. But his ultra-Orthodox Jewish school doesnt offer any sciences. Even the math and English, its only four hours a week. There is a law in New York State that all private schools have to provide an education at least equivalent to whats being provided in the public school. Theres almost 60,000 children in New York that attend these type of schools. The school is breaking the law, but the city and state officials are not doing anything about it. Meisha Ross-Porter, youre our new chancellor. Please make sure every child in New York gets the education they deserve. Betty Rosa, youre commissioner of education, this is already the New York state law. Just enforce it. Yeshiva is a boys school. In 2019, a New York City investigation found that only two out of 28 ultra-Orthodox yeshivas met the basic standards. The boys in my community, and my son, are essentially being prepared to become Jewish scholars, rabbis. The hardest thing for me is to see what happens when you dont get that education. I was one of those boys. I went to a yeshiva called Oholei Torah in Crown Heights. I didnt learn enough history to even know who Martin Luther King was. Oftentimes youll see politicians afraid to do anything or even say anything, because the community votes as a bloc, and its a powerful voting bloc. The mayor was facing re-election, loath to offend voters in the Hasidic community. What these politicians are doing is that theyre invalidating the experiences of thousands of people, including myself, who were denied a basic education. When I left the yeshiva system, I had no idea how to get into the job market, and I didnt feel like I had any options or a way forward in terms of a career. I didnt even have a high school diploma. This is not about suppressing the religious education. Many yeshivas offer a Judaic study curriculum and an academic study curriculum  math, science, history, geography. The modern Orthodox schools, the Catholic schools, the Quaker schools  there are so many schools that do this really successfully. Im no longer part of the community. Because Im divorced and I have an agreement with my ex-husband, who is part of the ultra-Orthodox community, I have to send my child to an ultra-Orthodox yeshiva. This is an ad asking for teachers, and it explicitly says, [speaking in Yiddish] You dont need to know anything. It does say if you went to a yeshiva, theres a strong possibility that you participated in college programs. College is written like collage, but I think they mean college programs. The teachers are coming from the same system, and then they go and teach. These are the teachers theyre looking for. It is so, so maddening. I want my son to be able to fill out a job application, write a college essay, just the basics. I am begging you as a mother, please enforce the law to make sure my son gets the education he deserves.
The National Archives has told the Justice Department that a lawyer representing former President Donald J. Trump indicated to the archives last year that boxes Mr. Trump had taken to his Mar-a-Lago home from the White House included only nonclassified material like newspaper clippings, according to a person briefed on the matter.

The message was relayed to the National Archives last September by Patrick Philbin, a former top White House lawyer who was representing Mr. Trumps post-presidency office, to the top lawyer at the archives, Gary Stern, according to two people briefed on the matter.

Mr. Philbin indicated to Mr. Stern that the information was based on what Mr. Trumps final White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, believed to be the contents in the boxes, the people said. Mr. Stern memorialized his own description of the exchange in an email, one of the people said.

It is unclear when the archives told the Justice Department about the conversation. But it is part of the evidence gathered by investigators showing how Mr. Trumps representatives gave government officials misleading information about what Mr. Trump had taken with him when he left the White House.
ATLANTA  After a digital flier featuring the logo of the Republican Party of Forsyth County, Ga., urged residents to rally against Stacey Abrams, alarming and infuriating local Democratic leaders who said its message sounded dangerously evocative of the countys notoriously racist past, the Forsyth Republican Party announced that it was calling the rally off.

Using inflammatory language as if Ms. Abrams, the Democratic nominee for governor, were an invading enemy, the flier issued a call to action encouraging conservatives and patriots to save and protect our neighborhoods. It emerged this week in response to news that Ms. Abrams would be campaigning alongside other members of the Democratic ticket in the area on Sunday.

The moment is at hand, the flier read, calling Ms. Abrams and Senator Raphael Warnock, the incumbent Georgia Democrat seeking a full term, the designers of destructive radicalism and socialism and warning that they would be crossing over our county border and into the county seat, Cumming. It said they would appear at OUR FoCal Center, referring to a county arts building.
In early August, at a tiki bar in Washington, D.C., Erin Pedati told a group of friends that shed been struggling with depression. They were good friends, and they responded with empathy and compassion, but the next day Ms. Pedati, 40, felt weird.

Part of me was relieved, because its important to have these discussions, she said. But another part was like, Oh my god, what did I say? You replay the conversation in your head and youre like, They havent replied to my text, did I tell them too much?

Instead of a hangover from too many Mai Tais  which honestly wouldve been easier to treat, she joked  Ms. Pedati was experiencing a vulnerability hangover, a term coined by Brene Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston, to describe the anxiety, shame and regret felt after divulging something personal.

As humans, we have competing needs to build connection with other people by being our real selves, but also to conform to social norms, like not sharing too much, said Emma Seppala, science director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University and author of The Happiness Track.
Underlining Russias widening isolation on the world stage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India told President Vladimir V. Putin on Friday that it is no time for war  even as the Russian president threatened to escalate the brutality of his campaign in Ukraine.

The televised critique by Mr. Modi at a regional summit in Uzbekistan came just a day after Mr. Putin acknowledged that Xi Jinping, Chinas leader, had questions and concerns about the war.

Taken together, the distancing from Mr. Putin by the heads of the worlds two most populous countries  both of which have been pivotal to sustaining Russias economy in the face of Western sanctions  punctured the Kremlins message that Russia was far from a global pariah.

I know that todays era is not of war, Mr. Modi told Mr. Putin at the beginning of their meeting, describing global challenges like the food and energy crises that were hitting developing countries especially hard. Today we will get a chance to discuss how we can move forward on the path of peace.
MYKOLAIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian and Russian forces traded long-distance blows in southern Ukraine on Friday, bombing each others positions and inflicting major damage.

The two top floors of the city administration building in Kherson, a southern Ukrainian city the Russians occupy, were turned into rubble by a Ukrainian missile strike. At least three people died, according to the Russian news agency TASS. The Ukrainians took credit for the attack, saying it was an attempt to decapitate the leadership of the occupied area.

All the collaborators of the occupied Kherson region were gathered there, said Serhiy Khlan, a regional legislator. When they all gathered, a greetings from the Armed Forces of Ukraine arrived.

Mr. Khlan warned civilians to stay away from government offices and military targets in Kherson, in case there are more strikes.
The War on Terror was jointly supported by many countries. Although combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and other affiliated regions have greatly ceased, other aspects of the war like the prevention of financing terrorism persist.

by Rashane Jude Pintoe

As the hands of the great chronograph of time strike to symbolise twenty-one years since that day of sheer terror in downtown New York, the world reflects upon the new type of war that has enkindled the world for all these years. As the haunting wails of victims pulsated across the globe, the extremist Islamist brand of terror took the centre stage of destruction.

9/11 marks a tragic memory of loss for the American people. People gathered at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in Lower Manhattan to observe an annual ritual of remembering the nearly 3,000 lives that were lost in the terror attacks. The crowd raised the popular slogan, Never Forget to pay tribute to the precious lives lost and to the resolve of the American nation against terrorism. Army General Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, remembered it as an attack on the American nation as a whole and the failure of terrorists in destroying the freedom of the nation. The attacks on 9/11 reflected a growing threat to the peaceful community of the world.

Representational Image: Boeing AH-64 Apache of US Military is landing in Afghanistan on September 2020 [ Photo  Andre Klimke/ Unsplash ]

Bin Ladens model of terror resembled an idiosyncratic fusion of politico-religious fundamentalism as well as anti-Americanist sentiment. The newspapers on 9th September 2001 reported, America is under attack. People watched in disbelief as the most powerful country in the world seemed vulnerable and helpless in the face of such blatant provocation. The unipolar world power of the 90s was struck in the heart by an ideological fiend of terror. The very magnitude of severity with which the mighty Global Power was assaulted shocked the ends of the earth. 9/11 is still regarded as the single deadliest attack on US soil.

As al-Qaeda openly and brazenly provoked the US, the latter vindictively declared a counterattack against al-Qaeda and their organisational haven in Kabul  the Taliban. Then-President George W. Bush announced that the US will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbour them. This announcement materialised through the launch of Operation Enduring Freedom on October 07 of the same year, when US Army Special Forces, colloquially known as the Green Berets were deployed into Afghanistan to decimate the al-Qaeda operational infrastructure and network. The operation also aimed to oust the Taliban government from Afghanistan due to the very national security threat that the country posed to the US. This operation which was launched with a clear aim in mind, soon turned into an ambiguous and controversial war  famously dubbed the War on Terror.

The War on Terror became the longest war ever fought by the US spanning over twenty years. The Taliban regime collapsed a month after the attack and Bin Laden fled Afghanistan and remained in hiding for close to a decade. When the war completed its first ten years, Bin Laden was finally struck down by Seal Team Six (DEVGRU) in 2011 in Abbottabad, Pakistan. With that, the primary goal of the US was accomplished which was to rout both Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. At this stage in 2011, the US had planted the pro-US government of Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan.

The remainder of their operations in Afghanistan was fought without any particular goals to accomplish  something that had been up for debate for several years with multiple high-profile figures advocating for withdrawal. The US claimed that its goal was to create a strong democratic government in Afghanistan so that the Taliban can never roll back into power. Fast forward to 2021, the Taliban rolled back to power stronger than before and with the mighty brunt of the US arsenal courtesy of the Biden-Harris administration.

The War on Terror was jointly supported by many countries. Although combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and other affiliated regions have greatly ceased, other aspects of the war like the prevention of financing terrorism persist. The successes of this war are plentiful on the operational dimension; however, it has also garnered multitudes of criticism on accusations of aggravating the threat. Various proxy campaigns, especially under the Obama administration have led to Made in USA weaponry getting into the hands of insurgents, terrorists and radicals. In the Syrian theatre, US funding and weapons strengthened rebel groups against President Bashar al-Assad, yet it irresponsibly led to the arming of the Islamic State in the region.

Due to the War in Afghanistan, the US not only faced external condemnation but internal criticism as well. As the war prolonged, the cost of the war increased over time, in the form of both human and financial losses. The US spent over USD 2.31 trillion with over 243,000 deaths in the Afghanistan-Pakistan theatre, neologistically referred to as AfPak within US foreign policy circles. This made the American public war-weary and the war goals were seen as unworthy in the face of human and financial costs. On the other hand, the international community started calling out the US as this war had no end in sight. One of the most criticised aspects of war was the use of drones by the US. UN experts expressed this concern by calling drone strikes counter-productive as they do more harm than good owing to heavy civilian casualties. Obamas warfare strategy incorporated the launching of thousands of drone and air strikes in war zones in the Middle East and Central Asia, killing scores of civilians in the process. In addition, the countries whose territories were used in waging this war became the frontline against terrorists. For instance, a report by Nobel prize-winner concluded that around 80,000 people were killed, both directly and indirectly, in Pakistan alone as a result of the war on terror.

On the positive side, 9/11 and the War on Terror rapidly mobilised the Western security community to realise dormant terror cells within their borders. This enabled the dismantling of various foreign terrorist networks including Sri Lankas Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). In the mid-2000s, the Western security apparatus dismantled multiple funding links between the LTTE international network and the LTTE terrorists in Sri Lankas North and East. Numerous LTTE front organisations that disguised as cultural and charity institutions were raided, investigated and proscribed for terrorist financing, arms procurement and war taxes. Among these, the World Tamil Movement (Canada) and World Tamil Coordinating Committee (US) received much of the limelight.

The underlying impetus that al-Qaeda used to garner support from Muslim countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia was the prevalence of anti-Americanist sentiments. The Muslim world sees the US as a foreign force that attempts to enforce its rule over smaller nations. The unilateral invasion of Iraq, wars in Afghanistan, and the non-resolution of the Palestine issue are some of the major reasons for such sentiments. When the propagation of the thesis of Clash of Civilisations was carried out by Western intellectuals and disseminated across Western media, a natural aura of insecurity engulfed the Muslim world, which was vaguely isolated in the world.

The US fighting wars in Islamic regions of the world was perceived as evidence of US vs Muslim sentiments  something that was and is capitalised on by extremists across the world. Osama bin Laden exploited these sentiments to achieve his ulterior ambitions, just as Zahran Hasheem did in order to launch the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks. Although the violent activities of terrorists should be unquestionably condemned, distorted strategies by the Western security community  especially the invasion of Iraq  should be condemned as well.

Even after fighting the beasts of terror for twenty long years, the US failed in its attempt to militarily stop the Taliban from gaining power in Afghanistan. The Doha Peace Deal between the US and the Taliban in 2020 was seen as the acceptance of this failure. By sitting at the same table with the Taliban and accepting them as major stakeholders in Afghanistan, the US fundamentally declared that the two decades spent on the war were a lost cause. After all this time, the Biden-Harris administration handed over the reins of power back to the Taliban  the very group that was denied rule in 2001. The relations between the US and the Taliban have seen many surprising changes; from being the supporters during the Soviet War in Afghanistan from 1979-1989 to being the cut-throat enemies after 9/11, the relationship evolved. Finally resulting in the most current development where both parties showcase a feigned acceptance of the co-existence of each other.

The Doha Peace Deal led to the total withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. After this withdrawal, Kabul fell on 15th August 2021 without any resistance from the US-trained Afghan army. US-backed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled Kabul before the Taliban terrorists entered the capital. This raised many eyebrows across the world as the CIA had predicted otherwise. Reports suggested that the United States has spent almost $83 billion on the training of the Afghanistan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF). Thus, the Marshall plan by the US to develop and equip the Afghanistan governments resilience against terrorist organisations fell headfirst into the ground. Despite thorough attacks that often resulted in civilian casualties, the top militaries of the world were unable to dismantle a terrorist network that primarily operated from Afghanistan cave systems. Alternatively, the Sri Lankan military was able to decimate the most dangerous and deadly extremists in the world (FBI statement 2008) and that too after conducting the worlds largest hostage rescue mission by rescuing approximately 200,000 civilians from the trappings of the LTTEs human shields.

Although 9/11 raised an outcry for action from every section of American society, the retrospective view of the decisions taken by the Bush administration reveals the very inefficiency and miscalculations of some of those actions. A very prominent example is the Patriot Act, which was passed 45 days after the attacks. It was passed under the cloak of combating terrorism but is accused of jeopardising the civil rights of people in America and proved that the ambitious US government even used 9/11 as an opportunity to achieve its goals.

9/11 is rightly described by analysts as the most striking event of the century that reverberated across space and time. Afghanistan became a war-torn country; Pakistan faced the spillover effect of terrorism in the neighbourhood and multiple affiliated regions were stuck in the vicious cycle of terrorism. On one side, 9/11 reinvigorated an exceptional sense of unity among the people of the US. On the other hand, it created havoc in Afghanistan that lost any semblance of stability and prosperity.

Rashane Jude Pintoe is a researcher on international and national security. He is a research analyst at the Global Peace Institute, UK. He was formerly attached to the Institute of National Security Studies under the Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka. He specialises in global insurgencies, Islamist extremism and counterterrorism. Having multiple pieces of research publications to his name, Rashane also writes on topics relating to terrorism, peace and the status quo of the political attributes in both Sri Lankan and foreign aspects.'
IZIUM, Ukraine  Hundreds of graves had been cut into the sandy soil of a pine forest, isolated and unexamined. A chilly wind blew through the tree branches. Police officers spoke in hushed tones. And newly dug up bodies lay all about on the forest floor.

Just a week after Russian forces fled northeastern Ukraine in a frantic retreat, and days after President Volodymyr Zelensky raised the flag over the newly reclaimed city of Izium, Ukrainian investigators on Friday began a painstaking task: documenting the toll on the city of six months under Russian occupation.

They have already found several burial sites. The one in the pine forest, the largest of those, could hold the remains of more than 400 people who died during almost six months of Russian occupation, Ukrainian officials said.

The identities of many of those buried at that site and the causes of death remain unknown. Nor is it clear how many were civilians and how many were soldiers. But the scale of the grave site underscored the depth of Ukrainian losses since Russia invaded, an estimated tens of thousands of people around the country. And it recalled the broad evidence of atrocities by Russian soldiers in towns like Bucha, near the capital of Kyiv, investigators said.
Trump created the cynical and boorish template for other presidential hopefuls on the right.

It can be amusing to mock elites. But theres something exceedingly creepy  and blatantly opportunistic  about DeSantis chartering two planes to send some 50 migrants, mostly Venezuelan, from San Antonio to Marthas Vineyard. The lawyers for some migrants said that they were deceived about their destination, and Marthas Vineyard officials said they had no notice. Abbott sent two busloads of migrants to Vice President Kamala Harriss home at the Naval Observatory.

It was reported that a woman who said her name was Perla offered the migrants in Texas three months of rent and work in Boston. But then they ended up, as one put it, on this little island.

This caper to expose the hypocrisy of Democratic elites ended up being compared to human trafficking. The Republicans are exploiting peoples misery for a political game. The migrants simply want to work, which a bunch of Americans dont want to do anymore.

With their pre-midterm publicity stunts, as with their draconian push to outlaw abortion, the Republicans are increasingly letting politics take precedence over people.

The argument that migrants coming across the border have a more severe impact on border states is obviously valid. You cant have a nearly unchecked flood of people coming in  an average of 8,500 a day, according to Axios.

It is also a valid criticism that Democrats  both in the White House and Congress  are going out of their way to avoid what they see as a third rail with progressives. The border is just the tip of the spear. Democrats are too afraid of angering the base to bear down and overhaul the system, including tackling the backlog of court cases and fixing how those cases are adjudicated.

President Biden ignores the border, giving it to Kamala Harris to get under control. We all know thats not happening. Republicans like Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham who once tried to work on solutions have now just degenerated into using the border issue to bash Democrats as flaccid.
Another Labour representative wrote: Its not enough to be a Black or ethnic minority politician in this country or a cabinet member. Thats not what representation is about. Thats actually tokenism.

The implication is that theres only one way to authentically represent ones race, ethnicity or sex  otherwise youre a phony or a pawn. Is that fair?

Im not politically aligned with Truss on most issues. This is not the team Id choose to lead a country reeling from Covid, an energy crisis and the twin disasters of Boris and Brexit. But its Trusss prerogative to hire people with whom she is ideologically aligned and who support her policies.

And one has to assume those new hires joined her willingly and with conviction. Surely they, like all racial and ethnic minorities, are capable of the same independence of mind and diversity of thought as white people  some people Trumpy, other people Bernie.

Nor are they the first conservative minorities to hold top positions of power in Britain. It was the Conservative Party that, despite widespread antisemitism, first appointed a Jewish-born prime minister, Benjamin Disraeli, in 1868. The three women who have served as prime ministers  Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May and now Truss  have all been Conservatives. The former prime minister David Cameron was no lefty, yet he made a point of emphasizing ethnic and racial diversity among his leadership appointments.

Black and other ethnic minority voters in Britain arent uniformly lefty, either. They cast 20 percent of their votes for Conservatives in 2019.

A similar diversity of political opinion among minorities exists in the United States, and it bewilders the left. An increasing number of Latinos are running as and voting for Republican candidates. Donald Trump got more votes from ethnic minorities in 2020 than he did in 2016. Black mens support for Trump increased by six percentage points the second time around. And that was after the murder of George Floyd, an event assumed to have galvanized many minority voters on the left.
The Elizabethan pageantry emphasizes this global reality because the House of Windsor is an exception that proves the rule. Like almost no other institution in the West outside the Vatican, the British monarchy has retained a pre-modern, pre-democratic legitimacy; in the outpouring of secular grief there was still a sense that the queen was somehow God-ordained to sit on the throne. But the royal family has kept that legitimacy by giving up all but a fraction of its personal power; it has legitimacy and little else.

In Moscow you have the contrast: personal political power, far greater than the power of King Charles III, that lacks deep legitimating structures. Putin is a pseudo-czar but not a real one, with no divine anointing or ancient oath. He claims some Russian-nationalist legitimacy, but his system is actually a polyglot imperium. He claims some democratic legitimacy by holding regular elections, but their results are neither fair nor free.

So all he has to really justify his power is success. Which he has delivered for most of his career  a Russia richer and more stable than in the years before he took the presidency, and a series of successful foreign policy gambits.

But now comes the test, the gambit that hasnt delivered, the specter of defeat, and what does he have to fall back upon? Not the authority of a czar: He cannot mobilize the Russian people as feudal subjects, calling on them to treat imperial Russias grand projects as their own. Not the authority of a national leader in a struggle for self-determination: He is the invader; its Ukraine thats fighting for a nation. And not the authority of a democratic leader: He cannot have his war policy vindicated in an election, as Abraham Lincoln did in 1864, because any election would be a masquerade.

In recent years, as authoritarian leaders have gained ground around the world and democracy has decayed, theres been a fear that these figures have a stronger hand to play than the dictators of the past, because their authoritarianism is gentler and subtler, and also wrapped in the legitimating structures of elections.
INTERNATIONAL

An article on Wednesday about the public viewing of Queen Elizabeth IIs coffin referred imprecisely to the location where the public will be able to see the coffin. While her body will lie in state at Westminster Abbey, it will be on view to the public at Westminster Hall.

NEW YORK

An article on Friday about New Jerseys plans to convert a defunct train line into a nine-mile park misstated the date of sale of an 8.6-mile stretch of train line from Norfolk Southern Railway. It was Aug. 19, not Aug. 16.

ARTS & LEISURE

An article this weekend on Page 13 about the difficulties in translating the lyrics of the musical Hamilton for a German version of the show misidentifies the character who sings a lyric from the song Alexander Hamilton. The lyric, which starts with How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a/ Scotsman, was sung by the character of Aaron Burr, not Alexander Hamilton.

MAGAZINE

An article on Sept. 11 about federal relief school funding misstated aspects of the Dallas Independent School Districts expenditures to extend learning opportunities. The learning opportunities  and not the reinvention of the calendar  are available for nearly 22,000 students. And it plans to spend close to $100 million; it has not yet spent it.
Anything beyond that is a courtesy, and one with potential pitfalls. The buildings new owners may have looked at the long-term arrangement and seen reason for concern. When keys come and go from the front desk, handed off to house cleaners, friends and other visitors, there is a chance that one could go missing. Did the dog walker forget to hand the keys back to the doorman, or did the doorman misplace them?

Thats a security problem, said Dan Wurtzel, the president of FirstService Residential New York, a property manager. If there is a mix-up with those keys and somebody said they left the key and they didnt, now there is a security issue and we have to change the locks.

However, such a rule does have limits. A tenant who is older or disabled may have caregivers who need to be able to readily access the apartment. If the new rule does not take that into consideration and make reasonable accommodations, those tenants could potentially file a complaint with the New York City Commission on Human Rights, according to Samuel J. Himmelstein, a Manhattan real estate lawyer.

Rent-stabilized tenants could argue that the old policy was a required service and so the change amounts to a reduction of services. Those tenants could apply to the state for rent reductions because of the loss of the building-wide service. If they win and management decides to revoke the new policy rather than selectively enforce it, the entire building could benefit. This is an example where the market tenants could ride the backs of the stabilized tenants, Mr. Himmelstein said.
The homeowners may have won the first round, but as the years dragged on, Mr. Posner said, he and his neighbors were becoming increasingly frustrated that they hadnt received approval to expand the project. Opponents of the project said they had the photos to prove the geotubes were causing erosion on other Nantucket beaches, despite the sacrificial sand. The homeowners countered that there was no erosion on the beaches on either end of the tubes or in front of them, and wasnt that proof the strategy was a success?

Each side accused the other of cherry-picking data.

Weve had a wonderful run here, Mr. Posner said, as I walked with him out to the edge of his tidy yard with its heart-stopping view and looked back at his cottage. If it really all washed away, it would be a tragedy, but weve got no hard feelings. What keeps me awake at night is not losing the house. Its knuckling under to unthinking nonsense. We have clearly demonstrated an effective and balanced way to adapt to climate change without harming others that many coastal communities can learn from.

In 2020, the homeowners group decided to stop adding sacrificial sand. It made no sense, Mr. Posner said, to continue to spend $2 million a year on a project that had no hope of expansion. We told the town, Were done. We cant afford to keep complying with the permit. And the town came to us and said, Dont give up. Were going to hire an outside expert, and if your project passes muster, we will join with you and march hand in hand down this road as partners.

About a year ago, Arcadis, an environmental company hired by the town, issued its report, 50-plus pages weighing the costs and benefits of all sorts of options: keeping the tubes, removing the tubes, extending the tubes, beach nourishment, vegetation and more. It is a remarkable document that reads rather like a mediation agreement between a divorcing couple, as it attempts to hash out what has become a bitter fight over how to handle the very real effects of climate change.

Boiled down, it essentially says that keeping the tubes may be the least costly strategy  albeit a temporary one  but that if the community cant agree to do that, it had better think long and hard about planning a managed retreat in the face of cataclysmic coastal erosion.

It has come down to this bizarre battle between the people who are sitting on the edge of the world, who want to save their homes, and those who think they should not be allowed to do so, said Mr. Cohan, the journalist, who wrote about his communitys travails for Vanity Fair in 2013. He and his wife, Deborah Futter, a book editor, bought their shingle-style house in 2009  at $600,000, he said, it seemed both a steal and incredibly risky  and moved it in 2014 (for more than it cost to buy it). They are now resigned to losing it altogether.

Its a fundamental principle of American society: being able to do what you want at your own expense to protect your property, Mr. Cohan said. In a place like Florida, you have Stand Your Ground laws, where they can take a gun and shoot someone who comes onto their property. But here in Puritan Nantucket, we cant even spend the money to put in this system that protects the bluff on a beach where nobody goes, because thats not Gods way, thats not Gods vision. This is a pile of sand in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and if its Gods will that it disappear  which it will be  then we, as man, should not do anything to prevent that.
With tequila, she said, there is actually so much sophistication. Its an extraordinary plant. It has power. In Latin, agave means illustrious, admirable and noble. When youre standing there in this ocean of blue and green agave, I find it very inspiring.

Something to Call Her Own

Ms. Gonzalez Nieves drinks tequila with her childhood in mind. She was raised in an upper-middle class family in Mexico Citys neighborhood of Pedregal de San Angel. Her father and his brother operated a cosmetics company called De Vissy International that they founded with their father; her mother ran a small catering business. Every Monday, her maternal grandmother hosted a family lunch from her home in Colonia del Valle, cooking dishes like chiles en nogadas or mole. Tequila was poured at the start of every meal. When Ms. Gonzalez Nieves was 13, she persuaded her grandmother to let her try a glass ( It was just a sip! she said) and while she was too young to enjoy the spirit, she remembered it was imbued with a sense of meaning.

It was a ritual, she said. It was part of our familys social fabric.

At an early age, Ms. Gonzalez Nieves showed entrepreneurial spirit. At 10, on a family trip to Texas, she persuaded her mother to let her buy hundreds of dollars worth of items from the Hello Kitty store, and to resell them to her classmates back home. As a teenager, she concocted schemes to sell Balinese baskets filled with wine and poinsettias from Xochimilco to her neighbors, turning a small profit. At 17, she endeavored to become the next Hallmark Cards of Mexico, hiring an illustrator and printing cards with a friend. It provided me with a certain independence that I really enjoyed, she said of the money earned.

It wasnt until Ms. Gonzalez Nieves was 23, still a student at Universidad Anahuac, that her fascination with tequila took root professionally. She had just won a scholarship with Ship for World Youth to promote Mexican culture in Japan. The program required its participants to tour various parts of Mexico in order to better understand the country for themselves. It was then, visiting the tequila fields in Jalisco, that she knew she had found her calling. Seeing tequila through the eyes of another country revealed everything that she loved about her own. She decided to find a way to work in the industry. After a stint working as a consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton and receiving her graduate business degree from Northwestern University, she was hired by Grupo Cuervo, the Mexican family company of Jose Cuervo tequilas.

There, she quickly climbed the corporate ladder, working as Grupo Cuervos global brand director and global director of innovation and new business. I used to joke I had to grow a mustache, she said of her time working in spirits, which is still a male-dominated industry. In 2000, she moved to New York City. But after eight years, she wanted something to call her own.
FAIRBANKS, Alaska  Communities along Alaskas western coast faced widespread flooding on Saturday as a powerful storm  the remnants of Typhoon Merbok  roared across the Bering Sea, with wind gusts tearing the siding off buildings and a storm surge pulling homes from their foundations.

The impact was felt across hundreds of miles of coastline as the storm raked the state from south to north. In Nome, raging waters pushed into six of the citys streets, including part of Front Street, near where mushers finish the Iditarod sled-dog race. In Chevak, about 200 miles south, images showed sheds floating in tumbling waves next to sunken boats.

In Golovin, about 70 miles east of Nome, Dean Peterson said water had jumped the 20-foot berm that protects the community of 170 people, rushing through the lower-lying areas, pulling three homes from their foundations and destroying another.

People in the community scrambled to rescue an older adult from his home, and many evacuated to take shelter in the school, which itself was not fully protected.
It is also possible that Mr. Trump or another Republican nominee will try to reverse a close defeat in 2024 but will fail, as happened in 2020. Then, Brad Raffensperger, Georgias Republican secretary of state, rebuffed Mr. Trump after he directed him to find 11,780 votes, and the Supreme Court refused to intervene, as well. More broadly, Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, recently said that the United States had very little voter fraud.

If a Republican were again to try to overturn the election and to fail, the movement might also begin to fade.

But many democracy experts worry that these scenarios may be wishful thinking. Mr. Trumps most likely successors as party leader also make or tolerate false claims about election fraud. The movement is bigger than one person  and arguably always has been: Some of the efforts to make voting more onerous, which are generally justified with false suggestions of widespread voter fraud, predated Mr. Trumps 2016 candidacy.

To believe that Republicans will not overturn a close presidential loss in coming years seems to depend on ignoring the public positions of many Republican politicians. The scenarios by which we dont have a major democracy crisis by the end of the decade seem rather narrow, Mr. Mounk of Johns Hopkins said.

And Mr. Levitsky said, Its not clear how the crisis is going to manifest itself, but there is a crisis coming. He added, We should be very worried.

The most promising strategy for avoiding an overturned election, many scholars say, involves a broad ideological coalition that isolates election deniers. But it remains unclear how many Republican politicians would be willing to join such a coalition.

It is also unclear whether Democratic politicians and voters are interested in making the compromises that would help them attract more voters. Many Democrats have instead embraced a purer version of liberalism in recent years, especially on social issues. This shift to the left has not prevented the party from winning the popular vote in presidential elections. But it has hurt Democrats outside of major metropolitan areas and, by extension, in the Electoral College and congressional elections.
An emotional Attorney General Merrick B. Garland addressed new citizens on Saturday at Ellis Island, the site of his familys American origin story, and warned that the country had become dangerously divided by political factionalism, which has imperiled the democracy and the rule of law.

Mr. Garland was presiding over the oath of allegiance for 250 naturalized citizens at the iconic immigration processing center, on the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution in 1787. As the new Americans rose to recognize their home countries  about 60 of them, with origins from Albania to Yemen  he told them that the United States wholeheartedly welcomes you.

During a 10-minute speech in which he repeatedly stopped to collect himself, the attorney general recounted the tale of his grandmothers flight from antisemitism in what is now Belarus before World War II, and the narrow escape to New York made by his wifes mother, who fled Austria after Nazis annexed the country in 1938.

My family story is what motivated me to choose a career in public service, said the typically stoic attorney general, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. I wanted to repay my country for taking my family in when they had nowhere else to go. I wanted to repay the debt my family owes this country for our very lives.
We are the only committee that has gotten financial documents, she added.

The documents Mazars is providing Congress concern Mr. Trumps financial dealings from 2014 to 2018. He took office in 2017 after a career in real estate and other businesses.

The Oversight Committee has been in a lengthy struggle to obtain financial documents from Mr. Trump as part of its investigation into allegations of conflicts of interest, inadequate financial disclosures and violations of the emoluments clauses of the Constitution, which bar the president from receiving profits from a domestic or foreign government other than his official compensation.

In 2019, Michael D. Cohen, Mr. Trumps former personal attorney, testified before the committee that Mr. Trumps financial statements had falsely represented the former presidents assets and liabilities and that Mr. Trump had inflated his total assets when it served his purposes and, at other times, deflated his assets to reduce his real estate taxes.

The committee then issued a subpoena to Mazars, prompting Mr. Trump to file a lawsuit against the firm to prevent the company from complying. The committee subsequently won a series of legal victories, including before the Supreme Court in July 2020.
There also are signs that Mr. Putin could be worried about his own political standing. Public criticism in Russia is on the rise in the aftermath of the counteroffensive. Commentators have, mostly, avoided any direct critique of Mr. Putin. But some academic experts see harsh assessments of the Russian military command as an implicit criticism of Mr. Putin.

The troubles facing Mr. Putin  from mounting criticism to the Ukrainian military strength  mean that his escalation calculus could change.

That has made the decision on longer-range weaponry particularly difficult.

The recent rhetoric out of Russia may well be designed to make the United States think twice about the ATACMS. The missiles would allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russia or Crimea. Mr. Zelensky has vowed to take back the peninsula, and has carried out stunning attacks against Russian targets there in recent weeks.

Still, the missiles would not allow the Ukrainians to break the defensive lines that the Russians are trying now to rebuild. And some experts caution that they are unlikely to tip the balance in the war.

Throughout the war, U.S. intelligence has proved adept at learning Russian military plans, but its track record on Mr. Putins intentions is more mixed.

Intelligence officials have said publicly that Mr. Putins war aims remain the same from the beginning of the war  which include the removal of Mr. Zelensky.

In response to the recent setbacks, Mr. Putin could also consider some kind of additional military mobilization, according to U.S. officials. Mr. Putin has so far been unwilling to trigger a full mobilization. But military experts said he could call up more reservists, or men who have previously served in the military  which would be less politically fraught and could bring forces to the battlefield quicker.

What Mr. Putin decides to do could depend on his assessment of his own strength at home, how quickly he thinks Ukraine can regroup and attempt another counteroffensive  and what he can do to deter, rather than encourage, further American support.
SAN JUAN, P.R.  Three years ago, after Puerto Ricos legislature narrowly defeated new abortion restrictions, the cardiologist and pastor Dr. Cesar Vazquez Muniz founded a new political party whose mission, he vowed, would include defending life.

Now, with just one senator and one representative in the Legislative Assembly, Dr. Vazquezs upstart party, Project Dignity, has helped lead a new attempt to limit abortion on the island, one of only a handful of U.S. jurisdictions where the procedure remains legal at any point during pregnancy.

The abortion fight is the clearest sign yet that Puerto Rican politics, long focused on whether the island should keep its territorial status or seek to become a state, are realigning. Fed up with how the status issue has overshadowed fixing peoples day-to-day problems, voters have begun coalescing around new parties focused on social issues and partisan ideology. As a result, legislative debates have begun to look a little more like those between Democrats and Republicans in the states  giving conservatives an opportunity to grow their power.

We do want to defend children before birth and our other particular ideological issues, Dr. Vazquez said in a recent interview. But fundamentally we want to turn back 40 years of government corruption.
Queen Elizabeth IIs death triggered a cascade of official protocols in Canada, shifting the constitutional monarchy to a new sovereign: King Charles III.

There have been a few hiccups and moments of confusion. Some new Canadians stumbled over which monarch to name when swearing their oaths of allegiance at the first citizenship ceremonies after the queens death. And in its haste to switch the lyrics of Canadas royal anthem  now God Save the King, formerly God Save the Queen  the federal heritage department missed a few female pronouns in the last verse. (It has since been corrected.)

The kings accession to the throne was proclaimed in Canada during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Sept. 10. Protocol will dictate the activities to come, such as taking down Queen Elizabeths portrait in government buildings and adding King Charless image to Canadian money and documents.

Ahead of the queens funeral on Monday, here are some answers about what comes next for Canada.

What does Queen Elizabeths death mean for Canada?

Queen Elizabeths death may inspire more discussion about the relevance of the crown in Canada, but materially, its business as usual.
WASHINGTON  President Biden met on Friday with family members of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, two Americans imprisoned in Russia whose release the United States is trying to negotiate with Moscow amid poisoned relations over the war in Ukraine.

Mr. Biden spoke with Mr. Whelans sister, Elizabeth, and then with Ms. Griners wife, Cherelle Griner, and her agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, to discuss his continuing commitment to bringing both Americans home.

It was Mr. Bidens first in-person meetings with both families, though he spoke to them by telephone this summer. Jake Sullivan, Mr. Bidens national security adviser, also attended Fridays sessions.

The meetings reflect an effort by the White House to demonstrate compassion for Ms. Griner and Mr. Whelan, even as some critics say that Mr. Biden is not doing enough to persuade President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to release the two Americans.
ROME  Italy celebrated the return of three stolen ancient terra-cotta figures, depicting Orpheus and the Sirens, in a ceremony on Saturday at Romes newly inaugurated Museum of Rescued Art.

Until earlier this year, the figures  which date to around 300 B.C.  had been on exhibit at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. But Italian carabinieri officers in the countrys art theft division uncovered incontrovertible proof last year that the sculptures had been illegally excavated from a site in Southern Italy, and the museum agreed to return them.

The head of the carabinieri art theft division, Gen. Roberto Riccardi, said Saturday at the ceremony that two moments from the investigation stood out. The first was in March 2021, when two lieutenants in his squad had come into his office to report that a suspect in an ongoing investigation had come clean. The statues, the suspect had told the officers, had been excavated by tomb robbers in the early 1970s in a town close to Taranto, in Puglia.

The second moment of note, the general said, was exactly a week ago in Los Angeles, at the Getty Museum, where the work had ended up. To see this work being packed up was truly one of the greatest things of my life, General Riccardi said.
The discovery this week of hundreds of bodies buried in a forest near the northeastern Ukrainian city of Izium has cast a renewed spotlight on potential war crimes and prompted fresh calls to hold Russia accountable for any abuses committed during their occupation of the city.

Investigators say the discoveries recall the broad evidence of atrocities by Russian soldiers in towns like Bucha, near Kyiv. But many of the bodies have not been identified, and the causes of death, or even how many were civilians and how many were soldiers, are not yet known.

While the work to clarify how the deaths occurred in Izium continued, Antony J. Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state, said on Friday that it was vital to push for legal accountability.

At a news conference in Washington, he said it was important that even as the Ukrainians do everything they can to take back the land thats been seized from them by Russia in this aggression, that at the same time were all working to build the evidence and document the atrocities that have been committed.
LONDON  All Meghan Markle did was put on a somber outfit and a sympathetic expression and walk around in public with three other people for 45 minutes. But the pointillistic armchair analysis of that brief event  a surprise outing outside Windsor Castle last Saturday featuring Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, and Prince William and his wife  has gone on ever since.

The incident, for those following this particular saga, represented a brief cessation of, or maybe presaged an eventual thaw in, the coldness and hostility that has developed between the Prince and Princess of Wales (William and Kate) and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Harry and Meghan) in the past few years.

Thrown, or perhaps pushed, into shared mourning after the death of Harry and Williams grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, the four came together for the first time in more than a year to express their gratitude to the crowds, admire the bouquets of flowers left for the queen and demonstrate that they were able to exist in the same general location without seeming overtly hostile to each other.

From the moment Meghan appeared in public, and in the days that followed, Meghan-watchers in the papers and on social media have analyzed the video of the event as if it had been filmed by Zapruder himself, turning into instant lip-readers, body-language analysts, fashion critics and protocol experts in service to a never-ending parlor game: What Has Meghan Done Now?
LONDON  Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Armenia on Saturday, leading a congressional delegation in a show of support for the small south Caucasus nation after an outbreak of fighting with neighboring Azerbaijan resulted in the deaths of more than 200 people this week.

Ms. Pelosi said that she would meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in the capital, Yerevan, as well as with other officials to convey the strong and ongoing support of the United States for Armenia and for a lasting settlement to the conflict between the two neighbors over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The trip was seen as a political move by Ms. Pelosi ahead of the midterm elections in November. She is the highest-ranking American official to visit Armenia since it gained independence 30 years ago with the end of the Soviet Union, her office said in a statement. She was accompanied by Representatives Jackie Speier and Anna G. Eshoo, both Armenian Americans from California, where there is a large Armenian community.

The visit, Ms. Pelosis latest effort to flex the legislative branchs diplomatic muscle, comes amid an eruption of war in Europe and points to the shifting balance of power around the former Soviet empire where the United States has long sought to build influence. The recent fighting, which according to an analyst for the International Crisis Group involved troops entering Armenian territory, is the worst since a full-scale war there killed thousands in 2020, and it has made Armenia appear particularly vulnerable.
At 9 p.m. on July 9, four cruise missiles slammed into a dormitory at the old ceramic plant. The buildings crumbled as if they were made out of sand. Viacheslav Boitsov, an emergency services official, said there were no military facilities nearby.

But according to Mr. Mohyla and Oleksandr Nevydomskyi, another Ukrainian military officer, Ukrainian soldiers were staying in that building. The night before, they said, a mysterious man was seen standing outside flashing light signals, most likely pinpointing the position.

The military calls such spies correctors, and they relay navigational information to the Russians to make missile and artillery strikes more precise. Ukrainian officials have arrested more than 20 and say correctors are often paid several hundred dollars after a target is hit. The strike in Chasiv Yar was one of the deadliest: 48 killed, including 18 soldiers, the officers said.

For sure there are Russian agents in this town, Mr. Mohyla said. There might even be spies in our unit.

The Days Ahead

Few in Chasiv Yar are confident that the town will stay in government hands.

Mr. Khainus said the Russians were steadily moving closer to his sunflower fields. About a week ago, a friends house was shelled. A day later, in an online messaging channel, separatist supporters said Mr. Khainus should be next, calling him a hero  adding an epithet.

Is he scared?

Why should I be? he said. Theyre nobodies.

Mr. Tsyhankov, the retired dump truck driver nostalgic for the Soviet times, seemed pained by all of the bloodshed but did not blame the Russians or the separatists. Theyre doing the right thing, he said. Theyre fighting for the Russian language and their territory.

As he said goodbye, insisting that his guests take with them a jug of his homemade apple juice and some fresh green grapes, he shook his head at the enormity of it. Why cant we be friends with you guys, the Americans? he asked. Politics are keeping all of us hostage.
After nearly a week offline, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine resumed receiving electricity from the countrys power grid, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, said on Saturday. The restoration came after engineers finished repairing a high-voltage line damaged by shelling.

The restored line, one of four primary external connections at the sprawling nuclear power plant, will furnish the station with the electricity needed to cool its six nuclear reactors and perform other critical safety functions, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement.

Before the line was fixed on Friday, the plant  the largest in Europe  had been relying on three backup power lines, as well as electricity that it had produced, to power the essential equipment dedicated to cooling spent fuel rods. Ukraine turned off the final reactor at the plant on Sept. 11 as a safety measure after determining that keeping it going as fighting continued nearby could lead to nuclear catastrophe. The plant, at full operation, provided about a fifth of Ukraines electricity supply.

While the return of power is a positive development, the facility itself remains in a precarious state near the front lines in southern Ukraine. Even though shelling in the plants vicinity has waned in recent days, Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the agency, said in the statement that it continues farther afield.
YEARS of under-funding, under-staffing and under-resourcing in the health service exposed by the Covid pandemic must be tackled in the forthcoming Budget by the Government.

The future of Slaintecare  the planned universal health care service guaranteeing equal access for all  must also be clarified.

Problems in the health service were highlighted last week by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation which published its pre-budget submission for 2023.

The union which represents 42,000 nurses and midwives has said that urgent action must be taken as part of the budgetary process to tackle the many problems in the health service.

In its submission the nurses representative body has a number of key asks.

These include

* The Report of the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery must be implemented fully to show commitment and support to the future of nursing and midwifery professions in Ireland.

* All nurse staffing must be underpinned by the Framework Model for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix.

* The Framework must be funded, underpinned by legislation and expanded across the health service. Implementation must be faster and focused on completion of phase 1, which must be rolled out by year-end 2023. Phase 2 (Emergency Departments) must also be implemented across all the 29 emergency departments before the end of 2023

* The recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review must be implemented, and bed occupancy reduced to 85%.

* For Slaintecare to deliver a universally accessible health care service for all, it must be enshrined in legislation. The Government must clarify the sustainability and long-term future of Slaintecare and commit to multi-annual funding.

* There must be zero tolerance for overcrowding in our hospitals and emergency departments.

* The physical and mental health of nurses and midwives working in hospitals and community settings must be a priority for the HSE and other health employers.

* Funding must be provided to establish a health service division within the HSA to ensure adequate protections for nurses, midwives and other healthcare workers in response to the increase in workplace assaults, burnout and occupational infections.

These are all reasonable asks by a body representing health care workers who give invaluable service to the community as shown during the two years of the Covid pandemic.

Since the Dail broke up for its summer recess, 11,275 people have been without a bed in Irish hospitals. Unless there is meaningful action on staffing, bed capacity and using the capacity of private hospitals, we are in for an extremely bleak winter. The Minister for Health must prioritise the publication and actioning of a fully funded winter capacity plan in tandem with Budget 2023.

With the ongoing cost of living and energy crisis the Government will be under extreme pressure to introduce supports to help ordinary citizens in Budget 2023.

But the health service and Slaintecare must also be a priority as there are a myriad of problems to be tackled in this vital sector.
An beautiful Offaly bride and her groom exchanged wedding vows over the August Bank Holiday Weekend, grateful for their shared good health, made possible by the groom donating a kidney to his bride two years ago.

Like many other couples who faced delays with their wedding plans due to an unwelcome guest, Covid-19, Garda Shane Hunter (31) from Athlone, Co Westmeath and his art teacher bride, Briona Reynolds (30), from Tubber, in Co Offaly, postponed their nuptials which were to take place last summer. They wanted to ensure that all their family and friends could be invited to share in the celebration of their happy event, grateful that Brionas health struggles, and three times weekly hospital dialysis, were behind her.

The couple is sharing their uplifting stories in support of the Irish Kidney Association in highlighting European Day for Organ Donation & Transplantation which will be held next month on October 10.

Briona said: We had a wonderful wedding weekend and it was great to be surrounded by all the people we love. Everything has been going so well for us over the last two years, since Shane donated a kidney to me on June 22, 2020.

Sometimes we forget the struggles we experienced. We still talk about how things were back then but its always followed by how grateful we are for how much better things are now.

When I think about then and now its like two different lives, things now are so much more relaxed. We're currently renovating our house, planning little trips away and just enjoying life. Weve both returned to work and life is great!

Shane is now back to work at Tullamore Garda Station. Just a week before the transplant operation took place, Briona, completed her thesis for a masters in education, fulfilling her dream to become a secondary school art teacher. Briona secured a teaching post at Mullingar Community College and has just returned to work there after the summer holidays.

Briona and Shane first met through an introduction by Brionas sister in 2009. Love blossomed and thanks to the gift of organ donation they share a unique bond as they now embark on married life together.

In describing their wedding Briona said, the two-day wedding celebration was just amazing. We were very lucky as we had close to our original number of guests when we started planning four years ago.

We were delighted when the day finally came, after previously being a casualty of Covid-19, as it should have taken place last year. Luckily all of our vendors were still available, including the venue and Simon Casey and his band who were excellent.

Our wish was to keep things as local as we could throughout the wedding. We wanted it to be local and alternative. We got married in Mount Druid in Castletown Geoghegan, which is a wonderful venue, and the staff were so accommodating.

On the second day we celebrated at our home with a marquee and music provided by Adrian Hiney from across the village in Tubber.

After this we took a few days away and went down south just to relax. We are looking at honeymooning abroad at some point next year.

While Ill be forever grateful to Shane for the gift of life he has given me, I'd also like to thank his parents, Norman and Sharon Hunter, who now live in Dysart, Co Roscommon, as well as my mam and dad, Gina and Frank Reynolds for their loving support.

Briona and Shane by Moat Hill Photography

It was a case of third time lucky for the couple when their living donor kidney transplant went ahead in June 2020. Beaumont Hospital had suspended transplant operations before the country went into lockdown on March 27, 2020 including Briona and Shanes operations, which were initially scheduled to take place on March 23.

This was their second disappointment as a previous date for transplant, February 3, had also been cancelled due to safety concerns as Shanes blood results showed irregularities at the time.

By February 2020, Brionas kidney function had almost fully declined and she then had no option but to commence haemodialysis treatment to keep her alive.

Brionas mother Gina Reynolds was also found to be a suitable living kidney donor match but Shane was determined that he should be the one to proceed.

Shane shared, We had a great wedding. It is so rewarding and gives me great joy to see Briona so well and that we are both happy and healthy and can look forward to what the future will bring.

Individuals who wish to support organ donation are encouraged to Share their Wishes with their family and keep the reminders of their decision available by carrying the organ donor card, permitting Code 115 to be included on their drivers licence or having the digital organ donor card App on their smartphone. Organ Donor Cards can be requested by visiting the IKA website www.ika.ie/ get-a-donor-card or to your phone, phoning the Irish Kidney Association on 01 6205306 or Free text the word DONOR to 50050
Defunct car dealers in the Midlands have left behind two tax bills that totalling in excess of 10 million according to the latest Revenue Commissioner's latest tax default list.

The new Revenue's published List of Tax Defaulters covers the period from 1 April 2022 to 30 June 2022.

Top of that list are two related car dealerships that traded in Graiguecullen in Laois. Both are now in liquidation. Both had addresses on the Sleaty Road which has Carlow address but were located in the Laois border town Graiguecullen.

Meridian Motors Limited, is described by Revenue as a motor vehicle dealer that traded as the Carlow Motor Company but is now in liquidation. A Revenue audit case for under-declaration of PAYE/PRSI/USC and VAT revealed an unpaid sum of 2,276,667. Interest amounted to 1,330,544. Penalties were calculated at 2,241,723. The total owed is 5,848,934 of which 122,411 had been paid by June 30,2022.

Meridian Motors 2014 Limited is also on the list. Described as a motor vehicle dealer it's also in liquidation. A Revenue audit case for under-declaration of PAYE/PRSI/USC and VAT revealed a sum owed of 1,926,340. Interest ran to 1,036,525 while the penalties amounted to 1,922,096. This revealed a total of 4,884,961 owed to the State of which 56,913 had been paid by June 30, 2022.

TAP TO READ NEXT

Where a taxpayer has failed to pay or failed to enter into an arrangement to pay the full amount of the settlement, the amount unpaid as at 30 June 2022 is indicated in the list.

The Revenue say Part 2 settlements are not published where the taxpayer has made a qualifying disclosure relating to undisclosed tax, as defined in Section 1077E (1) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, where the settlement amount does not exceed the relevant threshold, currently 35,000, or where the amount of fine or other penalty does not exceed 15% of the amount of tax.

See FULL PART 2 LIST HERE.

Revenue also publishes a Part 1 list which includes persons in whose case the Court has determined a penalty relating to a settlement, or has imposed a fine, imprisonment or other penalty in respect of a tax or duty offence.

Details are published when the Court determined penalty exceeds 15% of the total tax (where the total amount of tax only exceeds 50,000) and a qualifying disclosure has not been made:

The biggest penalty was incurred by company director / landlord Clement Kenny, The Residence, NO. 3 Crane Lane, Dublin 2. He incurred a penalty of 25,765 following a determination by the Courts relating to a non-declaration of Capital Gains Tax in the amount of 6,033 (incl. surcharge 287) and an under-declaration of Income Tax in the amount of 84,389 (incl. surcharge of 4,252).

See FULL PART 1 LIST HERE

These published settlements reflect only a portion of all Revenue audits and investigations. In the 3-month period to 30 June 2022 a total of 287 Revenue audit and investigations, together with 13,983 Risk Management Interventions (Aspect Queries and Profile Interviews), were settled, resulting in a yield of 3.540 billion in tax, interest, and penalties.

#EXPLAINER AND FURTHER INFO ON LATEST LIST

Part 1: Court Determinations

Court Determination of Penalty: Subject to certain criteria, in settlement cases where there is no agreement to a penalty, or a person fails to pay an agreed penalty, the Court determines the penalty. Details are published when the Court determined penalty exceeds 15% of the total tax (where the total amount of tax only exceeds 50,000) and a qualifying disclosure has not been made:

There were 2 such cases in the 3-month period to 30 June 2022 with 41,682 being the total amount of the Court determined penalties.

Court imposed fine, imprisonment or other penalty: Details are published when a fine or other Court penalty is imposed in respect of tax or duty offences. Court penalties may include imprisonment, partly suspended or suspended sentences, community service in lieu of imprisonment, and closure orders.

67 such cases are published and 153,300 is the total amount of the court fines imposed these include:

16 cases of failure to file a tax return, delivering an incorrect tax return and failure to produce books and records. Court fines totalling 32,300 and 30 minutes of community service in lieu of imprisonment, 240 hours of community service in lieu of 1 years imprisonment, one 2-year sentence and one 1-year sentence (both fully suspended) were imposed;

22 cases of misuse of marked mineral oil and 2 cases of oil laundering, in respect of which Court fines totalling 58,000, one 3-year sentence and one 2-year sentence (both with 18 months suspended) were imposed;

18 cases of excise offences for tobacco smuggling, illegal selling of tobacco and possession of untaxed tobacco for sale. Court fines totalling 43,000 and one 18-month sentence were imposed;

2 cases of possession of untaxed alcohol for sale, in respect of which Court fines totalling 5,000 were imposed;

1 case of failing to keep a vehicle stationary, in respect of which a Court fine totalling 1,250 was imposed;

5 cases of obstruction of a Revenue Officer, in respect of which Court fines totalling 11,250 were imposed;

1 case of giving false or misleading information, in respect of which a Court fine totalling 2,500 was imposed.

Court Determination of Penalty: Subject to certain criteria, in settlement cases where there is no agreement to a penalty, or a person fails to pay an agreed penalty, the Court determines the penalty. Details are published when the Court determined penalty exceeds 15% of the total tax and the total of the tax, interest and penalty is more than 35,000 and a qualifying disclosure has not been made:

Part 2: Settlements

Settlements are published when the extensive voluntary disclosure options are not availed of and the default arises because of careless or deliberate behaviour:

12 cases are published today and 12.5m is the total settlement amount in these cases.

10 cases were for amounts exceeding 100,000 of which 2 exceeded 1 million

3 are cases in which the settlement was not fully paid as at 30 June 2022.

10,721,226 was the amount unpaid as at 30 June 2022.

Revenue says vigorously pursues collection/enforcement of unpaid settlements. In some cases, collection/recovery of the full unpaid amount will not be possible (e.g. company liquidation).

Background

Revenue says its compliance programme is carried out under the "Code of Practice for Revenue Audit and other Compliance Interventions" (the Code). The significant benefits of making a qualifying disclosure are set out in the Code and include availing of reduced penalties, avoiding publication in the List of Tax Defaulters, and avoiding possible prosecution.

Publication

Revenue says it publishes the List of Tax Defaulters under the provisions of Section 1086 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, as amended. The list is published in two parts:

Part 1: Court Penalty Determinations and Court imposed fine, imprisonment or other penalty

Court penalty determinations are published where a taxpayer has not made a qualifying disclosure, the Court determined penalty exceeds 15% of the total tax, and the total of the tax, interest and penalty is more than 35,000.

All cases where a fine, imprisonment or other Court penalty is imposed by a Court, in respect of a tax or duty offence, are published.

Part 2: Accepted Settlements (and Settlements deemed to be agreed due to full payment)

Where a taxpayer has voluntarily furnished complete information relating to undisclosed tax liabilities and paid the tax and interest due (made a qualifying disclosure of tax defaults), settlements are not published.

Since 1 May 2017, significant changes and restrictions have come into effect where the case involves matters outside the Republic of Ireland, or 'offshore matters'. These changes limit the opportunity to make a 'qualifying disclosure' and coincide with increased international co-operation whereby Revenue gets more and more information automatically from other jurisdictions.

Legislation introduced in the Finance Act 2016 obliges Revenue to identify settlements where the person has failed to pay within the relevant period.

Settlements are not published where the taxpayer has made a qualifying disclosure relating to undisclosed tax, as defined in Section 1077E (1) of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, where the settlement amount does not exceed the relevant threshold, currently 35,000, or where the amount of fine or other penalty does not exceed 15% of the amount of tax.

Calculation of Penalties

Where a qualifying disclosure has not been made, Revenu say penalties between 15% and 100% are applied, depending on the category of default and whether or not the taxpayer has cooperated fully with Revenue in the course of enquiries. The categories of default are Deliberate Behaviour or Careless Behaviour.

Deliberate Behaviour involves either a breach of a tax obligation with indicators consistent with intent on the part of the taxpayer or a breach that cannot be explained solely by carelessness

Careless Behaviour involves lack of due care, which results in the incorrect declaration of tax liabilities by a taxpayer, or which results in the making of incorrect repayment claims. The level of penalty may be further reduced having regard to the level of cooperation provided by the taxpayer once the default is uncovered. Full details of the level of penalties applicable to audit settlements are set out in Penalty Table 1 (Paragraph 5.6.2) of the Code.

Innocent errors and adjustments due to different interpretations of legislation

Penalties are not applicable where a tax default is not deliberate or is not attributable in any way to the failure by a taxpayer to take reasonable care to comply with his or her tax obligations. Neither is a penalty applicable where an adjustment to liability arises from differences in the interpretation or the application of legislation, and the taxpayer could reasonably have considered her/his interpretation to be correct.
Brisbane City Council dragged one of its own councillors through a 16-month court battle, with residents  not the defendant  picking up the tab.
The executive who has built Future into one of Britain's biggest listed digital media companies is preparing to step down next year after nearly a decade in charge.
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Right-wing groups tried to disrupt the march through the capital Belgrade, but police created a secure corridor for the parade.
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When King Sobhuza II read, as historian Hilda Kuper described, slowly and very quietly, the April 12, 1973 proclamation that revoked the independence constitution that allowed for multi-party democracy, he said that instrument of government had failed to provide machinery for the maintenance of peace and order. He said instead, it was a cause of growing unrest, permitting the importation of foreign political practices incompatible with the Swazi way of life, and designed to disrupt and destroy our peaceful and constructive and essentially democratic method of political activity. I wasnt there at that time but, if I may ask those who were already politically active or conscious, isnt what we are witnessing today a case of Deja vu? The hate that is currently evident within and between political party organisations is perhaps what King Sobhuza saw at the time hence he felt the need to deal with it by repealing the constitution of that time. Almost all the political parties are faced with a certain degree of internal strife, even though some of the conflict has not been publicised. But it is being spoken of in dark alleys. But that of the Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO) is at the moment being played on a free to air service. Anyone is free to view or listen without requiring any subscription. A close acquaintance recently remarked that there is currently no need to pay your Dstv subscription because SWALIMO is providing content without end. The battle for the soul of SWALIMO is on. You have Mbekezeli Mdabula Zulu who claims to be the one who founded the organisation.

Believed

There is Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane, the SWALIMO president, who is believed to be the founder of the organisation. There is then Agent 001 who looks to be gunning for the organisations leadership. Dont forget the organisations Secretary General Siphetfo Dlamini and National Chairperson Busi Mayisela who, in the breathing session with Agent 001 appeared ready to challenge Gawuzela for the SWALIMO leadership. And then you have the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC) which has come out to claim ownership of the name SWALIMO. The NNLC argues that SWALIMO is originally the name given to their youth wing which was founded by their leader Prince Dumisa. History, as they say, has no blank pages. On September 14, 1978, South African newspaper The Star reported that SWALIMO had issued a threat against the life of King Sobhuza II. This happened on the 10th anniversary of the countrys independence. The threat was reportedly not taken lightly by the countrys authorities who unleashed the army to ensure the safety of the king. Under the headline Defense force shows strength on anniversary, The Star reported that during the celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of the kingdoms independence, the fast-growing and well equipped Swazi Defence Force, which was first mooted in 1973, had a chance to demonstrate its military muscle.

But it was not just in the arena at the national stadium that the soldiers were in evidence. A threat to the life of Swazilands ruler, 79-year old King Sobhuza II, a few weeks earlier put the country in a virtual state of emergency for the celebrations, reported the newspaper. It said heavily armed troops were stationed in and around the stadium and soldiers could even be seen guarding strategic bridges along the main road linking the main towns of Mbabane and Manzini. The threat on the monarchs life had come in pamphlets distributed by a group calling itself SWALIMO, a movement advocating violent revolution in Swaziland and an extreme left-wing philosophy, reported The Star. According to The Star, while observers in Swaziland did not take SWALIMO seriously, the government and the king decided not to take chances.

Secrecy

Although strict secrecy surrounds the size of the army, and government expenditure on it, some observers estimated that there might have been 1000 soldiers in the vicinity of the stadium, the newspaper wrote. It further reported that the demonstration of the armys strength  in comparative terms taking into account that the countrys population at that time was only 500 000  raised the question asked in some quarters at the time the formation of an army was announced: does Swaziland really need a defence force when it already has an efficient and well-trained military police wing? This was during the time of Colonel Maphevu Dlamini as the countrys Prime Minister, whom The Star said people were complaining about for unleashing the army.

The S.A publication said while there were no chances of any external threat to the kingdom from its neighbours  South Africa and Mozambique  observers believed the army had been formed to deal with the possibility of an internal challenge to King Sobhuzas authority. One view was that Maphevu reportedly used his influence on the king to increase the size of the army; while another was that it was the kings wish to do so. One unofficial theory put forward to explain the military build-up is that the king is concerned about possible trouble in Swaziland, and even a possible left-wing coup, when he finally dies, said The Star. Apart from The Star, the Times of London also reported about SWALIMO on September 6, 1978, under the headline Extended Detention Curbs Dissent. The newspaper described SWALIMO as an illegal organisation that distributed pamphlets urging people to stay away from the 10th independence anniversary celebrations. Also, the newspaper said SWALIMO had claimed responsibility for rescuing leader and founder of the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC), Dr. Ambrose Zwane, from prison where he had been detained.

SWALIMO is said to have also demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners in the kingdom. Although there is no mention either in The Star or Times of London of who the leaders of SWALIMO were, information available is that the movement emerged as an underground entity. This was not until 1985 when a face emerged as leader of the party and this person could not have come bigger than Prince Dumisa, the nephew of King Sobhuza II.

Founded

Information from the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) is that SWALIMO was founded by Prince Dumisa in 1985. A book titled SWAZILAND: POLITICAL CRISIS, REGIONAL DILEMMA presents a somehow different SWALIMO of the one launched by Prince Dumisa compared to the one that issued a threat against King Sobhuza II. The one launched by Dumisa was reportedly in support of the installation of the current monarch, His Majesty King Mswati III. When Dumisa launched SWALIMO, he was already in exile in London, having been escorted to the Matsapha Airport in 1984 when he was made to choose between going into self-exile and serving a 60-day detention in prison. The book states that there was organised dissent in the country in the second half of 1984 and the main site of opposition was the University of Swaziland, which staged a series of boycotts, strikes and protest marches that led to an enquiry into the causes of student unrest. The enquiry is said to have 'uncovered' an 'unhealthy preoccupation with the philosophies, aims and objectives of the African National Congress' on campus and, as a result, the Liqoqo forced 21 students and two staff members out of the University.

Simultaneously, the book said, graffiti, slogans and secret pamphlets announced the existence of the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) and called for unity among all groups opposed to the regime. In London an exiled politician, Prince Dumisa Dlamini, announced the formation of the Swaziland Liberation Movement with the objective of protecting the royal family from abuse by Prince Mfanasibili and George Msibi, restoring constitutional legitimacy to the throne and ensuring the accession of Prince Makhosetive  a reference to a view that some Liqoqo members had no wish to see a new king installed, the book states. Dumisa was co-founder of the NNLC alongside Dr. Zwane. There you have it; now you know about SWALIMO.



Retired University of Eswatini political science lecturer Dr. Petros Qambukusa Magagula (popularly known as Dr. PQ), in his Swaziland's relations with Britain and South Africa since 1968, Durham theses, Durham University, wrote that Prince Dumisa was a University student in Roma, Lesotho, before he withdrew to participate full time in the politics of Swaziland. He said Dumisa played a major role in arousing the feelings of workers during the industrial strikes that hit Swaziland between 1962 and1963. These strikes spread over Big Bend, Mbabane, Usuthu Pulp and Havelock Asbestos Mine and were largely engineered by J.J Nqukus Swaziland Progressive Party and the NNLC. During these strikes leaders of the SPP/NNLC were arrested and prosecuted for causing public disturbance, Dr, PQ said. This was before the 1984 period when Dumisa was given the option of exile or detention and he chose the former, hence he went to London, where he launched SWALIMO.



The prince died in exile

Rumours were being circulated by political party leaders that Sobhuza had lost the support of the nation and that the viewpoint of British officials, personified by Brian Marwick, the support of the majority. Sobhuza, however, had his own sources of information, and the day after the final constitution was announced he declared that the issue of national support should be decided by a plebiscite. Marwick refused Sobhuzas request for cooperation as a pointless exercise and warned him that Sobhuza would be responsible if there were any trouble. Sobhuza replied that the queens commissioner was responsible for keeping law and order, and if he wished he could prohibit the holding of a referendum, recognised as a Western democratic way of gauging public opinion.

The referendum spoken of later as the reindeer election took place on January 4, 1964. The form was simple, direct and graphic. There would be only one question: Do you or do you not agree with the petition submitted by the Ngwenyama to the British Government? Since at that time some 75 per cent of Swazi adults were illiterate, the choice was represented by two animal symbols; a lion for Swazi King and the reindeer, a foreign animal described as with horns on horns, for the opposition. Though leaders of the political parties, for reasons of their own, called on their followers not to vote, the turnout was remarkable and the results convincing. According to the organisers, 122 000 Swazi of an estimated voting population of 125 000 chose the Lion, 154 the reindeer. And despite criticism of the loaded symbols and allegations of rigging the results, it was clear that Sobhuza had won a major victory.
New York, US (PANA) - Since 2018, the Revitalised Agreement between the key players in South Sudans long-running civil war has provided a framework for peace, the Head of the UN mission there despite continued outbreaks of intercommunal violence, UNMISS, told the Security Council on Friday
Photo: (Photo : Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

A New York City man admitted on Friday, September 16, that he brutally beat and slashed his mom's throat to get his hands on his inheritance.

Jared Eng pleaded guilty to one count of murder at the Manhattan Supreme Court as part of his plea deal for the gruesome murder of his mother, Paula Chin, back in January 2019, according to Fox News.

Eng viciously attacked his 65-year-old mom, whom the 25-year-old claimed had $11 million in the bank. The incident occurred during a fight in an apartment the two shared in Tribeca. Eng wanted to speed up collecting his inheritance.

Eng's lovers helped in concealing his mother's corpse

Eng sanitized the apartment after the gruesome murder with the help of his girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez. The pair then transported his mom's remains in Chin's vehicle, a 2004 Toyota Land Cruiser, to the family home in Morristown, New Jersey, according to the New York Post.

Caitlyn O'Rourke, Eng's other lover, joined the couple in New Jersey on February 1. She helped stuff Chin's body into a garbage can left on the property. Jared's older brother, Brandon, reported their mother missing, and police found her decomposing remains in the trash bin the following day.

Police found Chin's body with multiple stab wounds and signs of blunt impact to her head. Investigators found bloodstains on the New Jersey home's garage floor and bloody rubber gloves in the garbage. More bloody gloves were also found inside the Tribeca apartment, along with blood traces in the residence.

According to prosecutors, Eng reported in a series of text messages after his mother's murder that it was done, he was free, and he got rid of the problem. Eng then began changing the passwords on his mother's bank accounts, searching for inheritance lawyers, and researching ways to dispose of Chin's corpse. That included a chilling Google search for a DIY bone meal.

Read Also: Utah Mom of 6 Shares What She Hopes Children Know Before They Leave Home

Eng to face a minimum of 18 years in prison

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said in a statement that this was a brutal and shocking murder of the defendant's mother. He added that while nothing can undo this tragedy, today's guilty plea represents an important step towards justice. He added that his thoughts are with those who continue to mourn Ms. Chin's loss.

O'Rourke and Lopez were charged with lesser crimes, including the concealment of a human corpse, according to UPI. Both of their cases are still pending. The attorney for Eng could not be immediately reached for comment.

Before the plea deal, Eng had denied killing his mother, telling police that he went to New Jersey to retrieve a coin collection he kept at their family home to pay rent. Eng is scheduled to be sentenced to a minimum of 18 years to life in prison on October 18.

Related Article: Mom Gets Arrested for Murder Charges in Deaths of 3 Kids Found on Coney Island
Photo: (Photo : Benjamin Krain/Getty Images)

According to court records filed in Arkansas last week, a man amputated his right leg with a saw in front of his five-year-old daughter last month. A probable cause affidavit stated Shannon Cox is now facing a felony charge of endangering the welfare of a minor.

On August 2, a corporal with the Boone County Sheriff's Office found a naked Cox missing a portion of his right leg on the ground in front of a residence, People reported.

When the officer asked the 48-year-old Cox what caused his injury, he replied, "a chop saw." He was then airlifted to a hospital.

Daughter in state of shock following dad's amputation

The document indicated that Cox's young daughter, who was not identified, told officials she was present when her father cut his leg off. The child was observed to be still in a state of shock during her interview with law enforcement officials.

The interview with the kid took place at a child's advocacy center, according to NBC News. The girl was recommended to undergo counseling before further interview attempts, given the horrific nature of the amputation she saw.

It was unclear on Friday afternoon if the father had retained an attorney. Cox's relatives were not reached for comment regarding the case. The affidavit also said that Cox's wife, Sandy, talked to an investigator at the sheriff's office. She told authorities that her husband had acted odd before the shocking incident.

Read Also: Baby No. 9 For Nick Cannon As He Welcomes First Child With 'Price Is Right' Model LaNisha Cole

Parents charged with felony endangerment of a minor

Cox had told his wife, Sandy, that he was Jesus Christ and that she needed to get right with the lord. Sandy said that Cox then became violent toward her, telling her that she was Satan. He told his wife that he would twist her head off and continued to threaten her verbally.

Sandy told an investigator that she had left their home the night before but did not take her daughter with her. She was afraid that her husband would kill her, but she said in the affidavit that she was not worried about her daughter at the time.

She could not be reached on Friday. Court records showed that Sandy was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child. KARK of Little Rock reported that the judge in charge of the case issued a no-contact order to Cox for the kid and his wife.

According to KRON 4, Shannon and Sandy have both been released on a $10,000 bond. The parents were scheduled to return to court in mid-October.

Related Article: Georgia Jury Awards Family $77 Million in Wrongful Death Case Against Addiction Treatment Center
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The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) is calling on government to immediately amend the Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.



As enshrined in the constitution, Article 71 (1) and (2) of the 1992 Constitution determines the salaries and allowances of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary paid from the Consolidated Fund.



The payment is to be determined by the President, on the recommendations of a committee of not more than five persons appointed by him and acting upon the advice of the Council of State.



In a tweet, the Director of Research at the IEA, Dr John Kwakye called for its amendment, saying that any government that is not committed to this call for a review is not interested in fiscal discipline.



He said Article 71 needs immediate review to trim the bloated salaries, allowances and other benefits of the stated office holders. Any Govt that is not committed to the review isnt interested in fiscal discipline.



This post follows former President John Dramani Mahama claim that the government has only paid him GH230,000 for salary arrears and denies receiving GH14 million as ex gratia.



The only payment that was made to me by government, Accountant General, was my salary arrears of GHC230,000 in 2013. I will show it [bank statement] to you first, and later if you want we can call a group of you journalists. Of course, I dont want to publish my bank statement but I can put it before you and you can look through all the payments and see if there is a GHC14 million payment. I didnt receive any such payment, Mr. Mahama told TV3, adding that he pays for his own utilities, accommodation fuel, medical care, plane tickets and domestic staff.



I receive only my monthly pension like President Kufuor, and President Rawlings was receiving [it] before he died. That is all I get.



I pay the electricity bill for my house and my office, I pay the water bill for my house and my office. I live in my own accommodation so the State does not pay me anything for accommodation.



The 2020 flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) rubbished claim by Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party Kwame Baffoe alias Abronye DC as absolute lies.



Thats an absolute lie. He says in 2013 14 million [cedis] was paid into my ADB account. I have my 2013 bank statement I will let you look through it and see if there is any GHC14 million payment.



They havent given me an office, I rent an office in East Cantonments, I pay the rent myself, I pay my own fuel, the State doesnt give me fuel, I pay my own domestic staff, I pay my own medical bills, I pay my own air tickets when I travel.



However, at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, the Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Richard Ahiagbah said the posture of Mr Mahama regarding his entitlements, threatens the peace and democracy of the country.



Mr Ahiagbah said the conduct of former President Mahama threatens our democracy, peace and security. So, the question is, what does former President Mahama wants to achieve with these needless falsehoods? Could it be so that he can pretend to champion the clamour for the repeal of Article 71? Evidence of this rather unholy politics of former President Mahama abound.



Former President Mahamas denial that he is actively accessing his emolument benefits simply exploits the sympathies of unsuspecting Ghanaians.



There is no record anywhere that former President Mahama has been renounced or that the government has denied former President Mahama his emolument or entitlement. These bizarre and downright false claims by the former President speak to a grand electoral strategy driven by desperation and deception.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
KWALUSENI  Another student at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) has died, allegedly from suicide.

The 27-year-old Simphiwe Saneliso Mkhatjwa was a first year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science programme.

Details on the manner in which the student died could not be ascertained yesterday though the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) confirmed that they were investigating a possible suicide case.

Confirm

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Phindile Vilakati said: We can confirm that a 27-year-old man was found dead. His mother asked not to comment on the issue, citing that she did not have details on how her son died. Mkhatjwas demise was also confirmed by the Vice Chancellor Professor Justice Thwala who broke the news to all students and administration in a memorandum dated September 13, 2022. Reads the memo: It is with sadness that I announce the death of Simphiwe Saneliso Mkhatjwa.Professor Thwala also offered his condolences to Mkhatjwas family and friends. Students who spoke on condition of anonymity said Mkhatjwa bid them goodbye but did not say where he was heading to.

He said he was not coming back and it was important for him to embark on his journey without clearly stating where he was going, said the students in an interview.

Argument

Unconfirmed sources further revealed that Mkhatjwa engaged in a heated argument with his girlfriend, which resulted in the two ending their relationship. The Student Representative Council (SRC) Secretary General (SG) Zethu Mbingo, confirmed that university had sent a notice informing them of the death.We received a memo confirming the death of the student yesterday. They have not yet told us how he died. As students we are still shocked by Simphiwes death as he was one of us, Mbingo said.She said Mkhatjwas funeral would be held in his parental home at Mafutseni,

We have engaged other SRC members and asked them to make it possible for all students to attend the funeral. We have already organised transport for the students, which will depart here at Kwaluseni Campus tomorrow.

Funeral

The funeral will come after a night vigil to held in his home at Mafutseni tomorrow (today). He will then be buried on Sunday morning after the vigil, Mbingo said. She added that students should come in their numbers to support the bereaved family. Another student committed suicide at UNESWA about three months ago.
Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, is due for retirement in the days ahead if his contract is not extended.



However, the jostle for the top position has intensified as interested parties dust their CVs to impress the appointing authority.



The race to succeed Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, is becoming hectic as a tall list of wannabes has emerged.



Mr. Owusu-Amoah, who clocked the retirement age of 60 years last year and was given one year contract, is expected to bow out by October 10, 2022, making the position vacant.



However, he is not giving up on the position as he is lobbying to stay on even after the Ministry of Finance issued a notice that clearance will not be given to post retirement contract staff.



In a statement signed by a Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei Asare said the government has, with immediate effect, suspended the granting of approval for Post-Retirement Contract Appointment.



According to the ministry, such a request can only be granted in cases where the skills of the retiring officer are in short supply and unavoidably needed.



Ammishaddais legacy is before the Special Prosecutor where the GRA is being investigated over procurement breaches as well as the construction of its new head office building where over GH70million was allegedly paid to DEVTRACO for over one year with no job done. The contractor has now moved to site at Kanda near the Jubilee House.



The contract for the project is said to be overpriced, prompting the Special Prosecutor to look into the case.



GRA has refused to talk to DAILY GUIDE on some of the procurement issues despite sending questions to the revenue collection body.



Interestingly, all the wannabes who are angling to take over the GRA plum job have already reached the retirement age of 60 years, including Julie Essiam, Commissioner responsible for the Support Services Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.



Julie, who is seriously lobbying at the Finance Ministry to take over from Ammishaddai, is said to have clocked 60 years in July, but falling on her godfathers to renew her mandate despite the serious doubts about her qualifications.



According to sources, the Public Service Commission (PSC) was yet to approve her appointment as Commissioner but her aide, Ken Koduah, denied the allegation in a chat with DAILY GUIDE.



Koduah also said Julie is yet to clock 60 years, claiming that she just celebrated her 58th birthday.



Julie reportedly dropped out of GIMPA in her latest attempt to upgrade her herself.



She has acted as acting Commissioner General, whenever Ammishaddai is out of the country, as she recently did when the outgoing Commissioner General was in the United States for medical check-up.



She believes she is capable of handling the portfolio even though there are dark clouds hanging around her current position in the areas of procurement.



Sources told DAILY GUIDE that Julies appointment in 2019 received protestation from the party, because she was completely alien to the ruling party, including its senior officers such as the immediate past General Secretary, John Boadu.



With the impending exit of Ammishaddai, she is lacing her boots for a push to the top GRA position using her powerful contacts in the government establishment.



Also in the race are Isaac Crentsil, former Commissioner for Customs Division of GRA who was shipped to Ministry of Finance along with Julies predecessor, Fred Charles Anson.



Mr. Anson, for Commissioner, Support Services Division of GRA, and Mr. Crentsil who exited GRA with the former Commissioner General Kofi Nti, are drawing their support from different axis at the Jubilee House for the Commissioner General position.

Source: daily guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Tema, once recognised as an ideal city and the epicentre of industrialisation in the country is losing its shine.

Designed by the countrys first architect, Theodore S. Cler, the city, which was commissioned by the first President, Kwame Nkrumah, epitomised the beauty and serenity of urban settlement.



But years of deterioration as a result of the influx of people in search of jobs without the corresponding infrastructure has left a good part of the well-laid-out city in a bad state.



Nevertheless, the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) believes that all is not lost, and has launched an initiative known as Let Tema Shine Again, which seeks to galvanise support from corporate entities and individuals within the Tema Metropolis to help restore the city to its former glory.



According to the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Yohane Armah Ashitey, the objective is to redesign many of the areas to host modern infrastructure akin to the Airport City in Accra, which has changed the face of the national capital.



Past and present



Originally a small fishing community, Tema was modelled and developed to be the centre of industrialisation, international trade and urban living.



Being the home of the countrys first harbour, it was christened the Harbour City, flourishing in business activities and boasting well-planned residential communities.



The neat and excellently demarcated communities with well-constructed roads were made more appealing by the green landscape reflecting what some people believed to be the values of elitism and power.



Apart from all these, Tema also boasts of being in the centre of the world as the Greenwich Meridian - the imaginary line that divides the world into two parts - passing through the city.



In 2014, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) announced plans to turn the Greenwich Meridian into a tourism spot but those plans fizzled out.



However, the story now is a departure from the past with the city becoming a pale shadow of its former glory.



The increasing rate of urbanisation, especially the quest by many people to take advantage of the vibrant economic opportunities at the Harbour City, is putting intense pressure on existing facilities.



Not only that, the beautiful beaches, former tourist attractions such as the now defunct meridian rock and its longitudinal crossing through Tema, Ave Maria Resort, Casinos, the former Meridian Hotel, the Lagoon Grove between Tema Manhean and Kpone are all merely history.



Makeshift markets have sprung up on the shoulders of the roads, especially in Community One, with the authorities unable to contain the situation.



The sanitation situation is not befitting of the status of the Harbour City, although the metropolitan assembly has been working hard to ensure some sanity.



The overburdened infrastructure has resulted in crude methods of discharging untreated faecal waste directly into streams within the Kpone community, as well as the beaches along Sakumono and Tema Manhean.



Many faecal processing units are unable to serve their purpose effectively due to damage to the facilities.



Slums



There is also the springing up of slums in the city, which hosts the countrys largest port and many industries, as a national embarrassment.



Inadequate housing and job opportunities have become a major social problem among many city



dwellers, leaving them to seek alternative living quarters by creating makeshift structures which have turned many of the communities into urban slums.



Areas such as Communities One, Four and Seven, as well as parts of Community Two and the Tema Manhean community have seen many homeowners undertake further developments on existing homes, thus distorting the beauty of the structures.



Overstretched infrastructure



The Secretary of the Tema Traditional Council, Nii Armah Somponu II, told the Daily Graphic in an interview in Tema last Wednesday that the decency of the city had been lost as people flocked in daily in search of greener pastures.



The population growth, he said, had been on the ascendancy without a corresponding provision of facilities commensurate with the speed of growth being witnessed.



In the circumstance, the few facilities have been overstretched, reducing their life span and the sanitation challenges associated with sewer leakages at the various central processing points are clear examples of what the city has become, Nii Somponu, who is also the Shippi of Tema, said.



He further stated that job opportunities available presently could not match the thousands of people seeking jobs, and so people resorted to various social vices just to make ends meet.

Nii Shippi said while the TMA and the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) were doing their best, it appears they are overwhelmed by the rate of population growth over the years.



In the past, hardly would you ever see kiosks and container stores around but what do we see today? The people are here and there are no jobs for them. Meanwhile, they must do something to earn a living and also get a place of abode, he added.



Let Tema Shine



While the present haphazard development continues to deface the city, the MCE told the Daily Graphic that several developmental needs continued to challenge the city which previously was the cynosure of all eyes.



Education in the metropolis has had its fair share of challenges, with many educational structures are in very bad conditions, posing challenges to teachers, students and the communities in which they are located, Mr Ashitey said.



The assembly, the MCE said, was determined to revive the fortunes of the city, which required the support of industries within Tema.



Our desire will be to see companies adopting projects in the area of health, education, slum redevelopment, among other areas, in line with their corporate social responsibilities, while we at TMA also pursue the central government to facilitate the reconstruction of many of the industrial road networks, Mr Ashitey said.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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The Ghana Police Service says it has arrested the chief of Sefwi Elubo and his brother and are pursuing six others in connection with illegal mining in Sefwi Elubo township in the Western North Region.



The suspects, Nana Anini Baffour and his brother Kwadwo Affi were arrested following Police investigation of a video circulating on social media showing illegal mining activities in some compound houses of the town," the statement signed by Director, Public Affairs, Chief Superintendent of Police, Grace Ansah-Akrofi said.



Investigation has so far discovered dug-out pits from the compound leading to the bedroom of the chiefs brother, the statement added.



As investigation continues, we would like to assure the public that all those involved will be brought to face justice, the statement concluded.













Source: Peacefmonline.com









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An aggrieved elderly citizen of Likpe in the Volta Region has warned political leaders not to attempt to come near his community with ballot boxes or papers when it is time for elections otherwise, he would have them set ablaze.



The anger of the farmer, Bright, as captured in a video shared by Edem Srem, one of Ghanas foremost drone pilots and documentary producers, stems from the fact that for decades, their farming communities have been robbed of development.



He explained that politicians have continued to take them for granted, only returning to them when they need their votes.



This is where we have been farming, and this is where the foodstuffs have been coming from, but look at the nature of our roads. We are suffering. Just look at this, these few weeks that these rains started look at the whole place.



So, we need roads. If you dont bring roads, dont come to us for our votes again. We are not going to accept you. We are not going to allow you to enter even the landscape. So, be very wise. Weve been voting for you for quite a long time, after the voting then you go, four years later, youll come, he said.



He further warned that politicians who attempt to return to the community without doing what is necessary will court their anger.



He explained that if this is not done for them, they will ensure that ballot boxes brought to them will be burned.



Dont come again o, because this place will be hot for you. If you bring the ballot papers and the ballot boxes, well burn them here. If you dont come and tar this road for us so that the foodstuffs youve been eating there  you dont know how we suffer to make it before it comes to Accra help us now, not tomorrow, the man, fuming with rage, stated.



Watch the full video below:





Source: ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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New York City has the highest number of rich people in the world, according to a new report by investment migration consultancy firm, Henley & Partners.



Around 345,600 millionaires reside in the city, alongside 15,470 multi-millionaires who have assets worth over $10 million, 737 centi-millionaires (wealth of $100 million or more) and 59 billionaires, the report said, making the financial center of the U.S. the wealthiest city in the world by a large gap.



The report finds that around 4% of New Yorks 8.38 million citizens own investable assets  property, cash or stocks  worth over $1 million. The number drops significantly to 15,470 when assessing those who have more than $10 million in assets.



The total private wealth held by New York residents was found to exceed $3 trillion. Remarkably, thats more than the total private wealth held in most major G-20 countries.



Japans capital Tokyo ranked second with 304,900 wealthy individuals. A much smaller proportion of them have assets worth over $10 million. The report found that 7,350 people in Tokyo are multi-millionaires, 263 have above $100 million and 12 are billionaires.



The San Francisco Bay Area home to Silicon Valley completesnthe top three wealthiest cities, with 276,400 rich individuals, 12,890 of whom are multi-millionaires. The report said 623 have assets worth at least $100 million and 62 billionaires live in the city.



Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston are the other U.S. cities in the top 10, ranking 6th, 7th, and 8th, respectively.

Additionally, these cities have become prime retirement destinations, Andrew Amoils, head of research at wealth intelligence firm New World Wealth, who collaborated on the report with Henley & Partners, told CNBC.



Florida is an increasingly popular destination for retired high-net-worth individuals, especially those from the USAs East Coast cities, he said.





The top five cities with the fastest growing millionaire populations are not in the U.S., however.



Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Sharjah and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Lusaka in Zambia, and Luanda in Angola are in the lead. In the first half of 2022, they saw an increase of up to 20% in terms of their wealthy population.



The report links this to booming oil and gas industries, which have flourished as energy prices have soared and boosted stock markets in these areas.





Many major cities fell in the rankings or saw a significant reduction of ultra-wealthy people living there.



Of the top 10 cities with the largest number of wealthy people, seven saw a decline. Only the San Francisco Bay Area, Singapore and Houston saw growth. New York has already seen a 12% drop in wealthy individuals in 2022, while Los Angeles saw a 6% decline and Chicagos proportion of ultra-wealthy citizens fell by 4%.





Another factor to consider is that overall wealth has declined in 2022, Amoils said in a paper released alongside the report.



Worldwide high-net-worth individual numbers were down by 5% in the six-month period to June 2022. This drop was mainly due to the poor performance of major stock market indices, he said.



This means that the drops in wealthy populations are not solely related to people moving to different cities  there are also simply fewer people who fall into the category.



Frances capital Paris fell by three places to 20th, meanwhile, as the city lost 12% of its rich people.



These are the 10 wealthiest cities in the world and the number of wealthy individuals who live in each of them according to Henley & Partners report.





1. New York, U.S. (345,600)



2. Tokyo, Japan (304,900)



3. San Francisco Bay Area, U.S. (276,400)



4. London, United Kingdom (272,400)



5. Singapore, Singapore (249,800)



6. Los Angeles, U.S. (192,400)



7. Chicago, U.S. (160,100)



8. Houston, U.S. (132,600)



9. Beijing, China (131,500)



10. Shanghai, China (130,100)









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 employee the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Gabriel Gyamera Sarpong, has been sentenced to 15 months imprisonment in hard labour for impersonating the Deputy Minister of the Ministry, George Mireku-Duker, to aid illegal miners.



The convict, according to court documents, had pretended to be acting on behalf of the Deputy Minister and at some point acted as the Deputy Minister and granted people access to mine in Obuasi and other mining areas in the Ashanti Region.



He is said to have taken GH200,000 from a witness in the matter and later gave him a number which he claimed to be the Deputy Ministers, which he (witness) could reach the Deputy Minister on for assistance.



Gabriel Gyamera Sarpong, was charged with one count of falsely pretending to be a public officer to which he pleaded not guilty, and another count of defrauding by false pretences to which he pleaded guilty, and was convicted on his own plea.



His counsel, Musah Ade Lawal, in his plea of mitigation told the court the convict diligently performed his duties until the commission of the crime, which he said was the work of the devil.



He said the convict has a wife and two children, and if given custodial sentence his wife and children will have problems, adding that the convict is a young man who has a lot to offer his country, and urged the court to give him a non-custodial sentence.



Counsel indicated that the convict, if given custodial sentence, will be mixed with hardened criminals and will come out worse. He added that the convict is sober and regrets his actions.



Her Honour, Evelyn Asamoah, the presiding judge, sentenced him to 15 months imprisonment in hard labour and ordered the prosecution to file their disclosures on the other count of falsely pretending to be a public officer to which the convict pleaded not guilty.



Facts

The brief facts presented to the court by ASP Evans Kesse, indicate that the convict sometime in December last year contacted an unnamed witness in the case and presented a mining idea to him, and the witness having an experience in the field agreed to execute the task.



The convict later called the witness on phone and told him that the Deputy Minister had authorised the witness to mobilise his men to operate, and also gave the witness an MTN number on which he could reach the Deputy Minister.



The witness then mobilised his men and went to Obuasi, met the Police and called the MTN number accused gave to him as the Deputy Ministers number for the said Minister to communicate with the Police for confirmation. Accused Gabriel Gyamera Sarpong, who responded as the said Deputy Minister, told the Obuasi Divisional Commander to accord the Team any assistance needed.



It was at this point that the witness released GH200,000 to the convict. The brief facts state that the witness after operating at Obuasi decided to proceed to Manso Nkwanta for another operation and met the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and told him about his mission.



The witness tried reaching the Deputy Minister on the number given to him by the convict but there was no response, so the Manso Nkwanta MCE then urged the witness to go to Accra to meet with the Deputy Minister and verify if he had really sanctioned their task.



The witness met the Deputy Minister on September 13, 2022, and disclosed to him that he had been working at the mining sites on his authorization, but the Deputy Minister denied knowledge of any such authorisation and sent for the convict, whom after questioning was handed over to police.



The convict, in his investigation caution statement, admitted to the offence and indicated that he used part of the money he received from the witness to purchase a black Elantra saloon vehicle and also invested part of it into his building located at Amasaman. The vehicle has been retrieved by the police.











Source: Daily Guide









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The Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has criticized Joyce Bawah Mogtari, an aide to former President John Mahama for describing Attorney General (AG) Godfred Dame as a 'baby'.



Madam Mogtari reacting to the AG's criticisms against Mahama after the latter slammed the judiciary said: "Ignore the rants of baby Godfred Dame, who was probably not old enough to vote in the 28th April 1992 referendum to accept the draft constitution, and yet has the impudence to insult John Mahama and describe all Lawyers affiliated with the NDC as abettors.



But Kwesi Pratt believes it's harsh to use the word "baby" against the AG.



"Using the word baby is a bit harsh whether in inverted commas or not. How can a baby be an Attorney General? If you disagree with the Attorney General just say so and avoid such words," he said on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo'.



Listen to him in the video below





Ignore the rants of baby Godfred Dame, who was probably not old enough to vote in the 28th April 1992 referendum to accept the draft constitution, and yet has the impudence to insult John Mahama and describes all Lawyers affiliated with the NDC as abettors  Joyce Bawah Mogtari (@joyce_bawah) September 12, 2022











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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NDC Member of Parliament for Builsa South constituency, Clement Apaak says the governing New Patriotic Party owes former President John Dramani Mahama an apology.



According to him the apology should come without delay.



The National Communications Director for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah in his latest comment suggests that there is truth in the claims by John Dramani Mahama that he is not receiving benefits due him as a former President.



Speaking to TV3 in an interview on their 'Ghana Tonight' Show, the 2020 presidential candidate of the NDC disclosed that he has been denied several benefits he is supposed to enjoy including an office and payment of his bills.



I receive only my monthly pension like [former] President Kufuor, and [late former] President Rawlings was receiving [it] before he died. That is all I get.



I pay the electricity bill for my house and my office, I pay the water bill for my house and my office. I live in my own accommodation so the State does not pay me anything for accommodation.



They havent given me an office, I rent an office in East Cantonments, I pay the rent myself, I pay my own fuel, the State doesnt give me fuel, I pay my own domestic staff, I pay my own medical bills, I pay my own air tickets when I travel, former President John Dramani Mahama said.



But Mr. Ahiagbah in an interview has disclosed that there is conversations to get an office for ex-President John Dramani.



The government of Ghana is working to give him an office. There is a conversation to get him an office. If the office has not been given to him the letter I have here has not confirmed it but what it tells me is that there is a conversation to give him an office and his office is aware, the NPP Communications Director said.



But speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that the former President said the absolute truth about his entitlements and that government's decision to politicize it is just much ado about nothing.



"Government should admit that they have erred and that they will work on the demands of the former President and have them provided to him, but to agree in part that there is a conversation to get an office for the former president is an admission that you have erred and therefore need to render an apology to the person of the former President," Clement Apaak said.



"It is imperative to note that former President Mahama's demand is not personal, it is his right as provided by the constitution and if you are unable to provide them for him, you don't drag his hard earned reputation in the mud. What I think the NPP government should be doing is that they should apologize to the former President rather than justifying their perverse action," he added.





Watch Video Below







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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The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has given a clear indication of his desire to still marry a woman, even in his retirement years.



The president explained that the dream to marry a woman from the Volta Region has been a longstanding one and that not even the lapse of time has killed that urge.



While speaking on a radio station in the Volta Region recently, he said that seeing the female presenter, who was interviewing him, has re-affirmed that desire.



You know my basic position that Ive taken, and seeing you, of course, its heightened it: my determination to marry in the Volta Region, and I keep on knocking on the door, looking forward to the day the door will be open. Well keep on till the day the door is open, the president said.



The president was in the Volta Region as part of a recent tour of some regions in the country.







Source: myinfo.com.gh









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China witnesses remarkable transportation improvement over past 10 years

11:45, September 17, 2022 By Bao Ping ( People's Daily

China has witnessed historic achievements and changes in its transportation development over the past 10 years.

Isolated islands have been connected to cross-sea roads; remote Gobi deserts have been covered by modern transport network; villages deep in the mountains have embraced rapid development due to better logistics.

China has built a prospering transportation system with developed road networks, as well as sea and air routes that reach every corner of the world, which both facilitates people's traveling and smoothens the flow of commodities.

Xingguo, the first train of China using permanent magnet maglev technology goes for a test run in Xingguo county, Ganzhou, east China's Jiangxi province, Aug. 9, 2022. (Photo by Bao Gansheng/People's Daily Online)

China's huge economic development and livelihood improvement couldn't have been achieved without the rapid development of the transportation sector.

Over the past 10 years, China has built and renovated about 2.53 million kilometers of rural roads, connecting 105,000 administrative villages to hardened roads. The country's fixed-asset investment in railways in the same period totaled 7 trillion yuan (about $1 trillion), stretching China's railway mileage by another 52,000 kilometers. Besides, 82 civil airports have been built or relocated, bringing the total to 250. The country now has 5,581 air routes.

Photo taken on Aug. 27, 2022 shows a super large bridge under construction along the Pingtang-Tian'e Expressway in Tian'e county, Hechi, south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. (Photo by Zhou Enge/People's Daily Online)

The continuous improvement of the transportation system is lifting Chinese people's living standard, and the rapid developing infrastructure is significantly optimizing transport capability, quality and efficiency.

The well-built infrastructure and complete public services are enabling more Chinese people to pursue their dreams.

According to the seventh national census, 493 million Chinese, or 35 percent of China's total population, do not live in their native provinces. Besides, China's floating population surged nearly 70 percent in the past 10 years to 376 million.

A bullet train runs in Heshan district, Yiyang, central China's Hunan province along the Chongqing-Xiamen high speed railway, Sept. 6, 2022. (Photo by Guo Liliang/People's Daily Online)

As of the end of 2021, over 20,000 couples had married through inter-provincial marriage registration, and there were more than 50,000 hospitals nationwide offering cross-provincial settlement services to inpatients. More than 100 million people have obtained digital driver's licenses.

Inter-provincial government services have practically enhanced people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security, playing a vital role in promoting entrepreneurship and innovation and in vitalizing the market.

China is building a unified national market and striving for market connectivity to involve every entity in the national market and present commodities and services across the country to every consumer, which has further released the potential of domestic demand and energized enterprises. As a large country with a huge market and population, China enjoys a strong momentum for future development.

A section of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan link in Zhongshan, south China's Guangdong province is under construction, Sept. 12, 2022. (Photo by Ye Bingxin/People's Daily Online)

Thanks to the great mobility, stories of innovation and creation are heard every day in China. Recently, a woman from Qingdao, east China's Shandong province went viral online for livestreaming sea fishing and sharing stories of fishermen. On livestream platforms, she sold local seafood to consumers from all over the country, which helped many fishermen increase their income.

What makes her a success is China's continuously improving modern logistics system, and there are millions of similar stories across the country.

In 2021, the number of newly-added market entities went up 15.4 percent to top 28.87 million, with 25,000 market entities newly registered per day on average. In the first half of this year, Chinese express delivery companies handled 51.22 billion express parcels. Last year, courier services were available in over 80 percent of Chinese administrative villages and more than 37 billion parcels were shipped to and collected from rural regions.

Photo taken on Sept. 1, 2022 shows a section of the Guiyang-Qianxi Expressway in Yuduo township, Qianxi, southwest China's Guizhou province. (Photo by Zhou Xunchao/People's Daily Online)

The fast developing expressway network in north China, the world's largest three-tower cable-stayed bridge under construction in south China, and the continuously extending Sichuan-Tibet Railway... Since this year, a number of major transport projects have been in full swing.

The diligent and smart Chinese people have infinite capability of innovation, and once this capability is fully released, China will see broader space of development. It is believed that China, with great mobility, will better release the potential of its people and will always be full of vitality.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji)
MANZINI  TUCOSWA goes ahead with its plans to host the final mass mobilisation exercise today, which is a build-up to the proposed three-day mass protest action for next week (Wednesday - Friday).

This was revealed by the federations Secretary General (SG), Mduduzi Gina, who said even though the Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC) had invited them together with government to a mediation session on Thursday, they would be conducting their final mass mobilisation exercise in 14 venues across the country today. CMAC was appointed by the Labour Advisory Board (LAB), which is chaired by Labour Commissioner Mthunzi Shabangu, to be the mediation mechanism in the matter. On August 16, 2022, the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) served government with a notice of a three-day mass protest action which is scheduled for September 21  23, 2022 and it is about demands which are related to the high cost of living in the country.

Receivability

However, upon receiving the notice, government through the LAB was roped in to determine the demands receivability in terms of the provisions of Section 40 of the Industrial Relations Act of 2000 and the Protest Action Guidelines. Thereafter, the LAB found that the federations demands were receivable in that they were measured to be socio-economic in nature and not purely political, the LAB appointed CMAC as the mechanism to mediate with a view to resolve the issues. Gina said at the mediation session, they motivated their demands and the government team asked to go to consults with its principals and promised to come back with feedback on Monday. In fact, he said the mobilisation exercise would provide them with a platform to update workers and concerned members of society about the developments which took place during their mediation session. He said they believed that the developments would assist their members to make an informed decision as the go forward.

Our position is clear and is that if our demands are not addressed or discussed to our satisfaction, we will roll out the mass protest action, which will be in either a form of a mass demonstration or mass stay away, the unionist said. The matter started on July 27, 2022, when the leadership of TUCOSWA delivered petitions to the Deputy Prime Minister's (DPMs) Office, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Ministry of Commerce Industry and Trade, together with the Prime Minister's (PMs) Office. The petitions had about nine demands which are related to the high cost of living in the country and they demanded that government should respond by August 5, 2022. However, government did not respond and the federation resolved that it would organise a mass protest action to try and put pressure on government to address its demands.

Commodities

Some of the demands included that the prices of commodities should be regulated in consideration of the economic hardships faced by the ordinary citizens and that any hike which would be caused by external forces, should be subsidised through national trusts held on behalf of the nation, like Tibiyo TakaNgwane and profits made from state owned enterprises. The federation also demanded that public and private employers should review the salaries of workers to increase their buying power for money circulation within the economy. They said government as the largest employer should be exemplary in this case.

Another demand was that the political tension which was obtaining in the country had proved to be a hazard for workers in their normal carrying out of their contractual obligations with their employers and that it should be resolved in haste through an all-inclusive genuine political dialogue. In that regard, the federation called for a speedy resolution of the political problems for harmony to exist at the workplace and for the restoration of investor confidence to the country.
The Montreal Police logo is seen on a police car in Montreal on July 8, 2020. A 36-year-old man is to face charges in connection with the death of a woman found inside an apartment on Friday, Montreal police say. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Flowers are laid outside a business in Milton, Ont., Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. Police say a man has died after shootings in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Monday that also killed two others. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Holly McKenzie-Sutter
SINCENI  The rampant theft of goats is escalating violence at Nceka, outside Siphofaneni.

The unresolved dispute boiled over to violence when angry residents and farmers attacked a family accusing it of playing a role in the crime.The area has seen the theft of over 200 goats and cattle in recent years, prompting farmers to draw the line, that they cannot take it anymore.They vandalised and looted the business premises of the main suspect to whom they attribute the losses, and further blocked the main road with rocks and tree branches as they demanded answers from the police and family of the suspect.

The violence on Saturday was triggered by the release of a community member on E2 000 bail after he had been arrested for the theft of a few goats in the area. The farmers believe the arrest of the man was too little an achievement, as many other culprits were roaming around and continuing to rustle livestock. They are of the opinion that the police are either dragging feet in brining culprits to book or deliberately protecting them. Goats are held in high value at Sinceni, an area situated in the lowveld, as communities derive income as well as protein from them. Neighbouring communities in Sithobela, Maphilingo, KuGucuka have also suffered an upsurge in goat theft cases. The farmers rear goats in large quantities because, though hay and grass is in short supply, roughage is in abundance in the form of shrubs and barks.

Enraged residents barricaded the road with tree branches and rocks as they attempted to keep police officers at bay in the height of the mayhem on Saturday. The enraged farmers told Eswatini News that their intention was to visit the home of the main suspect who allegedly facilitating the theft of the livestock. They said all they wanted was for the suspect to give information on the whereabouts of the goats.The police had to use teargas to disperse the crowds and further detained one community member who had allegedly participated in the looting of the main suspects shop. One of the farmers Mfanukhona Sibandze who was in the company of five others said the residents anger had reached boiling point. The man who was arrested was then detained in a police van, presumably to be driven to the police station. However, the residents blocked the road and demanded that he be released to avert more violence. The police obliged and released him, Sibandze said.

He said it was only after the community member had been released from the back of the police van that tempers were calmed. The residents revealed that a foreign nurse at the Sithobela Health Centre had revealed how he also bought a goat from the community member. When we asked him why he had not verified the origin of the goat, he said where he originates from, movement of goats was allowed, with only verbal arrangement, and there was no need for a stock removal permit. The residents said they wanted the police to shed light on the E2 000 bail paid by the suspect last week. The man was apprehended by the community, to which he confessed the theft of goats and cattle. Now, if he is released on bail, we want the police to explain why he was not charged for all the other stock theft cases, Sibandze said. He said during interrogation by the community, the nurse had further implicated the main suspect in the matter as being the one who sold him the goat.

He revealed that one of the farmers was called by the Siphofaneni Police to come and identify a few goats at the police station, but when he got there he discovered that they did not belong to him. Sibandze also revealed how a resident of Mkhaya was also found in possession of stolen goats, though one farmer who was a victim of stolen goats went to ascertain if they did not belong to him and came back with a negative answer. We believe police are still investigating how the Mkhaya homestead was also involved in the theft of goats, he said. The residents said they deserved to be appreciated for not resorted to a murderous mob violence as a means to avenge the theft of their goats. News have been published on how residents elsewhere are killing people for their livestock, but all we want are the goats and cattle back, they said during the interview.

The residents said they used the goats to support their families, as each was sold for about E800, depending on its size. Bheki Simelane, a resident whose 17 goats had been stolen two months ago, said he had since invested in a boerboel to protect his goats.I paid E1 500 because I was so angry after discovering that 17 of my cattle were stolen, he said. The residents said they had resolved to ask the Royal Kraal to adjudicate over the theft of goats in the area and remove the cases from the court so that justice can be done once and for all.We believe the community can take the best resolution on this matter before it gets out of hand, the residents said.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said police were investigating the theft of goats in the area and could not divulge much details for now. When asked to respond on allegations that the police were shielding the main suspect in the theft of the goats, she insisted that she would not divulge anymore details while the matter was under investigation. She also said REPS was in communication with the residents in a quest to avoid more violence in the area.



Some of the most recent cases

Simelane family  17 goats stolen

Khumalo Family  17 goats stolen

LaMatsenjwa  4 goats stolen

Gwebu Family  6 goats stolen

Nhlabatsi Family  2 goats stolen

Dludlu family 3 cows, 2 goats stolen

Mandla Simelane  1 goat stolen

Dlamini Family 12 cows 10 goats stolen

Magongo family 6 goats stolen


















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The Justice Department will likely eventually appeal the entirety of Judge Cannons order. The DOJ limited its request on appeal to the issue that DOJ asserts most endangers the country. From Reuters:

In the filing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, the Justice Department said the circuit court should halt part of the lower court decision that prevents prosecutors from relying on the classified documents in their criminal investigation into the retention of government records at Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach after his presidency ended.

And, importantly:

The government asked the appeals court to rule on the request as soon as practicable.

Appellate courts move slowly. The process can take six to nine months on a fairly fast criminal appeal. But appellate courts have the ability to move very quickly, too. After all, they control their own schedule. The operative word practicable emphasizes the need for speed while also sufficient preparation by both parties.

The Courts response to the scheduling request may reveal the courts inclinations about the substantive ruling below and may reveal the direction of its ultimate ruling. Judges are people. They have heard about the controversial ruling, they know this issue on appeal is one that is almost unheard of, and most importantly, they know that DOJ believes this is a matter critical to national security. They know whats coming.

If the 11th Circuit panel believes the case is probably wrongly decided and that DOJ should be allowed to go forward in this matter, the Court is more likely (in my opinion) to grant a very expedited and aggressive schedule. Perhaps it could schedule the matter so that its ruling is out within a month, perhaps even sooner. But if the court decides that practicable means three to four months that is likely a bad sign for DOJ. Many would take that to indicate that the panel believes the ruling is probably lawful and that it is not that harmful to national security.

The above is speculation, but it is speculation that will be in accord with what most of the legal community will also believe.

Even the speed with which the court issues its scheduling order may be telling. Will the scheduling order be issued Tuesday or two weeks from now? It is hard to tell, but most lawyers would see it as telling.
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The 1/6 Committee has witness testimony that Rep. Matt Gaetz sought a preemptive pardon on child sex trafficking investigation.

The Washington Post reported:

Johnny McEntee, according to people familiar with his testimony, told investigators that Gaetz told him during a brief meeting that they are launching an investigation into him or that theres an investigation into him, without specifying who was investigating Gaetz.

McEntee added that Gaetz told him he did not do anything wrong but they are trying to make his life hell, and you know, if the president could give him a pardon, that would be great. Gaetz told McEntee that he had asked White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows for a pardon.

Asked by investigators if Gaetzs ask for a pardon was in the context of the Justice Department investigation into whether Gaetz violated federal sex trafficking laws, McEntee replied, I think that was the context, yes.

There Is Now Evidence That Matt Gaetz Requested A Pardon

Matt Gaetz would not need a pardon if he did nothing wrong, and it is impossible to get a pardon without admitting wrongdoing, so the kind of pardon that Gaetz was apparently seeking does not exist. Rep. Gaetz wanted a literal get-out jail free card, a blank piece of paper with Trumps signature that he could fill the details in on later.

Even Donald Trump would not go near Gaetz and the child sex trafficking investigation. Matt Gaetz has continued to be a vocal Trump loyalist because it is possible that he needs the former president back in office to keep himself out of prison.

Innocent people dont request preemptive pardons. It has been reported that there will be no announcement of potential charges against Gaetz until after the midterm election, but Matt Gaetz was working hard to get a pardon before Trump left office because he might be swapping the Peoples House for the Big House soon.
A new 12-story office building under construction on the Charleston peninsula is now more than 60 percent leased.

Morrison Yard on Morrison Drive near the Ravenel Bridge recently picked up three new tenants, according to Jeff Mixson, a co-owner of the new office building and founder and principal of Mixson Properties.

Architecture firm McMillan Pazdan Smith leased 12,000 square feet. MS2 Capital is moving from Atlanta to rent space in the new building, and Woodfield Development plans to put its office in the new structure. Woodfield is developing the 379-unit Morrison Yard Apartments next door, where the first units are slated to be finished soon.

Mixson said two other leases are pending that should put the property over 70 percent rented when it is completed in October.

Among tenants already lined up at the developing site are Indigo Road Hospitality Group, Blaze Capital Partners, Bond Street Advisors, CBI workplace solutions company and JLL, the firm overseeing leases for the site, whose owners also include The Keith Corp. and Origin Development Partners.

Also coming to Morrison Yard are Pinnacle Financial Partners, which will move its main Lowcountry office from Mount Pleasant and relocate its Meeting Street branch to the new building. The regional law firm of Parker Poe also will move from Bank of America Place at 200 Meeting St.

Four other buildings are being proposed in the next phase of development at Morrison Yard. They include a nine-story, 150-room Kimpton Hotel and three apartment buildings, with two of them up to 12 stories tall.

Scaled back

A multifamily development that's been in the works for more than three years near West Ashley High School has been scaled back by just over 25 percent.

Plans now show the unnamed project at the juncture of Glenn McConnell Parkway and William E. Murray Boulevard will have 228 apartments in three buildings around a central amenity center. The site plan also shows 23 townhomes to be developed in five buildings on both sides of William E. Murray Boulevard.

Original plans in 2019 showed a 348-unit multifamily project in four buildings on the 10-acre tract.

Zimmer Development Co. of Wilmington, N.C., bought the property in April for $8.1 million from University Medical Associates of the Medical University of South Carolina, according to Charleston County land records.

The city's Design Review Board will consider the latest proposal on Sept. 19.

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Rental rates

The median rental rate in Charleston continues to rise.

Online multifamily firm Apartment List reported rents increased 1 percent in August over the same month last year. The year-over-year average rent growth stands at 17.4 percent, compared to 14.7 percent at this time last year.

The median rent in Charleston is $1,504 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,716 for a two-bedroom unit.

The most expensive place to rent in South Carolina is Mount Pleasant. The median price for a two-bedroom unit there is now $2,220 a month.

The same unit in Summerville now has a median price of $1,520. In North Charleston, it's $1,460.

Of the 10 largest cities in the Palmetto State, Spartanburg offers the least expensive median rate of $1,020 for a two-bedroom unit.

The average rent growth across the state for the past 12 months is 13.4 percent, while in the U.S. it's 10 percent.

New firm

A New York-based residential real estate firm is expanding into the Charleston market.

Corcoran Group affiliate Corcoran HM Properties has opened a temporary office at 75 Port City Landing, Suite 110, in Mount Pleasant, according to company president and CEO Pamela Liebman, and Corcoran HM Properties broker-owner Valerie Mitchener.

A permanent site is in the works, but has not yet been announced.

The expansion is part of Corcoran HM Properties' growth plan from the Charlotte area, where it has three offices.

"This strategic move into Charleston will not only open doors for their team, its a significant market for the entire Corcoran network," Liebman said.

Mitchener founded the firm in 2006. It includes an in-house relocation department that manages individual and corporate moves.
Politics and theater have long been intertwined. And that potent combination of ideological notions and gripping emotions has regularly taken on a topic that persists.

Thats the role of women in our society.

Back in 411 B.C., Aristophanes skewered sexual power dynamics in Lysistrata. So, yes, it has been fraught for millennia.

Fast forward to 1953, and Arthur Miller fanned the flames in The Crucible. Casting a cold eye on the Salem witch trials to take McCarthyism to task, he placed at the works smoldering core a few fierce women who, thus preternaturally powerful, were much-maligned.

Then in 1996, Eve Ensler laid it bare in The Vagina Monologues, taking on the topic and giving agency to the V-word with its center-stage spot in the title. Her breakthrough work of political theater linked monologues that both demystified and emboldened this lesser-name-checked nether region.

The operative noun in its title (you can say it, vagina) has of late resounded in South Carolina Senate floor. There, Sen. Sandy Senn (R-Charleston) declared a total abortion ban a violation of the privacy of every woman in the state.

If what is going on in my vagina isnt an unreasonable invasion of privacy for this Legislature to get involved in, I dont know what is, was the quote heard round the World Wide Web.

Now, a new theatrical work is set to join the ranks and voices.

Youre the Only One Ive Told: The Voices Behind Abortion is a new theatrical experience that dramatizes true accounts around one of Americas most pressing political issues.

Co-sponsored by the College of Charleston Womens and Gender Studies Program and Department of Theatre and Dance, this campus-community collaboration takes place on Sept. 24 at the College of Charleston.

Political theater now

All theater is political.

It could be argued that Linda Eisen has earned such sweeping proclamations. The Charleston-based director, who also runs a talent agency for film and television, has been crossing those two streams for decades.

As a student immersed in political theater at New York University, she first discovered the art form as a means for transforming society and for starting a conversation. She even learned as much from Ensler herself at school.

When Eisen left college, she worked in theater and arts and education, traversing locales from Brazil to Scranton, Pa.

Theater is a terrific tool to get a message out, to build community, to share stories and to make things engaging and personal, she said.

Since then, she has created works covering everything from the Holocaust to 9/11. For the past few years, she has taught a College of Charleston graduate course for students preparing for careers in education, exploring the balance of power between individual freedom and community responsibility.

Now in her 50s, Eisen is increasingly focused on what she can bring to the table. The U.S. Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade compelled her to act.

I was trying to figure out what I can personally do on this issue thats going to be meaningful, thats not just going to get like-minded people together to pat themselves on the back, she said.

A la Ensler, she landed on the monologue, a model that offers a means to mine a subject from a human perspective and through a theatrical experience.

For Eisen, it is not a partisan issue. I look at this as a human rights issue, as an individual freedom issue.

From stories to voices

When Eisen discovered Meera Shahs book, "You're the Only One I've Told: The Stories Behind Abortion, she recognized its agency as live theater. The compilation of true stories of women's experiences with abortion provided a way to humanize the accounts that together can inform political discourse.

Both a theatrical performance and community call-to-action, the new production, Youre the Only One Ive Told: The Voices Behind Abortion is part of the College of Charlestons Incluza-Palooza initiative presented by the Womens and Gender Studies program.

It was created with co-producer Lisa Thomson Ross, a psychology professor at the College of Charleston. Ross tracked down Shah for permission to adapt the stories for theatrical purposes. College of Charleston faculty and others lent a hand, condensing them and converting them from third to first person, selecting 13 monologues for a work that runs an hour and 15 minutes.

Connected though the concept of women gathered in a cafe, patrons at the event can also opt for coffee and concessions. The League of Women Voters will be on site for voter registration ahead of its October deadline. Itinerant Literate Books will be on hand as part of the Bans Off Our Books, Bans Off Our Bodies bookseller campaign for Banned Books Week, which is also taking place on campus.

All proceeds will benefit local reproductive health access organizations, including Planned Parenthood.

Community on campus

They went in search of the right women to portray the narrators of these distinct, diverse stories, gathered by Eisen Ross from the Charleston community and spanning ages, backgrounds and professions.

Some are professional actors, while others hold positions like director of the Alliance For Full Acceptance, Zumba instructor and high school drama teacher.

Brittany Altenbach, a professional actor and active member of the Air Force, portrays Gwen, a woman in the Navy who was stationed in Japan.

Most women, we've either been through the experience or we know women that have gone through the experience, she said, including people close to her. Altenbach was also moved by the importance of the Roe v. Wade decision.

She also understands the distinct challenges of being a woman in the military, which can result in added isolation and depression when encountering womens health issues while far away from families.

Its not like how a civilian would deal with it, she said. Ive been overseas, so I get where shes coming from.

Altenbach describes herself as an emotional actor, able to tap into her feelings  in this case, as a mother of a 12-year-old. When she first read through the monologue, she cried at the end.

Its easy for me to read this piece and have compassion for being a mother.

Latanya Mueller portrays Vandalia, a womens rights activist of mixed race who is in her mid-30s.

A high school theater teacher who has long been involved in theater, Mueller related to her own marginalizing experience as the mixed-race child of a mother of German descent and a father who was Jamaican. She attended a high school in Maryland that had no minority culture.

There wasnt a sense of expression in different cultures, she said, adding that the narrators observations on erasure resonated.

She also feels its important as a woman to be vocal.

We as women need to stop being so quiet. We need to talk about things that really matter to us, she said, adding that a new sense of identity gives her strength.

This convergence of community can also serve to engage younger generations, particularly on a college campus, which has historically been a safe place, not unlike a theater, to challenge the status quo.

Eisen has observed growing cynicism about political involvement in recent years. But the numbers of younger Kansas women who cast a vote against taking away abortion protections from the state constitution may indicate a reengagement.

Eisen feels that now is the time to be angry, outspoken and make a stand. I wanted to do something thats not just giving money or complaining on Facebook.

At the college, she wont be alone. The voices will converge. And the audience will, too. In fact, seats were selling sufficiently quickly that they recently added a second performance.

The Sept. 24 production Youre the Only One Ive Told takes place at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at the College of Charleston Education Center, 25 St. Phillips St., Auditorium Room No. 118. Tickets are free, but attendees are encouraged, as they are able, to make a donation at the door. To reserve tickets: https://YouretheOnlyOneIveTold.eventbrite.com.
GEORGETOWN  Facing greater foot traffic in the area, and the prospect of new public parking nearby, the city of Georgetown took its first step in making the intersection of Wood and Front streets a four-way stop on Sept. 15.

The Georgetown City Council unanimously gave first reading approval to the four-way stop, which must be approved by ordinance. The intersection, located at the northwestern edge of Georgetown's Historic District, is currently a two-way stop with stop signs for traffic traveling along Wood Street but not Front Street.

Council members were told that there has been increased foot traffic at the intersection following the opening of a restaurant at the southern end of Wood Street  ostensibly Between the Antlers, which opened earlier this year in a renovated former shrimp house.

"I think this is what one of our residents was just addressing," Georgetown Mayor Carol Jayroe said. "That is a busy intersection, and we have had several residents reach out to us."

As portrayed in documents for the council's Sept. 15 meeting, the project would include the painting of crosswalks.

On Aug. 25, the council approved an application to the S.C. Commerce Department for a $250,000 community development block grant to reduce city construction costs of a 39-space parking lot. The proposed site for the lot, at 113 Cleland St., is just one block from the intersection of Wood and Front streets.

That project, valued at $360,933, would include two spaces considered accessible under the ADA, solar lighting and a charging station for electric vehicles.
The Greenville County Republican Party wants County Council to investigate who ordered and displayed a number of LGBTQ childrens books at public libraries earlier this year.

It also wants the county to ban books that mention LGBTQ topics from the children and juvenile sections of the countys libraries.

The partys executive committee unanimously passed a resolution Sept. 12 that called on County Council to take up the matter. County Councilman Joe Dill said he plans to introduce the resolution soon, once county staff puts it into the language and format used for county binding resolutions.

The topic is not listed on the councils Sept. 20 agenda.

The resolution names a handful of childrens book titles it says have been found at county libraries that promote transsexuality and LGBTQ ideology to children in Greenville County.

The resolution also stated the partys position to formally denounce any and all sexual indoctrination of children in government-funded schools and libraries.

The resolution names five specific childrens book titles as currently available from the library; Twas the Night Before Pride, My Shadow is Purple, The Rainbow Parade, Im Not a Girl and My Own Way: Celebrating Gender.

Jeff Davis, GCGOP chairman, said party members have checked the books out of the library and plan to continue to check the books out to prevent them from being displayed for children to see.

We checked out a bunch of them and theyre downstairs here at the (GCGOP) headquarters, Davis said.

But a search of the library system website doesn't show any of those book titles as currently in circulation. Davis later clarified and said the resolution text had been copied from a similar one passed by Anderson County Republicans. The Greenville group is targeting a separate set of book titles, he said.

The books GC GOP members checked out and have displayed include "Sex is a Funny Word," "Teo's Tutu," "Pride Puppy," "Feminist Baby Finds Her Voice" and "Daddy & Dada."

Davis said he did not know why anybody would be against denouncing sexual indoctrination of children at publicly funded libraries. He said it wasnt a ban on the books because they could be available with parental approval in a library's adult section but shouldnt be celebrated and displayed in the childrens areas of the library.

Susan Ward, president of PFLAG GVL, an LGBTQ family and ally support group, said she was appalled that members of the GCGOP feel they should have the final say over what books children can check out from the library.

I trust our highly educated librarians  folks who are passionate about books and who understand how reading expands our horizons and helps kids develop into well-rounded adults, Ward said.

The group she leads, PFLAG, has been serving LGBTQIA+ and queer families with support and education in Greenville for more than 30 years, she said.

Removing books that mention the existence of LGBTQIA+ people and families from libraries does not make us disappear, Ward said.

The PFLAG GVL organization released a statement that said it condemns any attempts to erase the LGBTQIA+ community from society through book bans, removals, or relocations. Limiting children's literature to only those books you agree with is indoctrination. Calling a children's book illustration of same-gender parents highly sexual is the definition of sexualization. It is a mountain of hypocrisy dreamed up by right-wing extremists to drum up a vote.

The group said LGBTQ people contribute to the tax pool and should have representation in public spaces.

There are thousands of LGBTQIA+ children across our state, and thousands of children with LGBTQIA+ parents, PFLAG said. Those children should have unfettered access to books that celebrate the beautiful diversity of humanity, and represent their families."

Caroline Caldwell, president of Upstate Pride SC, called it "ugly" that the Greenville GOP sought to push its agenda to discriminate against others.

"The actions of predominantly white men in power - using that power and status to "other" people different from themselves by attempting to dictate to children, their parents, and educators what they can read, what they can learn, what they can say, and who they can be is an abuse of that power and the trusts that got them elected," Caldwell said.

The call by the local Republican Party comes in the wake of the brief removal and reinstatement of Pride Month displays at local library branches in June. No one at the library system, including its director Beverly James or its current board members, would say who ordered the removal. The displays were restored after public outcry.

Laura Baker, who resigned from the Greenville County Library System Board of Trustees over the issue and called for James and board chair Allan Hill to resign, said the board never voted to remove the displays.

Attributing the action to the board is a lie," Baker wrote in her resignation letter obtained by the Post and Courier under the states Freedom of Information Act. "I was not consulted. I had no voice in this decision. Who made the decision? Either the executive director and/or the board chair."

Baker said she resigned so the county could appoint a member of the LGBTQ community to the board. The council has interviewed candidates to fill the vacancy.

Greenville County Councilman Steve Shaw has said the library board may consider eliminating themed displays altogether, but no formal action has been taken.

Greenville County Council appoints the library systems trustees and approves the library system budget, which surpassed $23 million for the 2023 fiscal year.

Dill said he does not want taxpayer money spent on materials that promote LGBTQ topics. He said the majority of the library board and its director removed LGBTQ books from circulation earlier this summer once they became aware of the materials, though he said he didnt think a vote was taken by the board.

The issue arises amidst a push in South Carolina and across the nation by some conservative politicians and religious groups who object to LGBTQ themes presented in books in school and public libraries. SC Sen. Josh Kimbrell of Spartanburg in August called for books about sexual identity to be limited to the adult sections of county libraries. The Anderson County GOP passed a resolution similar to Greenvilles in August.
Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Generally cloudy. High 72F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 57F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Air Force veteran Chuck Smiley has a mentor helping guide him through his next venture.

His daughter Catherine.

Catherine Smiley is the chief operating officer at Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, a New York City-based nonprofit that redistributes leftover food to feed those struggling with food insecurity.

After finishing an eight-year career at Boeing that was preceded by 32 years of service, Smiley decided he would bring the vision of Rescuing Leftover Cuisine to Charleston, where approximately 600,000 tons of food waste are produced each year.

Cuisine Rescue was established as a nonprofit in March. Its first cuisine rescue took place April 9.

Shes my business mentor. Thats where we kind of got the idea from, Smiley said. We thought wed try it here in Charleston.

New York City is one of many metropolises making a push to decrease the amount of food ending up in landfills.

California and New Jersey have laws that aim to limit food waste, and Vermont in 2020 banned the disposal of food waste in the trash or landfills.

Overseas, France in 2016 banned grocery stores from throwing away unsold food that could be given away, while Spain has made tackling food waste a priority with new legislation.

Elsewhere in the for-profit space, Bloomberg reports that tech startups across Asia are turning food earmarked for the landfill into discounted meals that can be purchased through mobile phone apps.

Cuisine Rescue could provide Charleston with an example of how to effectively utilize leftovers.

At each rescue, Smiley and a network of volunteers gather leftover prepared food from restaurants and caterers and deliver it to local nonprofit kitchens and shelters.

The nonprofits 22nd rescue took place Aug. 9 when volunteers brought leftover food from the Charleston RiverDogs' Segra Club to Star Gospel Mission in just 12 minutes, well under the nonprofits guarantee of getting the food from door to door in one hour or less.

Food safety is the reason for the swift deliveries. From pickup to drop-off, food must remain below the temperature danger zone of 41 degrees.

Ready-to-eat food made in a kitchen can be stored for seven days if kept below that temperature and should not be left out of the refrigerator for more than one hour.

To make this possible, RiverDogs vice president of food and beverage Josh Shea simply stored the food in an on-site cooler overnight. Smiley and his team then choreographed the pickup in advance so there was no delay.

"They have been very flexible and awesome to partner with," Shea said. "I would recommend (for) anyone looking to make a difference with some extra food."

If it sounds like there are a lot of moving parts, its actually quite simple, Smiley said. And Rescuing Leftover Cuisine has provided proof of concept  the nonprofit has rescued more than 8 million pounds of food and provided nearly 7 million meals to those in need.

The logistics are simple, Smiley said. We pick it up and we deliver it within the hour. Thats our promise.

While the deliveries themselves have been smooth sailing, finding food donors has not. Some restaurants and caterers have said they dont have enough leftover food to warrant a pickup (Cuisine Rescue does not have a minimum requirement.), while others are worried about the lack of control they have over their food once it exits the event or building.

For those concerned about liability, Smiley points to the federal and state "Good Samaritan" laws that provide legal protections to food donors.

It makes them feel a lot more comfortable that theyre doing the right thing and that theyre protected for doing the right thing, Smiley said.

The RiverDogs were Cuisine Rescues first donor and have been a big supporter since, contributing 91 pounds of leftover food over the course of 11 rescues. Every RiverDogs' donation has gone to Star Gospel Mission, where a resident chef uses the food to feed men facing homelessness.

Cuisine Rescue receives regular donations from Blondies Bagels & Cafe on Daniel Island, and the nonprofit has also rescued from two catered events. The PINK House Neighborhood Resource Center and Neighbors Together are among the beneficiaries from these rescues.

The movement to limit food waste and utilize leftovers is upon us, and Cuisine Rescue wants to help Charleston restaurants and caterers get started. While the nonprofits footprint is still quite small, Smiley believes it could make a big impact.

I think what will give us success is just momentum, he said. Once it kicks in, I think its going to kick in in a big way.

For this to happen, Cuisine Rescue needs more donors.

Those interested in becoming Cuisine Rescue donors or volunteering for the organization can visit cuisinerescue.org.
SIPHOFANENI  After being forced to postpone, guests banned, others censored; Nomalungelo LaZwide Simelanes thanksgiving event was subsequently forced out of Siphofaneni Inkhundla Centre yesterday.

LaZwide, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing Siphofaneni constituency, had planned to host a thanksgiving celebration at the inkhundla centre, after she was elected to replace her exiled husband Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane in the House of Assembly. LaZwide was allegedly offered monitored access to the community centre in an emotional meeting with representatives of the Lubombo Regional Administration Offices and members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS). It was revealed that the newly-elected MP was told that she would be held personally liable for any political statements or slogans by her guest speakers, during the event. She was further informed that the inkhundla centre was not allowed to host more than 2 000 people. Preparation had already started at the centre, pots and fencing had arrived together with other items to be used during the event. The organising team was forced to pack the items back into their vans and they eventually took the items to a church.

Instructed

The incident follows an instruction to cancel the initial event which was supposed to be held September 3, 2022. LaZwide was instructed by Regional Administrator (RA) Themba Msibi to find any other date after September 11, 2022 for the thanksgiving and she subsequently chose today. It was gathered that Indvuna YeNkhundla Mzimela Simelane was summoned to the RA Offices in Siteki, where Msibi and the REPS Regional Commander (RC) demanded to see the programme of the event. She was further instructed not to allow her husband, Gawuzela, to address the audience and to also ensure that Bishop Mpendulo Nkambule did not say anything political. LaZwide, who was also supposed to be a part of the meeting with the RA and RC, was informed yesterday morning of what transpired at the RAs Offices in Siteki, in the presence of Siphofaneni Police Station commander. It was during the meeting held at the inkhundla centre, where they resolved to move the event to LaZwides Church, about 7.5 kilometres from the inkhundla.This was after she was advised in the meeting that the one option she could remove liability from her person was to find an alternative venue. She confirmed that she was forced to change the venue because she had already invested a lot of money to just cancel the event.

Guidelines

She said the station commander mentioned that their only role as Siphofaneni police was to ensure the safety of everyone during the event, but since the liabilities were on her, it was important that she stayed within the parameters of the guidelines as presented by the indvuna yenkhundla.

I wonder why the government is doing this to me. It is clear that they have a vendetta or a score to settle with me. I am worried because I dont think I did anything wrong. I lost a lot of money in the first postponement and now I am told to find an alternative venue because I have invited people who are not from Siphofaneni. I was supported by a lot people during my campaign and I wanted to appreciate everyone. The event will go on, by fire or by force. We have already spent money and I cannot be told about this issue today, when I respected everyone and postponed the event to September 17 despite the fact that they allowed other events to go on. What have I done, who have I offended, is it because I am a woman and they are throwing their weight around me? I am Christian and a very respectful woman but I believe I am being harassed and abused here, and the very government I so desire to work with is turning against me now, she said. LaZwide said she was in constant contact with all the relevant structures while preparing for the event and they should have told her on time instead of waiting until the last day to inform her of the capacity and the strict orders.

Raised

She further mentioned that indvuna yenkhundla stated that one of the issues raised in the meeting was that some of the people who were part of the programme as per the poster, were not from the constituency. She said she had initially planned for the event to be held at Siphofaneni Bus Rank, but was convinced by the constituency council that as an MP she had to use the centre. Today I painfully learnt that even on the first postponement, it was not about the Umhlanga, but there is something behind the decision made. I feel like the government is fighting against me and they are not willing to assist me in anything. Even though I think I am being victimised, I want to believe that the event will be far better than the one we had planned because it all worked for the good of those that believe in the Lord. I was impressed by the station commander because he was very helpful even after it was presented to us that we should find an alternative. He even came to the church to see and inspect the venue. I want to assure everyone to attend without fail, she said. She invited people to attend the event and assured them that their safety would be guaranteed during the event.

Indvuna Yenkhundla, Mzimela, reiterated what LaZwide said and mentioned that the main concern was that the event was open for people coming from outside Siphofaneni. He said the office of the RA complained about the safety of the people and parking space.

Highlighted

The main issue raised was that the numbers would be huge and it might cause harm to government property within the inkhundla. It was further highlighted during the meeting that even the audience was not going to be safe and there might be a stampede during the event, he said.

Mzimela mentioned that even though the church venue was almost the same size as the inkhundla centre, they had made a provision and spoken to the neighbours to extend the yard. He said since the event was an outdoor event, it was going to be easy for them to manage the crowd and further implored the people to be in their best behaviour. KaMkhweli Umphakatsi Bucopho Thami Sibandze, questioned the methodology that the regional authorities used to ascertain the number of people to attend the event. We are worried because we do not know the criteria used to ascertain the number of people who will attend the event. We as the council have always encouraged people to come to the centre to discuss any issues arising and we were hoping that the event would encourage people not to shy away from the structure. We are shocked and worried at the same time, but we are determined to ensure that the people are safe, said Sibandze.

Invited

The event is expected to start at 10am and among those invited to deliver speeches is Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo, Nkilongo MP Timothy Myeni, Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) Programmes Coordinator Hlobisile Dlamini and pro democracy pastor Apostle Siboniso Makhubu. Veteran artists Shongwe and Khuphuka Saved Group, Shiba and Travellers and Immortal Seven, will be among other entertainers spicing the event on stage. Three cows were slaughtered for the people to feast and a budget estimate of over E100 000 has been used to put together the event. A large number of people are expected to come and celebrate with the Gospel star turn MP after she emerged victorious in the recent by-elections to replace her husband Gawuzela who was fired after missing designated number of sittings in the House of Assembly last year.
NORTH CHARLESTON  Some Black Americans who witness crime  and abhor it  do not feel comfortable contacting law enforcement.

That reality hamstrings authorities ability to solve crime and is the basis for a new emergency hotline operated by a local civil rights organization that seeks to bridge a gulf between police and Black Americans.

The National Racial Justice Network, which was founded in North Charleston, officially launched a toll-free number last month to combat relentless gun violence.

The group believes witnesses and victims of crime in African American communities will be more willing to report criminal activity to a group founded on racial equality than directly to law enforcement.

The civil rights group created the hotline to prevent another mother or father from losing a child to gun violence, according to Candace Brewer, national president of the National Racial Justice Network.

We know that in the community itself, there (are) people there who know about illegal gun sales, who know people carrying weapons that should not be carrying weapons, she said. (But) a lot of people dont want to contact law enforcement.

The networks founder and longtime civil rights activist Elder James Johnson said Black Americans are historically uncomfortable dealing with law enforcement.

Our position is because we are well-known across the state, we feel that they may be more comfortable calling a civil rights organization, he said.

North Charleston Police Department will pilot the hotline, which is akin to tipster services like Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry, an organization that feeds anonymous tips to law enforcement.

North Charleston Police Chief Reggie Burgess said his department is not formally involved in the hotline because the agencies have yet to finalize policies and procedures governing their coordination. Still, he said he believes the hotline will fill a significant void, noting that cultural awareness is essential to the successful flow of information from communities to law enforcement.

When you go into African American communities, especially back in the day, I dont care who you are  Black cop, White cop, whatever  theyre not gonna say anything about who did what they did, Burgess said. But they will tell you in their own way, when they thought it was comfortable, because they feared retribution, they feared retaliation, and they feared being singled out in the community.

You have to go to somebody that knows the community to get them to meet you somewhere or talk to you about issues, Burgess added.

The civil rights group and law enforcement, Burgess said, are united by a shared commitment to the betterment of people.

Brewer cited circumstances under which witnesses of possible crimes can utilize the hotline:

A concerned mother finds a gun in her childs backpack.

A person wants to relinquish their firearm.

A neighbor suspects someone is selling illegal guns on their street.

The overall picture is getting the gun away from the community so that it cannot hurt anyone, she said.

Johnson said the civil rights organization will not investigate tips on its own but will collect information to report to law enforcement.

The hotline is also a resource for victims and their families seeking emotional support, Brewer said. Brewer said volunteers will go to crime scenes to comfort victims and can also help make funeral arrangements.

Brewer has lost 12 family members to gun violence, making her particularly qualified to support victims, she said.

Whos better than me to go out to help these families? Because Ive been through it myself, so Im better equipped to be able to show them support and be able to help them.

Currently, seven volunteers with the civil rights group are manning the hotline, according to Brewer.

Calls placed to the hotline set off a pre-recorded message requesting callers leave a message that the service will return within 24 hours. If the caller is reporting an emergency, the message advises contacting Elder James Johnson or Candice Brewer on their phone numbers, which the recording reads out.

After an inspirational message, the hotline leads into 30 seconds of uplifting music.

Callers must wait 1 minute and 20 seconds in total before they are able to leave a message or speak to a representative.

Johnson acknowledged the hotline is in its early phases.

"Were working kinks out as we go, but I see the positive part of it already, he said. We want to be proactive.

Callers can reach the hotline at 1-800-694-1981.
Before Dobbs, S.C. Sen. Tom Davis told me Wednesday, opposing abortion had always been an academic issue for Republican legislators: They could pass as tough a law as they wanted, confident that a federal judge would block it.

It was sort of like playing with house money, the Beaufort Republican said. You go ahead and pass what you want to pass.

Then everything changed, and the dominos fell in three directions that if sustained could be redemptive to the body politic  and not just on abortion: Responsible legislators realized that their votes could cause harm, so they sought ways to mitigate the damage. The moderate middle awakened. And new opportunities opened to address problems heretofore off the table.

Weve heard quite a lot from Sen. Davis in the past few weeks, but since he was one of the most fascinating  and pivotal  players in South Carolinas unexpected impasse over H.5399, which would have banned nearly all abortions, I wanted to chat with him about the things he didnt talk about in several hours at the Senate podium.

Like all of his GOP colleagues except Charleston Sen. Sandy Senn, Sen. Davis supported last years bill to prohibit abortion after about six weeks. He still does, as do many of his constituents. But what hes been hearing from constituents has changed since the U.S. Supreme Court repudiated Roe v. Wade in its June decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization.

For 49 years, a lot of people kind of sat back and said this is a settled issue, and all we heard from were the advocates on both extremes: on the one side, those who wanted the ban from conception, and on the other side those who wanted to champion the right of a woman to have sovereignty over her body all the way through live birth, he said. And we didnt hear from the mass of people sort of in between those two extremes. Once Roe v. Wade got reversed, a lot of people who had been silent on this issue became engaged.

Those previously silent voices, particularly from Davis' 28-, 21- and 17-year-old daughters, added dramatically to the weight of recognition that as a direct consequence of a legislative vote to ban abortion, there would be a lot more babies born into potentially distressed situations. Didnt lawmakers have a responsibility to help those babies? Or, better still, help prevent those pregnancies?

Paradigm shifts

It's another paradigm shift, this one from five years ago, that gives Sen. Davis optimism about how the Legislature might move forward next year, when there's more latitude to address what he calls the ancillary issues.

Nobody in the General Assembly paid any attention to the model weve had in place for a hundred years on how we deliver power in South Carolina, he said. I never thought about energy policy: I flip a switch, and a light comes on. What do I care?

Then SCE&G and Santee Cooper pulled the plug on their overdue, overbudget construction of two nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer site, and the whole thing got turned upside down, and we started questioning the premise of the whole thing, and we were able to make our energy production markets more open and competitive and begin shifting toward fossil fuel alternatives.

That crisis created that opportunity, he says. The same is true with the abortion debate being turned on its head. Theres a window of opportunity that wasnt there before to have this conversation about what do we teach our children in school and how can we make contraceptives more readily available and what can we do to encourage adoptions and do we really provide enough resources for social services? And it becomes this opportunity to actually move something forward that didnt exist before.

A new opportunity

Democrats would argue that those issues have existed all along, and that theyve been trying with little GOP support to replace an abstinence-only sex education curriculum, provide contraceptive access and increase funding for the social workers who try to protect kids whose parents dont want them, or cant afford to care for them. That theyve been trying to expand Medicaid coverage, mostly on the federal governments dime.

They also might argue that Sen. Davis  and many of us in the middle, my colleagues and me included  should have been pushing these policies long before now.

Its a fair point, but so is Sen. Davis point about legislative attention and focus: Theres a big difference between having a majority and having a passionate majority, without which a passionate minority prevails.

Whenever you have something that shakes the boxes up, you can approach things that otherwise wouldnt have gotten out of committee or if they got onto the calendar would be immediately objected to, and it wasnt going to be set for special order anyway, so why go through that whole exercise? Sen. Davis says. Now its become possible, because the whole subject matter has been opened up in a way it wasnt in the past.

Theres no guarantee anything comes of this: As we saw during the Senate debate, the most adamant advocates of banning abortion oppose teaching kids how to avoid becoming pregnant if they have sex, much less making it easier for girls and women to access contraceptives. These lawmakers also tend to have other priorities for state funding than social workers. And Sen. Davis' effort to offer a legal safe harbor for physicians who end a pregnancy to save the mother's life was torpedoed by trial lawyers.

But its worth remembering that Sen. Davis went into this month's debate with two Republican allies in the 30-16 Senate  Sen. Senn and Sen. Katrina Shealy  and came out with enough to keep South Carolina abortion law pretty much where it was. And while they probably wont do it publicly, thats a victory most of his fellow Republicans could end up thanking him for. After all, were no longer in the Roe world, and that moderate middle is having none of the demise of abortion.
Well, that certainly was easy. All it took was a single threatening letter from S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson, and the Charleston County School Board folded  quietly conducted a do-over Monday of votes that Superintendent Don Kennedy acknowledged were taken in violation of the states open meetings law.

From start to finish, the whole matter took less than two months to resolve. Without requiring individuals to spend their own money to force the district to comply with the law, without wasting judicial time on hearings and a trial and years of appeals, without the attorney generals office or the school district having to hire outside attorneys  or use more than de minimis time of their internal counsel.

Compare that to whats happening in Richland School District 1, where a resident filed suit in August 2021 alleging that the school board had held numerous closed-door executive sessions on topics ranging from using schools for polling places to a board member's plans to resign, all in violation of state law. More than a year and 50 court filings later, the parties are still arguing over what questions can be asked in depositions.

Or whats happening in Lexington-Richland District 5, where Columbias State newspaper also filed suit in August 2021, alleging that district illegally voted in a closed-door session to approve a payout for a departing superintendent. The docket is similarly lengthy, and a resolution is similarly nowhere in sight.

The issue in Charleston County wasnt voting or discussing matters in secret sessions that the S.C. Freedom of Information Act requires be discussed in public. It was about a much more mundane requirement of the FOI law: that public bodies inform the public at least 24 hours in advance of what they will discuss at their meeting. Thats a crucial provision thats designed to ensure that we can show up and have our say when officials consider actions that interest us; when its violated, its as if the body had met in secret.

The courts routinely side with plaintiffs who sue school boards and state and local governing boards for violating the Freedom of Information Act. But this hasnt served as a deterrent for the steady flow of violations, likely because the boards know that in most cases, individuals arent going to invest the time and money needed to take them to court  or stick with those lawsuits when they have to go up against government attorneys who are expert at drawing out the cases as long as possible.

We can debate whether we believe the Charleston County School Boards illegal votes at its July 18 meeting really were the result of a staff error, as Mr. Kennedy wrote in his Sept. 7 response to Mr. Wilson, or a deliberate decision by the board to ignore the law after Board Member Cindy Bohn Coats argued that the public wasnt given proper notice of what would be discussed. But the districts hasty acknowledgement of its mistake and quick correction demonstrate how important it is for the attorney general to get involved in such matters.

Would the district have backed down so quickly if Mr. Wilson had called it on a more significant violation  like, say, its illegal closed-door discussion last year about COVID policy? We cant say for sure.

But we feel pretty sure about this: If Mr. Wilson would do this sort of thing more often  even for smaller violations that dont really affect policy  the district would get the message pretty quickly. As would other districts and councils. And state agencies.

And if they dont, he could bring criminal charges of misconduct in office against board members with a pattern of violations, as he threatened in his letter to the Charleston school board. And he should.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. High near 75F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Sun, Beach and Truth

There are two things you can count on when discussing a Guam problem. First: Its not new. Second: Someone is to blame. Some bad person is not Read more
This is seismic: a panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Texass new law banning viewpoint discrimination by the major social media platforms. The case is NetChoice v. Paxton, and the opinion is by Judge Andrew Oldham. Oldham is a brilliant guy with a gilt-edged pedigree. He also was once the General Counsel to Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

The Texas law is similar to the one I drafted for the Minnesota legislature (which has not yet been enacted), in that it is couched as a ban on viewpoint discrimination. It is different in that it explicitly labels the major platforms as common carriers, and it also does not provide for statutory damages.

The Courts majority opinion is long, detailed, and to my mind persuasive. At times, it is almost mocking in its characterizations of the Platforms (as those parties are collectively referred to) legal positions. For example, at the beginning of the opinion:

In urging such sweeping relief, the platforms offer a rather odd inversion of the First Amendment. That Amendment, of course, protects every persons right to the freedom of speech. But the platforms argue that buried somewhere in the persons enumerated right to free speech lies a corporations unenumerated right to muzzle speech. The implications of the platforms argument are staggering. On the platforms view, email providers, mobile phone companies, and banks could cancel the accounts of anyone who sends an email, makes a phone call, or spends money in support of a disfavored political party, candidate, or business.

That is, of course, exactly what the Democratic Party has in mind, and already it is beginning to come to pass.

Whats worse, the platforms argue that a business can acquire a dominant market position by holding itself out as open to everyoneas Twitter did in championing itself as the free speech wing of the free speech party. Blue Br. at 6 & n.4. Then, having cemented itself as the monopolist of the modern public square, Packingham v. North Carolina, 137 S. Ct. 1730, 1737 (2017), Twitter unapologetically argues that it could turn around and ban all pro-LGBT speech for no other reason than its employees want to pick on members of that community, Oral Arg. at 22:3922:52.

This is the courts summary of its holdings:

The Platforms contend that Section 7 of HB 20 [the Texas statute]is facially unconstitutional. We disagree. We (A) first reject the Platforms facial overbreadth challenge because Section 7 does not chill speech; if anything, it chills censorship. Then we (B) turn to the First Amendments text and history, which offer no support for the Platforms claimed right to censor. Next, applying Supreme Court precedent, we (C) hold that Section 7 does not regulate the Platforms speech at all; it protects other peoples speech and regulates the Platforms conduct. Our decision (D) is reinforced by 47 U.S.C.  230, which reflects Congresss judgment that the Platforms are not speaking when they host other peoples speech. Our decision (E) is still further reinforced by the common carrier doctrine, which vests the Texas Legislature with the power to prevent the Platforms from discriminating against Texas users. Finally, even if all of thats wrong and Section 7 does regulate the Platforms speech, it (F) satisfies the intermediate scrutiny that applies to content-neutral rules.

It is noteworthy that the court finds that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which the social media giants seem to think protects them from every form of liability from auto accidents to rigging elections, cuts in favor of the Texas law. I think the court is right.

From the courts discussion of the common carrier issue:

The common carrier doctrine is a body of common law dating back long before our Founding. It vests States with the power to impose nondiscrimination obligations on communication and transportation providers that hold themselves out to serve all members of the public without individualized bargaining. The Platforms are communications firms of tremendous public importance that hold themselves out to serve the public without individualized bargaining. And Section 7 of HB 20 imposes a basic nondiscrimination requirement that falls comfortably within the historical ambit of permissible common carrier regulation.

***

Texas permissibly determined that the Platforms are common carriers subject to nondiscrimination regulation. Thats because the Platforms are communications firms, hold themselves out to serve the public without individualized bargaining, and are affected with a public interest.

***

The Platforms nonetheless contend that they cannot be regulated as common carriers because they engage in viewpoint-based censorshipthe very conduct common carrier regulation would forbid. This contention is upside down. The Platforms appear to believe that any enterprise can avoid common carrier obligations by violating those same obligations. That is obviously wrong and would rob the common carrier doctrine of any content.

The court echoes the concern I have often expressed that network effects may make the main social media platforms natural monopolies:

Its also true that each Platform has an effective monopoly over its particular niche of online discourse. Many early telephone companies did not have legal monopolies, but as a practical matter, they monopolized their geographic area due to the nature of the telephone business. See id. at 238. Likewise with the Platforms: While no law gives them a monopoly, network effects entrench these companies because its difficult or impossible for a competitor to reproduce the network that makes an established Platform useful to its users.

The opinion is well worth reading in its entirety. This case is destined, obviously, for the Supreme Court, but probably not yet. It probably will take a case in which the Texas law has actually been applied against a platform to frame the issues for a Supreme Court appeal. (The Supreme Court has already gotten involved, to a degree. The district court granted a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the Texas statute. The 5th Circuit granted Texass motion to stay that preliminary injunction. The platforms petitioned the Supreme Court, which vacated the 5th Circuits stay.)

This case reminds us how important it is that the federal courts have remained bipartisan. The social media platforms have all pledged their loyalty to the Democratic Party, and if the Democrats controlled the Supreme Court the platforms ability to censor conservative content would undoubtedly be upheld. But in our present Court, free speech and the First Amendment will get a fair hearing.

UPDATE: A perceptive reader, himself a distinguished jurist, points out that I overlooked a nuance in the courts three opinions:

I dont know you personally but I am a regular reader of Powerline and a fan. I noticed what I think is an error in this post: The common-carrier part of the opinion is not joined by Judge Jones, who otherwise concurred, or Judge Southwick, who largely dissented, so it reflects only the view of Judge Oldhamnot an opinion of the Fifth Circuit. Too bad, but I think thats the way it is.

Thanks for the correction. These issues will make their way to the Supreme Court, and I am not sure that the common carrier rubric is the best avenue to resolving them. But the correction is welcome.
The Marthas Vineyards meltdown illustrates the efficacy of a few of Saul Alinskys Rules For Radicals. Governors Abbott and DeSantis have put several of Alinskys rules in play Among them:

 Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.  Ridicule is mans most potent weapon.  A good tactic is one your people enjoy.  Keep the pressure on.  The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.  Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.

These rules were formulated for the use of the left. When employed to mount opposition to the left, the axis of American life and politics tilts. The end of the world is nigh.

Politicos West Wing Playbook gives us the White House reading of the DeSantis stunt. A stunt = the application of an Alinskyite tactic on the right. It must be time to call in the enforcers at the Department of Justice: During an immigration meeting on Friday, White House and administration officials discussed potential responses, including litigation options.'

You can feel the axis tilting:

Privately, White House officials have been annoyed by the story line, viewing it as a manufactured political wedge issue designed to try and elevate the Republicans governors pushing it. They are reluctant to do anything that might look like they are feeding the theatrics  disinterested, one official said, in further making the migrants look like political pawns  even as they take steps to help alleviate the needs of those who have been relocated. * * * * * Former White House Deputy Cabinet Secretary CRISTOBAL ALEX, whose portfolio included immigration issues, said he was outraged by the incident. And, he added, he suspected that it would rebound politically on the governors. I think DeSantis and Abbott are overplaying their hands. They are using families, children as political pawns. Its shameful  and will backfire on them. They want a political fight on the border, and they are creating images that remind us of the disastrous anti-American immigration policies of the last administration, he said. DeSantis in particular is pissing off Venezuelans  an important Florida constituency. Hes taking people fleeing communism and a brutal dictatorship and putting them on planes and sending them to a random destination for photo ops. Its outrageous. But behind the White Houses outrage, there is an implicit recognition that the issue does have the potential to cause political headaches. DeSantis showed no signs of reconsidering the move. In fact, there are signals that he is set to keep going with the migrant transportation. On Friday, White House aides largely deflected questions about whether the administration should have, or could have, done more to accommodate those migrants, specifically the ones who were dropped in front of the vice presidents residence. Theres no time for angling, said the person familiar. And it would be inappropriate. No time to make small talk and give more footage of migrants chatting with the vice president as political pawns. Alex has a more direct take when asked how he thought the White House should respond politically to DeSantis and Abbott. They should call it out for what it is, he said, political bullshit.

Opening the borders = authentic political integrity. Call it out, baby!

The Alinsky effect was on public display at the White House briefing by press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre yesterday. The White House has posted the transcript here. KJP directed Fox News Channels Jacqui Heinrich to consult it (see below).

Curtis Houck captures the questions and answers on the Marthas Vineyard action: [KJP] struggled with questions from both her allies in the press corps and actual reporters about the move, including a Kamala Harris-like answer and a general attitude painting Marthas Vineyard as some sort of Third World outpost.

Here is Jacqui Heinrich homing in on the contradictions:

Q Karine, yesterday, you repeatedly blamed the Trump administration for what were seeing at the southern border, but the record crossings have been happening under President Biden. One migrant we interviewed yesterday thanks the President for keeping the border open. So I just want to confirm: The way that this administration sees it, ending Remain in Mexico or Title 42 had nothing to do with the surge that were seeing? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So let me just step back for a second and lay out what we have done. under this administration: Twenty-three thousand agents and officers, more than 1,200 additional support personnel working to secure our nations borders. Thats more than what was happening in the last administration. Every individual that is encountered at the border is taken to CBP custody and processed and vetted by Border Patrol agents. Individuals taken into CBP custody are either expelled under the CDCs Title 42 authority, as required by court order, or placed in a removal procedures. In fact, more individuals encountered at the border will be removed or expelled this year than any previous year. That is just a fact. Q But what about the record crossing number. I mean, youre reading off, you know, expulsions and things like that, because all these people are coming over. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yes. And theyre also being encountered. Individuals encountered are also being removed or expelled in this year more than  removed more in this year than any previous year. Q Why would the President turn down a DHS plan then to move migrants to the northern border to relieve some of the crowding at the southern border? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just  I was just asked about this question  thats been already asked and answered. Q So hasnt  he hasnt turned it down? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just  I literally just answered that question. Q I didnt understand what your answer was. Did he turn down the plan? Or  MS. JEAN-PIERRE: When this is over, you can look at the transcript and take a look. Q So you wont clarify whether the President  MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I literally  Jacqui, I just answered that question. Q Okay. So do you think then that the system that you have in place is working? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What we are asking for  we are asking for Congress to act. Again, on the Presidents first day in this administration, he put forth a comprehensive immigration reform. And instead of Republicans playing political games, using peoples lives  humans, individuals, children, families  as political pawns, they should help us and work with us in finding solutions, and they are not. Q So its not  MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And, again, there is an immigration legislation  a comprehensive immigration legislation that we put forth on day one. And again, Republicans have voted  many of them have voted against the funding  record funding  for DHS. So were willing to figure out how to fix this problem. We are. We put forth ways to do this. We put forth policies to do this. And we put forth ways to make sure that were dealing with a broken system. Q Is that an acknowledgement that  MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just answered your question. Were moving on.

Tilt!

Embedded in Mark Krikorians New York Post column on the cost of open borders is a listing of stories (with links) on whats happening around the country as border states bus migrants around the US.
Well, that was quick. A mere 50 illegal immigrants threw Marthas Vineyard into a tizzy, revealing the shallowness of liberals humanitarianism. At least one Vineyard resident called on the Obamas to open up their $12 million mansion to the illegals, and there were social media exchanges like this one:

Im in a couple Marthas Vineyard Facebook groups and theyre all turning on each other. Calling out their friends for not letting migrants in their summer homes pic.twitter.com/igS8dalb5a  AidanKearneyTB (@DoctorTurtleboy) September 16, 2022



But mostly, liberals reacted with outrage. Joe Biden denounced Ron DeSantiss shipping of illegals to Marthas Vineyard as unAmericanBiden is quite the patriot latelybut why? The Biden administration has been flying illegals to various locations around the country, usually in the dark of night, for the last year and a half. Apparently what is unAmerican is sending illegal immigrants to the haunts of the rich rather than to hard-pressed working class communities.

You can tell that no one was buying it, and DeSantiss gambit was hurting the Democrats badly, because the migrants are already gone: Massachusetts Gov. Activates National Guard, Sends Marthas Vineyard Illegal Immigrants to Military Base. Reportedly, 125 National Guard members were sent to Marthas Vineyard to shepherd the 50 illegal immigrants to Cape Cod. Applying the same ratio, the Biden administration would have had to send 2.5 million National Guardsmen, border agents, soldiers or law enforcement personnel to Texas to deal with the one million illegals who have recently crossed the border. Needless to say, that didnt happen. Marthas Vineyard is special.

So the episode ended quickly, but it wont be forgotten. No one can ever take an All Are Welcome Here sign, or alleged sanctuary city status, seriously again. And where those 50 came from, there are lots more illegals to send to locations that are inconvenient for liberals.
Agba Jalingo is a journalist and publisher of an online newspaper, Cross River Watch. The publication has taken him on a collision course with the authorities of his home Cross River State several times, in particular with the government of Governor Ben Ayade. Recently, the security forces went for him again, over a publication in the newspaper that offended the extended family of the governor.

In an interview shortly after he regained freedom from his latest arrest and detention, Mr Jalingo recalled his ordeal.

I was upstairs and they insisted that they wanted to take me away. I wasnt sure who they were. They could be kidnappers; it could be anyone on mufti. So I insisted I needed to make calls to confirm if there was a warrant to arrest me.

The incident began on a Friday afternoon on 19 August, when plain-clothed security operatives, who introduced themselves as coming from the State Criminal Investigative Department of the police, invaded Mr Jalingos home in Lagos, Nigerias commercial capital.

Finding Mr Jalingos wife and daughter downstairs, the officials demanded to see Mr Jalingo who was upstairs at the time. After a short standoff, Mr Jalingo surrendered and was taken to the Alapere Police Station, Lagos. He spent a few hours there before he was taken to Area F, Ikeja for a night behind bars.

The following morning on 20 August, the journalist was flown to Abuja and rendered incommunicado. He was taken to what he later described as a ghost town, a very big two-storey building which was deserted for documentation before being transferred to a detention facility.

Fortunately for Mr Jalingo, he had alerted the public of his situation and ignited a public outcry and call for his release. Finally, he was granted bail and released after a relative stood surety for him.

READ ALSO:

It later emerged that Mr Jalingo was arrested over a complaint by the wife of a younger brother of the Cross Rivers governor, Elizabeth Frank, who accused the journalist of libel.

Mr Jalingos detention is one of over 30 cases of attacks on journalists recorded by the Press Attack Tracker so far this year, making the attacks in 2022 already the second highest in four years after 2019 when 74 attacks were recorded.

Some of the cases recorded in 2022 include:

April 21: The Publisher of the Taraba Truth and Fact Newspaper, Oloye Samuel, alleged a threat to his life by security operatives over his critical report on politicians in Taraba State, northern Nigeria.

May 13: The State Security Service (SSS) arrested a blogger and publisher of Eagles Foresight, Ahmed Olamilekan, for publishing a story on Ogun State Governor Dapo Abioduns alleged criminal records in the United States.

July 22: The head office of Peoples Gazette Newspaper in Abuja was raided by security agents who took away the newspapers deputy managing editor, John Adenekan, and four other workers: Ameedat Adeyemi, Grace Oke, Sammy Ogbu and Justina Tayani. The agents were reportedly after Samuel Ogundipe, the Managing Director of the newspaper.

July 5: Ikenna Ezenekwe, the publisher of the online news platform, 247uReports, was arrested by security operatives over a petition filed by Primus Odili, who served as the Chief of Staff to the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano. Mr Odili alleged that the journalist published a libellous article about him.

July 28: A PREMIUM TIMES reporter, Saviour Imukudo, was arrested on the order of the Akwa Ibom Chief Judge, Ekaette Obot, while covering the defamation case brought by the counsel of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel. against a lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong.

Apart from attacks by security operatives, there were also those carried out by non-state actors. Below is the dateline for some of such cases:

February 1: Hoodlums allegedly attacked and stabbed a driver of Channels Television, Lekan Sanusi, while the TV crew was recording a traffic gridlock on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos.

On the same day, members of an Arise Television crew who were also within the axis to report on ease of movement around the ports were also attacked by the hoodlums who demanded they stop recording.

February 21: Thugs suspected to be sponsored by a member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly attacked the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ebonyi State Council, Nnamdi Akpa.

February 23: While covering local government elections in Enugu State, south-east Nigeria, a news crew of the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) was attacked by gunmen.

May 22: Hoodlums wielding clubs, charms, stones and axes attacked and vandalised vehicles conveying journalists from a campaign stop by Osun Governor Gboyega Oyetola in Gbongan, Ayedaade Local Government Area. The attack left four journalists injured.

READ ALSO:

May 30: Gunmen invaded the premises of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Awada Onitsha station. According to a report, a building and buses used by the company for operations were burnt and damaged.

June 19: Hoodlums attacked journalists attached to the Lagos State Government House. The journalists were in the entourage of the state governor to welcome the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential flag-bearer, Bola Tinubu, who was returning to Lagos from Abuja after the partys primary election.

June 28: A reporter with PUNCH Newspapers in Ogun State, Daud Olatunji, and two other journalists were harassed and beaten by unionists enforcing a strike in the state. The journalists attacked included Joke Adeleye of PM/TheNews, Michael Olaoluwa and Tutu Sobowale of PlatformTimes online newspaper and Busola from an Abeokuta-based radio station. This was in spite of the fact that the journalists boldly displayed their identity cards which identified them as journalists.

There are also cases where journalists were attacked by unknown assailants. The reasons behind these attacks are often very vague and difficult to draw conclusions. Cases like that include:

May 12: Unknown gunmen abducted Idris Haruna- Magami, a popular radio host with the state-owned Zamfara Radio. Mr Magami produces and presents Su Duniya Manya a popular programme aired in the Hausa language.

May 15: According to a report, a yet-to-be-identified individual repeatedly sent threat messages to Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ). On 15 May, the organisation received the first such threats when the person sent a WhatsApp message to FIJs official contact number, threatening to decapitate the intended recipient.

June 7: A reporter with Guardian newspaper, Eniola Daniel, escaped being kidnapped while returning home after he closed from work.

June 16: Unknown persons broke into the office of Prime Times News in Kano, vandalised and stole some of the outlets work equipment.

Attacks continue

Despite the clamour for press freedom over the years, the trends of attacks against the press have grown unabated.

These include physical attacks, harassment, threats, unlawful arrest, equipment seizure and damage. By the end of August this year, Press Attack Tracker had recorded over 40 attacks on the press with the South-west geopolitical zone accounting for most of these attacks.

Journalists have been attacked in reprisal for their works by state actors. State actors who find publications libellous and harmful often perpetuate these attacks without due recourse to legal procedures.

Who is behind attacks?

On observation, state actors account for half of the attacks, while non-state actors account for 36.4 per cent and unknown persons for 13.6 per cent.

Essentially, state actors who have the utmost responsibility to ensure freedom of the press are also the most culpable aggressors. These attacks have persisted despite the clamour for press freedom by civil society organizations, media organisations, rights activists, scholars e.t.c.

Nigeria is ranked 129/180 by Reporters Without Borders in its chart on the safety of journalists. According to RSF, Nigeria is one of West Africas most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists, who are often watched, attacked, arbitrarily arrested and even killed.

Speaking on the state of press freedom in Nigeria, the Project Officer, Media Freedom, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Stephanie Adams-Douglas, said although the constitution protects freedom of expression and press, it is almost evident that there is no respect for the rule of law which continues to put the media in danger. 

Mrs Adams-Douglas further stated: Over the years, the media have faced various attacks in the course of duty, mainly while covering events, during a crossfire. The past four years have shown a spike in attacks, mostly by state actors meant to defend the press.

Mrs Adams- Douglas said impunity is the primary act that propels attacks on the media. She recommended prompt sanction on all perpetrators of attacks on journalists, including those in positions of power.

There should be sanctions imposed on all perpetrators, including people in positions of power, she said.

The Press Attack Tracker is a civic technology platform that tracks attacks on journalists in Nigeria. It was set up by the CJID in collaboration with the Coalition for Whistleblowers and Press Freedom (CWPPF) and Leaks.NG, in response to unrelenting attacks on the press in Nigeria.
The International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) has named Catherine Karakatsanis from Canada as its new president elect and announced the arrival of two new board members - Manish Kothari from the US and Alfredo Ingletti from Italy.

The announcements were made, following a decision of the FIDIC board and elections by the membership, announced at the 2022 FIDIC general assembly meeting which took place in Geneva last week following the conclusion of FIDICs annual Global Infrastructure Conference.

Karakatsanis is the chief operating officer at Morrison Hershfield Group, a leading North American diversified consulting engineering and management firm. She also serves on the firms board of directors.

After joining Morrison Hershfield as a structural engineer, she successfully moved through a series of technical and management positions. Based in Toronto, Karakatsanis is responsible for more than 900 professionals in 25 offices across Canada and US and one in India, said the statement from FIDIC.

The two new board members, whose term of office lasts for four years, were elected following a vote of FIDICs global member associations.

Kothari is the president and CEO of Sheladia Associates, an international architecture and engineering consulting firm based in Rockville, Maryland in the United States, while Ingletti is the co-founder, chairman and technical director of 3TI Progetti, an independent employee-owned engineering company based in Rome.

Lauding the appointments, FIDIC Chief Executive Dr Nelson Ogunshakin said: "I am absolutely delighted to welcome Karakatsanis as the new president elect. Im especially pleased that she is now set to be FIDICs first ever woman president of FIDIC in 2023 and Im confident that her ascension to the presidency will encourage increasing diversity and inclusion within FIDIC and the wider industry."

"Since her election to the board two years ago, Karakatsanis has played a key role at committee level and she has also been instrumental in helping with the development of FIDICs North American regional grouping," he added.

Welcoming the other two new members, Ogunshakin said: "Im also pleased to see our board strengthened with the arrival of Kothari and Ingletti and I very much look forward to the duo playing a key role as FIDIC moves forward with the conclusion of its 2020-2024 Strategic Plan and the development of its future strategy."

"I know that both will make a significant and telling contribution to our work, not only in the United States and Italy, but on the global stage too," he added.

He also paid tribute to its two outgoing board members - Liu Luobing from China and Mark Pehlig from Netherlands, who have both completed their terms of office.

"Luobing served its board for five years and was a tremendous asset during the pandemic period. FIDIC is especially grateful to Pehlig for his expertise and guidance as part of the Global Infrastructure Conference advisory group. Both will continue to volunteer for FIDIC in their roles as its ambassadors," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, on Friday, said his coming to Abuja reminded him of his defeat during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary held on May 28 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

Mr Wike made this known at a book launch in Abuja.

The book, titled: Flowing Justice: Selected Leading Judgments of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, was authored by retired Justice Abdu Aboki and unveiled by the governor.

Mr Wike said when he arrived in Abuja and sighted the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, he recalled the presidential poll experience.

I want to once again congratulate My Lord, Hon Justice Abdu Aboki JSC for giving me this opportunity to be here and to be the chief launcher.

But why I said My Lord did not do well is because if he had held this in Lagos or Kano, I would have been happy.

When I landed and then passed through the venue. I said I think My Lord intentionally wanted me to remember 28 and 29 of May of what happened.

Well, but life continues, he said jokingly.

Mr Wike added, today is my first time of coming to Abuja after losing election.

He said unlike Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who had visited Abuja for a number of times even after losing the All Progressives (APC) presidential primary, he had remained in his state.

I am not like Yahaya Bello who lost and he comes (to Abuja) everyday. Today is my first time of coming to Abuja after losing election, he said.

He hailed Mr Abokis commitment to protection of justice and rule of law, noting that Justice Aboki is a consummate jurist who has left his name indelibly in the sands of time and judicial history.

While judges are of different social, economic and political persuasion, Honourable Justice Abdu Aboki prides himself among the progressive rank that stands up to what is right and just, and believes that the law and the constitution, as interpreted and enforced by the court must both protect and advance the unity and wellbeing of the nation and her citizens.

NAN reports that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, emerged the presidential candidate in the primary that was conducted in Abuja on May 28 by the party.

Before voting began, one of the aspirants and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, had stepped down from the race and asked his supporters to vote for Atiku.

Atiku polled 371 votes to defeat his main challenger, Mr Wike, who scored 237 votes.

Former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, came a distant third with 70 votes, while Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel and his counterpart in Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, scored 38 votes and 20 votes, respectively.

Speaking at the event, Mr Bello said among the governors in the Nigeria Governors Forum, both Mr Wike and himself are different.

He commended Mr Aboki for his immense guidance to him and his government in Kogi and prayed God to continue to preserve his life.

Mr Bello noted that though it might seem the country was currently troubled, no democracy can be perfected as we have it today in the U.S. without encountering challenges.

Mr Aboki, who said he felt excited and elated after his retirement in good health,

thanked everybody for attending the occasion.

He urged the federal government to promptly appoint replacement for those who have left the apex courts Bench, noting that those left behind would now be overburdened with his exit and that of those before him.

Mr Aboki, therefore, advocated reforms, particularly the amendment of the constitution to reduce the number of cases filed at the Supreme Court.

He said certain interlocutory applications should not be countenanced by the Supreme Court, while other political cases, except that of the presidential election should terminate at the court below.

NAN reports that Mr Wike, at the book launch, unveiled 200 copies of the book with a sum of N100 million.

The event, which was put together by a group of senior lawyers, including Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, and Ahmed Raji, SAN, had in attendance a number of past and serving justices of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, politicians, traditional rulers, among others.

(NAN)
The crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took a different turn Friday night as the partys leadership expelled its 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, over alleged anti-party activities.

His expulsion came exactly two weeks after a faction loyal to the ADC long serving national chairman, Ralph Nwosu, announced his suspension.

Mr Kachikwu and at least 27 state chairmen had earlier called for the resignation of Mr Nwosu, given his overstay in the top office.

The chairman has spent 17 years on the seat even though the partys constitution only allows anyone to lead the party for a maximum of eight years.

For attacking the Nwosu-led National Working Committee (NWC), the party said Mr Kachikwus attitude is improper for someone who wants to be the president of Nigeria.

The NWC viewed with great concern the baseless and defamatory video made, published and circulated by Mr Dumebi Kachikwu, which was intended to disparage and impugn the integrity and image of a peaceful and transformation-oriented African Democratic Congress and its national officers, the Deputy National Chairman (Politics) of the party, Bamidele Ajadi, said in a statement two weeks ago.

Guilty of gross misconduct

The new statement issued Friday night and signed by Mr Nwosu, said a seven-member disciplinary committee earlier set up found Mr Kachikwu guilty of allegations of gross misconduct, anti-party activities and gross violations of its constitution, amongst others.

The embattled national chairman explained that the disciplinary committee met six times between 8 and 14 September to discuss all allegations levelled against the presidential candidate.

The panel found Mr Dumebi Kachikwu & others guilty of the allegation levelled against them, subsequently in accordance with article 15 of the partys constitution recommended that Mr Dumebi Kachikwu & others be expelled from the party.

The NWC met on the 16th of September 2022 to deliberate on the report & accepted the report of the panel with modification, he said.

Ousted

Mr Kachikwu was expelled along with seven others, namely the Kogi State Chairman of the party, Kingsley Oggah; its state chairman for Edo, Kennedy Odion, Kabiru Hussaini, Alaka William, Bello Isiyaka, Musa Hassan and Clement Ehiator.

The party leadership described the expulsion of the eight persons as a strategic step to clean its stable and determined to move into reckoning across the country and urged other members to remain focused.

Mr Kachikwu could not be reached for comments at the time of filing this report as calls to his mobile telephone failed to connect.
All the living former national chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 1999, except five, have been listed as members of the Presidential Campaign Committee (PCC) of the party for next years presidential election.

Also, some past governors and presiding officers of the National Assembly still in the party were also listed as members of the council.

The list of the 352-member committee was released by the main opposition party on Thursday in Abuja.

Its mandate is to organise the campaign of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, for the 2023 election.

The council will be inaugurated on 28 September.

Atiku, vice president of the country between 1999 and 2007, was elected the partys flag bearer in May after defeating 12 other aspirants. He was also the partys candidate in the 2019 election but lost to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The PCC is chaired by Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State with Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State named as vice chairmen, north and south, respectively.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State was named the director general of the Presidential Campaign Management Committee (PCMC) with four others serving as his deputies in strategic areas  operations, administration, technical and systems and research and strategy.

Past chairmen

A perusal of the list showed that the past substantive chairmen and acting chairmen of the party since 1999 were appointed into the PCC even though some of them are no longer active politically.

Those appointed are Ahmadu Ali, Vincent Ogbulafor, Haliru Mohammed (former acting national chairman), Kawu Baraje, Adamu Muazu, Ahmed Makarfi (caretaker) and Okwesilieze Nwodo.

While others are ordinary members, Mr Nwodo, the Third Republic governor of Enugu State, was named the deputy director general (research and strategy) of the PCMC.

The past PDP chairmen not appointed into the PCC are Barnabas Gemade, Audu Ogbeh, Bamanga Tukur, Ali Modu Sheriff, and Uche Secondus.

While Messrs Gemade, Ogbeh and Modu-Sheriff are currently members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), no reason was given for leaving out Mr Secondus who was the partys chairman between 2017 and 2021. On his part, Mr Tukur is no longer active politically.

Similarly, Mr Ogbeh is not playing active politics, being the chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, the northern socio-cultural group.

Former vice president, Alex Ekwueme, who was the partys interim chairman in 1998 when it was formed and Ex-Governor Solomon Lar, who led the party between 1998 and 1999, are both late.

Notably, all the chairmen, except Mr Ali, left office under controversial circumstances.

The party also recalled some of its previous officials, including three former national secretaries, Wale Oladipo, Ben Obi and Umar Tsauri, two former spokespersons, Emmanuel Ibeshi and Olisa Metuh, and a former National Women Leader, Josephine Anenih, who later served as women affairs minister.

Both Messrs Nwodo and Ogbulafor previously served as national secretary of the party at different times.

However, the vocal former National Deputy Chairman of the PDP, Bode George, who has been critical of Mr Ayus retention as national chairman, was not named a member of the committee.

Former governors

No fewer than 26 former PDP governors who are still members of the party, also made the campaign list.

They are Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto), James Ibori (Delta), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Shaba Lafiagi (Kwara), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Donald Duke (Cross River), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) and Namadi Sambo (Kaduna), who is also a former vice president of the country.

Others are Lucky Igbinedion (Edo), Theodore Orji (Abia), Idris Wada (Kogi), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Jim Nwobodo (old Anambra), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Emeka Ihedioha (Imo), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Okwesilieze Nwodo (Enugu), Achike Udenwa (Imo), Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun) and Bukola Saraki (Kwara), who was also senate president.

While one (Nwobodo) served in the Second Republic, two others, namely Lafiagi and Nwodo served in the botched Third Republic. The remainder served in the current democratic dispensation beginning from 1999.

Messrs Bafarawa and Shekarau were defunct ANPP governors while Mr Ogbeha served as military governor of Akwa Ibom State.

All the current PDP governors are members of the council.

Former presiding officers of National Assembly

Previous presiding officers of the National Assembly who still retained their membership of the opposition party were also named as part of the organisers of Atikus campaign.

Those appointed are former Senate Presidents Pius Anyim, David Mark, Adolphus Wabara (who is the acting chairman of the partys Board of Trustees), Mr Saraki and Iyorchia Ayu, the current national chairman of the party.

Mr Ike Ekweremadu, who is currently in detention in London, is the only former deputy senate president in the PCC.

A former senate president, Ken Nnamani, who was a member of the party, has since joined the APC where he had aspired to be president of the country a few months ago.

Evans Enwerem and Chuba Okadigbo, who elected senate presidents on PDPs ticket are late.

From the House of Representatives are former Speaker Tambuwal and Salisu Buhari. Former deputy speakers on the list are Mr Ihedioha, Austin Opara and Chibudom Nwuche.

Two former Speakers, Yakubu Dogara and Dimeji Bankole, who were members of the party, are currently with the ruling APC.

Ditto for Aminu Masari, presently serving as Katsina governor and Patrick Etteh. Ghali Umar NaAbba has since dumped the PDP.

Several serving senators and members of the House of Representatives as well as numerous former ministers are also members of the campaign council.

Curiously, some presidential aspirants who slugged it out with Atiku in the primary in May were included as campaigners. They are Sam Ohuabunwa and Mohammed Hayatudeen, who pulled out of the race some days to the primary.

Speaking on the composition, a former deputy national publicity secretary of the PDP, Diran Odeyemi, said the people appointed into the committee are those who know the strategy of winning elections.

He added that the PDP has enough assets to prosecute the 2023 presidential election and ensure Atikus emergence as the countrys next president.
At least two people have been confirmed dead from a cholera outbreak at a facility where ex-Boko Haram fighters are being camped in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The Borno State Government confirmed the deaths at the Kosheri camp along the Maiduguri-Dikwa road. The government also said many other occupants of the camp are sick from the disease and are undergoing treatment.

A source at the camp had earlier told PREMIUM TIMES that the death from the disease was up to 20.

I can confirm to you that the crisis started on Friday when 14 persons died, the source, a healthcare worker, said.

The source, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said another six occupants died on Saturday.

However, in its reaction on Saturday, the Borno government said only two deaths have been recorded in the camp.

Only two persons died among those that were diagnosed to have suffered from the cholera outbreak at Kosher camp, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, told PREMIUM TIMES Saturday,

Other persons diagnosed with cholera have been evacuated and taken to where they would be quarantined.

The identity of the dead occupants could not be ascertained.

Though officials from the state ministry of health could not be reached for comment, the women affairs commissioner said: everyone concerned at the ministry of health has been mobilized to the camp to contain the situation.

The military and the Borno State government recently said more than 70,000 ex-Boko Haram members have surrendered since June last year.

The Borno government recently opened two more camps to accommodate the increasing number of surrendering terrorists. The Kosheri camp, where the cholera outbreak was reported, is one of the camps opened to decongest the main Hajj camp.

Cholera is a bacterial infection usually caused by the consumption of contaminated food or water.
The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has urged security agencies to leverage the national identity database during criminal investigations.

Mr Pantami said this at the Identity Day celebration held in Abuja on Friday.

We have sanitised our database and we are pleading with our security institutions to make use of this database, he said.

It is not our work to do the security work, our work is to support them. The two databases are available for NIN and SIM, he added.

He said both the NIMC and NCC claimed that the utilisation of the data has been highly insignificant.

It is because of this we are pleading that if they can leverage on this, we have no doubt they will be able to address the significant challenges of security we are being confronted with, he said.

In 2019, the federal government approved the recognition and observance of 16 September as National Identity Day in Nigeria.

The choice of the date (16.9) is highly symbolic, as it is in commemoration of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.9 which calls for the provision of legal identities for all by 2030, including birth registration.

The government, through the National Identity Management Commission, is championing the movement for the declaration of International Identity Day.

Identity Need

Speaking on the importance of valid identity, Mr Pantami said it would help in planning and provision of basic amenities in the country.

The world population is increasing but efforts by African countries to ensure proper identification of citizens is below average.

Without proper identification, planning for basic amenities and budgets for citizens will be difficult, he said.

He called on institutions to encourage citizens to embrace enrolment to ensure that the remaining population that has not enrolled is fully covered.

NIN

The Director General/CEO of NIMC, Aliyu Aziz, said the commission has enrolled 89 million National Identity Numbers (NIN).

We have grown the database, every month we do have 2 to 3 million enrollees. Still, these 89 million enrollees are mainstream people, there are people in the market, villages, nooks and crannies that have not been enrolled, he said.

He said the focus of the Identity Day celebration is to drum up awareness, and support from rural dwellers. He also urged prospective enrollees to always input correct data during registration to save costs.

Mr Aziz said the Commission has developed multiple ways to tackle infrastructural challenges.

In December 2021, NIMC said there were about 71 million NINs with over 14,000 enrolment centres across the country.

Earlier in the year, the NIMC said the commissions database was at 80 per cent of its capacity with over 80 million unique NINs issued.
A federal court in Lagos on Friday sentenced a Vietnamese, Nguyen Huy, to three months in prison for trafficking in 200 kiogrammes of Pangolin scales.

Daniel Osiagor, the judge, jailed Mr Huy after he pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking brought against him by the Nigeria Customs Service.

According to the Customs, the convict contravened Nigerias Customs and Excise Management Act with the unlawful possession of Pangolin scales, a specimen specified in the First Schedule to the Endangered Species Act.

Mr Huy was brought before the court after he  alongside others who are still at large  was arrested by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Wildlife Justice Commission( WJC), a joint wildlife enforcement operations, targeting illegal wildlife traffickers of Pangolin scales from Africa to Asia.

At the hearing of the charges against the convict, today, the prosecutor, Onyeka Ohakwe, informed the court that the suspects committed the offences on 9th May at a Chicken Republic restaurant in Marina, Lagos.

The prosecutor informed the court that the offences committed by the convict, contravened Sections 64 of the Customs and Excise Management Act, 2004. She said the offence is contrary to and punishable under section 166 of the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap. C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

It is also contrary to section 5(1) of the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act, 2004 and punishable under section 5(1)(a) of the same Act.

Upon his guilty plea, the prosecutor, Mrs Ohakwe, thereafter, reviewed the facts of the charge and tendered some exhibits, which were admitted by the court.

She also urged the court to convict Mr Huy and to sentence him in line with the sections of the Customs Act he was charged for.

But the convicts counsel, Okey Mgbobukwa, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.

He particularly urged the court to consider that the convict pleaded guilty to the charges made against him.

In his judgment, Mr Osiagor, after hearing from the counsel, sentenced the Vietnamese to three months imprisonment in each of the two counts.

The judge also ordered that the sentence shall run concurrently and to begin from the date of his arrest.

Pangolin is the worlds most trafficked animal, prized for its scales which are used in traditional medicine in China. In 2019, the Global Environmental Reporting Collective chose the pangolin trade as its first focus for in-depth investigation.

In March, PREMIUM TIMES analysed wildlife crimes data and found evidence of systematic failure by the Nigerian law enforcement and judicial system to hold wildlife poachers and traffickers accountable.
President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja, on Sunday, 18 September, for New York, United States to attend the annual meeting of world leaders, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77).

The theme for the 77th session which opened on Tuesday, 13 September, is: A watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges.

Key topics of discussion at the UNGA this year include; the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, climate action, ending the COVID-19 pandemic, and a special Transforming Education Summit.

President Buhari will take his turn to deliver the National Statement on the second day of the General Debates on Wednesday, 21 September.

Aside his statement, the president will also participate in High Level meetings and side events including the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum (NIEPF), convened by Nigeria in partnership with the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU); Strengthening Coordination through National Humanitarian Development Peace (NHDP) Framework: A practical approach to sustainable durable solutions to ensure no one is left behind, organised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; and the EFCC-NEPAD Programme on combating Illicit Financial Flows.

READ ALSO:

President Buhari will also hold strategic bilateral meetings with world leaders, renowned investors and heads of multinational organisations while in New York.

On the entourage of the president are the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, some governors, ministers and top government officials.

The president is expected back in the country on Monday, 26 September.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has expressed determination to work for the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections.

Mr Emmanuel, who was addressing journalists at Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, on Friday after arriving from Abuja, thanked the PDP leadership for his appointment as chairman of Atiku Abubakars Campaign Council.

Let me thank all our party members across the country for this confidence they have in me.

I also want to say that no one person can do it alone. It involves everybody in all the units, all the wards and all chapters of our party to come together for the party to move forward, he stated.

Governor Emmanuel was speaking for the first time after he was named the chairman of the campaign council of the PDP presidential candidate, according to a statement posted on Facebook by his media aide, Essien Ndueso.

I want to use this platform to make an appeal that if we had made mistakes in the past, we cannot wind back the clock, Mr Emmanuel said, apparently referring to the PDP crisis.

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, backed by other governors, is demanding the resignation of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, in the grounds that Mr Ayu, as well as the partys presidential candidate, are from the north.

We cannot recall what had passed yesterday. We can move forward in the spirit of oneness, unity, prosperity and progress for our party, Ill really appreciate, Governor Emmanuel said.

The Akwa Ibom governor was among the 12 other aspirants who were defeated by Atiku in the presidential primary of the party held in May in Abuja.

Of the 767 accredited delegates at the primary, Mr Atiku polled 371 votes, while his closest challenger, Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, came second with 237 votes.

Nigerias former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, scored 70 votes to come a distant third, while Governor Emmanuel came fourth with 38 votes.

The former president of the Nigerias Senate, Pius Anyim, scored 14 votes, while the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Muhammed, polled 20 votes. Twelves votes were declared invalid.
The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has recorded N5.2 billion in revenue collection in August

The company had recorded N4.3 billion revenue in the preceding months.

The Managing Director of PHED, Benson Uwheru, told reporters in Port Harcourt on Friday that the company grew its revenue by N900 million in bill collection.

He said the N5.2 billion revenue was the highest collected by the company since it started operation in 2012.

He said: Upon resumption in July, PHED bill collection was N4.3 billion, and by August 31, we hit a new milestone in the history of our collection to N5.2 billion.

We achieved this within a short period by remodelling our core values and adopting the TRICE model of Teamwork, Reliability, Integrity, Customer service and Excellence, he said.

Mr Uwheru said in spite of the growth, the company still fell short of N7.4 billion billed energy revenue target for the month of August.

This shortfall is due to energy theft, meter bypass by some customers and the refusal of some customers to vend (pay) for electricity used.

In the last six months, about 70,000 customers did not vend, meaning that these people have used power without paying a Kobo.

So, the N5.2 billion collection is under-short the billed energy for the month of August which stood at about N7.4 billion, he added.

On metering, Mr Uwheru said about 60 per cent of customers in its franchise states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers have been metered.

He said the figure meant that 40 per cent of customers in the four states were charged on estimated billing.

According to him, the company was awaiting the second phase of the Federal Government National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), to close the metering gap in the four states.

Aside this, we are in talks with various financial institutions and asset financing programmes, to procure meters and distribute to customers to pay within one year to five years period.

This is another option we want to aggressively pursue, so we dont rely solely on NMMP to provide meters to our customers, he said.

ALSO READ: Port Harcourt DisCo introduces new model to boost electricity supplies

The managing director said the company was faced with several challenges in the areas of meter bypass and vandalism, as well as the insistence by some people that electricity should be free.

He said one of the communities in its franchise refused to pay for electricity used, thereby, incurring the company billions in lost revenue.

One community alone has over time incurred debt of N21 billion. Every month N400 million is debited to our account in PHED to use power by the community.

We have tried to collect our revenue but have been unable to penetrate the community due to intimidation.

But, we are collaborating with the state government, security agencies and the community leaders to enable us to access the community.

We are doing this because companies are being set up there, and they are using energy for free, he added.

(NAN)
The video showing some operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency driving against traffic is an old footage, the agency has claimed.

The video, which was circulated on social media on Friday, showed some LASTMA officers in the agencys branded vehicle flouting the traffic laws.

The agencys general manager, Bolaji Oreagba, in a statement said the incident occurred in 2020.

The video surfaced in the wake of the recent public auction of over 100 vehicles impounded for traffic infraction. The action of the state government generated mixed reactions from the public.

Video

The video was originally posted by @Dagbofather on Friday via his Twitter handle. Mr Adedapo said he stopped the agencys vehicle driving against traffic and insisted that they reverse.

The video has generated over 3,000 engagements at the time of ths publication.

I stopped them and made them reverse. Small fairness no bad. Auction this one too, I get who go buy am, he added.

Mr Adedapo told PREMIUM TIMES that the video was recorded in October 2021.

LASTMA reaction

LASTMA admitted that its officers flouted the traffic law, and added that they have been sanctioned.

The agency did not specify the nature of the sanction.

The attention of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has been drawn to a viral video on Twitter (@OmoGbajaBiamila) where our Officers who drove against traffic (One-way) with an operational vehicle (RTM 08 LA Zone 25 Bariga) was blocked by a

private vehicle on Oworonsoki bridge, Lagos, the statement reads.

The Agency hereby states categorically that the video incident video occurred in year 2020 before the #EndSARS protest around Iyana-Oworo. All Officers involved have been appropriately sanctioned by the Authority.

The patrol van with registration No. RTM 08 LA (Zone 25 Bariga) seen in the viral video was among LASTMA operational vehicles burnt alongside our office building by #EndSARS protesters at Iyana-Oworo, Lagos.

Mr Oreagba urged the public to disregard the video that was deployed to embarrass our team of hardworking officers.
Leading Saudi low-cost airline flynas said it has launched flights to Uzbekistan from its hub at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah. Two direct weekly flights will connect the Saudi city to Uzbek capital Tashkent, departing on Mondays and Thursdays.

flynas celebrated the launch on September 15 with a key ceremony at the King Abdulaziz Airport in presence of represtatives from flynas and Jeddah Airports Company.

The launch of the non-stop flights to Tashkent comes after flynas signed a MoU with the Uzbek Ministry of Transportation last month on the sidelines of the Saudi-Uzbek Business Council meeting in Jeddah, said a statement from flynas.

The memorandum strengthens relations in the field of air transport to operate direct flights between Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, aiming to facilitate the transportation of pilgrims and Umrah performers and facilitate the movement of citizens from the two countries for investment and tourism purposes, it stated.

The Tashkent flights are part of flynas' expansion strategy launched at the beginning of the year under the slogan "We Connect the World to the Kingdom" and after the growth achieved by the company in all its operations during the first half of 2022.

The Saudi low-cost carrier said it had succeeded in scaling up its fleet to 38 aircraft in June compared to 25 in January lats year, thus registering a 52% increase.

Meanwhile, the number of passengers on its flights increased to about 4 million passengers during the first half of 2022, up from about 1.8 million in the same period last year, an increase of nearly 120%, it added.

The Saudi carrier connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations and, since its establishment in 2007, it has transported more than 60 million passengers.

Recently, flynas achieved the highest rating in the non-profit organization APEX' Official Airline Rating and ranked in the 4-star low-cost carrier category, the highest category of low-cost airline among 600 companies globally, said a company spokesman.

"In addition, we have been ranked as the Leading Low-Cost Airline in the Middle East by the World Travel Awards for seven consecutive years. We also bagged the Skytrax International Award as the Best Low-Cost Airline in the Middle East for 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The police in Zamfara State have arrested 10 people suspected to be informants and suppliers of ammunition and other equipment to terrorists operating in parts of the state.

Some of the items the police claimed it recovered from the suppliers include arms, ammunition, military uniforms, food items and motorcycles.

In a statement, the spokesperson of the states police command, Mohammed Shehu, said the suspects were arrested due to the untiring commitment of the police to rid the state of criminals.

Mr Shehu said the police arrested a syndicate of six informants after gathering credible intelligence about the activities of the group. He said members of the syndicate confessed to giving information to terrorists operating in Gusau, Kaura Namoda, Tsafe, and Bungudu areas of the state.

It was equally part of their activities to collect millions of naira to source for arms/ammunition and military camouflage uniforms for the bandits. Their recent dirty business was when one of the suspects, Abubakar Mainasara, in his statement to the Police confessed to collecting the sum of Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N850, 000) from the bandits to source military camouflage uniforms for them, a consignment that was given to Babangida A.K.A Major, who connived with one of their collaborators, a tailor, Jamilu Lawali M of Gusau to source and sew the uniforms which at the end was delivered to the bandits.

The same suspect further confessed to collecting the sum of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000) from Bandits to supply arms and ammunition for them, even though, two of his accomplices Lawal Ibrahim M and Surajo Idris M confirmed to the Police that the money given to the suspect was Six Million Naira (N6,000,000) for the arms deal consignment and not N2,000,000 naira. The sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) was given to the same Babangida Soja M, who in turn gave only Sixty Thousand Naira (N60,000) to Jamilu Lawali M, (Tailor) for the supply of the ammunition who at the end supplied Ten (10) rounds of AK-47 live ammunition which was handed over to Bandits through Babangida Soja and Abubakar Mainasara, Mr Shehu said.

The police spokesperson said another suspect, Zainu Lawal, was arrested in possession of arms, four rounds of cartridges, military camouflage uniforms, fake military identification cards and other weapons.

Mr Shehu said the police also arrested two persons who supply food to the terrorists.

He said the suspects, Alhassan Lawali and Mansur Usman, confessed to having supplied over fourteen (14) operational motorcycles to the bandits in the forest at the rate of N750,000 each, of which he earned the N15,000 per motorcycle.

The suspect further confessed that over the years, he was the one repairing motorcycles for the bandits if spoiled. The suspect (Mr Lawali) in his statement also mentioned one Mansur Usman as his collaborator who was later arrested by the police. When interrogated, he confessed to having been supplying foodstuff and delivering the same to the bandits in the forest. He also confessed that many times he collected and delivered ransom to the bandits. The last ransom he delivered was the sum of N2.3 million, Mr Shehu said.

Mr Shehu said the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.

Zamfara State, like many other states in the North-west and parts of the North-central, has witnessed renewed bandits activities which have led to the death of hundreds of people and the displacement of others.
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said Nigeria has continued to struggle since independence because the countrys leaders were elected on the basis of ethnicity, religion and other biases.

Mr Obi spoke on Friday when he appeared as a guest on the American-based television station, CNN.

We have been able to elect people based on ethnicity, religion, my turn, connection or one form of bias or the other which brought us to where we are, he said.

The LP candidate claimed he was working to dismantle such biases to create room for the election of credible leaders into various elective positions in 2023.

We want to ensure that (the criteria for voting people) in the next election is based on character, capacity, competence and commitment to do the right thing. Nigeria is now, not just in a physical mess, (but) it is at the last stage to collapse, Mr Obi stated.

He said the Nigerian elite were the people who advance the biases to harm the countrys development aspirations.

So, all you hear about ethnicity, religion, connection, my turn  are elites conspiracy to keep Nigeria underdeveloped. But now we have reached the edge. We can no longer continue this way, he added.

Overcoming economic woes

Mr Obi said to solve Nigerias economic woes, the rising insecurity in the country must be tackled to enable economic and agricultural activities to go on unhindered.

They have to deal decisively with the issue of security. It is impacting negatively on our economy today. You have to deal with it head-on, because you have to get your farmers to go back to farm and start ensuring that, (for instance) the vast lands of the north are invested and cultivated on, he said.

Mr Obi, a former governor of Anambra, said the growing insecurity in the country can be dealt with by re-organising the security architecture and ensuring multi-level policing which demands that state police be adopted in the country.

Mr Obi said recruiting and equipping more personnel into Nigerias security force as well as properly motivating them are central to fighting insecurity in the country.

You have to start pulling people out of poverty as quickly as possible. You have to reduce aggressively the cost of governance and deal with the issue of corruption, he said.

He criticised the Nigerian government for not repairing the countrys refineries to boost oil production, saying there was no reason the countrys refineries should not be put to use.

There is no reason why we should not encourage the private sector to build refineries and operate them. And they are not rocket science. You can use today to decide to remove fuel subsidies and use the resources to support critical areas of production, Mr Obi said.

No overnight solution

The LP candidate, however, said the countrys numerous challenges cannot be solved overnight.

He also said it would take a leader that possesses the requisite capacity and competence to solve the dilemmas in the country.

He said, you are not going to solve it overnight, but there will be a clear, visible, measurable attempt to deal with it. And they are things that are solvable. They can be dealt with decisively.
The British Embassy in Harare on Thursday said a letter purportedly sent by Buckingham Palace denying President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe access to attend the Queens funeral is fake.

The embassy made this known through its Twitter handle saying, President Mnangagwa has been invited to attend the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on Monday.

The letter below is fake, it said, attaching a copy of the letter making the rounds on social media.

The UK ambassador to Zimbabwe, Melanie Robinson, on Friday, posted a picture of Mr Mnangagwa signing the condolence book at the embassy.

Mr Mnangagwa also posted on his official Twitter account, a photo of him signing and posing with the ambassador.

It was an honour to sign the condolence book for the late Queen Elizabeth II at the @UKinZimbabwe Embassy and to pass on my support to @HMAMelanieR, he tweeted.

According to the fake letter purportedly written on behalf of King Charles III, Mr Mnangagwa was not invited to attend the queens funeral at Westminster Abbey due to travel restrictions imposed by the West on him and other government officials and also on grounds of human rights violations.

Queen Elizabeth II will on Monday receive a state funeral at Londons Westminster Abbey, one of the largest diplomatic occasions of the century.

Who is expected at the funeral?

According to CNN, world leaders, politicians, public figures and European royals, as well as more than 500 dignitaries from around the world, will be in London to pay their last respects to Britains longest reigning monarch, who died on 8 September at the age of 96.

While no official guest list has been published, invitations have been sent.

The British High Commission in Nigeria confirmed that Nigeria has also been invited.

However, a few countries were invited only at ambassadorial level and others not invited at all.

Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan have not been asked to send a representative, according to Britains PA Media news agency.

Representatives from North Korea and Nicaragua have been invited only at ambassadorial level, PA added.

Leaders and officials from Russia, Belarus and Myanmar will also be absent.

Chiamaka Okafor is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.
Unlike his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Udom Emmanuel, who has accepted his appointment into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign committee, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has been silent over his inclusion in the committee.

Mr Wikes media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, when contacted, did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

The PDP on Thursday named Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal as the director general of its 2023 presidential campaign committee, while Mr Emmanuel was appointed chairman.

The party also named Governor Wike as a member of the campaign committee.

According to a document released by the party, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, an ally of Mr Wike, was named the vice chairman (South) of the committee.

The appointment came amidst a crisis that is rocking the PDP, with some members, led by Governor Wike, calling for the resignation of the party National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

It is not clear if Messrs Wike and Makinde would accept their appointment into the council.

The committees director general, Mr Tambuwal, was one of the partys presidential aspirants.

He, however, made a last minute withdrawal and urged his supporters to vote for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar at the convention.

Buoyed by the withdrawal, Mr Atiku defeated Mr Wike and other aspirants in the race to emerge the PDP presidential candidate.

Hours after the convention, Mr Ayu visited the Sokoto governor at his Abujas residence to thank him for stepping down for Mr Atiku.

Mr Ayus arrival at Mr Tabuwals residence was captured in a video clip.

Thank you, thank you. You are the hero of the convention, Mr Ayu told his host, Governor Tambuwal.

I could have scuttled PDP primary  Wike

Governor Wike, who came second the primary conducted in May, was not happy that Mr Tambuwal was accorded a second opportunity to address the delegates which he announced his withdrawal from the race and endorsed Mr Atiku.

Mr Wike vented his anger on the party leadership for allowing Mr Tambuwal to speak the second time, a development Mr Wike described as violation of guidelines and procedure.

If I wanted to scuttle the convention, I could have done that and I told them. There are people you think are human beings but are not human beings.

I have never seen how people can violate procedures and guidelines. Somebody had spoken, it is only at that point he was speaking that he can say I have withdrawn. You dont call him back, Mr Wike said, referring to Mr Tambuwal.

After the primary, the PDP has been enmeshed in a crisis which, as many feared, could affect the performance of the party in the 2023 presidential election.

Mr Wike, backed by Governors Makinde of Oyo, Okezie Ikpazu of Abia, Ifeanyi Oquanyi of Enugu and Samuel Ortom of Benue, has been demanding the resignation of Mr Ayu.

The governors are calling for Mr Ayus resignation to achieve a regional balance, since the party chairman and Mr Atiku are both from northern Nigeria.

It is not clear if Governor Wike and members of his group would join the PDP presidential campaign if their requests are not met.
The police in Kano State, North-west Nigeria, has said a Chinese national, Geng Quanrong, allegedly stabbed his long time girlfriend, Ummukulsum Buhari, to death on Friday.

The incident occurred Friday night at Kabuga quarters, Gwale Local Government Area.

The Police Spokesperson in Kano, Abdullahi Kiyawa, said the suspect, Geng, 47, stabbed the woman to death after he broke into her house through the fence, stabbing her several times.

ALSO READ: EFCC arrests Chinese over alleged illegal mining

Mr Kiyawa said the deceaseds mother raised an alarm and alerted the police, who rushed to the scene.

He said the police commissioner in the state, Abubakar Lawan, has directed that the case be transferred to the state police headquarters for further investigation and possible prosecution.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the deceased was in a relationship with the Chinese man but later chose to marry a Nigerian.

Their courtship reportedly continued after she divorced her husband.

The police revealed that the suspect claimed that the deceased deceived and collected money from him with the promise to marry him, but failed to fulfil her promise.
The mother of Ummakulsum Buhari, the 23-year-old lady who was killed on Friday by her Chinese lover in Kano State has narrated how her daughter was stabbed to death.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the incident happened at Janbulo Quarters in the Kano metropolis. The deceased was buried Saturday morning according to Islamic rites.

The bereaved mother, Lami Shuaibu, said her daughter met and exchanged contacts with her Chinese lover during an outing at a Shoprite on Zoo Road, Kano.

The mother said they dated for a while before her daughter married a Nigerian suitor, who later divorced her.

After she separated from her ex-husband, the Chinese, Geng Quandong, 47, continued wooing her.

He used to come to our house, but she keep resisting him but it seems he turns deaf ears even when we chase him out, the mother said.

I once attempted to call the police I was advised by my children not to take it to the public until the unfortunate incident happened, the mother said.

He came to our house on Friday at around 9:30 p.m. when it was raining and stabbed her to death. He went straight to her room because he knows where the room is because he used to come to the house, the mother said.

She was my daughter, he always comes around wanting to see her and she has been refusing. This time around when he came, he knocked on the door repeatedly, I opened the door, he wandered in aggressively while pushing me aside, and got in and started stabbing her with a knife.

I shouted and raised the alarm, a neighbour came to our rescue rushing her to the hospital, unfortunately, she gave up the ghost before arriving at the hospital.

It happened around 9.30 p.m. We were at home with her younger sisters, her male brother (sic) was out and my husband is dead.

A man that came to our help and went through the window was the one who caught him and brought him out. The Chinese man fled, and the man chased him and brought him back.

He was later handed over to the police, she said.

She said the deceased Umulkulsum was her eldest daughter.

She said her daughter intended to marry the Chinese man until her uncles dissuaded her.

When she got married, she separated with the Chinese man but they reunited after she divorced her husband. At one point, her former husband suspected that they (she) were chatting with the Chinese man on the phone.

She told the Chinese man that she was going to marry him, but because her paternal uncles saw issues coming, they refused and I agreed with them, the mother narrated.
Nigerias Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Saturday, departed Abuja for London to attend the funeral of late Queen Elizabeth II.

According to a tweet by the vice presidents spokesperson, Laolu Akande, VP Osinbajo is leaving Abuja today for London to represent Nigeria at the State Funeral for the late Queen Elizabeth II. He will join King Charles, the Royal Family and other world leaders at a number of events and receptions including a bilateral meeting.

Mr Osinbajo will join other world leaders, politicians, public figures and European royals, as well as more than 500 dignitaries from around the world invited by the royal family to lay Britains longest reigning monarch to rest.

Queen Elizabeth II, who died on 8 September at the age of 96, will on Monday receive a state funeral at Londons Westminster Abbey, one of the largest diplomatic occasions of the century.

Mr Akande did not state when Mr Osinbajo will return from the UK.

Mr Osinbajos travel on Saturday suggests that he and President Muhammadu Buhari will both be away from Nigeria at least for some hours.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported a statement by the presidency that Mr Buhari will leave for the US on Sunday to attend the UN General Assembly.

Chiamaka Okafor is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State, Isah Gerawa, has expressed dissatisfaction at how contracts are majorly being awarded to non-Muslims in the state.

He accused the outgoing governor of the state, Muhammad Badaru, of awarding contracts to non-Muslims.

He said the partys governorship candidate, Umar Namadi, if elected in the 2023 general election, will not allow the trend to continue.

He said it is unfortunate that the outgoing government in the state was awarding contracts to people who cannot help the people of the state.

Jigawa State in Nigerias North-west region is a predominantly Muslim state. It is also an APC controlled state.

I have not received a kobo now for four years from Jigawa. I am watching how they are paying non-Muslims who cannot help our people unless to harm them. We want this culture to stop, we are not disliking anyone but we dont want this culture to continue, Mr Gerawa said.

For four years I have not received a penny (contract) from Jigawa Government. If you see me sharing money, I got it from other places but my Zenith Bank account where I am receiving payment from has not received a penny in four years.

But we are watching how they are paying non-Muslims (contractors) who cannot help our people, we dont need the continuation of this situation, Mr Gerawa said attracting a resounding applause from party faithful at his residence.

We are saying this because we want them to change for the better, hopefully, in the first term of the APC administration, Jigawa will no longer be the poor state in the country, he said.

Whoever did the wrong thing, we will say it publicly so also the right thing because we are not afraid of any person. Whoever did the wrong thing by stealing from the public treasury and buying properties abroad, we will tell the public.

Feedback

Though Mr Gerawa did not mention Mr Badarus name throughout his remarks, supporters of the governor have responded on social media, sharing an audio where Mr Gerawa was praising the governor in an interview.

In the interview with Radio Jigawa in February, Mr Gerawa said: In 2015, I benefitted from a road contract in Jigawa. In 2019, the governor took me to the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, and I got a contract of N81 billion, Mr Gerawa said.

When contacted on Friday, Mr Gerawas spokesperson, Muttaqa Namadi, confirmed the statement. He said the comment was true.

He, however, said those sharing the video on social media are members of the opposition.

The statement is not a lie, if they did not give him (the contract) God has given him in another form, because Gods wealth is in abundance, Mr Namadi said.

Opposition speaks

Meanwhile, Umar Kyari, the deputy director, media and publicity, campaign directorate of the PDP governorship candidate, Mustapha Lamido, said the statement from the APC chieftain shows that the party is not concerned about the unity of Nigerians.

We are not surprised by such a statement to be coming from an APC leader. Because from the word go, APC was never formed around the unity and oneness of this country and that is why the issue of which contract goes to who is being breached.

This is a sign of a sinking ship, a drowning party and a dying government, Mr Kyari said.

The spokesperson for the Jigawa State governor, Habibu Kila, could not be reached immediately.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Kola Abiola, has said he would win the 2023 general elections.

Mr Abiola, the son of the acclaimed winner of the 12th June 1993 presidential election, M.K.O Abiola, spoke to journalists on Saturday in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He spoke at the funeral service of the governorship candidate of PRP in Ogun State, David Bamgbose.

Mr Bamgbose died on 3rd September, one week after he was unveiled as the partys guber candidate.

Mr Abiola said he was 28 when he led the campaign planning and execution that resulted in his father winning the presidential election in 1993.

He said he would adopt the same strategy by pursuing a grassroots recruitment drive that will change the face of politics in the country.

I am going to win, Insha Allah. I have no doubt. You see we are always used to having things done in a particular way. We dont do things in a particular way here. We are out to disrupt the process, he said.

If we run it the way it is run, we will never win, but if we run it my way, there is no doubt. And thats what happened in 1992-1993. I ran that election from top to bottom. I did the planning, I did the execution, I did everything. All those jingles, if you remember, I did it.

I ran that election without the typical way of running an election and we won. It is still the best and freest election today in Nigeria. We are going to do a repeat, but this time, its for myself.

Speaking about the deceased, Mr Abiola said he will be missed.

He hailed the late governorship candidates contribution to the development of education in the country, promising to keep the same legacy as part of the PRPs manifesto on education.
As governor, Fayemi will be leaving big footprints in the sands of time. Apart from his moral suasion, which demonstrates that an intellectual and, indeed, a good man can survive and succeed in Nigerian politics, the physical development of Ekiti State owes a lot to him and his team. Hundreds of kilometres of roads have been built across the state. An airport construction is ongoing and at an advanced stage. Numerous initiatives put in place by his administration have accelerated the states economic growth and development.

In a few weeks, Dr Kayode Fayemi would round off his tenure as governor of Ekiti State and exit Government House, Ado Ekiti, known informally as Ayoba Villa. Fayemis latest tour of duty would mark the second time he will lead the state. He was re-elected as governor in 2018, four years after he lost a controversial re-election contest that would have given him two contiguous terms.

Fayemi first made his way to the Ekiti government house in 2010 after a judicial decision declared him the validly elected governor ahead of Segun Oni, who had earlier been sworn in and had served for over three years as the PDP governor of the state. After failing to be re-elected in 2014, the Ekiti politician led the opposition charge against the ruling PDP and went on to serve as minister of Solid Minerals Development between 2015 and 2018, after the PDPs defeat in the presidential election.

The 2010 governorship victory marked Fayemis formal entry into public service in Nigeria. Before then, he had served in various forms and shapes as a university lecturer, pro-democracy activist, NADECO promoter, anti-military rule campaigner, and civil society leader. In all, he was a man invested in the social good, democratisation, and development of Nigeria through interventions in speeches, books, interviews, rallies, and protests.

But it is as a politician that he has come into most public focus and attention. He has now governed Ekiti State for about eight years in total, doing so with grace, aplomb, and commitment to the same democratic ideals he fought for as a student leader at the University of Lagos. Not for him the roforofo, or the brick-bats of Nigerian politics that thrive on insults, name-calling, and midnight scheming that sometimes lead to fatal consequences.

It is unlikely that researchers would find records of Fayemi throwing invectives at opposition figures in his state, regardless of the provocation. He appears to often seek the moral high ground, an ethical safe space, from where he demonstrates through speech and conduct that he is an Omoluabi, a person of high value and character.

Some Ekiti residents may recall Fayemi as the akowe-governor, the political leader with a penchant to act as a scholar and use big words to describe small things. But close friends and political associates with intimate knowledge of the governor would describe him as a patriot, loyal friend, faithful husband and political leader, whose politics and life are shaped by progressive ideals. And compassion.

I first met Governor Fayemi before he was Governor Fayemi. I was an editor of a Lagos news magazine called National Standard, which was managed by one of Fayemis acquaintances, Ms Mobola Lanre-Badmus. It was around 2008 and, no doubt, a tempestuous period in the life of the governor, as it was during the litigations to reclaim his electoral victory and there was so much tension due to contradictory court rulings.

A colleague and I interviewed him at his Ibadan residence. We talked about everything: Ekiti State, national politics, his background and vision to rule. In his subsequent visits to our Ikeja office, in Lagos, Fayemi would refuse any bottled water unless it was Gossy Water, produced by the beverage company based in Ikogosi in Ekiti State. He struck me as a very smart man with a lot of depth, but somewhat detached and un-Nigerian, because even as at then he was civil and would not speak ill of the people who had robbed him of his electoral victory, despite several proddings from us, reporters, seeking a sensational headline.

Fayemis leadership of Ekiti has proved my initial assessment right. Rarely do Nigerian politicians come as fully formed as he. He has ruled the state with a touch of finesse and elegance that was missing in the Nigerian political space, where we seem to equate fuss-making with political relevance; confuse old age with wisdom and experience, and street populism with the ability to govern and manage a complex policy environment.

As governor, Fayemi will be leaving big footprints in the sands of time. Apart from his moral suasion, which demonstrates that an intellectual and, indeed, a good man can survive and succeed in Nigerian politics, the physical development of Ekiti State owes a lot to him and his team. Hundreds of kilometres of roads have been built across the state. An airport construction is ongoing and at an advanced stage. Numerous initiatives put in place by his administration have accelerated the states economic growth and development. Due to these measures, companies such as Promasidor, JMK, and Stallion groups have established multibillion naira businesses in Ekiti, generating thousands of jobs for the states citizens, as well as for the larger Nigerian economy.

In particular, Fayemis administration made outstanding strides through social investment schemes. Some of the progressive initiatives that have been implemented include the Child Rights Law, which criminalises child labour in Ekiti, as well as the monthly stipends and food banks for the elderly and underprivileged.

Additionally, Ekiti may be the only state in Nigeria where nursing mothers are entitled to six-month maternity leave, even as the state pays, without fail, WAEC fees for students in public schools and provide free basic education.

It was on the back of his achievements in Ekiti and his bi-partisan leadership of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) that Fayemi contested for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He ran a clean race, campaigning on the key themes of unity, security, economic growth, and development, as well as equity and inclusion  two testy issues in Nigeria at the moment. His messaging was articulated as The Nigeria Agenda, which drew a link between leadership and the solutions we seek for our national challenges.

Everywhere he went on the campaign trail, he shone as an orator and politician who was in touch with the contemporary issues of the country and has sufficient experience to fashion out workable solutions. But unlike Ekiti, Nigeria appears not ready to elect the best of us into national office, as we still equate longevity with political experience and view money as the key determinant of primary races.

As Fayemi completes his beat as governor, it is doubtful that he is truly a happy and fulfilled man. On a personal level, maybe. But no true Nigerian statesman and patriot would be happy and content with our country this sick. But new vistas open for him as he leaves Ayoba Villa. Already, he has been elected as President of the Forum of Regions of Africa, a body that comprises federal, regional, and local governments on the continent and seeks local solutions to Africas problems.

There is no doubt that as he closes the governorship door, there are new frontiers in civil society, governance and diplomacy for him to conquer. It may be morning yet for Governor Fayemi.

Julius Ogunro is a Nigerian journalist.
Islamabad, Sep 17 (UNI) The United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (Unicef) representative in Pakistan has said that an estimated 16 million children have been impacted by the super floods and at least 3.4 million girls and boys remain in need of immediate, lifesaving support.

In a statement issued here on Friday, Abdullah Fadil, who recently concluded a two-day visit to the flood-affected areas of Sindh, said the situation was extremely grim in flood-hit areas with malnourished children battling diarrohea, dengue fever and several painful skin diseases.

Meanwhile the toll in the floods since June reached 1,545 with 40 more deaths reported, said Dawn.

Fadil said floods have now claimed the lives of at least 528 children and each and every one of these deaths was a tragedy which could have been averted.

As the magnitude of flood disaster continues to unfold, international aid continues to trickle in.

The Japanese government on Friday announced US$7 million while the Canadian government pledged 3 million Canadian dollars for the flood-hit people.

The sad reality is that without a massive increase in support and aid, many more children will lose their lives, the Unicef representative said.

UNI ING
very importantly, on what bases have the princes who are presently being considered for the throne been chosen? Are they the only princes from the entitled ruling families in Oyo? Do they have exclusive rights that others do not have? Certainly, a storm has been brewing that is set to upset the applecart of convention, and people are now being forced to pay attention. This is a convention that has sought to distort what should be the real TRADITION of Oyo, which ought to recognise and enable the rights of all the legitimate heirs to the throne of their ancestor.

Through recent decades, and particularly over the past couple of years, one has been confronted by the notion of how everything in Nigeria has descended into the realm of politics, with so many now interpreting reality, not in terms of the truth or the natural order of things, but on the level of what benefits can accrue to them from unfolding situations. It is most unfortunate that truth has become the victim in this state-of-affairs.

A very typical example can be found in recent happenings in the great Kingdom of Oyo, from the time our father, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, left this realm to join the pantheon of our ancestors. Even before his passing had been properly mourned, the rat race and jostle had begun towards circumventing order in the effort to enthrone a successor in his place.

From this, we have seen all sorts of stakeholders  from those who consider the throne as their natural rights, to the exclusion of others, to traditional custodians of the selection process, and public officials who should midwife a sacred process properly  all of whom are producing their versions of how things should be.

We have heard the conflicting numbers of princes, who are claimants to the throne, being given by the Oyo Mesi. At some point it was said to be 119, and then 46, and now we are hearing that the field has been narrowed down to 10 candidates. Yet, the process by which these numbers have been arrived at cannot be said to be clear to all. And if clear to some, could the process be said to be inclusive, right or has it followed the law? Then, there is the question of which Chieftaincy law is being appealed to in choosing the new Alaafin? Is it the 1961 Declaration? But wouldnt that be an illegality as this has been set aside by the 1995 Oloko Commission of Inquirys White Paper that was gazetted in 2001?

But very importantly, on what bases have the princes who are presently being considered for the throne been chosen? Are they the only princes from the entitled ruling families in Oyo? Do they have exclusive rights that others do not have? Certainly, a storm has been brewing that is set to upset the applecart of convention, and people are now being forced to pay attention. This is a convention that has sought to distort what should be the real TRADITION of Oyo, which ought to recognise and enable the rights of all the legitimate heirs to the throne of their ancestor.

The lineage of his second son, the Agboin Adelabu royal house of the Atiba Dynasty, of which I belong, is yet to rule Oyo kingdom. After being unfairly jumped over, after the initial reign of Adelu Agunloye, this is the time to correct the historical wrong done to the family by reverting to the natural sequence of succession. The Adelabu family should be in prime consideration for the throne at this point. This can only be right in the spirit of fairness, equality, and justice.

For now, a bit of history: It is a well-known fact that Alaafin Adewimbi Oge Latubosun Atobatele Atiba who reigned between 1837-1859 was the progenitor of the Atiba dynasty. And, as such there is only one ruling house in Oyo. From this, it is worth emphasising that Alaafin Atiba had 11 heirs, which included Adelu Agunloye (the first) Agboin Adelabu (the second), Adesiyan (the third), Adeyemi Alowolodu (the fourth), Adediran, Tella Agbojulogun, Adesetan, Tella Okitipapa, Adesokan, and others.

Quite interestingly, of his eleven heirs, only two, Adelu Agunloye (first son) and Adeyemi Alowolodu (fourth son) have produced kings in Oyo so far. The lineage of Agunloye has produced four Alaafins and that of Adeyemi Alowolodu has produced three. And, both lineages have alternately monopolised the throne for over one hundred years! As such, even if the truth takes leave for over a hundred years, due to all sorts of manipulations, it will certainly return to assert itself one day. That day has come upon us now, and the families of the other nine sons of the progenitor have come to say: ENOUGH! We are as legitimate heirs to the throne as are the other two families who have managed to impose their will and laid exclusive claims to the throne so far. We also deserve to be Alaafin, and it is our rightful turn.

The noble throne of the Alaafin of Oyo is the common birth right of the remaining nine sons of Alaafin Atiba. Therefore, it is time for these other nine sons to legitimately ascend the throne of their ancestor.

Alaafin Atiba allocated expanses of land to each of his eleven sons, in addition to the inalienable and hereditary rights to the throne. The lineage of his second son, the Agboin Adelabu royal house of the Atiba Dynasty, of which I belong, is yet to rule Oyo kingdom. After being unfairly jumped over, after the initial reign of Adelu Agunloye, this is the time to correct the historical wrong done to the family by reverting to the natural sequence of succession. The Adelabu family should be in prime consideration for the throne at this point. This can only be right in the spirit of fairness, equality, and justice.

In truth, the Oyo Mesi have their duties cut out for them, as the privy council of Oyo. Their existence dates to the medieval period when they served as the administrative and judicial arm of the old pre-colonial Oyo Empire, while their fundamental functions in these days include, but are not limited to: (a.) The unbiased selection and installation of a new Alaafin to replace the one that died or abdicated the throne; (b.) initiation of laws that would foster unity in Oyo kingdom; (c.) implementation of policies without fear or favour; (d.) monitoring of any excessive or despotic use of power by the Alaafin; and (e.) providing advice to the Alaafin on good governance.

The Oyo Mesi need to always remember that they are an independent body, and are not under the control of any government, be it local, state, or federal. They inform the government of their decision regarding the selection of the Alaafin, as necessary. The Oyo Mesi are not politicians. And, I trust that the government will always support the Oyo Mesi to do what is right, to enhance peace in Oyo and forestall a rancour-free community, and throne.

From what we know from Oyos authentic history, the Oyo Mesi is a forthright body of noble personalities  from the Bashorun to Samu, Agbaakin, Akiniku, Alapini, and Lagunna  who have traditionally discharged their sacred duties with as much straightforwardness and candour as possible, and I am inclined to believe that as repositories of history, they will do what is right.

I am of the conviction that they will stand for truth and justice in the final run, and rise above whatever might be the pressures being brought to bear on them from different quarters by recognising all the other legitimate heirs of Atiba and afford us all the opportunity to claim our natural rights.

The Oyo Mesi need to always remember that they are an independent body, and are not under the control of any government, be it local, state, or federal. They inform the government of their decision regarding the selection of the Alaafin, as necessary. The Oyo Mesi are not politicians. And, I trust that the government will always support the Oyo Mesi to do what is right, to enhance peace in Oyo and forestall a rancour-free community, and throne.

Proverbially speaking, Itose lo lOyo, meaning Oyo land is known for doing things the right way.

I therefore implore you all, the decision makers, to use wisdom and to respect the trust that the Oyo people have in you, to execute the process of selecting the new Alaafin of Oyo along the lines of fairness and justice.

Hammed Isiaka Eyinade Adelabu is a Prince of the Adelabu Ruling House of the Atiba Dynasty. Email: atibadynasty@gmail.com
HOUSTON, Sept. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting on the spring 2023 semester, University of St. Thomas-Houston (UST) will start offering an Associate of Applied Science in Liberal Studies delivered in Spanish. This degree will be offered through the Kolbe School of Innovation and Professional Studies.

This program will support the academic goals of students who are more comfortable taking classes in their native language. A Liberal Studies Associate's Degree from UST offers students a well-rounded education with solid multidisciplinary preparation allowing them to pursue careers in education, STEM, government, business and other fields.

"A Liberal arts education delivered in Spanish will support students by fostering a dual language approach and providing a long run-value in a wide variety of careers," Dr. Nicole McZeal Walters, Dean of The Kolbe School of Innovation and Professional Studies, said.

This two-year, 100% online degree program consists of 60 hours with 45 in core classes and 15 hours in electives. Students can easily move into a four-year bachelor's degree at UST with this AAS in Liberal Studies degree.

To learn more about this opportunity contact [email protected] or call 713-525-3549

About University of St. Thomas

University of St. Thomas - Houston is a comprehensive university, grounded in the liberal arts. Committed to the unity of all knowledge, UST offers programs in the traditional liberal arts, professional, and skills-based disciplines. Graduates of the University of St. Thomas think critically, communicate effectively, succeed professionally, and lead ethically.

SOURCE University of St. Thomas-Houston
www.spendedge.com/sample-report/ceramic-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report

Key Ceramic Sourcing and Procurement Report Highlights:

1. Market growth 2022-2026: USD 164.25 Billion

2. Growth momentum & CAGR: Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.18%

3. Top Global Suppliers: Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, AGC, and Corning

4. Key consumer countries: North America, Europe, and APAC

5. Supplier Selection Scope: Cost of ceramics, JIT, Warranty, and Defect rate.

Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers:

Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Ceramic market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Ceramic pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as Cost-plus pricing model, Volume-based pricing model, and Spot pricing, and best practices to fulfill their category objectives.

For more insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers,

www.spendedge.com/sample-report/ceramic-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report

Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth:

The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants have resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers.

Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors.

Identify favorable opportunities in Ceramic TCO (total cost of ownership).

Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes.

Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities.

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Changing market landscape with yearly forecast till 2026.

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Understanding the most adopted procurement strategies by buyers across industries.

Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

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SOURCE Technavio
Global bakery manufacturer and ingredients distributor unveils new consumer trends report and patent-pending non-sticky donut glaze

JACKSON, Mich., Sept. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global bakery manufacturer and ingredients distributor Dawn Foods., today unveiled its new Global Bakery Trends Report and announced its latest product innovation, Dawn Exceptional Pak Perfect Non-Sticky Glaze at the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE).

Dawn's 2023 Global Bakery Trends Exceptional Pak Perfect Non-Sticky Donut Glaze Experience Exploration

"Our new Global Trends report and donut glaze are the latest examples of Dawn's commitment to providing industry-leading insights, high-quality products and innovative solutions to our customers," said Carrie Jones-Barber, CEO of Dawn Foods. "These offerings provide a greater understanding of consumer wants and needs and drive efficiencies for our customers. Dawn continues to inspire new ideas and fresh thinking to help bakeries succeed every day, and we look forward to demonstrating our industry leadership at IBIE."

What's Trending: Trends & Insights Impacting the Bakery Landscape

For the past three years, Dawn Foods' Global Market Research & Insights teams researched the most significant changes in consumer behavior, including fielding a global study to create first-of-its-kind proprietary research. The team interviewed more than 3,000 consumers and visited hundreds of bakeries, grocery stores and food service establishments globally to observe how these trends come to life.

Dawn's 2023 Global Trends include:

Technology Transformation : Technology has forever changed the consumer eating experience, transforming how we choose, receive and consume food  whether it be via touch screen ordering or sharing food experiences virtually. This trend will only accelerate in the years to come  57% of global consumers* plan to order more food online in 2023 than they have previously. Experience Exploration : Consumers seek foods that not only enhance their nostalgic memories but incorporate fresh and new flavor experiences from other cultures. For example, while 56% of global consumers* have tried American baked goods  like chocolate chip cookies and apple pie  30% of consumers* actively plan to try traditional African baked goods. Daily Delights : Tied to the growing importance of mental wellness, consumers are finding ways to bring moments of joy into their daily routine with smaller-sized, high-quality sweet treats. This trend will continue in the years to come  77% of global consumers* will continue eating sweet baked goods regularly moving forward. Mindfulness Matters : Acutely aware of how their choices affect their personal health, their community and their planet, consumers are looking for authenticity and want to make a positive impact on the world. When it comes to the environment, 71% of global consumers* are willing to pay a premium for sweet baked goods that are made sustainably.

Innovative Pak Perfect Non-Sticky Donut Glaze Delivers Breakthrough Solution for Bakers

Showcased at Dawn Foods' IBIE booth #1601, the patent-pending glaze technology allows for packaged yeast-raised donuts to stay non-sticky for up to five days.

"Dawn's latest donut innovation provides grocers and manufacturers with a solution that keeps yeast-raised donuts looking great while staying fresh, longer," said Roja Ergun, Director of R&D Wet Ingredients, Dawn Foods North America. "Our new donut glaze remains intact, non-sticky and greatly reduces waste and assists with the labor needs of bakeries."

Consumer feedback has also been positivethrough Dawn Sensory Testing, 66% of consumers** noted they prefer Pak Perfect yeast-raised donuts over traditional glazed donuts.

Dawn Executives and Experts Take the Stage at IBIE

At IBIE, Dawn executives and team members will also participate in multiple panels, events and education sessions throughout the show, including:

Sarah Hickey , Senior Director of Insights & Market Research: Fresh out of the Oven: Dawn's latest trends and insights impacting the bakery landscape. ( Saturday, Sept. 17  1:30-2:30 p.m. PST and Tuesday, Sept. 20  9:45-10:45 a.m. PST ).

(  and  ). Alexis Gilbert , Senior Director, Global Brand and Communications: Breaking Through the Digital Noise  Strategies, Tactics and Tools to Get Your Bakery Noticed Online. ( Saturday, Sept. 17  2:45-3:45 p.m. PST and Sunday, Sept. 18  9:45-10:45 a.m. PST )

(  and  ) Paul Caske , Vice President, National Technical Sales and Randy McArthur , Technical Sales Representative : Tips and Tricks for Better Efficiency at Your Bakery. ( Sunday, Sept. 18  8:30-9:30 a.m. PST )

Tips and Tricks for Better Efficiency at Your Bakery. (  ) Felisa Stockwell , Vice President, Global People and Culture : How to Start Building your Diversity Initiative: Best Practices from Industry Peers . ( Monday, Sept. 19  11 a.m.  noon PST )

: (   ) Dawn Foods, alongside The Society of Bakery Women, will host 'Donuts with Dawn,' a women's networking event on Tuesday, Sept. 20 , from 9-9:45 a.m. PST at Dawn Foods booth #1601, with Carrie Jones-Barber , CEO of Dawn Foods speaking.

To learn more about Dawn's four new global trends, or to learn more about Dawn's donut glaze innovation, stop by the Dawn Foods IBIE Booth #1601 or visit DawnFoods.com/Trends.

*Source: Dawn Foods 2023 Global Trends Study

**Source: Dawn Sensory Testing, 2021. Consumers evaluated Dawn Exceptional Pak Perfect TM Donut Glaze and Dawn Exceptional Medium-Thick Donut Glaze after 48 hours in a clamshell. N=101

About Dawn Food Products, Inc.

Dawn Foods is a global leader in bakery manufacturing and ingredients distribution. For more than 100 years, Dawn has been the partner of choice for inspiring bakery success every day and is committed to delighting its customers around the world with the partnership, insights, innovations, bakery products and expertise that empowers them to achieve their aspirations. Headquartered in Jackson, Michigan, Dawn Foods has more than 4,000 Team Members globally and provides high-quality bakery products to more than 50,000 customers located in more than 100 countries. For more information about the company, its products and culture, please visit www.dawnfoods.com.

Allison Pierce Alexis Gilbert Zeno Group for Dawn Foods Senior Director, Global Brand & Corporate Communications 312-998-7919 517-414-1348 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Dawn Food Products, Inc.
BOSTON, Sept. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW) announced results from CLASP IID, the first randomized controlled trial that directly compares two contemporary transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) therapies. The study confirms TEER as a safe and effective therapy in patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR). Results from the CLASP IID pivotal trial were presented as a late-breaking clinical science session at the 34th Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT), the annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, and published simultaneously in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

Patients enrolled in the CLASP IID pivotal trial had severe symptomatic DMR and were determined to be at prohibitive surgical risk. The CLASP IID trial met its primary safety and effectiveness endpoints, with the PASCAL system demonstrating non-inferiority for safety and effectiveness compared to the MitraClip device. The PASCAL device showed:

Low composite major adverse event rate of 3.4 percent at 30 days, and

Significant and sustained MR reduction with 97.7 percent of patients achieving MR 2+ at six months.

The PASCAL system further demonstrated significant and sustained MR 1+ with 83.7 percent of patients at MR 1+ at six months. PASCAL system results also showed favorable ventricular remodeling with improved stroke volume, and patients receiving the PASCAL system experienced significant improvements in functional capacity and quality of life.

"The CLASP IID randomized trial further establishes the PASCAL system as a safe and effective therapy, expanding the armamentarium of transcatheter mitral valve treatment options for patients with DMR," said Scott Lim, MD, director, Advanced Heart Valve Center at University of Virginia Health System and CLASP IID Study Principal Investigator. "Several distinct design characteristics of the PASCAL system, including the flexible nitinol design and elongation capability, contribute to the positive outcomes of this study."

The CLASP IID trial is a prospective randomized controlled trial comparing the safety and effectiveness of the PASCAL system to the MitraClip system. Results were reported on 180 patients with 2:1 randomization (117 PASCAL / 63 MitraClip), with echo core lab adjudication. The trial included 43 sites in the US, Canada and Europe, with most clinical operators new to using the PASCAL system and all having experience with the MitraClip system.

"As we consider the many DMR patients who are suffering with debilitating symptoms and could benefit from a TEER procedure, we are very pleased with the outcomes from the CLASP IID trial," said Bernard J. Zovighian, Edwards' corporate vice president, transcatheter mitral and tricuspid therapies. "Edwards continues to prioritize evidence generation with world-class data in support of our patient-driven therapies, and we are proud to support this and multiple other pivotal trials as we work to transform treatment for these patients in need."

Additional data presentations for the company during TCT 2022 include:

The PASCAL IID Registry: A Prospective Registry for Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair in Prohibitive Risk Patients With Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation and Complex Mitral Valve Anatomy ( Sept. 17 )  Late-Breaking Presenter: Jorg Hausleiter.

 Late-Breaking Presenter: Jorg Hausleiter. Deep Dive Session: Mitral TEER = CLASP IID Trials ( Sept. 17 )  Moderators: Megan Coylewright , Linda D. Gillam. Discussants: Paul A. Grayburn, Konstantinos P. Koulogiannis, Raj Makkar, Jacob M. Mishell, Ralph Stephan von Bardeleben, Firas Zahr.

 Moderators: , Linda D. Gillam. Discussants: Paul A. Grayburn, Konstantinos P. Koulogiannis, Raj Makkar, Jacob M. Mishell, Ralph Stephan von Bardeleben, Firas Zahr. Frequency and Safety of Bioprosthetic Valve Fracture in Patients Undergoing Valve in Valve TAVR for Failed Surgical Valves Using the SAPIEN 3/Ultra Valves: Insights From Real-World Data ( Sept. 18 )  Presenter: Santiago Garcia .

 Presenter: . Cardiac Damage and Quality of Life After Aortic Valve Replacement: Results from the PARTNER Trials ( Sept. 18 )  Presenter: Philippe Genereux .

Edwards is committed to transforming the treatment of patients with structural heart disease, supported by robust clinical evidence. As part of Edwards' continued commitment to building a body of real-world evidence, patients receiving the PASCAL Precision therapy in the US will be enrolled in the TVT Registry for five years. The PASCAL Precision system is one of multiple transcatheter repair or replacement therapies in development by Edwards and the company's first approved transcatheter therapy for DMR in the US. The PASCAL system first received CE Mark in Europe in 2019, and the PASCAL Precision system received CE Mark in 2022.

About TEER

Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER) of the mitral valve is used in the treatment of mitral regurgitation. TEER approximates the anterior and posterior mitral valve leaflets by grasping them with a clipping device in an approach similar to a treatment developed in cardiac surgery called the Alfieri stitch.

About Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader of patient-focused innovations for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring. We are driven by a passion for patients, dedicated to improving and enhancing lives through partnerships with clinicians and stakeholders across the global healthcare landscape. For more information, visit Edwards.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements made by Mr. Zovighian and statements regarding expected product benefits, patient outcomes, objectives and expectations and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the company and are believed to be reasonable, though they are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement. Investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements based on a number of factors as detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31 and June 30, 2022. These filings, along with important safety information about our products, may be found at Edwards.com.

Edwards, Edwards Lifesciences, the stylized E logo, CLASP, Edwards PASCAL, Edwards PASCAL Precision, PASCAL, and PASCAL Precision are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
BEIJING, Sept. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On the afternoon of September 15 local time, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to exchange views on China-Russia relations and international and regional issues of shared interest. It has become a conventional practice for Chinese and Russian heads of state to have bilateral talks on the sidelines of the summits of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). It is not only crucial for the stable development of bilateral relations that the two countries' heads of state to have regular in-person and in-depth exchanges of views, but it's also very beneficial for regional peace and stability.

The atmosphere of the meeting was as positive and friendly as usual. President Xi noted that since the beginning of this year, China and Russia have maintained effective strategic communication, and that China will work with Russia to extend strong mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests, and deepen practical cooperation in trade, agriculture, connectivity and other areas. President Putin said that the world is undergoing multiple changes, yet the only thing that remains unchanged is the friendship and mutual trust between Russia and China, and the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is as stable as mountains. As uncertainty significantly increases in today's international landscape, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has always been on course and has not lost momentum.

China and Russia are each other's largest neighbors, permanent members of the UN Security Council, and emerging powers. They also share a long border of more than 4,000 kilometers. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, which is based on the principles of "non-alliance, non-confrontation and non-targeting of any third party," has been subject to interference and provocation.

Both China and Russia are countries with strong strategic determination and autonomy. Moreover, bilateral relations have a strong internal driving force. They have not and will not change their initial intentions and course due to drastic changes in the international pattern or outside pressure. They will always maintain their own logic and rhythm. In particular, the heads of state of China and Russia maintain close contacts and strategic communication in various ways, always leading the ties between the two countries in the right direction of development. The independent and autonomous value of China-Russia relations is both a summary of historical experience and innovation in international relations.

As President Xi pointed out, China will work with Russia to fulfill their responsibilities as major countries and play a leading role in injecting stability into a world of change.

Global Times: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202209/1275379.shtml

SOURCE Global Times
Johannesburg, Sep 17 (UNI) At least 21 people, including 19 children, have been killed in an accident in the South African eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, the News24 news portal reported on Saturday, citing emergency services.

"The fatally injured include two adults and 19 children aged between about five and 12 years old," KwaZulu-Natal Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson Robert McKenzie was quoted as saying by News24.

A minibus with primary pupils on board collided with a delivery truck on Friday afternoon.

UNI/SPUTNIK GNK
BEIJING, Sept. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech on Friday at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, emphasizing the need to follow the guidance of the Shanghai Spirit as we forge ahead. President Xi pointed out that under new conditions, the SCO, as an important constructive force in international and regional affairs, should keep itself well-positioned in the face of changing international dynamics, ride on the trend of the times, strengthen solidarity and cooperation and build a closer SCO community with a shared future. The speech received an enthusiastic reaction and resonance at the scene of the meeting, becoming one of the most closely watched and essential parts of the SCO summit.

At the summit, leaders of the SCO member states signed the Samarkand Declaration, expressing their unanimous attitude of ruling out bloc, ideologically charged, and confrontational approaches to current international and regional development issues, and reaffirming the importance of promoting cooperation in the development of international relations of a new kind in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as in building a community with a shared future for mankind. In this process, China's role is evident to all. The Global Development Initiative (GDI) and Global Security Initiative (GSI) put forward by the Chinese leader were a response to the concerns of regional countries and have become an increasingly broad and firm consensus in the international community.

In just three days from Wednesday to Friday, in addition to attending the SCO summit, President Xi also paid state visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, met with leaders of a number of countries including Russia, and participated in the sixth meeting of heads of state of China, Russia and Mongolia. He also facilitated several major cooperation projects and signed a series of agreements on several projects and bilateral cooperation documents. This most significant diplomatic event for the Chinese head of state on the eve of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was a complete success.

The latest head-of-state diplomacy brought the destinies of China and Central Asia closer together. In 2013, during his visit to Central Asia, President Xi for the first time proposed the initiative to jointly build the Silk Road Economic Belt. Nine years later, as he revisited the region, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has already yielded fruitful results in Central Asia: The "SCO Express Line" of the "Qilu" Eurasian freight train was launched; the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was accelerated, and the longest tunnel in Central Asia on the Angren-Pap railway line in Uzbekistan opened. These are visible and tangible achievements.

The initiative put forward by China, with the joint efforts of many participating countries, has been effectively transformed into the improvement of infrastructure along the BRI and the expansion and deepening of bilateral and multilateral mutually beneficial cooperation, bringing benefits to a large number of ordinary people. This is a real case of building a community with a shared future for mankind. The warm welcome the Central Asian countries gave to President Xi reflects the high recognition of China's diplomacy and the sincere expectation for the further development of relations with China.

Central Asia, with its unbalanced development, weak foundation, and complex ethnic and religious relations, is a region at high risk of "color revolutions" and social and political unrest. In the last few years, China has brought hopeful changes to this region, and the SCO has also, to a certain extent, prevented the contradictions and differences from evolving into division and confrontation. Under the framework of the SCO, all countries have worked together to embark on a new path of "pursuing dialogue instead of confrontation, and building partnerships instead of alliances." They have firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, injecting positivity and creating vitality in maintaining peace and development in the Eurasian continent.

Needless to say, peace and development are still the themes of the times, but it also encounters severe challenges. The world is neither peaceful nor tranquil. No matter where the Chinese leader goes, the emphasis is on a community with a shared future for mankind, the GDI, the GSI, and the BRI. He focuses on development and cooperation, underlining common values, interests, development and security. This represents a new direction, concept, and form of civilization in a world of change and disorder. This is not only something China talks about, but it also has been taking action in this regard, and it is one of the staunchest practitioners of multilateralism. It is hard to imagine what the world would be like without the perseverance of a responsible major country like China for peace and development.

The more turbulent the world is, the more it needs the strength to stabilize people's hearts. Amid major changes unseen in a century in which "gray rhinos" and "black swans" are emerging in an endless stream, China itself represents a kind of stability. Under the guidance of the head-of-state diplomacy, it continues to weather storms. President Xi's trip to Central Asia has global significance. It brings confidence and hope to the region amid crises and changes, and will continue to pool forces to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Global Times: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202209/1275444.shtml

SOURCE Global Times
Prospera held event to celebrate local clients and partnerships

CORAL GABLES, Fla. , Sept. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After two years of virtual celebrations, Prospera hosted its signature Hispanic Heritage Month event, although this time with a new time and format. Presented by FPL on September 14 at the Miracle Theater in Coral Gables, the main supporters of the non-profit, economic development organization came together to celebrate Hispanic entrepreneurship by showcasing local small business owners who have demonstrated success and business growth since receiving Prospera's support and after the pandemic tested their capacities.

Prospera President/CEO, South Florida Regional VP, and volunteers with 2022 Success Stories Honorees

The program featured five success stories of entrepreneurs who are stronger than before:

The 2022 Prospera Success Stories Event: Stronger Than Before was led by Prospera South Florida Regional Vice President Myrna Sonora. The program showed funders, volunteers, and community leaders the impact of Prospera's services on the five business owners and the regional economy. It also featured a panel with three of Miami-Dade County's economic development leaders:

Fernando Casamayor , Chief Innovation and Economic Development Officer for Miami-Dade County

, Chief Innovation and Economic Development Officer for Michaeljohn Green , Deputy Director of Economic Development for Miami-Dade County

, Deputy Director of Economic Development for Danilo Vargas , Small Business Innovation Manager for Miami-Dade County

"At Florida Power & Light Company, we're committed to delivering America's best energy value  energy that's clean, reliable and affordable, and to moving Florida forward  including helping companies both large and small succeed. That's why it's important to support organizations like Prospera, that share our commitment and serve as a catalyst for the continued growth and success of entrepreneurs," FPL Director of External Affairs for Miami-Dade County Armando Fernandez said.

"Collaboration is vital to the work we do at Prospera. In this post-pandemic economy, our public, private and nonprofit sectors have communicated and collaborated more than ever to support a local entrepreneurial ecosystem with small businesses that are stronger than before," said Prospera South Florida Regional Vice-President Myrna Sonora. "We still have much to accomplish but today we celebrate how far we've come."

In addition to Presenting Sponsor FPL, the event was presented with the support of the following sponsors:

Hosts : AT&T, Bank of America, Bank United, First Horizon, Truist, and Wells Fargo

: AT&T, Bank of America, Bank United, First Horizon, Truist, and Wells Fargo Champions : JPMorgan Chase, Florida International University , Telemundo 51, Amerant, and First Bank

: JPMorgan Chase, , Telemundo 51, Amerant, and First Bank Leaders: Work Magic, West Kendall Baptist Hospital, Holland & Knight, TD Bank, and SBDC at FIU

Prospera is a non-profit economic development organization that, since 1991, has specialized in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs who want to start, strengthen, or boost their businesses. Prospera has managed more than $61 million in small business loans in the past five years, trained more than 18,000 entrepreneurs, and helped consult clients to gain or retain more than 16,000 jobs. Currently, Prospera offers services in Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia. For more information, visit prosperausa.org.

Media Contact: Soledad Jacobson, (786) 329-5830, [email protected]

Photos available upon request

SOURCE Prospera
Results from largest randomized TAVR trial to date presented at TCT 2022

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Sept. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) has announced results from the PROTECTED TAVR clinical trial evaluating the SENTINEL Cerebral Protection System, which is designed to capture and remove embolic debris stemming from transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) before it can reach the brain and potentially cause a stroke. Outcomes were presented during a late-breaking clinical science session at the 34th Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT), the annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, in Boston, and will be published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

SENTINEL Cerebral Protection System.

This randomized trial evaluated periprocedural stroke reduction and neurologic outcomes in patients with aortic stenosis treated with either the SENTINEL device to provide cerebral embolic protection (CEP) during TAVR or TAVR alone. The primary endpoint was not met, as the data demonstrated a non-significant trend towards a lower rate of stroke in patients treated with the SENTINEL device, representing a 21% relative risk reduction in all stroke through 72 hours or time of hospital discharge (2.3% with TAVR and CEP vs. 2.9% with TAVR only, P=0.30). Importantly, a secondary analysis demonstrated a statistically significant 60% relative risk reduction in disabling stroke through 72 hours or time of hospital discharge in patients treated with the SENTINEL device (0.5% with TAVR and CEP vs. 1.3% with TAVR only, P=0.02).

"Data from the PROTECTED TAVR trial provide the physician community with evidence that the device plays an important role in reducing disabling strokes across patient types in those undergoing TAVR," said Dr. Samir Kapadia, chairman of the Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, Cleveland Clinic. "We also found that the rate of vascular complications in this trial was very low, whether or not the device was used, highlighting the safety of this technology in TAVR procedures."

While outcomes with TAVR for the treatment of aortic stenosis have been shown to be comparable to surgery, stroke remains an important and feared complication of the procedure. Representing the largest randomized TAVR trial to date, the study enrolled 3,000 patients spanning more than 50 global sites and all surgical risk levels, with all patients receiving a neurological exam before and after the procedure. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that the reduction in disabling stroke with the SENTINEL device was consistent across patient subgroups, including age, gender, operative risk, valve type and history of cardiovascular disease.

"Considering strokes are unpredictable, can occur regardless of an individual's clinical background and often take a great toll on a patient's quality-of-life and financial stability, we believe the data appear to demonstrate a consistent effect from CEP technology across all patient populations in the trial  supporting the use of the SENTINEL device as an effective therapy to reduce the risk of the most debilitating form of stroke for patients undergoing TAVR," said Dr. Ian Meredith, global chief medical officer, Boston Scientific. "We look forward to additional data on this technology such as from the currently enrolling PROTECT TAVI trial in the United Kingdom, which will similarly evaluate TAVR-related stroke reduction using the SENTINEL device."

Previous clinical trials involving more than 3,500 patients have demonstrated that the SENTINEL device is safe and effective, including capture and removal of cerebral embolic debris in 99% of TAVR cases.1 To date, more than 75,000 patients worldwide have been protected with this technology.

To learn more about the results of the PROTECTED TAVR trial, visit www.bostonscientific.com/sentinel.

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 40 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.com and connect on Twitter and Facebook.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our business plans, clinical trials and product performance and impact. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.

Factors that may cause such differences include, among other things: future economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; new product introductions; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; and future business decisions made by us and our competitors. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A  Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A  Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

CONTACTS:

Angela Mineo

Media Relations

(763) 955-8325 (office)

[email protected]

Lauren Tengler

Investor Relations

(508) 683-4479

[email protected]

** Dr. Samir Kapadia has not been compensated by Boston Scientific Corporation for his work on the PROTECTED TAVR trial or his quote within this news release.

1 SENTINEL IDE Trial. Data presented at SENTINEL FDA Advisory Panel, February 23, 2017.

SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation
Five late-breaking presentations at TCT 2022 highlight the impact of Abbott's structural heart devices to repair or replace heart valves and close openings in the heart

New data reinforce the safety and effectiveness of MitraClip for treating mitral regurgitation

Results also demonstrate the benefits of Abbott's TriClip for tricuspid regurgitation, Amulet for stroke reduction in patients with atrial fibrillation and Portico for aortic stenosis

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Sept. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced data from five late-breaking presentations showing the benefits of its minimally invasive devices in treating people with a range of structural heart diseases. Data include findings that reinforce the value of MitraClip, the world's first and leading transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) device, to treat leaky valves in people with mitral regurgitation (MR).

The new data around Abbott's structural heart therapies were presented at the 34th Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation in Boston (September 16-19, 2022). Results were also presented on TriClip, the first therapy designed specifically for tricuspid heart valve repair; the Amplatzer Amulet Left Atrial Appendage Occluder, a minimally invasive option offering the most complete closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) to reduce risk of stroke; and Portico, a self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) system.

Structural heart diseases such as valve disease or openings in the heart that require closure can impair how the heart moves blood through the body. New minimally invasive technology has changed how physicians approach patient care and limits the need for more complex or risky surgery.

MitraClip EXPAND G4 Post-Approval Study

Data presented from the prospective, multi-center, global real-world EXPAND G4 study support the safety and effectiveness of the MitraClip G4 system for treating MR. The study represents the largest report of 30-day core lab-assessed outcomes, which included more than 1,000 patients. The data confirm that MitraClip offers high success rates in terms of MR reduction, improvements in quality of life and low adverse event rates.

Key findings through 30 days include:

Significant MR reduction to mild or less ( grade 1+ on a four-point scale) is achieved in 91% of patients, with lowest reported adverse event rates to date (1.3% all-cause mortality at 30 days)

Clinical improvements including 83% of patients achieving New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Class I/II (a classification of functional limitations resulting from cardiac disease, with Class I/II meaning slight or no limitation of physical activity), an improvement of 52% from baseline of 31%; and an 18-point improvement in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) score (a self-assessment of social abilities, symptoms and quality of life), a 35% improvement from baseline score

Multiple clip sizes enable tailoring the therapy to patients' mitral valve anatomy and expand the spectrum of TEER-suitable patients

"MitraClip therapy has fundamentally changed the way doctors treat mitral regurgitation, provides a valuable therapy option that does not require open-heart surgery, and goes beyond simply managing symptoms with medications," said Jason Rogers, M.D., professor of cardiovascular medicine and director of interventional cardiology and structural heart training programs at the University of California, Davis Medical Center. "These late-breaking data demonstrate and strengthen the evidence that Abbott's MitraClip system consistently reduces MR in a broad range of patients, while restoring proper function of the mitral valve and improving patients' quality of life."

The MitraClip system has been commercially available in the U.S. since 2013 and in Europe since 2008. With more than 150,000 patients treated worldwide, MitraClip is approved in more than 75 countries, spanning regions in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australia.

"These results add to what's been proven through nearly two decades of clinical experience in transcatheter mitral repair  MitraClip provides long-term, significant mitral regurgitation reduction that changes and saves lives," said Michael Dale, senior vice president of Abbott's structural heart business. "Abbott was the first to offer a transcatheter mitral valve repair device that provides a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with MR who would otherwise go untreated, and we remain committed to addressing the unmet needs of people with structural heart conditions."

First Results from the TriClip TRILUMINATE Pivotal Trial

TRILUMINATE Pivotal is the first randomized, controlled clinical trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of TEER with TriClip in 700 patients with severe TR in the U.S., Canada and Europe. The data from the roll-in cohort through 30 days show:

High implant success rate (99%)

At least a one-grade TR reduction in 91% of patients, with moderate or less residual TR achieved in 74%

Patients achieving around a 17-point improvement in the KCCQ score, a 30% improvement from baseline score, which demonstrates a substantial improvement in their quality of life

Three-Year Outcomes from the Amulet IDE Study

The Amplatzer Amulet LAA Occluder with dual-seal technology (consisting of a lobe or piece to fill the cavity of the LAA and a disc to close off the opening into the LAA) is the first and only minimally invasive treatment option to offer immediate and complete dual-sealing closure of the LAA, reducing the risk of stroke and eliminating the need for blood-thinning medication. The prospective, international, multi-center Amulet IDE trial is the largest randomized LAA occlusion study to date consisting of more than 1,800 patients, and three-year outcomes demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of Amulet, with data showing:

Device-related factors (device-related thrombosis or peri-device leak) more frequently preceded strokes in patients with Boston Scientific's Watchman than those with Amulet

Both cardiovascular and all-cause death trended higher in the Watchman device than the Amulet device

PREDICT-LAA Trial (Amulet)

Data were also presented from the PREDICT-LAA prospective, multi-center, randomized controlled trial that studied if the use of cardiac computed tomography-based computational models (high-resolution scans of patients' hearts generated by FEops HEARTguide) help in the planning of Amplatzer Amulet procedures. Key findings at three months include:

Improved procedural efficiency and safety outcomes with the Amplatzer Amulet LAA Occluder were achieved when planned with HEARTguide

Portico CONFIDENCE Registry

The CONFIDENCE Registry is an international, prospective, real-world study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the Portico TAVI valve using the first-generation Portico delivery system in 501 patients and the second-generation FlexNav delivery system in 500 patients. Late-breaking data on valve hemodynamics (blood flow) at 30 days and one-year survival following implantation of the Portico TAVI device will be presented at TCT on Sunday, Sept. 18

For U.S. important safety information on MitraClip, visit http://abbo.tt/MitraClipG4ISI.

For U.S. important safety information on Amulet, visit https://abbo.tt/AmuletISI.

For U.S. important safety information on Portico, visit https://abbo.tt/PorticoISI.

The TriClip Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Repair System is an investigational device only in the U.S.

About Abbott:

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 113,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews.

 Indicates a trademark of the Abbott group of companies.

 Indicates a third-party trademark, which is property of its respective owner.

SOURCE Abbott
United Nations, Sep 17 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned about the civil unrest in Haiti that has brought the country to a standstill, his spokesman said.

"The Secretary-General is particularly preoccupied with the safety of all Haitians, including the most vulnerable, and calls for calm and maximum restraint," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement on Friday.

"He urges all relevant stakeholders to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation, avoid violence, and allow the Haitian National Police to fulfill its role to protect the population." Guterres reiterated his strong call for all stakeholders to rise above their differences and to engage, without further delay, in a peaceful and inclusive dialogue on a constructive way forward. He warned that if the current circumstances continue, the already dire humanitarian situation faced by Haiti's most vulnerable people will deteriorate even further, the spokesman added.

During a regular briefing earlier, Dujarric said UN humanitarians also are concerned about the recent escalation of violence in Haiti, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The violent civil unrest and countrywide road closures make it very challenging for humanitarian partners to provide assistance at this stage," he added.

The UN and partners remain on the ground and are ready to assist people in need across the country. However, a shortfall in funding and pre-positioned supplies is hindering the delivery of aid in the coming days, he said.

On top of all of that, Tropical Storm Fiona has formed in the Caribbean and may impact Haiti on Monday, Dujarric added.

The 2022 humanitarian response plan for Haiti, which calls for $373 million, is only 21 per cent funded, said the spokesman.
Islamabad, Sep 17 : One person was killed and 17 others were injured in an explosion in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, local media reported.

The incident took place on Friday evening, Xinhua news agency reported.

Unknown militants hurled a hand grenade at a busy road in the provincial capital of Quetta and fled the scene, according to the report.

The injured, including children, were shifted to Quetta Civil Hospital.

No group has claimed the attack yet, and the police have kicked off a search operation in the area to chase the fleeing militants.
Rome, Sep 17 : In his last formal act before national elections later this month, Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi and his cabinet have approved a 14-billion-euro ($14 billion) package aimed at cushioning the impact of spiking energy prices on companies.

The package includes tax credits, tax cuts on energy and a variety of incentives and bonuses, Xinhua news agency reported.

Draghi on Friday said the measure would not increase the government's deficit since it would be offset by the higher tax revenues of recent months due partially to increased taxes on energy, the price of which has soared since the start of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February.

The tax credit will reduce the tax bill for companies in energy-intensive sectors by 25 per cent, and by 15 per cent for other companies that use more than 16.5 megawatts of power through September 30, with the credit increased to 40 per cent in October and November.

Additionally, excise taxes on diesel and petroleum will be reduced through the end of November, though details on this reduction will be published in a future ministerial decree.

The package also includes a one-time bonus of 150 euros to all citizens earning less than 20,000 euros per year, as well as 190 million euros in aid to farmers struggling with high energy costs, and another 100 million euros to help offset higher fuel costs for mass transit systems.

The package also includes an array of incentives for the development of renewable energy generation. (1 euro = $1)

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Berlin, Sep 17 : Germany has taken control of a major domestic refinery owned by Russian oil company Rosneft, the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) said.

Rosneft Deutschland and RN Refining & Marketing, two German subsidiaries of the Russian company, have been placed under the trusteeship of the Federal Network Agency.

The Agency will now take over the PCK refinery in Schwedt, by far the biggest fuel supplier of the country's capital Berlin, Xinhua news agency reported.

So far, the PCK refinery has been supplied with Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline. However, due to the EU import ban on Russian oil next year, eastern German ports and a pipeline from Rostock to Schwedt are to be upgraded to create new transport routes for oil.

In addition, the German government has approached the Polish government to discuss potential supply routes through Poland.

With nearly 12 per cent of Germany's oil processing capacity, Rosneft Deutschland is one of the country's largest companies in this sector. The trusteeship is initially limited to six months.

Gazprom's German subsidiary has been placed under the trusteeship of the Federal Network Agency at the beginning of April.

Russia has repeatedly blamed the West's sanctions against it for the energy disputes. (1 euro = $1)

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Beirut, Sep 17 : Security forces will take strict measures amid mounting security concerns after a number of bank raids carried out by angry depositors demanding their savings, Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said.

Mawlawi made the remarks on Friday during a press conference at the Interior Ministry, where security agencies were present to discuss the measures to keep the country safe and stable.

On Friday, several banks across the country were stormed by angry depositors demanding access to their savings, Xinhua news agency reported.

As a result, the Association of Banks in Lebanon announced that all banks will be closed for three days beginning on Monday.

"What we are witnessing today is an unhealthy phenomenon that threatens security and the country, and the security forces know very well how to tighten control," he added.

Mawlawi called on depositors to remain calm as "deposits cannot be recovered by using these methods, which are illegal and can destroy the banking system and cause other depositors to lose money." Lebanon has been witnessing an unprecedented financial crisis that has forced banks to place heavy restrictions on depositors' withdrawals.
HNLC rebels returns to Bangladesh after first phase of peace parleys

Shillong, Sep 17 (UNI) Rebel leaders of the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), who participated in the first phase of the tripartite peace talks with the Meghalaya government and the centre, returned to Bangladesh on Friday.



The talk so far so good and now the HNLC members have gone back to Bangladesh on Friday to brief the central executive committee members and general council on the outcome of peace talks and to take a decision on the matter before the second round of talks, HNLC interlocutor Sadon Blah, said on Saturday.
Kiev, Sep 17 : Ukrainian authorities have carried out mass exhumations of more than 440 bodies buried in a forest located at the edge of Izyum city, recently liberated from Russian occupation, a media report said on Saturday.

Around 100 Ukrainian emergency service workers wearing blue plastic coverings dug the earth, opening makeshift graves, the BBC report said, adding they are now trying to ascertain the cause of death.

Olexander Ilyenkov, prosecutor of the Kharkiv region where the city is located, believes war crimes had been committed.

"In the first grave, there is a civilian who has a rope over her neck. So we see the traces of torture. Some of them were killed, some were tortured, some were killed because of Russian Federation air and artillery strikes" he told the BBC, adding that almost everyone died because of Russian soldiers.

International journalists were brought in to witness the mass exhumations at the burial ground which contained rows of graves, marked by crude wooden crosses.

According to the BBC report, names were written on few of the grave, but most were marked only by a number.

Police have put the number of graves at 445, but the exact number was still not clear as some of the graves contained more than one body.

Prosecutors have said some were killed by Russian shelling and others were victims of an airstrike on an apartment block in March, in which 47 people were killed.

In a social media post on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said "the whole world should see this".

"A world in which there should be no cruelty and terrorism. But all this is there. And its name is Russia. More than 400 bodies were found at the mass burial site in Izyum. With signs of torture, children, those killed as a result of missile attacks, warriors of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"Russia leaves only death and suffering. Murderers. Torturers. Deprived of everything human. You won't run away. You won't hide. Retribution will be justly dreadful. For every Ukrainian, for every tortured soul," Zelensky said in the post.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned "in the strongest possible terms" what he described as the "atrocities" committed in Izyum, the BBC reported.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called the development "horrifying" and said: "We're going to continue to actively support efforts to document war crimes and atrocities that Russian forces commit in Ukraine and to assist national and international efforts to identify and hold Russians accountable." The city of Izyum, invaded in April, was used by Russia as a key military hub to supply its forces from the east.
La Paz, Sep 17 : Bolivian President Luis Arce has declined recommendations from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) aimed at redirecting the country's economy, and reaffirmed the independence and efficacy of the economic model followed by his government.

"Our 'Economic, Social, Communitary, Productive Model' is sovereign and continues to demonstrate its success in reducing social and economic inequalities," Arce said in a social media post on Friday.

"That is why we do not accept the proposals of the #IMF, which would be detrimental to the people, especially the working class," the President added.

In a report released on Thursday, the IMF recommended Bolivia reassess the exchange rate between its national currency and the US dollar, which has remained the same since 2011, and government subsidies of fuel and certain economic sectors.

In response to the report, Minister of Economy and Public Finance, Marcelo Montenegro, said the IMF's recommendations regarding subsidies were contradictory and the government had no plans to follow them.

He dismissed the IMF's formulas as outdated, saying they were applied in past decades by neo-liberal governments, but are no longer viable today, especially in Bolivia.

The stable exchange rate is due to the national currency's strength, said Montenegro, stressing that each country must formulate and apply its own economic and financial policy in a sovereign manner, unfettered by the IMF.
Chennai, Sep 17 : Security around Sree Ranganatha Swamy temple in Tiruchi district has been tightened following threats by Dravidar Kazhagam and other outfits like Makkal Adhikaram.

The outfits have threatened to burn the Manu Smriti and other Hindu Vedic texts in front of Sree Ranganatha Swamy temple, Tiruchi on the birth anniversary of social activist and Dravidian ideologue, E.V. Ramaswamy Periyar.

Notably, a Periyar statue was installed just in front of the Sree Ranganatha Swamy temple in Tiruchi by some Dalit outfits and Hindu organisations had come out in protest against this. As a counter to this, Makkal Adhikaram and Dravida Kazhagam have announced that they would take out protest marches towards the temple on the birth anniversary of Periyar.

Tamil Nadu state intelligence has informed the state police that there are possibilities of the burning of Manu Smriti and other Vedic texts in front of the temple during the march.

The Madurai bench of the Madras High court has directed the Tiruchi district administration to maintain a law and order situation in the district and in front of the temple on Saturday. The division bench comprising Justices R. Mahadevan and J. Sathyanarayana Prasad has also directed the police to consider the request of Public Interest Litigation filed by a person, Rangarajan Narasimhan to provide police protection to the devotees visiting the temple on Saturday.

The Additional Public Prosecutor has informed the court that a meeting was convened on September 8th with the representatives of Makkal Adhikaram and Dravidar Kazhagam and had asked them to drop the protest.

The district administration also informed the court that all the statues of Periyar in Tiruchi would be provided protection over the fear of desecration on his birth anniversary.
Hyderabad, Sep 17 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao stayed away from Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations organised by Union Culture Ministry here on Saturday to mark erstwhile Hyderabad State's accession to the Indian Union.

With Telangana government celebrating September 17 as Telangana National Unity Day, the Chief Minister skipped the event organised by Government of India, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah hoisted the national flag and reviewed a colourful parade by the Central paramilitary forces.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Karnataka's Transport Minister B. Sriramulu attended the event which saw performances by 1,200 artists from the three states.

Erstwhile Hyderabad State, which was spread over Telangana and parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, acceded to the Indian Union on September 17, 1948, following India's military operation.

For the first time, Government of India organised official celebrations to mark the occasion. Union Minister for Tourism and Culture G. Kishan Reddy had invited Chief Ministers of all the three states for the event.

Telangana government has also announced year-long celebrations to mark 75 years of Hyderabad State's accession.

Kishan Reddy said that BJP had been fighting for the last 25 years for official celebrations of the day. The Union Minister said this was the occasion people had been waiting for 74 years.

He said that 74 years after India's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel hoisted the national flag on the soil of Hyderabad after defeating Nizam's Army, Home Minister Amit Shah unfurled the tricolour here.

He claimed that the decision of the Telangana government to organise the celebrations is a victory for the people.

"It doesn't matter what you call it but it is a matter of happiness that the national flag is being hoisted across the state," he said.

Without naming MIM, Kishan Reddy said that even the party which inherited the legacy of 'Razakars' was forced to celebrate the day by hoisting the tricolour.
Mumbai, Sep 17 : Veteran actor Anupam Kher has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership and wished him good health and longevity on his birthday on Saturday.

Anupam took to Instagram where he shared a video of the Prime Minister taking oath.

He wrote the caption in Hindi: "Honourable Prime Minister Shree @narendramodi ji! A very happy birthday to you. May god bless you with longevity and good health." "You are dutifully accomplishing everything that you had promised and you will continue to do so in the coming years. Thank you for your leadership. Happy Birthday Prime Minister #NarendraModiJi! #India #BirthdayWishes."
New Delhi, Sep 17 : A 34-year-old property dealer was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the national capital, however, the police denied any foul play in the matter.

According to the police, an information was received from MAX Hospital on Friday that the man, identified as Vinit Chauhan, a resident of Saket, who went to sleep at around 11.30 p.m. on Thursday night at his residence, was found unconscious by his parents the next morning at 9.30 a.m.

"He was taken to MAX Hospital where he was declared 'brought dead' at 10.44 a.m.," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chandan Chowdhary said, adding that the deceased used to work as a property dealer in Malviya Nagar.

The senior official denied any foul play in the incident.

"There were no injury marks on the body. The body was preserved for a post-mortem which will be conducted on Saturday," the official said.
Bengaluru, Sep 17 : The Karnataka Police Department's Anti Narcotics Wing of the City Central Crime Branch (CCB) on Saturday attached the properties worth Rs 1.60 crore belonging to a drug peddler in the city.

According to the CCB police, the accused had purchased movable and immovable assets through the money minted in the drug peddling nexus. The consent for the seizure has been secured under the NDPS Act 5A, Column 68 (e) and (f).

The drug peddler has been identified as Mrutyunjaya, alias Jayanna, alias MJ. He was arrested by police inspector B,S, Ashok in July and Rs 80 lakh worth hashish oil and ganja was seized.

The accused was into a well established drug network and nine cases under the NDPS Act had been registered against him in Bengaluru and other places.

Further investigations revealed that through drug peddling, the accused had amassed wealth in his as well his wife's name. He had bought a commercial complex, agricultural land.

The police also found that Rs 5 crore had been deposited to various bank accounts opened in the accused and his wife's name.

Appellate Tribunal under Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators Act, Chennai has consented to the seizure orders.
Damascus, Sep 17 : Five soldiers were killed during an Israeli missile attack on the international airport in Damascus and military sites south of the capital, the military said on Saturday.

The Syrian air defences were triggered by the attacks, shooting down a number of the Israeli missiles, Xinhua news agency quoted the military as saying.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said the attacks targeted the countryside of Damascus and the Sayyida Zainab area, where the Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based Shia armed group, is present.
New Delhi, Sep 17 : Google has rolled out the ability to send multiple photos and videos simultaneously via its Chat.

You can now select more than one image or video at a time when sending a message in Google Chat.

This feature is now available across iOS devices and is rolling out on Android devices.

"You can attach files up to 200 MB from your computer, mobile device, or Google Drive directly to Google Chat messages," said the tech company in its update.

The Google Chat media picker will let users pick up to 20 photos and videos to send at one go.

Tech giant has already announced that it is now starting the process of migrating free, personal Hangouts users to Chat.

The company mentioned that users who wish to keep a copy of their Hangouts data to use Google Takeout -- to download their data before Hangouts is no longer available in November this year.

Google said that moving to Google Chat will let users edit Docs, Slides or Sheets with side-by-side editing, making it easier to collaborate while continuing the conversation. It also includes Spaces, a dedicated place for topic-based collaboration.
Chennai, Sep 17 : Actors Mahesh Babu, Khusbhu Sundar, Mammootty and Mohanlal were among those who wished Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday on the occasion of his 72nd birthday.

Taking to Twitter, Telugu star Mahesh Babu said: "Birthday greetings to our hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi! Wishing you great health, happiness and continued success." Actress and producer Khushbu, who is also a member of the Bharathiya Janata Party (BJP), said: "You need a vision. You need a will. You ought to have a dream. You need determination to bring in a change. And you have it all Sir.

"Thank you for transforming India into a nation to reckon with. Gratitude. Wishing you honourablle PM Shri Narendra Modi ji a very happy birthday." Malayalam superstar Mammootty wrote: "Birthday Wishes to Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra ModiJi." The other superstar of Malayalam cinema, Mohanlal, also took to Twitter to wish the Prime Minister. " Warmest birthday wishes and much love to our Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji. May you have a blessed year filled with good health, happiness, and more success."
DM forms panel to probe complaints of delay in treatment 02 Oct 2022 | 9:47 PM Kanpur, Oct 2 (UNI) Following complaints of delay in taking the injured to the hospitals and their treatment of the tractor-trolley incident in which 26 people were killed, the district administration on Sunday constituted an inquiry committee. see more..

Lashker militant killed in Shopian encounter 02 Oct 2022 | 8:49 PM Srinagar, Oct 2 (UNI) A joint team of security forces gunned down a local Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant in an encounter that erupted in Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian district on Sunday, Police said. see more..

Sirmaur district registers 50 cases of Dengue:CMO 02 Oct 2022 | 8:45 PM Shimla, Oct 2 (UNI) Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh witnessing outbreak of Dengue as according to district health officer 50 cases were registered so far. see more..

Ahead of HM's J&K visit, Police cracks twin Udhampur bus blasts case 02 Oct 2022 | 8:43 PM Jammu, Oct 2 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Police have cracked twin Udhampur bus blasts ahead of two-day visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah starting from October 4. see more..
Bengaluru, Sep 17 : The simmering tension within the Karnataka unit of Congress has come to the fore as the party gears up to welcome Rahul Gandhi-led 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' into the state on September 30.

Without taking names, State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday said that the party will not consider the so-called leaders who are busy attending marriage ceremonies and ribbon cutting. "I want numbers. I want to win the elections. The leaders must go to the booth level and work," he stressed.

According to Congress insiders, it is a direct warning to party leaders who are rallying before Opposition leader Siddaramaiah. Congress state unit is gearing up to make the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', a huge success. It also wants to continue the momentum it gained from the 75th birth anniversary of Siddaramaiah, followed by 'Swatantra Nadige' (walk for freedom).

Shivakumar had also vented out ire his against one of top Congress leaders R.V. Deshapande. "I had asked him to send 5,000 party workers for the Bharat Jodo Yatra. But, he refused. What if leaders refuse to work with Rahul Gandhi? No one would be spared," he said.

He openly stated that he is not getting support from his party leaders in tune with his speed.

Responding to it, Deshapande said, "he has too much speed".

The state Congress unit is planning to mobilize 20,000 people everyday to take part in the yatra. The call has also been given to bring along cultural teams.
Bhubaneswar, Sep 17 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday wrote to Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda seeking inclusion of 160 communities in the ST list of the state.

Since 1978 onwards, the Odisha government has recommended more than 160 communities of the state to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for their inclusion in the ST list of the state with approval of Tribes Advisory Council, Patnaik said.

Among these some are new entries while some others are sub tribes/subsets, synonyms and phonetic variations of the existing ST communities residing in different parts of the state, he said.

The CM said that these communities are being deprived of the benefits availed by STs though they have the same tribal characteristics as their respective notified STs.

He also pointed out that the task force under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs had recommended 9 proposals from Odisha as priority cases for inclusion in the ST list of the state in 2014. However, the same is yet to be notified in the Presidential Order," said Patnaik.

Because of the delay in their inclusion in the ST list, all these 160 plus communities of the state are becoming victims of historical injustice, he added.

The Chief Minister has also mentioned that he had written letters to the Union Tribal Ministers on this matter in the year 2011, 2012 and 2021.

He requested Munda to look into this long pending matter and expedite the scheduling of these left out communities to deliver social justice to them in accordance with the provisions of the Constitutions of India.

This will go a long way in helping these deprived communities by giving them their much needed recognition as ST and ensure social justice, he added.
Agra, Sep 17 : Over a dozen reported cases of monkey attacks on unsuspecting tourists at Taj Mahal has created a scare and alarmed visitors. Though the security services have now woken up and are keeping a vigil, the sight of rampaging gangs of simians has become a major problem for the authorities in the Taj city.

The Archaeological Survey of India has put up hoardings and cut-outs to warn tourists to stay away from monkeys, as some tourists try to get friendly with the primates and pose for selfies. Officials said that they were trying to seek help from the Agra Municipal Corporation and some NGOs to round up the monkeys. But so far, no one has come forward with a solution. They say that the state Forest and Wildlife Departments are not supporting them or giving permission to catch the monkeys.

Locals have now demanded drastic action against violent and aggressive monkeys who have made life hell for people living in the old city areas.

Agra, these days, is living in the scare of bovine, canine, and simian menace. Even tourists have become victims. Two years ago, there was a hue and cry when a monkey snatched a new-born from the lap of a mother and killed the infant in Runukta village, 20 kms away.

The district authorities had then made a number of promises but nothing much happened. "The elected representatives have ignored the problem, but the condition is appalling as citizens live in constant fear of attacks from the monkey. Thousands of violent monkeys live in this area along the river Yamuna, as the faithfuls regularly feed them bananas and bread," the local MLA, Purushottam Khandelwal, expressed his helplessness.

Mukesh Jain, trustee of a local NGO Satya Mev Jayate, said: "We have been regularly approaching the authorities with our suggestions and even an offer to help financially, but for some strange reasons, the administration has been dragging its feet. Twice efforts have been made to shift some monkeys to forest areas, but the green activists have stalled the process of transfer." The situation is grave. Estimates of the simian population vary from 20,000 to nearly a lakh. "Their population is more in the old city areas where terraces are contiguous. People are no longer able to enjoy terrace facilities as the monkeys have been regularly attacking women and children, in particular," Vijay Nagar colony resident Sudhir Gupta said.

The whole of Braj Mandal, from Mathura, Vrindavan to Goverdhan and Bateshwar in Agra is living under threat from simians who now resort to all kinds of tricks to snatch food or attack women and children. Their population has gone up phenomenally. During the pandemic lockdown, they became more violent as food supply was snapped.

Green activist Dr. Devashish Bhattacharya said: "The dwindling forest cover, and fewer fruit-bearing trees being planted has compounded the problem. The need is to develop forests and plant more fruit-bearing trees rather than ornamental ones. The monkeys too are a part of the ecological system, they too have some rights. Let us provide for them instead of cursing them." Tourist guides are now warning visitors in advance to remain alert against monkeys. Last year a video went viral of a group of monkeys snatching a water bottle from a foreigner. A tourist, guide Ved Gautam said: "We always warn our clients of sudden bovine, canine or simian attacks in and around monuments in Agra." For some time now, tourists have been avoiding lonely romantic walks along the pathways which are lined up with dense green foliage.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel keep an eye on the monkeys. Two years ago catapults were used to shoo away the monkeys but after a furore by animal rights activists, catapults and sling shots disappeared. The CISF personnel and the staffers of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), are at their wit's end trying to cope with the simian nuisance. "Cats, dogs, monkeys, bees, are proving to be big safety menace in the Taj premises," said a local tourist guide.

Frequent attempts are made to contain the simian menace in Agra, Mathura and Vrindavan visited by thousands of tourists and pilgrims daily. A Former Divisional Commissioner engaged an NGO, Wildlife SOS, to round up 10,000 monkeys, but the plan did not materialise due to lack of permission from appropriate authorities. But now the situation is really alarming. Monkeys are seen in armies marching from one area to the other. The city has more than 50,000 monkeys.

Due to provisions of the Wildlife Act, monkeys can not be attacked or rounded up without adequate safeguards and precautions. Plans to shift the monkeys to other areas have failed, as no district wants to shelter them.

Indeed, the state faces the biggest threat to peace in the form of exploding simian population in Agra and neighbouring religious shrines in Mathura district and Vrindavan. Pilgrims are almost daily attacked in Vrindavan. Usually, monkeys target spectacles or purses which are returned only when some eatables or cold drinks are offered to the monkeys.

Civic authorities seem helpless in tackling the menace. "We have written so many times to the Municipal Corporation but there has been no action," an ASI official said.

Agra Development Foundation Secretary, K.C. Jain has petitioned the Allahabad High Court, which has asked for detailed plans to contain the simian menace in Agra.

Jain requested everyone to plant fruit bearing trees this monsoon season. Jain said: "On one hand there is large scale deforestation, on the other hand, trees that are being planted are basically ornamental and can not support monkeys. The whole Agra region is infested with Vilayati Babool, Julie flora, with thorns. We have demanded government agencies clear these trees and plant fruit bearing trees to attract the simian population."
Chandigarh, Sep 17 : A three-day International Gita Mahotsav took off at the Parliament House in the Canadian capital Ottawa in a grand manner with the message of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar read out.

On this occasion, the holy book Bhagavad Gita was placed in the library of the Canadian Parliament after Sonya, head of Parliament Library, received its copy from Gita Manishi Swami Shri Gyananand and India-born Canadian MP Chandra Arya.

Later speaking on the occasion, Swami Shri Gyananand said that the relevance of the Bhagavad Gita has become more relevant in the present times. Every person should imbibe its teachings in life.

"We have to spread the message of the Bhagavad Gita to every corner of the world. For this purpose, International Gita Mahotsav (IGM) programmes are being organised," said Swami Shri Gyananand.

A message from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, welcoming everyone to Parliament Hill, was also read out at the programme.

The Prime Minister said that such events not only bring Canadians together but also greatly encourage them to celebrate their diversity.

He said that the message of peace, harmony and brotherhood taught in the Bhagavad Gita is universal, and he thanked everyone present there for being a part of this special day.

In this event, cultural programme and Gita shloka recitation were done by children of Chinmaya Mission, followed by a classical dance performance.
Chennai, Sep 17 : The Telangana High Court has issued a notice to the Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI), The President of IAI and the Department of Financial Services on a writ petition filed by K. Subrahmanyam, retired Executive Director, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

"The Telangana High Court has issued notice on Friday to IAI, Department of Financial Services and The President of IAI on a petition filed by me," Subrahmanyam told IANS.

He had filed the petition in connection with retiring four members of IAI's managing council before AGM, which in turn had reduced the Council's size to eight which is below the statutory minimum of nine.

The IAI is a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament to govern the actuarial profession.

Subrahmanyam has approached the court for an order setting aside the retirement of four IAI Managing Council members ahead of the AGM and directing the Department of Financial Services to restore the Council to its earlier position.

He has also petitioned the court to direct the Department of Financial Services to take action against AIAI President Subhendu Kumar Bal for holding the Council meeting on 10.9.2022 breaching Section 12(2)(a) of the Actuaries Act, 2006 and also set aside the notice of AGM to be held on 17.9.2022.

Subrahmanyam had told IANS that on the orders of Bal, the Executive Director Mohan Bhatia, on September 3, informed four Council Members - Abhay Tewari, K. Subrahmanyam, Pravir Chandra, and Richard Holloway - over a terse email on that they would retire from September 4.

"If the Council does not meet the requirement of Section 12(2)(a) of The Actuaries Act, it cannot do any function assigned to it under Section 13 - calling of the AGM - and other sections, as it stands dissolved," Subrahmanyam, had told IANS.

The first Chairman of IRDAI N.Rangachary told IANS that IAI was formed as a statutory body on the lines of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India so that the profession grows well and serves the insurance and other sectors.

Prior to the formation of IAI, the actuary profession was governed by Actuarial Society of India (ASI).

(Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in)
New Delhi, Sep 17: Amid the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's (SCO) renewed thrust to expand trade, economic, and investment cooperation among the member countries, India's participation in the forum will be scrutinised with a fine tooth comb. Why? India is the only common member country to be a part of the SCO and the US-driven Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

This will be the first major international forum where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be present in person right after Indian and Chinese troops completed the disengagement exercise at the Gogra and Hot Springs friction points.

With the rapid geopolitical shifts, it is crucial for countries to boost regional cooperation for economic revival. Given the current contours and the rising tension between the US and China, Beijing, for its own interests, would not want a weak India.

Therefore, China has heaved a sigh of relief after India decided to opt out of the IPEF's trade pillar.

Beijing based Global Times said that as a major Asian economy, India is inseparable from the Asian supply chain and industrial chain.

"India's participation will also help the SCO to further expand cooperation in a wide range of areas. Therefore, it is hoped that New Delhi can put aside its geopolitical calculations and resist pressure from Washington and actively promote economic and trade cooperation within the SCO," it said.

Interestingly, India had also pulled out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2020.

The SCO members account for about 30 per cent of global GDP (based on purchasing power parity) and almost half the world's population. Its recent decision to stay out of the IPEF's trade pillar has been once again hailed by China, which highlighted that India's foreign policy continues to be driven by strategic autonomy.

"New Delhi has not mixed politics with economics. Pulling out of RCEP, which was touted as a mother of all trade deals, was based purely on economic reasons- it was to protect our manufacturing sector. Similarly, now, the decision not to be part of the IPEF trade pillar is also based on pure economic reasons," an insider told India Narrative.

India has maintained that it will be guided by its strategic autonomy. Despite building pressure on India from the US and the west to condemn Russia after its Ukraine invasion, New Delhi refrained from calling out Moscow. Not just that. It has also increased its crude imports from Russia.

Why India should be excited about the Samarkand SCO summit? Many policymakers among the SCO member countries are hoping that "India will be more united with other SCO members including China and Russia, and play a more positive role to promote multipolarisation of the world together." China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were the first members of the SCO when it was formed in 2001, In 2017, India and Pakistan were included in the SCO forum. Iran is expected to get full membership of the SCO bloc by the next year.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative

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New Delhi, Sep 17 : The Hindu devotees seeking the right to worship at the Gyanvapi mosque have won the first hurdle of what appears to be a long-drawn legal dispute.

Earlier this week, the Varanasi district court had declined to entertain the objections raised by Muslim side to the maintainability of a suit filed by five Hindu devotees. It ruled that the suit is not prohibited by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which freezes the places of worship status as it existed on August 15, 1947.

The Act also bars suits, which seek to change the character of places of worship.

The next level of litigation will focus on the merits, where the court will examine the evidence brought on record by the plaintiffs.

The case has also reopened, what was assumed to be a closed issue, a contestation on the religious character of places of worship, after the apex court verdict in Ayodhya title dispute in November 2019.

The district court ruling will allow the hearing on the suit, which is also in consonance with law.

The Opposition has apparently observed a political silence over the Varanasi court's ruling, which speaks volumes about the sensitivity involved in the matter. The plaintiffs' arguments will assume significance against the backdrop that on September 9, the Centre undertook before the Supreme Court that it will respond within two weeks on petitions challenging the validity of certain provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

The Chief Justice of India specifically asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, whether the Central government will file its response in the matter or not. Mehta replied that the government will file its response.

The Supreme Court's decision to hear petitions against the Act, along with legal proceedings in progress in Varanasi and Mathura courts, will seemingly have an impact on the political and electoral landscape against the backdrop of the general election scheduled in 2024.

In the Gyanvapi mosque matter, the plaintiffs have contended that the place had the status of Hindu temple ever since, and they are just demanding the right to worship deities on the complex.

In May this year, the Supreme Court had orally observed that the ascertainment of the religious character of a place of worship is not barred by the Places of Worship Act, 1991. A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices Surya Kant and P S Narasimha said: "Ascertainment of religious character is not barred under Section 3 (of the Places of Worship Act,1991)." The Hindu side, in the Varanasi district court, had argued that it is important to determine the religious nature of the place and their suit is not barred by the 1991 law.

The district court had said that records produced by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC) were not sufficient to establish that the complex was Waqf property.

In the Ayodhya verdict, the apex court had said the Places of Worship Act is intrinsically related to the obligations of a secular state and it reflects the commitment of India to the equality of all religions.

"Above all, the Places of Worship Act is an affirmation of the solemn duty which was cast upon the State to preserve and protect the equality of all faiths as an essential constitutional value, a norm which has the status of being a basic feature of the Constitution. There is a purpose underlying the enactment of the Places of Worship Act. The law speaks to our history and to the future of the nationm" it said.

The Varanasi court said the plaintiff's suit is limited and confined to the right of worship as a civil right, fundamental right and also as customary and religious right.

The AIMC had made it clear that it will challenge the Varanasi district court's verdict in the Allahabad High Court.

However, the question which arises is whether the courts in Varanasi and Mathura were moving in contrary direction to the apex court's verdict.

Whether the Varanasi district court's ruling has given enough ammunition to target the 1991 law? Could these religious disputes contribute to the vitiation of peace and harmony? Therefore, the top court hearing on petitions challenging the 1991 law along with proceedings in Varanasi and Mathura courts assumes significance, which could play a crucial role in the political and electoral discourse.
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 17 : The Congress in Kerala on Saturday demanded immediate intervention of the Prime Minister or the President in the ongoing tiff between State Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

State Congress president K.Sudhakaran told the media in Alappuzha that all levels of decency has been breached in the war of words between the two 'heads' of the state.

"Things have reached a low and all what we hear is the tiff between the two is akin to two groups of youth taking on each other. It's high time that either the president or the prime minister intervened. Also the point raised by the Governor that there has been a threat to his life has to be taken very seriously," said Sudhakaran.

Khan has been taking on the Vijayan government and his party frequently, but it was on Friday night for the first time that Vijayan broke his silence and slammed Khan saying that his utterances does not befit the post he holds terming it "nonsense".

Backing Vijayan was CPI-M state secretary M.V.Govindan who slammed Khan and said he is deeply upset because he was expecting "something" which he did not get and hence was upset.

"It's now being doubted by many if Khan is functioning according to the rule book. He is taking cover under the media and uttering things which he should not. Now he says his life came under threat at the Indian History Congress in the company of renowned historian Irfan Habib who conspired,is really not tenable," said Govindan.

Left Democratic Front convenor and veteran CPI-M leader E.P.Jayarajan said the post of the Governor should be abolished.

"Vijayan is one Communists who calls a spade a spade and always tells things on the face. He is not one who plays behind the curtain. So Khan stops engaging in things which lowers his status," said Jayarajan.

However, coming to Khan's defence was BJP Union Minister of State for External Affairs V.Muraleedharan who said there is no point in Vijayan trying to air threats against Khan.

"If he does it, then he doesn't know who Khan is. Khan is just taking forward the policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's fight against corruption. Vijayan can do all such acts in his party committee's and it would be best if he keeps Raj Bhavan out," said Muraleedharan.
Kalaburagi, : Sep 17 (IANS) Kalyan Karnataka region popularly known as the Hyderabad-Karnataka region celebrated Amrit Mahotsav on Saturday with fervour and geity.

The region attained freedom one-year after rest of the country attained Independence from the British.

A part of former kingdom of Hyderabad-ruled by Nizams, the region includes Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal and Kalaburagi. The people of the region were subjected to unheard brutality when they raised banner of revolt against the Nizams and fought to unite into Indian nation.

Finally, the Indian Army marched into the territory ending the monarch of the Nizams. The land which attained freedom with lot of bloodshed, remains backward region totally neglected by successive governments.

Though, top leader ls such as Rajya Sabha Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge emerged as major player in state politics, not enough has been done to raise the standards of the region in terms of infrastructure and standard of living. Most of the districts are among most backward in the state.

Speaking after hoisting the flag on the occasion of Amrit Mahotsav of Kalyana Karnataka here on Saturday, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced that existing Bidar-Ballari road will be made as four-lane Express Highway.

He said the proposed express highway will play a vital role in improving the road connectivity in Kalyana Karnataka region.

Steps have been initiated to build the airports in Raichur and Ballari. With the assistance from Central Government, a ring road has been proposed covering Yadgir, Raichur and Kalaburgi.

Bommai said more encouragement is given to set up industries in this region. The Union Government has decided to set up a textile park in Kalaburgi, and the state government has resolved to establish textile parks in Raichur and Vijayapura.

The CM opined that politicians must forget and work if they wanted for the overall development of this region.

The BJP government has given Rs 100 crore and has resolved to make Kalaburgi City like an international city by providing WIFI connect, cable connect and other advanced facilities, he said.

At a time when the whole of Karnataka is progressing, the historically backward Kalyana Karnataka must grow just like the rest of state. Through Kalyana Karnataka, Nava Karnataka and Nava Bharath must develop, he added.
Goa, Sep 17 : Vedanta's Sesa Goa Iron Ore Business's #VedantaForACleanerCoast campaign to support the the Union Government in its 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' initiative concluded on Saturday and covered 75 beaches across the country.

Under the campaign, over 300 employees and Business partners from Vedanta Sesa Goa Iron Ore Business participated in a series of coastal clean-up drives at Velsao, Colva and Miramar beaches at Goa.

A week-long campaign concluded on 'International Coastal Clean-up Day' with Mega Cleanliness drive at Miramar Beach Panjim in the presence of Sauvick Mazumdar, CEO- Iron & Steel Sector, Vedanta Limited and Sujal Shah, CEO- Iron Ore Business, Vedanta Limited along with other senior officials from Vedanta.

Sauvick Mazumdar, CEO- Iron & Steel Sector, Vedanta Limited said, "We are extremely pleased to be the part of this massive nationwide coastal clean-up campaign that is 'Swacch Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' by Government of India.

"It is a responsibility of each one of us to committedly work towards environment protection and cleanliness of our surroundings in every aspect of our life. Kudos to entire Sesa Goa Iron Ore business team for the overwhelming participation in these collective efforts to protect our marine ecosystem," Mazumdar said.

Sujal Shah, CEO, Sesa Goa Iron Ore Business, Vedanta Limited said, "A step ahead in our endeavour for building sustainable future, we are extremely proud to partner in Government of India's nationwide campaign of 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' and be a contributor towards improving ocean health through collective action. I commend entire Vedanta Sesa Goa Iron Ore Business team for this highly successful #VedantaForACleanerCoast campaign and urge everyone to go beyond the campaign and continue with environment conservation practices by making it a way of life " The 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' campaign was launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in association with the Indian Coast Guard, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, National Disaster Management Authority, Seema Jagran Manch, Students for Development, and other organisations.
New Delhi, Sep 17 (UNI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will pay an official visit to Egypt on September 19 and 20 to hold bilateral talks with his counterpart General Mohamed Zaki.

The two Ministers will review the defence ties, explore new initiatives to intensify military-to-military engagements and focus on deepening cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries, the Defence Ministry said.

An MoU to provide further impetus to enhanced defence cooperation between India and Egypt will also be signed.

The Minister will also call on President of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

The visit by the Defence Minister aims to further consolidate defence cooperation and the special friendship between India and Egypt.

UNI ASU ING
Bhopal, Sep 17 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that he could not visit to his mother to seek her blessings on his birthday, but she will be happy to see that thousands of mothers have gathered to bless him on the day.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing the gathering of over one lakh women associated with self-help groups (SHGs) in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district.

Prime Minister Modi on his 72th birthday visited to Madhya Pradesh where he released eight African cheetahs into enclosure at Kuno National Park. Following which, he graced a women SHGs conference being organised in Sheopur district.

"I would have gone to my mother to seek her blessings on my birthday, if today's programmes weren't organised here. But, thousands of mothers have come to bless me here and after seeing all this, my mother would be very happy that I am getting blessings of thousands of mothers here," Prime Minister Modi said.

He was welcomed with great enthusiasm by artists who performed tribal dance and other cultural programmes organised by the state government. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister recounted several women beneficiary schemes for women under his government.

On the occasion, Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who is a prominent political face from Gwalior-Chambal region, said that around 60 per cent area of Sheopur district have dense forest zone. "Sheopur is a very small district, however, it is filled with natural resources. There are several ancient temples of Lord Shiva and that is why this area was named Sheopur." Notably, Sheopur has two assembly seats - Sheopur and Vijaypur, and the BJP and Congress each has one MLA. However, the fact that, Sheopur, which is the part of Gwalior-Chambal region, is also considered the most remote area in the state and has highest malnutrition cases in the state.

The women SHGs participating in the conference were those who run several initiatives being promoted under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

DAY-NRLM aims at mobilising rural poor households into SHGs in a phased manner and provide them long-term support to diversify their livelihoods, improve their incomes and quality of life.

On the day, the Prime Minister also inaugurated four Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) skilling centres under PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana.
Chennai, Sep 17 : Tamil Nadu, where the number of suicides have been increasing over the past few years to take the state to the second position in the country in 2021, has seen the maximum self-immolations in the past decade.

And there is a historical precedent for this, dating back to the late 18th century.

Kuyili, the commander-in-chief and personal bodyguard of Rani Velu Nachiyar of Sivaganga, is the epitome of sacrifice in the annals of the Independence movement. Her name, sadly, is lost in the footnotes of history.

The queen and Kuyili had valiantly fought against the East India Company much before the first War of Independence in 1857. They not only challenged the new rulers, but also pulled off a historic win, saving the honour and pride of the Sivaganga kingdom. And Kuyili also went down in history as India's first suicide bomber who set herself ablaze and destroyed a large cache of weapons possessed by the Britishers.

When the King of Arcot attacked Sivaganga with the support of the Company, Sivaganga's king, Muthuvaduganatha Peria Oodaya Thevar, put up a fight and died a valiant death. His wife, Queen Velu Nachiyar, who was a polyglot fluent in English, French, and Urdu, in addition to Tamil, escaped along with their one-year-old daughter, Vellachi, and her trusted Kuyili.

She escaped to Virupakshi in Dindigul vowing to return to Sivaganga to avenge her husband's death and reclaim the kingdom.

Kuyili's father, Periyamuthan, a farmer, doubled as a spy of the Sivaganga King and this enabled his daughter to enter the inner circle of Queen Velu Nachiyar. She had even saved her queen's life on a number of occasions when the king was alive.

Kuyili found out, for instance, that the queen's Silambam (martial art) teacher was a spy who was planning to kill his royal student. This information saved the queen's life.

In another instance, Kuyili injured herself while saving the queen when she was attacked in the night by an unknown person. After these two instances, the brave retainer was made the commander-in-chief of the women's army and bodyguard of Queen Velu Nachiyar.

In the few accounts available about her, Kuyili is addressed as Veerathalapathi (Brave Commander) and as Veeramangai (Brave Woman), though she came from the less privileged Dalit Arunthathiyar community.

After being made the Commander-in-Chief of the women's army, Kuyili started startegising about getting back the lost kingdom after her queen aligned with Hyder Ali of Carnatic. She knew the enemies with their superior military power could easily defeat them.

Kuyili took advantage of the fact that only women were allowed entry into the Sivaganga fort during the Navaratra period for the Vijaya Dashami celebrations at the Rajarajeswai Amman temple.

She entered the fort with her fellow women soldiers with baskets of flowers, their weapons hidden inside the flowers, and then mounted a surprise attack on the British.

The enemies stored their arms and ammunition in the fort and what she did next was truly one of the greatest acts of courage lost in the cobwebs of history. Kuyili asked her fellow soldiers to pour ghee over her and then she went into the magazine and set herself on fire, destroying all the weapons that the British possessed.

The sacrifice of Kuyili enable Queen Velu Nachiyar and her forces reclaim the kingdom. A memorial to Kuyili still stands at Sivaganga -- an ode in stone to a brave young woman who died so that her queen could get back her kingdom that the East India Company tried to snatch away from her.
Chennai, Sep 17 : A question that is frequently being asked is why Tamil people commit suicide for reasons which cannot be understood by others.

In Tamil Nadu, people commit suicide when political leaders fall ill, if they face a police case, or when a political leader or celebrity actor dies, among other reasons, leading to mass hysteria.

In the historical Tamil novel 'Ponniyin Selvan' by Kalki Krishnamurthy, which is being made into a Rs 500 crore two-part movie by acclaimed director Mani Ratnam, the bodyguards of Chola Kings take a pledge to lay down their lives to protect the king. If they fail to do so, they chop off their heads as an offering to goddess Kali.

The same ideology was transferred to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members in the recent past. This ideology has few equals around the world or in other cultures.

R. Padmanabhan, Tamil scholar and activist who is also the director of the Socio-Economic Development Foundation, a think-tank based out of Madurai, told IANS: "You have this in the Tamil psyche and you can't blame the Dravidian movement or the ideology associated with it for such suicides.

"Tamils are emotionally attached to their culture and their language and these things are bound to happen if you are too emotional in protecting your language and culture." He cited the example of King Kopperuncholan, who, when confronted by the plight of fighting his own sons for the kingdom, decided to commit suicide by performing the ritual of 'vadakiruttai', or death by starvation, facing north all the time. The king did this to deny his sons the glory of victory and at the same time to ensure that the heirs to his throne did not die at his hands.

The sacrifice is celebrated in 'Purananuru', a compilation of Sangam age poems dedicated to the valour of ancient kings.

R. Perumalsami, scholar and retired professor, said the cult of hero worship has led to people taking their own lives in solidarity with those who have lost their lives for a cause.

During the anti-Hindi agitation in 1965, 10 people had committed suicide; in the next phase of the agitation in 1981, 15 people had taken their own lives.
Chennai, Sep 17 : Tamil Nadu saw the highest number of suicides by self-immolation in the past decade.

Hanging is the most common method of committing suicide in the country, accounting for 39.8 per cent of all recorded cases, followed by poisoning (27.9 per cent) and then self-immolation (7.95 per cent).

Tamil Nadu accounts for 20 per cent of all the self-immolation deaths in the country. From 2012 onwards, the state has topped the list in suicides committed in this fashion.

There is a general belief that most self-immolation deaths are due to activism and activists for a cause die through self-immolation.

However, psychologists differ. Sukanya Sanjay, a psychologist in Madurai, told IANS that "The theory that the maximum number of people who kill themselves through self-immolation are activists is not true. According to my studies which I have been conducting for the past five years, a sudden spurt leads to most self-immolation deaths." Sukanya said that most failures in love affairs take the route of self-immolation but added that this could not be generalized. The psychologist said that most of the self-immolation bids are getting reported but added that in some cases they have been underreported especially in the rural areas.

R. Periyasamy, Chief Coordinator, Sahithi, a social organization doing counselling and psychological studies, while speaking to IANS said, "Most of those who tried self-immolation and survived told me that they preferred self-immolation as there is a feeling of courage in it. Another factor is the belief associated with the Hindu religion with fire being revered and embracing death by fire is considered as pure." Several political party workers who took their lives when either their leaders died or were in a tough situation preferred self-immolation.
Chennai, Sep 17 : When matinee idol-turned-political leader M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) breathed his last on December 24, 1987, Tamil Nadu was waiting to explode. MGR passed away due to a massive cardiac arrest, he was suffering from various ailments, and at the age of 70 when he passed away, Tamil Nadu was literally burning.

As the news of the death of MGR spread, many people immolated themselves, some cut their veins, some drank poison and in the end, 30 people committed suicide two days after the news of MGR's passing away came.

There are records of people wailing before his residence and shouting why they were living if MGR was not alive. Many cut their fingers, some cut their tongue. It was a public frenzy.

Apart from the suicides, 29 people lost their lives in police firing in the days after MGR's death.

When MGR's disciple and successor in AIADMK politics, J. Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai, the same scenario was repeated. A large number of people gathered near the hospital hoping that their beloved Chief Minister will walk out hale and hearty. She spent 75 days in the multi-specialty hospital, the best doctors arrived from the United Kingdom along with expert doctors from India, but she could not be saved.

On December 5, 2016, the matinee idol turned political leader, then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalithaa breathed her last. The Tamil Nadu government broke the news after taking all precautions and police were deployed at all vital installations.

When the news broke, mobs started wailing and thumping their chests and many turned violent. The AIADMK claimed that more than 300 people died of shock on hearing the news of Jayalalithaa's death and that the party paid a compensation of Rs 3,00,000 to the family of each deceased. The party said that some committed suicide and some died of cardiac arrest.

However independent observers said that only 6 people committed suicide but the figures were not clear. When Jayalalithaa was incarcerated in a corruption case, 16 people had immolated themselves.

When DMK leader and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi passed away on August 8, 2018, it was a similar scene of wailing and chest-thumping and cutting veins. The DMK said that 4 people immolated themselves after the death of Karunanidhi but hundreds of people died due to shock on hearing the news of his demise.

This trend of fans and supporters taking their lives when their heroes pass away has been a phenomenon in Tamil Nadu. However, from the passing away of MGR in 1987 to the death of Karunanidhi in 2018, the people of Tamil Nadu have apparently become more mature and suicides have come down.

Retired psychology professor R. Perumal told IANS that "The psychology of certain sections of people in this state has been quite expressive and they take the extreme step of taking their life when a person whom they adored dies. It was seen when MGR passed away, during Jaya's death and when Karunanidhi died. The number of deaths need not be taken as a benchmark. The point is whether the trend of people taking their lives is continuing or not and sadly it is continuing. People still have that urge to kill themselves in solidarity with the leader who passed away."
Chennai, Sep 17 : The National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET), the all-India examination for admission to MBBS and allied courses, is turning into a reason for committing suicide in Tamil Nadu. Ever since NEET was introduced in the country, there was stiff objection in Tamil Nadu and students protested against its implementation.

The protest turned violent when a Dalit student, Anitha from Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu committed suicide in 2017 after she failed to crack NEET even after securing good marks in the Class 12 examination. The death of Anitha turned into a major political issue in Tamil Nadu on whether the state required NEET or it could revert back to the old system of admission to medical colleges in the state through the marks in the qualifying examination.

Since Anitha committed suicide, the number of students committing suicide has been on the rise with 12 students taking their lives after failing to clear NEET.

In 2018 and 2019 also two students committed suicide after the results of NEET came out. According to data available with the state crime records bureau, the majority of students who have committed suicide were aspirants who were appearing for the exam for the second or third time.

The year 2020 also saw two students committing suicide in the state but the year 2021 led to the death of twelve students. The Tamil Nadu government moved a bill in the state legislative assembly against NEET and the assembly passed the bill unanimously that the state does not want NEET for admission to MBBS and allied courses. The BJP legislators however walked out of the assembly.

The bill was sent for Presidential assent after the Tamil Nadu governor kept it for a few months and later forwarded it to the President.

In 2022, when the NEET results came out, a 19-year-old girl, Lakshmana Swetha from Tirumullavayal in Chennai committed suicide after she failed to clear the NEET. Her mother told police that the girl was found hanging in her room.

The Tamil Nadu government has set up a counselling centre for NEET aspirants and even before the results are out, counsellors speak to the students who have taken the exam.
Chennai, Sep 17 : With Tamil Nadu recording the second highest number of suicides in the country after Maharashtra, a look at the reasons for the extreme step reveals that family and domestic issues are the single largest reason for people to commit suicide in the state.

Tamil Nadu topped the list of mass suicides in the country with 33 families taking their lives. The main reasons for mass suicide vary from domestic problems, illness, poverty and alcohol addiction of the family head.

Most of the people who committed suicide did it due to family problems, followed by illness. Drug abuse and alcohol addiction, marriage related issues, failure in love, bankruptcy or indebtedness, unemployment, failure in examination, career problems and poverty were the other main reasons for a person to commit suicide in Tamil Nadu.

Sradha, an NGO which is into counselling people contemplating suicide, in a study in Tamil Nadu said that the number of people taking their lives due to drug abuse and/or alcohol addiction is on the increase in the state. Around 4,300 people killed themselves due to this in 2021 alone.

Sudhir Krishnan, Coordinator, Sradha told IANS: "Our study on the reasons for suicide revealed that after domestic issues and illness, drug or alcohol addiction takes the maximum number of lives in Tamil Nadu." "This has to be properly taken care of as there are possibilities of bringing these people back to leading a normal life. We have done the study so that we can intervene in this matter and with the state government support, many lives can be saved." Except for hard core alcohol or drug addicts, the rest, according to Sudhir, can be brought back to the mainstream.

He added that while domestic issues can also be cleared in most cases, a person who is taking his life due to illness will be a difficult person to stop.

With the commencement of counselling for NEET students, the number of students who have taken their lives due to failure in NEET has come down. While 12 such cases were reported in 2021, in 2022 the number has come down to 1.

A counsellor with Sneha, a 24X7 helpline, told IANS, "There is progress in child behaviour as far as NEET is concerned and compared to 2021 this year it has come down tremendously. The department has contacted almost all the students who have taken NEET and proper counselling has helped the students and the results are there for all to see." The Tamil Nadu government is also planning to increase the counselling helplines and has already had discussions with NGOs who are into suicide prevention and counselling.
Chennai, Sep 17 : The latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) states that Tamil Nadu witnessed the second highest number of suicides in the country. Maharashtra tops the list with 22,207 suicides, and Tamil Nadu is second with a total of 18,925 suicides.

As per the NCRB data, in 2019 Tamil Nadu reported 13,493 suicides, 16,883 in 2020 and an increase to 18,925 in 2021.

Social activist and counsellor Sneha Abraham of Sradha, an NGO actively involved in the counselling of people with psychological issues, noted that there are various reasons for people to commit suicide. She said that most of the suicides in Tamil Nadu are due to domestic issues, followed by financial distress, chronic disease, failed romance, and poor results in examinations.

The study found that the average age of those who committed suicide due to family issues was between 35 and 40, while those who took their own lives because of failed love affairs were between 18 and 25 years. Students in the average age group of 16 to 21 committed suicide due to poor results and failure to crack competitive exams. Those who took their own life due to financial distress were in the age group of 28 to 45 and those who ended their lives due to chronic illness were 45 to 60.

The number of males was more than women among those who committed suicide in Tamil Nadu.

Sneha Abraham told IANS: "Several rounds of counselling are done to prevent people from committing suicide. However, according to the latest NCRB report, there is a steady increase in the number of suicides in Tamil Nadu. I feel that right from school days, there has to be proper counselling to students to make them mentally strong. Children have to be confident in life and then the tendency to commit suicide will be less."
New Delhi, Sep 17 : The Khadi Village Industries Corporation (KVIC) on Saturday launched 72 units under the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme to empower artisans in the country.

MSME Minister Narayan Rane, in the presence of KVIC Chairman Manoj Kumar, inaugurated the 72 units and disbursed the margin money subsidy to 720 PMEGP beneficiaries at the KVIC Office, Mumbai. He advised the KVIC to use new marketing techniques to popularise the khadi.

He appreciated efforts of the KVIC in assisting 72 units under PMEGP and also commended the cleanliness drive conducted on Juhu beach on Saturday.

"It is the mission of the Prime Minister to encourage entrepreneurial skills among youth so more industries can be started and thereby unemployment can be reduced. Only then India can become a superpower. We should imbibe punctuality, sincerity and discipline among us," Rane said.

The PMEGP is a flagship scheme of the MSME Ministry, launched in September 2008 by merging the erstwhile Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) implemented by tghe KVIC and the Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) implemented by District Industries Centres.

This is a credit-linked subsidy scheme for generation of employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in rural as well as urban areas and KVIC is the nodal agency at the national level to implement the scheme.

Till September 15, the KVIC, under this scheme, has sanctioned 25,105 projects, released more than Rs 802 crore margin money and has generated employment for 2,00,840 people. It expects that these 720 projects with Rs 27.43 crore of margin money will generate employment for 5,760 people.
Bengaluru, Sep 17 : After the recent back-to-back successes of 'KGF 2', '777 Charlie' and 'Vikrant Rona', the Kannada film industry is all set to roll out another major action entertainer with an all-star cast titled 'Kabzaa'.

The film directed by R. Chandru features Kannada award-winning star Upendra Rao, Kichcha Sudeep, Shriya Saran, Manoj Bajpayee and Nawab Shah. It is set to be released in seven languages.

The makers released the film's teaser a day before Upendra's birthday. It was released by 'Bahubali' star Rana Daggubati, who has become a popular name all across India.

'Kabzaa' is a period film about the rise of gangsters in India, set between 1947 to 1984. It is all about a freedom fighter's son who gets trapped in the world of the mafia. The film is billed as a large-scale action film.

Talking about the film, director Chandru said: "The film has already created a lot of buzz and we wanted to treat our fans with the teaser. Tomorrow being Upendra's birthday, we thought it would be a good gift to all his fans." Presented by M.T.B. Nagaraj, and produced by Chandru under the Sri Siddeshwara Enterprises banner, the film will be released in Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Oriya and Marathi.

The film's music is composed by Ravi Basrur of 'KGF' fame, A.J. Shetty is the cinematographer and Mahesh Reddy the editor.
140 Ghanaian students receive Chinese ambassador scholarships

Xinhua) 13:51, September 17, 2022

CAPE COAST, Ghana, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- A total of 140 Ghanaian students were awarded Friday the Chinese ambassador scholarships for their excellence in Chinese study in a ceremony at the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

Addressing the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Lu Kun voiced hope the scholarships will help Ghanaian students at all levels excel in their study of the Chinese language.

"As China became the second largest economy in the world, learning Chinese helps you not only better understand China but also share China's development dividends and realize your dreams," he said.

Lu assured the students that the Chinese embassy is ready to provide assistance to Ghanaians who wish to study in China.

Johnson Nyarko Boampong, the UCC Vice Chancellor, said the significance of the Chinese language has been growing.

"Chinese language provides the keys to unlock the door to a world of opportunities. There are numerous employment opportunities in the growing number of Chinese enterprises in Ghana," he said, urging the awardees and other students to take the Chinese courses seriously in order to be globally competitive.

Hamed Dizatu, a UCC student and awardee, told Xinhua that she has overcome lots of difficulties in her pursuit of language proficiency.

"This award means a lot to me and it was motivating to know that I am not studying in vain," she said.

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji)
Samarkand, Sep 16 (UNI) Stressing on the path of dialogue and diplomacy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin "Today's era is not for war" as the two leaders held bilateral talks on Friday on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.

"I know that today's times are not for war. Democracy, diplomacy and dialogue assure us on how to progress on the path of peace, we'll get an opportunity to discuss that. I will also get an opportunity to understand your viewpoint," the Prime Minister told Putin.

"In the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Prime Minister reiterated his call for an early cessation of hostilities and the need for dialogue and diplomacy," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The leaders appreciated the sustained momentum in bilateral ties, including contacts at various levels, the MEA added.

President Putin expressed appreciation for Prime Ministers video-message at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok earlier this month.

The Prime Minister also said that the biggest concerns specially for the developing countries today are food security, fuel security and fertilizers and asked Putin to take initiative to address the concerns.

"We need to find solutions to these problems and you also have to take initiative in this regard," the Prime Minister added.

The MEA said that the leaders discussed important issues of bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global issues of interest and discussions also pertained to global food security, energy security and availability of fertilizers in the context of the challenges emanating from the current geo-political situation.

Modi also extended his gratitude to both Russia and Ukraine as the two countries helped India evacuate thousands of students safely in early days of the Russia- Ukraine conflict.

The Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude to Putin for the feelings the Russian President expressed for India during deliberations in the SCO Summit.

In response to Prime Minister Modi, Russian President Putin said that he understands the Indian position and concerns on the conflict in Ukraine.

"We also want this to end as soon as possible. We will keep you abreast of what is happening there," he said.

This was the first meeting of both leaders this year, which marks the 75th anniversary year of establishment of diplomatic relations.

Th two leaders agreed to remain in touch, the MEA said.

UNI ASU SHK2100
Chennai, Sep 17 : Actor Kalidas Jayaram, who has been delivering commendable performances in critically acclaimed films like 'Vikram' and 'Natchathiram Nagargiradhu' and the web series, 'Paper Rocket', is next working on director Balaji Mohan's breezy romantic entertainer that is now being shot in London.

Balaji Mohan is immensely popular and is best known for his superhit films, 'Vaayai Moodi Pesavum', 'Maari' and 'Maari 2 '. Amala Paul and Dushara Vijayan are playing the female leads in this movie.

Following the grand success of 'Natchathiram Nagargiradhu', both Kalidas and Dushara are sharing screen space again with this film.

Darbuka Siva, who scored the music for 'Enai Noki Paayum Thota' and 'Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee', is composing music for this film. Actor Kalidas Jayaram said: "It's a great experience to be working with the vibrant filmmaker Balaji Mohan sir. I have admired his work including short films and his full-length feature movies, especially his love stories. I am glad that I have been roped in for his yet another beautiful feel-good romantic entertainer. We are currently shooting in London. It's great to be working with talented artistes like Amala Paul and Dushara Vijayan. I am looking forward to a splendid experience with this team ahead."
Hyderabad, Sep 17 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday announced that reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs) will be enhanced to 10 per cent from current six per cent in the state without waiting further for the Centre's approval for a Bill passed by the state legislature seven years ago.

Addressing a public meeting in Hyderabad as part of Telangana National Integration Day celebrations, he announced that a Government Order (GO) to enhance BC quota will be issued within a week.

"We are tired of requesting the Modi government to approve the Bill," he said slamming the Centre for the delay in giving Presidential assent for the BC reservation Bill.

"What is stopping the Centre from sending the Bill to President for her assent. The President is also a tribal and I am sure she will immediately give her approval," he said.

He remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has to decide if he will respect the GO or face the consequences.

Lashing out at the BJP leaders, he said they were visiting Telangana for their divisive and cheap politics but doing nothing to get the approval for the BC quota Bill.

KCR also announced implementation of Girijan Bandhu on the lines of Dalit Bandhu with Rs 10 lakh assistance each to tribal families after the settlement of podu lands issue and identificatio of ST families without land or any other livelihood.

He argued that there is no Constitutional hurdle to enhance the quantum of reservation. "The Constitution does not say that the total reservation should not exceed 50 per cent," he said.

The Chief Minister pointed out that Tamil Nadu is providing 69 per cent reservation as the Centre has included it in the 7th schedule of the Constitution. Why is the Centre not extending this to Telangana, he asked.

He said the Centre had done many injustices to Telangana. He alleged that the Centre has gone back on the commitments to set up a tribal university and a steel factory in the state.

Stating that Telangana is marching ahead on the path of development, KCR cautioned people against the divisive forces trying to divide them for their narrow political interests.

He called for implementing the welfare schemes and programmes undertaken in Telangana across the country. He said Telangana should influence the national politics to set things right at the Centre and to ensure that there is people's and farmers' rule in the country.

Earlier, a massive rally was taken out by tribals from Necklace Road to NTR Stadium. The rally displayed the rich tribal culture of the state.

KCR earlier inaugurated Kumaram Bheem Adivasi Bhavan Sant Sevalal Banjara Bhavan in Hyderabad.
New Delhi, Sep 17 : A 31-year-old man, working as a labourer, was shot dead by his colleague in the national capital over the issue of sharing work, an official said Saturday.

The accused identified as Shantu (28), a resident of Delhi, was later arrested by the police.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Usha Rangnani said that a PCR call regarding a firing incident at Azadpur Mandi was received at Mahendra Park police station on Friday night after which the police staff immediately rushed to the spot near shed number 17, Azadpur Fruit Mandi.

At the spot, the police found one injured person, identified as Raju (31), a resident of Muzaffarpur, Bihar. "He was then immediately shifted to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead due to gunshot injury on chest," the official said.

Accordingly, the police registered a case under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and arrested the accused Shantu after probing the matter.

During investigation, it was revealed that both used to work as labourer for unloading fruit and vegetable trucks and the accused had an altercation with the deceased over the issue of sharing work in Azadpur Mandi few days back. "On day of incident, accused was in an intoxicated state and to take revenge, he committed the murder," the official said.

The weapon of offence, that is a country made pistol, along with two live cartridges were recovered from the possession of the accused.

Further investigation in the case is still underway, the official added.
Srinagar, Sep 17 : Security forces on Saturday recovered arms and ammunition from Uri in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said.

Acting on a specific input, a joint party of police and army launched search operation near Hathlanga area of Uri, and recovered an AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and 28 rounds of AK-47 ammunition.

"A case under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Uri and further investigation has been initiated," police said.
New Delhi, Sep 17 : External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar will be visiting the US from September 18 to 28, during which he will be participating in the 77th UN General Assembly session.

During his visit to New York from September 18 to 24, he will be leading the Indian delegation for the High Level Week at the UNGA session, with the theme "A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges", the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

In keeping with India's strong commitment to reformed multilateralism, he will also host a Ministerial meeting of the G4 (India, Brazil, Japan, Germany) as well as participating at the High Level Meeting of the L.69 Group on "Reinvigorating Multilateralism and Achieving Comprehensive Reform of the UN Security Council", it said.

The L.69 Group consists of developing countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America, Caribbean and Small Island Developing States, focused on reforms of the UN Security Council.

His address in the General Assembly is scheduled in the forenoon of September 24. During the visit, he will also be meeting Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the 77th PGA Csaba Korosi.

Jaishankar is also expected to address special event "India@75: Showcasing India UN Partnership in Action" on September 24, which would highlight India's development journey and its contributions to South-South Cooperation. The event is also expected to be addressed by the President of the 77th UNGA, along with Foreign Ministers of several member states, and the UNDP Administrator.

During the visit, he would also be participating in plurilateral meetings of the Quad, IBSA, BRICS, India - Presidency Pro Tempore CELAC, India-CARICOM and other trilateral formats, such as India-France-Australia, India-France-UAE and India-Indonesia-Australia. He will also have bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of the G20 and UNSC member states, amongst others.

Upon completion of the 77th UNGA related engagements, Jaishanka will visit Washington DC from September 25-28 for bilateral meetings with US interlocutors. His programme includes inter alia, discussions with his counterpart Antony Blinken, senior members of the US administration, US business leaders, a round-table focused on S&T and interaction with the Indian Diaspora.
Islamabad, Sep 17 : Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Saturday that besides gas, Russia has also offered to provide wheat to Pakistan in the wake of catastrophic floods and keeping in view the possibility of food shortage that may occur in the aftermath of the deluge, media reports said.

"Russia has said that it can provide us wheat because in the coming days we may have shortages", he revealed at a press conference in Islamabad, Dawn reported.

The minister's statement came a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation returned from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan.

During his two-day visit, Sharif held meetings with several world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In one such meeting on Thursday, Putin had said that pipeline gas supply to Pakistan is possible, revealing that the necessary infrastructures are already in place.

The two leaders also expressed commitment to expand and strengthen cooperation between their countries across all areas of mutual benefit, including food security, trade and investment, energy, defence and security, Dawn reported.

Asif confirmed the development during the presser on Saturday.

"They have said that they can give us gas. Russia said that it has gas pipelines in Central Asian countries and the pipelines could be extended to Pakistan via Afghanistan. These talks have taken place," he elaborated.

The minister said that Putin also appreciated Pakistan's position on the Russia-Ukraine war in the United Nations (UN) and internationally.

Talking about the meeting with the Chinese President, he said that Xi expressed his wish to resume the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project with the "same efficiency and passion".

"To Pakistan, he said that 'we are all-weather friends' and offered to help the country in every situation," Asif said.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Chandigarh/Amritsar, Sep 17 : Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has decided to intensify legal fight for release of Bandi Singhs (Sikh political prisoners) besides adopting policy of struggle and political approach.

Talking to the media, after holding a special meeting with retired Sikh judges and senior lawyers at SGPC's sub-office in Chandigarh, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami on Saturday said that this issue is most important for the community, as Sikh prisoners are yet to be released even after they have completed their sentences.

He said legal experts gave important suggestions in this regard in the meeting on Saturday and the legal fight will be carried forward accordingly.

SGPC President also said that apart from working for release of Sikh prisoners lodged in different jails for long time, efforts will also be made for the release of Sikh youth implicated in several cases in the present time.

Replying to a query, SGPC President said that Aam Aadmi Party and Congress parties are standing as obstruction in the cause of release of Bandi Singhs.

"If Aam Aadmi Party had any sympathy with the Sikh prisoners, then Prof Devinderpal Singh Bhullar can come out with just one order of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Even I myself went to Shri Arvind Kejriwal with a delegation, but he did not even find it right to meet. On the other side, Congress leaders like Ravneet Singh Bittu are also continuously opposing the cause of release of Bandi Singhs," said Dhami.

He said the issue of Bandi Singhs is related to the sentiments that erupted from the circumstances then and the governments should understand this reason.
Guwahati, Sep 17 : A student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati allegedly committed suicide in his hostel room on Friday night, police said.

The student hailed from Kerala and was pursuing a B.Tech course here.

A police officer of Amingaon police station informed that the body was found hanging in the hostel room, and sent for a post-mortem examination.

The reason for the student taking the extreme step is still unknown.

A statement from IIT-G reads: "It is with great sadness that IIT, Guwahati announces the untimely passing away of a final year undergraduate student of Design Department on campus on 16th September 2022." The parents were informed by the institute and they were heading for Guwahati.

"We request everyone to respect the privacy of the family at this time of grief. The institute expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the student," the IIT-G said in its statement.

Though the institute has not revealed the identity of the student, as per police sources, the deceased was identified as Surya Narayan Premkishore.

There have been several suicide cases at IIT Guwahati in the last few years.
Hyderabad, Sep 17 : The Nehru Zoological Park here houses a Cheetah which was gifted by Saudi Arabia a decade ago.

During his visit to the Zoo on the occasion of CoP11 summit -2012 held in Hyderabad, Saudi Prince Bandar Bin Saud Bin Mohammed Al Saud had gifted two pairs of African lions and cheetahs.

The zoo had received the animals from the National Wildlife Research Centre of Saudi Arabia in 2013.

The female Cheetah died two years ago while the male cheetah, named Abdullah, is housed in the zoo.

Image Source: IANS News

Hiba, the female Cheetah, died in 2020 at the age of eight. She was diagnosed with paraplegia.

On a day when eight cheetahs from Namibia were released into Madhya Pradesh's Kuno national park by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of the programme to reintroduce the feline in India, the Nehru Zoological Park organised a rally.

Image Source: IANS News

Cheetahs were declared extinct in India about 70 years ago.

The rally was organised in collaboration with Tejaswi Vidyaranya School, Jedimetla, Rangareddy district in which about 190 students participated.

The students also took part in events like talk shows, drawing, painting and essay writing competitions. Talk show on cheetahs was conducted at the cheetah enclosure.

The programme was organised as part of Telangana National Integration Day celebrations. S.Rajashekar, Curator, Nehru Zoological Park, hoisted the national flag in the presence of the entire zoo staff.

-- Syndicated from IANS
New Delhi/Dimapur, Sep 17 : The Naga peace talks that had begun in 1997 have been put on a fast track and the crucial meeting between the NSCN-IM and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio-led Core Committee of Nagaland held on Satuday has a "positive" outcome.

Sources also told IANS that the NSCN delegation is likely to visit New Delhi soon for a meeting with the Central leaders.

"It's definitely seen as good and positive news on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday... But things may be still too early to rejoice," the source said.

"The militant group, which had earlier raised the issues of Flag and Constitution, is keen for talks with the Centre based on clauses and promises made in the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015," the source said.

The NSCN-IM delegation is likely to meet Central leaders and representatives on September 20.

The key meeting between NSCN-IM leaders and the Chief Minister Rio and his colleagues including Y. Patton, deputy Chief Minister and floor leader of the BJP, came within days of the September 12 meeting between the Core Committee and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The Centre had categorically made it clear that the onus was on the NSCN-IM to end the stalemate and ensure an early inking of a peace pact.

The Nagaland Core Committee initially proposed to meet the militant leaders after September 22 when the assembly session would end. However, in between due to certain developments the meeting was advanced and held on Saturday, September 17.

In between of course , BJP national president J.P. Nadda also visited Nagaland. But there was no direct connection between his visit and the developments related to the Naga peace talks, sources insisted.

The delegation of state MLAs and ministers - that includes leaders from NDPP, NPF and the BJP, shared with the ultra leaders on what transpired at the meeting between the state delegation and Union Home Minister Shah on September 12.

At the September 12 meeting, Shah and the Central government officials told the Naga delegation that they were approaching the "wrong man" when chief minister Rio and others were trying to impress upon the government of India on the need to "expedite" the peace process.

The reference was made to the recent data revealed by the National Crime Bureau which noted that the Nagaland tops the list of states for extortion and related offences. "People are fed up with extortion in the name of peace process for the last so many years", was a refrain of several Naga leaders.

With regard to the Flag and a separate Naga constitution, Shah was categorical - "... Woh baat nahi karna" (do not raise these two issues).

The Home Minister, however, told the visiting delegation, "You ask for anything else, we are there with you".

According to sources, some of these 'crystal clear assertions' from the Centre at the September 12 meeting had left the Nagaland delegation dumbfounded at times.

One member among the 11-member panel led by Chief Minister Rio had told the Central leaders and officials on September 12 - "next time, when we go, we will request them".

This was strongly countered by the Centre and reportedly came with the snub - "What request...no request!".

Observers say the message from New Delhi in other words being - better get the work done.

At the meeting, the Core Committee of legislators and ministers were told that the 'delay' in inking a final peace pact was not due to the Centre but because of NSCN-IM demands for Flag and Constitution.

The Centre is very serious about an early solution, sources maintained adding, this is the case not only because it was BJP's election promise of 2018, it is also because the Nagas of Nagaland and the civil society messages to Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been very clear that people are frustrated with extortion and they are all craze for a solution and lasting peace.

The Naga delegation was also cornered in a way when the issue of 'Nagas of Myanmar' was raised by the Centre.

Sharing an anecdote of the meeting, sources claimed Shah himself made reference to the word 'Manipur'.

Obviously this was in reference to NSCN-IM leader Thuingaleng Muivah, who is a Tangkhul Naga and Tangkhuls mostly reside in Manipur hilly region.

At one point during discussions, the Core Committee was quizzed, "You all are talking about Naga integrity, integration of Naga inhabited areas. But what about the Nagas of Myanmar, are you taking them on board?" Puzzled at such a question, one member amongst the 11-member panel meekly remarked, "Sir, that's out of the box".

The umbrella organisation of seven militant groups operating within Nagaland, NNPG, has signed a preliminary Agreed Position pact in 2017 and is keenly awaiting centre's call for signing the peace pact.

Sources also say that in their Status Paper, the NNPG had proposed for 'special autonomous territorial councils' for Nagas of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland even with legislative powers.

In a major development on Sept 13, the two rival camps NSCN-IM and NNPG came together and signed a joint statement stating - "We are aware of our differences" and therefore all individuals and organisations should "refrain" from all forms of "rhetoric, assumptions and agendas that are divisive".

The Joint Accordant clearly laid down a roadmap.

It aptly said - "....in order to chart a path forward, we (NNPG and NSCN-IM) remain committed to peace and respect and to resolve outstanding issues amongst us".

(Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist. He is also author of book, 'The Talking Guns: North East India'. Views are personal)
Washington, Sep 17 : US President Joe Biden has warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin against the use of chemical or tactical nuclear weapons in the ongoing war with Ukraine that has stretched to more than six months now.

"Don't. Don't. Don't. You will change the face of war unlike anything since World War II," Biden said.

Biden gave an interview to CBS News anchor Scott Pelley at the White House which will be aired on Sunday. Biden's reaction came soon after Pelley asked what the consequences would be if Putin crossed the line.

Biden said: "You think I would tell you if I knew exactly what it would be? Of course, I'm not gonna tell you. It'll be consequential. They'll become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been. And depending on the extent of what they do will determine what response would occur." Biden and Pelley discussed a host of issues beyond the war in Ukraine, including the economy and the upcoming midterm elections.

The Biden administration has announced another $600 million in military aid to help the Ukrainian army maintain momentum against Russia.

In the interview for this Sunday's '60 Minutes', Pelley spoke to Biden about Ukraine's recent battlefield success - and the dangers that could arise.

"As Ukraine succeeds on the battlefield, Vladimir Putin is becoming embarrassed being pushed into a corner," Pelley told Biden.

"And I wonder, Mr President, what you would say to him if he is considering using chemical or tactical nuclear weapons." "Don't. Don't. Don't. You will change the face of war unlike anything since World War II," Biden replied.

Biden also told Pelley about his efforts to avert a national railroad strike. On Thursday, the President had announced that a tentative deal has been reached between the railroads and rail workers' unions after 20 hours of negotiations in the US Department of Labour.

"We brought business and labour together," the President told Pelley.

"One of the things that happens in negotiations, particularly if they've been elongated like these have, is people say and do things where the pride gets engaged as well. And it's awful hard to back off of some of these things. So, what we did was just say, 'Look, let's take a look. Let's take a look at what's happening'.

"You have a good deal being made for labour. Their income is going to go up 24 per cent over the next five years. They've worked out the healthcare piece, they worked out days off. They both sat down, in my view, and they were in the office today saying, 'Well, we finally figured it out. This is fair on both sides.' And it took that time to focus.

"The alternative was just not thinkable. If, in fact, they'd gone on a strike, the supply chains in this country would've come to a screeching halt. We would've seen a real economic crisis," Biden said.

The interview is Biden's first sit-down with '60 Minutes' since being elected President.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Srinagar, Sep 17 : While the women of Kashmir are making their contribution in the fields of education, health, art, literature, art and technology, many women are also emerging as successful entrepreneurs. Malika Ghalib Shah is among them.

Despite being a successful professional, Malika decided to develop herbal beauty products under the name "Masha By Malika" to nurture her passion. Her products like hair oil, lotions, soaps, creams and other types of cosmetics are not common but are made from pure natural herbs without any chemicals.

The 29-yea-old Malika, a native of Srinagar, has completed her Masters in Law and is currently working as an assistant professor. Malika has been an LLB topper in Kashmir University, and did her LLM degree from University College London in UK through a scholarship programme.

She started the business in the year 2019 with a focus on "Fitness for everyone". Although she started manufacturing herbal beauty products from her home, after a few years of increasing demand, these products are now manufactured in a small factory with the help of female employees under Malika's supervision. About 35 cosmetic items of 5 types of oils, body lotions, soaps and other types are manufactured under the name "Masha By Malika" for better care of skin, hair and body.

All these herbal products are made from natural ingredients, free from chemicals, artificial colors and fragrances. The ingredients include saffron, lavender, sandalwood, honey, apricots, almonds, walnuts, special types of turmeric, pomegranates, olives and coconuts. All these things are put to use and made in a native way and are given the shape of oil, lotion, powder and soap etc. The latter is then packaged in bottles, cans and jars. The herbs used in these products are imported from outside the Kashmir Valley as well.

Malika says that although 60 to 70 per cent of these cosmetic products are sold locally, many people outside Jammu and Kashmir also show interest in buying them, for which they regularly receive orders. While understanding the importance of these herbal items, many Kashmiris living abroad also take them for use. Malika does not compromise on quality. As a result, they receive daily orders from domestic and international countries.

Malika has equal support from her family in turning her hobby into a business. She is not only promoting her business but also providing employment to women who are financially independent. A lot of these women belong to economically weak families. Malika is keen to expand her business into a bigger factory in the near future to manufacture more products and provide employment to more people.

In today's era of technology and social media, Malika realised she can use them to reach out. For her this is an important tool for marketing, thanks to which not only products can be delivered to more people but also orders can be obtained.

Jammu and Kashmir women empowerment has been strengthened after August 5, 2019 when the Central government announced its decision to bifurcate the region into two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh after revoking Article 370 and 35A of Jammu and Kashmir's special constitutional status. Since then women have taken advantage of all the opportunities that have come their way. During the last 3 years, about 4.5 lakh women have been made financially independent through self-help groups in Jammu and Kashmir. Whereas, for the first time in 70 years, the women of Jammu and Kashmir are succeeding in making their dreams a reality thanks to various government schemes.

However, with dedication, courage and courage, success can be achieved in any job. With this work ethic, Malika GhalibShah is not only emerging as a successful female entrepreneur but also becoming a beacon of hope for others.
Srinagar, Sep 17 : Ever since Jammu and Kashmir got the status of Union Territory in 2019, the BJP government has taken historic measures for the people of the tribal and nomadic communities.

It is since then that the hopes of the 'Pahari' tribe living in Jammu and Kashmir have peaked. The Paharis are waking up with renewed enthusiasm that the long-standing demand for their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe category will be fulfilled.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have dropped hints in this direction for the Pahari tribe, which has been suffering from stepmotherly treatment for the past 70 years.

In 1991, the Central government granted ST status to seven tribes of Jammu and Kashmir, including the Gujjar Bakarwals, but the Pahari tribe, which was first in the list, was deprived. Since then, the people belonging to the Pahari tribe have been pleading with the Centre to include them in the ST, but till date no government has paid attention to their plea.

Modi mentioning the Pahari tribe's demands from the ramparts of the Red Fort and Shah's assurance during a rally in Jammu have sparked a new wave of excitement among the community.

According to the All Jammu and Kashmir Pahari Cultural and Welfare Forum, governments from time to time assured them that their legitimate right to include the Pahari tribe in the Scheduled category would be granted in any case, but the reality is that their voices were not being heard.

Zafar Iqbal Manhas, a leader of the Pahari tribe and former MLC, said the youth of the tribe are facing a dark future due to the fact that they are deprived of their rights.

He said the Pahari youth are also suffering as this discrimination is affecting their mental health.

Talking to Milap News Network, Pahari leader Abdul Majeed Zindadil said that after the nomination of Ghulam Ali from the Gujjar tribe to the Upper House, he is convinced that the Modi government will fulfil the promise made to the Pahari tribe.

There is actually a lot of justification for giving ST status to the Pahari people. Data show that neither industries have been introduced nor any other means of gainful employment have been provided in the hilly populated areas. Due to lack of finances, Pahari people are often left behind in providing proper education to their children. This tribe has been suffering from economic, social, educational and even political degradation.

It is also a living reality that as a result of giving ST status to the Gujjar Bakarwal class, the Paharis are now losing jobs even in the lower categories.

Despite having the same standard of living in the same region, these people are left out of the system. In this situation, Modi has emerged as a ray of hope for them and the Pahari community is looking to him for justice.
Mehsana : , Sep 17 (IANS) A court in Gujarat's Mehsana on Saturday summoned Congress leader Arjun Modhwadi and veteran politician Shankersinh Vaghela on October 6 in connection with the case of the alleged financial irregularities committed by Dudhsagar Dairy Chairman Vipul Chaudhary.

Public Prosecutor Vijay Barot told local media that the court has accepted his application to call Vaghela and Modhwadia as witnesses in the case and allow him to examine them.

On his party, Modhwadia told IANS that he has not yet received any summons, but remembers that his and Vaghela's role is very limited, and both had recommended to the Central government to appoint Chaudhary as NDDB Chairman but nothing more than that.

The case against Chaudhary is that during his tenure, he donated cattle fodder worth Rs 20 crore to drought-affected Maharashtra. As neither the Dudhsagar Dairy nor the Amul board had passed any resolution for such donation, Chaudhary was asked to repay the said amount back to the dairy from his pocket, and had instead, recovered it from Dudhsagar Dairy cooperative members.
Kolkata, Sep 17 : Trinamool Congress national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee's recent 'shot in the head' comment is a reflection of the arrogance of a ruler, claimed BJP Rajya Sabha MP Brij Lal, who is a member of the five-member fact-finding team of the party, which reached West Bengal on Saturday to collect information about the alleged police atrocities on party leaders and workers during BJP's march to state secretariat Nabanna on September 13.

While praising the patience shown by the police in handling the situation during BJP's march to Nabanna, Abhishek Banerjee had said on Wednesday that had he been in the place of the police, he would have shot the 'miscreants' who resorted to vandalism in the head.

"I salute ACP Debojit Chattopadhyay for showing such patience. Had I been at his place, after a police vehicle was torched, I would have shot the miscreants in the head. The police could have easily resorted to firing. But under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the police are restrained," Abhishek Banerjee had said.

On Saturday morning, the members of BJP's fact-finding team first went to the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital and interacted with the injured BJP workers admitted there.

From there, the team members went to the residence of senior BJP councilor Meena Devi Purohit, who was also injured on Tuesday and had to be hospitalised for treatment.

Interacting with mediapersons, Brij Lal launched a scathing attack against Abhishek Banerjee for his 'shot in the head' remark.

"Such comments reflect the arrogance of the ruler. However, the people will not tolerate such arrogance and give a fitting reply to the ruling party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," he said.

Later, another member of the fact-finding team and BJP Lok Sabha member, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, told mediapersons that the West Bengal government will make the biggest mistake if it takes the Union government for granted.

"Everyone in the country has to follow the rule of the land. In coming days, the people of West Bengal will make the state government understand that they will elect only those who can work responsibly. The police and the ruling party have joined hands to suppress democratic movements. They are not even sparing women. But this arrogance and misrule will not continue for long and in the next elections, the ruling party will get a fitting reply," Rathore said.

Meanwhile, senior Trinamool legislator Tapas Roy said that the less the BJP leaders speak of ruler's arrogance, the better it is.

"The entire country is suffering because of the arrogance of the ruling party at the Centre," he said.
Agartala/Itanagar, Sep 17 : Various state governments in the northeast region undertook several campaigns to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modis 72nd birthday on Saturday.

The BJP government in Tripura launched a two-and-a-half-month long campaign on good governance in every household from Saturday.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha launched the 'Proti Ghore Shushashon' (good governance at every household) campaign to take the benefits of the flagship schemes of the Centre and the state government to the doorsteps of the people, from the district to the gram panchayat level.

Saha also announced to increase the monthly allowance given under the 31 social welfare schemes from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000, which will benefit around 3.90 lakh people in Tripura.

The campaign would continue till November 30.

Pradip Chakraborty, Secretary in the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, said that as part of the good governance campaign, developmental meetings, fairs, rallies and various other events would be organised in each block.

Meanwhile, the BJP government in Arunachal Pradesh launched a fortnight-long 'Seva Pakhwada' (Service Fortnight) in Itanagar.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that India is a diverse country and running it is not an easy job and the right person became the Prime Minister of the country at the right time.

Recalling his first meeting with Modi after becoming the Chief Minister, Khandu said the PM had only one thing in mind for the state -- its overall development and welfare of the people.

"He had advocated productive and people-friendly reforms in governance. We are trying our best to follow his advice and with much pride we can say that we have brought in several game-changing reforms," Khandu said.

During the fortnight, party workers will render their services in various activities like blood donation camps, free health camps, vaccination drives etc.

In line with Modi's call to make India TB-free by 2025, the party workers will also adopt TB patients in their respective areas.

The Chief Ministers of all the eight northeastern states extended their wishes to Modi on his birthday.

"We rever you as a Vishwa Guru. Your leadership, vision and passion for Bharat have given India a new glow, a rare glory, a supreme pride on the global arena. We feel deeply blessed to have you around us. Heartiest Birthday Greetings Adarniya Pradhan Mantri Shri Narendra Modi ji," Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted.
Guwahati, Sep 17 : The Assam government is concerned as 15 districts in the state are among the 25 across the country identified as the most vulnerable to climate change.

State Science, Technology and Climate Change Minister Keshab Mahanta said that out of these 15, as per survey reports from two premier institutes - IIT Guwahati and IIT Mandi, Karimganj tops the list.

Karimganj falls in the state's border Barak Valley region. The district normally used to witness a hefty amount of rainfall every year, but recently, this has decreased. In fact, after two spells of monsoon floods in Assam, Karimganj has received very less rainfall over the last two months.

The other two districts in Barak Valley - Cachar and Hailakandi - also fall in the most vulnerable category.

Silchar, the second-most populous town of Assam and headquarters of the Cachar district, faced the worst floods in June. But from mid-July, the rainfall has decreased in Cachar also, which has sent a warning sign to environmentalists.

Apart from these three districts, the 12 others include Goalpara, which comes second in the list, whereas Dhubri and Sonitpur are in the third and fourth places, respectively.

The others are Darang, Golaghat, Barpeta, Kokrajhar, Tinsukia, Baksa, Morigaon, Dibrugarh, and Sivsagar.

Mahanta said that climate change has affected the agricultural economy of the state.

Quoting the Assam Climate Change Action Plan report, he said: "The temperature in Assam has seen a continuous rise for last many years. Along with that, the rainfall has decreased considerably. This has an adverse effect in rural households who are totally dependent on agriculture." The report further states that between 1951 to 2010, the temperature in the state increased by 0.59 degrees every year.

After the monsoon floods lashed many districts of Assam in May and June this year, now a drought-like situation has occurred in at least five districts of the state, the Minister said.

The Assam Climate Change Action Plan report has estimated 75 per cent rise in the drought situation in coming years. It also assessed that Assam may witness around a 25 percent increase in floods.

In 2021, many districts in Assam were drought-hit due to a 21 per cent decrease in rainfall in June and July, and this hit agriculture production.

Mahanta informed that the government is preparing an action plan to tackle the climate change situation in the state.
Valsad, Sep 18 : Four persons have been arrested in Gujarat's Valsad district for allegedly selling leopard skin by the District North Range Forest department, forest officials said.

All the accused will be produced before the court and the forest officials will seek their remand to investigate them further.

Valsad North District Forest Conservator, Nisha Raj told IANS, "We were tipped off by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau that some persons from the area are planning to sell leopard skin. Therefore three teams were formed and started searching for the persons and were able to catch the accused identified as Chintu Gavit, Nagin Chaudhary, Narottam Bhoye and Ranjit Valvi with leopard skin. All accused belong to the tribal community and are not part of any gang." The Forest department official said that during questioning, the accused claimed that a year ago a leopard had died after falling into a well in Ranjit's farm. He pulled out the body with help of the rest of the accused and excoriated the skin, and then buried the skeleton in the corner of the farm.

She added that the skeleton of the leopard has been recovered but its claws are missing and search for it is underway.

The accused had handed over the leopard skin to a 'sadhu' along the Gujarat-Maharashtra border from whom they recently got the possession and were planning to sell it out.

An investigation is underway that whether other persons are also involved or they were in contact with any hunters or buyers and reveal their names and how they came into contact.
As more business owners face retirement, the community becomes vulnerable to losing the local favorites that make up its culture and identity. Through this effort, we can keep these businesses in the community for future generations, preserving jobs and a strong local economy.

Today the City of Tucson and Project Equity announced a business succession and recovery initiative aimed at preserving Tucsons small business vitality. The program is a partnership of Project Equity, a nonprofit that helps business owners preserve their legacy through employee ownership, and the City of Tucson Office of Economic Initiatives.

Funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), the initiative will provide training and support to demonstrate the efficacy of employee buyouts as a strategy to strengthen small businesses through increasing employee engagement, hiring and retention, and to preserve jobs, provide small business owners liquidity and reinvigorate the local economy.

According to a study by Project Equity, about half of the privately-held businesses in Tucson are owned by baby boomers nearing retirement. There are over 2,000 local businesses over 20 years old that account for nearly $16 billion in revenue and 60,000 local jobs. This represents an impending, massive ownership change of locally held businesses. This silver tsunami coupled with the lingering impacts of COVID-19, means these businesses urgently need solutions. This is a critical time for business owners to consider pathways to retirement, particularly how employee ownership can address current business needs.

As more business owners face retirement or struggle to recover from the pandemic, the community becomes vulnerable to losing the local favorites that make up its culture and identity. Through this effort, we can keep these businesses in the community for future generations, preserving jobs and a strong local economy, stated Evan Edwards, Chief Executive Officer at Project Equity.

Without an exit plan, many local businesses in Tucson are at risk. Additionally, the pandemic has made recruitment and retention of employees more challenging for business owners, thus slowing the recovery of their operations. Project Equity and the City of Tucson are raising awareness of employee ownership as a strategy to strengthen Tucsons economic resilience, protect local jobs and revenue, and help business owners recruit and retain employees. Through this collaboration, Project Equity will provide hands-on support to companies that want to explore and execute employee ownership; and through its Employee Ownership Catalyst Fund also offer working capital and transaction financing.

Several local businesses are already reaping the rewards of employee ownership. J.B. Steel, Environmental Engineering Consultants (EEC), AGM Container Controls and Tucson Asphalt are just a few of the employee-owned businesses in Tucson.

We are excited to bring this program to our local businesses, said Barbra Coffee, Economic Initiatives Director for the City of Tucson. This is a great way for businesses to explore employee ownership options for their business and to think about succession planning in a whole new way.

Project Equity

Project Equity is a national leader in the movement to harness the power of employee ownership to maintain thriving local business communities, honor selling owners legacies, and address income and wealth inequality. 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, support and capital to companies that want to transition to employee ownership.

City of Tucson Office of Economic Initiatives

The City of Tucson Office of Economic Initiatives coordinates the citys economic development programs for the purpose of attracting jobs and investment to the City of Tucson. The Office of Economic Initiatives also offers local small business and entrepreneurial assistance and encourages workforce development to foster a long term sustainable and diverse local economy. For more information or to contact the Office of Economic Initiatives, visit http://www.ConnectTucson.com.
Conductor Donald Runnicles of Deutsche Oper Berlin and Shari Turpin of Pearls by Shari have partnered to create the Music in the Mountains pin for the 61st Grand Teton Music Festival. 50% of proceeds from this beautiful piece goes towards the Grand Teton Music Festival. Shari Turpin says, It was a delight working with Sir Donald Runnicles. His passion for the music festival and willingness to make the collaboration a success highlights his commitment to excellence.

Featuring timeless pearls and 18K gold, the Music in the Mountains pin is a classic and commemorative piece representing the beauty of the Tetons and the musical excellence the Grand Teton Music Festival brings to Jackson Hole each year.

Where: 3330 Cody Ln, Teton Village, WY 83025, USA

When: 61st season of GTMF ending September 2022

Celebrate the spirit of the Tetons and the spectacular musical talent of the Grand Teton Music Festival through the purchase of the Music in the Mountains pin.

For more information about this event, please contact Pearls by Shari at rachel@pearlsbyshari.com or (307) 734-0553.

About Pearls by Shari:

Specializing in Golden South Sea pearls and the curation of heirloom strands, Pearls by Shari brings the elegance of pearls to the heart of the Tetons. Founder Shari Turpin brings immense passion and over 20 years of professional pearl buying experience to each piece that is designed on 90 E. Broadway in Jackson, WY.

As we design at Pearls by Shari, we keep the legacy of the pearl in mind. Whether we combine rough leather with pearls for our Teton Mountaineering Collection or metal with diamonds and pearls for our South Sea Collections, our designs represent more than pieces of jewelry. A Pearls by Shari design serves as a legacy of hope from one generation to another.

About Shari Turpin:

Pearls captured the heart of Turpin as a young woman and an emerging jewelry designer. Growing up outside of Vancouver, Canada, she was an outdoors-loving adventurer, inspired by the natural world around her. When she got married, became a mother, and began making her own jewelry, Turpins frequent world travels furthered that awe of nature and influenced her work.

Shari has been in business for more than 40 years now, over 25 of it in the curation and selection of rare pearls and jewelry design. Pearls by Shari has two locations  one in Jackson and another in Park City, Utah. The company also manages a robust website, with jewelry lines now available at Neiman Marcus.

About Sir Donald Runnicles

Conductor Donald Runnicles is the General Music Director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin and Music Director of the Grand Teton Music Festival (Jackson, Wyoming), as well as the Principal Guest Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He was recently named Conductor Emeritus of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, having served as its Chief Conductor from 2009-2016. Maestro Runnicles enjoys close and enduring relationships with several of the most significant opera companies and orchestras and is especially celebrated for his interpretations of Romantic and post-Romantic symphonic and opera repertoire which are core to his musical identity.

Grand Teton Music Festival

Sir Donald Runnicles has been Music Director since 2005 of the Grand Teton Music Festival, which draws its musicians from many of North Americas top orchestras to the natural beauty of the Grand Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He leads four of the festivals seven orchestra weeks and directs and participates as a pianist in the many chamber concerts, recitals, and other activities the festival offers to its local public and visitors who flock to Jackson and nearby Yellowstone Park in the summer.

Grand Teton Music Festival was founded in 1962 by the Jackson Hole Fine Arts Festival to foster classical music experiences for performers and audiences and to improve and enrich the cultural awareness and opportunities for people in Wyoming and the adjacent area. More than 60 years since its humble beginnings performing in a tent at the base of the Tetons, the Festival is now sought after for both listeners and performers alike as a destination to experience the finest in classical music throughout the summer.

The Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra consists of top talent from across the country, including 250 musicians from 90 orchestras and 65 institutions of higher learning, many performing together each summer for over 25 years. The Festival also welcomes some of the most sought-after soloists and visiting artists in classical music today. Under the baton of world-renowned Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles, these musicians come together to gather inspiration from the mountain setting and to provide spectacular music for Festival audiences.

The Grand Teton Music Festival is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (23-7034152). All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Blood bank supply chain using blockchain tech. Blockchains success in establishing trust by utilizing an immutable database with permissioned access makes it an ideal solution for blood supply chain networks. The technology instills accuracy and transparency, insulating the information with high-security defense mechanisms.

Blood donation and transfusion are critical components in the medical supply chain system of any nation. Statistics suggest a person requires blood every 2 seconds, and one in seven entrants to the hospital needs a blood transfusion. HashCash Chief Raj Chowdhury highlights how blockchains potential in streamlining supply chain operations can be applied to improving the operational efficiency of blood banks in nations around the world.

Donors make the largest contribution to blood unit collections across most countries. The accumulated blood reaches patients through complex blood supply chain networks, often spanning thousands of miles. The units are further categorized and segregated into medical components such as red blood cells, plasma, or platelets. Traceability and provenance- knowing the source, condition, and location of products in real-time is of vital importance for supply chains. It is even more crucial for blood supply networks, as human lives are at stake.

The HashCash CEO, also a blockchain pioneer, states, blockchains success in establishing trust by utilizing an immutable database with permissioned access makes it an ideal solution for blood supply chain networks. The technology instills accuracy and transparency, insulating the information with high-security defense mechanisms."

The underlying architecture behind cryptocurrencies has been successfully integrated across multiple nations. The Canadian Blood Services has been working to implement blockchain technology into its existing architecture. The Indian government has set up a blockchain division to build a Bloodchain- ensuring safe and accurate blood delivery from donors to recipients. The National AIDS Control Organization(NACO) reported that 2234 HIV contractions had occurred due to defective blood transfusions within the last 16 months, amounting to a total of 14000 new infections in the last 7 years.

Blockchain consensus safeguards the accuracy of data transactions, and the same updated ledger is shared throughout the entire network, offering real-time visibility to all the stakeholders in the blood cycle- blood banks, testing centers, donors, hospitals, and patients across a single platform, remarked Chowdhury, who had previously highlighted blockchains groundbreaking role in sustainable energy management and education systems.

The Chowdhury-led Hashcash Consultants is a worldwide leader winning top awards in blockchain innovation. The US-based company has been globally acclaimed for its white label solutions for crypto exchanges and crypto payment processors, deploying products in more than 26 nations including Vietnam, US, and Singapore. HashCash declared plans to enter the Metaverse segment by next year.

The shortage of blood supply is a global crisis, resulting in the loss of human lives around the world. Blockchain proves to be a promising solution, accelerating intermediate processes and securing the network with safe accurate data and real-time visibility.



About Raj Chowdhury:

Raj Chowdhury is the Managing Director of HashCash Consultants and a Blockchain pioneer. Raj pioneered the first interbank Trade Finance and Remittance implementation of Blockchain Technology between two of the largest global banks. Raj is a prominent voice in the Blockchain and Cryptocurrency space and actively engages with policymakers in this area. He is a contributor to Economic Times, Business World, and CNNMoney and advises industry leaders in the adoption of Blockchain. He is a member of Asha Silicon Valley, a nonprofit committed to education for children in emerging countries. Author of the book 'The Dark Secret of the Silicon Valley', Raj is an investor in blockchain and cryptocurrency companies and an active member of the philanthropic community.
Ebonie Alexander speaks at Rally 2022 after receiving the Kingsbury Browne Conservation Leadership Award. ( DJ Glisson II/Firefly Imageworks) Ebonie is a leader in a space where she had to be a true pioneer and innovator. Those qualities have allowed her to be the driving force behind innovative programs and state policy changes in support of landowners who have historically been overlooked."

The Land Trust Alliance, a national land conservation organization working to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America, has presented Ebonie Alexander the distinguished Kingsbury Browne Conservation Leadership Award and honored Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust in Massachusetts with our 2022 National Land Trust Excellence Award.

The Kingsbury Browne award, presented during Rally 2022: The National Land Conservation Conference, honors those who have enriched the conservation community through their outstanding leadership, innovation and creativity in land conservation. Named for the conservationist who inspired the Alliances founding in 1982, the award ranks among the organizations highest honors.

Ms. Alexander is the executive director of the Black Family Land Trust in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is the first person of color to serve on the board of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and currently sits on the board of the Virginia United Land Trusts  a coalition of land trusts in Virginia  as well as American Farmland Trust.

Ebonie is a leader in a space where she had to be a true pioneer and innovator, said Andrew Bowman, the Alliances president and CEO. Those qualities have allowed her to be the driving force behind innovative programs and state policy changes in support of landowners who have historically been overlooked. She has moved land conservation beyond its traditional boundaries. And with this award and fellowship, Ebonie will continue to inspire us.

Alexander will serve as the Kingsbury Browne Fellow for the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy for 2022-2023. Kingsbury Browne fellows engage in research, writing and mentoring, and facilitate a project that builds upon and shares their experience with the broader community.

Ebonie Alexander is a remarkable and passionate leader in the vanguard of efforts to protect open space, working farms, and diverse cultural heritage for generations to come, said Jim Levitt, director of the International Land Conservation Network at the Lincoln Institute. We are very excited to get to know her, to work with her, and to share her insights with land trust colleagues from coastal Virginia to the Pacific highlands, and beyond.

Following that presentation, the National Land Trust Excellence Award recognized Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust for its work in multiple areas, including: ensuring access to affordable farmland through its whole farm forever approach that ensures future generations of farmers will have access to both farmland and farm infrastructure, collaborating with local Nipmuc partners to co-manage land and assist the Tribe with cultural revitalization.

Over the last few years, Mount Grace has undertaken a journey to explore the organizations work using an equity-oriented lens, said Bowman. They are a model for how land trusts can become more engaged and invested in the communities they serve, incorporate Indigenous input into stewardship plans, and develop partnerships built on mutual trust and respect for the land.

During the past year, Mount Grace partnered with Nipmuk Cultural Preservation, Inc., and together, they signed a cultural use and respect agreement that invites Nipmuc citizens to the land and reserves them rights beyond those granted to the general public, such as harvesting food and medicine, camping, and holding ceremonies on the land. Mount Grace also recently launched a new Climate and Land Justice Program centered on the importance and urgency of climate change and equitable land access for everyone, especially BIPOC farmers.

When we protect land, we protect the wildlife connectivity, biodiversity and good soils, said Emma G. Ellsworth, executive director at Mount Grace. We also protect generational relationships with the land. Thats at the core of Mount Graces mission. Its at the core of very urgent work ahead of us all. Not to protect the land from people, but to restore our relationships with the land and each other for a more just and equitable future.

Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

About the Land Trust Alliance:

Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance is a national land conservation organization that works to save the places people need and love by strengthening land conservation across America. The Alliance represents approximately 950 member land trusts supported by more than 250,000 volunteers and 6.3 million members nationwide. The Alliance is based in Washington, D.C., and operates several regional offices. More information about the Alliance is available at http://www.landtrustalliance.org.

About Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust:

Founded in 1986, Mount Grace benefits the environment, the economy, and future generations by protecting significant agricultural, natural, and scenic lands and encouraging land stewardship in northern and central Massachusetts. Mount Grace collaborates with a wide range of conservation agencies, organizations, and individuals, concentrating on the benefits of reciprocally sharing resources and knowledge from diverse backgrounds to achieve landscape-scale conservation and site-appropriate land stewardship. More information is available at http://www.mountgrace.org.

About the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy:

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy seeks to improve quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land. A nonprofit private operating foundation whose origins date to 1946, the Lincoln Institute researches and recommends creative approaches to land as a solution to economic, social, and environmental challenges. Through education, training, publications, and events, we integrate theory and practice to inform public policy decisions worldwide.


Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Capital Ready Mix, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

The Sacramento employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action lawsuit against Capital Ready Mix, Inc. alleging the company violated the California Labor Code. The lawsuit against Capital Ready Mix, Inc. is currently pending in the Sacramento County Superior Court, Case No. 34-2022-00325517. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here.

According to the lawsuit filed, Capital Ready Mix, Inc. allegedly failed to fully relieve Plaintiff for her legally required thirty (30) minute meals breaks. Employees were also allegedly required, from time to time, to work in excess of four (4) hours without being provided the legally required ten (10) minute rest periods. The California Supreme Court defines off-duty rest periods as the time during which an employee is relieved from all work-related duties and free from employer control.

Additionally, Capital Ready Mix, Inc. allegedly failed to pay employees accurate sick pay wages, which violates California Labor Code Section 246. Employees routinely earned non-discretionary incentive wages which increased their regular rate of pay. However, when paid sick pay wages, it was allegedly paid at the base rate of pay rather than the higher regular rate of pay.

For more information about the class action lawsuit against Capital Ready Mix, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other types of illegal workplace conduct.

***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT***
Pat and Kat Bissell, owners of The Coffee Attic & Book Cellar, in Honduras "Crimson Cup has a great reputation and stands by their products. I can count on the 7 Steps team for advice and guidance. I trust the research that goes into the supplies we get from them and know they will be there whenever I need them. - Kat Bissell, Owner, The Coffee Attic & Book Cellar

Want to learn how to open a coffee shop in Iowa? Get tips on starting a profitable business in The Hawkeye State from the coffee shop startup experts at Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea.

Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, Roast magazines 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year has taught over 300 entrepreneurs in 30 states how to open a coffee shop.

Now, the companys 7 Steps coffee shop startup consulting team has added to its series of state-level coffee shop startup guides with, How to Start a Coffee Shop in Iowa.

Iowa is a terrific place to start a coffee shop! said Crimson Cup Founder and President Greg Ubert.

In fact, Iowa ranks 30th among the states in the number of coffee shops per capita, with fewer than one coffee shop for every 6,371 residents. That leaves a lot of Iowans without a local coffee shop.

The program is based on Uberts book, Seven Steps to Success: A Common-sense Guide to Succeed in Specialty Coffee, which he wrote to help customers develop profitable businesses by mastering all aspects of successful coffee shop operations.

We help entrepreneurs with little or no coffee experience become owners of thriving coffee shops serving their local communities, he said. From choosing a terrific location and writing a strong coffee shop business plan to buying and laying out equipment, hiring and training staff and more, our team is here to guide you.

To hear about the book in Uberts own words, download a free recorded introduction on Soundcloud.

For over 20 years, The Coffee Attic & Book Cellar has provided a cultural hub in Iowa Falls, Iowa  a place where people can come to socialize, appreciate local art, have a bite to eat, enjoy a great cup of coffee, and relax.

This award-winning coffee shop features a coffee shop in the upper level (Coffee Attic) and a bookstore on the lower level (Book Cellar).

Original owners Bob and Jan Morton opened The Coffee Attic through Crimson Cups 7 Steps to Success program.

After joining The Coffee Attic in 2006, Kat Bissell spent the next decade learning about coffee from the Mortons and Crimson Cup, working her way up to manager. She and husband Pat Bissell bought the shop in 2016.

Under Kats management, the business has grown through new coffee innovations and by opening a second location called the Coffee Attic Corner inside Hansen Family Hospital.

We take great pride in continuing the dream Bob and Jan Morton made 20 years ago, she said.

Bissell credits the coffee shops success to relationships with customers, baristas and Crimson Cup.

We are a small community that supports one another, she said.

Our regulars say it feels like home. We have even played a part in two engagements!

With a large loft, the shop has space to host study groups, meetings and parties for many local groups and charities.

As a few examples, we present a poetry night for a local school, hold food pantry fundraisers and host local artists and wineries for our towns Art/Wine Walk, she said.

The shop also collaborates with home-based businesses. We give them a space to sell their products, and they give us quality products from local vendors.

Bissell says building her barista team into a family has promoted the shops success. Many of my former employees come back to see me whenever they are in the area, and I have traveled lots of miles to see them as well.

Asked to advise other prospective coffee shop owners, Bissell said to look at Crimson Cup.

Crimson Cup has a great reputation and stands by their products," she said. "I can count on the 7 Steps team for advice and guidance."

I trust the research that goes into the supplies we get from them and know they will be there whenever I need them.

Apart from vital connections in the local community, Bissell says travel  to Crimson Cups Innovation Lab for education, to other coffee shops and to coffee-growing countries  is one of her favorite aspects of owning a coffee shop.

The couple has visited some of the coffee farms and coffee processing plants in Siguatepeque, Honduras, that produce coffee for Crimson Cup.

They have funded a scholarship for student education and have done fundraising for and traveled to build a home for a coffee worker and his family.

Traveling to coffee-growing countries and meeting other coffee-shop owners has taught me that community does not end with our town, Bissell said. We have made connections all over the world!

Kat and Pat Bissell invite everyone in Iowa Falls and Hardin County to stop by their coffee shop.

The Coffee Attic is open six days a week at 604 Washington Circle in Iowa Falls. For the latest news and updates, follow their Facebook Page.

Besides the Iowa guide, Crimson Cup recently published guides on How to Start a Coffee Shop in Texas, Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Virginia, Missouri, Wisconsin, Connecticut and New Jersey.

About once a week for the next year, the roaster will post a state-level coffee shop startup guides on its website. Next up: a guide on how to start a coffee shop in Alabama.

Although the fundamentals of coffee shop operation remain the same from state to state, the economic opportunities, business formation and licensing requirements vary widely, Ubert said. Were excited to share information and resources to help entrepreneurs expedite their startup journey.

He invited anyone who is thinking of opening a coffee shop in any state to call Crimson Cup for guidance.

If you run into any roadblocks or just want to discuss your vision with a coffee expert, you can reach our startup team by calling 1-888-800-9224.

About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea

Founded in 1991, Crimson Cup is at the forefront of the coffee industry. Its attentive roasting, startup support and global partnerships are consciously designed for the greater good of communities around the world. Among other national recognitions, the company has earned 2020 and 2017 Good Food Awards, the 2019 Golden Bean Champion for Small Franchise/Chain Roaster and Roast magazines 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year.

Crimson Cup travels the world searching for the perfect cup  driven by meaningful relationships, honesty and a shared vision for the future. Its Friend2Farmer initiatives foster respect and decency through mutually beneficial collaboration across local and global communities.

Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, the company teaches entrepreneurs how to open and run independent coffee houses in their local communities. By developing a coffee shop business plan, entrepreneurs gain insight into coffee shop startup costs.

Crimson Cup coffee is available through over 350 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across 30 states, Guam and Bangladesh. The company also owns several Crimson Cup Coffee Shops and a new CRIMSON retail flagship store. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com, or follow the company on Facebook and Instagram.
The year is off to a great start, said Sierra College Superintendent/President Willy Duncan. Enrollment is up this fall and we look forward to supporting our students with their educational goals.

Fall 2022 semester instruction at Sierra College began on August 22 with improving enrollment, new comprehensive support programs for students, and a redesigned website.

The year is off to a great start, said Sierra College Superintendent/President Willy Duncan. Enrollment is up this fall and we look forward to supporting our students with their educational goals.

Student Services & Support

Sierra College students this year will have access to a new comprehensive, intentional suite of services with Sierra Supports, a dedicated proactive success network to help students succeed every step of the way. Students are supported with an assigned team including a counselor, support specialist, and financial aid professional who will be in regular contact to help students make progress towards their goals.

More information on Sierra Supports and other student services is available at http://www.SierraCollege.edu/Supports.

Access to Campus and Free Public Transit

The Sierra College campuses and locations in Rocklin, Nevada County, Tahoe-Truckee, and Roseville Center are open and parking permits are not required for students for Fall 2022.

Students can take advantage of free bus transportation by simply showing a Sierra College ID when they board any Roseville Transit, Placer County Transit, Auburn Transit, Nevada County Connects and/or Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit (TART) bus.

More information is available at http://www.SierraCollege.edu/RideFree.

Redesigned and Updated Student-Centric Website

Sierra College this year introduced an updated student-centric website that better represents the opportunities and services available with Sierra College. The Sierra College website is our most important public-facing communications tool, and with an updated mobile-friendly design and new content management system, users can navigate intuitively on any device and content owners will find it easier to maintain.

The website design is based on input from focus groups including current and prospective students, faculty and staff, and industry best practices. The website supports a goal of the district Equity & Student Completion Guided Pathways Strategic Plan. The site was developed by the Sierra College Marketing Department with support from an extended Website Redesign Project Team representing stakeholders across the college, and in partnership with web design agency iFactory.

About Sierra College

The Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern California with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at http://www.sierracollege.edu
Taiwan Foodie Sweepstake Taiwan is excited to welcome international travelers for tourism and sightseeing once again. As of September 12, 2022, Taiwan has resumed visa-free entry for travelers from more than 60 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia.

With the publication of this years MICHELIN Guide Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung 2022, which includes 321 restaurants, it is no longer a secret that Taiwanese cuisine, including homegrown street food, makes for one of the best gastronomic experiences in Asia. In just four years, the MICHELIN Guide has grown from recommending 110 restaurants in the capital city of Taipei to 321 restaurants throughout the West Coast cities of Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.

To raise awareness of Taiwans contributions to the culinary world and excite international travelers about the foodie experience that awaits them in Taiwan, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau is collaborating with local Taiwanese restaurants Boiling Point and Wushiland Boba to host the Taiwan Foodie Travel Sweepstake. This promotion includes limited-time menu items and surprise appearances by Oh! Bear, Taiwans friendliest black bear, and a chance to travel to Taiwan to indulge in the freshest local culinary delights.

Participating Los Angeles restaurant, Boiling Point, is known for promoting Taiwanese hot pot culture on the West Coast. Since opening its inaugural location in 2004, the franchise has expanded to comprise 28 restaurants in the Western US, 3 in Canada, and even a location in Japans trendy Shibuya District. With a vast selection of hot pot soups to choose from, including house special, Taiwanese spicy, and milk cream curry, as well an array of street-food-inspired dishes like spicy fermented tofu and garlic pork belly, the restaurant is the perfect destination for curious foodies salivating for a taste of Taiwan

Wushiland Boba, which imports tea leaves directly from Taiwan, offers Californians a chance to taste authentic hand-made Taiwanese bubble tea. Its commitment to using the best and most authentic ingredients has helped the brand come a long way since its inception in Tainan, Taiwan in 1994. Today, it boasts five locations in Southern California. During the sweepstake period, Wushiland Boba will offer one of Taiwans quirky cult classic recipes: Four Seasons Tea with coconut jelly, boba, and pearls, also known as Secret Menu #1.

In 2018, Taipei became the eighth city in Asia to receive a dedicated MICHELIN Guide. In 2020, the MICHELIN Guide expanded to include Taichung. With the further expansion of this years 2022 MICHELIN Guide: Taipei, Taichung, Tainan & Kaohsiung, including the Starred, Bib Gourmand, and selected restaurants, the full 2022 restaurant selection of the MICHELIN Guide in Taiwan now totals 321 restaurants, with 170 eateries in Taipei, 68 in Taichung, 44 in Tainan, and 39 in Kaohsiung. In a testament to Taiwans delicious and affordable street food culture, 141 of these restaurants have been awarded the Bib Gourmand distinction, an award reserved for eateries offering three courses for under NT$1,000 (approximately $32). Some, like the Oyster Egg Omelette stall in Ningxia Night Market, are so modest that they are only identified by their sole signature dish.

The Taiwan Foodie Travel Sweepstake will run from September 16, 2022, to October 16, 2022. One Grand Prize winner will receive a round-trip flight and tour package to Taiwan for two; three First Prize winners will receive initial luggage sets; multiple runner-ups will receive travel essentials such as instant cameras, tech pouches, portable chargers, and travel adapters.

Please visit Taiwan Tourism Bureaus Instagram or official Facebook Page for entry rules.

Taiwan is excited to welcome international travelers for tourism and sightseeing once again. As of September 12, 2022, Taiwan has resumed visa-free entry for travelers from more than 60 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia. Incoming travelers will have to abide by Taiwans current quarantine policy and will be free to travel after completing the process.

Please follow Taiwan Tourism's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/TourTaiwan to learn more about the exciting and diversified Taiwan themes, tours, and various products such as food, lodging, travel, and shopping.

For more tourism information, please visit: https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/

***

ABOUT THE TAIWAN TOURISM BUREAU

The Taiwan Tourism Bureau is the official government agency responsible for domestic and international tourism policy development and execution. There are three North American tourism offices located in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Steven Gay, M.D., is now accepting new patient appointments at SGF Atlantas Alpharetta location. The joy my colleagues have, their compassion for patients, and their commitment to evidence-based medical advances I saw then and still see every day makes me proud to be part of the SGF team.

US Fertility, the largest physician-owned and physician-led, integrated network of top-tier fertility practices in the United States, welcomes Steven Gay, M.D., to Shady Grove Fertility Atlantas Alpharetta location. Dr. Gay is now accepting new patient appointments.

I was fortunate enough to do a component of my fellowship training with SGF while at the National Institutes of Health, shares Dr. Gay. The joy my colleagues have, their compassion for patients, and their commitment to evidence-based medical advances I saw then and still see every day makes me proud to be part of the SGF team.

Dr. Gay will provide comprehensive fertility services, including:



fertility and ovarian reserve testing and diagnosis,

semen analysis,

hysterosalpingogram (HSG),

low-tech fertility treatment options such as intrauterine insemination (IUI),

in vitro fertilization (IVF),

donor egg, sperm, and embryo,

genetic screening and testing,

gestational carrier,

egg freezing,

fertility preservation for patients with cancer, and

LGBTQ+ family building.

Dr. Gay is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) and board eligible in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI). Dr. Gay earned his medical degree at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He then continued his studies at Emory University for his residency in OB/GYN. From there, Dr. Gay trained in REI at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. During this time, Dr. Gay did a component of his fellowship training with SGF, where he admired the compassionate, evidence-based fertility care provided by his colleagues.

Dr. Gay has been recognized by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) for his excellence in research on in vitro fertilization outcomes following polypectomy. Additional research interests include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), preimplantation genetic diagnosis, and Ashermans syndrome. Dr. Gay is a member of ASRM and the Society of Reproductive Surgeons.

By welcoming Dr. Gay to the SGF Atlanta physician team, we expand access to world-class fertility care to patients in the Atlanta area, shares Desiree McCarthy-Keith, M.D., M.P.H., medical director of SGF Atlanta. His commitment to driving forward research in reproductive medicine paired with his dedication to patient-centered care exemplifies SGFs mission to best serve their patients.

Patients may now schedule a new patient appointment with Dr. Gay by calling 404-419-7141 or by submitting this brief form.

About US Fertility

US Fertility is the nations largest partnership of physician-owned and physician-led top-tier fertility practices, offering comprehensive fertility-market-focused non-clinical, administrative, and technical platforms that help domestic and international practices improve patient outcomes and increase patient access. To learn more about partnership- or affiliate-status benefits, call 301-545-1308 or visit USFertility.com.

About Shady Grove Fertility (SGF)

SGF is a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence with more than 100,000 babies born from 30+ years of continuous innovation and patient-centered fertility care. With 50 locations, including the newest location in Raleigh, North Carolina, as well as throughout CO, FL, GA, MD, NY, PA, TX, VA, D.C., and Santiago, Chile, SGF offers patients in-person and virtual physician consults, delivers individualized care, accepts most insurance plans, and makes treatment affordable through innovative financial options, including 100% refund guarantees. SGF is among the founding partner practices of US Fertility, the largest physician-led partnership of top-tier fertility practices in the U.S. Call 1-888-761-1967 to schedule a new patient appointment or visit ShadyGroveFertility.com for more information.
Click here for old website
Lynn Steger Strong hates this part. The waiting. The talking. The anticipation. Shes reading, scrolling through social media, looking for anything to distract her from her complicated feelings around the publication of her next book, Flight (Mariner, Nov.). I love writing, I really doIm not one of those writers that doesnt like it, she says via Zoom from her home in Portland, Maine. But I feel so scared and uncertain around being a writer.

Every writer can relate, surely. But Strong comes at this fear from a particular experience. Her second novel, Want, hit shelves in summer 2020, and like the rest of us, she was essentially locked inside her home at the time. The intensely first-person account, centered on a Brooklyn academic whose familys economic situation turns dire, found critical acclaim and substantial readershipbut Strongs life didnt exactly change. Angry posts on Goodreads said Wants narrator, Elizabeth, should suck it up and leave New York, just as Strong and her husband had to, well, suck it up and leave New York.

During Covid, I got an email congratulating me about Want while we were packing up our apartment because my husband lost his job, she says. I threw my phone across the room. Id written this book about the safety net, and everything was broken. The book was over, but I was very much living the realities of it.

Under the cloud of the pandemic and going broke and moving back in with her in-laws in Florida, and coming off of a novel coursing with urgent rage, Strong found herself improbably drawn to hope. I always want to be writing the book that feels like the hardest book to write, she says. And actually writing a book about hope and people loving each other in 2020 felt just fucked up enough to try it. I dont think I wouldve written this book under different circumstances.

And so we have Flighta warm, empathic, but still incisive, family saga that marks a thrilling expansion of Strongs fictional gaze. Were far beyond the insular, singular perspective that sustained Want, with the author now toggling between several perspectives as adult siblings Henry, Kate, and Martinas well as their familiesgather for the holidays in the aftermath of their mothers death. Between them are the kinds of painful memories, weathered affections, and various entitlements that pull them close and then apart and then back together again. Strong spends ample time on these rich, thorny dynamics before a girl goes missing in their Upstate New York town, binding them on a shared missiona grand call for unity.

Flight is Strongs debut with Mariner Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, where she worked with editor Kate Nintzel. Whats struck me throughout the process is how clearly she knows her vision and her work, Nintzel says. The themes, the characters, even the dialogueI would guess that those pieces of the novel are essentially unchanged from the first draft I read.

Like any juicy family argument, the novel seems to constantly shift in its allegiances, granting equal, maddening weight to each narrator. At the levels of sentence and structure, I was constantly thinking about how to de-emphasize the individuals, even as I am and was always ultimately invested in character, Strong says. I wanted them to feel alive and real, but I also wanted you to be on different peoples teams at almost every beat.

The points at which Want and Flight run in parallel arrive via Strongs thorough interrogations. She lets no one off easy, whether shes got one or more than a half-dozen protagonists to deal with.

The incisiveness of Strongs psychological portraits have always captured me, says Strongs agent Sarah Bowlin. Its one of the many pleasures of working with hergetting to watch her brain up close as she delves deeply into her characters minds.

That collectivism, which Strong very clearly prioritizes in the book, does not come easy. Her Want protagonist was taken by many readers to be a thinly veiled version of herself. Strong remembers sending a friend a voice note back in 2020 that said, Id always wanted to make something great, but I never had much faith in myself as a personhow would this silly, dumb mom make something great? The model of the authorial genius, the writer who carries every ounce of weight herself, needed to be unlearned for her own well-being and confidence as a storyteller.

This personal journey went on to inform Flight, as the books philosophy reflects its makinga far cry from the solitary experience of writing Want. What I realized during Covid is, I dont have to do it by myselfI dont have any interest in making books by myself. She brought friends, writers, colleagues into her process. That really informed how I was able to think about this book in new ways.

Theres a sense of fluidity in Strongs approach to writing. Shes energized by formal challenges and compelled by gaps between dialogue and plot, which contain so much, even as they say so little. She obsessed over giving each Flight character equal opportunity to be right and wrong, appealing and repellent. Around that attention to fullness, to personhood, is what Strong calls scaffolding; the real work, by contrast, is in the seemingly simple stuff. At some point in my life, I will be a good enough writer to write a novel in which two women stand barefoot in a kitchen and dont talk, she says, because everything I want to say as a writer lives inside of that moment.

If Strongs Want was seen by some as autofiction, Flight will be slotted into a different categorythe family novel. Its scary to inhabit a space that feels like its been inhabited before, and the family novel is a scary space to inhabit as a female writer, she says. She points to the cultural tendency to reduce female authors contributions to the canon as quiet, or domestic, or internal. She wants to be taken seriously, her efforts at bringing precision and complexity and singularity to the form recognized. Its cool and en vogue as a woman to be angry right now, she says. It feels scary to just want to write a book about how people love each other.

This brings us back to 2020. When Want was published, Strong didnt get to sign copies for lines of fans; all of the events were via Zoom. I finally read Want a couple months ago for the first time out loud in person, she says, and I realized that I was sad that Id never done that. In contrast, the idea that maybe Ill experience this one a little bit is what she finds so exciting and terrifying about Flight. How appropriate, for a book that so fully and so beautifully assertsand, indeed, is a product ofthe virtue of a collective.

David Aaron is a magazine writer and critic.
Portrait of the Author

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie OFarrell debuts at #6 on our hardcover fiction list. Its a lush, provocative historical, per our starred review, that follows a young woman who is married off at 15 amid the complex world of 16th-century Italian city-states. OFarrells previous novel, 2020s Hamnet, took five months to land on our list and to date has sold nearly 300K print copies.

In Clubland

Javier Zamoras Solito, Septembers Read with Jenna pick, lands at #9 on our hardcover nonfiction list. Its an immensely moving story of desperation and hardship per our starred review, recounting his childhood migration from El Salvador to the U.S. Zamoras 2017 debut, Unaccompanied, conveyed his experiences in verse, but, he recently told the Guardian, he found that prose could do what poetry could not. In poetry, theres a lot of white space. I think thats a metaphor for how, on the surface, I was facing what had happened to me. With the help of a therapist and meditation, I really went hard into looking at my past to understand myself better. And doing that, I had the time and the space and the mental health that I could fill the page.

What a Ride

Mo Willems has the #10 book in the country with The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster!, the eighth title starring his irascible avian character. Every Pigeon book is a reaction, Willems told PW in an interview before his 2022 U.S. Book Show keynote. The Pigeon finds, wants, needs, gets, cant, has to, and, this time, will do something. That involves planning, expectations, accepting, and readjusting. Pigeons new outing, Willems suggested, reflects what many readers have been experiencing in recent times: Have your last few years been a roller coaster?

NEW & NOTABLE

FAIRY TALE

Stephen King

#1 Hardcover Fiction, #1 overall

A teenager finds a portal to another world in Kings latest, an overlong fantasy most likely to appeal to his YA fans, according to our review. Illustrations at the start of each chapter, headed with descriptions of what they include, further convey a juvenile feel. This attempt at creating a sense of wonder and magic falls short.

SLOUCHING TOWARDS UTOPIA

J. Bradford DeLong

#16 Hardcover Nonfiction

Spectacular economic growth in the long 20th century [18702010] fueled visionary hopes, but never quite fulfilled them, according to this sweeping study by UC Berkeley economic historian DeLong, per our starred review. The author conveys a wealth of information in elegant, accessible prose, combining grand, epochal perspectives with fascinating discursions on everything from alternating-current electricity to the gender wage gap.
The William has once again delayed move-in for its tenants, according to a statement posted Thursday evening on its website. This time around, no date was given for either a construction completion date or an expected move-in.
Authorities have yet to say when a nationwide inoculation campaign would start.

Army medics involved medicine supply distribution work amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Pyongyang, North Korea May 22, 2022 in this photo released May 23, 2022 by the country's Korean Central News Agency.

The North Korean people are eager to be inoculated against COVID-19 after their leader Kim Jong Un discussed vaccines in a policy speech, but authorities have not said when vaccines will become available, sources in the country told RFA.

While speaking to the Supreme Peoples Assembly on Sept. 8, Kim briefly mentioned that in preparation for winter, public health institutions would be administering vaccination in a responsible way but recommended that the public wear masks starting in November.

The speech made international headlines for Kims remarks on the nuclear issue  he refused to give up nuclear weapons and lauded a newly passed law that allows preemptive nuclear strikes  but North Koreans are more interested in the single reference to vaccines, hoping it means they can get their jab soon.

When people gather around these days, they always talk about coronavirus vaccines, a resident of Kyongwon county in the northeastern province of North Hamgyong told RFAs Korean Service on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

In areas close to the Chinese border, like here in Kyongwon county, things were more difficult during the COVID-19 quarantine period, said the source.

Beijing and Pyongyang closed their 880-mile border and suspended all trade when COVID first emerged.

Additionally North Korean authorities said anyone caught within a one kilometer kill zone at the border would be shot on sight. Authorities also held public executions of smugglers and locked down entire counties and cities when they detected suspected cases.

Until the beginning of this year, border areas were much more brutally controlled by the authorities and the rules were enforced more closely than in other areas due to the fears of the malicious virus entering from China, the source said.

The country maintained that it was completely virus free up until May this year when Pyongyang declared a national maximum emergency after tracing a major outbreak of the virus to a military parade the previous month.

The emergency protocol included locking down cities, restricting movement between provinces, and isolating suspected infected persons in quarantine centers. Though only a handful of COVID-19 cases were officially confirmed, government figures identified 4.7 million suspected fever cases and 74 deaths over the course of the emergency.

The emergency posture ended Aug. 10, when North Korea claimed victory over the virus.

I know it is the same throughout the country. But many people in Kyongwon county were ill with COVID-19 during the emergency quarantine period. They died without receiving any treatment because no medicine was available, the source said.

There are 30 households in my neighborhood watch unit. Of those, five have lost members of their family to COVID-19. One household even lost three family members, the source said. Everyone is saying we would not have suffered so many deaths if the entire population had been vaccinated against the coronavirus like in other countries.

I dont know why the authorities are only now talking about vaccination, when China and other countries started on that so much earlier.

North Korea rejected 3 million doses of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine in September 2021, still claiming to be virus free. Pyongyang also twice rejected vaccine assistance from Russia, and did not respond to offers from the Biden administration during the maximum emergency.

Whenever the neighborhood sees the leader of the neighborhood watch unit, they ask if there is an order to start the vaccination, the source said.

Although the authorities are currently promoting the main points addressed in Kim Jong Uns administrative policy speech, the only thing we are interested in is vaccination.

A resident of Hyesan, a city in Ryanggang province that borders China, said the biggest concern for locals is when a vaccine will become available.

Kim Jong Un mentioned COVID-19 vaccination in his administrative policy speech at the Supreme People's Assembly on Sept. 8th, the second source told RFA on condition of anonymity to speak freely. There should be specific instructions or actions related to vaccination by now. But it's frustrating because the authorities are still quiet.

We know that vaccines produced in the United States or Europe, where science and technology are more advanced, have excellent safety and effectiveness. Some people are concerned about getting poorer quality Chinese or Russian vaccines, the second source said.

The disease and government orders to contain it have taken their toll on the Hyesan resident.

I hope that the nationwide vaccination campaign is completed quickly. I want to live comfortably without having to fear malignant infectious disease.

RFA reported in late May that the government had begun vaccinating soldiers mobilized as labor for a high-profile construction project in the capital Pyongyang. The campaign was promoted in propaganda films, with soldiers appearing to be moved to tears as they received what the films referred to as the Immortal Potion of Love from their benevolent leader Kim Jong Un.

A spokesperson for the Global Vaccine and Immunity Alliance, which operates the COVAX initiative, told RFA that enough doses could be made available to inoculate every North Korean should the government mount a vaccination drive.

COVAX will be happy to share the vaccine if North Korea asks for it to be introduced, the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for UNICEF told RFA that it has not received any information regarding a proposed COVID-19 vaccination effort in North Korea.

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Tens of thousands of war refugees depend on the NGOs for food and supplies.

Myanmars junta has banned domestic and international NGOs operating humanitarian programs, including United Nations relief agencies, from traveling to six townships of Rakhine state, aid workers said Friday.

A staffer with an international NGO, who declined to be named for security reasons, told RFA Burmese that the organization had received a letter from the Rakhine Ministry of Security and Border Affairs on Thursday explaining that it had been immediately barred from traveling to the townships of Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Mrauk-U, Minbya and Myebon.

The letter said permission to travel to the six townships in Rakhine is restricted, but it didnt say for how long, the staffer said.

Usually they would give some explanation, such as for security reasons, but this letter didnt say why  we are not allowed to distribute basic food items anymore. This includes U.N. agencies, NGOs and all INGOs (international NGOs).

U.N. agencies and international humanitarian organizations operating in the region were not immediately reachable by RFA for comment and no public statements had been issued in reaction to the order by the time of publishing. Some international NGOs confirmed the travel ban to RFA, but asked that their organizations not be named, citing fear of repercussions from junta authorities.

Hundreds of refugees who have fled recent fighting between the military and the ethnic insurgent Arakan Army are living in camps in the six townships and depend largely on the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross, World Food Program, and other international organizations.

Soe Naing, who oversees the Tein Nyo Refugee Camp in Mrauk-U, told RFA that the ban would cause significant difficulties for people sheltering there, as they have few other sources of aid and the military regime has not provided them with any assistance.

We rely mainly on ICRC support in our camp, he said. The Department of Resettlement and Rehabilitation hasnt given us any support for more than six months, saying that it has not received permission from higher-level authorities. These refugees are already in a dire situation and blocking aid will make the situation far worse.

More than 900 families comprising more than 4,000 people are currently living in Tein Nyo refugee camp, he said.

Meanwhile, the junta has yet to approve the distribution of more than 55,000 bags of rice for Rakhine war victims donated in November 2021 by Yohei Sasakawa, the chairman of Japans Nippon Foundation and the Japanese government's special representative for national reconciliation in Myanmar, sources said.

Attempts by RFA to contact the junta spokesman for Rakhine state for comment went unanswered Friday.

More than 40,000 refugees displaced by fighting between the military and the Arakan Army from 2019 to 2020 are still living in 143 refugee camps in Rakhine, while another 10,000 have been displaced from Rathedaung, Mrauk-U, Maungdaw and neighboring areas since the resumption of fighting in July.

Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Four others were hurt when shells landed in a no-mans land along the Bangladesh-Myanmar frontier, police said.

Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) patrol near the Tombru crossing in Naikhongchari, a sub-district of southeastern Bandarban district, Sept. 1, 2022.

At least one Rohingya youth was killed and several more young refugees were injured when two mortar shells reportedly fired from the Myanmar side fell and exploded in the no-mans land along Bangladeshs southeastern border Friday night, Bangladeshi police said.

The youths were all refugees from a camp in the no-mans land on the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) of Bandarban, Md. Reza Sarwar, told BenarNews. The incident occurred amid reports of intense fighting near the Myanmar side of the border lately between Burmese junta forces and rebels in neighboring Rakhine state.

The police official said at least five injured Rohingya were admitted to local hospitals. The youth who died in the incident was identified as Mohammad Iqbal, 18, son of Matlab Hossain.

The shells reportedly landed in an area that borders Bangladeshs Bandarban district, Reza Sarwar added.

A Rohingya resident from the area, Dil Mohammad, said the shells were fired around 8:30 p.m. Friday.

Another resident Md. Kamal concurred.

Two mortar shells landed in no-mans land at the time. And we were hearing sounds of shelling from afternoon to night. People are scared in the neighborhood, he told BenarNews.

Bangladeshi officials say more than 4,000 Rohingya refugees have been living in no-mans land for the last five years since a brutal crackdown by the Myanmar military forced the ethnic minority to flee their homes in August 2017. Some 740,000 Rohingya crossed the frontier and took refuge in camps in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar district.

Lt. Col. Faizur Rahman, director (operations) of the Border Guard Bangladesh, told reporters that the agency immediately lodged a protest about Fridays incident with the Border Guard Police of Myanmar.

This wasnt the first time that the fighting between Arakan Army rebels and the Myanmar military in Myanmar had come close to the Bangladesh border.

On Aug. 28, during heavy fighting in Myanmars border state of Rakhine, two mortar shells landed in the same area but did not go off. A similar incident also occurred on Aug. 20 as well.

This month alone, Dhaka has protested and summoned Myanmars ambassador to Bangladesh three times to protest these incidents.

Earlier this week, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the countrys border police had reinforced security along the frontier with Myanmar.

Amid the tense situation inside Myanmar, a few new Rohingya families have arrived in Coxs Bazar, where Bangladesh already hosts about one million refugees from Myanmar.

One of the new arrivals told BenarNews on Sept. 10 that he saw several hundred people clustered along the Naf River that separates Coxs Bazar from Rakhine state, and who were trying to cross the border several days earlier.

It was not immediately clear what happened to those other people apparently displaced by intense clashes in recent weeks between junta forces and the Arakan Army.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service.
SOFIA -- It's hard to miss the giant, 11-meter-tall statue that towers above Plovdiv, standing proud on top of the Bulgarian city's second-highest hill. Named Alyosha, a generic diminutive used to refer to Soviet soldiers, the giant figure honors the Red Army soldiers who fought in Bulgaria during World War II. Some sources, including the Russian Foreign Ministry, claim that Alyosha was based on a photo of a real Russian soldier who was fighting in Bulgaria at that time.

With Russia now waging an unprovoked war on Ukraine, Soviet war memorials across Eastern Europe have been attracting renewed attention, with monuments honoring the Red Army recently pulled down in Poland and Latvia.



French artist Mitch Brezunek has found a new and unique way to confront the past: by turning Alyosha into a ghost. The digital tampering is part of his exhibition, The Ghost Is Here, which opened on September 9 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second-largest city and cultural heart.



During communist rule, Red Army memorials were built throughout Bulgaria to honor Soviet soldiers and the role they played in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II. They were considered symbols of Bulgarian-Soviet friendship, even though the Red Army occupied Bulgaria and the Soviet Union declared war on the country in 1944.

After the fall of communism, Soviet monuments and war memorials became lightning rods for discussion and reckoning with the past across the former Eastern Bloc. Angry at Soviet occupation and more recent Russian military interventions, many have advocated that the statues and monuments be removed -- suggestions that have attracted the ire of Russian officials and led to public and diplomatic spats. In Bulgaria, there have been several attempts to have Alyosha removed, but none was successful.



When Estonia removed a World War II monument from the center of Tallinn in 2007, the city was rocked by violent riots, and the country suffered a massive cyberattack that was later blamed on Russian hackers.

Born in France in 1989, Brezunek has been living and working in Plovdiv since 2016. The Soviet monuments, however, made an impression on him when he first came to Bulgaria 12 years ago and started learning about the country's history.



"These monuments are everywhere here. They never go unnoticed because of their size and location. In Plovdiv, for example, Alyosha dominates the city and the sky," the Frenchman told RFE/RL. "It is impossible not to ask yourself every time you see the monument: 'Why is it here? And how did it end up here and what message is it sending us?'"



In his show, Brezunek digitally alters pictures of 12 Soviet monuments in different cities across Bulgaria, their transformations, the artist said, not just a message about the past but also a reflection on Bulgaria's present as a member of the European Union.



Monuments are around us for a reason, Brezunek said when promoting the show, to remind us of the past and the mistakes we've made. "Can we learn from past missteps and create a better future? The ghost is here to remind us that history often repeats itself," Brezunek says.

The centerpiece of the exhibition is a 7.5-meter-tall screen where a slightly smaller Alyosha is transformed into a giant ghost. The other Red Army monuments that Brezunek has digitally transformed are the Mound of Soviet Soldiers in the city of Dobrich and the Monument of Bulgarian-Soviet Friendship in the port and seaside resort of Varna. Other monuments were in Sofia, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Ruse, and Byala Slatina.



Put together, they all form the last component of Brezunek's exhibition, a 3D digital map, which, in the artist's words, shows the "two faces of Bulgaria." On the one side is the past, the monuments of the Soviet Army, and on the other, "the present, Bulgaria's membership in the European Union."



Brezunek has also been using his art to make money for Ukraine, which has been fighting an all-out war against Russia since February 24. A 3D video animation of Alyosha becoming a ghost is being sold as a non-fungible token (NFT), a unique digital collectible built on blockchain technology:



According to the exhibition organizers, every week until November 9, each 3D artwork of the monuments-in-flux will be sold, with 70 percent of the revenue going to support artists and cultural events in Ukraine and Bulgaria.



In recent years, NFTs have become popular in the worlds of art, culture, and sport, despite regulatory and environmental concerns. "3D is fantastic property as you don't have any physical limitations, so you can really explore a new kind of creative freedom," Brezunek told RFE/RL.
BUDAPEST -- The Hungarian government, seeking to prevent a blocking of European Union funds over corruption concerns, said it is ready to send new laws to parliament in the coming days to overcome Brussels objections.

The remarks on September 17 come just days ahead of an expected announcement by the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, that the bloc is ready to suspend the transfer of some EU funds to Hungary over the corruption concerns.

It also comes after the European Parliament on September 15 approved a resolution saying Hungary was no longer a "full democracy."

The European Parliament voted 433-to-123 with 28 abstentions to approve the report, which said Hungary had become a hybrid regime of electoral autocracy under the leadership of [Prime Minister Viktor] Orban's nationalist government, and that its undermining of the blocs democratic values had taken the country out of the community of democracies.



Fidesz, Orban's ruling party, blasted the European Parliament for the resolution, calling it "unforgivable" that "the European Parliament is attacking Hungary again."

On September 17, Orban's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, said Budapest would establish an anti-corruption department and a working group with nongovernmental organizations to oversee spending of the EU funds based on commission requirements.

"The government has either accepted the requests of the European Commission, or in the areas where we could not accept them, we have managed to reach a compromise that is satisfactory to both parties," Gulyas told reporters.

"At today's meeting, the government discussed these commitments and has approved them," he said, adding that the new laws are to take effect in November. "Instead of mutual distrust, the constructive series of negotiations with the commission over the past two months can be seen as a step toward mutual trust."

Orban, who was reelected for a fourth consecutive term in April, has clashed often with the bloc over issues such as judicial independence, public procurement, LGBT rights, and media, academic, and religious freedoms.

Since sweeping to power on his nationalist agenda in 2010, Orban, who characterizes the country as an "illiberal democracy," has rewritten the constitution and key aspects of electoral laws and consolidated allies' control of nearly every major media outlet in the country.

The European Parliament report actually blamed the European Union's other 26 members for being "inactive" to Orban's democratic abuses during his rule, saying part of the problem was "the inability of the [European] Council to make meaningful progress to counter democratic backsliding."

With reporting by AP and Reuters
A young Iranian woman who slipped into a coma while in the custody of Irans morality police has been laid to rest in her hometown of Saghez in Irans Kurdistan Province amid tight security measures.

Hundreds of people reportedly attended the September 17 funeral of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. She died on September 16 a few days after being taken into police custody for allegedly breaking the country's hijab rules.

Many mourners chanted Death to the dictator, according to amateur videos posted online.



Reports suggested that some of the angry mourners had marched toward the local governor's office to protest her death.

Police reportedly fired shots and tear gas to disperse the protesters. The Europe-based Kurdistan Human Rights Network said 15 people were injured, while reports suggested several people were arrested.

There were also reports of Internet disruptions in Saghez and several other cities in Iran's Kurdistan Province.

Amins death has led to widespread anger on social media, with many blasting Iranian authorities for promoting violence against women.



Eyewitnesses to Aminis arrest told journalists that she appeared to have been beaten inside the morality police van while being taken to the detention center.



Mojgan Amini, Mahsa's mother, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda in an interview shortly before the news of her daughter's death that her family had filed a complaint with the Tehran police.



My daughter was in perfect health before her arrest, she told Radio Farda.



In a statement on September 16, Tehran police insisted "there was no physical encounter" between officers and Amini.



Police said Amini had suffered a heart attack after being taken to the station to be "educated.



Closed-circuit television footage carried by state TV appeared to show a woman identified as Amini falling over after getting up from her seat to speak to an official at a police station. RFE/RL could not verify the video.



Iran has in past months intensified its crackdown on women challenging the hijab rule, which became compulsory following the 1979 revolution.



Human Rights Watch (HRW) on September 16 called for a transparent investigation into Aminis death, while also calling on Iranian authorities to abolish the compulsory hijab law and remove or reform other laws that deprive women of their rights.



The White House on September 16 called Amini's death "unforgivable."



"We are deeply concerned by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was reportedly beaten in custody by Iran's morality police. Her death is unforgivable. We will continue to hold Iranian officials accountable for such human right abuses," President Joe Biden's national-security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said on Twitter.
The border area between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan remained tense, with a new cease-fire in place but amid accusations of shelling by both sides and mounting casualties.

After a relatively quiet period overnight, both sides on September 17 said border villages had been hit by shelling, with reports of additional people hurt on top of the dozens of deaths and injuries earlier claimed by the two Central Asian nations.

Tajik authorities late on September 17 said Kyrgyz forces opened fire with Grad missiles from the Jonoloy District of the Kyrgyz Osh region, aiming toward the Sayliobod rural community of the Lakhsh district of Tajikistan.

Officials said four people had been injured and three houses had been destroyed.

The report could not immediately be independently verified. If confirmed, the attack would appear to indicate a break in a cease-fire agreed to by both sides.

Several hours later, representatives of the two nations agreed on another cease-fire for the tense border areas, with officials saying the region remained "tense."

Earlier in the day, Kyrgyz border guards said a village was briefly shelled by Tajik missiles.

The two former Soviet republics clashed over a border dispute this week, with dozens of casualties reported by both sides.

The Kyrgyz border guard service accused Tajik forces of using tanks, armored personnel carriers, and mortars. Tajikistan, in turn, accused Kyrgyz forces of bombarding an outpost and seven villages with "heavy weaponry" in the same area.

WATCH: Fresh clashes erupted at the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on September 16, with both sides accusing each other of using heavy weaponry in fighting that has killed at least three people and wounded dozens over three days.

Border issues in Central Asia stem to a large extent from the Soviet era when Moscow tried to divide the region between ethnic groups whose settlements were often located amid those of other ethnicities.

Both countries still host Russian military bases, and Moscow again on September 16 called for a halt in the fighting.

Kyrgyzstan, which on September 16 reported 24 deaths and 87 wounded, said one border village was shelled by mortars for five minutes early on September 17 after an otherwise quiet night.

Kyrgyz hospitals and clinics also treated 129 people wounded in the shelling, authorities said.

Kyrgyzstan's Emergencies Ministry on September 17 declared a state of emergency in the Batken region bordering Tajikistan. The ministry said the decision was taken to ensure the safety of the regions residents and mobilize certain forces.

Kyrgyzstan's Emergencies Ministry had earlier said that 140,000 people were evacuated from the area engulfed by the fighting.

Tajik border guards said on September 16 that several Tajik villages had been struck by Kyrgyz helicopters and drones.

In a statement on September 17, the border service said Kyrgyzstan continues the "deployment of additional military forces and means on the border.

A senior official from the Tajik Ministry of Health, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told RFE/RL's Tajik Service that 23 civilians and eight military personnel had been killed on the Tajik side since September 14.

A member of the Tajik border guard and several witnesses told RFE/RL's Tajik Service that an additional eight people had been killed in the city of Isfara -- six of them members of one family, including two women and three children. The report could not be independently verified.

In the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, and in other cities, volunteers were gathering humanitarian aid and donating blood for people affected by the clashes.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a September 17 statement that it was concerned about the upsurge of military activities along the Kyrgyz-Tajik border and its humanitarian consequences.

"While conducting military operations, all feasible precautionary measures must be taken to avoid incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects, Sangeeta Koenig , the head of the ICRC regional delegation in Central Asia, said, adding that respecting international humanitarian law is an obligation of the parties to the armed conflict.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
During the summer, the Kremlin hatched a plan to fill hundreds of vacancies in schools in the occupied territories of Ukraine by luring Russian teachers there with sky-high salaries and other incentives.

According to the independent trade union Alliance of Teachers, educators were offered between 7,000 and 9,000 rubles ($117 to $151) per day to go to Ukraine. In many Russian regions, teacher salaries hover as low as 20,000 or 30,000 rubles ($336-$500) a month, with educators making ends meet by taking on extra work or tutoring.

It was part of a Russian drive to "reeducate" -- or "Russify" -- Ukrainians to pave the way for the expected annexation of parts of southern and eastern Ukraine and to quash Ukrainian patriotism there.



The incentivized Russian teachers were to be pedagogical foot soldiers in this phase of the war.



But in the wake of Ukraine's successful counteroffensive earlier this month, many Russian teachers who had packed their bags are having second thoughts.

Vladimir Muntyan, a lecturer at the Rostov College of Industrial Technologies, told RFE/RL that he is no longer interested in teaching in Ukraine.



"I applied, but now it's no longer relevant," he said. "Circumstances have changed -- my personal ones -- so I changed my mind."



'You Saw What Happened'



By early July, more than 200 teachers from across Russia had expressed a willingness to work in the occupied territories, as officials assured them the regions were secure and relatively safe. State media in Russia ignored frequent reports of attacks against collaborators and Russia-installed officials in those regions.



But just as the teachers began arriving, Ukraine launched a surprise counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region in early September, barreling through collapsing Russian defenses and liberating cities and smaller settlements.



Ukrainian forces also allegedly captured and arrested some Russian teachers. That report -- which Kyiv later denied, despite speculation that Ukraine may have started the rumor itself to demoralize the Russian side -- sent shivers down the spines of some Russian teachers who had agreed to work in Ukraine.

Olga Vedenina, a teacher of Russian language and literature who was ready to go to Ukraine, told RFE/RL this week that her husband talked her out of the idea.



"All the events that are happening now -- the seizure of teachers -- he was probably right," said Vedenina, who lives in the northern region of Karelia. "I could have been caught up in this, too."



Yelena Patrakeyeva, a mathematics teacher from the northern region of Arkhangelsk, said she still "really wants to" work in Ukraine, but that her family is trying to talk her out of it.



"You saw what happened. They say teachers were detained," Patrakeyeva said. "So I haven't made a final decision. As soon as I receive the [work] contract, I will see what my situation is and the situation in the country in general."



Up To 12 Years In Prison



After Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24 and captured swaths of land in the east and south, the Kremlin announced it would impose the Russian curriculum in local schools.

Russia's revamped curriculum, infused with patriotic messaging, promotes false Kremlin narratives about Ukrainian and Russian culture and history, as well as about the causes of the current war. It does not include Ukrainian language, literature, or history.



Kyiv for months has been warning teachers -- both Ukrainians and Russians -- against collaborating with occupying forces, warning they would face criminal charges. But with Russia inching forward with its invasion and moving ahead with plans for referendums on annexation, that danger did not seem realistic.



That all changed this month.



Ukrainian media, citing unidentified sources, first reported on September 10 that some Russian teachers in Kupyansk, in the Kharkiv region, had been arrested after the city was liberated by Ukrainian forces.



Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk on September 12 said Russian teachers caught working in the occupied territories would be prosecuted and could face up to 12 years in prison.



She added that any detained Russian teachers will not be included in prisoner-exchange lists, as they are not combatants.



Russian teachers "will surely face justice if they do not leave our territory immediately," she said.



However, neither the initial media reports nor Vereshchuk gave any details about the teachers -- such as their names or the schools where they allegedly worked -- raising questions about the veracity of the report.



Russian Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov, who oversees the recruitment of teachers for the occupied territories, called the news "fake."



Aleksandr Bastrykin, the head of Russia's Investigative Committee, ordered an investigation into the reports.

However, on September 14, Ukraine's Prosecutor-General's Office denied the reports.



Nonetheless, the stories made headlines in Russia, sparking concern among some teachers who had volunteered to work in the occupied regions but had not yet left.



'So Far, There Is Silence'



However, Russia's efforts to recruit teachers appear to have been off track even before the September offensive.



RFE/RL spoke this week with more than 20 teachers who had volunteered to teach in Ukraine; none had left yet, even though the new school year started at the beginning of the month.



"I planned on going," said Yelena Ushkova, a physical education teacher at a school in Karelia, "but haven't left because there has been no information. No one has contacted me."



Ushkova said she contacted the deputy education minister at the beginning of August, who she said admitted that "even she doesn't have any information."



Yevgeny Sokolov, a director and physical education teacher from Mari El, said he has not yet heard when he is supposed to leave for Ukraine.



"So far, there is silence," he said.



The causes of the delays are unclear, although Russia was still repairing many schools damaged during its invasion and had been struggling to supply them with new textbooks in Russian.
By all accounts except the Kremlins, Russia is struggling with military manpower shortages as its invasion of Ukraine continues in its seventh month. Western estimates say Russia may have suffered 25,000 combat fatalities and as many as 80,000 total casualties so far in fighting that has achieved none of the Kremlins stated objectives.

All matters of security and the formation and activity of the armed forces are exclusive functions of the central government.

Moscow, though, has shied away from declaring war and mobilizing its full military reserves, most likely out of fear of the domestic political consequences that could arise from sending men from urban areas or the professional classes into combat. Instead, Russia has relied largely on contract soldiers recruited from remote and impoverished regions.

On September 15, a video emerged appearing to show Kremlin-connected businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin recruiting mercenaries to fight in Ukraine at a Russian prison. Prisoner-rights groups in Russia believe some 10,000 convicts have already been shipped out to fight in Ukraine.

Although Prigozhin has not acknowledged that he is the one who appeared in the video, on September 16 he issued a statement defending the practice of recruiting convicts.

Those who dont want to see prisoners fighting for private military firms, who condemn this, who dont want to do anything themselves, and who in general dont like this topic should send their children to the front, Prigozhin was quoted as saying. Either private military companies and convicts or your children -- decide for yourselves.

On September 15, Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-appointed strongman leader of the North Caucasus region of Chechnya, called on the heads of all 83 Russian regions to carry out self-mobilizations at the regional level and send at least 1,000 volunteers to the war without waiting for the Kremlin to announce a military mobilization.

According to an analysis by the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War on September 15, the Kremlin is doubling down on its stealth mobilization in the wake of a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive that sent Russian forces reeling in the northeastern Kharkiv region.

The defeat around Kharkiv Oblast prompted the Kremlin to announce a Russia-wide recruitment campaign, part of which was Kadyrovs initiative, the think tank wrote.

Within two days of Kadyrovs message, at least four other Russian regional leaders endorsed the idea. One of them was the head of the mid-Volga Republic of Mari El, Yury Zaitsev. Mari El is one of Russias poorest regions and has already sent three battalions of volunteers to Ukraine. The prison where the purported video of Prigozhin recruiting prisoners was shot was also located there.

However, under Russian law, the idea of regions carrying out their own individual military mobilizations is clearly illegal, said Sergei Krivenko, the head of the Citizen.Army.Law nongovernmental aid organization.

Russia, of course, has a federative structure, he told Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. But all matters of security and the formation and activity of the armed forces are exclusive functions of the central government.

Any mobilization or the formation of separate military units outside the Defense Ministry or the National Guard should be impossible and illegal, he added. But, of course, it is possible, but it is illegal.

Krivenko added that Russian law permits individuals to avoid such mobilizations and the regular military draft through its provisions on alternative civilian service and conscientious objection.

People are not being forced through violence into the military, he said. They are being tricked in various ways, offered large sums of money and other incentives that as a rule are never paid out. But no one is being forced. And that means there is a chance for citizens of Russia with good consciences to think it through and not participate in this evil.

Im saying this is possible, but I am not saying that it is easy, Krivenko added. Lately, it has become a rather difficult thing to do, but it remains possible. It just takes extra effort and extra resolve.

RFE/RL correspondent Robert Coalson contributed to this report.
BELGRADE -- LGBT pride supporters conducted a scaled-down walk in central Belgrade on September 17 after a larger parade was barred by Serbian authorities and as far-right opponents clashed with police on the citys streets.

Several minor incidents were reported in capital, with right-wing activists and religious groups opposing the international EuroPride event gathering.

Police said 64 people were detained for various offenses after anti-gay activists threw bottles at police and tried to cross police cordons.

An estimated 1,000 LGBT pride supporters walked a few hundred meters on a route from the Constitutional Court to the nearby Tasmajdan Park in the center of Belgrade after authorities barred a planned longer march.

Even as the walk began, it remained unclear what the scale of it would be or how the authorities might react amid conflicting signals from government officials.

Police had blocked off pedestrian areas around streets where organizers had scheduled events and had also banned counter-protests scheduled by pro-Serbian Orthodox Church conservative groups and others.

As of early evening, some participants began walking a route that organizers had changed and shortened after the previous one was blocked by police.

National populist President Aleksandar Vucic last month suggested that the EuroPride march would not be allowed to go ahead but said the final decision lay in the hands of the Interior Ministry.

On September 13, the Interior Ministry officially announced the ban on the EuroPride Week's culminating march through downtown Belgrade and said it had similarly denied permission for a counterdemonstration the same day.

It concluded that there was a danger of violence, destruction of property, and other forms of disruption of public order on a larger scale."

On September 15, local organizer Marko Mihailovic told an Instagram livestream with RFE/RL's Balkan Service that his group had filed an appeal with a Serbian administrative court against the Interior Ministry's decision to block the event.

"The question is whether it will be a short walk or whether we will stand in one place, but we will go out into the streets," Mihailovic said. "It is important that we go out and that our voice is heard."

After the ban was announced, gay rights activists at a human rights conference jeered Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who is openly lesbian but has been accused by the Serbian gay community of abandoning their cause.

Despite an official ban on a march, Brnabic earlier told prospective participants that "no one can stop you [from walking], because that is a fundamental human right."

The European Pride Organizers Association on September 17 said it had received guarantees from Brnabic that she can guarantee that the streets of Belgrade will be safe this afternoon.

"Serbia did not organize EuroPride because someone blackmailed it to stay on the European path but for the sake of Serbia, our people and society, as well as for the well-being of the entire region," she told a reception for foreign diplomats on the occasion of EuroPride Week.

Still, Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin on September 17 said police would not tolerate any violence on the streets of Belgrade and that it will strictly implement the law and the decisions of authorities and courts.

All means permitted by law will be applied to anyone who violates public order and peace," he said.

Following the event, Vulin insisted that the ban on a march had been enforced and that the people were only being "escorted to a concert."

Also after the event, Brnabic told reporters that the police did a great job and that she was proud that we managed to avoid more serious incidents.

She added that the matter was now closed and that it's time to focus on things that are more difficult and important."

Officials said 64 people had been arrested for various offenses.

EuroPride Week celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex pride at the pan-European level and has been hosted by a different European city nearly every year since 1992.

A 2010 Pride rally in Belgrade descended into violence that injured dozens of police and civilians when anti-LGBT mobs, including some clerics, swarmed and attacked participants, but subsequent Pride events took place without major incidents.

The Balkan country, which is bidding to eventually join the European Union, had been under intense international pressure to allow the march to take place.

The U.S., French, and British embassies, among others, issued a joint statement urging the authorities to lift the ban.

With reporting by AP and AFP
Vlada and Kostyantyn Liberov were among the first civilians to enter the territory of Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv region behind the successful lightning counteroffensive that sent the occupying Russian forces reeling in retreat. In our conversations with locals, it seemed the occupation was bearable, Vlada said in a dual interview with RFE/RLs Russian Service. They were all very happy to see their homes returned to their native country, to hear Ukrainian again. They really are -- and we saw this with our own eyes -- greeting Ukrainian soldiers with tears of joy. Before Russia launched its massive, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the Liberovs worked as wedding photographers and photography instructors in the Black Sea port city of Odesa. Since then, however, they have traveled the country to document the war. Their photographs have appeared on the social media pages of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and elsewhere.

Our main task is to make sure that no one forgets about the war, Kostyantyn said. It may sound strange, but we want to show all these horrors beautifully. Their images capture emotional moments such as the reunions of soldiers with their spouses or displaced persons returning to their shattered homes. In one image, a grief-stricken soldier looks at the wreckage of a vehicle in which one of his comrades was killed by fire from Russian forces:

We know that we are different from classical war photographers, but we arent going to change anything, Vlada said. As Kostya has said, social media is one of the fronts where we are fighting these days. Our photographs are the ones that are used by bloggers and by [conventional] media. They often help people express their own pain, even about things that they didnt see with their own eyes. When a photograph gets 10,000 or 100,000 reposts, she added, she knows that 10,000 or 100,000 people have been reminded that there is a war in Ukraine  and they have reminded others as well. And if they hadnt reposted it, they wouldnt have remembered, she said. I really think that one of the reasons that Ukraine has survived -- one reason why Ukraine is holding on -- is because we havent been forgotten. Our Western partners havent forgotten us, and we havent let ourselves forget either. Because we are constantly shouting about it, Kostyantyn added. The couple recalled recently seeing photographs of Russias military actions and purported war crimes in Syria in 2015-16. "First, you understand that the same things happened there that are happening here, Vlada said.

And then you understand to your horror that you simply did not know about it, Kostyantyn said, finishing her thought. It is just the horrific realization that it turns out that Russia did all the same things there  cities laid to waste, when you see whole streets without a single undamaged building. All of this already happened, but I didnt even hear about it. More specifically, Vlada said, the media covers such things and moves on. But the world soon forgets because in that area at that time, they hadnt developed the ability or the habit of taking their telephones and crying out themselves about their own pain."

In this regard, Ukrainians are doing well because we are always reminding the world that we exist, she added. And Kostya and I are helping with this, I think. When they began their journey, the couple had a hard time coming to terms with the human tragedies they began seeing on a daily basis. I refused to acknowledge that today or tomorrow someones son or father or husband would go off to war and never return, Vlada said. But thousands and thousands of Ukrainian families are going through precisely this. And it terrifies me that this will just somehow become a statistic. That is one of the reasons why Kostya and I are doing what we do.

Over the seven months of the invasion, the couple have regularly come under fire, steadfastly trying to be as close to the fighting as possible. We are guided by the excellent quotation from [American-Hungarian war photographer] Robert Capa, who said, If your pictures arent good enough, you arent close enough, Vlada said. Moreover, the pair, whose native language is Russian, began speaking exclusively Ukrainian both in public and private. Kostyantyn said he believes many of Ukraines woes could have been avoided if we all spoke Ukrainian and hadnt had all these Russian-speaking regions and so on."
The NATO military alliance said it would support Ukraine in its fight against Russia for as long as it takes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stepped up calls for Western sanctions against Moscow following the discovery of a mass burial site in a city once occupied by Russian forces.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, Russian protests, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

NATO military committee Chairman Admiral Rob Bauer on September 17 said Western military aid was making a crucial difference as Ukraine conducts a powerful counteroffensive to retake occupied lands in the east and south of the country.

"The ammunition, equipment, and training that allies and other nations are delivering are all making a real difference on the battlefield," he said at a meeting in Tallinn.

"With its successes on the ground and online, Ukraine has fundamentally changed modern warfare," he added, citing both military and civilian actions.

Bauer said NATO would support Ukraine for "as long as it takes. Winter is coming but our support shall remain unwavering."

The reaffirmation of support came as Zelenskiy called on the global community to condemn the Russian "terrorist state following the discovery of a mass burial site and evidence of torture in Izyum days after the city was retaken from Russia.



Speaking in his nightly video address on September 16, Zelenskiy said Russia should be punished with tougher sanctions.

"There is already clear evidence of torture, humiliating treatment of people. Moreover, there is evidence that Russian soldiers, whose positions were not far from this place, shot at the buried just for fun," he said.

Zelenskiy compared the discoveries made in Izyum this week with the Bucha massacre in the spring and reiterated his call for an international tribunal to be set up to hold Russia accountable for any crimes it committed in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has said that at least 440 bodies had been found at the site in Izyum.

The UN Human Rights Office said it planned to send investigators to Izyum.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby described the reports as "repugnant" but said they were "in keeping with the kind of depravity and the brutality with which Russian forces have been prosecuting this war."

The Czech Republic, which currently holds the rotating EU Presidency, called for the creation of an international war crimes tribunal after the new mass burial sites were found.

"Russia left behind mass graves of hundreds of shot and tortured people in the Izyum area. In the 21st century, such attacks against the civilian population are unthinkable and abhorrent," Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on Twitter.

"We must not overlook it. We stand for the punishment of all war criminals," he added.

Moscow has not commented on the mass burial site in Izyum, which was a Russian frontline stronghold before Ukraine's counteroffensive forced its forces to flee.

Reacting to the reports, U.S. Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said war crimes in Ukraine cannot be hidden.

"In terms of the totality of the scale [of potential war crimes], I don't know. But I would tell you that the world will discover that. War crimes cannot be hidden, especially things like mass graves," Milley told reporters traveling with him after arriving in Estonia for a NATO gathering.

Milley lauded Ukraine's military for seizing the "strategic initiative" from Russia -- suggesting that Ukraine had momentum in the war.

Asked whether Ukraine would be able to retake all its territory, Milley said: "The offensives are in the early stages. We're only looking at probably about two weeks so far. And it remains to be seen how far the Ukrainians can press this fight. So I think we'll have to wait and see how the fighting develops."

Elsewhere, the UN atomic watchdog said the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant has been reconnected to the Ukrainian national grid after one of its four power lines was repaired.

The plant had been completely shut down a week ago amid heavy fighting in the area, raising fears of a potential radiation disaster. Russia has taken control of the plant, but it is still operated by Ukrainian personnel.

Near the city of Zaporizhzhya, which is still under Ukrainian control, the Vatican reported that papal envoy Cardinal Konrad Krajewski came under light arms fire as he delivered humanitarian aid in the name of Pope Francis. No one was hurt and it was not clear where the shots came from.

The cardinal is scheduled to visit Kharkiv after previously traveling to Odesa.

WATCH: The speed and efficiency of Ukraine's counteroffensive in the northeastern region of Kharkiv came as a stunning surprise to the Russian military. Ukraine went to great lengths to keep its counteroffensive secret, including deliberately deceiving Russian forces about its military maneuvers. RFE/RL spoke to some of the soldiers involved, who described their tactics.

Meanwhile, Russias TASS news agency quoted local authorities in Russia's Belgorod region as saying Ukrainian shelling from across the border had killed one person in the area. The report could not be independently verified.

Ukrainian authorities say that Russian forces have used the border region to fire missiles into nearby Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city.

In a Twitter update on September 17, British military intelligence said Ukraine continued its offensive operations in the northeast of the country while Russian forces have established a defensive line between the Oskil River and the town of Svatove.

"Russia likely sees maintaining control of this zone as important because it is transited by one of the few main resupply routes Russia still controls from the Belgorod region of Russia," the Defense Ministry said on Twitter.

"Russia will likely attempt to conduct a stubborn defense of this area, but it is unclear whether Russia's frontline forces have sufficient reserves or adequate morale to withstand another concerted Ukrainian assault," it added.

With reporting by RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service, Reuters, dpa, AP, and AFP
Martyrs killed in Korean War buried in Shenyang

Xinhua) 16:01, September 17, 2022

A burial ceremony for the remains of 88 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs is held at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

SHENYANG, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea were buried Saturday in a cemetery in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The remains of the fallen soldiers returned to China from the Republic of Korea on Friday. It was the ninth such repatriation since 2014, following a handover agreement signed between the countries.

The burial ceremony began at the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang at 10 a.m. A military band played as the ceremony started. Guards of honor carrying the caskets of the martyrs entered the cemetery escorted by Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers as the national anthem was being played.

Around 200 representatives from central and local authorities, the military, veterans of the war, family members of the CPV martyrs and students attended the ceremony.

Coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are escorted by soldiers during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) veterans pay tribute to martyrs of the CPV at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, on Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

(Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji)
(Photo : Joao Paulo Burini) 3D art of the monkeypox orthopoxvirus as seen under the microscope and showing the virus structures in great detail simulating a diseased person, it's from the same family as the smallpox and can be transmitted human to human

Mainland China has recently reported the first imported case of monkeypox. The sole case of the imported monkeypox virus infection was recorded in the country's southwestern municipality of Chongqing Friday.

The infected individual arrived in the country from overseas, making it the country's first known monkeypox infection.

The transmission risk of the case is low as the individual was immediately put in quarantine upon arrival in Chongqing. The local health commission said that all close contact had been put under medical observation in isolation.

The patient has shown symptoms such as rash and was later diagnosed as having the virus by national experts, according to the report from Reuters.

The report came about a week after Hong Kong reported the first monkeypox case detected in the city. The monkeypox virus was also recorded in Taiwan last June.

Mainland China Before the Virus

World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox a global health emergency on July 23. The monkeypox virus is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected animal or person, droplets, or virus-contaminated objects.

The virus can also be passed from a mother to a baby via the placenta and sexual transmission cannot be ruled out, according to monkeypox diagnosis and treatment guidelines confirmed by WHO in June.

From Jan. 1 through Sept. 4, the laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox were 52,996, and 18 deaths were reported to WHO from 102 countries and regions, based on the report released on Sept. 7.

Chief epidemiologist, Wu Zunyou with the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, warned in June following the reported data of monkeypox in Taiwan that it was just a matter of time before the virus would spread in Hong Kong, Macao, and mainland China, Shine New China reported.

ALSO READ: Monkeypox Antiviral Drug: What is Tecovirimat's Role in the Virus' Mutation?

Chinese Experts on Monkeypox

In a forum, last August about the virus research and response, the former head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Gao Fu, and Zhang Wenhong, head of the infectious disease department at Huashan Hospital suggested that Chinese authorities should keep high vigilance, conduct strict surveillance and timely warning signs to develop countermeasures against monkeypox, Global Times reported.

The head of the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Lu Hangzhou, told the Global Times that the reports of imported monkeypox cases in China are unsurprising, but he added that the whole disease poses a little threat to Chinese communities.

Lu added that the regional outbreaks can be prevented as long as the cluster infections among the high-risk communities are prevented using effective epidemic control measures and timely detection.

He also suggests strict customs in quarantine inspection to prevent imported cases.

The experts noted that some European countries, including Germany and The Netherlands, are already seeing clear signs of slowing the outbreak, demonstrating the effectiveness of public health interventions and community engagement to track infections and prevent transmissions.





RELATED ARTICLE: CDC Updates Monkeypox Guidelines After the First Human-to-Dog Transmission Case Reported in France

Check out more news and information on Medicine and Health in Science Times.
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Gautam Adani, the Indian tycoon who has climbed the wealth rankings at breakneck speed this year, surpassed Jeff Bezos to become the worlds second-richest person.

Adani, who started the year as No. 14 on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, now has a $US146.8 billion fortune that lags behind only Elon Musks $US263.9 billion. Shares of his flagship Adani Enterprises Ltd surged to a record this week, and some of his group companies have climbed more than 1000 per cent since 2020.

Gautam Adani surpasses Jeff Bezos in wealth. Credit:Tomohiro Ohsumi

Bezos trails Adani by just $US19 million as a renewed tech selloff Friday again hammered the fortunes of the richest Americans. The shift in the wealth rankings could be fleeting and depends largely on shares of Amazon.com Inc, which are down 26 per cent this year.

Adani first overtook Indias Mukesh Ambani as the richest Asian person in February, became a centibillionaire in April and surpassed Bill Gates and Frances Bernard Arnault in the past two months. Its the first time someone from Asia has featured this highly in the top echelons of the wealth index, which has been dominated by US tech entrepreneurs.
Joe Kennedy famously said that when the shoeshine boy gives stock tips, its time to get out of the market. The story goes that the investor exited the market just ahead of the great Wall Street crash of 1929, clued in to a bubble created by dilettantes piling in.

More recently, an ad popped up in Australian bus shelters, which read this is the sign youve been looking for to get into crypto. Shortly after, cryptocurrency tanked.

Beware the spin. Credit:Getty

So when a public relations conference told me this week that ESG is the next big thing, I took it as a warning that its about to be over.

In the last few years, environmental, social and (corporate) governance, or ESG, has become an increasing concern for companies which realise that securing their long-term profitability depends on the wellbeing of the environment and the societies in which they operate. The governance part is monitoring that the organisation isnt making decisions which deliver profit right now but run counter to actual laws or implicit norms. Banks turning a blind eye to the money trail leading to paedophiles, for instance, or casinos knowingly participating in money laundering.
A prestigious journalism award given to two television news reporters will be reviewed after their employer apologised to former federal Liberal MP Andrew Laming to put an end to a defamation lawsuit.

Laming initiated proceedings against Nine  publisher of this masthead  in August 2021 over a segment on Nine News Queenslands 6pm bulletin on March 27.

In response to Nines apology, Laming said: It is highly commendable they ... have agreed to right wrongs ... when presented with the facts. Credit:Sam Mooy - Getty

Nine News spoke to a woman claiming Laming, who was in political office at the time, took an inappropriate photo of her bottom on his mobile phone while she bent down to fill a fridge with drinks at a Brisbane business.

Laming claimed the story portrayed him as a lecherous person and a pervert who took a photo of a womans buttocks for sexual gratification.
Scientology leader David Miscavige has avoided being served with a summons on at least 14 occasions, a US court has been told, as part of a human-trafficking case brought by three Australian residents.

The allegations emerged in a Florida civil case brought by Australian Gawain Baxter and residents Laura Baxter and Valeska Paris who have claimed they endured horrendous emotional, physical and psychological abuse while in Scientology.

Scientology leader David Miscavige.

Miscavige, who has been the leader of Scientology since 1986, was named in the lawsuit along with five Scientology-related organisations. He is the only defendant to not have been served despite a summons being issued against him in late April.

The court heard allegations from plaintiff lawyers that Miscavige had deliberately evaded service for months including by ordering security at his house to prevent the summons from being delivered to him. On September 9, the court ordered the allegations were credible enough for Miscavige to instead be served through the office of Floridas secretary of state.
Collingwood fan bus travels to Sydney

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A $500 price rise may not seem like much when buying a home, but it was enough for a first home buyer to knock out their competition at an Earlwood auction on Saturday.

The contest for the three-bedroom house at 20 Highland Crescent came to a halt at the sale price of $1,650,500, when the underbidders, a couple looking to upsize, bowed out of the running after their offer was topped by $500.

It was one of 634 Sydney properties scheduled for auction on Saturday. By evening, Domain Group recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 62.1 per cent from 419 reported results, while 110 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate.

Bidding on the Earlwood home, on a 493-square-metre block, started at $1.45 million, below the $1.5 million price guide. It climbed quickly as five of the eight registered bidders made offers, pushing the price up by $25,000, $10,000 and $5000 jumps.
Well folks, thats all for week two of the NRL finals series. The South Sydney Rabbitohs have set up an enticing showdown with the Penrith Panthers, and the Cronulla Sharks have been bounced out in straight sets.

The Rabbitohs and Panthers collide next week. Twice in as many years, Penrith have ended South Sydneys premiership dream. Both times, Latrell Mitchell was missing. Could he be the difference? The Rabbitohs will need to be better than they were tonight, but theyre in with a real shake.

Tevita Tatola and the Rabbitohs live on. Credit:Getty

The Parramatta Eels head to Townsville to face the North Queensland Cowboys in the other preliminary final. What a week this will be. What a time of year finals footy is.

Im Caden Helmers signing off for the night. Thanks for joining me during the semi-finals, and keep your eyes locked on our pages for all the latest news and analysis during the race to the NRL grand final. Keep it real. If you do one thing on Sunday, start a conversation. Ask someone how theyre really going. Tell them how youre really going. You never know what kind of difference it could make.
London: The new King will begin his reign with a major diplomatic charm offensive by hosting a reception at Buckingham Palace for presidents, prime ministers and monarchs from around the world the day before the late Queens funeral.

United States President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron are among the most high-profile guests from overseas who have confirmed they will be attending, some of whom will visit the Queens lying-in-state inside parliaments Westminster Hall ahead of the funeral.

King Charles will host world leaders at Buckingham Palace including Emmanuel Macron, Joe Biden and Anthony Albanese.

The funeral will be one of the biggest policing events in Britains history as world leaders, kings and queens and huge crowds of Brits and tourists descend upon London for the event.

Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, will hold a reception at the palace on Sunday, the official state event before the funeral.
Prigozhins catering company, Concord, coyly said in a Thursday statement that it can confirm that the person in the video bears an enormous resemblance to Yevgeny Viktorovich [Prigozhin]. Judging by his rhetoric, he somehow deals with implementing the tasks of the special operation, and does so successfully . . . in addition, the person speaking in the video has a great delivery, just like Evgeny Viktorovich [Prigozhin] does, the company said in its statement. Russian troops, seen here before the invasion of Ukraine, appear to be badly in need of reinforcements. Credit:Russian Defence Ministry Press Service Another equivocate statement posted by Concords press service came from Prigozhin himself: If I were a prisoner, I would dream of joining this friendly team in order to not only redeem my debt to the Motherland, but also to repay it with interest. Those who do not want mercenaries or prisoners to fight . . . who do not like this topic, send your children to the front, Prigozhin said. Its either them or your children, decide for yourself.

Wagner has been leading a double effort to recruit men all over Russia in what the experts called a shadow mobilisation as Putin has rebuffed calls for national mobilisation from several hawkish Russian officials. Such a draft would almost certainly cause an uproar from the public that has been told for months that Moscow is running only a limited special military operation in Ukraine. In addition to online ads and banners in dozens of cities inviting ordinary Russians to sign up, Wagner recruiters have been touring prisons seeking men between the ages of 22 and 50, but its recruiters say an exception is possible for older men if they are in a good physical form. Wagner Group fighters in Syria. In the video, Prigozhin says the first batch of convicts fought in Ukraine on June 1 as Wagner was helping Russia take the Vuhlehirska power station in the Donetsk region. The mercenaries success in capturing the site was paraded on Russian state TV in the first public embrace of the orchestra, as the private army is often called, in reference to its namesake, right-wing German classical composer Richard Wagner. There were 40 people from St. Petersburg, [from a] high-security facility, recidivists, Prigozhin said. They entered the enemy trenches, cut them up with knives; there were three dead and seven wounded. Out of the three dead, one was 52 years old and had already served a 30-year-long sentence. He died a hero.

Gulagu Net, a Russian human rights organization that helps convicts, first received calls and letters from inmates about Wagners recruitment efforts back in March. The head of Gulagu Net, Vladimir Osechkin, said last month that the effort was very limited at the time. Loading Those were colonies for former law enforcement officers. . . . They were looking for those with combat experience, who took part in counterterrorism operations and various hostilities, Osechkin said. We are talking special forces here, people who know what a weapon is, he added. They were told they would be commanders, that the motherland needs them, but as far as we understand, this campaign failed as they havent been able to recruit many of them. But as Russias campaign in Ukraine stalled since the initial gains in the spring, the effort to find fresh reinforcements took on new urgency.

Starting in July, the number of calls we received grew exponentially, saying that Wagner has launched a mass recruitment campaign in regular colonies, Osechkin said. The enlistment approach was two-pronged: Some convicts were offered support roles, such as digging trenches and doing various construction work near separatist-controlled areas in the eastern Donbas region. Others were recruited for units of 12 people tasked with special combat missions, even though they often had little military training. It all points to the fact that the Russian army has a personnel shortage, and they are trying to replenish it using prisoners whom they dont care about, Osechkin said. Another civil rights organisation, Russia Behind Bars, which has long investigated horrific conditions in Russian prisons, estimated that approximately 7,000 to 10,000 convicts have already been sent to fight in Ukraine. Both organisations have voiced concern that prisoners are being tricked into joining a potential suicide mission with no legal guarantees, as well as concern about releasing potentially violent convicted criminals serving decades-long sentences for murder or aggravated assault.

In addition to it being immoral and very dangerous, it also means that the concept of crime no longer exists in Russia; they wiped their feet on the judicial system, the head of Russia Behind Bars, Olga Romanova, wrote in a Facebook post. According to Gulagu Net, Putin awarded at least one Russian convict who fought in Ukraine with a medal of bravery: Ivan Neparatov, a member of an organised crime group who served 12 years out of his 25-year sentence for murder, robbery and kidnapping. Loading On the video, Prigozhin told the inmates of the penal colony, which has been identified to be in the small Mari El republic in central Russia, that he was looking for the most brazen stormtroopers, willing to be thrown into hot spots as infantry. You have five minutes to make a decision, he said. Regarding trust and guarantees, do you have anyone who can get you out of prison alive? Allah and God can get you out [dead]. I am taking you out of here alive. But its not always that I bring you back alive.
Washington: If you want a glimpse of just how ruthless US politics has become, look no further than the way migrants are being used as political pawns in the final sprint to the midterm elections.

For months, Republican governors have been sending people who recently crossed the US-Mexico border to Democrat-led cities such as Washington DC, New York and Chicago in a bid to publicise the soaring number of arrivals under the Biden administration.

Immigrants gather with their belongings outside a church on Marthas Vineyard. Credit:AP

It began in April, when Texas governor Greg Abbott sent the first busload of migrants to the nations capital in a bid to antagonise the president over border security.

But what started as a publicity stunt reached new heights this week, when buses of migrants sent by Abbott were dropped off outside the DC residence of Vice President Kamala Harris, while Florida governor Ron DeSantis sent chartered flights to Marthas Vineyard, an island playground in Massachusetts for celebrities, presidents and affluent holiday-makers.
PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- Based on the latest weather information at 11:00 AM on Saturday from the Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten (MDS) regarding the passing of Tropical Storm Fiona, was located about 105 miles south of Sint Maarten.

Gradual strengthening of this storm is forecast to take place as the storm continues to move away from the area. Tropical storm conditions are still being experienced, and therefore the country remains under a Tropical Storm Warning.

The Government of Sint Maarten calls on the population to remain vigilant.

It has been decided that essential businesses will be allowed to open at their own discretion as of 2:00 PM. Essential services as mentioned in the Ministerial Regulation on business closures of 16 September are supermarkets, grocery stores, and bakeries, hardware stores, restaurants, pharmacies, funeral parlors, and gas stations. This is of course not mandatory; businesses may also choose to remain closed. As such the population is asked to remain at home unless absolutely necessary while the flood advisory remains in effect.

Public transportation and car rental are allowed to also operate.

Regular business hours can commence on Sunday, September 18 at 6:00 AM.

In further updates, the Prime Minister reported the following:

Airport

Sint Maarten Princess Juliana International Airport will remain closed today Saturday, and will reopen on Sunday, September 18 at 7:00 AM.

Major gusts of 47 miles per hour were reported at the airport. The measure taken is a safety precaution in order to allow the winds to subside within the next 24 hours.

Port

Maritime operations at Port St. Maarten remain closed today due to sea conditions, very rough seas, and high swells. Once those subside, an assessment will be carried out by the port later this afternoon and updates will be provided by the port.

Hurricane Shelter

Three persons made use of the John Larmonie Center that was opened on Friday afternoon. The shelter will close at 5:00 PM.

NV GEBE

There were no reported power outages, only an isolated event in Pelican last night which was restored.

All other Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) have reported no incidents.

During the morning hours, the Ministry of VROMI carried out assessments and clean-up of the road network where necessary in certain areas and this is on-going.

Those that must make use of the road network, must exercise caution, and avoid excessive speed on the wet roads.

Flash flooding can still take place throughout the day. Remain indoors and continue to protect your loved ones. The measures are to protect safety and security of the people of Sint Maarten.

The Prime Minister would like to thank all ESF Coordinators, the back office, Police, Fire and Ambulances services, the Sint Maarten Voluntary Corps, the Dutch Marines, shelter workers, Ministry VROMI, DCOMM for their collaboration during the passing of Tropical Storm Fiona.

This is the last Facebook live by the Prime Minister about Tropical Storm Fiona. Continue to monitor Government news and information mediums for any additional information.

For weather information, visit the Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten website www.meteosxm.comor visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/
Jim Beam plans to ramp up bourbon production at its largest Kentucky distillery to meet growing global demand in a more than $400 million expansion to be powered by renewable energy.

The project will increase capacity by 50% at the Beam plant in Boston, Kentucky, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by the same percentage, Beam Suntory said.

The company behind the top selling bourbon said Wednesday it reached production capacity at the Boston plant, about 36 miles south of Louisville, Kentucky. The expansion will be used to produce two mainstays  Jim Beam white and black label bourbons  and will mostly support expected sales growth overseas, especially in European and Asian markets, said Carlo Coppola, managing director of the Beam brands.

Jim Beam registered mid-single-digit growth globally in the past two years, the company said.

Mixing renewable energy into crafting whiskey, Beam will use a process that produces renewable natural gas to power the plant, the company said.

Beam Suntory said it entered into an agreement with 3 Rivers Energy Partners to build a facility across the street to convert waste from making bourbon into biogas, which will be treated to renewable natural gas standards and piped directly back to the distillery.

Once the project is completed, expected to be in 2024, the distillery will be 65% powered by renewable natural gas and 35% by fossil-based natural gas, the company said.

"This expansion will help ensure we meet future demand for our iconic bourbon in a sustainable way that supports the environment and the local community that has helped build and support Jim Beam," said Beam Suntory President and CEO Albert Baladi.

Beam Suntory, whose products include Kentucky-crafted Maker's Mark, said last year it wants to cut its companywide greenhouse gas emissions and water usage in half by 2030. The company's more ambitious goal is to remove more carbon than is emitted from its operations and among its supplier base by 2040. The spirits giant also is committed to planting 500,000 trees annually by 2030, with a goal of planting more trees than are used to make barrels to hold its aging whiskeys.

The new project will create 51 more jobs and includes additional storage warehouses. Bourbon ages in new, charred oak barrels, where it acquires its color and flavor, while stored in warehouses. Most bourbons typically age four to eight years before reaching consumers. Beam's continued growth "reflects the strength of our state's signature bourbon industry," Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said.

Beam also is "fully leveraging" its capacity at its distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, where it produces Jim Beam, Basil Hayden, Knob Creek and Legent brands. The two Beam distilleries are about 14 miles apart in central Kentucky. At another distillery that opened last year at Clermont, the company produces such small-batch brands as Booker's, Baker's and Little Book.

The company broadly outlined its Boston plant expansion earlier in the summer, but the announcement Wednesday provided details about production and the use of renewable energy.

Beam Suntory, a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan, isn't the first maker of bourbon to go green. Last year, spirits giant Diageo opened a carbonneutral distillery of Bulleit bourbon powered by renewable energy in Lebanon, Kentucky.

Beam's expansion at its Boston distillery comes amid continued rapid growth in the state's $9 billion distilling industry. Kentucky distillers are in the midst of a more than $5 billion capital investment campaign that includes expanding production facilities and warehousing to meet the global thirst for Kentucky bourbon, according to the Kentucky Distillers' Association. Kentucky is home to 95% of the world's bourbon production, the association said.
Police investigate the scene of Jimmy Michael's murder by car bombing on Sept. 17, 1980. He had lunch downtown and was driving south on Interstate 55 to his home in Mehlville when a bomb shattered his Chrysler Cordoba just short of the Reavis Barracks Road exit. Michaels was 75 when he was killed. Paul Leisure's gang had set the bomb and detonated it by remote control from a van they used to follow Michael's car. (Kathy Kuper/Post-Dispatch)

Anthony Giordano was hard to find at his old haunts around town. The man known and feared as "Tony G" didn't look so good.

"Aw, hell, I came down with that ... cancer," the profane mobster told a reporter outside the federal courthouse downtown in 1978. "I'm taking the cure, but I don't know how it's going to turn out."

Giordano had been in the crime business since the 1930s, when police dismissed him as a "cheap street hood with patches on his pants." Rising through local organized-crime ranks, he could afford flashy suits and hats. After becoming mob boss in the 1960s, he toned down his wardrobe, lest he draw more attention from FBI snoops.

Giordano's legitimate businesses were the Metropolitan Towing Co., where he was alleged to have threatened a priest with a shotgun, and the Banana Distributing Co. on the city's Produce Row. His rap sheet included convictions for income-tax evasion and conspiring to hide casino ownership in Las Vegas.

Unlike so many others in his trade, Giordano, 67, died peacefully on Aug. 29, 1980, in his modest home at 5966 Finkman Street, south of Francis Park. He had suffered from lung cancer for two years. About 200 people attended a brief memorial inside the mausoleum at Calvary Cemetery. No graveside service or funeral Mass was conducted.

Shortly before his death, mob leaders had recruited John J. Vitale, the old consiglieri (counselor), to come out of retirement and smooth the transition. Police investigators took bets on which of Giordano's nephews would take over.

But peaceful transitions are hard to come by in the crime trade. One of Giordano's longtime allies had been James A. Michaels Sr. But mob enforcer Paul J. Leisure, a former Giordano bodyguard, held a grudge against Michaels over the murder of Leisure's older brother in 1964. Leisure believed Michaels let the killers skip town.

The quiet after Giordano's death lasted 19 days. On Sept. 17, 1980, Michaels got into his Chrysler Cordoba after lunch downtown and headed home to Mehlville. A bomb shattered his car on Interstate 55 near the Reavis Barracks Road exit. Leisure began calling himself No. 1.

The bombing set off St. Louis' last big-time gang war. Leisure was critically injured on Aug. 11, 1981, when a bomb destroyed his own car outside his home. Two weeks later, George "Sonny" Faheen Jr, a nephew of Michaels, was blown up in his Volkswagen in a downtown garage.

The bloodshed unnerved some of Leisure's gang members, who provided the FBI with crucial information. During the trials, tapes of federal buggings proved that real mobsters talk like the ones in the movies. Paul Leisure died in a federal prison hospital in 2000.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)  South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem faced a Friday deadline to appeal a state ethics board's finding that there was evidence she improperly intervened in her daughter's application for a real estate appraiser license.

The Government Accountability Board voted unanimously last month that there was enough evidence to believe the Republican governor had committed malfeasance and engaged in a conflict of interest.

Noem has maintained she did nothing wrong, but so far the process has been conducted in private. Neither her office nor her reelection campaign answered questions Friday on whether she would proceed to a contested case hearing that would give her a chance to make her case publicly.

The board took unspecified action against the governor, and board member Gene Kean said last month that Friday would be the deadline for Noem to respond.

If there is no public hearing, it's not clear whether the board will release details of the action it took. The board closed the complaint last month but suggested it could be reopened.

A lawyer who has represented the governor before the board also did not respond to questions.

The Associated Press first reported that shortly after a state agency moved in July 2020 to deny Noem's daughter, Kassidy Peters, an appraiser license, the governor held a meeting with Peters and key decision-makers in her licensure. Days after the meeting, Peters signed an agreement that gave her another opportunity to meet the licensing requirements. The South Dakota Legislatures audit committee, controlled by Republicans, unanimously approved a report in May that found Noems daughter got preferential treatment.

Noem previously requested the ethics complaint be dismissed without a hearing by arguing that the person who brought it, former Republican Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, was out for revenge after she successfully pushed for his impeachment and removal from office for his conduct in a 2020 fatal car crash.

In that April motion to the board, Noem's attorneys also said she could counter the accusations against her. Her campaign spokesman, Ian Fury, on Friday referred a reporter to an August statement that branded the board's action as illegal.

But declining to fight the evidence in a contested case hearing would allow the board's action" against her while potentially avoiding further public scrutiny.

The Government Accountability Board, which has never handled such a high-profile case since its inception in 2017, has not publicly said what action it has taken. It has deliberated over the complaints for nearly a year in a series of closed-door meetings, navigating untested laws.

Board member David Gienapp, at the board's August meeting, verbally moved to invoke a statute  SDCL 3-24-7  that states the board shall hold a contested case hearing to afford the accused person the opportunity to respond to the allegation. But the board's draft minutes, posted two days later, make no mention of that statute. Instead, the draft minutes state that the board acted to make an initial determination that the complaint alleges facts that the governor engaged in misconduct.

The board's minutes state that it took appropriate action," but the board has kept that action a secret so far. The board is allowed under state law to issue a private reprimand. But the statute says it may take that action at the conclusion of a contested case hearing and after it has determined, by a majority vote, that there has been misconduct.

Their official actions, whatever they may be, should be a public record, said David Bordewyk, who directs the South Dakota Newspaper Association and advocates for open records and meeting laws.

Given the nature of this board, which is to hold public officials accountable, the public has a right to know what those accountability measures are, regardless of the official.

Board members this week either declined to comment or did not return a request for comment. An attorney hired by the board, Mark Haigh, has previously said it fully complied with all the requirements in the laws governing it.
CLAYTON  A Franklin County man who had methamphetamine in his system during a fatal head-on crash in 2018 near Eureka was sentenced Friday to four years in prison.

Clinton J. Price, 44, pleaded guilty July 26 to one count of second-degree involuntary manslaughter, which prosecutors reduced from a stiffer felony charge of DWI-death of another.

Authorities said that on Nov. 21, 2018, Prices pickup truck crossed the center line of Route 66 and hit Jessica M. Kremers car. Kremer, 33, died at the crash scene.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, Price told witnesses he swerved to avoid a deer. However, witnesses told investigators they did not report seeing a deer.

Results of Prices blood tests showed meth in his system, authorities said.

Circuit Judge Nancy Watkins McLaughlin accepted Prices guilty pleas in July. On Friday, the judge sentenced Price to four years in prison, the maximum term for the charge as recommended by St. Louis County prosecutors. Prices lawyer asked for probation.

According to relatives, Kremer worked two jobs at the time of her death: she was a sales representative for an industrial packaging firm in St. Louis during the day and tended bar at Cafe Napoli in Clayton at night. A sister, Shayna Kremer, said Jessica Kremer had attended a year of college in Kentucky, completed cosmetology school and was passionate about her work with a nonprofit that helps military families who have parents deployed overseas.

The night Jessica Kremer was killed, she was heading to Cafe Napoli to start her shift, relatives said. They said she had a variety of interests: from makeup to computer technology, yoga and repairing cars.

Shayna Kremer prepared a statement for Fridays sentencing hearing that her mother read in court.

Youve never owned up for your mistake, her statement to Price said. Im sad. Im sad you have no heart. ... Im sad that you took her away from us and that you crushed her to death. Im sad that my family cant go a day without suffering.

Prices lawyer Stephanie Howlett-Fortus told the judge that Price is tremendously sorry and has said time and time again how hed like to trade places with Ms. Kremer.
ST. LOUIS  Two boards under a new agency branded to strengthen police accountability and community trust had its upcoming meetings postponed on Friday.

The meetings, both scheduled for Sept. 19, were delayed due to a preliminary injunction on the city's new Division of Civilian Oversight issued by Circuit Judge Jason Sengheiser on Sept. 9, the new agency's commissioner Matthew Brummund told board members on Friday.

The injunction was issued after police unions sued on Aug. 8, after Mayor Tishaura Jones signed the ordinance into law, creating the new agency. Police unions pleaded to the court that the agency, its boards and policies would negatively affect the recruitment and retention of officers as well as public safety.

The Civilian Oversight Board examines police misconduct allegations and use-of-force incidents, and the Detention Facilities Oversight Board examines incidents involving staffers at city jails. Both civilian oversight boards, now under the new agency, hold subpoena power.

The meeting cancellations come as social justice groups called for an investigation this week after the deaths of six people in one of the city's jails this year, including two this month, and the fatal police shootings of a 61-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy in the past two weeks.
VILLAGE OF FOUR SEASONS, Mo.  Three candidates for Missouris open U.S. Senate seat answered questions during a forum on Friday at the Lake of the Ozarks. A fourth skipped the event.

Libertarian Jonathan Dine, Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine and Constitution Party candidate Paul Venable stood alongside an empty podium with Republican nominee Eric Schmitts name on it.

It was the second time since 1988 that a major party candidate didnt show up to the Missouri Press Association candidate forum, which is held every two years, said Mark Maassen, executive director of the press association.

Schmitts campaign told the Missouri Independent that the candidate only planned to join debates that are televised in prime time to a statewide audience.

Candidates that did show up Friday faced an hour of questioning from journalists representing publications across the state.

Both Dine and Valentine both agreed that there should be a federal law to protect access to abortion. Venable said there should not.

I dont want states to criminalize reproductive rights, Dine said. Every once in a while the federal government has to step up and become the champion of your rights.

That choice should be between a woman and her doctor, Valentine said.

On whether there should be a federal law to outlaw discrimination against LGBTQ people, Valentine said, I believe that all people have the right to live the authentic life that they want to live.

They are unable to do that, Venable said of Congress. Thats why we have states.

There are certain times where your rights need to be outlined, Dine said.

Candidates were also asked about President Joe Bidens student loan forgiveness plan. Valentine declined to give an endorsement, saying the waiver doesnt do away with core problems facing higher education.

She also said marijuana legalization should be left to the states, but added that she would support Amendment 3, a plan to legalize the recreational use of marijuana on the Nov. 8 ballot.

This is a very important issue to me because I had a son that died of an opioid overdose, Valentine said. I think we need to legalize commercial marijuana.

We also need to make sure that we tell our kids every single day that any kind of drugs they use  marijuana, alcohol, nicotine  can hurt their brain development, Valentine said.

Marijuana needs to be a state issue, Venable said.

Dine said he was sentenced to three years in prison for marijuana possession in 2004. Im now a convicted felon, he said. Im also now an authorized cultivator thanks to the state of Missouri.

So I find it ironic that they at once sent me to jail for something and now they permit me to do it if I pay them their extortion fee, Dine said.

The candidates were also asked about foreign ownership of farmland; Schmitt has been criticized for a vote he took in the Missouri Senate to allow it.

Eric Schmitt allowed hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland to be sold to communist China, Valentine said. That is just plain wrong. American farms should be owned by Americans.

The Associated Press said the last time a major party candidate for U.S. Senate or governor skipped the press associations candidate forums was in September 2000, when then-Gov. Mel Carnahan, a Democrat, was a no-show at a U.S. Senate forum in St. Louis. That forum went ahead as planned with Republican candidate John Ashcroft and two others.
ST. LOUIS  Two high-profile former advisers to President Donald Trump will be speaking at a local conservative groups annual conference Saturday night.

Steve Bannon, who served as chairman of Trumps successful 2016 campaign and the presidents chief strategist for eight months, is one of the featured guests at the dinner portion of Phyllis Schlafly Eagles annual training event. Peter Navarro, Trumps former trade adviser, is also scheduled to speak.

Both men have been in the news recently due to criminal indictments. New York prosecutors have accused Bannon of illegally duping donors who gave money to build a wall on the U.S. southern border. He has pleaded not guilty. Its all nonsense. They will never shut me up, Bannon said as he left court earlier this month.

Navarro is facing charges that he illegally refused to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He has also pleaded not guilty.

The theme of Saturdays dinner, set to be held at the Airport Marriott in Edmundson, is Due Process Denied.

Phyllis Schlafly Eagles was founded by Ed Martin, a former chairman of the Missouri GOP, following a split with conservative activist Schlaflys original Eagle Forum organization.

The Associated Press contributed

to this report.
SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan (AP)  Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed Friday to press his attack on Ukraine despite Ukraine's latest counteroffensive and warned that Moscow could ramp up its strikes on the country's vital infrastructure if Ukrainian forces target facilities in Russia.

Speaking to reporters Friday after attending a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Uzbekistan, Putin said the liberation of Ukraine's entire eastern Donbas region remained Russias main military goal and that he sees no need to revise it.

We arent in a rush, the Russian leader said, adding that Moscow has only deployed volunteer soldiers to fight in Ukraine. Some hard-line politicians and military bloggers have urged the Kremlin to follow Ukraine's example and order a broad mobilization to beef up the ranks, lamenting Russia's manpower shortage.

Russia was forced to pull back its forces from large swaths of northeastern Ukraine last week after a swift Ukrainian counteroffensive. Ukraine's move to reclaim control of several Russian-occupied cities and villages marked the largest military setback for Moscow since its forces had to retreat from areas near the capital early in the war.

In his first comment on the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Putin said: Lets see how it develops and how it ends.

He noted that Ukraine has tried to strike civilian infrastructure in Russia and we so far have responded with restraint, but just yet.

If the situation develops this way, our response will be more serious, Putin said.

Just recently, the Russian armed forces have delivered a couple of impactful strikes, he said in an apparent reference to Russian attacks earlier this week on power plants in northern Ukraine and a dam in the south. Let's consider those as warning strikes."

He alleged, without offering specifics, that Ukraine has attempted to launch attacks near our nuclear facilities, nuclear power plants, adding that we will retaliate if they fail to understand that such methods are unacceptable."

Russia has reported numerous explosions and fires at civilian infrastructure in areas near Ukraine, as well munitions depots and other facilities. Ukraine has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks and refrained from commenting on others.

Putin also sought Friday to assuage Indias concern about the conflict in Ukraine, telling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Moscow wants to see a quick end to the fighting and alleging that Ukrainian officials wont negotiate.

I know your stand on the conflict in Ukraine and the concerns that you have repeatedly voiced, the Russian leader told Modi. We will do all we can to end that as quickly as possible. Regrettably, the other side, the leadership of Ukraine, has rejected the negotiations process and stated that it wants to achieve its goals by military means, on the battlefield.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says it's Russia that allegedly doesnt want to negotiate in earnest. He also has insisted on the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied areas of Ukraine as a precondition for talks.

Putin's remarks during the talks with Modi echoed comments the Russian leader made during Thursday's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping when Putin thanked him for his governments balanced position on the Ukraine war, while adding that he was ready to discuss Chinas unspecified concerns about Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters Friday, Putin said he and Xi discussed what we should do in the current conditions to efficiently counter unlawful restrictions imposed by the West. The European Union, the United States and other Western nations have put sanctions on Russian energy due to the war in Ukraine.

Xi, in a statement released by his government, expressed support for Russias core interests but also interest in working together to inject stability into world affairs. Chinas relations with Washington, Europe, Japan and India have been strained by disputes about technology, security, human rights and territory.

Zhang Lihua, an international relations expert at Tsinghua University, said the reference to stability is mainly related to China-U.S. relations, adding that the United States has been using all means to suppress China, which forced China to seek cooperation with Russia."

China and India have refused to join Western sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine while increasing their purchases of Russian oil and gas, helping Moscow offset the financial restrictions imposed by the U.S. and its allies.

Putin also met Friday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss bolstering economic cooperation and regional issues, including a July deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations that allowed Ukrainian grain exports to resume from the countrys Black Sea ports.

Speaking at the Uzbekistan summit on Friday, Xi warned his Central Asian neighbors not to allow outsiders to destabilize them. The warning reflects Beijings anxiety that Western support for democracy and human rights activists is a plot to undermine Xis ruling Communist Party and other authoritarian governments.

We should prevent external forces from instigating a color revolution, Xi said in a speech to the leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member nations, referring to protests that toppled unpopular regimes in the former Soviet Union and the Middle East.

Xi offered to train 2,000 police officers, to set up a regional counterterrorism training center and to strengthen law enforcement capacity building. He did not elaborate.

His comments echoed longtime Russian grievances about the color-coded democratic uprisings in several ex-Soviet nations that the Kremlin viewed as instigated by the U.S. and its allies.

Xi is promoting a Global Security Initiative announced in April following the formation of the Quad by the U.S., Japan, Australia and India in response to Beijings more assertive foreign policy. U.S. officials complain it echoes Russian arguments in support of Moscows actions in Ukraine.

Central Asia is part of Chinas multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative to expand trade by building ports, railways and other infrastructure across an arc of dozens of countries from the South Pacific through Asia to the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was formed by Russia and China as a counterweight to U.S. influence. The group also includes India, Pakistan and the four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Iran is on track to receive full membership.

Follow all AP stories about the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
Regarding the letter "Valentines only chance to win is by focusing on abortion" (Sept. 3): In my opinion, Democratic Senate candidate Trudy Busch Valentine is a radical. Abortion is not health care. I believe abortion is the state-sanctioned killing of an innocent person because the innocent person's life is inconvenient for another person.
ANN ARBOR, Mich.  A newly constructed University of Michigan facility that will be home to the most powerful laser in the United States is hosting its first experiment this week as the nation seeks to become competitive again in the realm of high-power laser facilities.

The experiment is being conducted at ZEUS  short for Zettawatt-Equivalent Ultrashort pulse laser System  by researchers from the University of California, Irvine. They traveled to Ann Arbor as part of their study of extremely intense interactions of light and matter, and how such interactions can be harnessed to shrink particle accelerators.

At the height of its power, ZEUS will be a 3-petawatt laser.

Three petawatts is "3 with 15 zeroes after it," said Louise Willingale, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Michigan.

And "3 petawatts is 3,000 times more powerful than the U.S. power grid," she said.

Michigan was awarded $18.5 million by the National Science Foundation to establish ZEUS as a federally funded international user facility.

Inifially, the facility  housed M's Gerard Mourou Center for Ultrafas Optical Science  will host research teams conducting experiments that use a fraction of the laser's full power potential. The system gradually will ramp up, and ZEUS is expected to begin its signature experiments in the fall of 2023.

The U.S. built the world's first petawatt laser a quartercentury ago, but hasn't kept pace with more ambitious systems in Europe and Asia. While ZEUS doesn't feature the same raw power as its contemporaries overseas, its approach will simulate a laser that is roughly 1 million times more powerful than its 3 petawatts.

ZEUS primarily will study extreme plasmas, a state of matter in which the electrons have enough energy to escape atoms, creating a sea of charged particles. Nearly all of the seen universe is made of plasma. The sun is an example of a plasma.

Experiments are expected to contribute to the understanding of how the universe operates at the subatomic level and materials change on rapid timescales. Scientists also hope the experiments lead to the development of smaller h and more compact particle accelerators for medical imaging and treatment.

ZEUS will "have a huge range of applications across science, technology, engineering and medicine," Willingale said.

Proposals to use ZEUS will be e evaluated by an external panel comprised of scientists and engineers. Because of the NSF funding, there will be no cost to users whose experiment proposals are selected to conduct research, beyond providing their own travel costs to the facility.

The proposals will be selected on scientific merit and technical feasibility, Willingale said.

Franklin Dollar, an associate professor in Cal-Irvine's Department of Physics & Astronomy, and four UCI graduate students arrived at Michigan last week to begin preparing for their experiment.

"One of the major challenges in our field is access to high quality, intense laser light," Dollar said. "ZEUS will not only be the most powerful laser beam on the continent, but perhaps more importantly will provide multiple powerful beams.

"Rather than solely making highly energetic plasmas from a laser, there is a second beam which can interact with the plasma as well," he said.

ZEUS is an upgrade over the University of Michigan's 0.5-petawatt laser, known as HERCULES.

While Michigan researchers are thrilled with the birth of ZEUS, they are cognizant of how their naming conventions aren't exactly in keeping with the chronology of Greek mythology.

"HERCULES was the predecessor to ZEUS," Willingale said. "It's slightly backward, because Hercules was the son of Zeus.

"So, we're building the father after the son."
Russian intelligence agencies demonstrated a startling lack of effectiveness in predicting what the Ukrainians would do if the country was invaded, and compounded that error by not responding effectively to the problems Russian forces encountered and continued to have in Ukraine. This is all about an ancient Russian custom of telling the big guy (tsar, commissar or president) what they want to hear. As long as that goes on Russia is in trouble. That attitude eventually brought down the monarchy and the communist state that replaced it. After 1991 Russia became a democracy but after a decade of that former KGB officer Vladimir Putin was elected president and he turned Russia into a dictatorship with himself as president-for-life. Putin did not take bad news well and when his original invasion plans for Ukraine blew up in his face, he blamed his intelligence services. But he could not do that openly without admitting he made a mistake. The head of the intel services was turned into a figurehead to keep up appearances while his subordinates continued suppressing news of what was actually going on in Ukraine and while sending their own people to Ukraine for several months at a time to monitor what is actually taking place.

Putin has two foreign intelligence services available: SVR and GRU. The first one is the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. It is the former First Chief Directorate of the Soviet era KGB, which has managed intelligence for decades. Its activities are well known throughout the world.

The second one is the GRU, Russian military intelligence. It is a part of the Defense Ministry. Its full name is much longer (The Chief Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Army). GRU has retained its Soviet era name, and just about everything else. GRU is seen as a living relic of Soviet times. That is why GRU is so much more secretive than the "Westernized" SVR. GRU officers are considered more patriotic (and old school) than those of the KGB/SVR. During the Cold War, there were fewer GRU defectors, still a GRU point of pride. GRU prefers to stay in the shadows. Western writers have not written many books about GRU, compared to the KGB. This is largely because GRU keeps its secrets better, and, in the West, is considered an obscure part of Russian intelligence.

Both GRU (Russian Military Intelligence) and SVR (Russian Foreign Intelligence Service) perform the same functions: Political Intelligence, Scientific and Technical Intelligence (industrial espionage) and Illegal Intelligence. Because of this, the two agencies have a very real rivalry going.

But there was, and remains, one area where only the SVR (and its predecessor, the KGB) participates; running counter-intelligence abroad. This was long a KGB monopoly because it was the KGB's job to make sure the armed forces remained loyal, and GRU was, and is, very much a part of the armed forces.

When the GRU officers are working abroad, they are monitored by Directorate K (counter-intelligence) of the SVR. Those who serve inside Russia, are watched by the Directorate of Military Counter-Intelligence (The Third Directorate) of the FSB (Federal Security Service, successor to the KGB). Interestingly, in the Soviet period, it was also called the Third Directorate. It is not a coincidence but a continuation of the Soviet tradition. The Third Directorate of the FSB is still assigned to monitor the Defense Ministry, of which the GRU is a part. The head of GRU does not even report directly to the Russian President. GRU reports have to go through the Head of the General Staff and the defense minister before reaching the top man. GRU is very much number two in the Russian foreign intelligence business. As Number 2, they tend to try harder, and consider themselves more elite than those wimps over at SVR.

On the other hand, there also is one function monopolized by the GRU; battlefield intelligence. The battlefield intelligence is run in peacetime as well. For example, in preparation for future wars, the GRU sets up illegal weapon and ammunition dumps in the territory of many foreign countries. This is a risky operation. It usually involves groups of junior Russian diplomats secretly going into rural areas to bury rifles, machine-guns and other weapons. They have to do this discreetly and quickly, to avoid detection by the local counterintelligence service. It is considered a hard job.

Western analysts regard the GRU the most closed Russian intelligence service partly because it does not even manage its own press relations. That's because GRU is one of many components of the Defense Ministry, and is not eligible to have its own press relations staff. The FSB and SVR are higher up in the government pecking order, and entitled to their own press relations operations. Formally, GRU is nothing but one of the numerous Chief Directorates of the General Staff of the Defense Ministry. It does not even report directly to the Minister of Defense. That is why, those foreign journalists who have questions about GRU, must address them to the Press Service of the Russian Defense Ministry. The questions are often handled by some press aide who knows little about intelligence work, while FSB and SVR press people are very well informed. So foreign journalists tend to seek out the SVR press department when seeking information on Russian intel operations.

Putin did not consider Ukraine a foreign country but rather a lost part of Russia, so his intelligence agencies behaved accordingly. That meant less emphasis on determining what foreigners are up to and more efforts in bribing or otherwise persuading locals to do what Russia (Putin) wanted. The reality was that Ukraine had developed its own, separate, identity and become a foreign country, s0 Russian efforts to ignore that only created more Ukrainian patriots as well as identifying the Russian agents. This came as a shock to Putin and his intel minions, whose first reaction was to blame NATO and prosecute any Russian journalists or commentators who were providing accurate news about Ukraine. Such reporting is still illegal inside Russia but it still occurs in the form of government approved, or tolerated, Internet based reporters and commentators. For this both Russians and Ukrainians use the encrypted Telegram cellphone app. This is text based, making it less effective for battlefield communications. It is used by Ukrainian and Russian journalists, especially popular bloggers, to report to the people back home what is going on.

The Russian military sponsored a lot of pro-Russian bloggers and allowed some to accompany combat troops and report from the combat zone. This worked for about two months, until some of these Russian bloggers reported that the war effort was being mismanaged and getting a lot of Russian soldiers killed. While these Russian bloggers were still pro-Russian, they risked losing their online followers, especially those in the military or related to someone wounded or killed in Ukraine. These Telegram users could also report what they knew, witnessed or experienced but their reports spread more slowly. There were so many of these reports on the Russian language Internet that the pro-Russia bloggers were forced to confirm them and demand changes in how the war was being fought. Russian forces were still not advancing while the Ukrainians were, on several fronts. There were also Ukrainian partisans showing up in Russian occupied areas. This was reported by pro-Russia bloggers as a tragic turn of events. The recent (early September) massive loss of territory by Russian forces in Kharkiv and Kerson provinces also involved extremely poor performance by Russian troops and their officers, particularly the untrained, unwilling and resentful forcibly conscripted troops from the contested Donbass region. Video of Russian troops fleeing the advancing Ukrainians and those same Ukrainians retaking towns and villages without a fight came as a shock to many Russians. Naturally the Ukrainian civilians hailed the end of Russian occupation. Russian bloggers speculated that the Ukrainians planned to use these same tactics to quickly drive all Russian forces from Ukraine. This offensive was the result of better Ukrainian leadership and intel. The Ukrainians effectively combined the American aerial and electronic surveillance with the Ukrainian agents and informants in the occupied territories. The northern (Kharkiv) offensive exploited Russian weaknesses and moved so fast the Russians forces panicked and many troops simply fled. Russia described the abandonment of over 3,000 square kilometers of territory as a planned withdrawal to reinforce the Donbas and Kherson and Crimea provinces in the south. This made no sense and Russians could consult the Internet-based commentators and the Western media for a more coherent explanation of the Ukrainian offensive.

Vladimir Putin consulted his key aides about this in secret. Putin needs some new options but there are few of these. Putin can replace a lot of senior commanders, as has been done several times since February. Russian civilians sent to administer Ukrainian territories are leaving Ukraine because of violence against them and the inability of Russian security forces to provide any protection. In response Russian sends intel forces who are armed and empowered to do whatever it takes to restore order. So far that has meant a few new Ukrainian collaborators and a lot more hostile Ukrainians angry about living under Russian rule. For Russian troops in Ukraine this means enemies everywhere and a growing desire to get out of Ukraine. Instead of being terrorized the Ukrainians increasingly terrorize Russian troops and civilian administrators. All this gets reported back to Putin, who publicly presents a positive outlook. This is at odds with what is really going on, Russians, Ukrainians and a lot of NATO countries are waiting for the new Russian plan. It may be a long wait.
THOMPSON FALLS, MT / ACCESSWIRE / September 15, 2022 / United States Antimony Corporation (USAC-the Company) provides the following bi-monthly (July & August) update.

Antimony Price $6.16 per pound

Safety and Environmental

All Company operations reported zero lost time or serious injury accidents during the July-August Period.

There were zero environmental spills, discharges, or incidents during the period.

Production (Unless otherwise specified, tons = metric tons)

Bear River Zeolite ("BRZ"): July August Total Mined Tons: 104 91 195 Crushed Tons: 570 570 934 Tons Sold: 775 1195 1970

Montana Smelter: July August Total Antimony Trioxide sold (tons): 74.3 81.1 155.4 Antimony Metal Sold (lbs.) 0 3,307 3,307 Antimony Trisulfide produced (lbs.): 4,410 11,025 15,435

Operation Upgrades

BRZ

The new 40' x 60' service shop building is complete except for the main service door and wiring.

The ripping program in the pit continues as it is evidenced that ripping is giving superior results when performed properly. The company plans to purchase an excavator to assist with the mining, road building, and loading along with a D-9 with dual rippers for mining.

Montana Antimony Metal and Antimony Oxide

The operating team continues to achieve production goals. Skilled labor shortages continue to be a problem but have improved over the last few months.

Ambri Inc.

Shipment of pure antimony metal to Ambri Inc. during this period totaled 3,307 pounds. USAC has a collaboration agreement with Perpetua and a letter of interest with AMBRI to process the antimony concentrates produced by Perpetua. AMBRI recently announced that it will supply batteries to MICROSOFT's cloud servers https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2022/09/14/ambri-liquid-metal-battery-storage-system-to-help-back-up-microsoft-cloud-services/ .

Antimony Trisulphide Montana

We are presently operating two furnaces. At the present time we have satisfied the original military ordnance primer request from the DOD. The delivery of two additional furnaces ordered by the company is expected in Q3. The order was placed in anticipation of:

additional supplies of antimony trisulphide concentrate being available from Perkins Rouge & Paint and from our Guadalupe mine in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico, combined with an expected increase in demand for product from the US DOD (Department of Defense) and recreational ammunition manufacturers. It is believed that the war in Ukraine has reduced the USA's stockpile of ordnance and we are positioning the company to assist in the replenishment of antimony trisulphide for primers and tracer bullets.

Wadley Mine Update

Company President, Russ Lawrence, met with onsite personnel and conducted a detailed inspection of the Wadley Mine property. Extensive level and section drawings, dating up to September 1999 were provided to him. These drawings will be digitized and entered into software programs designed to provide 3-D images of the areas mined and thus indicate possible extensions of mineralization into unmined areas. Mining of antimony trioxide material, (as provided for in the purchase option agreement) is continuing with shipments to Madero. Additionally, the Company commenced an aggressive mining campaign on 20 Aug 2022 to ascertain current tonnage, grade, and cost. The Company has purchased over 200 tons of ore between the grades of 25% and an average target grade of better than 30%. The 8-month mining campaign will provide a very significant set of data to aid the Company in its decision regarding the potential purchase of the Wadley mines (outlined in previous press-release).

Soyatal Mines

Two flotation test programs were conducted on ore from the company's mines in the Soyatal district of Mexico under the direction of our flotation plant manager. The initial forty metric tons of ore yielded 1.1 metric tons of dry concentrate that ran 68% antimony with values for lead, arsenic, and other elements within the military specifications. However, the iron was slightly higher than the military spec. limit. Adjustments to the reagents loadings and the flotation procedures were made resulting in improved recoveries with lower impurities. The second forty metric tons of ore yielded 1.6 metric tons of dry concentrate with an increased antimony assay of 71% and was well within the military spec for iron and all other elements. This test work provides the Company with an additional potential source of material for the production of military grade antimony trisulfide. The Soyatel Mine is owned by the Company.

Sierra Guadalupe Mines

The company completed the initial payment of $450,000 dollars for the purchase of the mining claims known as the Sierra Guadalupe mines in the state of Zacatecas Mexico (for see NR August 18, 2022). The company is engaged in negotiations to clarify surface rights issues in an existing agreement with previous owners. A program to recruit local miners to do initial inspection of roads, equipment, and other requirements to start mining as soon as possible is underway. Ore from this mine, being primarily sulfides, will be sent to the company's floatation plant in Guanajuatofor concentration then to its facility in Montana for purification and sale asantimony trisulfide for munition primers. The material from this mine has previously been tested by and met specs of the US DOD.

Other sources of antimony ore

The company is continuing discussions with Guatemalan sources for supply of similar material to be upgraded using the flotation model and/or direct furnace feed at its smelter in Coahuila Mexico., depending on sulfide vs oxide content and host minerals. The company travelled to and inspected a deposit of antimony in Guatemala, making further progress than earlier attempts towards the importation of this ore into Mexico. A down-payment in anticipation of the purchase of the first 40 metric tons of an estimated grade of 45% antimony or better was made this week. If successful, the company has already established an agreement with the source and this ore will be assayed for host minerals and a flow sheet for its treatment will be developed accordingly. Investigations continue into possible sources of antimony trisulphide and antimony trioxide supply from Alaska, eastern Canada, and Australia.

Los Juarez Property

Our geologist in Mexico has completed a 1km x 3 km grid survey of the Los Juarez property. A total of 236 rock and soil samples from this grid have been collected and are being sent to the SGS lab in Durango (ISO/IEC 17025 accredited) for analysis of Sb, Au, Ag, and other trace elements. The geologist has previously mapped mineralized intrusions in proximity to the jasperoid areas. The relationship between intrusive bodies and jasperoids will be further evaluated to assist in defining and modelling drilling targes over this extensive area of mineralization. The geophysical program is expected to be completed no later than the first week of December.

Milling of the Los Juarez bulk sample.

The milling of the original 2,000 metric ton bulk sample from the Los Juarez property was put on hold in order to enable higher priority programs to proceed. : These programs included the test milling and flotation of ores from the Soyatal district; sending technical personnel to a mine in Guatemala, sending experienced personnel to the Wadley mine to assist in the initiation of the mining policies, payment, etc.; and the oversight of the geophysical, geological, and geochemical studies 0n the Los Juarez property.

Summary

The company has been highly active on several fronts. Significant progress has been made in identifying possible sources of supply of antimony that can be upgraded utilizing the expertise and experience acquired by the US Antimony team. These efforts will continue. We thank our shareholders for their patience and for their support.

Forward Looking Statements: This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are based upon current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events, including matters related to the Company's operations, pending contracts and future revenues, ability to execute on its increased production and installation schedules for planned capital expenditures and the size of forecasted deposits. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which they are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as these statements are subject to numerous factors and uncertainties. In addition, other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are discussed in the Company's most recent filings, including Form 10-KSB with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:

United States Antimony Corp.

PO Box 643 47 Cox Gulch Rd.

Thompson Falls, Montana 59873-0643

E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: 928 234 5227

SOURCE: United States Antimony Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:
OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Invert Inc. ("Invert" or the Company"), a specialized carbon finance company and the future of personalized carbon offsetting, is pleased to provide a corporate update on ongoing projects and developments.

Highlights

Completed $25 Million CAD Equity Financing

Expanded Portfolio of High-Quality Carbon Credits

Successfully launched the Invert App available on Apple and Android

Head of Carbon Forestry co-authors biochar carbon credit methodology

Invert Executive Chair to be feature speaker at Elevate Festival

In the last several months Invert has accomplished many significant milestones as we continue to build on our vision to help individuals and businesses contribute to our common goal of addressing climate change, said Mark Zekulin, Executive Chairman, Invert Inc. Were thrilled to have launched the Invert App in Canada this week and completed our $25 million financing in August. We've already begun putting this capital to work with recent investments in Aperam and BC Biocarbon  two developers were proud to support.

Equity Financing Complete

Invert closed a $25 million CAD financing in August, welcoming new institutional and HNW investors alongside continued support from lead strategic investor Altius Minerals (TSX: ALS). The equity financing provides the Company with significant capital to expand its carbon credit streaming portfolio as well as continued development of the recently launched Invert App.

New Carbon Credit Portfolio Investments

The Company recently announced purchase and streaming agreements with Aperam Steel and BC Biocarbon for high-quality carbon removal credits (CORCS) derived from biochar. Aperam is Brazils largest steelmaker and a world leader in environmental sustainability. Invert also entered a multi-year streaming agreement with BC Biocarbon to supply high-quality verified CORCS. Both of these projects are available on the Invert App.

Invert Head of Carbon Forestry Contributes to new Verra Biochar Methodology

The Company is pleased to congratulate Matt Delaney, Inverts Head of Carbon Forestry for his contribution to developing the recently published Verra Biochar Methodology. The methodology, published by Verras Verified Carbon Standard Program, paves the way for new nature-based approaches to carbon removal, specifically biochar utilization in soil and other applications.

Invert App: Empowering Personal Climate Journeys

This week, the Company officially launched the Invert App - a mobile experience that will change the way individuals contribute to the fight against climate change. The user-friendly Invert App is simple to download and available on both the Apple and Android App Stores. The app allows each user to measure and reduce their carbon footprint while contributing to sustainable carbon projects that reduce and remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere - all from the convenience of their mobile phone.

Invert to Present at the Elevate Arts and Tech Festival

Invert Inc.s Executive Chair, Mark Zekulin, will be a feature speaker presenting at the 2022 Elevate Arts and Technology Festival in Toronto on September 22nd, which is expected to host over 30,000 attendees this year.

About Invert

Invert operates at the core of the carbon reduction and removal ecosystem, from financing the removal of carbon from our atmosphere via high-quality carbon offset projects to empowering businesses and individuals on their emissions reduction journeys.

Invert invests in carbon credit projects that produce high-quality, meaningful carbon reduction and removal credits that will help save our world. By selling these credits to individuals or businesses, the Company generates revenue that can be reinvested towards further projects that reduce or remove CO2 from the atmosphere. In addition, Invert works directly with businesses to help them understand and reduce their carbon footprint.

Invert is also creating a place where individuals can go to learn about what they can do themselves to address the pressing issue of climate change. The Company helps individuals understand their own impact on the world and gives them a chance to support projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is for every individual to be carbon neutral, and Invert will help get people there in an engaging manner with rich content and community. Please visit our website for more information: invert.world.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, the intentions of the Corporation to pursue the Invert Neutral App indefinitely. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Invert to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: volatility in prices of carbon credits and demand for carbon credit; expectations regarding carbon market trends, overall carbon market growth rates and prices for carbon credits; inability to raise the money necessary to execute its business plan and strategies; the Corporation's business plans and strategies, including acquiring carbon credits, streams and interests in carbon credit projects or entities involved in carbon credits or related businesses; the political, social and economic conditions in each jurisdiction in which the Corporation holds an investment; terrorism, insurrection or war; or delays in obtaining governmental approvals. Although Invert has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Invert disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220915005460/en/

Caitlin OHara

Head of Corporate Communications

[email protected]

1-613-621-9638

Source: Invert Inc.
Ottawa, ON, Sept. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At the invitation of Governor General Mary May Simon and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President Caron will join representatives from the Government of Canada, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and the Assembly of First Nations at the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

"It is our Metis custom to pay respect to those who have passed, said President Caron. As a people of relationship, we join together to comfort families as they grieve personal loss.

Earlier this week, President Caron spoke with Governor General Mary Simon. They reflected on the complex history of Metis people and the Crown, and discussed shared hopes for a brighter future.

Forging a positive pathway forward requires building and strengthening relationships, said President Caron, I look forward to renewing the Metis Nations relationship with the Crown through the Governor General and King Charles III.

Steve Sutherland Metis National Council [email protected]

Source: Metis National Council
CANADA, Sept. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Ocean Wise, a leading global ocean conservation organization, marks an impactful milestone by welcoming the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanups one millionth volunteer.

To help Ocean Wise honour the Shoreline Cleanups achievements, local leaders will join in hosting public events across Canada, including:

The celebration is occurring on International Coastal Cleanup Day, an important awareness moment and opportunity to take direct action to address issues impacting ocean health.

In addition, anyone over the age of 18 registered for an Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup in Canada on September 17 will be entered in a contest for a chance to win a pair of roundtrip Air Canada tickets valid for travel between Canada and any destination Air Canada flies worldwide, courtesy of Air Canada (excludes registrations in Quebec. Conditions and restricted travel periods apply).

Since 1994, the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup (previously known as the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup) has hosted 30,542 cleanups, collecting more than 2.1 million kilograms of trash across Canadas shorelines. The initiatives presenting sponsor is Loblaw Companies Limited, partnering with Ocean Wise to drive environmental action and fight climate change.

As a direct action program, the Shoreline Cleanup addresses the serious issue of litter and plastic pollution. According to the UN Environmental Programme, 400 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced globally each year, and production of primary plastic is forecast to reach 1,100 million tonnes by 2050. An alarming portion of this ends up as litter, polluting the environment.

Ocean Wise is also announcing a new call-to-action via a joint statement with Loblaw, Tru Earth and other partners including ONeill, Corona, Wheaton and Air Canada. The statement calls for Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup volunteers to recover over two million kilograms of trash by the end of 2025.

Speaking on the importance and impact of the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup, Ocean Wise President, Lasse Gustavsson, said:International Coastal Cleanup Day is an important moment that Ocean Wise honours each year by inspiring direct action via shoreline cleanups across North America. Over 13 million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean each year, and much of this litter enters the environment far upstream. Our efforts today and in the future will help protect shorelines and waterways in our communities, places vitally important to the health of the worlds oceans.

Learn more about the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup at shorelinecleanup.org, and about the special events at ocean.org/action/iccd2022.

###

About the Ocean Wise Shoreline CleanupThe Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup is a conservation program that provides families, businesses and community groups the opportunity to take action to help protect waterways in their community, one bit of trash at a time.

About Ocean WiseOcean Wise is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower communities and individuals to take action to protect and restore our worlds oceans.

About Loblaw Companies LimitedLoblaw is a longtime presenting sponsor of the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup, Canada's food and pharmacy leader, and the nation's largest retailer. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, financial services and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,400 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees and Associate-owners employ more than 190,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.

Media contactYulu PR[email protected]604.558.1656

Source: Ocean Wise
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Daniel Group, a leading Customer Experience consulting firm, announces the theme of its annual client conference, Dollars & Sense: What's Next in CX? The conference will focus on helping clients move their CX programs into the future. This year's conference will be held on Oct. 19-20 at the Hyatt Centric Southpark Hotel in Charlotte, N.C.

Keynote Speaker, Fred Reichheld, is the creator of the Net Promoter system of management, the founder of Bain & Company's Loyalty practice, and the author of five books, including the New York Times bestseller The Ultimate Question 2.0. Mr. Reichheld is a frequent speaker at major business forums, and his work on customer loyalty has been widely covered in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Times, Fortune, Businessweek, and The Economist.

The conference will kick off with Mr. Reichheld's presentation, spotlighting what to do (and what not to do) when using NPS and Earned Growth Rate (EGR) to make a case for CX. This session will conclude with a Q&A with Mr. Reichheld.

The second session, Measuring CX Outcomes Now, How is One Client Doing It?, will be led by Lynn Daniel, Founder and CEO, of The Daniel Group, and Marty Yuzwa, Six Sigma Program Champion, Ohio Cat.

The third session, Customer Experience and Your Marketing ProgramWhat is the connection?, will be led by Doug Fowler, President & COO, of The Daniel Group, and Denise Wieters, Customer Experience Manager, HOLT CAT. They will explore the relationship between CX performance, customer referrals, and marketing efforts.

The fourth session, Lessons Learned from a CX Leader, will be led by Lynn Daniel, and Carol Tesarek, Director, Customer Experience, Equipment Depot. They will discuss CX program implementation, ongoing challenges and opportunities after the program is underway, and creating CX disciples within your organization.

The Daniel Group's cloud-based platform, ExperienceConnect, provides customer feedback to its clients in real time via the web. ExperienceConnect is a secure, robust, cloud-based customer experience management system. It gives clients a complete 360-degree view of their customer experience status and progress, incorporating both Customer Feedback and Employee Feedback.

The Daniel Group, formed in 1989, serves approximately 75% of all Caterpillar dealers in North America and Navistar (IC Bus), AGCO, and Blue Bird Corp., and other heavy equipment dealers and manufacturers with their customer experience feedback programs. Their array of B2B services includes customer feedback, employee feedback, strategic planning, and market research.

Net Promoter, NPS, NPS Prism, and the NPS-related emoticons are registered trademarks of Bain & Company, Inc., Satmetrix Systems, Inc., and Fred Reichheld. Net Promoter Score and Net Promoter System are service marks of Bain & Company, Inc., Satmetrix Systems, Inc., and Fred Reichheld.

Contact Information: A. Lynn Daniel Founder & CEO [email protected] 704-749-5018

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

Source: The Daniel Group
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 16, 2022) - Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc. (CSE: VEGI) (OTCQB: VGGIF) (FSE: 77i) ("Boosh" or the "Company") a premier plant-based brand in the "better for you" food sector, is pleased to announce that it intends to conduct a non-brokered private placement (the "Financing") of 10% secured convertible debentures (the "Convertible Debentures") for total gross proceeds of up to $250,000 (Canadian).

The net proceeds of the Financing will be used for working capital. The Financing of the Convertible Debentures is anticipated to close on or before September 20, 2022 (the "Closing"). It is anticipated that one arm's length subscriber will acquire all of the Convertible Debentures.

The Convertible Debentures will bear interest at 10% per annum, calculated in Canadian dollars, from the date of issuance, payable in arrears quarterly during the first year of the Convertible Debenture term and monthly thereafter and upon maturity or redemption. The Convertible Debentures will mature on the date that is two (2) years from the date of issuance (the "Maturity Date"). The Convertible Debentures will be secured by a general security interest over the Company's assets.

The Convertible Debentures are convertible into common shares ("Common Shares"), at the holder's option, at a price of $0.075 per Common Share (the "Conversion Price"), subject to adjustment in certain events, at any time prior to the Maturity Date.

The Company may redeem, in cash, any or all of the Convertible Debentures at any time prior to the Maturity Date upon not less than five business days prior written notice for an amount equal to the principal amount of the Convertible Debentures plus accrued interest.

No finder's fees are payable in connection with the Financing. The Convertible Debentures and the Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring on the date that is four months and one day after Closing.

The securities of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirement of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. 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.

The Company continues to work with its auditors to complete the audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements and expects to file the Documents by September 29, 2022.

Connie Marples

Founder/President

[email protected]

Telephone: 778 840 1700

www.Booshfood.com

About Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc.:

Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Boosh Food (www.booshfood.com), offers high quality, non-GMO, gluten free, 100% plant-based nutritional comfort foods for the whole family. Through a separate subsidiary, Beautiful Beanfields, the Company owns Beanfields, a plant-based chip brand sold in over 7,000 stores throughout North America. Boosh, good for you and good for planet earth.

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Company's expectations concerning the size of the Financing, its ability to close the Financing in whole or in part or at all and its plan for the proceeds of the Financing. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/137548
Signed an MOU on September 7 for the Sarawak H2biscus Green Hydrogen Project to supply hydroelectric-power-based renewable power.

The four companies and Sarawak Energy aims to produce green hydrogen from 2027 by conducting joint research to find a stable power supply for hydrogen production and completing the feasibility study by this year.

"If the discussion on the power supply is successfully progressed, the H2biscus project will be the hub of hydrogen supply in Asia", said Byeong-og Yoo, Senior Executive Vice President.

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- POSCO Holdings will cooperate with Samsung Engineering, Lotte Chemical, Malaysian Sarawak Economic Development Corporation Energy, and Malaysian Sarawak Energy for Green Hydrogen Business for Sarawak's green H2 business.

On September 7, POSCO Holdings signed an MOU about cooperation on supplying hydroelectric-based renewable power for the Malaysia Sarawak H2biscus Green Hydrogen Project with Samsung Engineering, Lotte Chemical, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation Energy, and Malaysian Sarawak Energy.

This January, POSCO Holdings, Samsung Engineering, and Lotte Chemical signed an MOU with SEDC Energy to build a partnership for the Sarawak green hydrogen project. This time, the new MOU signing for the collaboration of renewable power supply with Sarawak Energy is expected to boost the Sarawak hydrogen project.

With the MOU signed, the five parties agreed to conduct joint research for a stable power supply under the H2biscus project, which will use min. 900MW of power, and check the preparations for substation, power line, and other infrastructural facilities. Based on the result of the co-research, the ongoing feasibility study will be finalized by this year, aiming to start production of green H2 from the end of 2027.

The green hydrogen produced from the Sarawak project will amount to 200,000 tons. Except for 7,000 tons used in Malaysia, the rest of the H2 will be moved to Korea in the form of ammonia, which is expected to help the country facilitate the national H2 economy and achieve the carbon neutrality goal. In particular, POSCO Holdings, Samsung Engineering, and Lotte Chemical will continue to develop green H2 projects overseas to take the lead in introducing green hydrogen to Korea.

Besides, POSCO GROUP is actively taking action to secure differentiated business capabilities and technological prowess over the entire hydrogen value chain from H2 production, transport, storage, and usage. While participating in multiple outstanding projects of green H2 output in Australia and the Middle East, POSCO is also focusing on its capabilities in high-temperature electrolysis technology (producing H2 through electrolysis of water at high temperatures) and ammonia decomposition technology (producing H2 by reforming ammonia). POSCO GROUP aims to grow into the nation's biggest H2 player with the highest demand and supply by equipping itself with the production system for 7 million tons of H2 by 2050, at home and abroad.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/posco-holdings-to-cooperate-with-samsung-engineering-lotte-chemical-sarawak-economic-development-corporation-energy-and-malaysian-sarawak-energy-for-green-hydrogen-business-301625065.html

SOURCE POSCO Holdings
(Tribune News Service)  The Dayton area has a deep history in connection to flight and the Air Force, including the development of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Heres a look at some key dates:

 Early 1900s: Orville and Wilbur Wright make Huffman Prairie the worlds first flying field. The brothers set up the Wright School of Aviation on Huffman Prairie to train Americas earliest military pilots.

 1909: The Wright Brothers sell an early airplane to the U.S. Signal Corps.

 The first military aviation units were formed in the Dayton area. The Airplane Engineering Division, located about five miles west of todays Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Area B, at McCook Field, was activated in 1917. The Fairfield Air Depot began as the Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot in 1917 at Wilber Wright Field, todays WPAFB Area A.

 1923: Lt Harold R. Harris and Lt Muir Fairchild flew the XNBL-1 Barling Bomber, the Armys first long-range night bomber, in its first flight at Wright Field.

 Chuck Yeager came to Wright Field in 1945 and performed his first flight test missions here. Yeager went on to the record books in 1947 when he became the first pilot to break the sound barrier, above Southern California.

 Sept. 18, 1947: Aboard the VC-54C Sacred Cow, President Truman signs the National Security Act of 1947, separating the Air Force from the US Army and creating a new branch of the U.S. military.

 Wright and Patterson Fields  the latter named after fallen pilot. Lt. Frank Stuart Patterson, who died in a 1918 crash  were merged as Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on Jan. 13, 1948.

 July 1992: Air Force Materiel Command was borne of the merger of Air Force Logistics Command and Air Force Systems Command in July 1992  and headquartered at Wright-Patterson. Controlling about a third of the Air Force budget, the new command emerged after the end of the Cold War and Desert Storm, as the Air Force was shrinking, reinventing itself and searching for new efficiencies.

 The 88th Air Base Wing was officially formed on Oct. 1, 1994. Today, the mighty 88th is the host unit for Wright-Patterson, one of the nations biggest Air Force bases.

 2005 BRAC process: Wright-Patterson was a big winner in the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process. In the immediate aftermath, base leaders saw a gain of about 1,120 new military and civilian authorizations. Adding family members into the mix, the Air Force estimated that a total increase of more than 3,800 people would move to communities around the base. Base planners also saw an initial need for about $335 million in BRAC-related construction and renovation projects. The 711th Human Performance Wing was formed and found a home at Wright-Patterson as result of the BRAC.

 The School of Aerospace Medicine moved from Brooks City-Base in San Antonio to Wright-Patterson in 2011.

 Today: Wright-Patterson is the largest single-site employer in the state of Ohio, with more than 30,000 military and civilian employees.

(c)2022 Springfield News-Sun, Ohio

Visit Springfield News-Sun, Ohio at www.springfieldnewssun.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
DALLAS (Tribune News Service)  Complications for the Biden administration over immigration intensified as migrants were transported by Republican governors to cities governed by Democrats and rising migration along the southern border remains on pace to exceed a record 2 million.

On Friday, Venezuelan migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard were moved yet again to a military base on nearby Cape Cod on the Massachusetts mainland, as immigration advocates criticized what they said were fraudulent claims about destinations and which federal agency migrants should report to in the future. Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Antonio, Gustavo Garcia-Siller, tweeted migrants were used as "pawns."

New numbers on Border Patrol arrests, through August, are expected to show a record number of arrivals at the Southwest border topping 2 million for the fiscal year that ends in September, with a sharp shift in demographics. That shift, with more Cubans, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans, creates new challenges for federal, state and local officials because migrants from those nations are largely granted entry into the U.S.

Tangled diplomatic relations among multiple nations mean migrants from those three countries aren't easily returned to their homelands under a pandemic-related health order. Moreover, the migration from communist or authoritarian countries places a spotlight on Republicans who have traditionally championed those fleeing such governments.

Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre accused Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, both Republicans, of misleading asylum-seekers "fleeing communism."

Abbott has sent more than 11,000 migrants on state-funded buses this year, accusing the Biden administration of taking little action to "secure the border" against rising migration that "endangered" communities. Abbott, who is up for re-election, said the state of Texas will continue to send migrants north until President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris "step up and do their jobs to secure the border."

DeSantis, following Abbott's lead, sent about 50 Venezuelans on a plane to Martha's Vineyard this week. The planes came from San Antonio, Texas, to Florida.

Jean-Pierre said DeSantis "abandoned" migrants on the side of a busy road in Martha's Vineyard. The Florida governor had time to "hire a videographer to capture footage of that flight," but not to alert state officials that migrants were en route, she said.

On Thursday, Biden said, "Republicans are playing politics with human beings, using them as props. What they're doing is simply wrong. It's un-American."

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and most other Republicans are standing solidly behind the governor, saying his actions are warranted and that the impact on the state from the migrant surge is much more severe than the communities where buses and flights have been sent.

Immigrant advocates have protested the treatment of the migrants, and called for a U.S. Department of Justice investigation. Some have said they were misled into taking the plane trip to Massachusetts, or that migrants have been told to report to the wrong federal agency. The latter move could mean the migrants won't get crucial notices of upcoming federal immigration court hearings, triggering their removal from the U.S. in absentia, or without appearing in court to defend themselves.

The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment.

"You can treat these people as political pawns, but what we're trying to do is make sure that they're treated like human beings, who by the way, all have legal permission to be in the country," said Naomi Steinberg, vice president U.S. policy and advocacy at HIAS, a global nonprofit with Jewish origins that provides assistance to immigrants at the border and within the U.S.

Steinberg said migrants are cleared by federal immigration officials for passage into the U.S., and many will launch asylum petitions, which they have a legal right to do under U.S. and international law. Migrant transfers, by buses or planes, "is certainly not the answer for responding to a real challenge at the border."

In Del Rio, the busiest region for the Border Patrol during the last few months, state buses continue to arrive six times a week to take migrants north, said Tiffany Burrow, who leads the faith-based Val Verde Humanitarian Border Coalition. The coalition operates a day shelter in south Del Rio, helping migrants prepare for journeys with directions, free meals and new clothing.

Migrants volunteer to take free bus rides north, offered by the Abbott administration, Burrow said. All migrants had been processed by federal immigration authorities with instructions about pending federal immigration court dates before boarding the bus. Burrow has taken one of the free bus trips north with migrants to Washington, D.C.

"Not to be simplistic, but I mean, there are a lot of people coming across and they're going to their final destinations wherever that may be," said Burrow. If a free bus trip gets the migrant closer to their final destination, they take it, Burrow said.

The U.S. Border Patrol continues dropping off migrants at the day shelter, including new arrivals who crossed in Eagle Pass, a busier point of entry about an hour down the Rio Grande from Del Rio. In the last couple of weeks, the Border Patrol has released migrants in downtown El Paso, with its processing center and area shelter at capacity.

Border arrests of Venezuelans have risen quickly at the border to nearly 130,000, through July. That's nearly triple their numbers the previous year. Since 2015 more than 6 million Venezuelans have left that country to scattered places on the globe, according to R4V, a digital site for refugees and migrants connected to U.N. refugee agency.

"This makes clear when this happens that you're going to have to put all of your diplomatic might at the very highest levels to really working to find a solution to the crisis in Venezuela," said Adam Isacson, a security and migration analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America.

More and more border arrests look like defacto immigration policy by country. This fiscal year, nearly 180,000 Cubans have been arrested at the southwest border, a figure that exceeds the 125,000 in the Mariel exodus in 1980 from the island nation.

Nearly 134,000 Nicaraguans have been arrested by the Border Patrol, through July of this fiscal year.

Very few have faced a swift exit under Title 42. Instead, they are processed by federal immigration authorities for later hearings in the clogged U.S. immigration courts.

Immigration officials note at least a fifth of arrests, or encounters, are by migrants who make repeat tries under Title 42, which doesn't carry legal consequences. Therefore, each arrest doesn't equal an individual migrant.

About 60% of immigrants caught by the U.S. Border Patrol come from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, according to data through July from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In July, that figure for those four countries sunk to about 50%.

Reuters reported earlier this week  and The Dallas Morning News confirmed  that the administration of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has been pressed to accept more migrants from Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua under Title 42 policies. This happened even as the Biden administration defended in federal court its attempt to end the pandemic measure last May.

"If you come from a country where there's a strong likelihood of a strong asylum case, like one of these dictatorships, and it's a country that's hard to expel to, it's pretty much like Ellis Island now," Isacson said.

2022 The Dallas Morning News.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
NAGASAKI  Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki preserves a cross that was exposed to the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in 1945. The cross was long-believed to be missing until three years ago, when it was returned by a U.S. university. Church officials will present a replica of the cross to the university to express their gratitude.

In October 1945, two months after the bombing, the "bombed cross" was found by a U.S. serviceman in the debris of the devastated cathedral. After receiving permission from the bishop of Nagasaki, he took the cross home with him. In 1982, he donated it to Wilmington University, which put it on display. The cross was returned to the Urakami church in 2019 through the mediation of a professor at another university.

Urakami church officials and others plan to travel to the United States in late September to deliver the replica and will also interact with U.S. peace groups.
IZYUM, Ukraine  Russian forces terrorized residents throughout their six-month occupation of Izyum, a strategic hub in northeast Ukraine, with witnesses and victims this week recounting the torture, killings and forced disappearances that soldiers carried out. And as they bore witness, the Ukrainian officials now back in control of the city worked to unearth evidence of those potential war crimes.

Investigators on Friday started to exhume the bodies of more than 400 civilians buried in a makeshift cemetery and as many as 17 Ukrainian soldiers buried in a mass grave at the same site. The area, located in a forest just outside Izyum, had been used as a Russian military position.

Officials said they had quickly identified signs of torture on some of the corpses. At least one had a rope around his neck, they said.

Bucha, Mariupol, now, unfortunately, Izyum, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday, naming other places where occupying Russian forces inflicted widespread violence on civilians. Russia leaves death everywhere.

About 100 investigators stoically dug up the graves  each marked with a simple wooden cross and number  and took notes on the condition of the decomposing bodies, measuring them and searching for identifying details. The stench of death filled the air, and booms echoed through the woods as Ukrainian forces demined a nearby area.

Several investigators in white jumpsuits and gloves stood in the large pit where the soldiers mass grave was discovered. They put each body in a white plastic bag, then carried the bags to flat ground nearby. One worker then unzipped each bag to closely examine its contents. The soldiers identities were unknown  their faces so damaged or decayed from the time underground that they were no longer recognizable.

Clothes were searched for any clues of names. In one mans pockets, the worker found only nasal spray and medicine. Another soldier carried a silver cellphone, a wall plug, a metal spoon, headphones and two painkillers. The investigator used the mans army fleece to wipe off the phone screen, then tried to turn it on before placing it inside a small bag for further examination.

In the next body bag, he found a man whose left leg was crumpled high under his left arm. He was shirtless and covered in sand, wearing two yellow and blue bracelets on his left wrist. Bit by bit, the investigator wiped away the sand to reveal several tattoos that might help determine the soldiers identity, including one on his left arm: the name Alina with small hearts dotted around it.

Evidence uncovered at the burial site is part of a much larger story of horrors that unfolded in this city after Russian forces took control in March. Despite a sense of optimism over Ukraines recent wins in reclaiming territory, civilians coping with the aftermath of the Russian occupation are still reeling over what they have endured. Some are struggling to believe the peace in their city will hold.

Around 50 people are still sleeping in the basement of a kindergarten. Some are so fearful of another attack that they refuse to go home even during the day, instead cooking in the outdoor playground. In March, some 200 people sought safety there, sheltering in such a tight space that some people would have to sleep sitting up, said Anna Kobets, 38. One old man was killed when the courtyard was shelled. Even now, loud noises can send the children sprinting back to the basement.

Kobetss husband, Vitaliy Kaskov, 39, was among those staying at the kindergarten at the beginning of the war. As the Russians advanced on Izyum, the former soldier buried his weapon near the school to hide it from the enemy. He feared that as they scoured the city for collaborators, his presence could put other lives at risk.

Eventually, Kaskov decided to hide elsewhere. When he returned on April 20, Kobets said, he was accompanied by Russian soldiers who had beaten him so badly he had enormous welts on his scalp and could only open his eyes by rolling back his head. The soldiers shot into the air and at the ground. Kaskov showed the troops where he had buried his weapon, and they took him away and brought his wife in for questioning, covering her head with a bag.

For five hours, she said, the Russian soldiers psychologically tormented her, saying they were holding her father in another room and would beat him if she didnt give them information about collaborators. She was eventually returned to the kindergarten.

Her mother later walked through the city asking Russian soldiers and officials where her son-in-law had been taken. She finally heard he was alive but as a prisoner-of-war in the Belgorod region of Russia. The family has been unable to confirm this, Kobets said. Nor have they seen or heard from Kaskov since the day the troops took him from the kindergarten in mid-April.

Local residents said Friday that many people went missing in similar circumstances, just one reason they feared any interaction with the troops.

There were other reasons to be afraid.

One woman, whom The Washington Post is not naming out of concerns for her safety, said three soldiers burst into her home in March and raped her for three hours. They were drunk and had those strange [drugged] eyes, she said. Blood was pouring out of me afterward. I couldnt leave my house for a week.

She tried to protect her daughters, ages 15 and 22, from the same fate. But desperate for money, the sisters went out one day to look for work as cleaners, she said. Russian soldiers brought the younger one back home  alone.

I dont know where she is, the mother said Friday, crying for her older daughter. I dont know!

Another group of soldiers insisted on squatting in the same house where she and several other people were staying, forcing the Ukrainians to sleep on the floor of a single room. For three days, they were not allowed to go to the bathroom, she said. She was fed only one spoonful of porridge, she said, and was so hungry that her head was spinning.

Since Russian forces left the city around a week ago, humanitarian workers have been handing out food aid to civilians. But many are only surviving on what little they can scrape together.

Viktor Boyarintsev, 68, picked up a box of food supplies from a handout on his block on Friday  his first aid in months.

Hurry, hurry! his neighbors yelled as others ran down the street hoping to receive a package.

Boyarintsev wept as he described how his wife had died of treatable heart disease because they couldnt get the medicine she needed. Fearing he would die in the shelling if he buried her himself, he handed her over to a local funeral service that sent him a picture of her body and a number on the cross they planted atop the grave.

He still tends the roses his wife planted before she died. With no heat and plummeting temperatures, he is cuddling his two cats for warmth  but worries that this winter could be as bad as the last one.

Finding creative ways to eat and stay warm is how civilians say they survived the occupation.

One older resident, who gave his name only as Mykola, has been living with an unexploded rocket lodged in his water pump well since April. At first he was afraid, he said. But its the only place where he can collect water. So I just got used to it, he said.

That rocket was among the least of his problems, though. There were planes dropping bombs. Its good I survived each second, he said.

He made a wooden stove to heat his house and has since been collecting wood leftover at former Russian checkpoints, carrying enormous logs on the back of his bike. With no electricity or gas, the wood will help for cooking and staying warm as the weather grows cold in the months ahead.

On Friday, a chilly rainstorm set in several hours after the exhumation had begun. Dirt dug out of the graves started to turn to mud. Rain covered the plastic body bags, and markings written on the side started to run.

The workers paused to put on ponchos  then got back to work. There were still more bodies to find.

Whitney Shefte and Serhii Mukaieliants contributed to this report.
Ronald W. Pelton, a National Security Agency analyst who was convicted in 1986 of selling secrets to the Soviets in one of the most damaging intelligence breaches of the Cold War, died Sept. 6 at a nursing home in Frederick, Md. He was 80.

The cause was cancer, his daughter Paula Strand said.

Pelton was an Air Force veteran with training in the Russian language when he joined the NSA in 1965. With over 14 years at the intelligence agency, he developed an expertise in Soviet communications and was granted top-secret clearance.

In 1979, under mounting financial strain in his personal life, Pelton declared bankruptcy. He resigned soon after fearing professional repercussions at the agency, where employees who are financially insecure might be seen as targets for recruitment by foreign intelligence services.

Pelton had only a few hundred dollars in his bank account when, in January 1980, he approached officials at the Soviet Embassy in Washington, offering them his knowledge of NSA operations in exchange for payments that would ultimately total $35,000.

Under subsequent questioning by the FBI, Pelton described his overture to the Soviets as an impulse, one that he had contemplated for no more than a week or two. He grew a beard so that he could enter the embassy without attracting notice. Before exiting the complex, he shaved the beard and changed into clothes resembling those worn by embassy staff, then boarded an embassy shuttle bus before returning downtown to collect his car.

Over the next five years, Pelton maintained clandestine contact with Soviet agents, using a public telephone at a Northern Virginia pizza joint for prearranged phone calls and traveling overseas to Vienna for debriefings. His betrayal, reporters Bob Woodward and Patrick E. Tyler wrote in The Washington Post during Peltons trial, represented one of the gravest American intelligence losses to the Soviet Union.

They got more out of me than I wanted to give up, Pelton was said to have told FBI agents when he was discovered.

Peltons most significant revelation involved an operation code-named Ivy Bells, in which the United States wiretapped underwater Soviet communication cables in the Sea of Okhotsk. In his book Veil: The Secret Wars of the CIA, 1981-1987, Woodward described the technology as among the most advanced, sophisticated miniaturized waterproof eavesdropping devices in existence.

The underwater system produced one of the greatest intelligence hauls of the Cold War, historian Timothy Naftali wrote in the New York Times in 1998, until Pelton sold the secret to the Russians in 1980.

Peltons communications with the Soviets were discovered with assistance of a Soviet defector, former KGB officer Vitaly Yurchenko. Pelton was arrested in November 1985 and charged with three counts of espionage, one count of conspiracy and one count of the unauthorized disclosure of classified communications information.

At his trial the next year, he admitted that he revealed a clandestine U.S. effort to intercept Soviet communications, but he disputed the degree of harm he had caused. His lawyer argued that the FBI had improperly obtained incriminating statements from him.

Pelton was convicted on all charges except one count of espionage and was sentenced to three life sentences, plus an additional 10 years. He remained in prison for nearly three decades and was released to a halfway house and then home confinement before his sentence expired in 2015, when he was 74.

Walking into the Soviet Embassy on Jan. 15, 1980, was the biggest mistake of his life, he had told agents before his arrest. When youre broke and desperate and your family is barely surviving, you do crazy things.

Ronald William Pelton was born in Benton Harbor, Mich., on Nov. 18, 1941. He was raised by his father, a manager in a Whirlpool electronics department and a TV repairman, and his stepmother, who was a homemaker. Peltons daughter said he knew little about his biological mother.

Pelton served in the Air Force in the early 1960s as a cryptologic technician, with postings including one in Pakistan. He also studied Russian at Indiana University before joining the NSA, which sent him for a period of years to England.

Pelton attributed his financial problems in part to the theft of building materials for a home he was building in Howard County, Md. When he filed for bankruptcy, The Post reported, he said he had only $6.80 in cash and $8 in a checking account and listed his other assets as four old cars, a motorcycle, a $10 watch, a bowling ball, five pairs of shoes and a razor.

After leaving NSA, Pelton worked in various jobs, selling cars and boats, offering computer consulting and attempting investment ventures that failed to relieve his financial strain. Even during that time, he found time to volunteer at a soup kitchen in Washington.

Pelton and his wife, Judith, had separated before he was arrested for espionage. Their marriage ended in divorce.

Survivors include three daughters, Paula Strand of Brunswick, Md., Pamela Wright of Warrior, Ala., and Linda Anastasi of Edgewater, Md.; several siblings and half-siblings; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Peltons son, Ronald M. Pelton, died in 2021.

In a tribute to her father after his death, Pamela Wright recalled that he had disappeared from her life when she was 19 and returned after serving his sentence when she was nearly 50. He was quieter, she wrote. More mellow. With many regrets.

He had been raised Protestant but converted to Catholicism in prison and used his talents as a musician to play the piano during Mass. He had been drawn to the faith, his daughter Paula relayed in a eulogy, when a priest assured him that he could unburden him in the total privacy of confession.

After he was released, he developed difficulties walking as he aged.

I went down to the local Walgreens and bought him the perfect cane, for the perfect height, for an imperfect father who was struggling to walk even before he fell, Paula Strand recalled. For a dad who was desperately holding on to his independence to live in his apartment as long as he could. For a dad who was ashamed to tell anyone who he really was. We kept that secret. I told him, You use this when you walk. It will help you. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev here on Thursday.

The two heads of state said that bearing in mind the long-term development of China-Uzbekistan relations and the future welfare of their people, the two countries will expand mutually beneficial cooperation, cement their friendship and partnership, and implement the vision of a community with a shared future at the bilateral level.

The meeting took place at the newly built International Conference Center, which was ingeniously designed and magnificent, on a refreshing autumn day as the sun shone brightly on Samarkand.

At 9:45 a.m. local time, Xi arrived in a motorcade at the center where he was warmly received by Mirziyoyev as he exited the car. Accompanied by Mirziyoyev, Xi walked to the square outside the north entrance through the central hall featuring both traditional Uzbek patterns and modern design.

Mirziyoyev held a grand welcome ceremony for Xi. The two heads of state stood on the podium as the military band played the national anthems of China and Uzbekistan. Accompanied by Mirziyoyev, Xi inspected the honor guard. They introduced to each other their accompanying officials and watched the parade of the honor guard together.

Following the welcome ceremony, the two heads of state held official talks.

Xi pointed out that over the past 30 years of their diplomatic relations, China and Uzbekistan have always respected each other, enjoyed good-neighborliness and worked in partnership for mutual benefits.

The two countries have kept deepening their strategic mutual trust and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, fully promoted their lasting friendship and elevated China-Uzbekistan relations to the new height of a comprehensive strategic partnership, creating strong impetus for their common development and prosperity, Xi said.

As a good friend, a good partner and a good brother, China firmly supports Uzbekistan in following a development path compatible with its national conditions, supports its efforts to uphold national independence, sovereignty, security and social stability, and opposes interference by any forces in its internal affairs, he said.

China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to implement the vision of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future, deepen all-round cooperation for mutual benefit and jointly usher in a better future, he said.

Xi emphasized that China and Uzbekistan should firmly support each other on issues concerning national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and other core interests, move faster to synergize their development strategies and promote common development.

The two sides need to accelerate the bilateral cooperation and make it even more fruitful, Xi said, adding that it is important to scale up cooperation on trade and investment, and step up collaboration on digital economy and green development.

Uzbekistan is welcome to take an active part in the China International Import Expo to share in more of the development opportunities brought by China's massive market, he said.

China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to improve the Eurasian transcontinental transport corridors and make an early start in constructing the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, he said.

The two sides need to expand energy cooperation, jointly ensure the safe operation of the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline and extend cooperation to new energy, with a view to fostering a new pattern of all-dimensional energy cooperation, Xi said.

The two sides need to promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in areas including education, culture, tourism, sub-national exchanges, environmental protection and archaeology, he said, adding that China supports and will actively take part in Uzbekistan's initiative of "year of culture and art between the people of Central Asian countries and China."

The two sides also need to work together to speed up the establishment of culture centers in each other's country and the building of a Luban Workshop, and communicate the facts of the China-Uzbekistan friendship in the new era, so as to lay a solid public and societal foundation for the sustained and sound growth of China-Uzbekistan relations, Xi said.

Young people from Uzbekistan are welcome to study Chinese in China, Xi said, adding that the Chinese side will continue to carry out healthcare, vaccine and pharmaceutical cooperation with Uzbekistan, and support the building of vaccine production centers in Uzbekistan.

The two sides need to enhance cooperation on poverty alleviation, and inspire and support each other in promoting growth and improving livelihoods, he said.

Noting that China and Central Asian countries have a shared future and a deep stake in each other's security and stability, Xi said that China is ready to work more closely with Uzbekistan to firmly oppose external interference in internal affairs, firmly safeguard domestic stability and firmly defend the security interests of the region.

China appreciates Uzbekistan's important contributions to the success of the SCO Samarkand Summit and is ready to work with Uzbekistan to promote the steady and sustained development of the SCO, Xi said.

Xi said that China will work with Uzbekistan and other regional countries to strengthen the China+Central Asia (C+C5) Meeting mechanism and open up broader space for the cooperation between China and Central Asian countries.

China will also work with Uzbekistan to actively implement the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI), uphold the common interests of developing countries and contribute to building a more just and equitable international governance system, he said.

For his part, Mirziyoyev noted that under the wise leadership of President Xi, China has made remarkable achievements in its development, and the friendly people of China are making firm strides toward realizing the Chinese Dream.

He wished the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) a full success.

Noting that this year marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of strategic partnership between the two countries, Mirziyoyev pointed out that Xi's historic state visit to Uzbekistan will certainly consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries, chart the course for future cooperation, and elevate the Uzbekistan-China comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height featuring new vitality and new prospect.

China is a reliable friend and comprehensive strategic partner of Uzbekistan, and Uzbekistan-China relations fully embody the principle of mutual respect, good-neighborliness and mutual benefit, he said.

Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan appreciates China's valuable support for its national development and fight against COVID-19.

Uzbekistan is firmly and unequivocally committed to the one-China principle, firmly supports China's position on matters concerning its core interests including those related to Taiwan and Xinjiang, and will always be a good neighbor, good friend and good partner worthy of China's trust, he said.

Uzbekistan would like to learn from China's poverty alleviation experience, continue participating actively in the Belt and Road cooperation, advance the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, and enhance cooperation with China in such areas as economy and trade, investment, natural gas, new energy, agricultural infrastructure, culture, sub-national ties and people-to-people exchanges, he said.

Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan fully supports the GDI and the GSI proposed by China, and appreciates China's strong support for Uzbekistan's presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

He also expressed readiness to work more closely with China within the SCO, C+C5, and "BRICS Plus" mechanisms, to uphold the Shanghai Spirit and to jointly safeguard regional security and stability.

Following the official talks, the two heads of state signed and issued the Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Uzbekistan. Relevant departments of the two governments signed multiple cooperation documents covering agriculture, digital economy, green development, culture, sub-national cooperation and media.

During the visit, Chinese, Kyrgyz and Uzbek officials signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding concerning cooperation on the Kyrgyz section of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project.

After the official talks, Mirziyoyev held a banquet for Xi, during which they had an in-depth exchange of views on matters of shared interest.

Following the banquet, Mirziyoyev invited Xi to jointly plant an oak tree at the square outside the north entrance of the International Conference Center. Together, the two heads of state earthed up and watered the seedling. A symbol of longevity, the oak tree signifies that China-Uzbekistan friendship will thrive and endure.

Xi pointed out that although this may not be a long visit, he had productive discussions with Mirziyoyev and achieved fruitful outcomes.

The world faces many new risks and challenges that require their collective response, Xi said, expressing his readiness to stay in communication with Mirziyoyev to promote sound growth of China-Uzbekistan relations.

Describing President Xi as his respected elder brother, Mirziyoyev said he always benefits from their meetings. He noted the fruitful outcomes of this historic visit which will point the way for Uzbekistan-China relations and expressed his expectation to maintain close exchanges with Xi.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi and He Lifeng were present at the relevant events.

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 15, 2022. Following the official talks, the two heads of state signed and issued the Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Uzbekistan. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a grand welcome ceremony held by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 15, 2022. Following the welcome ceremony, the two heads of state held official talks. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev invites Chinese President Xi Jinping to jointly plant an oak tree at the square outside the north entrance of the International Conference Center in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 15, 2022. Xi held talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in a motorcade at the International Conference Center where he was warmly received by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev as he exits the car in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 15, 2022. Xi held talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
Nigel McClintock featured in a special BBC documentary entitled Choirboys which tasked him with building a world-class choir from scratch

A choirmaster who once performed in front of the Pope in Rome has been charged with a child sex offence.

Nigel McClintock, the subject of a three-part BBC 1 NI documentary in 2010, was at Belfast Magistrates Court this week charged with sexual communications with a child.

The 50-year-old acclaimed organist and conductor, from Albert Road, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, is accused of committing the offence in April this year.

McClintock, who studied at the Royal College of Music, was not required to appear in person but during a short hearing at Belfast Laganside Courthouse, a police officer told the court they could connect him to the charge.

The exact wording of the charge states that he for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, intentionally communicated with another person... and the communication was sexual or was intended to encourage (name removed) to make (whether to you or to another) a communication that was sexual, and (name removed) was under 16 and you did not reasonably believe that (name removed) was 16 or over contrary to section 22A of the Sexual Offences (NI) Order 2008.

He is yet to enter a plea and the case was adjourned until later this year.

McClintock featured in a special BBC documentary entitled Choirboys which tasked him with building a world-class choir from scratch to perform at St Peters Cathedral on the Falls Road in an attempt to improve the dwindling congregation.

As musical director he also took the choir to Rome to perform in front of Pope Benedict XVI inside the Vatican in 2010.

According to a publicity press release from the BBC at the time, Nigel McClintock and his assistant scoured Belfasts schools to source raw singing talent and turn them into bona fide choristers.

Nigel McClintock

They said: Over the course of the TV series, viewers will see their hours of rehearsal finally pay dividends as the choir makes its mark not just in Ireland, but across Europe.

One highlight for the choir, and our documentary team, was at Easter when the cathedrals elaborate ceremonies were televised live across Europe.

The choir hardly had time to catch their well-tuned breath, when the boys were asked to sing at a memorial service in Parliament Buildings, Stormont, for the late Polish president.

And before they headed at the end of June to face the biggest challenge of all  singing for Pope Benedict XVI inside the Vatican  they squeezed in a performance with the Irish Tenors, embarked on intensive fundraising, sat music exams, attended master-classes and celebrated quite a few birthdays.

Nigel McClintock said at the time: The choir is a unified, wonderful body of people. Each and every one of them contributes so much, and theyre almost like an extended family in a way... and theyre all very talented.
A HOTEL guest was arrested for becoming aggressive after a group was asked to leave over anti-social behaviour.

Salami Idowu (25) believed he was entitled to a refund and refused to leave the city centre premises when gardai were called.

He was fined 200 for public order offences when he appeared in Dublin District Court.

Idowu, with an address at a hostel on Wellington Road, Cork, pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour and failing to comply with garda directions.

Dublin District Court heard the disturbance happened at the Maldron Hotel on Parnell Street on October 31 last year.

A garda sergeant said gardai were called to the hotel after the manager had asked a number of people to leave for anti-social behaviour.

Idowu became aggressive to staff and gardai in the lobby and refused to leave when directed to do so.

He was offered an adult caution but refused to accept the offence at the time, the court heard.

The accused had booked the hotel and wasnt getting any satisfaction from management, his lawyer said. He had thought he was entitled to a refund and didnt behave in the way he should have.

It was not a case where he was wilfully shouting but he did not get his money back and thought more should have been done in that regard.

Idowu had come to Dublin on the day to meet a friend and they had been drinking.

Judge Bryan Smyth fined and convicted him.
Defence solicitor Fiona DArcy said the 22-year-old thankfully doesnt have a drug addiction.

A young man found in possession of a quantity of cocaine was going through a rough time following his fathers death but no longer uses drugs, a court has heard.
A survivor of the gulags, Boris Biba Nayfeld became a gang enforcer and later a mob boss suspected of murder, torture and doing business with the Mafias infamous 'Five Families

Boris Biba Nayfeld is the lasyt of the old-school Russian mafia

A gulag survivor hardened by the harsh punishments of the Soviet Union, Boris Biba Nayfeld became a gang enforcer and later a mob boss suspected of murder, torture and doing business with the Mafias infamous 'Five Families'.

A larger-than-life, vodka swilling, chess playing pensioner, he has finally opened up to author Douglas Century, whose book 'The Last Boss of Brighton' is a kaleidoscope of stories of sex, drugs and murder.

Now, Nicola Tallant talks with Douglas about his time in the company of the old-school Russian gangster.

He tells her about Bibas journey from Belarus to Brighton Beach, about the $300 million fortune he earned and lost and about the unlikely friendship they developed as they learned about connections of their past.

Crime Word Podcast can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Soundcloud.

MORE EPISODES 
The BBC report said the Shankill Road came to a complete stop as together a community remembered its Queen of 70 years.

As flute music played in the background, it said: They gathered beside the Platinum Jubilee mural and a sea of floral tributes. They paid their respects, each in their own way.

The community couldnt be in London, the report said, but they could attend a vigil at home and thats why it was so important to them.

However, during the piece a loyalist band can be clearly seen displaying emblems that say Ulster Volunteer Force Regimental Band complete with UVF insignia and its motto For God and Ulster.

According to their Twitter page, the UVF Regimental Band from east Belfast was founded in 1969.

On Facebook, the band posted: We had the honour tonight to play at the service of thanksgiving for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll on the Shankill Road. A very moving service.

The Sunday Life recently reported that the UVF Regimental Band East Belfast took part in the Brian Robinson Memorial Parade.

The UVF gunman was shot dead by undercover soldiers on the Crumlin Road in September 1989, minutes after he was witnessed murdering Catholic Paddy McKenna at the Ardoyne shops.

The paramilitary gang honours him on the first weekend of September every year with a huge parade organised by its B Company unit.

During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Ulster Volunteer Force murdered more than 500 people.

The loyalist paramilitary group's campaign also claimed the lives of 33 people in bomb attacks in Dublin and Monaghan in 1974.

The UVF was formed in 1966 to combat what it saw as a rise in Irish nationalism centred on the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.

It adopted the name and symbols of the original UVF, the movement founded in 1912 by Sir Edward Carson to fight against Home Rule.

Many UVF men joined the 36th Ulster Division of the British Army and died in large numbers during the Battle of the Somme in July 1916.

In more recent times the PSNI has linked the UVF to drugs criminality.

The BBC has been contacted for comment.

The UVF Regimental Band does not display contact information on its social media accounts.
In a startling memoir  The Yank  John Crawley reveals his part in the Conflict, and in an interview with the Sunday World he recounts his journey from New York to rural Ireland

A few hundreds away and almost instantaneously he watched through the sights as a British squaddie crumpled to the ground  the gunman was convinced it was a fatal shot.

Within seconds his firing position was under fire forcing him into a desperate dash for safety across sodden South Armagh fields, evading helicopters and foot patrols.

Three hours later he fell through the door of a safe house  soaked, exhausted but safe from the clutches of the British army.

I had no moral compunction about killing an armed British soldier on Irish soil. I saw it as my duty to remove a British gunman from Irish politics, he recalled as he relived his first engagement with the enemy.

A wave of nausea swept over me. I knew that nothing on earth could bring that bullet back once I pulled the trigger.

A muzzle blast startled the countryside. Birds scattered in a chorus of panic. Cattle ran wild-eyed in every direction. The soldier crumpled to the ground. No dramatic spinning or flailing like in the movies. He simply folded, as if every tendon in his body had been simultaneously cut.

John Crawley, taken at US Marine Advanced Infantry Training School, Camp Pendleton, California, October 1975

The shooter was John Crawley, a former US Marine who dedicated his life to the IRAs campaign against the British state.

In a startling memoir  The Yank  Crawley reveals his part in the Conflict, and in an interview with the Sunday World he recounts his journey from New York to rural Ireland to enlisting in the hard school of the US Marines before taking his part in the ranks of an IRA Active Service Unit.

He details how he was sent to the US by Martin McGuinness to set up the gun running operation that saw him do business with notorious mobster Jim `Whitey Bulger.

And which saw him jailed for 10 years after the Irish Navy intercepted gun ship the Marita Ann off cost of Kerry in 1983. On board was five tonnes of guns and explosives  Crawley believes he and fellow gun runners, including former Sinn Fein TD Martin Ferris were betrayed from within the IRA in Ireland.

In 1983 he met McGuinness for the first time in John Joe McGirls pub in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim. McGirl had been a legendary IRA Chief of Staff and his bar was a regular meeting point for the organisation.

Crawley has written a memoir about his experiences

I was nervous, I had heard so much about McGuinness as this legendary IRA leader, he said.

Crawley was to be left disappointed in McGuinness and despite initially ,declining the IRA leaders offer of a return to the US, he soon found himself crossing the Atlantic on what would become a spectacular reversal for the terror group.

With a measly war chest of $9,000 he was going back to the States to set up an arms smuggling network  which he did with help of one of the most cut-throat gangsters in US history.

As head of the Winter Hill Gang in Boston, Bulger had extensive underworld and police contacts, he was the perfect reference point.

I only knew him as Jim Bulger, I didnt know him from a crow and I knew nothing about his criminal activities or operations, nor did I want to know. I had a vague notion he could help us acquire guns.

I mean, we were doing something illegal, so I knew he wasnt snatching handbags from old ladies, but I didnt ask questions, Id been given my orders and that was it.

He said Bulger was knowledgeable about the Troubles and was generous in his support but he didnt trust him.

I heard later that no one was allowed to call him Whitey to his face, I didnt trust and in the end I dont think he trusted me, I as glad to leave him behind on the quayside in Boston.

In a last minute change of plan they left Boston months earlier than planned on board the Valhalla, carrying with them a five tonne arsenal of weapons and explosives.

Once outside US territorial waters the cache was transferred to the Marita Ann. After 14 days at sea they reached their rendezvous point off the Kerry coast only to be greeted by the Irish Navy.

I got the blame for trusting the wrong people in the States, but the leak came from Ireland, I know it and it cost me the next 10 years in Portlaoise.

As for Bulger, after 16 years on the run as the FBIs most wanted he was 2011 and jailed for a raft of offences including 11 murders  although the real number is reckoned to be in the dozens.

The Yank: My Life as a former US Marine in the IRA by John Crawley.

The wheelchair bound mobster was beaten to death in 2018 by fellow inmates.

Talking to John Crawley, is to realise you are talking to the most committed of Irish republicans. He made getting the British presence out of Ireland his lifes mission.

Born in Long Island to Irish immigrant parents  his father Brendan was from Roscommon, mum Josephine from Kerry  he always felt more Irish than American and viewed the British presence in Ireland as a wrong.

I made the decision very early as a young man, I wanted to join the IRA, he said.

After spending a few years living with his aunt and uncle in Ireland he returned to the US in 1976 to enlist with the Marines.

He excelled, emerging as a weapons expert, refusing offers of promotion he returned to Ireland in 1980 to join the armed struggle.

I had no intention of writing a memoir, in fact I wanted to write a novel, he told the Sunday World.

But it was after a conversation with Richard ORawe  author and former prisoner  who suggested I write a memoir, so I did.

I had no intention of writing a kiss and tell, it comes from the perspective of one republicans experience. I hope what Ive done will not be interpreted in any other way by fellow republicans.

I dont write about the IRAs successes, because I dont want to incriminate colleagues.

He admitted his experiences of the IRA  as a highly trained soldier  were a mix of the haphazard and chaotic and the dedicated, highly skilled volunteers who took the fight to the British.

If I had a pound for every time someone said to me ``sure even the Brits say were the best trained guerrilla army in the world Id be a rich man. The truth was something different.

He said he found an ill-equipped but dedicated force with a hotch potch of weaponry that volunteers had not been trained to use.
The national broadcaster confirmed that it will be covering the funeral both on television and online

A former Lord Mayor of Dublin is questioning the cost of covering and sending RTE personnel to London to cover the State funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Monday.

On Friday, the national broadcaster confirmed that it will be covering the funeral both on television and online, with long-time TV and radio anchor Ray Kennedy presenting the special programming.

Reporter Kate Egan will also provide commentary of the funeral which will be held at Westminster Abbey in London.

The funeral will be attended by numerous world leaders, including Taoiseach Micheal Martin and President Michael D Higgins.

Independent councillor Christy Burke said that while it is sad that the Queen who is a mother, grandmother and great grandmother has died following her 70 year reign questions have to be asked as to why RTE feels it is right to cover the event live?

The Director General of RTE Dee Forbes should explain how much it is costing to cover the funeral and send personnel over there?

The former Lord Mayor added: Cant those who really want to watch the funeral tune into other broadcasters such as the BBC, ITV, Sky, online or the radio if they have those streaming services.

After all, the taxpayer is footing the bill and the national broadcaster needs to be transparent.

Cllr Burkes remarks follow those of Newstalk radio presenter Kieran Cuddihy who slammed RTE for their decision to show the Queen's funeral live on Monday saying "she's not our Queen.

During his show on Friday Mr Cuddihy said: Remember everything that's broadcast on RTE is taxpayer's money.

"And I know they'll say there are people up North for whom the Queen is head of State, but I hate to break it to RTE, but those people are not watching RTE."

He continued: "She's not our Queen so I don't know why we're spending our money putting it on our national broadcaster.

But I didn't realise that wave of nostalgia, that nostalgia for the days of empire had even reached these shores.

"And it reached Dublin, and it reached Donnybrook and Montrose to be precise.
Bank of Ireland's O'Connell Street branch in Dublin city centre

Daniel Weldon (36) is accused of trying to take cash from a womans hand as she queued inside a Dublin city centre bank, before being fended off by both customers and staff.

He also allegedly grabbed 200 from a man at an ATM on the same street, leaving the victims hands cut from the struggle.

Mr Weldon was refused bail and remanded in custody when he appeared in Dublin District Court.

The accused, with an address at a city centre hostel, is charged with two counts of robbery. The prosecuting garda, objecting to bail, outlined the allegations to Judge Bryan Smyth.

She said in the first incident, on August 27, a man had withdrawn money from the Permanent TSB ATM on OConnell Street when an assailant approached him and grabbed the cash.

In the struggle to keep his money, the victims fingers were cut and the culprit escaped with 200.

It was alleged Mr Weldon was identified on CCTV loitering and waiting to select an injured party.

On the morning of September 13, a woman was in the queue in Bank Of Ireland, OConnell Street, waiting to lodge money when a man approached her from behind and grabbed her cash, the garda said.

She held onto the cash and both of them ended up on the bank floor. Staff and witnesses intervened and, realising he was not going to get the money, the assailant released his grip and fled.

Mr Weldon allegedly matched a description that was given and was seen on CCTV running from the scene before being arrested 20 minutes later on OConnell Bridge, the garda said.

A file was being prepared for the DPP and directions were sought, the garda said.

Applying for bail, defence solicitor Fergal Boyle said the accused was presumed innocent and it was not alleged that any weapons were used.

The garda said that force was used and the injured parties were put in fear.

Judge Smyth refused bail and remanded the accused in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court.
Four new locations, including two near schools, will benefit from added security thanks to the latest round of Western Bays CCTV fund.

For the last two years, residents have been invited to apply to Western Bay of Plenty District Councils CCTV fund for purchasing new CCTV cameras to help secure shared spaces across the rohe/region.

The $50,000 fund runs for three years (total $150,000), with the last year being 2023.

Councils operations manager, Kerrie Little, sat on the decision-making panel.

She says the fund is designed to help keep people feel safe.

Two of the newly approved CCTV locations are near schools in Katikati and Waitangi, so were putting some of this fund toward giving these whanau, their tamariki and the wider school community a little more security and confidence.

And the support allocated to the Bell Road Boat Ramp will add to a wider project to upgrade security at this site. Its been a long standing problem area and we hope this mahi will make a big difference.

The new cameras will be installed at

Intersection of Beach Road and Park Road, Katikati, across from the school

Te Puke Highway and Rangiuru, Waitangi

Te Puke Highway bridge over the Kaituna River, near Rangiuru Road, Te Puke

Bell Road Boat Ramp, near the intersection of Bell Road and Tauranga Eastern Link

Kerrie says the group had to make some difficult decisions about who would get funding this year.

With a small pot of money and a long list of applications, we wanted to make a big difference with every dollar spent and support the existing camera network.

Only by combining information from the community, input from elected members and valued insight from the Police were we able to narrow it down.

The level of applications was really impressive and is a good indicator how much the community value this fund.

We hope the people who missed out will reapply in 2023.

The CCTV fund is an outcome from Councils most recent Long Term Plan 2021-2031. Community Boards have also strongly supported this initiative.

The fund has grown in popularity over its short life, with applications increasing from 2021 to 2022.

Applications were considered by a panel featuring Councillors Allan Sole, Margaret Murray-Benge and Monique Gray, Councils Operations Manager Kerrie Little and a NZ Police representative. Applications to monitor private property/ land were not eligible.

More information on the fund, and last years successful applications (supplemented by operational budgets) can be found online at westernbay.govt.nz/cctv
The Steamers are back at home this Sunday for a clash against Southland in Round 7 of the Bunnings Warehouse NPC.

Last weeks performance versus North Harbour was simply sensational as the Steamers piled on 48 points for a bonus point win on Harbours home turf.

The Bay forward pack was imposing, dominating their set-piece inside the Harbour 22 with slick lineout moves and rolling mauls. Kurt Eklund reaped the rewards with a hat-trick, while Naitoa Ah Kuoi scored two tries.

We were really impressed with the way we played against Harbour. Our forwards were dominant and worked hard, says head coach Mike Delany.

Its never really been a happy hunting ground for us up in Albany, so to put in a good performance and score some good tries against a pretty powerful and attacking team was promising to see.

The Steamers will look to make it three wins on the trot at the Tauranga Domain versus a struggling but dangerous Southland side.

Despite losing all seven of their games this season, Southland has still managed to put the squeeze on numerous defences, reflected in their 170 points scored this season which sits only 26 points behind Bay of Plenty.

Its important that we dont get complacent, says Delany.

We know they can score points, and theyre a dangerous and unpredictable side. We need to get out there and play our game - theyll tip somebody up at some point. We saw Waikato struggle against them early on this week before running away with the game, so we have to make sure we start well.

Notable mentions to the playing squad include a blazer game for lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit. Manaaki joined the Steamers in 2021, and Sunday will mark his 15th game for the blue and gold.

Fresh players also get the nod in starting positions with the chance to put their hands up and impress. Lucas Cashmore will start the game at 10 while fellow young-gun Kohan Herbert starts at 7.

We are rewarding some boys this week for their hard work throughout the season and giving other players a chance to impress. These boys deserve their shot, and it also creates some good inter-team pressure for positions, says Delany.

Bay of Plenty remains in 4th position on the Odds Conference with a comfortable 5-point cushion over fifth placed Otago.

Gates open from 11am with the Bay of Plenty Under 18 Girls vs Thames Valley Under 18 Girls as the curtain raiser match at 12pm. For supporters who purchase an Adult ticket online, they can get a Child ticket for free with tickets available to purchase online here.

Bay of Plenty Steamers Round 7 Team vs Southland

1. Aidan Ross

2. Kurt Eklund (C)

3. Tevita Mafileo

4. Justin Sangster

5. Manaaki Selby-Rickit*

6. Naitoa Ah Kuoi

7. Kohan Herbert

8. Zane Kapeli

9. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi

10. Lucas Cashmore

11. Nigel Ah Wong

12. Inga Finau

13. Lalomilo Lalomilo

14. Emoni Narawa

15. Gillies Kaka

16. Anaru Rangi

17. Haereiti Hetet

18. Jeff Thwaites

19. Veveni Lasaqa

20. Nikora Broughton

21. Luke Donaldson

22. Wharenui Hawera

23. Joey Walton

*Blazer Game (15th game)

Unavailable due to Injury:

Melani Nanai

Kitiona Vai

Jamie Dobie

All Black 7's:

Leroy Carter

Roderick Solo

All Blacks:

Sam Cane

Game Day Details

Bay of Plenty Steamers vs Southland,

Sunday 18th September, 2.05pm kick off

Tauranga Domain, Tauranga

LIVE on Sky Sport 2 (channel 052)
Emergency services are on their way to the scene of a crash in Welcome Bay.

Police were notified of a crash on Kairua Road at 7.10am.

"It appears to have been a single vehicle crash where a car has gone off the road," says a police spokesperson.

It is unknown whether there are any injuries at this stage.

At the scene?

Phone 0800SUNLIVE or email newsroom@thesun.co.nz
This October school holidays, the Antarctic Heritage Trust is bringing their popular virtual reality roadshow to Katikatis Digital Hub. What could be cooler!

From Tuesday October 11 to Thursday October 13 Western Bay of Plenty District Councils Digital Hub, located at The Centre - Patuki Manawa, will play host to the Hillarys Hut Antarctica Virtual Reality (VR) Experience  a large-scale digital project which transports people to Antarctica in a way never seen before.

Through VR, youll get to step inside Sir Edmund Hillary's hut, discover what it took to be an Antarctic explorer, and see what life was like living in the coldest place on Earth back in 1957.

This free event will be on 10am-4pm for three days only and is best suited for those aged nine years and older. Places are limited so bookings are essential - head to eventbrite.co.nz to book your session.

Councils Libraries Western Team Leader Julia Edgecombe says its exciting to be part of the nationwide roadshow and bringing Antarctica to Katikati.

This is a fantastic opportunity for Western Bay rangatahi and their whanau to come and learn more about Sir Edmund Hillary and New Zealands first presence in Antarctica in a fun, interactive and fully immersive way, says Julia.

"To celebrate this awesome event coming to the Western Bay, our libraries teams around the District will also be putting on some fun activities for tamariki during the October school holidays.

Well be going all out with the Antarctic theme  crafts, colouring competitions, movies, LEGO, and cool activity booklets  so keep an eye on the Western Bay Libraries Facebook page to find out more!

The Katikati Digital Hub opened in 2020, after receiving a $400,000 boost from the Provincial Growth Fund. Its purpose is to provide residents of Katikati and surrounding areas with access to the digital technologies needed to adopt digital tools and learn new skills.

Having the Hub equipped with all the latest digital technologies, meeting rooms and resources is providing us with the ability to host amazing events such as the Antarctic Experience right here in Katikati, as well as providing locals with everyday digital connectivity.

Were really proud of our Digital Hub, and were very lucky to be able to offer such a wonderful space to our community, says Julia.

To book your free tickets for the Hillarys Hut VR Experience, head to eventbrite.co.nz

To find out more about the Patuki Manawa Digital Hub, check out pmdh.nz

For more information on the Antarctic Heritage Trust, see their website: nzaht.org
A delegation is headed to London to retrieve significant Maori carvings that have been there since the 19th century, in exchange for new ones.

Te Hono o Hinemihi, a delegation of 48 Hinemihi descendants, are to travel to Surrey, London for the exchange.

The Hinemihi meeting house was carved for Aporo Te Wharekaniwha, a leader of the hapu Ngati Hinemihi, and was used by people in Rotorua to take shelter from the 1886 Tarawera eruption. It was later sold to William Hillier Onslow, who took it back to his family estate in Surrey, where it has stood since the 1890s.

Since the 1950s the National Trust have been the guardians of the carvings and the Clandon Park property where it stands. But discussions about the return also included The Pouhere Taonga, Nga Kohinga Whakairo o Hinemihi and Te Maru o Hinemihi.

Hinemihi delegation representative Heeni Brown said the artefacts were a vital part of New Zealand history and they held massive significance.

"When it comes to Himemihi, the carvers of that era are some of the last who used traditional practices, so not just building it how you would a house," she said.

Although the original carvings were being taken back to Aotearoa, the exchange of new carvings meant those in the UK who whakapapa back to New Zealand would still have an important cultural space there.

Brown said they wanted to ensure expatriate New Zealanders felt connected to Aotearoa, and the new carvings would provide for a new marae for Clandon Park in the UK.

After England, the delegation is to continue on to Hamburg, Germany, to host a display of live workshops, demonstrations and haka performances by Te Kapa Haka o Tarawha.

RNZ
Classic Flyers Aviation Museum archivist Peter Layne experienced a surreal moment on the day Queen Elizabeth II died.

I was auditing boxes of items when I stumbled on a pennant, says Peter.

The bright red pennant is a souvenir made in 1949 to commemorate the expected royal visit to New Zealand of King George VI.

It was remarkable coming across it on Friday in that only hours earlier Queen Elizabeth passed away.

The 1949 Royal Tour was cancelled after much preparation had taken place, which included the production of commemorative coinage, pennants and other items.

King George VI who was in poor health, was unfit to travel and the tour was largely forgotten, says Peter.

A shortened tour was later planned for May 1952, and when the King again fell ill it was decided Princess Elizabeth would come instead. But at the first stop on this tour, in Kenya, the young princess learned of her fathers death and she returned home. Her coronation took place in June 1953. Her visit as Queen Elizabeth II later in 1953 was the first time a reigning monarch had set foot in New Zealand, taking in 46 towns and cities during six weeks.

The pennant, which was made for the Hamilton part of the 1949 Royal Tour that never happened, was given to Classic Flyers in 2012.

Evidently there are momentos such as this one still out there, says Peter.

Anyone who has memorabilia, old family keepsakes or artefacts that may have historical or cultural value to Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty can contact the Tauranga Heritage Collection by phone: 07 5777 000 or email: Heritage.Collection@tauranga.govt.nz
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agambhandari Senior - BHPian



Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Delhi,Ludhiana Posts: 1,636 Thanked: 2,752 Times

View My Garage





Carlinkit 4.0 | Wireless Carplay & Android Auto from the same adapter there were almost none that did both with the same device.



The search ended with Carlinkit 4.0, a device that uses the native Wired Carplay functionality of your headunit (yes it only needs carplay on your headunit, not even Android auto), and then offers to convert it to Wireless Carplay or Wireless Android auto depending on your phone. Reviews online looked alright , so I thought of ordering one.



Props to Bhpian Rishikapoor who around the same time ended up with 2 of these due to a shipping issue , so I ended up buying one from him for the same price. Saved me the hassle of buying it online and importing and waiting for days. Bhpian Viraat13 helped me out sending it from Delhi to me .



While there are some mentions of this device on the forum on few threads but no details as such, I felt a detailed thread was warranted to showcase this unique device.



Few Pics to showcase the device and specs













Once you connect the device, you are greeted with a login screen and you have to connect the Bluetooth from your phone to this device, after that just follow the prompts on your phone and voila, you are connected!



That was as expected but what I really wanted to see is how it worked with multiple phones previously paired, and to my surprise it works perfectly. It starts off and gives a list of previous phones and you can choose from those. It then tries to connect and if the Bluetooth and wifi of that phone is active, it will start it off.







One tip to note is that, it take almost a minute for it to bootup from cold, so you can connect the phone only after that. Luckily in Polo, the usb port of the Headunit powers on right after the car in unlocked from the key, so by the time I reach the car, adjust my seats and mirros, it has finished booting up. So I try to unlock the car few seconds in advance to ensure this.



The Performance is Fine, it is just as responsive as using Native wired Carplay/Android Auto. And infact the connection is more stable and reliable than I have felt with factory Wireless Carplay in my X1. There is almost a 2-3 second lag between the audio sync as compared to Wired connection. But I feel its barely any worse than the factory Wireless solutions. Only time youll rally complain is if you decide to play Video in Android auto(through unofficial ways ofcourse).



Another scenario it can be useful is if your car has only wired Carplay and you want to run Android Auto on it. Would have been perfect for my X1 but alas, BMW feels wired carplay is too old school.



The price is not low by any means but I have honestly run out of cool mods to do on my Polo, so this was a nice value add. Its always convenient to stay in your own ecosystem, same phone, same car , same cable without any change. But as you start sharing your car with your family and that family insists on sticking to iPhones, things change fast. Im the only one that uses Android in my house , and that wasnt an issue until I moved back home and got married. My Polo is now being used by my wife and my dad as well, so we were constantly changing the USB cable on it to connect different phones . Add to it, the smaller distances and trip times in Ludhiana now(compared to Delhi earlier), plugging in every time seemed like an unnecessary step. So I looked into solutions and while I could find a good number of options for Wired to Wireless conversion adapters for Carplay, and also for android auto ;The search ended with(yes it only needs carplay on your headunit, not even Android auto), and then offers to convert it to Wireless Carplay or Wireless Android auto depending on your phone. Reviews online looked alright , so I thought of ordering one.Props to Bhpian Rishikapoor who around the same time ended up with 2 of these due to a shipping issue , so I ended up buying one from him for the same price. Saved me the hassle of buying it online and importing and waiting for days. Bhpian Viraat13 helped me out sending it from Delhi to me .While there are some mentions of this device on the forum on few threads but no details as such, I felt a detailed thread was warranted to showcase this unique device.Few Pics to showcase the device and specsOnce you connect the device, you are greeted with a login screen and you have to connect the Bluetooth from your phone to this device, after that just follow the prompts on your phone and voila, you are connected!That was as expected but what I really wanted to see is how it worked with multiple phones previously paired, and to my surprise it works perfectly. It starts off and gives a list of previous phones and you can choose from those. It then tries to connect and if the Bluetooth and wifi of that phone is active, it will start it off.One tip to note is that, it take almost a minute for it to bootup from cold, so you can connect the phone only after that. Luckily in Polo, the usb port of the Headunit powers on right after the car in unlocked from the key, so by the time I reach the car, adjust my seats and mirros, it has finished booting up. So I try to unlock the car few seconds in advance to ensure this.The Performance is Fine, it is just as responsive as using Native wired Carplay/Android Auto. And infact the connection is more stable and reliable than I have felt with factory Wireless Carplay in my X1. There is almost a 2-3 second lag between the audio sync as compared to Wired connection. But I feel its barely any worse than the factory Wireless solutions. Only time youll rally complain is if you decide to play Video in Android auto(through unofficial ways ofcourse).Another scenario it can be useful is if your car has only wired Carplay and you want to run Android Auto on it. Would have been perfect for my X1 but alas, BMW feels wired carplay is too old school.The price is not low by any means but I have honestly run out of cool mods to do on my Polo, so this was a nice value add. Last edited by agambhandari : 16th September 2022 at 14:20 .
Nokia 5710 XpressAudio has landed in India recently. HMD Global is happy to announce that the new handset has reached a new market, and this means an increase in sales in the future.

Nokia 5710 Xpress Audio Boasts Detachable TWS

The new 4G smartphone boasts its detachable true wireless earbuds (TWS) located at its back. Everywhere you go, there's no need to get earbuds in your pocket to listen to your favorite songs. Instead, you only need to pull the wearables from your device before using it.

Per Latestly's report, HMD Global-India's Vice President Sanmeet Singh Kochchar said that the Nokia 5710 Xpress Audio had been added to the latest Nokia Classics portfolio of the company.

The Finnish phone maker has previously become a trendsetter in the field of handhelds. However, when it did not catch up with the modern phones, it slowly lost its touch and lagged behind its competitors.

Kocchar said that the new lineup of phones, including the 5710 Xpress Audio, comes with an impressive audio experience paired with a "game-changing design" to match the next-gen handsets.

A phone thats as retro as it is current.



The new Nokia 5710 XpressAudio, coming tomorrow.#ClassicsCalling #Nokia5710XpressAudio #LoveTrustKeep pic.twitter.com/dVPgT0SVMO  Nokia Mobile India (@NokiamobileIN) September 12, 2022

When you're not using the TWS, you can easily slot it inside a slider. There will be no problem if you switch between two devices since the wireless earbuds are compatible with your handset.

"Nokia 5710 XpressAudio is designed for music lovers and the millions of people around the world who rely on feature phones for daily communication and are experiencing rapid 4G takeover of 2G and 3G networks," Kocchar added.

Nokia 5710 XpressAudio Features

With its sleek design, you can never go wrong with this one when it comes to convenience. According to Livemint, this model features noise cancellation, so you won't have any problems dealing with background sounds when you listen to music.

On top of that, it supports 4G connectivity like other handhelds in the market. If you want a stream of nostalgia, you can experience listening to FM radio again.

Additionally, it has a built-in MP3 player, making it a perfect gift for music lovers from all walks of life.

By integrating a modern touch to Nokia 5710 XpressAudio, the company gradually feels what needs to be addressed to its products, especially in the age of 4G and 5G technologies.

Regarding its chip, the Unisoc T107 processor powers this smartphone. It's also capable of running S30+OS.

Moving forward to its battery, you can enjoy talking to your friend for a longer time using this. Its 1450mAh battery is no joke at all since it can last for weeks on standby mode.

Currently, Nokia 5710 XpressAudio is available in two colorways: black/red and white/red. We expect to see more options for its future models.

Related Article: Nokia Unveils Four New Devices Inspired by Classic Models + Features, Prices, and More

How Much Does Nokia 5710 XpressAudio Cost?

For Indian users who want to buy this phone, you must prepare 4,999 (Indian rupees) or $63. It will go on sale this next week, particularly on Monday, Sept. 19.

You can visit the official online website of Nokia for more information. The phone will also be available on select offline retail partners in India.

Read Also: Taiwan Mobile Selects Nokia to Provide Support for 5G Technology

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Joseph Henry

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Uber released its latest security update, which addresses the recent alleged claims of the breach on its systems, with reports saying that the threat actor was able to access sensitive user data via its systems. The company further said that its features are operational within the app and that users may continue to access Uber for their needs.

Uber Security Update Slams Alleged Hack on Systems

(Photo : SAMUEL CORUM/AFP via Getty Images)

Uber's security update, which the company released earlier, provides a statement that addresses the issues surrounding a hack that happened within its systems. The company clarified that there were no breaches in its systems, claiming that there were "no evidences" of any incidents regarding the said data breach.

According to Engadget, user data on the system appears to be safe, especially after the claims and alleged evidence regarding the sensitive data that initial reports said were in the threat actor's possession.

The clarification provides insight into what happened and the current state of the company's systems, with the company ensuring that all is functional and available for use.

Read Also: Uber Rewards to End Service, Focusing on Subscription for Perks and Freebies on Rides

All Uber Apps Operational, No Sensitive Data Access

According to Uber, its services, including Uber, Uber Eats, Uber Freight, and the Uber Driver app, are all operational, and the company has already notified law enforcement regarding the said incident. The company also claims that there was no sensitive data access or information loss from its end, assuring the public that data like their trip history are safe within its systems.

Uber and its Operations in the Country

Uber is now seeing a massive claim regarding a data breach on its systems where a hacker said that it was able to access the company's securities and managed to get its hands on customer data. However, the company is now going against this statement, saying that no such breaches were present in its systems, with no evidence of the attack.

The statement of the company clarifies the recent news regarding it, with Uber assuring its users that it is safe from any sensitive data theft from hackers.

Despite Uber being one of the largest ride-hailing apps in the country, it still is looking to expand its services to more users in the country, centering its growth this 2022. It focuses on the company's famous feature known as UberX Share, something which promotes a lower fee that puts together different users to split their trips.

The company's operations are growing in the country, and it serves as another effective system for public transportation with the experience centering on a more personal or private ride. It also centers on an application that many threat actors try to access, as it also holds personal information that is sensitive in nature.

Related Article: Elon Musk Teases Tesla FSD to Uber Drivers, Chicago Area-When Is It Coming?

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Written by Isaiah Richard

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A startup company based in California, Vast, is developing artificial gravity space stations, according to Interesting Engineering. The goal is create a place where people can live and work as well.

(Photo : NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/AFP via Getty Images)

Visitors stand next to a mockup of a new Russian orbital space station, presented by Roscosmos State Space Corporation, during the Army-2022 International Military-Technical Forum at the Russian Armed Forces' Patriot Park in Kubinka, outside Moscow on August 16, 2022.

The space station will be able to accommodate over 40 people. However, exposure to zero gravity is not easy and may compromise your health. That's why Vast targets to provide a healthier environment for long-term missions through artificial gravity. The gravity-like pull is created through centrifugal force that takes place due to a huge spinning structure.

Space is a hostile environment in which humans cannot survive without proper equipment. According to NASA, prolonged exposure to zero gravity in space could lead to muscle atrophy and weak bones. The artificial gravity space station could be a good solution to keep humans healthy during longer space missions.

As we continue colonization of space, the need for more efficient and better space stations will increase. The Vast space station may be a good way to provide a healthier environment to astronauts. Artificial gravity space stations will be a great addition to our long-term space missions.

Also Read: NASA's International Space Station to Crash Into Pacific Ocean on its Retirement in 2031

The Future of Humanity in Space

Humanity has always been fascinated with space. We want to explore. We want to discover. We want to understand the universe.

However, most people agree that Mars is the next logical step in space exploration. The planet is closer, and habitable. After all, Elon Musk is aiming to land humans on Mars in 2026.

By the end of the 21st century, space travel will be extended to more people. The thing is that all humans have to go through the same physical, psychological, and mental challenges. Future space missions will have to overcome these challenges. Thus, it is essential to have a healthier environment that can provide better living conditions. The artificial gravity space station could be the answer to this.

If the technology is successfully developed, it could be the next thing that will change the future of space travel.

Space Station as a Space Colony

According to NASA, space colonies are crucial for the future of humanity. Colonies in space will allow us to expand farther and deeper into space. They will also allow us to live elsewhere in the future. Mars is quite attractive as a colony, but it is not the only one.

There are other locations, such as the Moon, Venus, Jupiter and the Saturn. All of these offer unique opportunities for human colonization. Because of the harsh conditions of space, self-sufficiency and self-sustainability will be key for space colonies.

Artificial gravity space stations could offer this self-sufficient environment. If we can successfully develop artificial gravity space stations, colonies on other planets could become a reality.

Related Article: China Tiangong Space Station To Accept Tourists-Encouraging Commercial Spaceflights

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Written by April Fowell

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The National Drive Electric Week is coming, and it is inviting all clean energy vehicle users to participate in the week-long events set out across the different states in North America and Canada. The organization which started the event aims to promote the use of fully electric and plug-in hybrids in the country, celebrating its environmental-friendly cause to the world.

(Photo : Unsplash/ Roberto H)

Electric Vehicles

National Drive Electric Week is Here

The National Drive Electric Week is venturing across entire North America to promote the use and importance of electric vehicles to the world, focusing on clean energy features for all. The shift to clean energy is hard, and not all are willing to embrace the fact that this is the future of transportation to help save what's left in this world.

This is why organizers of this event will not only center on welcoming EV owners to help and join the cause but also to spread awareness and give insight as to what it is like to use electric cars for their daily needs.

The event will take place by next week Friday, September 23, and will last for more than a week until Sunday, October 2.

Read Also: EV Survey Says High Prices, Unreliable Chargers are Slowing Down Electric Adoption

Event Across North America

(Photo : Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

The organizers are going to venture throughout North America and several regions in Canada for this week-long happening, featuring many events that would reach out to users and invite fellow EV enthusiasts. Moreover, it will also explain different technology, charging features, and other information that centers on the use of EVs.

Check out their full list of events and their dates, to know if it is coming to your state and which events you want to join.

Importance of EVs

The shift to electric vehicles signifies the need for this world to focus on clean energy ventures towards sustainability and the preservation of the environment that is slowly degenerating around us. Humans' ways brought a significant strain to the world and it is now taking effect in the massive carbon emissions and global warming that is present.

The United States is one of the many countries in the world that center on changing their ways for the better, with a plan of the current government centering on the EV production focus by the decade's end. A significant shift is coming, and it does not matter if users or consumers intent to keep their ICEs, but soon enough, it may see bans or regulations for its use.

Many car companies are already making a shift to electric power, with Ford, GM, Stellantis, Volkswagen, and other manufacturers take on clean energy cars.

This new event which will feature a week-long celebration to commemorate EVs and promote their use is a massive effort to present the world with the new sustainable option for all. Its organization aims to promote the use of EVs as early as now, not waiting around for 2030 for the law to take effect, and for more options to arrive.

Related Article: More EV Chargers Are Coming to 35 US States! Biden Administration Approves $900 Million Funding

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Written by Isaiah Richard

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Bosch is the world's largest auto parts supplier, and at the Detroit Auto Show, it revealed new technologies that show how they are evolving with the ever-changing needs of the auto industry, especially now that electrification is even more rampant in the auto industry.

(Photo : MARIJAN MURAT/DPA/AFP via Getty Images)

Volkmar Denner, CEO of Robert Bosch GmbH, poses next to a sign indicating the company's aim to produce CO2-neutral during Bosch's annual press conference on May 9, 2019 in Renningen, southern Germany. (Photo by Marijan Murat / dpa / AFP) / Germany OUT

The German auto supplier gave details about their new technologies to support electrification in the auto industry, as reported by Electrek. One of them is the Advanced Driving Module, where it combines steering, brakes, and propulsion into one module to allow for a more straightforward EV development.

Next is the eAxle city, which is a compact housing unit for the electric motor, inverter, and transmission. Their power components use superior silicon carbide semiconductor technology to save energy and boost efficiency.

Finally, the eAxle performance will allow for higher performance with scalable voltage levels of 400V and 800V.

Paul Thomas, the executive vice president of Mobility Solutions, Americas said in a statement, "OEMs must show that electrified trucks and SUVs will retain the same performance characteristics customers demand including ride and handling-on and off-road, torque, towing, range, and maintenance costs."

He continued, "No other company can match Bosch for the diversity of our electromobility portfolio that enables our customers to deliver vehicles consumers demand."

Aside from these new technologies, Bosch also has put a strong investment towards the development of the hydrogen economy. It recently announced that they would be investing $200 million to produce fuel cell stacks in Anderson, S.C. And for the whole world, the company announced it would invest over $1 billion USD to develop mobile fuel cell technologies by 2024.

Also Read: Volkswagen, Bosch Agrees to Setup 6 Battery Production Centers in EU by 2030; Is this for Electric Vehicles?

Electrification in the Auto Industry

Bosch's technological advancements illustrate the current trend in the auto industry. Automakers are now making all kinds of powertrains available for their customers, especially in electric vehicles.

More and more auto makers are moving towards electrification for their vehicles. And with the predicted surge in demand for EVs in the coming years, businesses will definitely benefit from this new trend.

But aside from their electrification plans, it was also noted that automakers are also looking into the next-generation of mobility solutions. Aside from those that they have previously announced, there were also many innovations that were recently introduced.

In addition to that, many automakers are also placing a big part of their future in electric and autonomous technologies. And with the rise of electrification, it would seem that the auto industry is slowly moving away from fossil fuels.

Businesses that are currently focusing on the auto supply industry would benefit tremendously from the shift in demand. Auto parts suppliers like Bosch are perfectly positioned to gain a bigger chunk of the market.

Related Article: Bosch Will Spend $3 Billion to Combat Global Chip Shortage in Europe in 2026

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Written by April Fowell

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A recent Singaporean Starbucks compromise led to the data of 330,000 users being sold online for just $3,500. Customers that had their data compromised received a recent email from the company.

Customer Data from Starbucks Singapore was Spotted Listed on an Online Forum Since Sept 10

According to the story by The Straits Times, they were able to find that the data that resulted from the breach was put up for sale on an online forum. The data was reportedly up for sale since Sept 10.

A spokesperson from Starbucks Singapore responded to inquiries regarding when the database was hacked, saying they were aware of the data breach only on Sept 13. This meant that the data breach continued unnoticed for at least three days, but it could be more.

Email from Starbucks Singapore Assures Victims Their Credit Card Data was Not Compromised

The Singapore Starbucks spokesperson also noted that the affected customers were the ones that had accounts and made transactions through its online store or app. As seen in the email, customers were informed that their credit card data had not been compromised.

The email assured customers that their credit card info was not compromised due to the company not storing that particular data. The note also ensured that info pertaining to the customer loyalty program also remained intact.

Starbucks Singapore is Fully Cooperating with the Authorities Regarding the Situation

This included information like stored values, rewards, and even credit that the customer was able to build over time. The spokesperson noted that they have immediately taken the needed steps in order for them to be able to protect the information of the customer.

The spokesperson also announced that they are fully cooperating with the authorities in order to investigate the issue. A Personal Data Protection Commission spokesperson responded to the queries of ST regarding the incident.

Data List was Selling for Just $3,500 Online

The spokesperson announced that they are investigating the issue and have already reached out to Starbucks to gather more information. A copy of the database, including the users' data, has already been sold, as of press time, at a listed price of $3,500, with four copies reportedly left being listed.

Kevin Reed, the chief information security officer for a cyber-security firm called Acronis, gave a caution to individuals that were affected, saying they should watch out for scam or phishing attempts over the span of the next few weeks.

Read Also: Password Manager 'LastPass' Confirms Hackers had Four Days of Internal Access to the Company's Systems

Cybersecurity Expert Gives Advice on What Victims Should Do

He noted that his advice to those that have received an email from Starbucks regarding their data being leaked should "scrutinize any correspondence they receive from strangers or organizations."

The researcher announced that the hackers could use the user's personal information to make themselves seem trustworthy. In certain instances, users will reportedly be asked for a one-time password.

Related Article: Uber Security Breach: Hacker Claims to Access its Internal Systems

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Written by Urian B.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The sensational death of Queen Elizabeth is something to be mourned by other people, but for scammers, it will help them launch phishing attacks on their victims.

Don't immediately click if you see an email that claims to have come from Microsoft. It might be stealing your personal information, including your passwords.

Email Scammers Use Queen's Death to Steal Data

(Photo : Mathew Browne from Unsplash)

Hackers are exploiting Queen Elizabeth II's death to steal Microsoft credentials from the users.

The Queen's demise has become the latest subject of a cyberattack launched by an unidentified group of hackers. Cybersecurity firm Proofpoint recently spotted that scammers are taking advantage of this event, according to Windows Central.

Across the UK, some people have no idea that there's a fake email that could compromise their online information. As such, the security experts pointed out how good the hackers are in impersonating Microsoft to be a legit source of the message.

Proofpoint researchers said that those who received the email saw a huge header, "In memory of Her Majesty."

At first, you will think that it came from Microsoft because the scammers copied the font style that the company uses on its website.

Those people who are caught off-guard in this scam are the usual victims of this cyber threat. Once they reply or click the message, the hackers could finally exploit their Microsoft logins.

Proofpoint identified a credential #phish campaign using lures related to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Messages purported to be from Microsoft and invited recipients to an artificial technology hub in her honor. pic.twitter.com/RCcqpgfFfX  Threat Insight (@threatinsight) September 14, 2022

"Proofpoint identified a credential #phish campaign using lures related to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Messages purported to be from Microsoft and invited recipients to an 'artificial technology hub' in her honor," the organization posted on Twitter.

Related Article: British Gas Fake Refund Scam: Latest Fraud Could Steal Money From You | Here's How to Avoid it

How to Avoid Falling onto this Email Scam?

Per UK-based news site Express, those who accidentally clicked the link could try activating the 2FA (two-factor authentication) on their device.

It is recommended that they should also change their Microsoft password right away. There's a chance that you could retrieve your data by doing that.

If you log in on different devices, make sure your password will be new by the time you log in to your account next time.

As Proofpoint says, stay on high alert when receiving an email from a suspicious recipient. Check if the details on the space originally come from a legit source.

Pay attention to any grammatical errors in the message. Sometimes, hackers do not mind the mistakes when writing an email. This is an automatic red flag that you should notice when spotting bogus emails.

Most importantly, legitimate corporations and organizations do not ask for your password. If an email is asking you about it, avoid the message at all costs to eliminate the potential security risks.

Read Also: UK Apple Stores to Stop Operations For the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

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Written by Joseph Henry

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The delirious series of Theo James in which he goes out naked almost all the time and of which (almost) nobody talks
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan visited the wounded troops who are receiving treatment following the Azerbaijani attack, the defense ministry said.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The U.S. Embassy in Armenia said that the U.S. Congressional Delegation led by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi will arrive in Yerevan later today.

During her September 17-19 visit, Speaker Pelosi will meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Speaker of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan, and other senior Armenian officials to discuss U.S.-Armenian relations, and the current security situation, the embassy said.

Speaker Pelosi will also address the press, participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Armenian Genocide Memorial, and deliver a speech at the Cafesjian Center for the Arts, which will be livestreamed at www.speaker.gov/newsroom.

Speaker Pelosi will engage on the strong partnership between our two countries, rooted in shared values and long-standing ties between our peoples. She will be joined by Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Frank Pallone, and Representatives Anna Eshoo, and Jackie Speier, the embassy added.
Kate Sylvester is a fashion designer best known for her namesake label. The 55-year-old opens up about her special relationship with her father, her wild teen years, and why she will never get married.

Kates father passed away in 2019: I still have conversations with him, she says. I very much feel his presence.

I grew up in Auckland where my father, Ron, was a lecturer at teachers college, training teachers. He had incredible patience and interest in everybody around him. He had an amazing way of engaging his children in learning, and I imagine he did the same for his students. He rarely got angry, and if he did his voice got steely and steady and you knew youd done something bad.

Dad was passionate about tramping and mountain climbing. We did that as a family, and I enjoy doing it to this day. He died just before Christmas in 2019. I recently did a three-day tramp alone with him by my side. We chatted the whole time. I still have conversations with him. I very much feel his presence.

I have a brother and two sisters. Dad taught us to work together as siblings, to listen to one another, and to come to an agreement and move forward if there were arguments. In a way, while his death was tragic for us, its been positive as a family because we have become even closer; we talk every day on WhatsApp, checking in on one another. Our mother, Toni, has dementia now and requires care. We divide that responsibility between us.
In this weeks episode of our new podcast,It All Adds Up (look it up now!) I let slip the potentially embarrassing fact I once executed a sharemarket buy order with my smartphone while sitting on the toilet.

I say potentially embarrassing because there was method in my bathroom-based investing strategy, which Ill get to.

Im convinced buying shares directly is not for everyone. Its crucial every investor first consider the myriad alternative uses for their money. Credit:Dionne Gain

First, let me be clear I am not recommending that you, too, buy shares on the toilet  or, even that you buy any shares directly at all.

Most Australians already own shares indirectly via the significantly more sanitised route of having their superannuation fund invest some of their retirement savings in shares (at least, I assume they dont sit on the loo while they do it).
Straight off the back of his television cooking debut, Matt Moncrieff is using his fifteen minutes of fame to urge big supermarkets to stock more native Australian ingredients and herbs.

Moncrieff appeared in the latest season of reality cooking competition, My Kitchen Rules, alongside best friend Kaitlin KT Pisani. The Yamatji man, 36, said he was motivated to participate in the TV show to raise awareness about native Australian ingredients.

Former My Kitchen Rules contestant Matt Moncrieff is urging large food retailers to stock native Australian produce. Credit:Roy Vandervegt

There are aisles in our supermarkets dedicated to international foods ... but they dont stock our incredible native ingredients.

Id never even watched the show before. I saw it as a platform to showcase our native foods, he said.
Qantas flight to Sydney forced to return to Melbourne

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Initially, it was nothing more than a $266 fine in the letterbox, but when a Greens councillor challenged it, Brisbane City Council took him to court, in a legal battle that cost ratepayers almost $8500.

Councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan, formerly Sri, is adamant the case was politically motivated and that it raises serious concerns about the LNP-dominated Brisbane City Council.

Greens councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan described the court case as a frivolous action.

But according to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, none of this would have happened if the Greens maverick had simply followed the same rules as everyone else.

Sriranganathan was put before court by the council after he and three others carried out a 15-minute protest in Queen Street Mall on September 25, 2020.
Six years ago, Flemington resident Adam Ford happily rid himself of what he called his big metal box (a Ford Focus hatchback) and switched to using car share instead.

I did my research, summed up the costs initially and just figured it was certainly something I wasnt going to have a net loss from, said the 49-year-old marketer.

Car share apps are booming during the cost of living crisis, with some posting a 300 per cent increase in users, like Adam Ford, in Melbourne during the past year alone. Credit:Jason South

Ford has quick access to half a dozen vehicles within a 10-minute walk of his home, including a van. He only needs a car once or twice a month due to living near two tram and train lines, and hes happy to help take an extra car off his street.

The typical Melbourne household on average spent $461.01 a week on transport costs, according to data from the Australian Automobile Association, only $46 of which is for public transport. The rest takes in the costs of car loan payments, fuel, tolls, insurance, registration, car and tyre servicing and roadside assist.
Gaining entry into medical school is notoriously difficult, but Jerusha Mather believes the odds against her becoming a doctor are stacked even higher.

Mather, 27, has cerebral palsy, which affects her speech and physical capabilities. Her cognition, however, is undiminished. She has completed a biomedical sciences degree, with honours, as part of her long-held plan to study medicine.

The one barrier preventing that goal from being fulfilled, Mather believes, is the gruelling 5-hour admissions test facing prospective medical students, the Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test, known as the GAMSAT.

Jerusha Mather, who has cerebral palsy, is taking legal action to make it easier for people with disabilities get into med school. Credit:Wayne Taylor

For six years, Mather has sought special consideration to allow people with disabilities to sit the GAMSAT in a way that gives them the best opportunity for a good result.
President Xi Jinping is poised to become the first Chinese leader since Mao Zedong to secure a third term in office when the Communist Party holds its five-yearly congress next month.

This has significant implications for Australia, which is yet to regain its footing with China after a hostile three years dominated by bellicosity and boycotts.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Uzbekistan on Thursday. Credit:AP

Australia cannot escape the fact its economy is reliant on Chinese trade. China is Australias top trading partner, by a long way. It buys 39 per cent of Australias exports and accounts overall for 32 per cent of the nations international trade. The United States comes second - with just 8.2 per cent of the pie.

In 2020, the Morrison government found out what happens when you stand up to China. After the foreign minister Marise Payne called for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic, China reacted with fury. It slapped tariffs on key Australian exports, like barley, beef and wine.
Chinese President Xi Jinping makes remarks while attending the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the International Conference Center in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to uphold the Shanghai Spirit, strengthen unity and cooperation, and promote the building of an even closer SCO community with a shared future.

Xi made the remarks while attending the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO, during which he delivered a speech entitled "Ride on the Trend of the Times and Enhance Solidarity and Cooperation to Embrace a Better Future."

In the speech, Xi pointed out that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Guided by the two founding documents, the SCO has succeeded in exploring a new path for the development of international organizations, and there is much to be drawn upon from its enlightening practices, including upholding political trust, mutually beneficial cooperation, equality, openness and inclusiveness, and equity and justice. These five points fully embody the Shanghai Spirit, namely mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development, said Xi.

To promote the building of an even closer SCO community with a shared future, Xi called on SCO members to enhance mutual support, expand security cooperation, deepen practical cooperation, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges and uphold multilateralism.

Leaders of SCO member states signed and released the Samarkand Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

At the meeting, several statements and documents were issued on protecting international food and energy security, tackling climate change, and keeping supply chains secure, stable and diversified; a memorandum of obligations on Iran's SCO membership was signed; the procedure for Belarus' accession was started; MOUs granting Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar the status of SCO dialogue partners were signed; agreement was reached on admitting Bahrain, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Myanmar as new dialogue partners; and a series of resolutions were adopted, including a Comprehensive Plan for the Implementation of the SCO Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation for 2023-2027. It was decided at the meeting that India will assume the SCO rotating presidency for 2022-2023.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev discussed the measures aimed at normalizing relations with Armenia in a phone talk with the President of the European Council Charles Michel, TASS reported citing a statement from the Azeri presidency.

During the conversation the sides exchanged views around several issues, including on preserving the ceasefire agreements, de-escalating the tension in the region, as well as the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the presidency of Azerbaijan said.

The phone call took place at Brussels initiative.
The rail union has abandoned plans to turn off Opal ticket readers at train stations this week after the NSW government dramatically escalated its war with rail workers, lodging an urgent application to stop peak body Unions NSW from tweeting about the intended action.

Sydney Trains lodged an application with the Fair Work Commission in the early hours of Saturday morning to stop what it says is unlawful action  turning off the readers  as well as to block Unions NSW from using Twitter to encourage workers to carry out the threats.

The rail union has abandoned plans to switch off Opal card readers next week. Credit:Michele Mossop

The Opal machines at Sydney stations were to be completely turned off from Wednesday this week in the latest stage of an ongoing bitter industrial dispute with the government.

In a statement on Saturday night, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union said while it was confident the government is wrong, delegates had decided to cancel the Opal reader action as a result of what it claimed were irrational and illogical threats from Transport Minister David Elliott to sack or prosecute members.
London: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described meeting King Charles III as a great honour but says now is not the right time to raise the issue of Australia cutting ties with the monarchy.

Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon filed past the Queens coffin at Westminster Hall on Saturday and signed a condolence book at Lancaster House, where the hit Netflix series The Crown is filmed, before the Prime Minister sat down for his first audience with the new monarch.

King Charles III and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Buckingham Palace. Credit:Getty

Hundreds of thousands of Britons have queued for the lying-in-state and some were granted a surprise visit on Saturday by Charles and Prince William, the Prince of Wales, who thanked them for waiting up to 16 hours.

Albanese said he could feel the raw emotion of those mourning the Queen inside the historic hall.
Putin, in remarks to Russian reporters in Samarkand, was later dismissive of Ukrainian gains and threatened escalation, calling his recent missile attacks warning strikes. If the situation develops further in this direction, our response will be more serious, Putin said. Putin said Russias military campaign was proceeding at a slow pace, but consistently and claimed Moscow was using only part of its army. Bit by bit, the Russian army is taking control of more and more territory, he said. Bags with dead bodies are seen during the exhumation in the recently retaken area of Izium. Credit:AP Ukraine wrested control of a large swathe of the northeast of the country in a lightning offensive that forced Russian troops to flee, abandoning their equipment. The sudden losses dealt a major blow to the Kremlins efforts to seize eastern Ukraine. The Russian retreat led to the discovery of a burial site near the northeastern city of Izium, which appears to be one of the largest discovered in Ukraine.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke in a video on Friday he rushed out just hours after the exhumations at the site began, apparently to underscore the gravity of the discovery. He said more than 440 graves have been found at the site but that the number of victims was not yet known. Loading Digging in the rain, workers hauled body after body out of the sandy soil in a misty pine forest near Izium. Protected by head-to-toe suits and rubber gloves, they gently felt through the decomposing remains of the victims clothing, seemingly looking for identifying items. Journalists who visited the site saw graves marked with simple wooden crosses. Some markers bore peoples names and had flowers hanging from them. Before digging, investigators with metal detectors scanned the site for explosives, and soldiers strung red and white plastic tape between the trees.

Zelensky said hundreds of civilian adults and children, as well as soldiers, had been found near Iziums Pishchanske cemetery after being tortured, shot or killed by artillery shelling. He cited evidence of atrocities, such as a body with a rope around its neck and broken arms. In another sign of possible torture, one man was found with his hands tied, according to Serhiy Bohdan, the head of Kharikiv police investigations, and Ukraines commissioner for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets. Ukrainian authorities warned that their investigation was just beginning, and the scale of the killings could rise dramatically. The harsh reality indicates that the number of dead in Izium may be many times higher than the Bucha tragedy, Oleg Kotenko, an official with the Ukrainian ministry tasked with reintegrating occupied territories, said on Telegram.

Bucha is a Kyiv suburb where authorities have said 458 bodies were found after a 33-day Russian occupation. Authorities say they have uncovered the bodies of more than 1,300 people elsewhere, many in mass graves in the Kyiv-area forest. Zelensky, who visited the Izium area Wednesday, said the discoveries showed again the need for world leaders to declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism. Ukrainian soldiers inspect a church used as a Russian military hospital in Izyum. Credit:AP Ukrainian forces gained access to the site near Izium after recapturing the city and much of the wider Kharkiv region in a lighting advance that suddenly shifted the momentum in the nearly seven-month war. Ukrainian officials also found evidence of torture elsewhere in the region. The UN human rights office said it would investigate, and the human rights group Amnesty International said the discovery of the mass burial site confirmed our darkest fears.

For every unlawful killing or other war crime, there must be justice and reparation for victims and their families and a fair trial and accountability for suspected perpetrators, said Marie Struthers, the groups director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Most of the people buried at the site were believed to be civilians, but a marker on one mass grave said it contained the bodies of 17 Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainian civilians gather at the entrance of their apartment in the recently retaken Izyum. Credit:AP Russian officials distanced themselves from responsibility for the site. The Khariv regions Russian-installed governor, Vitaly Ganchev, told Russias state-run Tass news agency that Ukrainian, not Russian, forces were responsible for civilian casualties in Izium. Tass also quoted a member of Russias parliament, Alexander Malkevich, claiming that Ukrainian troops had abandoned their dead, so Russian forces buried them.

Izium resident Sergei Gorodko said that among the hundreds buried in individual graves were dozens of adults and children killed in a Russian airstrike on an apartment building, some of whom he pulled out of rubble with my own hands. Izium was a key supply hub for Russian forces until they withdrew in recent days. Izium city council member Maksym Strelnikov told reporters that hundreds of people had died during the fighting and after Russia seized the town in March. Many couldnt be properly buried, he said. His claims could not be immediately verified, but similar scenes have played out in other cities Russian forces captured, including Mariupol. Ukraines national police chief, Ihor Klymenko, said torture chambers have been found in the Kharkiv regions recaptured towns and villages. The claim could not be independently verified. Seven Sri Lankan students who fell into Russian hands in Kupiansk, also in the Kharkiv region, have also said that they were held and mistreated, he said.
At three years old, Charles Philip Arthur George became Britains heir to the throne. As his mother was proclaimed queen following King George VIs death, the young princes destiny was sealed. But it would be 70 years before he fulfilled his calling. Mourning his mothers death under the glare of TV cameras this week revealed some clues about what type of monarch Britain can expect. It also served as a reminder of the brutal rhythm of royal life, where mourning is conducted in public and within the bounds of excruciatingly detailed ritual. The final stages of the massive queue in central London to pass by the Queens casket. Credit:Getty On Wednesday, King Charles III led the procession behind the Queens casket walking with his siblings and sons, princes William and Harry. Crowds stretched for the two-kilometre journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where the family held a service before ceremonially handing the Queens coffin over to the nation for her public farewell. Queen Elizabeth II once said she had to be seen to be believed and this was true in her death. Like every monarch since Edward VII, members of the public are invited to file past the coffin before the funeral on Monday.

On the banks of the Thames, the sense of poignancy was palpable as people lined up to say a final goodbye to their queen. The camaraderie among queue neighbours-turned-friends was reminiscent of a wartime generation: spirited and not willing to sit on the sidelines of history. Will King Charles III unify a nation in the same way as his mother? Can he forge the same sense of admiration and gratitude from his subjects? In his first address as monarch, 24 hours after he ascended the throne, the 73-year-old acknowledged the unrelenting reality of his tenure head-on: I, too, now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation. He also made an offer of reconciliation to his younger son, the Duke of Sussex, making mention of his love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas. It was a gesture of goodwill amid an increasingly sharp focus on the fractured relationship between father and son.

We are seeing him publicly hand a significant olive branch to the Sussexes, says Nicholl, who understands Charles has wanted a genuine reconciliation with Prince Harry for a long time. In another example of how the King may balance family with duty, he barred Prince Andrew and Prince Harry from wearing military uniform during his mothers coffin procession but granted them permission to wear uniform for the final vigil at Westminster Hall. The privilege is normally reserved for working members of the royal family. King Charles III and the Queen Consort talk to students and pat Connie the corgi in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland. Credit: Getty Images It is estimated King Charles III travelled 2400 kilometres during the first week of his reign. The notorious workaholic  he skips lunch and works late into the night  travelled to Northern Ireland with Camilla where they greeted crowds at Hillsborough Castle. Again, they shook hands, received flowers and at one point, Charles stroked the head and shook the paw of Connie the corgi. We have a lot of those at home, he told owner Eleanor Flynn.

Editor at large of The Australian Womens Weekly, Juliet Rieden, who has accompanied Charles on a number of royal tours, wasnt surprised by the Kings natural ease with well-wishers. All of the royal family this week have shown that they are very keen to maintain a strong connection to the people, she says. They are doing so in the Queens memory and to comfort the people in their loss as much as people are comforting them through this time of grieving. Queen Elizabeth II shaking hands with former IRA commander Martin McGuinness in 2012. By then McGuinness was Northern Irelands deputy first minister. Credit:AP Speaking to dignitaries at Hillsborough Castle, Charles reflected on the role his mother played in reconciliation in Northern Ireland. My mother felt deeply, I know, the significance of the role she herself played in bringing together those whom history had separated, and in extending a hand to make possible the healing of long-held hurts, he said.

Making reference to Lord Louis Mountbatten, his great-uncle killed by the IRA in 1979, the King said the late Queen never ceased to pray for the best of times for this place and for its people . . . whose sorrows our family had felt. At a time of sour relations between nationalists and unionists in the aftermath of Brexit, his comments echoed the quiet diplomacy that defined Queen Elizabeth IIs reign. Another test will be how he responds to the discussions in various Commonwealth countries about their links to the Crown and potential moves towards becoming republics. The royal family at Westminster Abbey for the funeral of Lord Mountbatten. Credit:AP In the days following her majestys death, world leaders praised her subtle influence and strength of character. In a televised address, Barbadoss head of state Dame Sandra Mason highlighted her stoicism and concern for humanity less than a year after the Caribbean nation became a republic.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described her as a wise and encouraging guide, always wanting the best for our nation and greeting each change with understanding, good grace and an abiding faith in the Australian peoples judgment. The New Royals Queen Elizabeths Legacy and the Future of the Crown by Katie Nicholl. Credit: Such grace was less visible from her son at certain times this week. During the signing of the proclamation, he aired his frustration when a pen tray got in his way. At Hillsborough Castle, he grew impatient when he wrote the wrong date in the visitors book and struggled with a leaky pen. Critics focused on these moments while others excused his ill-temper, saying it was merely a sign of his humanity in what was a sleepless week following the loss of his mother. Anyone that knows Charles will know that he has a temper, says Nicholl. He cant bear incompetence, he cant bear lateness ... and he can be quick to lose his temper, particularly under pressure.

But once hes had that little explosion, its forgotten about, and hes onto the next thing, she says. He doesnt bear a grudge. Loading Charles lifelong passion for the environment was a hallmark of his tenure as prince of Wales. In 2010, he wrote the book, Harmony, sharing his views on the state of the Earth and how its challenges are rooted in mankind. Insiders say he will be more cautious in his early reign, shifting his focus from campaigner to convener and bringing people together to resolve complex issues. The King and the Queen Consort are expected to move from their current London home of Clarence House to take up residence at Buckingham Palace. Charles has spoken of a desire to cut back on costs at the monarchical headquarters and his intention to open it up to the public more regularly.

This is a different generation and times have changed, says Rieden. The questions of whether Charles will follow a century-old rule and give the Sussex children  Archie and Lilibet  prince and princess titles, including the right to be called his or her royal highness, remains. Nicholl believes if he does, it will come with a caveat. Theyre going to want loyalty from Harry and Meghan in return, she says. Theyre going to want support and to know that they can trust them moving forward. On Thursday, Prince William spoke of how the Queens procession brought back painful memories of how he and Harry followed his mothers coffin at her funeral 25 years ago. Undeniably, Charles divorce to Princess Diana and her consequent death contributed to public disapproval of the former prince. For a time, many believed the crown should skip a generation and go straight to William.
London: Queen Elizabeth IIs long journey through life and reign and the elaborate, gilded rituals in the days beyond her death, will end in the tiniest, plainest sanctuary in the worlds largest occupied castle.

There, in a private corner of Windsor Castle - 35 kilometres west of central London on the River Thames, safe haven of Elizabeth Windsors youth during World War II, a favoured weekend retreat for much of her life and her permanent home for most of the past two pandemic years - she will be buried alongside her father, her mother and her sister.

The George VI Memorial Chapel in St Georges Chapel. Credit:Getty

We four, her father, King George VI, affectionately called the little family: Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Elizabeth the daughter who became Queen Elizabeth II, and Margaret, the tearaway princess who became Countess of Snowdon.

A fifth now, too.
Prince Harry granted permission to wear military uniform

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The newly appointed Deputy Chief of Mission of Germany to Armenia, currently Charge d'Affaires Erik Tintrup, has said that he was "shocked" by the images of destructioncaused by the recent Azerbaijani military aggressionthat he saw in Jermuk city.

September 17, 2022, 12:50 Germany deputy chief of mission to Armenia is shocked by destruction he saw in Jermuk city by Azerbaijan

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 17, ARTSAKHPRESS: "Jermuk is a beautiful, peaceful resort located in beautiful nature. There were also German tourists here on Tuesday [i.e., the day of the Azerbaijani attack]. The fact that none of the residents were killed is almost like a miracle, as the artillery shots were fired at restaurants and the cable car [system] located kilometers from the border, only a few hundred meters from residential buildings and hotels full of tourists," Tintrup said during his visit Friday to Jermuk, whose words were quoted by the Facebook page of the German embassy in Yerevan, news.am informs.

The diplomat added that a German tourist was able to photograph from her hotel room the explosions; they were so close to them.

"I am very worried. We feel for the Armenian people," said Erik Tintrup.
Prime minister also clicked some pictures of the cheetahs on a professional camera after releasing them

A cheetah after being released inside a special enclosure of the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (PTI Photo)

Sheopur (MP): Eight cheetahs from Namibia landed here on Saturday, as part of the programme to reintroduce the feline in India seven decades after it was declared extinct in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is celebrating his birthday, released three cheetahs in quarantine enclosures of the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh around 11.30 am.

After the modified Boeing 747 landed at the Gwalior airbase at 7.47 am, the felines were flown in two Air Force helicopters to Palpur near the Park.

A viral video showed the crates carrying the cheetahs stacked in what was earlier the economy section of the Boeing aircraft.

After the plane landed at Gwalior, the ground personnel were seen helping transfer the crates, marked Live Animals, to the waiting choppers.

The aircraft, which took off from the African country Friday night, carried the cheetahs in the special wooden crates during the around 10-hour journey.

Before their flight from Namibia, the cheetahs, the fastest land animals in the world, were treated with a tranquilizer that lasts for three to five days.

The animals were flown to the park in Sheopur district, 165 km away from Gwalior. The journey took about 20-25 minutes, an official said.

The cheetahs remained without food during the transcontinental journey and will be given something to eat now that they have been released in the enclosures, the official said.

A dais was set up in the Park under which special cages carrying cheetahs were kept and Modi, who turned 72 on Saturday, released three of them in an enclosure by operating a lever.

After that, other dignitaries released the remaining cheetahs in other enclosures.

The cheetahs were brought in a special flight of Terra Avia, an airline based at Chisinau, Moldova in Europe that operates chartered passenger and cargo flights.

Officials battled heavy rain and inclement weather to complete the preparations for Modi's programme to release the big cats in their new home in Kuno.

Two days before Modi's arrival, heavy rain lashed the Gwalior-Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh.

The Kuno National Park is situated on the Northern side of Vidhyachal mountains with an area of 344.686 sq km. It was named after a tributary of Chambal River, Kuno, a forest official said.

The last cheetah died in the country in 1947 in Korea district in present day Chhattisgarh, which was earlier part of Madhya Pradesh, and the species was declared extinct from India in 1952.

The 'African Cheetah Introduction Project in India' was conceived in 2009. A plan to introduce the big cat in the KNP by November last year had suffered a setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.
(Bloomberg) -- President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that a mass burial site has been found in Izyum, a city that Ukrainian forces recaptured from Russian troops during the recent counteroffensive. President Joe Biden announced that the US would give Ukraine as much as $600 million in additional weaponry from Pentagon stockpiles

Most Read from Bloomberg

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Uzbekistan, as Moscow struggles with significant military setbacks in Ukraine. Putin promised a briefing on Chinas concerns, while Xi said the allies could bring stability and positive energy to the world.

Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Unions executive, arrived in Kyiv for her third visit since Russia invaded Ukraine. In an interview with Bloomberg TV, she called on allies to provide Ukraine all the military aid its asking for.

(See RSAN on the Bloomberg Terminal for the Russian Sanctions Dashboard.)

Key Developments

US Set to Give Ukraine Another $600 Million in Military Aid

Blinken Taking Part in Effort to End Azerbaijan-Armenia Conflict

US Imposes New Sanctions Against Russia as War Drags On

Democrats Imperil White House Plan to Wean Off Russian Uranium

Putin Tells Xi He Understands China Concerns on War in Ukraine

Russian Invasion Knocked Out 14% of Ukraines Grain Storage

On the Ground

Russian forces are strengthening the first line of defense in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions in Ukraines east and south by moving reserves and deploying remnants of units withdrawn from the Kharkiv axis, Ukraines General Staff said on Facebook. Ukrainian troops repelled several attacks near the eastern city of Bakhmut, according to the statement. In Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskiys home town, eight missiles hit the water system Wednesday night, causing flooding and prompting temporary evacuations.

Story continues

(All times CET)

US to Give Ukraine Another $600 Million in Military Aid (4 a.m.)

Biden said the US would give Ukraine as much as $600 million in additional weaponry from Defense Department stockpiles for its fight against Russia. The aid, which Biden announced in a memorandum to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday, would mark the 21st time the administration has drawn down US inventories to send weaponry to Ukraine since September 2021.

The $600 million in assistance includes ammunition for the Himars rocket systems; 1,000 precision-guided 155mm artillery shells; 36,000 105mm shells; as well as mine-clearing equipment, according to a Defense Department press release issued on Thursday evening.

Burial Site Discovered in Izyum, Zelinskiy Says (1:55 a.m.)

Zelenskiy said that a mass burial site has been found in Izyum, a city that Ukrainian forces that Russian troops abandoned last week during the advance by Ukrainian forces. Zelenskiy, speaking in his nightly video address, did not provide further details, but said more information would be released on Friday. He visited Izyum on Wednesday.

Tomorrow there will be Ukrainian and international journalists in Izyum. We want the world to know what is really happening and what the Russian occupation has led to, he said, referring to Bucha, a town near Kyiv where evidence of atrocities was uncovered after a Russian retreat. Russia leaves death everywhere. And it must be held accountable for that. The world must hold Russia to real account for this war.

US Imposes New Sanctions Against Russia (8:50 p.m.)

The US announced a fresh wave of sanctions against Russias military intelligence and defense industry, as well as people accused of stealing Ukrainian crops, in a new push to restrict Putins ability to wage war.

The State Department sanctioned 31 defense, technology and electronics entities, while the Treasury Department imposed restrictions on 22 officials, including people who have overseen the seizure or theft of hundreds of thousands of tons of Ukrainian grain, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Those designated today  from perpetrators of violence to an official facilitating the purposeful removal of children from Ukraine  provide examples of the behavior that has become synonymous with the government of Russias unprovoked war, Blinken said.

Russian Invasion Knocked Out 14% of Ukraines Grain Storage (7:33 p.m.)

Russia has destroyed, damaged or seized control of 14% of Ukraines crop storage facilities since invading in February, jeopardizing the global food supply and threatening future harvests, a US government-backed report found.

Researchers examined satellite images of 344 storage facilities -- out of almost 1,400 nationwide -- and concluded that Ukraines grain storage capacity fell to 49.8 million metric tons, down from a pre-war capacity of 58 million metric tons.

Now, with a lack of storage for Ukraines farmers, it could cause a crisis of availability in terms of Ukraines farmers deciding to skip a planting cycle, because they dont have anywhere to put the grain, Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Yale School of Public Health, which conducted the research, said in an interview.

EUs von der Leyen Says Ukraine Should Get All Arms It Seeks (7:17 p.m.)

European Commission President von der Leyen called on allies to provide Ukraine all the military aid its asking for to press back Russias invasion, as Kyiv makes gains in a counteroffensive.

Ukraine should get all the military material they need, von der Leyen, the chief of the EUs executive arm, said in an interview in an in Kyiv with Bloomberg Television.

Ukrainian troops have proven that if they have the military capabilities, they do defend themselves, von der Leyen said.

Read the full story here.

European Investment Bank Gives Ukraine 500 Million Euros (6:30 p.m.)

The European Investment Bank disbursed 500 million euros ($500 million) for Ukraine as the first part of its 1.59 billion euro urgent response package, the bank said on its website.

The funds are intended to help the government repair roads, bridges and infrastructure and support state-run railway company Ukrzaliznytsya and road operator Ukravtodor. An earlier 668 million euro support package was given to Ukraine within a month of Russias invasion.

EU Can Disburse 5 Billion Euros for Ukraine in Mid-October: von der Leyen (4:39 p.m.)

The EU parliament approved 5 billion euros in macro financial assistance for Ukraine and the amount can arrive next month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a joint press conference with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv.

Ukraine expects more funds under the EU assistance program to be provided this year, Zelenskiy said. Reconstruction of Ukraine will be a topic of a special European congress in Berlin on Oct. 25, where experts from around the world will discuss the best approaches, von der Leyen said.

Ursula von der Leyen pledged the simplest access for Ukraine to the European market, and said shell work as much as possible for that goal.

Germany to Send More Rocket Launchers, Armored Vehicles (3:52 p.m.)

Germany will send Ukraine two more Mars II rocket launchers and 50 Dingo armored transport vehicles, the defense ministry in Berlin said. Ukrainian troops will travel to Germany this month for training.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been under pressure in recent days to supply more heavy weapons to help Kyiv continue its counterattacks against Russia, with some members of his ruling coalition urging the government to send Leopard 2 battle tanks.

Angolan President Calls for Russia to End Conflict (3:26 p.m.)

Joao Lourenco, president of long-time Russian ally Angola, called for Moscow to put an end to the war in Ukraine. We consider it important that the Russian authorities take the initiative to end the conflict, Lourenco said in Angolas capital, Luanda, as he was sworn in for a second term.

A cessation of hostilities could create a new environment for negotiating a new peace architecture for Europe, and opening the way for the much-desired and necessary reform of the United Nations Security Council, said Lourenco, who studied military strategy in the Soviet Union in the late 1970s.

Russian Convicts Offered Freedom for Signing Up to War (2:49 p.m.)

Convicts in Russian prisoners are being offered early release in exchange for signing up for a stint fighting at the front in Ukraine.

The move comes as the Kremlin struggles to fill ranks among widespread combat losses and Ukrainian counterattacks, and President Vladimir Putin resists a politically unpopular mass mobilization.

Read more: Russian Convicts Offered Freedom If They Join War in Ukraine

G-7 Vows to Impede Russian War Machine (2:45 p.m.)

Group of Seven trade ministers pledged to maintain and expand efforts to stop Russia profiting from its invasion of Ukraine and to curtail President Vladimir Putins ability to wage war.

We discussed potential further trade-related steps to aid the Ukrainian economy, the ministers said in a joint statement after a meeting in Neuhardenberg, Germany, attended by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.

We will continue to coordinate future trade and investment measures to support Ukraines recovery efforts and call on all partners to join our efforts, and engage with us to help Ukraine to rebuild its future, the ministers added.

Putin Says He Understands Chinas Concerns (1:37 p.m.)

President Vladimir Putin told his counterpart Xi Jinping that he understands Chinas questions and concerns about Russias invasion of Ukraine, as the leaders began their first in-person talks since the war began.

Hailing Chinas balanced position on the Ukraine crisis, Putin offered to explain the situation in detail. In brief televised comments at the start of the meeting, the Russian leader also blasted what he called provocations by the US and its satellites in the Taiwan Strait.

The pair are meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a Beijing-led group seen as a counter to US-dominated alliances. Putin is expected to meet there on Friday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Read more: Putin Tells Xi He Understands China Concerns on Ukraine War

Zelenskiys Home Town Targeted by Multiple Cruise Missiles (1:10 p.m.)

Cruise missiles aimed at Kryvyi Rih caused serious destruction at an industrial enterprise in Kryvyi Rih on Thursday, regional governor Oleksandr Vilkul said on Telegram.

The city is still recovering from flooding in the aftermath of eight Russian Kinzhal and Iskander missiles that hit its water system on Wednesday night. People from several municipal districts were evacuated and over 100 buildings were flooded after river levels rose following a missile hit to a major dam. Rescue teams had to demolish two other dams downriver to release excess water.

Russia Says Long-Range Missiles Would Cross Red Line, IFX Reports (12:52 p.m.)

Supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine would cross a red line and make the US a part of the conflict, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says, according to Interfax.

The Pentagon has sent Ukraine its most accurate artillery shell, the GPS-guided Excalibur, according to budget documents seen earlier this month.

Read more: Most-Accurate US Artillery Shell Is Added to Ukraines Arms

Ukraine Says Army Liberated 400 Settlements (12:02 p.m.)

Troops have liberated 400 settlements in several days of the counteroffensive, most of them in east Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his daily statement last night.

Around 150,000 people are no longer living under Russian occupation, and are enjoying normal and safe lives, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereschuk said 1 million to 1.2 million Ukrainians remain in territories still occupied by Russian troops.

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Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) speaks at a rally commemorating the 23rd anniversary of the launch of the Chinese regime's persecution of the spiritual group Falun Gong, held on the National Mall in Washington on July 21, 2022. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times)

1,850 Falun Gong Adherents Detained in 2 Months in China: Report

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began brutally suppressing believers of Falun Gong throughout the country in 1999, a campaign that continues to this day. From July 1 to August 31, at least 1,850 Falun Gong practitioners were harassed, detained, tortured, involuntarily had their blood tested, and were deprived of personal property and retirement pensions, according to a Sept. 13 report on Minghui.org.

Minghui.org is a digital information platform of Falun Gong that records the CCPs persecution activities in China.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline for character improvement that uses five slow-moving and gentle exercises and moral teachings based on truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.

According to the Minghui report, over two months, the communist regime raided the homes of 614 Falun Gong practitioners, suspended the superannuation of 14 senior Falun Gong practitioners, and forcibly collected blood and hair samples from 31 Falun Gong practitioners. The report says 18 Falun Gong practitioners died in detention or at home after release from prison due to the torture and harsh treatment they received.

Falun Gong practitioners take part in a rally held in at the National Mall, Washington, on July 21, 2022, to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the launch of the Chinese regimes persecution of spiritual group Falun Gong. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

The CCPs persecution of Falun Gong was launched by then CCP leader Jiang Zemin, who regarded the popularity of Falun Gong as a threat to his rule and the Party.

In June 1999, Jiang established two extralegal apparatusesLeading Group for Handling the Falun Gong Issue and its office of operations called the 610 officefor the sole purpose of eradicating Falun Gong.

Falun Gong practitioners in China have been subjected to detention, imprisonment, over 100 methods of torture, forced labor, and forced organ harvesting since 1999.

Cases of Persecution

According to the September Minghui report, the CCP has upped its targeting of Falun Gong before the CCPs 20th National Party Congress set for mid-October this year. The following are details about Falun Gong adherents who were persecuted in the past two months.

Beaten

Zhang Xiufen, a Beijing Falun Gong practitioner who is over 70, was abducted by the Qingta police in Fengtai District, Beijing, on July 5 when she was on her way home. Four regular police officers and four auxiliary police beat her at the police station. The local detention station refused to take her in as she so was badly injured from the beating.

According to the Central Hospital of China Aerospace Corporation, Zhang had fractures to her thoracic vertebrae, ribs, and lumbar vertebral compression fractures.

Detained

Lyu Wei is a Falun Gong adherent in Harbin city, in the northeastern Heilongjiang Province. Lyu was taken from her apartment on July 11 after a dozen police broke into her apartment. The officers then ransacked Lyus home and confiscated a box containing approximately 300 pamphlets about Falun Gong.

The police did not present an arrest warrant or a search warrant.

Lyu, a former high school English teacher, was arrested in 1999, 2000, and 2007. She lost her job in 2007 because she refused to renounce her belief in Falun Gong.

She is not allowed to meet with a lawyer or her family, according to Minghui.

Lyu Na, Lyu Weis sister, lives in the United States, and has appealed to U.S. elected officials to help obtain release of Lyu Wei.

Son Held Hostage

Ma Ping, a 60-year-old Falun Gong practitioner in Jilin city, Jilin Province, was sick at home on July 20. He was previously arrested and imprisoned for four years in 2009 in Gongzhuling Prison, Jinlin Province, where he suffered severe torture.

For example, several prison guards used electric batons to shock his whole body, genitals, and anus. He was also subject to brutal force-feeding, death-bed stretching, and confinement in a small cell for a month. His body carries scars from the torture, and his health has deteriorated. His son often takes him out in a wheelchair.

On the night of July 20, police broke a window and jumped into Mas house after his wife refused to open the door. When they saw Ma was in bad health, they took his son to the police station as a hostage to force Ma to give up his belief in Falun Gong. When Ma refused to comply, the police kept his son in the police station until late on July 23.

Robbed of Cash and Personal Property

On August 12, Falun Gong practitioners Li Chaoqun and Zhang Yixin (mother and daughter) were kidnapped by police in Chaisang District, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, and did not get back the 102970 yuan (about $14,744) and $2,811 in cash the police confiscated.

At 8 p.m. on July 19, local police kidnapped Zhao Qingping and her mother-in-law, both followers of Falun Gong in Wuchang city, Heilongjiang Province, from their home.

Cover of The 20-Year Persecution of Falun Gong in China. (Minghui Pub.)

The police ransacked their home and confiscated approximately 50 Falun Gong books, one desktop computer, one laptop, two printers, two MP3 players, 30 USB flash drives, four mobile phones, and 373,000 yuan (about $79,647) in cash that was recently withdrawn from the bank to help Zhaos son purchase an apartment.

The police refused to return the money. Zhaos mother-in-law was released the next morning, but Zhao was detained under criminal charges.

Zhaos family has hired rights lawyers to defend her in court.

These cases are a few examples of the persecution targeting Falun Gong practitioners in China. Due to the CCPs internet firewall and censorship of information, complete details about the extent of the persecution are not available.

Global Lawmakers Call for End of Persecution

The cross-party Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) issued a statement on July 20 calling for an end to the CCPs suppression of religious groups and those imprisoned for defending their religious rights.

Today marks the solemn anniversary of the beginning of the Chinese governments brutal campaign of persecution against Falun Gong practitioners. 23 years later, we remember all those in China who have been denied freedom of religious belief, the IPAC said in the statement.

We once again call on our governments to stand up and speak out for an end to such repression. The Chinese government must be held accountable for upholding the human rights and religious freedom of all peoples in China.

The IPAC is an international cross-party group of legislators pushing for democratic countries to take a tougher stance on the CCP and its activities on trade, security, and human rights.

Li Jiesi and Minghui.org contributed to the report.
By Alicia Eler

From Star Tribune

Every time Ive gone to Istanbul to visit family, I stuffed my face with spicy kofte kebab and other meaty dishes. One of my fondest food memories in Turkey happened when I was 11 and we were driving through the countryside, en route to my grandfathers old flour factory with my entire extended family. We stopped to eat at a roadside restaurant where they  killed a chicken and served it to us.

Ive since been told I have vegetarian vibesam I just that crunchy?and Ive certainly tried and failed at being vegan. But during a recent trip back to Istanbul, I discovered a new trend: vegetarian versions of all my favorite Turkish meals.

Veg on the European Side

My food adventure began as soon as I arrived. I dropped my stuff at an Airbnb in Cihangir, a trendy neighborhood on the European Side, the western half of this transcontinental city. An orange and white cat patrolled the street and stood watch atop a yellow taxi. I meandered to Urban Cafe, a busy restaurant with tables set up in the pedestrian street, and spotted my companion Elif inside. I was famished after my 10-hour Turkish Airlines flight from Chicago.

Elif ordered me a vegetarian kofte, with a creamy chickpea mixture replacing the meat, and a side of thick, crispy fries. While I was devouring it, my baba (dad in Turkish) called. I told him Id made it safely, and he and Elif agreed that they were happy I was in Istanbul. After the meal, I ordered my first cay of the tripTurkish tea that comes in a slender, clear glass.

The next morning, I navigated a few more narrow streets until I spotted the Ottoman-era Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque. From there, I walked up the busy Meclis-i Mebusan street to Setup, just above the main road that runs along the Bosphorus Strait. The patio area is covered in red tiles and servers wear slick black shirts.

For lunch with my artist friend Sena Basoz, I ordered the simit kahvalt (or simit breakfast; 75 lira or about $4), which came with one perfectly sliced hard-boiled egg, tomatoes, sliced avocado, black olives, grilled olives, a strong and creamy ezine cheese, slices of simit (the to-die-for sesame seed-covered Turkish bagel), and cay.

Simit breakfast at Setup. (Courtesy of Alicia Eler/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)

I remember you from last time, the waiter said to me in Turkish. You came here.

And we sat at the same table, I said, digging into the avocado. It had been 2 1/2 years since I was last in Istanbul. The waiter dropped two small plates of gingerbread cookies on the table. Merry Christmas, Istanbul-style.

Vegan on the Asian Side

I caught the ferry boat across the Bosphorus to the Asian Side of Istanbul. For dinner at Cinili Tas Firin Kadikoy, Elif and I sat on small wooden tables on the patio and devoured vegan lahmacun (a usually meaty Turkish pizza) and vegan Kusbasili pide, a flatbread normally covered in meat. This time, it had chopped fake meat, red and green peppers, vegan rice yogurt, and pepper paste.

Do you want an ayran? Elif asked me, referring to the salty yogurt drink that I loved. Dont get the one that comes in an open containerI dont trust it.

After dinner we dashed over to Antepli Beraat, where I ordered my new favorite Turkish dessert: soguk (or cold) baklava. Even my friends in Istanbul had not heard of it, which made me feel like a trendsetter. The cold version of the pastry is filled with ground pistachios, baklava dough leaves, and sugar, but with an added bottom layer of milk and a cold freshness.

The next day I swung by Kuff Yeldegirmeni, where Elif works as a barista/manager. Before she started her shift we devoured the classic Turkish omelet-like peynirli menemen (with cheese) and sade bisi, which is like a puffy, plain doughnut, with a dip made of tahini and molasses.

You like all the super Turkish foods, Kismet, Elif said to me in Turkish, using my middle name, which roughly translates to the good kind of fate. I shrugged playfully and winked at her. Im half-Turkish, after all.

That evening we went hardcore vegan, stopping by Rulo Lezzetler, a cheap storefront spot with an awesome buffet and zero meat anywhere. Elif ordered mucver balls (zucchini and veggie mix) and falafel. I tried the vegan ayran, which seemed paradoxical because ayran is normally yogurt-based. It tasted like a watery cacik, a yogurt-and-cucumber side dish.

Sweet Family History

The next day, Elif and I headed back to the European Side to track down the building where my baba lived when he was a kid before immigrating to the United States. The beige, four-story building in the swank Nisantasi neighborhood is now a bank, but I managed to get to the fourth floor and peer out the silver windows, imagining what he might have seen.

Elif and I strolled down the street to find a sweet treat, and ended up at Saray Muhallebicisi, where she ordered firin sutlac, a small bowl of classic Turkish rice pudding with the top burnt. I got kazandibi, otherwise known as Turkish burned milk pudding, shaped into a gooey roll of sweetness.

Star Tribune art critic Alicia Eler enjoys a slice of kazandibi, or Turkish burned milk pudding, in a cafe in Istanbul, Turkey. (Courtesy of Elif Kaya/TNS)

We took a taxi to Sis & Bros Cafe & Sarkuteri to meet up with my artist friend, Sevil Tunaboylu. As we drank cay and waited for food, a friendly orange cat jumped onto my lap. Hes never like that with the customers, one of the employees said to us in Turkish.

Sevil dug into a sumptuous roast beef sandwich. I ordered a vegetarian version that ended up being soggy and small, making me wonder if Id made the right choice to go veg after all. But for now, I was committed to exploring the many meatless possibilities that Istanbul presented, one meal at a time.

Copyright 2022 StarTribune. Visit at StarTribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A Virginia Mans Fight to Restore Faith, Freedom, and Hope to the Country

Jon Tigges traveled to 31 states over the summer to share what he learned from Loudoun County residents' fight for individual, parental rights

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va.Jon Tigges had been looking forward to his summer vacation this year. He and his wife, Chris, were going to canoe down the Missouri River, a trip they had initially planned for last year but had to cancel due to getting COVID-19 at the end of July 2021.

But a lot has happened since last summer.

That June, Tigges, a resident of northern Virginias Loudoun County, unexpectedly became the face of a heated school board meeting that resulted in him being charged with trespassing.

Dozens of parents had shown out in force to protest a pro-transgender policy at the Loudoun County school board meeting. The board ended the public comment session early, citing a disruptive crowd. During the recess afterward, the audience chanted shame on you to the empty dais and started singing the national anthem.

They then organized their own public comment by taking turns speaking. Soon after, the superintendent declared the meeting to be an unlawful assembly. Tigges refused to leave the room and was arrested by sheriffs deputies for trespassing.

He was found guilty and appealed his case to the Loudoun County Circuit Court in October 2021. The trial is scheduled on Jan. 3, 2023.

Many knew Tigges after he appeared on national media outlets after the arrest. However, his fight began way before June 2021.

The Patriot Pub

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020, the agritourism business owner sued then-Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam so that he could reopen his business.

For more than six months, he protested against the COVID-19 lockdown every Friday morning in front of the Loudoun County government building in Leesburg, Virginia.

From this experience, Tigges realized the importance of social gatherings and the traditional way of exchanging ideas: in-person. In April 2021, he founded the Patriot Puba weekly casual in-person meeting at his 24-acre farm in Hamilton, Virginia.

People in the lockdown protest group were the initial members, but attendance at the Pub quickly grew. He then began to invite different speakers. Attendance at events ranged from 50 to more than 200. During the process, the Pub became the birthplace of many strategies Loudoun County residents used in their fight against the local school board for parental rights.

Folks in nearby counties joined; some brought the Pub format to their communities.

Loudoun County earned the reputation of ground zero for parental rights battles across the country. The very issue propelled Virginia gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, to victory in November 2021, flipping the state red after eight years of being blue.

But after that, a dispute within the group threatened to unwind all of Tiggess efforts.

Different factions had disparate views of Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman, a Republican. Tigges, and others, didnt approve of the way the sheriff enforced Superintendent Scott Zieglers declaration of unlawful assembly at the June 2021 school board meeting, a declaration that Ziegler later admitted he didnt have the authority to make.

They also werent happy with the sheriffs arrest at the event of another resident, Scott Smith, for disorderly conduct. It was later revealed that Smith had attended the meeting discussing a pro-transgender policy because his daughter was sexually assaulted a month earlier by a teenage boy in a skirt in the bathroom of a Loudoun County public high school.

But the Republican members of the Loudoun County community wanted to reelect Chapman in 2023. To them, reelecting Chapman would prevent the replacement of the sheriffs office by a county police department that would take orders from the Democrat-majority county supervisors. Hence, they insisted that Chapman did nothing wrong.

Others, including Tigges, didnt want to cut Chapman slack just for being a Republican.

Eventually, the different opinions led to heated arguments at a March event hosted by the Pub. Some even walked out of the venue. As tensions rose that evening, Tigges stood his ground.

He said he got very angry and frustrated that some cared more about toeing the party line and couldnt see the injustice in the sheriffs offices mishandling during the so-called unlawful assembly.

In the following days, the gap between different Loudoun County groups grew larger. They even hosted separate Republican congressional candidate debates at the same time on the same night. Those who endorsed Chapman stopped attending any Pub events.

Why have I given up time and treasured up a bunch of arrogant, narcissistic politician people? Tigges asked.

Enough of this, he told himself, feeling disheartened.

Going on Tour

When he told Patriot Pub members about a temporary closure for his summer vacation, some wondered where he was going and asked if he would consider visiting other parts of the country to share the Patriot Pub experience. Their friends in other states would be very interested in learning about that, they told Tigges.

He initially resisted the idea.

Thats not what I consider a vacation, Tigges told them.

Yet, Second Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14 [of the Bible] smacked me in the face, he said.

I hadnt been addressing this [issue] humbly. Id been addressing this out of anger, towards what I considered [an] injustice, Tigges told The Epoch Times. I had to humble myself. And I needed to turn from my wicked ways. I needed to depend more on prayer than on my own action.

Hence, he realized that he should view members suggestions as Gods voice. He knew these members werent after political power or recognitionthey had good intentions.

Together, they named the summer tour the Freedom Fire Tour.

Jon Tigges visited 31 states (states in red) in addition to Virginia during his Freedom Fire Tour from July 20, 2022, to Aug. 31, 2022. Jon and his companion were hosted by local groups in California, Texas, Illinois, Idaho, Arizona, and Oklahoma (states in dark red). In other states, he stayed with friends of his own or of Patriot Pub members. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times)

On July 20, he and Chris took off. After she returned home from southern California on Aug. 13, Tigges spent a week alone at the Zion National Park in Utah, then continued to Arizona, where Smith joined him on Aug. 19. The two traveled eastbound and arrived back in Virginia on Aug. 31.

During the journey, Tigges traveled 10,000 miles and visited 31 states in addition to Virginia. He and his companion were hosted by local groups in California, Texas, Illinois, Idaho, Arizona, and Oklahoma. In other states, he stayed with friends or friends of Patriot Pub members.

Through meeting with many groups and listening to the perspectives of others on the nations future direction, he became convinced that America is in the midst of a non-kinetic, spiritual war.

Were already in a revolution, called a civil war, if you willa non-kinetic civil war where people are being taken out by doxxing and canceling, businesses being wiped out by COVID [lockdowns], he said.

And thus, to him, faith is the fundamental solution, and political solutions are at best temporary.

Jon Tigges speaks to a local group in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Aug. 12, 2022. (Courtesy of Jon Tigges)

Humility

At a beach barbecue in Santa Barbara, California, one of the events on the tour, Tigges asked, Does anyone know the secret strategy that was used in Loudoun to have the effect they did on the election?

He didnt expect anyone to have the answer. As he was about to go on with his talk, he heard someone in the back say humidity.

Thats funny, Tigges said. Its hot in Virginia. But no, it wasnt humidity.

No, humility, the voice said.

Oh, my goodness, he thought. Thats the right answer.

That was the answer he came up with after reflecting on Loudoun Countys success following the Virginia gubernatorial election. He realized that the people who carried the momentum in Loudoun Countys fight were humble, willing to fight if they were fighting alone, and didnt seek anything other than being true to themselves.

There was Tanner Cross, the teacher who spoke out against preferred pronouns because its against his Christian belief. He was suspended after protesting this issue during a school board meeting. He fought the suspension and got his job back.

There was also Shawntel Cooper, an African American and mother of two who broke out of her usual shy character at a school board meeting to criticize critical race theory (CRT)a quasi-Marxist doctrine that views America as systematically racistin Loudoun schools education system.

And then there was Xi Van Fleet, a Chinese American who doesnt want to see the United States fall into the upheaval that she experienced during Chinas Cultural Revolution, a communist campaign that almost wiped out the countrys traditional culture and beliefs. She also spoke at a school board meeting against CRT without knowing if anyone else would join her fight.

Tigges saw the same spirit all the way in Santa Barbara, which he called one of the most wokist towns in the country. To his surprise, locals put out signs and flyers about his visit and even filmed his talk and broadcast it on the local TV station.

While he initially said, Im not going to California, he ended up making three stops in the Golden State, thanks to a Pub members urging and connections.

Believe it or not, of all the places I went to, California has the strongest Christians that have been filtered and the remnant there is in it to win it, he told guests at the Patriot Pub on Sep. 8.

Loneliness and Fear

During his travels, Tigges also saw the loneliness and fear of people with conservative values.

In Chicago, Tigges and his wife had dinner with four other people, each from a different school district.

In many cases, they were the only person going to the school board meeting, Tigges said.

One woman managed to file a class action lawsuit against her local school board even though she couldnt get the local community to show up at school board meetings to support her.

But she was exhausted from it all, Tigges said.

In Austin, Texas, Tigges met with a group of young conservatives in their late 20s and 30s. The fear they spoke of was emblematic of how many other conservatives felt, he said.

All of them noted how their careers would probably end if they actually spoke truthfully about what they believe in their workplace or online, he said.

As Tigges listened to the concerns of others, he reflected on himself. He was activated when he was finally about to run a business in Virginia and could enjoy life comfortably. But Northams March 2020 lockdown order threatened to take it all away.

On tour, he saw many people who were activated. And they were activated politically, just like how he reacted initially. But to Tigges, political actions, be it voting or a lawsuit, arent enough and wont help overcome the fear of political persecution.

Something more fundamental than politics is called for, he said.

Jon Tigges at the Zion National Park in Utah on Aug. 16, 2022. (Courtesy of Jon Tigges)

A Need to Rebuild Community

At the end of the tour, Jon and Chris Tigges concluded that the answer was a community rebuilt based on faith.

What I found consistent in each community, just like [what] one pastor in Southern California shared, is there are more  people who think like we do than we would ever realize, Chris Tigges told The Epoch Times. And people want to know how to share their hearts and what they know is truly right from wrong. But they want to know how to do it in a way to still remain safe.

I can understand that as a wife and a mom [who] literally voted once a year and raised six kids and thought that was enough. But its no longer enough. And I think America knows it.

People have forgotten to be in community with one another and that the starting point is joining together with people that think alike, and it cant happen unless you have a face-to-face conversation. Then, you dont feel like youre alone. And then God uses that little situation to grow something you would have never imagined. Thats what I think America needs to do: They need to rebuild the community.

Jon Tigges said he witnessed on the tour that many dedicated Christians were working together across denominational lines. They saw the danger that the United States is in and that caused theological differences to go away as they strived for a common goal.

There arose a generation that turned their back on God, and this country doesnt believe it can fail, he said. This country is following a path of decadence that every other great nation followed and ended on.

In his view, the only way to turn the tide is to tap into faith for strength.

A Message That Resonates

When Jon Tigges stopped in Texas, he met with Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas). He said a question Roy asked him repeatedly was: Whats a message that resonates with people? And whats the answer? It couldnt be another hearing or another piece of legislation, could it?

Tigges told Roy that the job of people in Washington was to provide protection.

They are supposed to preserve our rights, he said. If you can convince people that youre going to do that, [that] you are going to keep the FBI from busting peoples doorsit resonates.

I believe from looking around  there are people in communities that are dying to actually activate and take control of their own communities. But theyre fearful of doing that and dont know what to do. And they dont feel someone has their back.

Roys questions prompted Tigges to think further. He said many peoples first reaction was to get involved politically. He was the same. Hence, he made many efforts with lawsuits, protests, and votes. Those werent done in vain and generated some results.

And many, including him, put their hopes in sending representatives to Washington to make all the changes. But is that the answer?

Sunset at the Fort Pickens National Seashore in Pensacola, Fla., on Aug. 29, 2022. (Courtesy of Jon Tigges)

A Self-Reliant Framework

When the couple traveled to Montana, Tiggess home state, they talked about leaving Virginia and moving back. Together, they imagined a happy life in Montana. And as they chatted, Tigges examined his motivation.

I began to realize that if we truly are fearless in Christ, we dont have to worry about our location, he said. If the community stands firm, then the community can preserve itself. And if enough communities in an area stand firm around the same principles together, then the state will be okay.

During the tour, he identified four pillars: faith, family, friends, and freedom. He said he put freedom at the bottom because he considered freedom to be a downstream effect, and he no longer wanted to rely on politicians alone as the solution.

If we have enough people claiming the righteousness of God in their life and their families and their communities, were going to have righteous politicians that will focus on doing what God called the government to do, which is to protect people from the evil outside the borders and the evil inside the borders and to allow people to live freely, he said.

And we dont need politicians for faith, family, and friends, according to Tigges.

My conviction is theres so much we can do ourselves that we dont give ourselves credit for, he said. So much that we can touch and control is right in front of us, but we dont deal with it, starting with the man in the mirror.

Along the Freedom Fire Tour, Tigges encouraged everyone he met to start local social gatherings to share ideas. The Loudoun County Patriot Pub began that way. The tour has collected so much goodwill that hes working on setting up a core team to help replicate the Patriot Pub model across the nation. For this purpose, he set up a GiveSendGo campaign for donations and prayers.

Chris Tigges said her husbands enthusiasm and hope resonated with the Americans he spoke to across the country.

It gave all these communities such renewed hope, she said.

She also said she worries about his safety now and then, but more than anything, Im just so proud of him.

And I want Americans to be encouraged to listen and act upon what hes encouraging them with because were not giving up. We believe that it may be a while, she said. But weve got to continue to have that the America we love and hold so near and dear to our hearts, period.
Amazon packages at the new Amazon warehouse on the outskirts of Mexico City on July 30, 2019. (Carlos Jasso/Reuters)

Amazon Hands Out Shipping Software to Merchants, Including on Rival Sites

Amazon.com Inc. on Thursday said it would give merchants free software for managing shoppers orders on and off its platform, as the retailer extends its e-commerce reach.

The company is ending monthly fees of Veeqo, a shipping software firm it recently bought, for sellers including when they fulfill orders via rival platforms like Shopify Inc., eBay Inc. or Etsy Inc..

D.A. Davidson analyst Tom Forte said of Veeqo, The acquisition should improve Amazons ability to compete against Shopify, which helps merchants set up online stores and sell elsewhere. Still, he said Amazons primary focus remained sales through its own marketplace.

Amazon in April announced Buy with Prime to let sellers market Amazons fast-shipping service on their direct-to-consumer websites, which reportedly prompted a response from Shopify.

On Wednesday California sued the online retailer for allegedly pushing up prices for consumers, which Amazon dismissed as without basis.

Matt Warren, Veeqos founder, said in an interview that the Veeqo news was not a move against Shopify or others. He said, Amazon takes a very long-term view that anything that helps sellers eventually will be good for Amazon.

Veeqo, which gives access to discounted shipping rates, will be free for merchants in the United States and United Kingdom, Amazon said.
A solemn-looking David Beckham has paid his respects to Queen Elizabeth II, after he waited nearly 12 hours to view the Queens coffin lying in state.

The 47-year-old soccer star was first spotted by mourners in line on Friday (16 September) morning as he neared Westminster Hall. Beckham was seen wearing a black flat cap, a suit, and a black tie for the occasion.

His presence came as MPs and other celebrities, including This Morning hosts Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, came under fire for jumping the queue when they paid their respects via a press gallery for a separate viewing.

While speaking to ITV News in the queue, Beckham revealed that he had joined the long line at 2am. I thought by coming at 2am it was going to be a little quieter. I was wrong, he said.

In London, the queue to see the Queens coffin was reopened on Friday after it had reached capacity with at least a 14 hour wait. The line to Westminster Hall at the House of Parliament, where the Queens coffin is lying in state until her funeral on Monday, stretched five miles across London.

When asked why he decided to view the Queens coffin lying in state, Beckham explained that he wanted to come on behalf of his family. I grew up in a household of royalists and I was brought up that way, so if my grandparents would have been here today, I know that they would have wanted to be here, he said.

Im here on their behalf and on the behalf of my family and obviously to celebrate with everybody else here, he added.

Its a sad day but its a day for us to remember the incredible legacy shes left.

Many fans and mourners alike took to social media to share pictures and videos of Beckham waiting in line to view the Queens coffin.

In one viral clip, which was taken by BBC News reporter Tanya Hines, Beckham had neared Victoria Tower Gardens when one fan asked to take a picture with the star. The retired soccer player declined, explaining, Sorry I cant hold the line up.

Story continues

David Beckham has just gone by in the queue of queues hats off to him! pic.twitter.com/luUXTVoHmm  Tanya Hines (@newsroomgirl) September 16, 2022

Another fan was able to quickly snap a selfie with Beckham as he passed him in the queue. We come to pay my respects to The Queen and just before we go in we get to meet the handsome Mr Beckham, tweeted writer Christopher Anstee.

Fans spot David Beckham waiting 12 hours to view Queens coffin lying in state (Christopher Anstee)

Others praised the father of four for waiting nearly 12 hours in the queue, just like everybody else who wished to view the Queens coffin lying in state.

David Beckham joined the queue to see the Queens coffin at 1.45am Friday morning, said journalist Tony Parsons. If he looks like a man who has been up all night - he has.

Full credit to this man who could have played the VIP card. He is a credit to our nation, and his Queen.

David Beckham queueing 12 hours to pay respects to the Queen  further proof that he is, fundementally, one of lifes good guys, said writer Harry Wallop.

David Beckham joined the queue to see the Queen's coffin at 0145 am Friday morning. If he looks like a man who has been up all night - he has. Full credit to this man who could have played the VIP card. He is a credit to our nation, and his Queen. pic.twitter.com/Gc8VQSETGn  Tony Parsons (@TonyParsonsUK) September 16, 2022

David Beckham queueing 12hrs to pay respects to the Queen  further proof that he is, fundementally, one of life's good guys. https://t.co/JuIcpqRDpO  Harry Wallop (@hwallop) September 16, 2022

Upon entering Westminster Hall, Beckham appeared tearful and solemn as he paid his respects to the Queen. Footage from the BBC shows Beckham entering the historic hall, after removing the hat he had been wearing while standing in line.

The entrance to Southwark Park reopened on Friday, despite an announcement from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport that said the line would be closed off for at least six hours to manage capacity.

Although the line was paused due to full capacity, a second queue began to form outside the park along Jamaica Road, causing attendants to eventually reopen the gate.

Many famous faces have also paid their respects to the Queen. New Zealands prime minister Jacinda Ardern, who will attend the Queens funeral on Monday, was seen at Westminster Hall on Friday where she viewed the late monarchs coffin.

Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid also queued to get into the Palace of Westminster, saying she went to view the Queens coffin with her mother.

On Saturday morning (17 September), Tilda Swinton was spotted in the public queue, with many praising her for refusing to take advantage of status to pay her respects to the Queen.

However, Schofield and Willoughby attended the lying in state as members of the press and were led to a press gallery for a separate viewing, bypassing the hours-long queue that members of the public have to wait in.

MPs are also given special access to Westminster Hall to pay their respects to the late Queen, and are able to bring in up to four guests.

People took to Twitter to slam the unfair treatment, with many criticising MPs, Schofield and Willoughby for thinking theyre better than the rest of us.

I have total respect for David Beckham who queued for 12 hours with everyone else, took photos with the public, spoke to them and was a general nice guy, unlike Phil and Holly who decided they were better than the public and bypassed the queue, one person wrote.

However, others pointed out that Schofield and Willoughby were there as members of the press. Susan is silly for queuing. Beckham is not a journalist. Holly and Phil will describe their experience for thousands of viewers who couldnt be there, a Twitter user said.

Reeeeally not a good day for Holly and Phil  not sure they will be able to laugh this one off on #ThisMorning #queuejumpers  Naomi Jewitt (@Nomio1984) September 16, 2022

Westminster Hall will remain open 24 hours a day to allow thousands of members of the public to pay their respects, until 6.30am on the day of the Queens funeral, Monday 19 September. From there, the Queens coffin will be taken in a grand military procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the funeral. The procession will also be joined by senior members of the family and military personnel.

The state funeral service at Westminster Abbey will be attended by presidents, prime ministers, and royals from around the world. The service, which starts at 11am, will also be televised.

After the service, the coffin will be taken in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch and then travel to Windsor. Once in Windsor, the hearse will travel to St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle for another televised committal service.

Later in the evening, there will also be a private interment service with senior members of the royal family.

The Queens final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel, an annex to the main chapel  where her mother and father were buried, along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.
Illegal immigrants from Central and South America load into vans near the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris after being dropped off in Washington, on Sept. 15, 2022. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

More Illegal Immigrants Arrive Near VP Harriss DC Residence, 3 More Buses Sent to NYC

Another bus carrying illegal immigrants arrived outside Vice President Kamala Harriss home in Washington, early on Sept. 17, according to video footage. Additionally, another wave of buses also arrived in New York City.

The District of Columbia busload reportedly carried men, women, and children, including newborns, mostly hailing from Venezuela and Nicaragua, an NBC reporter who filmed the group of immigrants getting off the bus said on Twitter.

Saturdays early morning incident now marks the third bus that has been sent to Harriss District of Columbia home this week.

According to Fox News, which first reported the Sept. 17 arrival, around 50 illegal immigrants got off the bus, and aid workers quickly collected the people and took them to a local shelter.

Meanwhile, media footage and photos from the network also show that three more buses arrived at New York Citys Port Authority Bus Terminal early on Saturday. According to the pictures, it wasnt immediately clear how many people were on the buses.

In a statement last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state has currently bused over 7,900 illegal immigrants to the U.S. capital since April, and over 2,200 to New York City since early August. Several hundred immigrants have also been dropped off in Chicago as part of a mission to provide much-needed relief to our overwhelmed border communities.

Earlier this week, Abbott announced that two buses carrying more than 100 migrants who had been picked up by authorities in Eagle Pass, Texas, arrived at the U.S. Naval Observatorywhich is the vice presidents residence.

Abbott said at the time that the buses were sent as retaliation to Harriss recent comment, in which the vice presidentwho was tapped last year by President Joe Biden to oversee U.S. border securityclaimed that Americas border with Mexico is secure.

The Republican governor hasnt confirmed yet if the buses on Sept. 17 were also sent by him, though on Thursday, he said that the state will continue sending migrants to sanctuary cities like Washington, D.C. until President Biden and Border Czar Harris step up and do their jobs to secure the border.

This week, the White House sharply criticized Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for transporting illegal immigrants to Harriss residence and Marthas Vineyard.

Illegal immigrants from Venezuela, who boarded a bus in Texas, wait to be transported to a local church by volunteers after being dropped off outside the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris at the Naval Observatory in Washington on Sept. 15, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

Illegal immigrants from Venezuela stand outside St. Andrews Church in Edgartown, Marthas Vineyard, Mass., on Sept.14, 2022. (Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette/Handout via Reuters)

Others, including a former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, have said the transports have exposed hypocrisy on behalf of Democrats, who support sanctuary city policies.

How can Vice President Kamala Harris complain if two busloads of illegal migrants are delivered to her home. After all, she told the whole country  the border is secure! Maybe she was wrong! Newt Gingrich, who served as the 50th speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, wrote on Twitter.

For months, Abbotts administration has sent dozens of buses filled with people who illegally crossed the U.S.Mexico border to New York, Chicago, and Washington. Arguing that Texas border towns are inundated and overwhelmed by a significant increase in illegal immigration, the governor said that policymakers in those Democrat-run cities and states should face the realities of the immigration rules they support.

The Republican governor also said those areas are self-proclaimed sanctuary cities, meaning they wont comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, and they are a more suitable location for illegal aliens than Texas.
Three girls embrace before they are removed from the home of Samuel Bateman, following his arrest in Colorado City, Ariz., on Sept. 14, 2022. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)

Arizona Man Charged After Girls Found in Enclosed Trailer

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.A leader of a small polygamous group on the Arizona-Utah line pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal charges of tampering with evidence, weeks after being stopped on a highway with young girls in an enclosed trailer.

Samuel Bateman, 46, was indicted earlier this month on three counts of destroying or attempting to destroy records, and tampering with criminal proceedings. He pleaded not guilty in U.S. Magistrate Court in Flagstaff, a mountain city where he was arrested in late August by a state police agency after someone spotted small fingers in a gap of the trailers rear door.

Authorities found three girls, between the ages of 11 and 14, in the trailer he was hauling through Flagstaff, according to court documents. The trailer had a makeshift toilet, a couch, camping chairs, and no ventilation, the documents state. The documents didnt say if the girls are related to Bateman, and it wasnt discussed during Thursdays hearing.

Bateman was a former member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or FLDS, until he left in recent years and started his own small offshoot group, said Sam Brower, who has spent years investigating the group.

Batemans group still practices plural marriage with a small following of fewer than 100 people, estimated Brower, who wrote a book on the FLDS and appeared in the recent Netflix series, Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey.

Federal prosecutor Patrick Schneider said Bateman talked to supporters in Colorado City, Arizona, from the Coconino County Jail in Flagstaff and instructed them to delete communications sent through an encrypted private messaging system, and demanded all women and girls obtain passports.

Schneider said the state child welfare agency has removed children from Batemans home in Colorado City where the FBI had recently served a search warrant.

FBI agents raid the home of Sam Bateman in Colorado City, Ariz., on Sept. 13, 2022. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)

Darren DaRonco, a spokesman for the Arizona Department of Child Safety, declined to comment in an email Thursday, citing confidentiality laws. FBI spokesman Kevin Smith said in an email that the search warrant is sealed.

Bateman posted bond on the state charges. He was arrested again Tuesday in Colorado City by federal authorities who were investigating whether children were being transported across state lines for sexual activity, Schneider said. If convicted, Bateman faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on each federal charge.

Bateman previously pleaded not guilty to three counts of child abuse in an Arizona state court, court documents show.

Batemans attorney, Adam Zickerman, cautioned against inferring the federal case was about religious persecution, though he didnt specify Batemans faith or say if he practices polygamy. Zickerman said Bateman is not a danger to the community.

Schneider cited a pretrial services report in saying that Bateman had relationships with multiple women but also didnt mention whether Bateman belonged to any polygamous groups.

Both the U.S. Attorneys Office in Arizona and Zickerman declined to comment following Thursdays court hearing, as did two women who were sitting in the gallery and met with Zickerman.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Camille Bibles ordered that Bateman remain behind bars while the case winds through the courts. She noted Bateman is a pilot and survivalist who has followers and international contacts who might help with financial or other resources on a moments notice. She said she also was concerned about young girls in vulnerable positions.

Courts have a tremendous interest in protecting people who cant protect themselves, she said.

Bateman listed a mailing address in Colorado City, where a patchwork of devout members of the polygamous FLDS, ex-church members, and those who dont practice the beliefs live. Both Colorado City and its sister community of Hildale, Utah, have seen significant cultural shifts in recent years.

The FLDS group run by imprisoned leader Jeffs has lost much of its control over the communities. Jeffs is serving a life sentence in a Texas prison for child sex abuse related to underage marriages.

Polygamy is a legacy of the early teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but the mainstream church abandoned the practice in 1890 and now strictly prohibits it.
A man holds a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

China Is Number One Source of Cyberespionage Against Canada, Targeting Dissidents, Diasporas: Report

Canada has increasingly been targeted for cyberattacks over the past decade, with China being the number one source of such malign activities, says a recent report.

The report, by the Center on Multimensional Conflicts at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM), also warns of efforts by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over the years to export surveillance against various groups of overseas dissidents and diasporas in the cyber domain.

In China itself, the Communist party has developed a state-of-the-art, Orwellian surveillance machine, with the help of Chinas Big Tech companies. Meanwhile, the Chinese regime also increasingly deploys an arsenal of espionage outside of its own territory, the report said.

New cyber capabilities have provided nation-states with countless new avenues of espionage and surveillance everywhere in the world, without much risk of retaliation, the report said. It noted that states are now using such capabilities to collect more than just the traditional state secrets of other countries, but also intellectual property or personal information on foreign high-ranking decision-makers. In addition, there is a more concerning trend.

In recent years, however, another trend has been of increasing concern: the digital surveillance of civil society actors, human rights activists, or members of oppressed minority groups, the report said.

What is more, the global rise of digital authoritarianism now transcends borders and poses significant challenges to democratic countries such as Canada.

Exportation of Surveillance

Members of the Falun Gong spiritual practice in Canada is one such group that has been targeted for harassment by Chinese state actors after fleeing their home country where theyve been the target of the CCPs political persecution.

Since 2010, practitioners of Falun Gong living in Canada have also reported various acts of online intimidation and disparagement, allegedly orchestrated by the Chinese state, the report said.

Also called Falun Dafa, the spiritual practice involves meditative exercises and moral teachings based on the tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Falun Gongs widely reported health benefits attracted between 70 million to 100 million practitioners in China in the 1990sa number deemed by former CCP leader Jiang Zemin as a threat to his partys authoritarian rule. In July 1999, Jiang launched a violent persecution campaign aimed at eradicating the practice. A CCP special agency, the 610 Office, remains active today, conducting arbitrary arrests, torture, and even live organ harvesting of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience.

Many Falun Gong adherents who fled China became targets of cyber operations, the UQAM report said.

One tactic cyber actors often employ against Falun Gong is fake emails or letters sent to insult or threaten foreign officials in the name of the persecuted group, the report said, citing another report, from March 2020, titled Harassment and Intimidation of Individuals in Canada Working on China-Related Human Rights Concerns.

The use of fake letters and emails has long been a hallmark of the Chinese Communist Partys overseas campaign against Falun Gong practitioners, to disparage them and to undermine their reputation. This practice against Falun Gong practitioners has continued since 2017, said the 2020 report published by Amnesty International Canada in coordination with other members of the Canadian Coalition on Human Rights in China.

Bizarre, offensive, and sometimes threatening letters and emails have been sent to Canadian politicians like Liberal MP Judy Sgro in December 2017 and NDP MP Peter Julian in March 2019, the report said, noting that it was an apparent effort to discredit the Falun Gong and hurt their relationships with recipients.

This type of cyber incidentdefined by the UQAM report as intentional, malicious actions, limited in time and carried out at least in part in cyber spacewas also used against other Chinese overseas dissenters of the CCP, including Tibetans and Uyghurs. The 2020 report said some overseas Hong Kong civil society groups were also targeted.

Exportation of surveillance by authoritarian states is but one of three major types of cyber threat trends to watch out for, according to the UQAM report. The other two trends are the expansion of the cyber-mercenary industry and the massive growth of ransomware attacks.

The UQAM report found that, like many other countries, Canada is increasingly entangled in international cyber rivalry, as it documented at least 75 geopolitical cyber incidents targeting Canada since 2010, including 49 that are categorized as acts of cyber espionage.

It noted that the vast majority of geopolitical cyber incidents recorded in Canada since 2010 can be traced to four countries: China, accounting for 23 out of the 75 incidents, followed by Russia (18), Iran (8), and North Korea (6).

The report, however, said that this data relates to the geographic origin of cyber incidents that have affected Canada and do not necessarily imply responsibility of the governments of the countries mentioned.

Some incidents, for instance, may have been operated by non-state actors located in these countries and acting on their own, it said.
Chinese Rights Lawyer Yu Wensheng Bestowed Swedish Human Rights Award

Chinese rights lawyer Yu Wensheng was awarded a human rights prize by the Stockholm-based Foundation of Anna Dahlback Memorial Fund on Sept. 9.

Yu, whos based in Beijing, was unable to attend the Stockholm awards ceremony and he had someone else receive the award on his behalf.

For his work as a human rights lawyer, Yu had long been targeted by Chinas communist authorities. Earlier this year he was released after several years in prison for his rights work.

The award recognizes Yus work on human rights and his great dedication and moral courage, the foundation said in the award announcement.

The Foundation of Anna Dahlback Memorial Funds statement of the 2022 prize. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Yu told The Epoch Times on Sept. 13, that the award belongs to all human rights defenders.

He emphasized that Chinese people especially need civic courage, but first of all, they need civic awareness.

The servile thinking in the Chinese mind is too much, and some people need to walk in the front to lead the Chinese people to achieve freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, Yu said.

Human rights lawyers and human rights defenders are the ones who are leading the way, he said.

Yu said over the past ten years, dozens of human rights lawyers have been arrested by the communist regime, adding that the rule of law and human rights in China has seriously regressed.

At the same time, we have also seen that the family members of human rights lawyers are not afraid of tyranny and firmly defend their rights. Here I am very grateful to my wife Xu Yan. She is not only the wife of a human rights lawyer but also a staunch human rights defender, he said.

Xu Yan, wife of human rights lawyer Yu Wenshengon on Oct. 30, 2019, in front of the Xuzhou City Detention Centre where her husband was being held. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images)

Yu added that human rights lawyers in China are still suffering and called for more attention to be made on their situation and that of their families.

In a statement from February when her husband was still imprisoned rights group Amnesty International said that Xu had been under constant surveillance and repeatedly faced harassment by the Chinese authoritieshaving been summoned, detained, and occasionally banned from leaving her house.

Persecution

As a well-known human right lawyer in Beijing, Yu has been persecuted by the Chinese regime for years.

On Oct. 13, 2014, he was arrested by the Daxing Branch of the Beijing Public Security Bureau for supporting the Hong Kong Occupy Central democratic protest. He was detained for 99 days, during which he was tortured and fell ill.

On Aug. 6, 2015, Yu was arrested for his connections with hundreds of Chinese rights lawyers who were arrested by the regime on July 9 that year. He was released 24 hours later. He later became the attorney for one of the arrested lawyers Wang Quanzhang but in August 2016, his legal status as Wangs attorney was stripped by the regime.

In 2016, he represented many Falun Gong practitionerspersecuted by the communist regime since 1999and defended them in courts. In the past ten years, through the defense, it has not only been made clear their activities are legal and they are innocent, but also made clear that the suppression of Falun Gong beliefs is illegal, Yu said then. Yes. The role each of us plays in it requires careful consideration.

In January 2018, his lawyers license was revoked by the authorities, and he was arrested by the regime for advocating constitutional reform.

He was charged with inciting subversion of the state in April 2018 and sentenced to four years in jail. In prison, Yu was severely tortured and physically mutilated. He was released on March 1 this year.

Chinese lawyer Yu Wensheng in Beijing, China, on Jan. 12, 2017. (Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images)

International Support

For his human rights activism, Yu has gained international support.

In January 2019, he was awarded the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law, while in February 2021, he was awarded the Martin Ennals annual prize for Human Rights Defenders.

Yus award from the Foundation of Anna Dahlback Memorial Fund is supported and participated by Amnesty International, the Swedish NGO Diakonia, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Red Cross, the Swedish Bar Association, among other organizations and institutions.

Ning Haizhong and Hong Ning contributed to the report.
Undated family handout photo issued by charity INQUEST of rapper Chris Kaba who was shot by armed officers from the Metropolitan Police at Kirkstall Gardens, Streatham Hill, south London, on Sept. 5, 2022. (INQUEST via PA Media)

Chris Kaba Shooting Investigator to Consider Racial Factor, UK Police Watchdog Says

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) will consider whether Chris Kabas race influenced police actions that led to the fatal shooting of the black rapper, the watchdog said on Friday.

The IOPC also said its aiming to complete the homicide investigation within six to nine months.

Separately, a coroners inquest into the death will be opened on Oct. 4.

But Kabas family demands a charging decision within weeks instead of months.

Kaba, 24, was shot dead by an officer on Sept. 5, after the Audi car he was driving was pursued by a Metropolitan Police armed response vehicle.

The IOPC said the Audi, which was not registered to Kaba, had activated an automatic number plate recognition camera, which indicated it had been linked to a firearms offence a few days before.

Kaba was later found to have been unarmed. A post-mortem examination was completed on Sept. 9 and the preliminary medical cause of death was given as a gunshot wound to the head.

Kabas family demanded a homicide investigation into his death and suggested the rapper was shot rather than arrested because he was black. The family also demanded the officer involved be suspended.

The IOPC began investigating the shooting hours after it took place. On Sept. 9, the watchdog escalated its investigation to a homicide investigation.

On Sept. 12, the Met said the officer involved had been suspended from duty following careful consideration of a number of factors, including the significant impact on public confidence and the IOPCs homicide investigation.

The details of the events that led to Kabas shooting have not been published. IOPC Regional Director Sal Naseem said on Friday that the watchdog is limited in the details it can release as it cant risk prejudicing any proceedings that may follow.

Naseem said officers fully appreciate that Chris Kabas devastated family and the community have a lot of unanswered questions about his death.

We have been in further contact with Chriss family this week to answer a number of questions they have and to offer them privately and confidentially the opportunity to view video footage as soon as it is practicable, he said.

We have also advised Chriss family that we aim to complete our investigation within six to nine months.

The IOPC said its required by law to conduct a wide-ranging independent investigation following such deaths.

It said it will explore all of the circumstances surrounding Kabas death, including how the officers came to be aware of the vehicle Kaba was driving, whether or not they had any prior knowledge of Kaba, and their decision-making and actions on the day of the shooting.

We will also examine whether or not Mr. Kabas race influenced any actions taken by the police, the watchdog said in a statement.

Met Assistant Commissioner Amanda Pearson said the force continues to fully support the IOPC investigation.

In a post on Instagram on Friday, Kabas cousin Jefferson Bosela, who represents the rappers family, demanded the suspended officer be interviewed under caution without delay and a charging decision within weeks and not months.

He also organised a protest outside Scotland Yard on Saturday with the help of Black Lives Matter UK.
Logos of the Big Tech giants are displayed on a tablet on Oct. 1, 2019. (Denis Charlet/AFP via Getty Images)

Court Rules Against Social Media Companies in Free Speech Censorship Fight

'We reject the idea that corporations have a freewheeling First Amendment right to censor what people say'

A federal appeals court in New Orleans has ruled in favor of a Texas law that seeks to rein in the power of social media companies like Facebook and Twitter to censor free speech.

The decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans (pdf), handed down on Sept. 16, upholds the constitutionality of a Texas law signed by Gov. Greg Abbott last year and delivers a victory to Republicans in their fight against big tech censorship of conservative viewpoints.

Today we reject the idea that corporations have a freewheeling First Amendment right to censor what people say, U.S. Circuit Court Judge Andrew Oldham wrote in the opinion.

Because the district court held otherwise, we reverse its injunction and remand for further proceedings, Oldham added, setting the stage for a showdown in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Groups Sue

After the law, known as House Bill 20, was passed last year, NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) sued.

The groups argued in their lawsuit that private companies like Facebook and Twitter have a First Amendment right to moderate content thats posted on their platforms and decide on what forms of speech to allow or ban.

The Act tramples the First Amendment by allowing the government to force private businesses to host speech they dont want to, NetChoice said in a statement. The groups also argued that the Texas law not only does not prevent censorship but allows Texas to police and control speech online, overriding the First Amendment rights of online businesses.

A lower court sided with the lawsuit and decided to block the law, with Fridays ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals overturning that decision.

The platforms argue that buried somewhere in the persons enumerated right to free speech lies a corporations unenumerated right to muzzle speech, Oldham wrote in the opinion.

He said the implications of the big tech platforms argument are staggering as they would allow entities like social media companies, banks, and mobile phone companies to cancel the accounts of people who express views or spend money in support of political parties or views such corporations oppose.

Oldham also said that the protections sought by platforms in challenging the Texas law would allow them to win a dominant market position by attracting users with misleading claims of being champions of free speech but later cracking down on expression.

Massive Victory for Free Speech

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has been a staunch backer of the law, hailed the courts decision in a statement on social media.

I just secured a MASSIVE victory for the constitution & Free speech in fed court #BigTech CANNOT censor the political voices of ANY texan! he wrote on Twitter.

Carl Szabo, NetChoice vice president and general counsel, issued a statement expressing disappointment in the appeals courts ruling.

We remain convinced that when the U.S. Supreme Court hears one of our cases, it will uphold the First Amendment rights of websites, platforms, and apps, Szabo said.

CCIA issued a statement saying that the 5th Court of Appeals ruling infringes on private companies First Amendment rights.

God Bless America and Death to America are both viewpoints, and it is unwise and unconstitutional for the State of Texas to compel a private business to treat those the same, Matt Schruers, CCIA president, said in a statement.

An appeal of Fridays decision could put the issue before the U.S. Supreme Court, where conservatives have a majority.
A maze of crude oil pipes and valves is pictured during a tour by the Department of Energy at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in Freeport, Texas, on June 9, 2016. (Richard Carson/Reuters)

Depleting Americas Emergency Oil Supply to Elect Democrats

Commentary

In the film All the Presidents Men, Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernsteins shadowy source, Deep Throat, says, Follow the money. Some point to evidence that there really was no Deep Throat or that there were actually half a dozen Deep Throats, but what the supposed source actually says in Woodward and Bernsteins book is: The key was the secret campaign cash, and it should all be traced.

Despite the fact that attacking rich oil companies is a favored Democratic Party talking point, President Joe Biden has, for all intents and purposes, been converting oil into campaign cash for his partys House and Senate candidates as their midterm campaigns go into high gearand it doesnt take any investigative reporting to trace it. This president has been abusing his executive powers over the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is only supposed to be tapped into during times of emergency, and Democrats at risk of losing congressional seats doesnt qualify as one of those times.

GasBuddy.com reports that gasoline at lower than $3 per gallon can now be found in areas near Houston, Atlanta, and within the state of Mississippi. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee boasted earlier this month that gas prices are down more than $1.20 a gallon in just about 70 days. Thats because the president increased supplies, went after price gouging, and released the Strategic Petroleum Reserve [SPR]. In fact, the Democratic-controlled Congress hasnt enacted its threatened hate-oil legislation restricting Big Oils supposed price gouging, for which theres no evidence, nor has it passed the windfall profits tax Democrats proposed for oil companies. And Biden has done the opposite of increasing supplies, canceling the Keystone XL pipeline and imposing restrictions on energy production in Alaska and on federal lands and waters, at variance with congressional directives.

Even with the drops, the average price at the pump remains $1.30 higher than the $2.38 that the country enjoyed the week of Bidens inauguration last year; from then to the week before Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, the average price of gas has increased by nearly 50 percent. Whats more, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen just warned of a return to higher gas prices after the midterm elections in November, citing the European Unions pending reduction in the purchase of oil from Russia as it continues its war against Ukraine.

A pump is seen at a gas station in the Manhattan borough of New York on Aug. 11, 2022. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

So the drop in gas prices over the past couple of months is a brazen political maneuver to dampen certain Republican gains in Congress on Election Day. Biden has depleted the SPR by more than 160 million barrels to its lowest level in 37 years, with reserves falling to about 453 million barrels. The SPR exceeded 700 million barrels in 2008, remaining at that level until after September 2011.

The SPR isnt a presidential toy to be used to help his party. It was established in the aftermath of the 197374 oil embargo and at full volume constitutes only 30 days of oil consumption for the nation, to be utilized in wartime or other national emergencies that could disrupt global petroleum supply routes. President Dwight Eisenhower originally proposed the establishment of such a reserve supply after the Suez Canal crisis of 1956.

Underlining just how irresponsible and dishonest the presidents misuse of the SPR has been is the fact that millions of barrels of the reserve oil he released, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, ended up in the hands of the communist Chinese state-owned firm Unipec, which has been linked to his son, Hunter Biden.

The Paris-based International Energy Agency, consisting of 31 member countries, knew back in May that the unilateral release of the U.S. emergency reserves was being conducted for political purposes rather than to compensate for any global supply disruptions, as Reuters was told by IEA sources who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the topic.

When will the U.S. emergency oil supply be replenished? The Department of Energy stated that we anticipate that replenishment would not occur until well into the future, likely after fiscal year 2023. It was reacting to Bloomberg reporting that the beginning of refilling the SPR could be triggered if oil prices fall to lower than $80 per barrel; crude isnt much higher than that right now at less than $85. So if the report is true, the replenishment could begin soon. But a disturbing aspect of the story is the Biden administrations rationale for the move: It reportedly would be trying to prevent a global reduction in oil prices. Imagine if voters believed this.

Petroleum remains what it has been for more than a century: the lifeblood of modern economies throughout the world. Democrats have abused it every which way, whether its restricting its use out of green extremism or manipulating its price in an undemocratic yearning to retain power in Washington.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
DOJ Asks Appeals Court to Partially Block Special Master Review of Seized Documents

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday asked an appeals court to partially block the court-appointed special master duties of senior Judge Raymond Dearie to review documents the FBI seized from Mar-a-Lago.

This comes one day after U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon tasked Dearie with independently reviewing the documents taken in August from the Florida estate of former President Donald Trump.

Part of Dearies duties is to determine whether any materials are privileged and should be off-limits to federal investigators. The district judges ruling also rejected the DOJs bid to revive its criminal investigation into the classified documents.

The DOJ says this part of the order hamstrings the governments efforts to determine any possible unauthorized disclosures of top secret or classified materials that posed a national security risk.

In court filings lodged with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the DOJ described the ruling as an unprecedented order and argued that it fundamentally erred in appointing a special master and granting injunctive relief.

The DOJ asked the appeals court to stay, or put a hold on, only the portions of the order causing the most serious and immediate harm to the government and the public.

According to court filings, those portions of the order include the parts restricting the governments review and use of records bearing classification markings, and also the parts requiring the government to disclose those records for a special-master review process.

Classified Records

Trump has maintained he did no wrong in how he handled classified materials. He has repeatedly stated that, as president, he had a standing declassification order on materials that left the Oval Office and were taken to Mar-a-Lago.

The DOJ on Friday told the appeals court that Trump has no claim for the return of records with classification markings, and wants these excluded from the scope of Dearies special master review process.

Such records, the DOJ said, could not be subject to any possible claim of personal attorney-client privilege and further, the department argued they belong to the government and were seized in a court-authorized search.

The DOJ has previously argued that Trump cant prevent the current executive branch of government from accessing presidential records that he may claim executive privilege over.

Documents seized during the Aug. 8 raid by the FBI of former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla, in a photo released on Aug. 30, 2022. (FBI via The Epoch Times)

However, in appointing a special master, the district court rejected DOJ arguments that because Trump is no longer president he cannot claim executive privilege.

But the DOJ argued in its latest filing that any possible assertion of executive privilege over these records would be especially untenable.

The department said such executive privilege would be overcome by the governments demonstrated, specific need for them  because they are central to its ongoing investigation.

Criminal Investigation Crippled by Ruling

Without the stay, investigations into whether there was a national security risk from the possible unauthorized disclosure of the records bearing classification markings would be crippled, according to the DOJ.

The courts order hamstrings that investigation and places the FBI and [DOJ] under a Damoclean threat of contempt should the court later disagree with how investigators disaggregated their previously integrated criminal-investigative and national-security activities, the DOJs filing reads.

It also irreparably harms the government by enjoining critical steps of an ongoing criminal investigation and needlessly compelling disclosure of highly sensitive records, including to Plaintiffs counsel.

Trump and other Republicans have accused the FBI of targeting him for political reasons as he mulls running for president again in 2024.

Dearies Special Master Review

The DOJ, meanwhile, doesnt think its request for a stay would get in the way of Dearies special master review of other materials, such as any records potentially subject to attorney-client privilege.

Dearies special master review process will include verifying that items identified in the Detailed Property Inventory represents the full and accurate extent of the property seized, which may include obtaining sworn affidavits from DOJ personnel, according to court documents.

As special master, Dearie will regularly update the court on his review of documents for their privilege status, either personal attorney-client privilege or executive privilege, and any disputes between the parties.

Dearie is furthermore assigned to identify personal documents and items, as well as presidential records, and recommend to the court regarding any categorization disputes.

Putting a hold on parts of the district courts order wouldnt infringe any interest in confidentiality because the governments criminal investigators have already reviewed the records bearing classification marking, according to the DOJ, which noted that the Intelligence Community may continue to review the seized materials for certain national-security purposes under the district courts order.

The DOJ asked the appeals court to act as soon as practicable on their request.
Figurines with computers and smartphones in front of Twitter logo in a photo illustration on July 24, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

Elon Musk Accuses Twitter of Security Lapses in Court Filing

WILMINGTON, Del.Billionaire Elon Musk accused Twitter Inc. of fraud by concealing serious flaws in the social media companys data security, which the entrepreneur said should allow him to end his $44 billion deal for the company, according to a Thursday court filing.

Musk, the worlds richest person, amended his previously filed lawsuit by adopting allegations by a Twitter whistleblower, who told Congress on Tuesday of meddling on the influential social media platform by foreign agents.

The chief executive of electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc. also alleged that Twitter hid from him that it was not complying with a 2011 agreement with the Federal Trade Commission regarding user data.

Needless to say, the newest revelations make undeniably clear that the Musk parties have the full right to walk away from the merger agreementor numerous independently sufficient reasons, said the amended countersuit.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk looks up as he addresses guests at the Offshore Northern Seas 2022 (ONS) meeting in Stavanger, Norway, on Aug. 29, 2022. (Carina Johansen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)

Twitter said in a statement it looked forward to the five-day trial scheduled to start Oct. 17 in Delaware. Mr. Musks claims are factually inaccurate, legally insufficient and commercially irrelevant, the company said.

Musk said the claims by the whistleblower, former head of Twitter security Peiter Mudge Zatko, amounted to fraud and breach of contract by Twitter.

Musk has asked a Delaware judge to find that he was not obligated to close the deal while Twitter wants the judge to order Musk to buy the company for $54.20 per share.

Twitter has said it conducted an internal investigation of Zatkos allegations and determined they lacked merit. The company has said Zatko was fired for poor performance.

Twitters lawyers have said in court that the whistleblower claims that Musk folded into his case were either not grounds for terminating the deal agreement or failed to meet the standard for fraud.
People pose with syringe with needle in front of displayed AstraZeneca logo on Dec. 11, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

EU Regulator Backs Wider Use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Therapy

LONDONEuropes medicines regulator has backed using AstraZenecas preventative COVID-19 therapy as a treatment for the disease and also endorsed another medicine as preventative option for another common virus.

The regulators recommendations are usually followed by the European Commission when it takes a final decision on drug approvals.

AstraZeneca said on Friday the European Medicines Agency (EMA) had backed Evusheld as a treatment for adults and adolescents with COVID-19 who do not need supplemental oxygen and who are at increased risk of their disease worsening.

Last month, Japan became the first country to approve the long-acting antibody as a treatment for COVID-19making Evusheld the first such therapy authorized for both prevention and treatment of the viral disease.

Evusheld had previously had largely secured global approvals, including in Europe, as a preventative therapy for people with compromised immune systems who see little or no benefit from COVID vaccines.

AstraZeneca is leaning on Evusheld to help offset tepid sales of its COVID vaccine that has rapidly lost ground to mRNA shots in the fight against the rapidly evolving virus.

Evusheld, first launched in December, generated $914 million in the first half of 2022 for the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker.

Separately on Friday, the EMA also endorsed AstraZeneca and partner Sanofis experimental long-acting therapy Beyfortus for the prevention of lower respiratory tract infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

RSV causes thousands of hospitalizations and deaths globally each year in toddlers and the elderly, but the complex molecular structure of the virus and safety concerns have stymied efforts to develop a vaccine since the virus was first discovered in 1956.

But there is one therapy, Synagis, also developed by AstraZeneca but sold by Swedish Orphan Biovitrum in the United States.

It is designed to prevent lower respiratory tract infections caused by RSV in high-risk infants and requires up to five injections to cover a typical RSV season.

Meanwhile, if Beyfortus were approved, it would be the first single-dose preventative RSV therapy for the broad infant populationincluding those born healthy or are deemed high-riskduring their first RSV season.

By Pushkala Aripaka and Natalie Grover
Prince Harry will be allowed to wear his military uniform during a special vigil to honour the Queen alongside Prince William and Her Majesty's six other grandchildren on Saturday.

The brothers and their cousins will take part in the special 15-minute vigil at Westminster Hall on Saturday, where they will stand beside the Queen's coffin in silence, mirroring the Vigil of the Princes.

Prince Harry will be allowed to wear his military uniform for a special vigil to honour the Queen alongside Prince William after not being permitted to wear it earlier. Photo: Getty

The Vigil of the Princes saw King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward stand guard at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh earlier this week. They will repeat the vigil at Westminster Hall on Friday night.

RELATED:

Prince Andrew has controversially been allowed to wear his military uniform for the Westminster Hall vigil despite stepping back from royal duties in the wake of his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and the sexual assault allegations that followed.

Harry, however, was not granted the same exception for events in the lead-up to the Queen's funeral, with a spokesperson hitting back, "Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex will wear a morning suit throughout events honouring his grandmother.

The Vigil of the Princes saw King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward stand guard at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh earlier this week. Photo: Getty

Harry will join his brother in wearing his military uniform on Saturday. Photo: Getty

"His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."

Now that Harry will be allowed to wear his uniform for the special vigil, a source told The Mirror, "Common sense has prevailed.

"It was a ludicrous situation given the Duke of Sussex has served his country and is a highly respected member of the armed forces with everything he has done for veterans.

Prince Andrew has controversially been allowed to wear his military uniform for the Westminster Hall vigil. Photo: Getty

"It is important that the Queens grandchildren are all made to feel welcome and comfortable as they grieve their beloved grandmother together."

Harry, who served in the British army for a decade, including two tours of Afghanistan, was stripped of his military patronages when he and wife Meghan Markle stepped back as working royals.

Story continues

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A storefront displays a "for lease" sign as part of a protest against the Ontario government's pandemic lockdown rules, on Roncesvalles Avenue in Toronto on Nov. 24, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Jody White)

Excess Deaths From Canadas COVID Response: Justice Centre Challenges Narrative of Success

A Canadian legal advocacy organization is challenging the narrative by governments, media, and medical associations that Canadas response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been successful.

In a report published on Sept. 13, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) argues that the prevailing consensus that the Canadian response to COVID has been successful is biased because there appears to be no reference to the excess deaths caused by Canadas strategy that has been among the most stringent and sustained lockdown policies in the world.

Defining success without reference to excess deaths or the vast medical harms experienced by thousands of Canadians would be a mistake, said the report, titled Excess Deaths Contradict Narrative of Success.

It seems, however, that success has been defined only as high vaccination rates, as compliance with public health orders, and as reduced mortality from Covid, the authors wrote.

Further, this narrative of success is being referenced as a model or standard for future policy responses to the developing Covid pandemic in Canada, they added.

Enthusiastic Cheerleaders

The Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) published a study on June 27 saying that Canada performed better than most within the Group of 10 (G10) countries with respect to COVID health burdens, the JCCF report noted.

The CMAJ study defined G10 as including Canada plus 10 other countries with similar medical, economic, and political systems: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Keeping uncertainties about causation in mind, we can hypothesize that high vaccination percentages and good compliance with sustained public health restrictions explain at least part of Canadas strong performance in limiting SARS-CoV-2related health burdens, the CMAJ study said.

The JCCF says that as a result of the study, many media outlets joined in to parrot the narrative.

Canadian media organizations (most of which have been enthusiastic cheerleaders for often contradictory government policies) received this study with an uncritical tone, the JCCF report said.

Examples of failure to adhere to journalist standards, it said, include not investigating the harms created by governments COVID policies, and giving insufficient attention to the other findings of the CMAJ study, which stated that Canada had the second-longest duration of school closures and some of the strictest restrictions and bans on public gatherings in the G10.

Excess Deaths

The JCCF cited data extracted from Statistics Canada on July 14, arguing that more people were dying than anticipated in the second half of 2021.

In Quarter 3 (weeks 27-39) and Quarter 4 (weeks 40-52) of 2021, there were nearly 8,000 (4,610 + 3,349 = 7,959) more deaths from non-Covid causes than the expected number of deaths predicted by Statistics Canada from all causes, excluding Covid, the report said.

Excess deaths especially impacted the younger-than-45 demographic, it added.

The authors also noted that nearly every week during that period, the number of non-COVID excess deaths exceeded the number of COVID deaths. In other words, Covid was not solely responsible for excess deaths.

Statistics Canada defines excess death as mortality above what would be expected based on the non-crisis mortality rate in the population of interest.

Excess mortality also encompasses collateral impacts of the pandemic, such as deaths occurring because of the overwhelming of the health care system, or deaths avoided due to decreased air pollution or traffic, said the agency on its website.

Delayed and Missed Health Care

The JCCF report attributes health-care disruptionscancelled or deferred medical procedures due to lockdown policiesand drug overdoses to be the likely causes of excess deaths in Canada since 2020.

The authors referred to a November 2021 study by consulting firm Deloitte, which was commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association to evaluate the impact of COVID on Canadas health system, particularly the access to care and the wellness of Canadians.

The study, titled A struggling system: Understanding the health care impacts of the pandemic, determined that delayed and missed health care may have contributed to more than 4,000 excess deaths not related to COVID-19 between August and December 2020.

In May, Statistics Canadas data indicating the rise in excess deaths for fall 2021 and early 2022 aligned with Deloittes analysis that delayed or missed care due to shutdown of services, among several reasons, may be a contributing factor.

To some extent, this shift may be caused by indirect effects of the pandemic, such as missed medical appointments and increased substance use, said the agency.

Opioid Deaths

Deloittes study suggested that substance use may have become more dangerous during the pandemic as individuals have been potentially consuming harmful substances in isolated settings more frequently.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, a total of 7,560 apparent opioid toxicity deaths occurred between January and December 2021.

This is approximately 21 deaths per day, said its report titled Opioid- and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada, published in June. In the years prior to the pandemic, there were between 8 (in 2016) and 12 (in 2018) deaths per day.

Pro-rating for Q3/4 of 2021 (for which figures are not yet available), one may reasonably assume that approximately 3,700 opioid deaths occurred in Q3 and Q4 of 2021 compared to an average of 2,129 deaths for the same period during the previous five years, the JCCF report said.

John Carpay, president of JCCF, says attempts to propagate the successful narrative cannot pass unchallenged.

To claim that Canadas response to the pandemic has been successful is to ignore the immense social and medical harms experienced by Canadians, he said in a statement on Sept. 15.

Canadian governments have a legal obligation to demonstrate that any restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms are justifiable and the least restrictive means to solve a problem.
The BlackRock logo outside of its offices in New York on Jan. 18, 2012. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

Experienced Business Leaders Steering Clear of Boardrooms Due to Heavy ESG Burden: CEO

Heavy regulatory burdens that come packaged with trendy progressive agendas, like gender quotas, are keeping some of the most experienced executives from joining boardrooms, warns one CEO.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the CEO in charge of an Australian publicly listed company revealed that many individuals choose to take on non-executive roles as a form of public service after many years at the pinnacle of their careers.

Youre paying someone around $130,000 a year. Now, that might sound like a lot of money, but let me assure you, none of the people you want on your board needs that money. They have effectively retired, he told The Epoch Times.

They see this as an opportunity to give back and to share the knowledge theyve gained over their lifetime with younger management teams who are seeking to forge the best path forward.

The CEO revealed that governmentsin line with pressure from media outlets, advocacy groups, and shareholder activistshave over the years ratcheted up environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements for boardrooms. One example is the yearly reports that companies are supposed to submit to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency set up under former Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard in 2012.

Pedestrians reflected on a marble wall in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, on April 4, 2017. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)

The problem youve got now is where you place more and more liability, constraints, and hurdles around non-executive director roles. And someone might be personally liable for things that are essentially outside of their control, he said.

Theres a lot of these people who have finished their careers and think, Im not going to touch a non-executive board role with a barge pole.

While supportive of initiatives like environmentalism, he said recent moves have edged into the realm of tokenism, pointing to shareholder pressure for climate change targets, gender quotas, and practicing the Acknowledgement of Countrypaying respect to Australias Aboriginal heritagebefore every meeting.

Most of the people I know who take on those non-executive roles or who run big public companiesand I speak to lots at conferences, events, and so forththeyre all on the same page as me, and they could not care less about [gender or race] orientation. They just want the best person whos going to get the best outcome for the company, he said.

Customers and Staff First, Not ESG: Investor

Steve Baxter, tech start-up investor and star of the Australian TV series Shark Tank, agrees, saying the use of artificial, non-merit-based criteria to assign jobs will likely disrupt the productivity of a workplace. He also said ESG was creeping ever further and deeper into corporation and boardrooms.

Directors are the boogie men that get held to account for malfeasance in a company by many areas of the press, but directors do not run companies and primarily operate in more of an oversight role, he told The Epoch Times in an email. I can understand why the level of non-productive rubbish that is enforced onto boards would see directors want to do something else.

Baxter said businesses should be allowed to focus on customers, products, and staff.

Any other distraction robs from efficiency and focuses on things activists prefer, instead of what delivers value, he said.

Australian investor and entrepreneur Steve Baxter in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 10, 2019. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi)

Once a business is operating efficiently, it can distribute excess cash flow in the form of dividends or similar. The recipients can then choose to invest or donate to whatever feel good cause they please. Governments co-opting those profits to see them spent on activist pet projects need to be called out.

U.S. investment giants like BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguardwho all have substantial shareholdings in numerous public companieshave been accused of actively using this control to put pressure on board executives to pursue social justice causes.

Earlier this year, State Street Global Advisors warned it would take voting action against directors in U.S. S&P500 and UK FTSE 100 companies if they did not have one person of colour on their board or failed to disclose the racial and ethnic diversity of their directors.

In Australia, proxy advisors like the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, who purport to represent the interests of 37 pension funds, have played a similar role in climate change.

If major funds decide to pull their investment, it can have a marked impact on the share price of a corporation and influence other investors.

The overall situation has compelled 19 U.S. attorney-generals to issue a please explain to the worlds largest asset manager BlackRock on its activities, arguing that its pursuit of net-zero was potentially putting it in breach of its fiduciary duty to shareholders.

In response, Baxter said more disclosure could expose whether green investments were actually profitableespecially compared to the performance of traditional fossil fuel stocks.

If these funds are pressuring companies to do things that will see them underperform, then you have to wonder what incentive operates inside that fund to push that angle? he said.

Are they being rewarded for poorly performing investments? Are they charging more for ESG investments to cover or compensate (the fund manager) for the seemingly illogical pressure they are bringing to bear on their portfolios?

Big Push for Women in the Workplace

Gender equality was a big winner at the recently concluded Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra, with several speakers honing in on issues like the gender pay gap, toxic workplace cultures, and the need to include more women in boardrooms.

Emma Fulu, executive director of Equality Institute, told the conference there was a need to level the playing field.

We need to start changing who is in the room and in the boardroom. We need to create space for those who have historically been silenced and excluded, she told the Summit.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addresses the Jobs and Skills Summit at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Sept. 1, 2022. (Martin Ollman/Getty Images)

While Danielle Wood, CEO of the Grattan Institute, said there was huge potential in the female workforce.

I cant help but reflect that if untapped womens workforce participation was a massive iron ore deposit, we would have governments falling over themselves to give subsidies to get it out of the ground, she said.

The Summits final 36 outcomes included a pledge from the Labor government to establish a Womens Economic Equality Taskforce to provide advice to inform the National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality.

The government will also set gender quotas in the Australian Public Service and require departments to report to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency. There was a further commitment to introduce gender-responsive budgeting and apply gender impact analysis on decisions in the Womens Budget Statement and to cement gender pay equity into the Fair Work Act.

Details of the policies will need to be worked out; however, the majority of the regulatory burden will impact large corporations first before trickling down to small to mid-sized businesses.
The leader of the Sweden Democrats Jimmie Akesson arrives at the party's election watch in Nacka, near Stockholm late Sunday evening on September 11, 2022. (JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Following Historic Win, Will Swedens Right-Wing Sweden Democrats Party Rule?

GOTHENBURGSwedens national politics saw a shake-up this week as right-wing parties, including the Sweden Democrats headed by Jimmie Akesson, won a majority of parliamentary seats.

On election night Sunday, the result was too close to call, but indicated a single-seat majority for the right-wing bloc, 175174. After almost all votes had been counted on Wednesday, the lead had increased to 176173, and the incumbent Social Democrat Prime Minister conceded defeat and resigned on Thursday.

The likely new prime minister is Ulf Kristersson of the Moderate Party. On election night he thanked everyone who had voted for them hoping for change and spoke of the need to unite the nation.

I approach this task with great humility, but Im ready to do everything in my power to form a new, stable, and effective government for the whole of Sweden and all citizens, he said.

The parliamentary situation is still far from clear, as the victorious right-wing bloc is unlikely to form a cabinet that includes all four parties. A coalition government is in fact most likely not to include the blocs biggest party, the Sweden Democrats, who overtook the Moderate party as the second biggest party overall, behind the Social Democrats. The other three parties in the bloc have said that they will not accept ministerial positions for the Sweden Democrats.

Akesson said on election night that his partys ambition was to form the basis of the new cabinet, but in reality, the Sweden Democrats, according to most commentators, are likely to content themselves with collaboration in the Riksdag, where they will be able to make extensive legislative demands on the minority government while retaining an outsider position.

Paradoxically, the Social Democrats improved their result over the 2018 election, and all the right-wing parties except the Sweden Democrats lost seats. The deciding factor was instead the small Liberal partys decision earlier this year to support the Kristersson bloc, after almost being wiped out in the polls and replacing their party leader. In 2018, the Liberal party backed the Social Democrat-Green Party government.

Going forward, the Liberal party is expected to become the main stumbling block for a Kristersson government. Several Liberal MPs have not really accepted the new party line of collaboration with a nationalist, explicitly non-liberal party they regard as anathema. In any given parliamentary vote, only two would need to break party discipline, which, although rare in Sweden, is in no way unheard of. Whether or not to try to reduce the risk of this happening by bringing the Liberal party into his cabinet is a choice Kristersson would have to makeand then get this past the Sweden Democrats.

On the losing side, the increasingly left-leaning Center party lost ground, leading to the resignation of long-time party leader Annie Loof. Some speculate that the exit of Loof, a staunch opponent of the Sweden Democrats, might lead to a re-orientation for the party, which was part of the successful right-wing alliance that led Sweden between 2006 and 2014.

This election will also likely go down in history as the first strong showing of an explicitly Muslim party, Nyans (Nuance), which failed to enter the Riksdag but seem likely to win seats in one or more municipalities. Nyans has been accused of close connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, and wants to ban the burning of the Quran and drawings of the prophet Mohammad.

The election campaign has been tough and embittered, and many political and media figures have expressed disbelief at the expected influence of the Sweden Democrats. Accusations of fascism and rhetoric of resistance similar to that of the American left following Donald Trumps presidential victory in 2016 abound in social media and commentaries.

Magdalena Anderssons drew criticism for her resignation speech, during which she said that the Social Democrats will call out any attempts to foment or excuse hate, threats, violence and racism, which was seen as clearly directed at the Sweden Democrats.

Minister for Environment Annika Strandhall went further, saying on Twitter that we will not accept fascism. Climate activist Greta Thunberg urged the Swedish people on Twitter to refuse to normalize whats happening in Sweden now. Refuse to normalize hate, threats, lies and fascism.

None have been very specific about what in the Sweden Democrats policies constitute fascism, typically pointing to their more hardline views as a small fringe party 30 years ago, with ties to neo-nazi movements. The Sweden Democrats today have a professed zero-tolerance policy against racism, promote an open Swedishness that includes immigrants who want to assimilate, and their support among immigrants has grown.

Politically, most parties in the Riksdag, including the Social Democrats, have appropriated a lot of the Sweden Democrats tough stance on immigration and crime. The Sweden Democrats have also gained a lot of support among the Swedish rural working class, which has traditionally voted Social Democrat.

Ulf Kristersson, if he is elected Prime Minister, will have to, among other things, complete Swedens NATO membership process, get to grips with the rampant gun violence in the country, and navigate Sweden through the ongoing European energy crisis.
A woman stands in front of a General Electric (GE) sign during World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on Sept. 1, 2022. (Aly Song/Reuters)

General Electric Deliveries Still Affected by Supply-Chain Issues

CHICAGOGeneral Electric Co. is still grappling with supply-chain bottlenecks which have made it tougher to deliver products to customers on time, Chief Financial Officer Carolina Dybeck Happe said on Thursday.

All the businesses of the Boston-based industrial conglomerate have been facing challenges in satisfying customer demand due to shortages of parts, labor, and raw materials.

In the second quarter, supply-chain and macroeconomic pressures shaved off 5 percentage points from GEs revenue.

Dybeck Happe told a Morgan Stanley conference those factors continue to impact output of its jet engines and healthcare products.

Supply chain continues to be tough and continues to impair our ability to deliver to our customers, she said.

As a result, she said the companys cash flow is expected to be under pressure. She expects GEs free cash flow in the quarter through September to be either in line or slightly better than the June quarter.

The company reported $162 million in free cash flow in the second quarter.

GEs shares were down 3.9 percent at $66.2 in extended trading.

To be sure, manufacturers of all shapes and sizes have been struggling to produce enough for current demand and restock inventory after the COVID-19 pandemic fractured global supply chains. The pain, however, is more acute in the aerospace industry.

On Wednesday, Raytheon Technologies warned delivery of some of its Pratt & Whitney large commercial engines may slip into the first quarter.

Dybeck Happe said GE expects a mid-single-digit revenue growth in the third quarter.

By Rajesh Kumar Singh
The U.S. Coast Guard ship Bernard C. Webber, leaves the coast guard base in Miami Beach, Fla., on July 19, 2021. (Marta Lavandier/AP Photo)

Half a Billion Worth of Narcotics Seized by US Coast Guard in Florida

The U.S. Coast Guard has recovered over 28,500 pounds of marijuana and cocaine, offloading it on Thursday at the Base Miami Beach, Florida.

The drugs were interdicted by the USCGC Legare crew in the international waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean, a Sept. 16 Coast Guard news release said. The Legare was joined by Coast Guard Cutter James, U.S. Navy ship USS Billings, and His Netherlands Majestys Ship HNLMS Groningen in the operation. In total, the group recovered roughly 24,700 pounds of cocaine and 3,892 pounds of marijuana which are estimated to have a combined value of $475 million.

Jeremy M. Greenwood, commanding officer of Legare, said that he is proud of his crews continued devotion to duty which made the offload possible.

Through the coordinated efforts of the Legare, the LEDETs, HNLMS Groningen, CGC James, and the USS Billings crews, we significantly contributed to the counter-drug mission and the dismantling of transnational criminal organizations. The drugs seized through this coordinated effort will result in significantly fewer drug-related overdoses, he said.

Stationed in Portsmouth, Virginia, the Legare is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter that is usually involved in operations like search and rescue, law enforcement, and homeland security. It patrols offshore waters from Maine to Florida, the Caribbean, the Eastern Pacific, and the Gulf of Mexico.

In April, the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless had offloaded over $243 million worth of illegal narcotics at the Miami Beach Coast Guard base. Roughly 8,500 pounds of cocaine were seized in the operation.

Floridas Drug Crisis

Last year, Florida reported more than 8,000 overdose deaths, including over 2,000 overdose deaths from cocaine.

By early August this year, Florida had already seen almost 2,000 overdose deaths.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a new program last month aimed at helping opioid addicts recover.

Bidens border crisis has caused a massive infusion of drugs coming into our state, DeSantis said in an Aug. 3 news release. This year we increased the penalties for individuals trafficking drugs in our state, and now we are giving Floridians the tools they need to break the substance abuse cycle.

Nationwide, drug overdoses have killed over 932,000 people across the United States since 1999 according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In 2020 alone, drug overdose killed 91,799 people, of which 74.8 percent were deaths related to the intake of opioids.

Between 2019 and 2020, the age-adjusted rate of overdose deaths in the country rose from 21.6 per 100,000 people to 28.3 per 100,000 people, an increase of 31 percent.
HKU Study: Antipsychotic Drugs Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer by Around 30 Percent

A research team from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong has published a study estimating that the use of antipsychotic drugs may increase the risk of breast cancer by around 30 percent. The risk is linked to the prolactin-raising properties of some of these drugs. The results of the study were published in the Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences.

Such studies underline the importance of physicians weighing the effects of a treatment against a drugs potential risks when prescribing them.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in Hong Kong, accounting for 27.4 percent of all new cancer cases in women in 2019. Earlier studies have found that patients with psychosis and bipolar disorders tend to have higher rates of breast cancer compared to the general population, which may be related to the use of antipsychotic drugs. Other studies have suggested that prolactin plays an important role in the development of breast cancer.

In the worlds first systematic review and pooled analysis of observational studies involving more than two million people, the team estimated that the risk of breast cancer among antipsychotic users increased by more than 30 percent, with a moderately positive association.

The research team found that some of the evidence in the retrospective study further suggests that the risk of breast cancer increases with prolonged use of antipsychotic drugs, prolactin-raising drugs in particular. In a large comparative study of the patients in Finland, electronic medical records were used to compare patients who had been taking prolactin-increasing antipsychotics for a long time with those who had been taking them for less than a year. The risk of breast cancer increased nearly to a whopping 60 percent for those who had been taking them for more than five years.

Although the study was limited by some unmeasured confounding factors, it still revealed that antipsychotic drugs may have the rare side effect of breast cancer. The increased risk of breast cancer may be due to hyperprolactinemia and other complications that may be associated with antipsychotics, such as morbid obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

The corresponding author of the study, Assistant Professor Dr. Lai Chi-chun of the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy at the HKU Faculty of Medicine, pointed out that with the increasing prevalence of antipsychotic drug use worldwide, including unauthorized and off-label use of the drugs without a proper prescription, it is recommended that a comprehensive clinical assessment of patients and the overall safety risk of antipsychotic drugs should be conducted before prescribing them.

Based on the findings of the study, the team concluded that prescriptions of antipsychotic drugs with prolactin-raising properties should be avoided in patients with risk factors for breast cancer. If prolactin-raising antipsychotics are necessary, patients should be properly informed of the drug risks, and monitoring of the patients prolactin levels should be considered.
Just beneath the floorboards and concrete of their home in rustic Ellerby, North Yorkshire, one fortunate couple exhumed a small but precious cache of old, glistening English gold.

Found in situ under 6 or 8 inches of soil, during a kitchen reno reportedly, the find consisted of a small Staffordshire-ware container, no larger than a Coke can, filled to the brim with the hidden savings of one notable bygone couple. These were comprised of 260 gold coins, dating from as early as King James I to as late as the reign of King George.

The initial discovery was made on July 13, 2019.

Representing approximately 100,000 pounds in todays purchasing power, the coins are expected to fetch at least 250,000 pounds (approx. $286,000) at auction, via Spink auctions in London, on Oct. 7, 2022.

The initial gold coin hoard discovery was made on July 13, 2019. (Courtesy of Spink & Son)

The village of Ellerby in North Yorkshire, England. (Screenshot/Google Maps)

Auctioneer Gregory Edmund remarked that the stash is unlike any other in British archaeology, or any coin auction in living memory for that matter.

The auction house called it one of the largest hoards of 18th-century English gold coins ever found in Britain.

The finders will be able to keep all of the coinssave one of peculiar rarity.

Among the fascinating, precious metal specimens is a singular Brazilian gold coin, which once circulated in England in the 1720s. Although the Crown disclaimed the rest, it wished to keep this one due to its exceptionally rare nature found in hoard context, the auction house stated.

This small but precious piggybank most certainly belonged to the Maister family, and was kept by Joseph and Sarah Maister, who married in 1694, perhaps the most influential mercantile family in Hull from the late 16th to 18th centuries, Spink stated.

The family line died out upon Sarahs death in 1745, which presumably is why the stash was never collected.

The Staffordshire-ware cup and King Charles I gold coins. (Courtesy of Spink & Son)

King Charles I gold coins. (Courtesy of Spink & Son)

Despite spanning the eras of the Commonwealth and Oliver Cromwell, no coins from these times were present, as they were outlawed after the English monarchys restoration with King Charles II in 1660.

Joseph and Sarah clearly distrusted the newly minted Bank of England, Spink stated, because they choose to hold on to so many coins dating to the English Civil War and beforehand.

Luckily for the owners today, per the 1996 Treasure Act, they can keep the lions share of it. Should two or more coins be of precious metal and 300 years old or older from the time of deposition, the act stipulates, the stash would constitute an archaeological hoard and be, thus, claimable by the Crown.

Per official adjudication by the coroner, the deposit ought be disclaimed; its newest coin dates to 1727, placing its burial date less than 300 years ago. Had it been exhumed in 2029, it would have been declared a treasure, Spink stated; indeed, 8 years has made all the difference!

A rare James I Scotch Double-Crown of six pounds. (Courtesy of Spink & Son)

A rare James I Pattern Bust laurel. (Courtesy of Spink & Son)

The stars truly aligned for them that day and is the reason why only one coin is planned for museum accession, Edmund said. The rest are able to be sold on 7 October.

The finders reached out to Edmund after the recent sale of a Henry III gold penny earlier this year, which sold at auction for 648,000 pounds (approx. $875,000). They learned that the unique history behind their household discovery carries tidy potential value.

The coins still bear the 50- and 100-pound representations of todays exchange, but have been deemed the stuff of dreams, nevertheless. Such rich historic context counts and has a demand. How such treasure could sit just inches below the floorboards for 292 years remains a mystery.

It is a wonderful and truly unexpected discovery from so unassuming a find location, Edmund added. It is an enormous privilege to share in this wonderful find and explore this hoard for the benefit of future generations, as well as wield the gavel for the many lucky bidders who will join me on Friday 7 October!

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
US First Lady Jill Biden next to Homeboy Industries founder Father Gregory Boyle, helps make pastries during a visit to the Homeboy Bakery and Homegirl Cafe in Los Angeles on Sept. 16, 2022. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

Jill Biden Visits Homeboy Bakery, Homegirl Cafe, Speaks at DNC Fundraiser

LOS ANGELESJill Biden visited Homeboy Bakery and Homegirl Cafe in Chinatown for about a half-hour and spoke at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser for approximately 10 minutes during her second trip to Los Angeles as the first lady.

Homeboy Industries enrollee Johanna Carbajal told Biden she got pregnant at the age of 15, then attended community college, graduated from UCLA, and will be going to law school.

Biden listened on Sept. 16 as senior staff member Eugene Walker told her about having been in prison and what Homeboy Industries has meant to him. He talked about how the organization builds relationships that are a big part of the organizations success.

Biden also asked the Rev. Greg Boyle, Homeboy Industries founder, about how the organization got started.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis also attended the visit, which came eight days before the annual Homeboy 5K fundraising run.

The work that @Homeboylnd does, under @FrGregBoyles leadership, is nothing short of lifesaving and Im grateful for the opportunity to show it to @FLOTUS, Garcetti tweeted.

Before the visit to Homeboy Bakery and Homegirl Cafe, Biden spoke for approximately 10 minutes at a Democratic National Committee luncheon fundraiser at the Hancock Park home of Marta Kauffman, a co-creator of the hit 1994-2004 NBC comedy Friends.

Biden urged the approximately 18 people in attendance to work harder to ensure that Democrats are elected to Congress, saying that with a couple more partners in the House and in the Senate, the Biden administration could restore womens reproductive rights, protect Social Security, ban assault weapons, preserve marriage equality and make schools stronger.

In response to Bidens comments, Hallie Balch, the Republican National Committees California and Nevada director of communications, told City News Service: Jill Bidens remarks for Democrat operatives to work harder is a sad attempt at a pep talk. Her speech openly denies priorities that the American people have voted for and show a blatantly partisan approach to ramming the presidents agenda through Congress and making Americans deal with the consequences. A word of advice for the First Lady from her friends at Friends: Pivot.

Biden also visited Los Angeles in June, accompanying President Joe Biden at events at the Summit of the Americas and delivering the keynote address at Los Angeles City Colleges commencement.

Homeboy Bakery and Homegirl Cafe are part of Homeboy Industriess on-the-job training and wraparound services, empowering individuals to enter the workforce within its rehabilitation and re-entry program.

Homeboy Industries bills itself as the worlds largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program, providing training and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of society.

Homeboy Bakery supplies products for Homeboy Farmers Markets, Homeboy Diner, and Homegirl Catering. It also supplies fresh products to restaurants and cafes around Los Angeles through the Homeboy Bakery Wholesale business.

Homeboy Bakery is best known for its preservative-free breads. It also makes cakes, rolls, muffins, scones, pies, pretzels, cookies, and other bakery products.

Homegirl Cafe serves breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on weekdays. It seeks to create a safe space for its clients, particularly females, many of whom have experienced domestic violence and the challenges of single parenthood, in addition to the usual obstacles created by gang involvement and incarceration, according to its website.
LA County Board of Supervisors Sheila Kuehl speaks onstage at The 44th Annual Peace Over Violence Humanitarian Awards at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles on Oct. 16, 2015. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Peace Over Violence)

Judge Blocks Sheriffs Probe of Kuehl, Metro

LOS ANGELESLegal wrangling has escalated over the LA County Sheriffs Departments corruption probe of Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and the Metropolitan Transportation Authoritywith a judge barring investigators from delving into computers seized from Metro during searches this week, and the sheriffs department claiming the county fired its attorney in the matter.

The sheriffs department issued a statement Sept. 16 morning accusing the county of barring the county counsel from representing the agency in matters involving the investigation and defense of search warrants that were served Sept. 14 at Kuehls home and office, at the offices of Metro and the home and office of Patricia Giggans, a friend of Kuehl and founder of the nonprofit group Peace Over Violence.

This is exactly the type of obstruction, interference, and political shenanigans which Sheriff Alex Villanueva fights against daily, according to the sheriffs department. We are now forced into a position of being unrepresented with no county authorization to pay for legal representation and reduced to solicit pro bono representation in this matter.

The complaint came one day after a Los Angeles Superior Court judge issued an order barring the sheriffs department from searching computers seized from Metros Office of Inspector General during the series of raids Wednesday.

Attorneys for the Metro inspectors office challenged the legality of the warrants, arguing that a separate judge had previously ordered that a special master be appointed to review materials seized from the transit agency. In his ruling Thursday, Superior Court Judge William Ryan scheduled a hearing for Sept. 22, asking a series of questionsincluding why the sheriff ignored the previous ruling and went to a different judge to get the search warrants signed.

According to various media reports, the judge who signed this weeks warrants, Craig Richman, has a longstanding relationship with sheriffs Det. Mark Lillienfeld, one of the lead detectives in the Kuehl and Metro investigation.

In his ruling, obtained by LAist, Ryan specifically wrote that he wants to know how was it determined that the warrant application would be presented to Judge Craig Richman, and by whom?

Ryans ruling barring the search of computer equipment applies only to items taken from the Metro OIG. Kuehl, Giggans, and other targets of the warrant had not yet filed such challenges as of Friday, but Ryans ruling could prompt them to do so.

The sheriffs investigation stems from allegations Kuehl, as a member of the Metro Board of Directors, helped steer a series of contracts worth more than $800,000 to Gigganss Peace Over Violence organization to operate a sexual-harassment hotline for workers and riders on the Metro transit system.

Giggans is a longtime friend of Kuehl, who appointed Giggans to the county Civilian Oversight Commission, which oversees the sheriffs department.

Kuehl and Giggans are also both vocal critics of Villanueva, who has clashed repeatedly with the Board of Supervisors. Villanueva has repeatedly insisted he recused himself from the investigation being carried out by the departments Public Corruption Unita unit that critics contend is being used to target the sheriffs political opponents.

Villanueva, appearing on Fox11 Wednesday night to discuss the case despite saying he had recused himself from any involvement, defended the probe, saying it originated with a legitimate complaint of alleged criminal wrongdoing.

That complaint came from a former Metro employee, Jennifer Loew, who sued Metro for alleged retaliation and recently reached an out-of-court settlement.

A sheriffs department affidavit in support of the search warrants served this week did not cite Loew by name, but only described a witness who alleged that former Metro CEO Phillip Washington pushed the sole-source contract to Peace Over Violence to remain in good graces with Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.

The witness also claimed she pointed out billing irregularities involving Peace Over Violence to Washington, who ordered her to pay the bills because he did not want to upset any of Supervisor Sheila Kuehls friends.

Washington, who is now CEO of Denver International Airport, has been nominated by President Joe Biden to become the next administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. News of the sheriffs investigation, however, could impede that nomination.

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued a statement Wednesday expressing concerns about the corruption allegations.

When Mr. Washington was nominated in July, I expressed my skepticism surrounding his lack of experience in aviation, Wicker said. Now I am deeply troubled to learn the nominee was named in a search warrant that ties him to allegations of corruption at LA Metro. The committees vetting process will require additional scrutiny and review into his leadership at LA Metro. I anticipate that this nominees credibility will also be a key focus of the committee.

Washington could not be reached for comment.

Kuehl told reporters outside her home Wednesday the investigation was bogus, suggesting it was a continuation of Villanuevas criticism and allegations of wrongdoing by the Board of Supervisors. She said she has no knowledge about the awarding of the Peace Over Violence contracts for the sexual harassment hotline.

What this is all about is a disgruntled employee at Metro who was let go who became obsessed with a contract that Metro took with Peace Over Violence related to sexual harassment so that they would take the calls, Kuehl said. And she claimed that I had something to do with the contract, which was completely false.
A member of the U.S. military receives the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Camp Foster in Ginowan, Japan, on April 28, 2021. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

Marine Corps New COVID-19 Policy Does Not Go Far Enough to Protect Religious Objectors to Vaccine: Attorney

In the aftermath of a federal court order temporarily blocking the Marine Corps from taking action against service members seeking religious exemption to the vaccine mandate, the branch, in a guidance released on Sept. 14, quietly rolled back some of its penalties against religious objectors to the vaccine.

But, according to an attorney fighting against the militarys vaccine mandate in another lawsuit, the guidance does the bare minimum in enforcing the court order and does not protect service members from all consequences for refusing the vaccine, such a promotion holds and the denial of opportunities for overseas deployment.

The interim guidance states that, the Marine Corps will not enforce any order to accept COVID-19 vaccination, administratively separate, or retaliate against Marines in the class for asserting statutory rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

It also states that, Commanders shall pause all administrative actions related to the involuntary separation of a class member, regardless of the current status of the separation process (e.g., no orders will be given to receive the vaccine, no counselings will be issued for refusing the vaccine, no administrative separation boards will be conducted ).

The guidance made reference to the Aug. 18 temporary injunction issued by a Florida federal court barring the Marines Corp. from punishing members whose religious accommodation requests have been denied.

Mike Berry, whose legal work at First Liberty Institute helped secure a preliminary injunction in early January that stopped the Department of Defense from taking any action against a group of Navy SEALs who have religious objections to the vaccine mandate, said the new guidance did not go far enough in observing the federal court injunction.

For example, paragraph 4.d. still provides for up to a 12-month delay in promotion for those ranked from private first class to sergeant. This is directly counter to the injunction, because promotions are being delayed over refusal to take the COVID shot, Whitaker said. This is retaliation in my opinion.

For Berry, the promotion holds indicate that the [guidance] is simply doing the bare minimum of what is required by law, that is, they wont be punished or kicked out. Thus, there are still consequences for refusing the vaccine.

Furthermore, the guidance states, Commanders may consider vaccination status in making assignment, deployment, and other operational decisions. It adds that, Marines not fully vaccinated are not considered to be worldwide deployable and shall be assigned or reassigned locally.

According to Berry, this is nothing more than another way for them to use the auspices of an operational decision or an assignment decision to end somebodys career, or at the very least, shorten somebodys career.

Although the unvaccinated are not being punished or terminated, Berry said, by putting on their record that theyre not worldwide deployable and can only be locally assigned, theyre essentially taking steps to remove the service member.

While it may not look like its intended to railroad a Marines career, it will certainly have that effectand I believe thats been the intent all along, he added.

Theyre looking for clever ways to use loopholes and technicalities to force people out, according to Berry. For example, what happens if a Marine cant promote? he asked. If they cant promote because they dont have any deployments or other career-enhancing opportunities abroad, most folks are going to voluntarily show themselves to the door.

Lt. Col. Madison Whitaker (a pseudonym) who has served nearly 18 years in the Marine Corps also expressed disappointment in the language in the interim guidance. He spoke to The Epoch Times using a pseudonym to protect his identity, fearing reprisals.

Whitaker said that strong leadership is absent in what he described as tyrannical decision-making policies.

It makes you wonder who at the Pentagon and who at the Judge Advocate division of the Marne Corps is advising senior leaders to continue to put out this kind of language, said Whitaker.

At some point, there has to be an adult in that small room of advisers thats willing to take a loss and try to reverse course, he added.

That would certainly help the devasting effect the vaccine has had on retention and recruiting.

Whitaker said that more needs to be done to push back. He pointed to a petition signed by over 6,000 people calling for a Congressional investigation of the Department of Defenses enforcement of the vaccine mandate.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Marine Corps seeking a response to criticisms of the interim guidance.
A mass grave containing the remains of more than 400 violently tortured people has been discovered outside the formerly Russian-occupied city of Izyum.

Officials counted 450 hastily dug graves, some marked by rough wooden crosses at the site in a pine forest only recently recaptured by Ukrainian fighters.

"Among the bodies that were exhumed today, 99 percent showed signs of violent death," Oleg Synegubov, head of Kharkiv regional administration, said on social media.

"There are several bodies with their hands tied behind their backs, and one person is buried with a rope around his neck," he added.

Authorities in Ukraine exhume bodies of hundreds of people, with most showing signs of torture. Source: Getty

"Russia leaves only death and suffering. Murderers. Torturers," said Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Some of the remains exhumed included children and people who were likely tortured before dying, he added.

The European Union is "deeply shocked" at the newest discovery of a mass grave left by the Russians in the nearly seven-month-old war, said the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

"This inhuman behaviour by the Russian forces, in total disregard of international humanitarian law and the Geneva conventions, must stop immediately," he said in a statement.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the graves likely provided more evidence that Russia is committing war crimes in its pro-Western neighbor.

"This is part, horrifically," Blinken told reporters, "of an ongoing story whenever we see the Russian tide recede from the parts of Ukraine that it has occupied.

The bodies of men, women and children were found in the shallow graves. Source: Getty

Same city where Australian man murdered

Izyum is where Queensland man Jed William Danahay was killed on August 24 while working as a combat medic to assist injured frontline troops.

Mr Danahay, from East Nanango, was driving a medical vehicle at the time Russian troops targeted him.

His family said the 27-year-old was an essential part of his unit in Ukraine that everyone felt they could rely on.

"Jeds comrades in Ukraine described him as the backbone of their unit, a hero and someone who they could all trust their lives to," the family said in the statement.

Story continues

"Jed died doing what he believed in, helping people who needed it. He was at his heart an optimist and always believed that things should be better.

"He will be missed dearly by his friends and family."

Jed Danahay was killed in the Ukrainian city on August 24, just weeks before the mass grave was uncovered. Source: DFAT

Stench of rotting flesh

Reporters on the ground noted a strong smell of rotting flesh spreading among the trees as dozens of workers exhumed the bodies.

Where identification was possible, names were attached to rough wooden crosses standing in the soil.

At one spot, a family with a young child was buried, said Oleg Kotenko, the government official in charge of the search for missing persons nationwide.

"They were killed. There are witnesses from the same building. They saw what happened and buried these people here," he said.

"The graves without names are for those found dead in the street," he said.

Putin sticks to his guns

The grim discovery in Izyum added to the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, after his forces were driven into retreat in Kharkiv and are under heavy pressure from Ukrainian troops ion Donetsk and Kherson.

Putin, at a regional summit in Uzbekistan, was told by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that now was "not a time for war".

The discovery also came a day after Putin admitted that China, whose leader Xi Jinping was also attending the summit, had expressed "concerns" about the situation in Ukraine, which Russian forces invaded on February 24.

"I think what you're hearing from China, from India, is reflective of concerns around the world about the effects of Russia's aggression on Ukraine," Blinken said in Washington.

Several bodies were found with their hands tied behind their backs, or with ropes around their necks. Source: Getty

But Putin remained steadfast, despite strong evidence that his forces incurred heavy losses in the Ukraine counteroffensive this month, and as Washington announced another $600 million in arms and ammunition for Kyiv.

"The plan is not subject to adjustment," Putin said. "Our offensive operations in Donbas itself do not stop. They are going at a slow pace... the Russian army is occupying newer and newer territories."

Putin said the main goal of the campaign was "the liberation of the entire territory of Donbas.

He accused Ukrainian forces of attempts to carry out "terrorist acts" and damage Russian civilian infrastructure.

"We are really quite restrained in our response to this, for the time being," Putin said. "If the situation continues to develop in this way, the response will be more serious.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
A South Korean-made FA-50 multirole light fighter aircraft performs a fly-past during a ceremony prior to landing at the Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines, on Nov. 28, 2015. (Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images)

Poland, South Korea Seal $3 Billion Military Aircraft Deals

JANOW, PolandPoland on Friday sealed $3 billion in deals with South Korea for the purchase of 48 Korean FA-50 fighter planes as the central European country takes urgent steps to increase its deterrence and defense capabilities amid Russias war on neighboring Ukraine.

The two deals for the purchase of Fighting Falcon combat and training planes follow contracts signed last month for the acquisition by Poland of $5.8 billion worth of South Korean tanks and howitzers.

Polands President Andrzej Duda, who is the armed forces supreme commander, and South Koreas Minister of Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Eom Dong-hwan, attended the signing ceremony at a military airport in Janow, near the air force base of Minsk Mazowiecki, in central Poland.

The documents were signed by Polands deputy prime minister who is also the defense minister, Mariusz Blaszczak, who said it was another historic day when new perspectives are opening before Polands armed forces.

Eom said with the contracts, the cooperation is being raised to a higher level.

South Korean-made FA-50 multirole light fighter aircraft for the Philippine Air Force taxi shortly after landing at the Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga province, north of Manila, Philippines, on Nov. 28, 2015. (Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images)

Until recently, we were partners. Now we can say that we are allies, he said.

Under one agreement, worth $700 million, the first 12 planes are to be delivered in the second half of next year. The second deal, estimated at $2.3 billion, is for 36 planes to be delivered between 2025 and 2028.

According to Duda, the purchase of the FA-50 fighters will make it possible for us to fully give up the use of the (Soviet-made) MiG-29 and the Su-22  that Polands armed forces now have, as an inheritance from the times, decades ago, when it belonged to the Moscow-led Warsaw Pact.

Duda said Korea sees the deals as an opening for the Korean fighter planes to the European Union and NATO markets.

The light, two-seater planes are made by Korea Aerospace Industries jointly with U.S. company Lockheed Martin, and are compatible with the U.S.-made F-16 fighters that Polands air force is equipped with and with the contracted F-35A fighters, according to Polands Defense Ministry.

The deals include training, logistics and transfer of some service technologies. Warsaw says this is one of Polands biggest and most important defense deals in recent years.

Poland, like other European nations and the United States, has sent military equipment to Ukraine since the Russian invasion. Warsaw is seeking to replace some of that equipment, including with U.S.-made Abrams tanks.

By Rafal Niedzielski
Police Officer Stabbed During Patrol Discharged From Hospital

One of the two officers hospitalised after being stabbed in central London has been discharged from hospital, the Metropolitan Police said on Saturday.

The force said the female officer, who was stabbed in the arm, was discharged following surgery.

The male officer, who was stabbed in the neck, remains in hospital in stable condition.

Their injuries are not assessed at this time as life-threatening, the Met said.

The officersboth attached to the Mets Central West Command Unitwere carrying out routine duties when they were stabbed at around 6 a.m. on Friday morning by a 24-year-old man.

They were on patrol in the area of Leicester Square and dealing with another incident when they were made aware of a man in possession of a knife, the Met said.

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley previously said the female officer challenged the man, who stabbed her in the arm before attempting to flee.

The male officer caught the offender, who stabbed him three times in the neck and once in the chest.

The man also stabbed two of the additional officers who rushed to the scene. One received a minor hand injury while another sustained damage to his protective vest caused by the knife, the Met said.

Taser was discharged and the man was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and assaulting an emergency services worker.

The Met does not consider the incident to be terror-related at this stage. The force is appealing to those who witnessed the incident or have video evidence to come forward.

The suspects identity has not been revealed. In most cases, UK police do not identify suspects before they are charged.

Detective Chief Superintendent Owain Richards, from the Central West Command Unit, responsible for policing Westminster, said: Every day, police officers go out on the streets to keep the communities of London safe. In doing so they often have to put themselves in the way of danger, putting their own welfare at risk in order to protect others.

The actions of these two officers, and their colleagues, exemplifies the key value of courage that runs through the core of the Metropolitan Police and they will be offered all the support they need as they begin their recovery from this terrifying incident.

PA Media contributed to this report.
A satellite view of the powerful storm causing "significant impacts" in parts of Alaska, on Sept. 17, 2022. (NWS Fairbanks)

Powerful Storm Bears Down on Alaska Causing Significant Impacts Including Flooding

Strong winds and flooding are causing what the National Weather Service described as significant impacts in parts of Alaskas western coast on Saturday as a powerful and significant storm threatens the region.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has imposed coastal flood warnings from parts of southwest Alaska all the way up to the Chukchi Sea coast in northwest Alaska, warning further that elevated water levels will likely be slow to recede.

The storm, which is a remnant of Typhoon Merbok, is powerful and significant in every stretch of the imagination, NWS Fairbanks said in a statement early Saturday.

In an advisory, the NWS said the storm will bring potentially historical coastal flooding, high surf, coastal erosion, high winds, high seas and heavy rain to western Alaska and the Bering Sea.

The agency warned that water levels in Nome could be up to 11 feet above the normal high tide line, and in Golovin up to 13 feet.

As of early Saturday, the water level at Unalakleet was over 11 feet and was forecast to peak at around 15 feet later in the day.

This will likely be one of the largest peaks on record, NWS Alaska Region said in a statement.

The storm was moving north through the Bering Strait early Saturday and was slowing down in speed, which wont let high water levels recede quickly after they peak, according to NWS Alaska Region.

Heres a surface analysis from 4pm Fri and expected location, moving north through the Bering Strait, by 4pm Sat. Its also slowing down in speed as expected, which wont let high water levels come down quickly after they peak. Well be tracking this all weekend. pic.twitter.com/OQYsFJpDj6  NWS Alaska Region (@NWSAlaska) September 17, 2022

Reports have come in that water has been rising quickly in Golovin, and that by early Saturday an old runway was almost completely submerged.

Water continues to rise and will be rising throughout the night. Significant impacts are likely to continue. Stay safe, NWS Fairbanks said.

Seas at Nome were building on Friday, according to Rick Thoman, an expert at the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP).

Nome saw winds as high as 59 mph at Nome and 55 mph at Golovin, according to Thoman.

As of early Saturday, the tidal surge was already underway at Nome and Red Dog, according to NWS Alaska Region.

Water levels will continue to rise at both locations, reaching a peak this afternoon at Nome, while Red Dog isnt expected to peak until early Sunday morning, NWS Alaska Region said.

NWS Anchorage reported that strong winds hammered the Kuskokwim Delta late Friday, with gusts 6575 mph. By 5 a.m. local time on Saturday, gusts slowed to 5060 mph.

Winds will remain gusty through the afternoon before diminishing this evening, NWS Anchorage said.

Alaskas division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said local agencies were preparing to respond to the impacts of the storm.

Local, state, federal, tribal, and non-government emergency response and recovery agencies are preparing to deploy their capabilities, the agency said in a statement early Saturday, adding that there were no reports of damage at the time.

Authorities warned residents affected by the storm not to go anywhere near flooded areas.

Remember, turn around, dont drown. It only takes 6 to sweep you off your feet, NWS Fairbanks warned in a statement.

The last time Alaska was hit by a destructive storm system was in 2011, when an extratropical storm much like the current remnant of Typhoon Merbok hammered parts of the state, causing significant damage from driving rain, strong winds, and flooding.
Citizens line up to register for antigen testing at a prevention and control point in Bijie, Guizhou Province, China, on Sept. 12, 2022. (CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Province in China Locks Down High School Students and Staff Without Notifying Parents

Over 2,000 secondary school students and 300 teaching staff of a private high school in Chinas southwestern Guizhou Province are locked down amid the communist regimes zero-COVID policy.

Guiyang Happy Valley International Experimental School was found to have abnormal PCR test results on Sept. 6, as reported by Netease, a popular digital news portal in China. The report didnt mention how many abnormal results had been detected or what was meant by abnormal.

Located in the Wudang District of the provincial capital Guiyang City, the boarding school reportedly has 2,624 students and 300 teachers and staff members, with students ages varying from 12 to 18.

The local authorities immediately took over the school, imposing a complete lockdown of the campus. Students were either confined to their dormitories or transferred to quarantine hotels and makeshift hospitals. Neither the teachers nor parents were informed of the whereabouts or status of the students, according to some parents.

Concerned and anxious parents posted online messages asking for help as they searched for their children. They blasted the local authorities for covering up the true situation of the outbreak and are worried about the physical and mental well-being of their children.

Parents Told Nothing

The government told us nothing. Even the teachers had no idea where their students were; we told them [the teachers] after we found our children by calling the local hotels, Ms. Hao (pseudonym), parent of a student at the school, told The Epoch Times.

At first, on Sept. 2, the school administration informed us that there was an outbreak of the pandemic in the city and that the boarders couldnt go home, Hao said.

She said that her child was not allowed to leave the dormitory on Sept. 2, which was shared by six students. Then, on the early morning of Sept. 7, the students were suddenly notified they had to have a PCR test. But they were actually taken to a quarantine hotel. They brought no daily necessities at all because they were thinking they would return to the dorm after the test, Hao said.

I made 20 calls within four minutes, trying to find my child, said the desperate mother, I almost collapsed at the time.

Though worried about her child who is still in the quarantine hotel, Hao said that her child is among the lucky ones, as the hotel can provide food and drink to the students staying there.

People line up at a makeshift nucleic acid testing site near a residential compound under lockdown in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China, on November 3, 2021. (cnsphoto via Reuters)

Ms. Liang (pseudonym), whose niece is also a student of the school, told the publication on Sept. 12: My niece was taken to a hotel for isolation at noon today, but she hasnt called us yet, and we havent been able to find out which hotel she is in.

Mr. Wu (pseudonym), a parent of another student, told the publication that parents could do nothing at all.

A parent called Guizhou municipal pandemic prevention and control center, and a staffer only replied: The situation is very serious. But they didnt tell us how serious it is and how many students and teachers have been infected [by the COVID-19 virus]. We can do nothing. We live in panic and anxiety every day, said Wu in the interview.

According to a post on Weibo, Chinas Facebook-like social media platform, students were cut off from communicating with the outside on Sept. 6.

We are students of Happy Valley International Experimental School, and this is the fifth day we have been locked in our dorms, the post said, adding that the students were banned from leaving their dorms at around 6.40 a.m. on Sept. 6 and that communication was cut off at about 7 a.m. or 8 a.m., not allowing us to tell anyone any information.

The Epoch Times was not able to verify the authenticity of the post.

Students Face Risk of Infection and Psychological Trauma

The children who are still isolated in the school must be in extreme panic, said Hao.

She said that a student who developed a fever was taken directly to a makeshift hospital. Children have psychological trauma to a different extent, as they have no idea how they will be treated and where they will be taken, added Hao.

A resident looks out through a gate blocking an entrance to a residential area under COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai on April 13, 2022. (Aly Song/Reuters)

She said in the process of locating her child, she came to know that students with more serious symptoms were taken to makeshift hospitals, which are in reportedly poor condition.

They are just large unpartitioned spaces, with one doctor overseeing the whole place. Students become volunteers there, Hao said. She was worried that they were exposed to high risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus in that environment.

Students sent to makeshift hospitals didnt get any medical treatment. They were told to drink more water, according to Hao.

Distrustful of Official Data: Parent

The school had a total of 16 asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 as of Sept. 11, according to the regimes major mouthpiece Xinhua News Agency.

Hao was doubtful of the official data.

The inside information I saw was that 147 people were confirmed infected, Hao told The Epoch Times.

A screenshot of an online post viewed by the publication reveals detailed information about the 147 confirmed cases as of 4.00 a.m. on Sept. 11, including the number of positive cases of students in various classes and grades and the teachers.

The Epoch Times is not able to verify the authenticity of those numbers.

The official data is difficult to verify, as the communist regime routinely alters or suppresses information.

The Epoch Times reached out to the Wudang District Education Department on Sept. 12, and the staffer answering the call replied to our request for comment, We cant say; we all follow the arrangements of the higher authorities.

A staff member of Ramada Encore Guiyang confirmed to The Epoch Times that some students were transferred to the hotel from Happy Valley International Experimental School several days ago, but she said that she couldnt give the exact number of students.

The landline phone in the room cannot be used for outside calls. We tell the teachers the room number and the teachers tell the parents, who can call their children from outside, she said when she described ways for parents to contact their children staying at the hotel.

A Shuangfu Hotel staffer confirmed to The Epoch Times that there were dozens of students of Happy Valley International Experimental School in the hotel. They are all close contacts; they are all junior high school students. Senior high school students are sent to many hotels. I dont know the specifics; I cant say, the staffer said.

Zhao Fenghua and Hong Ning contributed to the article.
Should Brazilians Place their Trust in Electronic Voting Machines? Part 2

Commentary

The first round of the 2022 Brazilian presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 2. It will be the seventh national presidential election using electronic voting machines, which are similar to self-service touchscreen devices found at fast food restaurants. Besides Brazil, the other countries that use electronic voting machines nationwide are Bhutan, India, and Venezuela.

These voting machines were introduced to elections in Brazil on the grounds of improving efficiency and saving money. However, there have been several reports of problems with the nations electronic system, although these reports are typically discarded.

In 2012, a hacker alleged to an audience at the Society of Engineers and Architects of Rio de Janeiro that he had rigged that years local elections by intercepting data fed into the vote counting system. He modified the results in the computer of the regional electoral tribunal in order to favor some candidates without the fraud being detected.

Using the codename Rangel, he explains how he had acted to rig the results:

We accessed the electoral tribunal network when the results were being transmitted, and after 50 percent of the data had already been transmitted we struck. We modified the results, even when the counting was about to be closed.

Demonstrators take part in a rally in support of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and calling for a printed vote model at Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Aug. 1, 2021. (Nelson Almeida/AFP via Getty Images)

In the 2014, Brazilian presidential election, electoral delegates from the capital city of Porto Velho, in Rondonia state, discovered that only the number 13 was appearing on the voting machines screen.

According to delegate Evaldo Filho, who was monitoring the voting at the site, more than 20 people had complained that the machine would display only that specific number whenever the voter would type another candidates number. The problem was reported to the regional electoral tribunal by members of that polling station and electoral delegates.

As a solution, electoral judge Alvaro Kaliz Ferreira explained: After the first complaint about the machine was made, technicians examined the problem and the system was restarted, so there was no further problem.

There was no need to change the equipment. Voting continued on the spot.

Is Brazils Electoral Body Ignoring Evidence

Eight years ago, the Federal Department of Public Prosecutions relied on a comprehensive report by academic researchers from the University of Brasilia to report that the nations electronic voting system was flawed and cannot guarantee confidentiality of voting and the integrity of election results.

The report addressed vulnerabilities in the program used in those voting machines, with the potential effect of violating vote counting.

Elaborated mainly by public prosecutor Pedro Antonio Machado, this report also stated that, due to restrictions imposed by the federal electoral tribunal (TSE), these researchers were not allowed to undertake more conclusive tests, thus making it impossible to demonstrate the existence of any further vulnerability to the electronic system.

According to cyber security professor Diego Aranha of the University of Campinas, those researchers were given only five hours to access the source code of the voting software.

In 2018, Aranha was invited by the TSE to participate in official tests of these electronic voting machines. And yet, electoral judges required him to sign a confidentiality agreement prohibiting him from the disclosure of any information regarding the results of that investigation.

He refused to sign the agreement because he believed the results should be made publicly available. But, he eventually agreed to participate as the tests researcher coordinator, explaining later in an interview that vulnerabilities were found in those electronic machines.

In a public hearing conducted by the federal electoral tribunal, Aranha watched members of this tribunal claim that at no moment during those tests either the secrecy or the integrity of votes been violated, an assertion that he considers to be a blatant lie.

According to him, the problems are far more serious than the TSE claims it to be. Upon learning of that interview, the federal electoral tribunal issued a statement claiming that Aranhas disclosure of security flaws constituted a threat to democracy.

Current president of Brazil and candidate for re-election Jair Bolsonaro talks to supporters during a campaign rally and military display on Brazils 200th Independence day at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sept. 7, 2022. (Wagner Meier/Getty Images)

Confidence Needs to Be Restored to the Brazilian Electoral Process

On Aug. 10, 2021, the National Congress failed to pass a proposal of constitutional amendment proposal that required the printing of physical ballots that can be checked by the voter. This was the third failed attempt to pass an amendment requesting the printing of votes in addition to just electronic voting.

These proposals were rejected by the legislature in great part due to the lobbying of the then TSE presiding judge, Luis Roberto Barroso, an ardent defender of electronic voting machines, who managed to convince enough MPs to reject these constitutional amendment proposals.

Curiously, the nations electoral system is explicitly commanded to respect the principle of publicity of the vote counting as per Article 37 of the Brazilian Constitution.

It is therefore, essential for Brazilians to find better and more reliable ways to uphold this constitutional principle by providing better publicity and transparency to their entire electoral process. For the sake of both, paper-based voting should be reintroduced with the counting of votes done on site and immediately after the voting booth closing time.

Although the reintroduction of paper-based voting would make the counting of votes more time-consuming, at least this manual process would deliver more confidence in the results than the electronic system presently adopted in Brazil.

Read Part 1 here.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Augusto Zimmermann Follow Augusto Zimmermann is professor and head of law at Sheridan Institute of Higher Education in Perth. He is also president of the Western Australian (WA) Legal Theory Association, editor-in-chief of The Western Australian Jurist, and served as a member of WA's law reform commission from 2012 to 2017. Zimmermann has authored numerous books, including "Direito Constitucional Brasileiro," "Western Legal Theory," and "Christian Foundations of the Common Law."
Travelers arrive at the airport as the Taiwanese government announced a ban for most foreigners entering the island, as part of preventive measures against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Taoyuan International airport in Taoyuan, Taiwan, on March 18, 2020. (Ann Wang/Reuters)

Taiwan Mulls Ending COVID-19 Quarantine for Arrivals If Infections Drop

Taiwan is mulling ending its mandatory quarantine for all arrivals in late October if the countrys COVID-19 cases drop significantly, a government official said on Thursday.

The Central Epidemic Command Centers spokesperson, Chuang Jen-hsiang, said the quarantine rule could be lifted next month, and travelers will only need to observe seven days of self-conducted epidemic prevention measures.

The government will conduct an extensive analysis of the pandemic before deciding to reopen borders, Chuang said, adding that the reopening could occur later in October if the number of cases drops significantly, Focus Taiwan reported.

However, Chuang warned that reopening borders could result in Taiwan dealing with the outbreak and the upcoming flu. He noted that infections have been slowing despite the increase in cases in Taiwan.

Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang said the countrys COVID-19 cases were gradually increasing, with 41,430 new cases reported on Friday, but the increase was in line with the governments expectations.

If during the [next] two weeks it can be monitored and predictions are as we first had them, if [cases] gradually rise and then slow down, then we can open up earlier, Su told reporters.

Taiwan this week resumed visa-free entry for visitors from countries including the United States and Canada, though visitors are still required to undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival, as does the current weekly cap of 50,000 arrivals.

The self-ruled nation has already ended the requirement for pre-departure negative tests.

The Taiwanese government on Wednesday approved new guidelines for tour groups but they will not be implemented until the outbreak has peaked, Taiwan News reported. Taiwans ban on overseas tour groups remained in effect, a Tourism Bureau official stated.

Taiwan has reported more than 5.7 million COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the year, driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant. With more than 99 percent of those showing mild or no symptoms, the government has relaxed restrictions in its new Taiwan model.

The government has kept Taiwans entry and quarantine rules in place as large parts of the rest of Asia have relaxed or lifted them completely, though in June it cut the number of days spent in isolation for arrivals to three from seven previously.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Texas Anesthesiologist Arrested, Implicated in Hospital Death, Surgical Emergencies

A Texas anesthesiologist faces criminal charges for allegedly injecting a lethal concoction of drugs into patients IV bags, resulting in one death and several cardiac emergencies.

The Dallas Police Department arrested 59-year-old Dr. Raynaldo Rivera Ortiz Jr. on a federal warrant in Plano, Texas, on Sept. 14.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Ortiz is charged with tampering with a consumer product and with intentionally adulterating drugs at Baylor Scott & White Surgicare North Dallas.

The Texas Medical Board suspended his license (pdf) on Sept. 9, deeming him a threat to public welfare after the board said it had received information from federal law enforcement investigating Ortiz.

On June 21, Ortizs 55-year-old co-worker died after treating herself for dehydration using an IV bag taken from the surgical center, according to a DOJ press release.

On Aug. 24, an 18-year-old patient had a cardiac emergency during surgery, resulting in the patient being sent to ICU, the DOJ said.

Chemical analysis of the fluid from the saline bag used during his surgery revealed the presence of epinephrine (a stimulant that could have caused the symptoms), bupicavaine, and lidocaine, the DOJ reported.

According to the complaint filed in the Northern District of Texas, the surgical centers personnel concluded that the two incidents suggested a pattern of intentional adulteration of IV bags used at the surgical center.

Personnel at the surgical center also identified 10 other cardiac emergencies that occurred during surgeries performed between May and August 2022, the DOJ reported.

In each of those cases, the patient was stabilized, the DOJ said.

According to the DOJ, the complaint alleges that none of the cardiac emergencies occurred during Ortizs surgeries and that they started two days after he was notified of a disciplinary investigation into an incident during which he allegedly deviated from the standard of care during an anesthesia procedure that led to a patients medical emergency.

None of these incidents happened when Ortiz was on vacation, the complaint alleges.

Surveillance Footage

Ortiz had a history of disciplinary actions against him, according to the complaint, and he would tell other physicians regarding those actions that the surgical center was trying to crucify him.

According to court documents, a nurse who worked on one of Dr. Ortizs surgeries told law enforcement that Dr. Ortiz refused to use an IV bag she retrieved from the warmer, physically waving the bag off, the DOJ reported. The complaint alleges that surveillance video from the centers operating room hallway showed Dr. Ortiz placing IV bags into the stainless-steel bag warmer shortly before other doctors patients experienced cardiac emergencies.

More surveillance footage shows Ortiz walking from an operating room to the bag warmer and placing an IV bag inside, then scanning the hallway and walking away, the DOJ said.

Just over an hour later, according to the complaint, a 56-year-old woman suffered a cardiac emergency during a scheduled cosmetic surgery after a bag from the warmer was used during her procedure, the DOJ said.

Decimating the Hippocratic Oath

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the DOJs Civil Division, said the department will vigorously prosecute this case consistent with evidence gathered by our law enforcement partners.

Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad Meacham said the complaint alleges Ortiz surreptitiously injected heart-stopping drugs into patient IV bags, decimating the Hippocratic oath.

A single incident of seemingly intentional patient harm would be disconcerting; multiple incidents are truly disturbing, Meacham said. At this point, however, we believe that the problem is limited to one individual, who is currently behind bars. We will work tirelessly to hold him accountable. In the meantime, it is safe to undergo anesthesia in Dallas.

In a response to The Epoch Times for comment, Baylor Scott & White Surgicare North Dallas said, There is nothing more important than the safety and well-being of those we serve. We actively assisted local and federal authorities in their investigation and will continue to do so; we also remain focused on communicating with patients.
A Texas teacher was fired after saying pedophiles shouldn't be judged for wanting to have sex with 5-year-olds. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Texas High School Teacher Fired After Defending Pedophiles

A Texas teacher in El Paso was fired after telling high school students not to judge pedophiles for wanting to have sex with kindergarten-age children.

In a special meeting Sept. 6, the El Paso ISD school board voted unanimously to terminate the teacher who taught English at Franklin High School.

She was terminated after a video of her defending pedophiles went viral.

Stop calling them that. Youre not allowed to label people like that. Stop it, Diego, the teacher can be heard saying on the video, while students are protesting with What? and No.

Were going to call them MAPs: Minor Attracted Persons. So dont judge people just because they want to have sex with a 5-year-old.

The video on the schools Facebook page drew scores of comments from outraged and disgusted parents.

This is pure evil. In the past, teachers would never dream of saying this, Andrew Ethan Pilat wrote.

Fire that insane liberal teacher literally defending pedos. School boards have been the enemy for decades and are indoctrinating our children, wrote Gojo Satoru.

One woman commented she was glad she had pulled her children out of public schools, while another called for parents to stage a walkout until the teacher was removed.

However, one student in the English class told a local news outlet she believed the teachers words were taken out of context.

She was expressing how it was ridiculous how we [society] might not be able to call people pedophiles. That we will probably have to start calling them MAPs because it can be offensive to them. The class agreed, Ryann Ruvalcaba, a junior at Franklin High School, told KFOXTV.

Last year, Allyn Walker, a transgender assistant professor at Old Dominion University, resigned in May after using the term minor-attracted person instead of the word pedophile in research, which led to an outcry on campus and social media.

My scholarship aims to prevent child sexual abuse, Walker said in a news release. That research was mischaracterized by some in the media and online, partly on the basis of my trans identity.

Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore recently hired Walker to work as a postdoctoral fellow at a center to prevent child sexual abuse.
Chief Product Officer of Meta Chris Cox, Chief Product Officer of YouTube Neal Mohan, Chief Operating Officer of TikTok Vanessa Pappas, and General Manager of Bluebird of Twitter Jay Sullivan are sworn in during a hearing before Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in Washington Sept. 14, 2022. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

TikTok Executive Wont Commit to Halting Flow of Americans Data to China

A TikTok executive declined on Sept. 14 to make a commitment that the hugely popular short-video app would cut off flows of Americans data to China, during the first U.S. Senate hearing since recent reports on the companys connections to the regime in Beijing.

TikTok Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Pappas, along with executives from other U.S. big tech companies, testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee. During the hearing, Pappas faced a barrage of questions regarding Tiktoks ties to Beijing and the potential for U.S. users data to be obtained by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has become a bipartisan concern.

Will TikTok commit to cutting off all data and data flows to China, China-based TikTok employees, ByteDance employees, or any other party in China that might have the capability to access information on U.S. users? Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), the panels top Republican, asked.

The short-video app, which the Republican senator says nearly half of American teens are using, was founded by and is owned by ByteDance, a Beijing-based tech giant. The ties have drawn concerns in the United States and elsewhere over whether its data can be accessed by the CCP, given that its laws compel companies to cooperate with security agencies when asked.

Officials and experts say the personal data harvesting from Americans could be used by the CCP to conduct espionage operations, or even shape their perceptions to be favorable to the Chinese regime.

TikTok does not operate in China, Pappas said, a reply she repeated more than once during the hearing.

Pressed by Portman about TikToks structure, Pappas said, We do have employees based in China.

We also have very strict access controls around the type of data that they can access and where that data is stored, which is here in the United States, she added. Weve also said under no circumstances would we give that data to China.

The hearing occurred amid renewed scrutiny of the app about its ties to the CCP after a June report by BuzzFeed News. Between at least September 2021 and January, ByteDance engineers in China had access to nonpublic data of TikToks U.S. users, according to leaked recordings of 80 internal meetings cited by BuzzFeed News. In addition, TikTok employees at times had to turn to their colleagues in China to determine how U.S. data was flowing, which the U.S. staff werent authorized to independently access, the report said.

Everything is seen in China, a member of TikToks Trust and Safety department said in a September 2021 meeting, according to the report. The same month, a director addressed a Beijing-based engineer as a Master Admin with access to everything.

Users browse through the Chinese-owned video-sharing TikTok app on a smartphone in Amritsar, India, on June 30, 2020. (Narinder Nanu/AFP via Getty Images)

Asked by Portman about the report on Sept. 14, Pappas said, Those allegations were not found.

There was talk of a master account, which does not exist at our company, she added.

Still, the latest revelations have renewed concern among U.S. lawmakers. Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the chairman and ranking Republican, respectively, on the Senate Intelligence Committee, urged the Federal Trade Commission to open a formal investigation. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) and some other House members have questioned the authenticity of the companys testimony during committee hearings.

Brendan Carr, the senior Republican commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission, sent a letter to call for Apple and Alphabet to remove TikTok from their app stores.

Accessibility of US Users Data in China Is a Problem

Amid the rising concerns, Portman made the requestmore than twicewhether Tiktok would commit to cutting off all data and metadata flows to China. But the representative of TikTok appeared unwilling to answer it directly.

Again, we take this incredibly seriously in terms of upholding trust with U.S. citizens and ensuring the safety of U.S. user data, Pappas stated. As it relates to access and controls, we are going to be going above and beyond in leading initiative efforts with our partner, Oracle, and also to the satisfaction of the U.S. government through our work with CFIUS [the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States], which we do hope to share more information on.

Following her answers, Portman pressed again on whether she could make a clear commitment.

What I can commit to is that our final agreement with the U.S. government will satisfy all national security concerns, Pappas said.

Concerns over potential CCP access to the data of Americans prompted the Trump administration to ban the social media app. According to an executive order issued by then-President Donald Trump in August 2020, TikToks capture of vast swaths of Americans data threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans personal and proprietary informationpotentially allowing China to track the locations of Federal employees and contractors, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage.

But the former presidents order has since been stalled by several lawsuits and court orders. In June 2021, President Joe Biden revoked the executive order, instead directing the Commerce Department to evaluate the platform to determine whether it poses a national security risk.

A woman walks past the headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of video sharing app TikTok, in Beijing on Sept. 16, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Im concerned youre not able to answer this question, except to say that you will not make the commitment to cutting off this data to China, Portman said. We think that all data collected relating to Americans and then accessed in China is a problem. We think we should be safe from exploitation by the Chinese Communist Party.

China-Based Engineers and CCP Ties

In a heated exchange later, Pappas encountered stern questioning from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) regarding TikToks ties with the CCP.

Pappas confirmed that the tech company had never handed any data to the Chinese authorities or the CCP, although she said that TikTok does have China-based engineers who can access U.S. users data.

Do any TikTok employees based in China have access to U.S. user data? Hawley asked.

As we have publicly said, yes, we have engineers in China, Pappas said, adding there are strict controls around who and how the data can be accessed.

Hawley then asked if any of these China-based employees, who have access to Americans data, were members of the CCP.

Pappas appeared to dodge the question, insisting that the apps U.S. users data are stored in servers in the country. TikTok said in June that it was migrating all U.S. user traffic to Oracle servers in the United States. It added that it would continue to use its U.S. and Singapore data centers for backup storage, but it expects to delete U.S. users data from those sites over time.

And again, as a global technology platform, there is no other company that could make that assertion, either, she replied to Hawley.

(L-R) Chief Product Officer of Meta Chris Cox, Chief Product Officer of YouTube Neal Mohan, Chief Operating Officer of TikTok Vanessa Pappas, and General Manager of Bluebird of Twitter Jay Sullivan are sworn in during a hearing before Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in Washington on Sept. 14, 2022. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Your company has a lot to hide, the Republican senator said. Youre a walking security nightmare, and for every American who uses this app, Im concerned.

Eva Fu and Cathy He contributed to the report.
The South Korean and American flags fly next to each other at Yongin, South Korea, on Aug. 23, 2016. (Courtesy of Ken Scar/U.S. Army/Handout via Reuters)

US, South Korea Vow Overwhelming Response If North Korea Uses Nukes

The allies issued a joint statement voicing 'serious concern' over communist nation's nuclear law

The United States and South Korea warned that any nuclear attack by North Korea would be met with an overwhelming and decisive response following North Koreas adoption of a first-use nuclear doctrine last week.

The two allies issued a joint statement after a vice ministerial-level meeting of the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group on Sept. 16, in which they expressed serious concern over North Koreas nuclear law.

The United States and South Korea said that they would use all available levers, including diplomatic, informational, military, and economic instruments, to strengthen deterrence against the nuclear threat posed by North Korea.

The United States committed to strengthen coordination with [South Korea] to continue to deploy and exercise strategic assets in the region in a timely and effective manner to deter and respond to [North Korea] and enhance regional security, according to the statement.

The allies referred to the combined training of F-35A fighter jets in July and the upcoming deployment of the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group in the region as a clear demonstration of such U.S. commitment.

The United States and [South Korea] reaffirmed that [a North Korean] nuclear test would be met with a strong and resolute whole-of-government response, the statement says.

The allies agreed to enhance alliance strategic readiness through improved information sharing, training, and exercises. They pledged to cooperate closely and stand ready for all possible scenarios.

North Koreas Nuclear Law

North Korea last week approved a new law allowing it to conduct a nuclear strike automatically against any hostile forces posing an imminent threat to the nation, according to state mouthpiece Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The law states that North Korea will employ nuclear weapons only as a last resort, but that nuclear forces will be the primary policy of national defense to protect the countrys sovereignty, territorial integrity, and people.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a parliament in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Sept. 8, 2022. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the law will make North Koreas status as a nuclear weapons state irreversible, according to KCNA.

In his speech, Kim referred to the United States as North Koreas nuclear enemy state and blamed South Korea for aggravating military tensions in the region with its joint defense posture with Washington.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Sept. 9 reiterated that Washington holds no hostile intent toward North Korea and continues to pursue diplomacy. She stated that Washington is willing to meet without preconditions, although North Korea has ignored the efforts.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol had offered to provide North Korea with what he called an audacious plan that would significantly improve the countrys economy and its peoples livelihoods in stages in exchange for complete denuclearization.

But North Korea rejected Yoons offer. Kim said that there will be no denuclearization talks, negotiations, or bargaining chips in that process.
A Louisiana State University student was killed while she was stopped at a railroad crossing on Thursday.

Allison Rice, 21, was found dead inside her vehicle between I-110 and Park Boulevard, the Baton Rouge Police Department told local news station WBRZ. Her car was found riddled with bullets shortly after 2am on Friday.

Authorities believe she was shot multiple times while waiting for a train to pass while returning from a gathering with friends, WAFB reported. A motive behind the attack has not been released to the public as law enforcement continues to investigate the incident.

A witness told WBRZ that he heard the train just moments before the shots were fired. It is unclear whether she was targeted or the attack was random.

[A deadly shooting] is not surprising... someone stole an ice box... so much goes on out here, Floyd Norman told the outlet. It [doesnt] make a difference about a shooting... every other night, somebody is shooting.

Ms Rice was returning from a gathering with friends (Allison Rice/Facebook)

We got a lot of problems around here... when night fall[s], I try not to leave my house. Im not trying to be out here at night, Mr Norman added.

Ms Rice was a marketing major at LSU, and worked as a bartender at The Shed BBQ restaurant. The university issued a statement following her death.

The LSU community is saddened to hear of senior Allison Rice being killed overnight. Her family and friends are in our thoughts, and we encourage anyone who may have more information about this crime to contact Baton Rouge Police, the statement read.

Baton Rouge mayor Sharon Weston also addressed the tragedy: My heart goes out to the family, loved ones, and classmates of Allison Rice, a young LSU student who had her entire life ahead of her.

This senseless violence is completely unacceptable and Baton Rouge Police officers are thoroughly investigating to bring the perpetrator to justice.

FBI 2020 data shows that Baton Rouge is one of the cities with the highest homicide rates in Louisiana. According to the World Population Review, the city had a total of 83 homicides in 2019  a murder rate of 33.5 per 100,000, compared to the national homicide rate of 5 murders per 100,000 people.
US Teen Runs to Honour Fallen Toronto Police Officer Andrew Hong

People as far away as Florida are showing support for the family of Const. Andrew Hong. The officer with the Toronto Police Service died on Monday Sept. 12 after being killed during a shooting rampage in Mississauga that left another person dead and wounded three others.

The tragedy prompted 13-year-old Zechariah Cartledge of Florida to do a one-mile run in honour of Const. Hong, while carrying a Canadian flag with a blue line through it to show support for police. Cartledge is with the organization Running4Heroes, based in Winter Springs, Florida, and runs to honour fallen police officers.

We pray all will be healed of the loss you are going through, said Cartledge in a video the group posted to Facebook on Wednesday evening. The run included an escort of local police, and Canadas national anthem played on bagpipes. We hope this run shows you how much of a hero he was, added Cartledge. We hope the run also shows you that even in the United States of America we are going to be supporting you.

The tribute also included a prayer, and 22 seconds of silence, one for every year of Const. Hongs service.

Mississauga city councillor Pat Saito tweeted about the tribute, and in a telephone interview praised the gesture.

It touched me so much that this kid, hes 13 years old, and hes been doing this since 2019, when he was ten years old, she told The Epoch Times. I just thought it was so wonderful that he did it for someone here.

Zechariahs father Chad says honouring fallen Canadian officers is something the organization started doing last year.

We wanted to do our part to show your country that your first responders are viewed as heroes even down here, Cartledge, who is CEO of the organization and Zechariahs father, told The Epoch Times.

He added that the flag used during the run, and a hand-written note from Zechariah, will be sent to the family of Const. Hong through the Toronto Police Association.

Its hopefully going to serve as a lasting reminder of how much their hero meant to not just their own community, but to people across the country, and people across the border, Cartledge said.

While the tribute has touched people, its also a grim reminder of the sacrifices being made by many officers across North America. Cartledge says his son averages over 150 runs per year.

Const. Hong, who was 48, is survived by his wife, two children, and his parents

Community in Shock

For Saito, the troubling aftermath of the shooting remains.

First there was shock, that it happened, and also that it happened in our neighboUrhood, she said.

It was something weve seen in the news, in Nova Scotia, in Saskatchewan, and other places, these killing sprees, but when it hits close to home, it just sent the entire community reeling with shock.

And now, she says, what she is hearing from people is anger.

Right now people are angry, Saito said. They are really angry that this person who had a long record of violence and arrests and gun violence, robberies, and everything else was able to get a gun and go in and point blank shoot a police officer, she said.

The shooter was killed after an exchange of gunfire with police, and has been identified as 40-year-old Sean Petrie, of no fixed address.

Saito says many are asking how it could have been prevented, adding law enforcement agencies are doing all they can.

They are illegal guns, it was an illegal gun, she said. I guess theres an underground market that you can get drugs, you can get gunsour Police Service [Peel Regional Police] is confiscating guns all the time, she said.

But in spite of all the work by law enforcement, Saito added, the problem does not seem to be going away.

Theyre all facing the same thing, and trying toget [illegal guns] off the streets, she said.

For their part, Cartledge says besides tribute runs, their organization also raises funds for injured first responders, and the families of those killed. He said since 2019 the organization has given away over US$600,000, although so far donations have all been distributed in the United States

[Zechariah] wanted to do moreto show his appreciation for those that make the ultimate sacrifice, Cartledge said. He started this in 2019 as his way of showing his appreciation  and it never stopped.
Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) and CompassCare CEO Rev. Jim Harden at the reopening of the CompassCare Pregnancy Services center in Amherst, N.Y., on Aug. 1, 2022. (Courtesy of CompassCare)

We Have to Start Valuing People Again, CompassCare CEO Says as Center Recovers From Firebombing

As CompassCares Buffalo office reopened months after being firebombed, Rev. Jim Harden, the president and CEO of the pregnancy service provider vows to continue their work and calls on Americans to value human lives.

This is the most important cultural moment in 150 years, he told The Epoch Times.

Respecting human lives including those unborn ones will not only benefit the United States economically but also help restore respect in society.

Theres no sustainable economic model for a flat or declining population base in any nation. The basic unit of an economy is a human being, he said. [However] its not just we want healthy economies, its because we want healthy people, we have to start valuing people again. Thats when well start to see these mass shootings start to go away, well start to see respect for the police again, well start to see respect again for ourselves, we will start to see suicide rates go down.

The pro-life center, CompassCare, allegedly firebombed by pro-abortion activists in Buffalo, N.Y., in June 2022. (Credit: CompassCare Community)

The Buffalo officewhich provides ethical medical care and comprehensive community support to women who are considering abortionwas firebombed by pro-abortion activists on June 7.

The building was heavily damaged by fire and vandalized with pro-abortion graffiti.

Harden said he has been receiving death threats too.

Rebuilding

It took almost two months and cost half a million dollars to reopen the office.

Rebuilding it took 52 days. The fire was extensive, smoke damage was extensive, damaging facility and all the contents. So we had to gut the facility and start over, he said.

The rebuilding process was also slowed down because of supply chain issues, material shortages, and labor shortages.

However, CompassCare also got generous help for alternate medical space and in restoring the original facility from a church and residents in Buffalo.

Janes Revenge, a self-claimed umbrella group for some pro-abortion groups, seemed to claim responsibility in a statement posted online six days after the attack.

As the office reopened, Harden vowed to continue CompassCare services.

Were not going to stop just because we have government actors and domestic terrorist groups that are violent and differ with us, he stated.

No Arrest After 50 Attacks

FBI didnt arrest any suspect after the June 7 firebombing, the government launched an investigation against CompassCare instead, Harden said.

FBIs handling of the CompassCare case is nothing unusual.

According to a list compiled by the CompassCare CEO, there were 50 attacks that happened to pro-life organizations nationwide between 2021 and 2022.

The FBI hasnt arrested anyone after those attacks.

The incidents on the list include the one that happened in Madison, Wisconsin, on May 8 in which a pro-life political action committee was firebombed and vandalized with graffiti.

The FBI sent The Epoch Times a statement saying they are investigating a series of attacks and threats targeting pregnancy resource centers, faith-based organizations, and reproductive health clinics across the country.

When asked to confirm if any arrests have been made after the attacks against pro-life organizations, the federal law enforcement agency told the reporter to check public records.

The public court information system including the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) doesnt show any record of arrests after attacks against pro-life groups.

However, in contrast, when a pro-abortion organization was attacked in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the authorities acted very quickly.

A suspected arsonist was arrested within four days after fires were set at a Planned Parenthood in Kalamazoo in July.

Im glad that they found the potential perpetrator [in the Parenthood case]. But what do they do for us? Over 50 attacks on pro-life organizations, not a single arrest, he said.

Politicization of Law Enforcement

Harden said the double standard in law enforcement shows that federal law enforcement has been politicized, and the trend is worrisome.

We believe in justice; we want justice to be done, he said.

Conservative politicians and activists share Hardens concern about the FBI.

U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) warned that the FBI is losing public trust after years of politicization in a statement in the wake of the FBIs raid of former President Donald Trumps residence Mar-a-Lago.

Ranking member Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) at a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, on April 4, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

If the FBI isnt extraordinarily transparent about its justification for yesterdays actions and committed to rooting out political bias that has infected their most sensitive investigations, they will have sealed their own fate. The FBIs mission and the many patriotic agents who work hard to carry it out will be forever overshadowed by the distrust the bureau has sown, he wrote on Sept. 8.

The top Republican urged FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland to uphold full transparency.
There are decades of academic research in cognitive psychology that supports the case for a content-rich, fact-filled curriculum such as Alberta is developing. (Shutterstock)

Whats Really at Stake in Albertas Curriculum Controversy

Commentary

A lengthy furor over Albertas plans to put greater emphasis on facts and memorization in provincial schools has not abated with the start of the new school year.

In March 2021, Premier Jason Kenneys government announced its intention to remake the entire kindergarten to Grade 6 curriculum all at once. This ambitious undertaking marked a shift back to a more traditional content rich instructional approach. It was also a deliberate reaction to the previous NDP governments curriculum efforts, which had emphasized ideology over content.

Political opponents predictably complained the Kenney governments first draft of its curriculum plan was racist and Eurocentric. Some academics claimed it was too content-heavy for young children, favoured passive rote-memorization over active hands-on learning, and was unsupported by current research. An initial lack of consultation might be considered the biggest problem, as it was a missed opportunity to explain the curriculums merits to parents and other stakeholders and make adjustments as necessary.

To allay the ongoing controversy, the province decided to roll out the changes in phases, with only a few subjects getting the new treatment this school year.

But we need to realize there is more at stake here than just competing classroom methods or political culture wars. Albertas curriculum debate actually gets to the heart of what makes a society function and how schools can best foster independent-minded citizens.

The child-centred skills education favoured by Albertas NDP and popular in much of North America today (also known as progressivist, constructivist, developmental, individualist, or project-based learning) emphasizes developing general skills such as reading comprehension and critical thinking.

Specific facts and information form only a small part of the required learning material: what content exists is child-centredthat is, chosen by a child or teacher as a means to develop a particular skill. Constructivist knowledge arises from the childs individual inquiry and exploration, instead of through whole-class absorption via lectures and memorization handed down by the teacher. A skills teacher is a guide on the side rather than a sage on the stage.

Significantly, skills-based teaching virtually guarantees students in different classrooms will be exposed to different content, even within the same grade in the same school. There is little opportunity for accumulating common knowledge across the entire student body. Supposedly fostering every childs special individual potential and creativity, this approach prevents consistency and commonality across what is learned.

In contrast, a knowledge-based curriculum, such as Alberta is proposing, focuses on traditional fact-based knowledge of different subjectsmath, science, reading and writing, literature, history, geography and civicscarefully sequenced from kindergarten to grade 12. Each grade builds on topics learned in the previous one, deepening the subject matter knowledge in a brick-by-brick way. The skills learned arise from the childrens mastery of the subjects; and the information learned is common across all schools.

While Albertas new content-rich approach has been dismissed by critics as unscientific and retrograde, this core knowledge pedagogy actually boasts an impressive body of supporting research. Much of this comes from the work of literary critic turned education reformer E.D. Hirsch, Jr. of the University of Virginia and founder of the Core Knowledge Foundation, an American non-profit institution that has developed a core knowledge curriculum template used in an estimated 15,000 public, private and charter schools across the United States.

The utility and success of core knowledge teaching in the United States and abroad is thoroughly documented in Hirschs books, most recently How to Educate a Citizen: The Power of Shared Knowledge to Unify a Nation and American Ethnicity. Historically disadvantaged students in some of Americas poorest, minority school districts (in Alexandria City, Virginia, and South Bronx, New York for example) became high academic achievers when their schools switched from skills to core knowledge curriculums.

In Germany, Sweden, and France, test results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) plummeted following child-centred education reforms in the 1980s and later. In Sweden, such curriculum changes in 2000 led to the biggest drop ever recorded in PISA tests. Sweden reversed this disastrous outcome by re-emphasizing core knowledge pedagogy in 2012.

Plus, there are decades of academic research in cognitive psychology that supports the case for a content-rich, fact-filled curriculum such as Alberta is developing. Building in stages upon a core knowledge base reflects how long and short-term memory work.

This is more than mere rote memorization. When applied consistently across classrooms, schools and entire jurisdictions, the effect extends beyond the individual to form a common body of knowledge generating a completely different kind of memorya collective national memory.

The greatest benefit of a core knowledge education lies in how it can create and nourish our ability to communicate. Having a shared set of facts and understandings allows a citizenry to productively engage with one another. Rather than talk past one another, as we increasingly seem to do today, it allows for the possibility of a truly national conversation.

But unless students receive the same content regardless of where they are situated, and can thus agree on the meaning of their own national culture and character, such a sense of commonality is impossible to achieve. Without shared knowledge, what is there to unify Canadians?

A longer version of this commentary first appeared in C2C Journal.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
On August 31, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to authorize the use of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by both the companies as a single booster dose.

These bivalent vaccines contain the mRNA components of both the spike genes of SARS-CoV-2 virus ancestral strain and the BA.4/5 subvariants. However, the ancestral strain has long disappeared. So why should the new booster vaccines still incorporate half of the original strains mRNA, when the Omicron variants are currently the most prevalent?

What Are These Updated Boosters?

These bivalent vaccines are called updated boosters by the FDA. They contain two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the culprit of the COVID-19 pandemic. One component is the ancestral strain of SARS-CoV-2, which was isolated and sequenced from Wuhan, China; and the other is the mRNA shared by the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-lineages of the Omicron variant.

The mRNA in these vaccines is a specific piece of genetic material that instructs cells in the body to make the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that will trigger an immune response inside the body.

These new bivalent vaccines have been designed to mainly combat the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, as they are currently the most prevalent strains in the United States, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These subvariants are also predicted to circulate in the fall and winter of 2022. In June 2022, the FDAs Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted to include an Omicron component in the new COVID-19 booster vaccines.

The previous COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are monovalent, as they contain only the genetic recipe for the spike protein of the ancestral strain. These monovalent vaccines have been used for the primary vaccination series in the United States.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 bivalent vaccine is authorized for use as a single booster dose among individuals 12 years of age and older. The Moderna bivalent vaccine is authorized to be used among individuals 18 years of age and older, also as a booster vaccine.

Although theoretically the bivalent vaccines can be used as an initial course of vaccination, two doses will be needed. However, currently, they are considered only a booster, not for the primary vaccination series. For the near future, people initiating a COVID-19 vaccination schedule will still receive the monovalent COVID-19 vaccines for their initial jabs. Individuals are eligible to receive a bivalent COVID-19 booster if they completed their primary vaccination series or received their most recent monovalent COVID booster at least two months ago.

Do Bivalent Vaccines Have Higher Efficacy Than Monovalent Vaccines? Not Likely

The new bivalent vaccines (updated boosters) contain an mRNA component of the ancestral strain, which has already disappeared and been replaced by many variants. One may wonder: why do these new vaccines contain the genetic information of a strain that no longer exists, especially when they were designed to prevent the Omicron variant infection? There are possibly several reasons.

According to the CDC, the mRNA of the original strain is included in order to stimulate an immune response among the vaccine recipients to protect them against the COVID-19 infection in general.

Deepta Bhattacharya, an immunobiology professor at the University of Arizona, believes that the original vaccine recipe is still needed. According to him, it doesnt make sense to have an Omicron-only vaccine, especially as a primary series, because besides Omicron, there are still the other (previously dominant) variants.

Furthermore, scientists and researchers have always been trying to predict the next variants to emerge. So if the upcoming variants are closely related to the original strain, then the bivalent vaccines would make sense. However, the future is difficult to predict, and nobody can say for sure what the next variants will be like.

According to the general trend of virus development, the COVID-19 virus is constantly breaking through the limitations of its transmission. As its becoming increasingly transmissible, its pathogenicity is also decreasing. Therefore, the virus is now becoming more adapted to a long-term presence in human societies. So, its unlikely that the virus development will reverse its trend for the next variant to become more close to the ancestral strain than the rest.

Hana El Sahly, a vaccine development expert at Baylor College of Medicine, holds a different opinion from Professor Bhattacharya. According to her, there is no biological reason to include two versions of spike protein from the ancestral strain and the Omicron variant, since the original strain has long gone.

In fact, monovalent vaccines can protect against different COVID-19 strains, although they focus on one particular strain. For instance, the BA.1 monovalent vaccines were manufactured in early 2022 to target the BA.1 sub-lineage. In practice, however, these vaccines can also target the original strain to a certain extent. This is because the viruss targeted mutations are at the individual protein loci, but the virus itself has many antigenic parts on different proteins that are very similar to the original strain. Therefore, even after receiving the monovalent mutation vaccine, the body will still be able to produce antibodies against the original strain. Similarly, monovalent vaccines focusing on the ancestral strain can also produce antibodies against various mutant strains, to a certain extent.

According to Pfizer, in a study involving participants who received a 30-g booster dose of the companys Omicron BA.1 bivalent vaccine, the booster dose produced a superior immune response against Omicron BA.1 subvariant, in comparison with Pfizers original COVID-19 vaccine that is monovalent. A 9-fold improvement was shown in the neutralizing titers. Therefore, according to this study, bivalent vaccines are slightly less effective than their monovalent counterparts in terms of antibody neutralizing effects that the vaccines stimulated.

However, according to a preprint study posted in August 2022 on the medRxiv preprint server (pdf), no significant differences between monovalent and bivalent vaccines were discovered. In this study, several researchers from Australia perform a meta-analysis of the data on neutralization titers from clinical studies comparing vaccines based on the original strain and variant-modified vaccines. Theyve conclude that the use of a variant-modified vaccine (i.e. bivalent vaccine) is expected to provide a modest increase in protection, which may be slightly greater in cases where the vaccine immunogen is more antigenically related to the circulating variant or if immunity has waned, but no significant differences were found when stratifying results for monovalent versus bivalent vaccines.

Furthermore, there is no evidence to show that bivalent vaccines are more effective in reducing severe disease. Moreover, depending on the direction of the next coronavirus mutation, the severe disease rate may not increase any more.

Overstock and Wastage of the Original Vaccines: the Real Reason Behind Bivalent Vaccine Development?

When producing the bivalent vaccines, the original-strain based vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna can be used.

Immediately after the FDA authorized the use of bivalent vaccines, on September 1, 2022, Health Canada also authorized an Omicron-containing Moderna bivalent vaccine as a booster shot for adults. Moderna and the Canadian government recently agreed to convert 6 million doses of the companys original COVID-19 vaccines to produce 12 million doses of the bivalent vaccines containing the mRNA of the BA.1 subvariant, despite the fact that the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants currently represent approximately 94 percent of the virus circulating in Canada, while the BA.1 subvariant represents only 0.1 percent.

The conversion of the original COVID-19 vaccines to the new bivalent booster shots can potentially reduce the stockpile or wastage of these vaccines. Therefore, it makes commercial and financial sense, especially for the vaccine manufacturers and some national governments, whove made massive-scale purchases of such vaccines.

According to the Fortune magazine, there is currently a global surplus of original COVID vaccines. As a result, the vaccine makers in many countries are halting production or facing shutdowns as demand for shots wanes. For instance, South Africa is preparing to destroy vaccines that will expire and shut down costly mass-vaccination programs. The Serum Institute, one of Indias major vaccine producers, recently halted the production of its vaccines, as it now has 200 million doses of stockpiled vaccines.

The U.S. government has previously pledged to donate 1.2 billion doses of vaccines, but so far, only less than half have been distributed. According to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, the vaccines are becoming more difficult to place, due to the full reserves of other countries. In order to fulfill its pledge, the U.S. government is now sending some pediatric doses, for which the demand is higher, instead of adult Pfizer vaccines. Overall, the demand from other countries is dwindling.

A similar situation is taking place in Canada, as well. Canadas shipment of vaccines to some low-income countries has been slow and very close to their expiry dates, prompting concerns from experts about the potential vaccine wastage. Ananya Tina Banerjee, assistant professor in McGill Universitys epidemiology, biostatistics and occupational health department, believes that the Canadian government is going to waste more vaccines. And according to the Public Health Agency of Canada, as of September 2, 2022, there were more than 8 million mRNA vaccines stored in the Canadian federal government facilities.

Therefore, given the large amount of soon-to-be expired original vaccines, converting them into (potentially) in-demand bivalent vaccines can effectively prevent wastage.

In summary, there are relatively large stockpiles of unused monovalent vaccines currently stored in government warehouses, or the government has already paid and placed orders for more such vaccines. These vaccines might have been partially produced and are currently sitting in the vaccine companies warehouses. What will happen to these vaccines? Some of the vaccines that were produced too early will also face expiration.

Are the governments implementing bivalent vaccines now to help the vaccine companies or the governments themselves to solve the stockpile problem? The production of these mRNA vaccines has used a lot of resources, and they may feel it would be a shame to waste them in this way. So we cant rule out the possibility that the authorities will buy bivalent vaccines in order to save resources from being wasted.

So, the ultimate question here is: Is the decision of choosing bivalent vaccine over monovalent vaccine based on commercial or industrial reasons or scientific data?

No Clinical Data Available for Newly Authorized Bivalent Vaccines

Although the FDA has authorized the use of the Pfizer and Moderna bivalent boosters targeting BA.4/5, these vaccines dont have clinical data. And human data are only available for their bivalent boosters targeting the BA.1 subvariant. According to the companies, clinical trials for the BA.4/5 bivalent vaccines will start in September 2022.

For the BA.4/BA.5 boosters, both companies have submitted only animal data to the FDA, but they havent been released publicly. It is only known that at the June 2022 FDA meeting, Pfizer presented their preliminary findings regarding their bivalent vaccine. However, these data are based on only eight mice which were given the vaccines as their third dose. Compared with the original vaccine being used as a booster, the updated boosters have provided the mice with an increased response to all Omicron variants tested, including BA.1, BA.4, and BA.5.

One may wonder: how can the authorities authorize vaccines without human trial data? First, these bivalent vaccines have only been approved for emergency use authorization. In order to obtain the FDAs full approval, clinical data are a must. Another way is to produce COVID-19 vaccines in the same approach used in the production of influenza vaccines.

Flu vaccines are updated each spring, by predicting the strain that will become prevalent in the fall and winter. Such updated vaccines dont need new clinical trials to receive approval, unless the manufacturers significantly change the formulations. It can be argued that when producing updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting a specific new variant, the changes to the mRNA used in the vaccines are small, so theres no need for new clinical trials. Therefore, producing updated vaccines without costly human trials can save both time and money.

Nevertheless, authorizing the use of vaccines without clinical data can lead to lower acceptance by the public, since people wont be able to know the potential side effects or adverse events until they receive the jab.

Furthermore, the COVID-19 vaccines are different from flu vaccines, as the former have always been experimental, and the latter have been in use for decades, and the public are well aware of the possible side effects of the flu vaccines. Since the COVID-19 vaccines are very new, its side effects/adverse events, especially long-term ones, are still being discovered. Therefore, its not an evidence-based evaluation and decision for the authorities or manufacturers to treat COVID-19 vaccines as flu vaccines.

Will the Vaccines Be on the Commercial Market?

On August 11, 2022, the CDC reversed its COVID-19 guidelines. The CDC now recommends people to take personal responsibility to choose their own prevention behaviors, based on their own risk for severe illness and their risk tolerance. Also, as breakthrough infection can take place after vaccination, the COVID-19 prevention recommendations no longer differentiate, regardless of vaccination status. For instance, quarantine of exposed persons is no longer recommended, regardless of their vaccination status.

In the previous months, many people were forced to leave their jobs or stay away from certain places such as universities and schools, since they were unvaccinated. Many people got the COVID-19 jabs in order to go to work, participate in social activities, and travel. However, according to the current CDC recommendations, the vaccination status should no longer be a consideration. In this case, many people will likely choose not to receive the boosters.

So, what will this mean to the vaccine industry, especially the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers that have made a fortune during the pandemic?

According to the Brookings Institution, the manufacturers revenue from selling COVID-19 vaccines in the United States alone, including Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, totaled $14 billion through the end of 2021.

During the pandemic, the FDA used its EUAs to make many COVID-19 vaccines available to the public, instead of using its regular approval process. Now with new COVID-19 cases in decline and the pandemic seemingly coming to an end, will the federal government create a permanent mandatory program to cover vaccines?

So far, the Biden administration has already ordered 170 million doses of the new bivalent vaccines. And its planning to transition to a more standard vaccine purchasing process through different health care system channels, including commercial insurers.

Once on the commercial market, the vaccine and pharmaceutical companies may then raise their products prices.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.
Students on the lawn of a college campus in a file photo. Schools are primary drivers of culture, and its hard to overstate the importance of education in the life of a nation and a civilization, writes William Brooks. (Leigh Trail/Shutterstock)

From Western Traditions to Political Indoctrination: A Cultural History of Education

Part 6: Something needs to be done!

Commentary

The first five parts of this series can be read here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.

The American Civil War president, Abraham Lincoln, once asserted that the philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.

The ancient Greeks used the term paideia to describe the impact of education on citizens of the city-state. In Battle for the American Mind, Pete Hegseth and David Goodwin assert that paideia, taught in schools and at home, transfers to the culture in the next generation.

The late American journalist Andrew Breitbart summed it up when he said, Politics is downstream from culture.

Schools are primary drivers of culture, and its hard to overstate the importance of education in the life of a nation and a civilization.

The Consequences of Liberal Silence

Over the past 100 years, the Western worldview has moved from Judeo-Christian to classical liberal to Marxist progressive, and finally, to the hyper-divisive neo-Marxist and post-Marxist woke zeitgeist that has captured almost all of our formative institutions.

Reversing this cultural race to the bottom will require a tenacious intervention by freedom-loving parents, citizens, and politicians across North America.

The steady advance of the neo-Marxist movement in North America is comparable to a situation that American historian Gertrude Himmelfarb once uncovered in British historiography.

In her book The New History and the Old, Himmelfarb asks: Why, in a country so resistant to Marxist socialism, have there been so many influential Marxist historians? Why, in Great Britain, whose unique institutions and traditions were so notably inhospitable to Marxism, did historiography become so profoundly influenced by Marxist interpretations? Was this a result of the superior will and tenacity of the Marxists, or just a thoroughgoing indifference on the part of everyone else?

Himmelfarb concludes that the extraordinary impact of Marxism wasnt an inevitable side effect of democratic capitalism; it was the result of a conscious commitment by a group of dedicated ideologues to impose their influence on Britains national history.

Liberal scholars generally remained silent about the expanding influence of Marxism on the grounds that it would be strident or improper to label a historical interpretation as Marxistrather like making an ad hominem argument.

For Himmelfarb, it was neither irrelevant nor ungracious to point out that a philosophical position, public policy, or professional practice might be influenced by Marxist assumptions. In fact, refusing to do so limits the quality of public discourse because it means declining to take seriously what Marxist intellectuals took very seriously themselves.

A similar unwillingness to speak up could explain the meteoric rise of cultural Marxism in North American schools. Fair and balanced liberal equivocation almost always favors the strident left.

A statue of Karl Marx in Trier, Germany, on May 5, 2018. Over the past 100 years, the Western worldview has moved from Judeo-Christian to classical liberal to Marxist progressive, and finally, to the hyper-divisive neo-Marxist and post-Marxist woke zeitgeist thats captured almost all of our educational institutions, William Brooks writes. (Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images)

Acknowledging What Matters

For decades, policy studies in education have focused on statistically measurable outcomes such as achievement levels in reading, science, and mathematics; graduation rates; availability of special needs programs; education budgets; and public funding.

All of the above are worthy of attention, but none rises to the same level of significance as the battle for minds and the influence of paideia.

Until recently, the progressive paradigm, with its neo-Marxist revisions and woke modifications, has gone largely unchallenged. Parents and politicians conceded control over education to government experts, and any trespass on their jurisdiction was regarded with utmost impatience.

But shying away from contentious issues wont produce needed educational reform. Avoiding controversy out of a reluctance to appear impolite or disruptive means accepting student political indoctrination and the systemic deceit of the progressive movement.

As the late Charles Krauthammer suggested, people need to identify the things that matter. We have a duty to seek a better understanding of what is going on in our schools. Its up to citizens to ensure that the ideas guiding education are consistent with the values and customs that Western society has tested over centuries.

Funding Reform

After some 40 years in the education sector, I couldnt help concluding that progressive teachers unions care very little for the quality of education and student outcomes.

Unions are most interested in the funding required to ensure job security, salary increases, professional development, progressive curriculum initiatives, travel for conferences, technical advancements, and smaller class sizes that make teaching and evaluating easier.

Independent schools have always been a promising option, but for many they are too expensive and every bit as woke as their public counterparts.

A spreading hostility between schools and parents over radical left curriculum developments, the inappropriate sexualization of children, and unnecessary lockdowns has already led to an explosive growth of grassroots parent advocacy groups across the continent.

Ordinary people see through the perverse mission of the elite left and are beginning to demand that education tax dollars be allocated to the child rather than the school. This would break the monopoly of government schools and provide real choice for families from a wide range of economic circumstances.

In the United States, some suggest there are constitutional obstacles for faith-based schools to receive public money directly in the form of student vouchers. Perhaps thats why Hegseth and Goodwin recommend the option of universal education tax credits at the state and federal levels.

In Canada, where guarantees for public Catholic and Protestant school systems go back to Confederation, no separation of religion principle should present a constitutional hurdle for the consideration of educational voucher programs.

Perhaps more than any other single initiative, fundamental changes in public funding policy could open doors to genuine choice and virtually reset educational history.

Students do their work in a classroom. Parents have a right to raise questions about what their children are learning in school. (AnnaStills/Shutterstock)

The Need for Cultural Restoration

In the crucial decades ahead, citizens cant afford to surrender their right to raise important questions about what students are learning in school.

Hegseth and Goodwin believe the most important mission in the war to recapture Western culture is the restoration of classical Christian education from kindergarten to high school graduation. They may well be right.

Others argue that focusing on the restoration of classical liberal education is a more realistic option in the context of an increasingly secular and multi-denominational North American society.

Both classical Christian and classical liberal school reformers face fierce opposition from the left and require a new alliance to move forward. Either option, or some combinations thereof, would be enormously better than the present progressive model that has an iron grip on education policy.

Many dedicated teachers still seek to play a role in the development of a just and productive society. Many remain dedicated to the best interests of their students and their community.

For decades, parents gave failing grades to public education systems while rating their own childs teacher as excellent. But progressive faculties of education, government consultants, and union leaders radicalize prospective teachers even before they enter a classroom. Critical race theorists teach that Euro-American culture must be destroyed and replaced by a global, multicultural society.

Teachers arrive in schools thoroughly indoctrinated by the same Marxist and neo-Marxist ideologies that have fractured, vulgarized, and impoverished societies for the past 100 years. They become willing political activists for the left, and those who dissent find themselves persona non grata in faculty rooms across the continent.

Woke educators are determined to be agents of radical change. They have leaned into a disingenuous social justice curriculum with an urgency that borders on obsession. They deceitfully frame anti-Western narratives as teaching honest history.

Common men and women need to become agents of cultural restoration. They need to rediscover the levels of courage and imagination that will be required to win back the hearts and minds of their own children and their fellow citizens.

A failure to act will mean accepting the assisted suicide of the West.

Something needs to be done!

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Sall Grover, founder of Giggle, the social networking app for girls and women for work, emotional support, roommates, activism and more.

Allowing Trans Identifying Individuals to Alter Birth Certificates a Danger to Women: Advocate

An impending decision by the Queensland government to make it easier for people to change the gender on their birth certificate could have wider implications that are dangerous to women, according to Sall Grover, founder of women-only app Giggle.

Under proposed changes to the states Births, Deaths and Marriage Registration Act 2003, a person will potentially no longer be required to undergo sex-reassignment surgery before being allowed to make changes to their birth certificate.

Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman confirmed the move during a Budget Estimates hearing in early August, promising to introduce the bill before the end of this year, the Courier Mail reported.

Fentiman noted that the reform will allow trans and gender diverse people to have their gender identity accurately reflected in a birth certificate.

But Grover, a pro-women activist and writer argued that the development has implications for wider society.

Speaking to The Epoch Times, the mother-of-one warned the new rule could give rise to a situation where a fully-grown malewho self-identifies as a femalecould simply enter female-only spaces like bathrooms or change rooms.

Imagine if that male comes out and says, No, Im female, you have misgendered and committed a hate crime against me, she said.

Grover said prioritising gender identities instead of biological sex would encourage people to ignore their instincts and indulge in transgender ideology.

Its a preposterous idea that you can just nominate whatever sex you are legally on your birth certificate whenever you want.

Little Engagement With the Minister So Far

Grover said she tried reaching out to Womens Minister Fentiman, she refused to meet. She believes the situation is the same for other pro-women advocates.

The whole problem is youre not hearing all the sides of it, and even the mens side of it, because theres a lot of men who are against this as well, she said. Thats not democracy.

In a message to Grover seen by The Epoch Times, Fentiman said the government is undertaking extensive consultation with the LGBT+ community and stakeholders to make sure we get this right.

We want to ensure our laws embrace and support our diverse community.

The proposal comes after LGBT+ groups urged the Queensland government to update the Births Act in a petition that gathered more than 10,800 signatures.

To include people of a third or non-binary gender, birth certificates should at least have an additional X option, the petition reads.

The limit of one name change per year can also be a roadblock for trans people, and should be increased or given exceptions for name changes with reason of gender affirmation.

If the bill is passed, Queensland will be the latest state to join Victoria, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory to allow people to change their gender identity without undergoing surgery.

Womens Advocates Being Cancelled

Grover says she was vilified by trans rights activists after creating the app Giggle, a social networking app designed only for biological women and used for networking and freelancing work. It uses facial recognition to prevent trans-identified males from registering.

Its been utterly terrifying, Grover recalled. Ive just had to sort of weather being cancelled.

We have so many companies that refuse to work with us.

All of the publications that Ive spent my whole adult life reading wont speak to me. It makes me go Well, what else are they lying to me about?'
Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to continue his invasion of Ukraine, despite the latest counteroffensive, and warned Moscow could ramp up its strikes on its neighbour's vital infrastructure.

Speaking to reporters on Friday after attending a summit of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation in Uzbekistan, Putin said the "liberation" of Ukraine's entire eastern Donbas region remained Russia's main military goal.

"We aren't in a rush," the Russian leader said, adding Moscow has only deployed volunteer soldiers to fight in Ukraine.

Some hard-line politicians have urged the Kremlin to follow Ukraine's example and order a broad mobilisation to beef up the ranks, lamenting Russia's manpower shortage.

Russia was forced to pull back its forces from large swathes of northeastern Ukraine last week after a swift counteroffensive.

In his first public comments on the setback, Putin said: "Let's see how it develops and how it ends".

He noted Ukraine has tried to strike civilian infrastructure in Russia and "we so far have responded with restraint".

"If the situation develops this way, our response will be more serious," Putin said.

Putin also sought on Friday to assuage India's concern about the conflict in Ukraine, telling Prime Minister Narendra Modi Moscow wants to see a quick end to the fighting and alleging Ukrainian officials refuse to negotiate.

"I know your stand on the conflict in Ukraine and the concerns you have repeatedly voiced," he told Modi.

"We will do all we can to end that as quickly as possible. Regrettably, the other side ... has rejected the negotiations process and stated that it wants to achieve its goals by military means, on the battlefield."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy insists it is Russia that does not want to negotiate in earnest. He has insisted on the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied areas of Ukraine as a precondition for talks.

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Putin's remarks during the talks with Modi echoed comments the Russian leader made during Thursday's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping when Putin thanked him for his government's "balanced position" on the war.

The Russian leader said he and Xi "discussed what we should do in the current conditions to efficiently counter unlawful restrictions" imposed by the West.

The European Union, the US, Australia and other nations have put sanctions on Russia due to the war in Ukraine.

Xi, in a statement, expressed support for Russia's "core interests" but also interest in working together to "inject stability" into world affairs.

China and India have refused to join Western sanctions against Russia, while increasing their purchases of Russian oil and gas, helping Moscow offset the financial restrictions imposed by the West.

Xi is promoting a 'global security initiative' announced in April following the formation of the Quad by the US, Japan, Australia and India in response to Beijing's more assertive foreign policy.

US officials complain it echoes Russian arguments in support of Moscow's actions in Ukraine.

Central Asia is part of China's multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative to expand trade by building ports, railways and other infrastructure across an arc of dozens of countries from the South Pacific through Asia to the Middle East, Europe and Africa.

The Shanghai Co-operation Organisation was formed by Russia and China as a counterweight to US influence.

The group also includes India, Pakistan and the four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Iran is on track to receive full membership.
Washington DC, September 16, 2022: Professor Pat Utomi, a political economist and a top adviser to the Labour Party of Nigeria Presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi, has called on Diaspora Nigerians to step up to their rightful lead roles to transform Nigeria from a consumption to production country. He made this clarion call at a recent virtual conference, jointly convened by the Washington DC-based Nigerian-American Coalition for Justice and Democracy (NACJD, aka Coalition) and the Patito Political Front, titled, The INEC and the Urgency to Save Nigeria: Matters Arising from Obi's Diaspora Consultation. He said, the future depends on you, most of the transformations experienced in other countries came from the Diaspora. You are the life support machine for Nigeria. it is appropriate that the resources of the Diaspora be deployed to change things in Nigeria.

Professor Utomi further observed that, given the current laws in Nigeria, the Labour Party may not be able to go out to solicit for funds but Nigerians abroad have a moral obligation albeit duty to use their resources to create conditions that will change Nigeria. No law can stop that. This is the reality that we must showcase and use to pitch momentum to the new Nigeria.

Responding to a question from a participant, Sir Nick Nwuda, regarding limits on campaign contributions, Professor Utomi said, there are no limits on campaign contributions to the candidates but there are limits on what the candidates can spend. We encourage you to not give us money but undertake to deliver some areas or states or do certain things to facilitate voting for our candidate and you wont be dealing with any limitations or constraints. These are some of the ways we can make things to happen. On an inquiry by Chairman of the Coalition, Professor Eddie Oparaoji, on lessons learned from his recent tour of the USA with Mr Peter Obi, Utomi said, The important message is that Diasporans are ready to be partners in the rebuilding of Nigeria. By the time the new government comes in next year, the economy will be on life support. Diasporans will be major partners in resuscitating it.

Professor Utomi traced the genesis of our current woes to the 1966 military coup. The coming of the military, he said, led to the abandonment of federalism and the result has been a faltering nation state that has been terribly underperforming its peers around the world and left the country desperately looking for redemption. Consequently, Nigerians led by her youths have come to their wits end, and resolved they cant take these anymore, and must take back their country. Thus, a major revolution is afoot and needs the support of the Nigerian Diaspora to sustain and succeed.

Other notable participants and questioners at the conference include Barr Festus Ogun (Esq). Barr Mrs Helen Mbakwe, Mr Chijike Ndukwu, Dr Nosike Agokei, Mr Yakubu Isa, Mr Emma Odoemene, Dr Jude Iheoma, Dr. Dorothy Ezekwe Anya, Dr. Casmir Uchegbu, Mr. Isiaka Busari, Chief Festus Anaele, Barr Ekeleoma Chuku and Dr. Sly Onyia.

The NACJD is a Washington, DC, USA Research and Good Governance advocacy non-profit organization, that lobbies the US Government, the Congress, and the policy-making community to influence US policies on Nigeria.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has ordered state Commandants to carry out massive arrests and prosecution of oil thieves across the country.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the NSCDC Director of Public Relations, Mr Olusola Odumosu, Audi said the Commandants must deploy all machineries both on land and in the waterways to carry out their duty.

I have distributed the newly acquired gunboats to you for the purpose of waging war against the enemies of our commonwealth.

There is no excuse for failure anymore, I want to see you put a stop to revenue loss due to illegal oil activities in the nation.

I therefore charge you to remain firm, focused and fierce with the enemies of the nation who have vowed to continue sabotaging our economy, Audi said.

The Commandant General also added that the timely reform and reconstitution of NSCDC Anti-Vandalism Unit, would aid the commandants to track, arrest and prosecute the oil thieves.

It is also aimed at putting a stop to all forms of sabotage in the oil sector through arrests and diligent prosecution of oil thieves, their sponsors and all those dealing illegally in petroleum products.

The reconstitution of the reformed Anti-Vandal Unit with fresh bloods who have new zeal for success is central and germane to our core mandate.

The nation is losing a lot of revenues to illegal oil merchants and this has a debilitating effect on the economy, he said.
If there are activities that the leadership of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is committedly been deploying, in accordance with its statutory mandate, to achieve results, they are unarguably that of its several regulatory tools designed formonitoring and modifying the behavior of service providers and manufacturers. Such activities, which are departmentalised include complaint resolution, surveillance, and enforcement, consumer education, as well as research, and strategy. In a similar vein, the leadership of the commission, particularly since Mr. Babatunde Irukera, became Nigerias No. 1 Consumer Protector, has been up and doing in the area of complaint resolution by using different mechanisms to resolvecomplaints that are filed in its offices that are variously located in Abuja, Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Awka, Osogbo, Minna, Bauchi, Katsina, and Kano.

Usually, consumers grievances and dissatisfaction are filed with the Commission as Complaints. The Commission receives these complaints in diverse ways including online, in person, in writing, and on multiple social media platforms. Most complaints are resolved as the relevant department under the commission uses one or more of its resolution tools, such as direct engagement, negotiations, mediation, conciliation, investigations, administrative hearings, and collaboration with other regulators. Investigations and hearings usually occur when a market intervention becomes compelling, or conduct is egregious or indicative of a pattern or widespread infraction.

In a similar vein, one of the vital tools which the commission utilises to protect consumers is market surveillance and enforcement where violations occur. This component of the commissions work is both random and targeted. Most targeted interventions are on account of intelligence gathered by or provided by the Commission, including anonymous tips. Random interventions are a quality assurance mechanism. Some activities within this context are preventive and may lead to publishing Guidelines or Advisories on products in the market and restrictions on consumption or use.

Still, in a similar vein, the satisfaction and safety of the Nigerian consumer have remained paramount to the leadership of the commission, particularly in the ongoing dispensation under Irukera. In fact, the Commission is committed to nationwide quality assessment of products and services, through inputs into national and international standards, sampling, analysis, investigation, process auditing, development, and issuance of Guidelines/Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in order to ensure that products, services, and processes are of good quality, safe and meet consumers expectation while giving value for money.

In fact, a fundamental factor in consumer protection is an educated consumer. As such, the Commission engages in routine and periodic consumer education to inform consumers of their rights, available enforcement mechanisms, and how to use the processes. Another vital aspect of consumer education is to provide information about key market developments such as Advisories, Warnings, Recalls, and similar interventions. The Commission conducts numerous specific and general awareness campaigns.

The Commission engages in domestic and global research on products and services, as well as changing or evolving market trends and consumer behavior. The objectives are to provide a database for organisationalplanning purposes on the concept of consumerism, develop strategies for interventions; and modify existing mechanisms to be more effective and/or efficient.

Also, research and strategy play a pivotal role in how the Commission accomplishes its mandate and allocates its limited resources.

Analysed from the foregoing backdrop, it is unarguable that the tasks that the commission is statutorily mandated with are collectively unwieldy. It is therefore not surprising that since Irukera became the Chief Executive of the commission on January 30, 2019, when the Protection Act that gave the commission its legal teeth was enacted, that he has never claimed that he can single-handedly protect consumers in Nigeria without support from any individual or organisation. He has been collaborating with industry, trade, and professional associations, and other relevant stakeholders, particularly civil society to align with. The foregoing, alliances, no doubt were not perfunctorily entered into as he is a strategist that understands that such alliances allow partners to scale quickly, build innovative solutions, and pave the way for the pooling of valuable expertise and resources.

Also, the reason and purpose for these collaborations are that; in addition to being an effective mechanism for educating consumers about their rights, it also provides vital channels for disseminating periodic and relevant information about emerging consumer-related issues. As such, and in furtherance of entering into alliances, the Commission has been able to maintain a register of non-profit Consumer Protection Associations (CPAs) that are recognised for their consumer protection work.

By riding on the wings of alliances, the commission has been able to perform its primary constitutional role; which is to protect citizens in the marketplace, particularly as it has been able to prevent abuse, exploitation, and any form of mistreatment or disregard with respect to consumers. Where something has gone wrong and the consumer(s) is/are aggrieved, the commission exercisesthe tools provided by laws and regulations to ensure remedies for consumers.

To grasp the philosophy behind the commissions knack for partnering with other bodies, it can be recalled in this context, once at a media parley explained that, alliances, particularly with regulatory bodies, are expedient As a matter of operation of law, consumer protection is a vital and joint responsibility on many levels. Because it is a crucial centerpiece of business, and a primary and critical role of government, it is not uncommon that there is dual, or multiple regulation and regulators. This duplication or multiplicity is not a conflict, nor is it unintended. On the contrary, it is an overlap. Regulatory overlap is a deliberate and common design to ensure complete coverage and protection which is paramount in consumer protection.

As such, by law, several sector regulators also have statutory responsibilities to protect consumers in their sectors. Although the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has overall oversight over protecting consumers across all sectors, the concurrent regulatory jurisdiction and approach in the laws seek to improve protection outcomes by fostering collaboration.

To accomplish this, the Commission promotes and engages in strategic alliances with sector regulators and other parties with whom a partnership can reinforce consumer protection and prevent mistreatment or exploitation of citizens. Apart from the regulatory convergence on consumer protection with other regulators, institutional objectives convergence with the Commissions mandate occurs with civil society, and sometimes, development partners. Some of these strategic alliances define the Commissions processes or how issues are addressed in different sectors.

As well known, FCCPC is established by law to protect citizens in the marketplace with its role being essentially to prevent abuse, exploitation, and any form of mistreatment or disregard with respect to consumers. Where something has gone wrong, the commission exercises the tools provided by laws and regulations to ensure remedies for consumers.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is expedient to say that industry, trade, and professional associations and other relevant stakeholders it has partnered with so far since Irukera came on board include, but are not limited to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON).

Others are International and Regional Development Partners such as African Consumer Protection Dialogue Conference (ACPDC), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

Given the foregoing, there is no denying the fact that the Commission has been riding on the wings of alliances to Protect Consumers.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has disclosed that it would engage 1.4 million ad hoc staff for the conduct of the 2023 general polls.

The National Chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, made this known while speaking with Nigerian Guild of Editors, yesterday, in Lagos.

Yakubu added that the INEC would map out new measures to check vote buying and narrated the complexities of Nigerias elections.

He said: For the 2023 General Elections, we will recruit and train staff with numbers several times more than the entire armed forces of Nigeria. We will engage at least a 1.4million Ad hoc staff and the staff are staff that would be operating in the polling units level, collation and returning officers. 1.4million is bigger than the Nigerian Armed Forces. That is what we are going to deploy twice for the February 25 national election and for the state elections which include the governorship and State Assembly.

We are going to manage 21,520 positions in 2023-the President and Vice President, 28 governors, 28 Deputy Governors, 109 Senators, 360 members of the House of Representatives, 993 State Constituencies for which elections would be conducted. So its a huge undertaking. We have 18 political parties.

There are 15 countries in West Africa, including Nigeria. Excluding Nigeria, the voter population in the other 14 countries as of last year was 73 million. The voter population in Nigeria as of 2019 was 84 million. So there are 11 million more voters than all the other 14 countries combined.

Each time Nigeria goes to the polls, it is like the entire West Africa voting. This would give you an idea of the size of what we are facing. 1.9million registered voters registered for the last Osun governorship election. That was more than the total population of the Republic of Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde put together. By the time you talk about Lagos, you are talking about several countries combined. It is the accumulation of these complexities that INEC must manage, and administer as we approach the 2023 General Election commencing on February 25.

Asked why the Commission is not employing electronic voting in the forthcoming elections, Prof. Yakubu said the commission is getting closer to electronic voting in future elections.

There has been improvement in the process. If you reflect back on 1999 and 2003, there were moments when winners were declared while voters were still in the voting queue It will never happen again.

We are deliberately deploying technology to make it very difficult if not impossible. There are still challenges but you can see the gradual improvement. it is brick by brick you build a house, you dont build a house overnight.

 Our vision for the 2023 election is to conduct the best elections ever conducted in Nigeria that would be free, fair, credible, transparent, inclusive and verifiable. People can sit down and see the result of their polling units Online, he stated.
The church in Nigerian will massively vote for Peter Obi in the coming 2023 presidential election and his opponents already know this. And not just the church, Muslims and traditionalists will also do same. In fact, Muslims are at the forefront of this struggle for the emancipation of our besieged great country. Christians from all denominations, the youths from all the sections of the country and the Nigeria masses have suddenly woken up and are determined to resist this satanic onslaught on our existence and progress. They want to take back their country. The church cannot afford to sleep or make any mistake now. It will be very suicidal. We must choose between the light and darkness. The hand-writing is clearly on the wall that these corrupt dark forces, looters, bigots want to hijack our nation and also rubbish our faith. By their actions they have already told us that in Nigeria Christians dont matter. They have pushed the church to the wall. And the ministers and their congregations have decided to back the best candidate  Peter Obi. These people have also told the young people that they can do without them. True. Now, mark this, the church in Nigeria will give Obi more than ninety per cent of her votes. You can see the signs. Watch the video on his visits to some on the places  Dunamis Church Abuja, Redemption Church camp, Assemblies of God camp, Okpoto and many others and you will understand what we are saying here. You can find them on Youtube. It was like welcoming a messiah. Those were the voice of the church. The true voice of Nigerians. And we are told that the voice of the people is the voice of God. Yes, Nigerians have rightly recognized their messiah who is coming to save the sinking nation. And it is also interesting that the ministers are leading this restoration are not even from the mans denomination or tribe. Great! They chose to stand between hopelessness and hopeful. Between the people and the enemies. Between sinking and restoration. Between the dark past and the reassuring future. Just search for the messages of Pastor Paul Enenche, Sarah Omakwu, Bishop Abioye, Paul Adefarasin, etc. In fact, the man in Port Harcourt in a veiled message said that we should not vote for parties or adults that wear pampers this time. Like many of us, he also warned for the consequences of making any mistake now. Pastor OBJ called the other two contenders six and half a dozen. Yes, I called him pastor because he also read theology. And you cant believe it I cried after listening to Paul Enenches message. So there is still hope for Nigeria? I now believe that there is a divine purpose for this terribly raped and traumatized country.

But it is not just because Obi is a Christian. No. If he goes to the mosques it will be the same. Let them invite him and you will see for yourself. You saw what happened when made a personal visit to Kaduna and some other northern states. The practically mobbed him. Even with the traditionalists because I saw how the revered masquerade (Ajofia Nnewi) was greeting him the other time. Yes, he is accepted by all. He is accepted by both men and gods. By spirits and humans. He is God-sent! He came at the right time and with the right message  when the nation was about to collapse. When we became terribly divided along tribal, religious and sectional lines. He came when most Nigerians could hardly eat or provide for their families. He came when our educational system was about to collapse completely. Obi came when we were all surrounded, harassed, traumatized and it looked as if we have been deliberately handed over to our enemies to slaughter at will. When corruption has been taken to an incredible height- when public servants can easily steal hundreds of billions, re-loot the loots under their custody. When we thought that there was no hope again. That was when Obi appeared on the scene. Sure, he came to heal, unify and restore. For now, he looks like the most competent and most trusted among all that are currently jostling for the position. Why? He is an upright man. Incorruptible. A patriot. He is a true nationalist. Look at his support base  youths, ordinary Nigerians, artisans, students, elder statesmen, professionals and labor leaders from all sections, religions and tribes. This is why the church in Nigeria is standing by him and will vote massively, totally for him. Indeed, there is a new united and progressive Nigeria in the making. Nigerians have taken over their country and never again shall we allow our destiny to be kidnapped. by those thieving, fakes, liars and bigots. Somebody rightly referred to what is happening now as a Nigerian Project. Yes, it is. None of his opponents or critics can match his level of integrity, honesty and selflessness. Or can you show me any? His integrity is so intimidating that his opponents are already panicking and looking very helpless.

As I write this article, I stumbled on a video where Peter Obi was addressing people and was carefully, with details and records enumerating what he left for his successor in Anambra State. Monies in different currencies. He will call the amount, the bank, the date  everything. My God! This was when others were leaving heavy debts, unpaid gratuities and pensions, abandoned and fictitious projects, he left hundreds of millions of dollars, tens of billions of naira and other assets for his people. The records are there. And what shocked me most was when he said that he can give account of every million his government received. He said that as a governor he did not appropriate any landed or moveable property to himself during his tenure or while leaving office. Imagine that. In Nigeria? We have never seen this type before. I mean, when others are stealing, empting their state treasuries and even stealing the borrowed funds. You know after plundering the treasury they also pay themselves billions in severance and pensions. Yes, pension for life for the thieves! Here they steal, corner most of the borrow funds and leave the state of nation to struggle with the repayment for generations. Or is it not before us that they are re-looting the loots. The Briton once said that we are fantastically corrupt, but I want to add that we are also fantastically heartless and wicked! This is the environment where you are fortunate to find somebody like Mr. Peter Obi. I am tempted to change his name to Saint Peter Obi. True. We are told that it is only righteousness that can exalt, prosper a nation. Even as a minister, I am challenged by this guys level of integrity, honesty and selflessness. The church from the North, South, West and East, all denominations will massively, totally vote for Obi in the coming Presidential election. That is our position and also our duty. The pastors, GOs must mobilize their member and associates to cast their vote for him. We cannot afford to work against the truth, righteousness and against God. The traumatized Nigerians are looking up to the church now. For those few black sheep that may try to betray this position and go for the Naamans gifts, they will also surely receive Gehazis leprosy. Share this message. Please, we will continue. May God bless Nigerian!

Rev Gabriel Agbo is the author of the books / audiobooks: Power of Midnight Prayer, Receive Your Healing, Breaking Generational Curses: Claiming Your Freedom, Never Again!, I Shall Not Die, Move Forward, Power of Sacrifice, Prepare for that battle and many others. Tel: 08037113283 E-mail: [email protected] Website www.authorsden.com/pastorgabrielnagbo Twitter: pastorgabagbo
President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to depart Abuja on Sunday for New York, United States.

The President is to attend the annual meeting of world leaders, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77).

The theme for the 77th session which opened on Tuesday, 13 September, is: A watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges.

Key topics of discussion at the UNGA this year include; the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, climate action, ending the COVID-19 pandemic, and a special Transforming Education Summit.

President Buhari will take his turn to deliver the National Statement on the second day of the General Debates on Wednesday, 21 September.

The President will also participate in High Level meetings and side events including the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum (NIEPF), convened by Nigeria in partnership with the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU); Strengthening Coordination through National Humanitarian Development Peace (NHDP) Framework: A practical approach to sustainable durable solutions to ensure no one is left behind, organised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; and the EFCC-NEPAD Programme on combating Illicit Financial Flows.

President Buhari is expected to hold strategic bilateral meetings with world leaders, renowned investors and heads of multinational organisations while in New York.

The First Lady, Aisha Buhari alongside with some governors, ministers and top government officials will accompany Buhari on the trip.

The president is expected back in the country on Monday, 26 September.
11 immigration police, officials arrested on bribery charges

SONGKHLA: Eleven government officials, including six immigration police, have been arrested and charged for allegedly taking bribes to facilitate the release of five foreign fishing trawlers earlier confiscated for illegally fishing in Thai waters.

corruptioncrimemarinepolice

By Bangkok Post

Saturday 17 September 2022, 03:24PM

Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, assistant national police chief, third from left, inspects fishing vessels in the southern border province of Songkhla before attending a media conference to announce the arrest of 11 officials involved in graft and malfeasance. Photo: Assawin Pakkawan

Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, assistant national police chief, announced the arrests of the 11 officials for alleged graft and malfeasance last night (Sept 16), reports the Bangkok Post.

In December last year, police and fisheries officials had seized the five trawlers and arrested 22 crew members for fishing in Thai waters without permission. After court proceedings, the trawlers were kept at the Songkhla customs office and were later put up for auction.

The fishing boats had been barred from leaving Thailand following the auction. However, the vessels were soon spotted entering Malaysian waters, and Thai police had coordinated with Malaysian police to intercept them.

Police began the investigation that led to the arrest of 13 people involved in bringing the vessels out of the country. One of them was Prasert, a representative of a shipping firm, said Pol Lt Gen Surachate. The surname of the man was not disclosed.

The officers extended the investigation that shed light to more officials involved. Arrest warrants had been issued for 11 government officials  six immigration police and five officials working at marine border and disease control checkpoints  for taking bribes, malfeasance and dereliction of their duty. All surrendered.

The six immigration police were Pol Sub Lt Chanida Khaiyasena, Pol Snr Sgt Maj Reowadee Suphong, Pol Snr Sgt Maj Khunnaphat Chanowan, Pol Sgt Rada Nookhong, acting Pol Lt Chatree Onthon, and acting Pol Lt Chindanai Kawsriwarawong.

The other five were two marine officials - Niti Uthumporn and Chatuporn Khetdam - and three senior disease control checkpoints - Anuphat Korwanit, Jettawat Khomkhao and Nonthaphat Ampornphan.

All 11 officials were held in custody at Singha Nakhon police station in Songkhla pending legal action, said Pol Lt Gen Surachate. Drastic action would be taken against those officials, he added.
Phuket shrines ready for Veg Fest

PHUKET: Chinese shrines began their preparations for the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival yesterday (Sept 16) with mass cleaning of the temples, their altars and their surrounds

cultureChinese

By The Phuket News

Saturday 17 September 2022, 09:00AM

The TAT official programme of events for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Image: TAT

The TAT official programme of events for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Image: TAT

The TAT official programme of events for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Image: TAT

The TAT official programme of events for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Image: TAT

The TAT official programme of events for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Image: TAT

The TAT official programme of events for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Image: TAT

The TAT official programme of events for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Image: TAT

The TAT official programme of events for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Image: TAT

The TAT official programme of events for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Image: TAT

The TAT official programme of events for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Image: TAT

The TAT official programme of events for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Image: TAT

The TAT official programme of events for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Image: TAT

The TAT official programme of events for the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Image: TAT

Teams of workers from Phuket City Municipality joined by volunteers began scrubbing forecourts at the main shrines taking part in the festival, including Pud Jor and Jui Tui shrines in the heart of Phuket Town.

The festival this year will be held under the same COVID-19 prevention measures as last year.

Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panapong held a press conference yesterday to ensure that all shrine administrators were aware of the restrictions temples must abide by.

The mass cleaning at the shrines will continue through to Sept 26, when the nine-day festival will formally begin.

Never included in the official schedule of events is the traditional raising of the Go Teng poles at participating shrines, with the long poles pointing towards the heavens so that the Nine Emperor Gods can climb down to Earth for the nine-day festival.

The Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Phuket) has released the official programme for this years festival, complete with route maps of the popular street processions.

Highlighted by the programme are the fire walking purification ceremonies to be held Sept 30-Oct 4 and the bridge crossing ceremonies to be held Oct 3-4.

The street processions will begin on Sept 27 with devotees from the Koor Su Gong Naka Shrine in Wichit taking to the streets.

Street processions will be held at participating shrines across the island every day through to Oct 4.

All streets and main roads along the procession routes will be closed to traffic while the procession is taking place. Traffic may be halted temporarily, the road reduced to one lane or redirected altogether while processions proceed.

On the final night of the festival on Oct 4 all participating shrines will make their way through the streets of Phuket, especially Thalang Rd and Phuket Rd, leading to Saphan Hin, where the final rites ceremonies will be held.

The festival will conclude with the traditional ceremony of lowering the Go Teng poles at the shrines at sunset the following day, Oct 5.

For the TATs official Phuket Vegetarian Festival programme, see the image gallery above. For the street maps, click on the images to see them enlarged.
KYIV, Ukraine  It was an early and delightful symbol of underdog resistance. Dubbed the John Deere Brigade, Ukrainian tractors were shown all over social media lugging away hastily abandoned Russian military equipment, from tanks to self-propelled artillery systems to complicated air defense platforms, worth tens of millions of dollars. Western predictions that Ukraine would fall to its invaders in as little as three days proved wildly off base. The breadbasket of Europe could punch above its weight. And now it was in the repo business.

Around the time of the Battle of Kyiv, captured Russian vehicles were generally just given a quick coat of paint and liberally decked out with Ukrainian flags before being sent back out to fight their previous owners. But what was at first an organic and ad hoc tractor effort by Ukrainian farmers has transformed into something far more organized and systematic, as the Ukrainian military have pushed vast quantities of captured Russian armor into frontline service. And since Ukraine retook almost all of Kharkiv district in the last week, there has been a windfall of new vehicles to MacGyver and repurpose.

Russian tanks and motorized artillery systems seized by Ukrainian forces on display at Independence Square in Kyiv on Aug. 25. (Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

In the aftermath of Ukraines successful Kharkiv offensive over the past week, fleets of Russian armored vehicles were left abandoned on the battlefield, left behind by Russian troops as they desperately tried to escape the Ukrainian advance. Footage uploaded to social media by victorious Ukrainian troops showed rows of BMP infantry fighting vehicles, neatly parked in the liberated city of Izium, seemingly in near-perfect condition, while T-80U tanks from Russias elite Fourth Guards Tank Regiment were left abandoned at a maintenance station, in various states of repair.

According to the independent monitor Oryx, which uses publicly available footage to visually confirm Russian and Ukrainian equipment losses, the Ukrainians have captured a minimum of 1,841 pieces of heavy Russian military equipment since the start of the war, including 356 tanks, 606 armored fighting vehicles, and 363 trucks and jeeps. As Oryx only includes equipment that has been visually confirmed as captured, the true total is probably much higher.

Story continues

During the early days of the war, a lot of Russian vehicles totally ran out of gas and were abandoned in perfect condition, said Yuri Matsarsky, a soldier in Ukraines Territorial Defense Forces (TDF), the nations military reserve. Thats happening less in the last few months. But after Kharkiv, its picked up again.

The Ukrainians have been repainting these captured vehicles in their now-familiar digital camouflage. Theyve also been upgrading and improving them. Captured Tornado-U trucks were given an extra Browning M2 heavy machine gun mounted on the cab, while a BTR-82A armored personnel carrier was upgraded with extra armor, a thermal-imaging sight, and Elon Musks Starlink satellite internet platform.

Young Ukrainians climb over a burned-out Russian T-90 tank captured by units of the operational command "South" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. (Viacheslav Onyshchenko/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Many of the vehicles we captured have been MT-LBs, Pavlo Kazarin, another soldier in the TDF and a well-known journalist before the war, told Yahoo News, referring to the versatile Russian armored vehicle often used as an armored personnel carrier or an artillery tractor. At least one of these has been upgraded with added weapons, such as a ZSU-2 23 anti-aircraft autocannon.

In fact, one TDF brigade has an entire garageful of repurposed Russian armored vehicles, owing to what Matsarsky described as special tactics to immobilize Russian vehicles and force their crews to abandon them. One group of TDF fighters used a light mortar to shell a Russian BTR armored personnel carrier that took a regular patrol route, intentionally bursting the vehicles tires and forcing the crew to leave it behind.

Many Russian vehicles that are left behind are not that badly damaged, Matsarsky said. The Russians simply lack the motivation or the discipline to repair them. Despite Russias inability to match the latest Western advances in drone technology or precision-guided weapons, building rugged heavy trucks is always something it has historically done well.

And because so many Ukrainians were pressed into military service as a result of the war, they initially had to rely on civilian cars for transportation. Generally, these had limited off-road capability and no armor, making them highly vulnerable to Russian attack. One of Matsarskys commanders went through three vehicles in a single month due to shelling.

Ukrainian soldiers in a tank after the withdrawal of Russian forces from Izium, in Kharkiv oblast, Ukraine, on Wednesday. (Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Thanks to what the Ukrainians have nicknamed Russian Lend Lease, more and more of Kyivs soldiers now drive around with bullet- and artillery-proof plating. That not only translates into fewer casualties but also into greater operational sustainability on the battlefield. Matsarsky joked that its often easier to simply steal a Russian armored vehicle for TDFs use than to barter or argue with other units in the Ukrainian Army for an official deployment.

The Tornado-U, for instance, is one of Russias latest heavy military trucks, and the models the Ukrainians have captured feature an armored cab, a 440-horsepower engine and a 6x6 chassis. The Tornado-U can also easily drive off road and haul a range of towed weapons, such as howitzers or anti-tank guns.

Ukrainians have also been snagging other types of Russian kit. One BM-21 Grad Multiple Launch Rocket System was found beyond effective repair, and so the Ukrainians salvaged the rocket-launcher tubes and mounted them on the backs of pickup trucks. While it is old technology (Grad rockets are not too dissimilar to the Katyusha rockets the Soviet Army used in World War II), ammunition for such systems is still relatively plentiful, and the rockets remain deadly.

Ukrainian soldiers insist, however, that refurbished Russian materiel is no substitute for continued support from their Western partners.

Russian guns and tanks show a lot of wear and tear. The barrels are worn out and the age of the equipment is extremely dated, 30 or 40 years old, and sometimes even older than that.

Imagine what miracles we could perform with a brand-new Abrams tank, Matsarsky said.
Six charged over school shooting death

NONTHABURI: Six people have been charged in connection with the death of a teenager who was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun owned by another student in a computer classroom on Thursday, police have said.

accidentsdeath

By Bangkok Post

Saturday 17 September 2022, 09:30AM

Yolada Ngamsud, 59, performs a ceremony to calm the soul of her late grandson at Wat Lad Pla Duk School in Bang Bua Thong district of Nonthaburi, yesterday (Sept 16). The 14-year-old boy was killed when a homemade gun that his friend had taken to school accidentally went off on Thursday afternoon. Photo: supplied

Pol Maj Gen Paisan Wongwatcharamongkol, chief of Nonthaburi police, confirmed yesterday (Sept 16) that Noppasil Ngamsud, 14, was killed by the accidental discharge of a handmade gun, not by an exploding keyboard as initially reported by a teacher at the school.

The tragedy took place in a computer class at Wat Lad Pla Duk School in tambon Bang Rak Pattana, Nonthaburis Bang Bua Thong district, on Thursday afternoon, reports the Bangkok Post.

The initial probe focused on the new computers in the classroom after students and a teacher reportedly told police they had heard an explosion. The keyboard at the desk where Noppasil was sitting was reportedly damaged and some keycaps had flown off.

Noppasil sustained serious injuries to his face including a wound about 34 centimetres deep near his left eyebrow.

He later succumbed to his injuries.

However, investigators later found traces of a bullet that had struck his eye, and during questioning a student confessed to carrying a pistol to school which they said had been fired accidentally.

The gun was thrown into Klong Bang Phai, from where it was retrieved on Thursday.

Pol Maj Gen Paisan said six people were initially charged in connection with the incident. The student who brought the gun to school was charged with recklessness causing death, possessing a firearm and carrying a firearm in public.

Based on his statement, the student said he had never fired the gun before but had borrowed it from a friend to scare someone. The student hid the gun in his jacket and it accidentally fired when he was about to put the jacket on, he claimed. He regretted that he had caused the death of his close friend, Pol Maj Gen Paisarn said.

Of the other five, two were charged with possessing a firearm and aiding in concealing or destroying evidence, while three were charged with aiding in concealing or destroying evidence.

At Wat Lad Pla Duk School in tambon Bangrak Pattana yesterday morning, the maternal grandparents of the late student, Noppasil Ngamsud, conducted a religious ceremony to comfort his soul and return it from the crime scene to his home.

Phra Khru Winaithorn Ngamsud, the grandfather, said the boys father was no longer around and he had grown up with his grandmother.

The monk said he did not think the boy who had the gun was cruel, but added that young people who receive education should have more of a conscience.

He said he had wished for his grandson to pass an examination to become a soldier. He had prepared learning material including a tablet computer for the boy but they were useless now, he added.
Xi and Putin challenge world order at regional summit

SAMARKAND: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for a shake-up of the world order as they met with Asian leaders yesterday (Sept 16) for a summit challenging Western influence.

ChineseRussianUkraine

By AFP

Saturday 17 September 2022, 10:30AM

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for a shake-up of the world order at a summit challenging Western influence. Photo: AFP

The meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in ex-Soviet Uzbekistan brought Putin and Xi together with the leaders of SCO members India, Pakistan, and four Central Asian nations, as well as the presidents of Iran and Turkey.

Putin and Xi met on Thursday for their first face-to-face talks since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and on the Chinese leaders first trip abroad since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

The summit has been put forward as an alternative to Western-centric organisations, at a time of increasing pressure on Moscow over Ukraine and growing anger in Beijing over US support for Taiwan.

Xi told leaders at the summit that it was time to reshape the international system and abandon zero-sum games and bloc politics.

Leaders should work together to promote the development of the international order in a more just and rational direction, Xi said.

Putin hailed the growing influence of countries outside the West, slamming what he called instruments of protectionism, illegal sanctions and economic selfishness.

The growing role of new centres of power who cooperate with each other... is becoming more and more clear, Putin said.

Talks with Turkey

The summit has been Putins first major international outing since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in February, sparking a conflict that has left thousands dead and seen Russia hit with waves of economic sanctions.

Xi on Thursday said China was willing to work with Russia to support each others core interests, though Putin admitted that Beijing had concerns about the situation in Ukraine that he would address.

The SCO - which also includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - was set up in 2001 as a political, economic and security organisation to rival Western institutions.

In a sign that the bloc is far from fully united, clashes escalated along the borders of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan yesterday, with both sides accusing the other of responsibility and of using heavy weapons.

Putin was due later yesterday to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been a key broker in deals between Russia and Ukraine on issues like grain shipments.

Erdogan told leaders at the summit that efforts were being made to finalise the conflict in Ukraine through diplomacy as soon as possible.

Xi met with Erdogan yesterday, calling for more political mutual trust between the two countries and pushing for more cooperation on his signature Belt and Road global trade initiative.

Xi was also set to have his first face-to-face discussion with Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi yesterday, after Raisi met Putin on Thursday.

US, Taiwan raise concerns

For Xi, the summit was an opportunity to shore up his credentials as a global statesman ahead of a pivotal congress of the ruling Communist Party in October, where he is widely expected to secure an unprecedented third term as president.

For Putin, it was a chance to show that he is not fully isolated on the global scene, at a time when his forces in Ukraine are facing major battlefield setbacks.

Other nations sounded alarm about deepening ties between Moscow and Beijing.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said China and Russia share a vision for the world that is starkly at odds with the vision thats at the centre of the international system, the vision that has been at the centre of the international system for the past eight decades.

He also took note of Putins mention of Chinese concerns about Ukraine in his talks with Xi, suggesting the striking admission showed Moscow did not have Beijings full support for its military campaign.

Taiwans foreign ministry meanwhile said the two countries were inflicting harm on international peace, stability, democracy and freedom.
Today

Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 65F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 46F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Tomorrow

Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High near 65F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Carole Croteau, Director Finance and Administration - Real Estate, TFI International Inc. and Board of Directors Chair, Chez Doris; Paul Marchand, Executive Director and President, Doggone Foundation; Elizabeth Wirth, President, M.F. Wirth Rail Corp and co-chair of the campaign Chez Doris, Day and Night, Susan Avon, Secretary, Fondation Doggone; Benoit Dorais, Executive committee vice-chair, Responsible for housing, real estate strategy and legal affairs, City of Montreal.
September 17 is National Physician Suicide Awareness Day (NPSA), meant to reduce stigma and raise awareness of physician mental health.

The need for this day can be seen in the story of Tuba City emergency room physician Dr. Zachary P. Stamile, who died by suicide earlier this summer, according to a press release.

According to his wife, family, and close friends, Stamile never gave a hint he needed help. His closest associates were all doctors, and he came from a family of dedicated medical professionals.

Stamile worked at Tuba City Regional Health Care Corp. (TCRCHCC), a Level III Trauma hospital on the Navajo Reservation, with his younger sister Dr. Tessa Stamile and friend Dr. Tom Grosheider -- all medical doctors. His wife Jennifer, mother Rosa and sister Susanna are nurses while his brother Elliott is an ultrasound technician.

Even though we are all in the medical field and trained to look for signs, no one saw it coming. We didnt know he was going to commit suicide, said his mother, retired nurse Rosa Stamile. There were multiple difficult issues in his life, including dealing with COVID-19, which hit the reservation very hard. Patients were dying left and right. It was hard for everyone. He would talk about it. And I knew it had taken a toll on him. What is startling is we didnt realize he was depressed. He hid that from his family, friends and wife.

"If it can happen to Zach, then it can happen to anyone, said his wife, Jennifer Stamile. Zach didn't reach out for help. Things have to change. Physicians need to be able to feel confident in seeking mental health assistance without the fear of professional repercussions. They are humans. They don't deserve to suffer in silence".

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in Arizona and, for the fourth year, Sept. 17 is Physician Suicide Awareness Day.

Gov. Doug Duceys proclamation for this year states that Arizona ranks 20th in the U.S. for suicide deaths. On average, one person in the state dies by suicide every six and a half hours.

It is the 10th leading cause of death in the state, the second for Arizonans between the ages of 10 and 34. In 2020, around 1,300 Arizona residents died by suicide.

Friends say Stamile was a valued colleague at Tuba City from 2014 to 2019 and later occasionally worked shifts in the Emergency Department at TCRHCC. He was a brilliant physician, Grosheider remembered. A thoughtful colleague, and a great friend to many of us. He lit up every room he entered.

Dr. Kathleen Harner, an OB-GYN physician at TCRHCC and an associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Arizona, said she believes doctors dont take care of themselves nearly as well as they take care of their patients.

To a large degree it is indoctrinated by our training. You take care of patients. You cant talk to your spouse or anybody else about your situation.

Some doctors also hope that there are changes to the system so that it is easier for doctors to seek counseling and not worry about medical insurance and credentialing.

According to data, physicians have one of the highest suicide rates of any profession, and more than half of physicians know a physician who has either considered, attempted or died by suicide in their career. Its estimated that one million patients in America lose their physician to suicide each year, said Dr. Harner.

Harner said Physician Suicide Awareness Day will be a reminder and a call to action to understand the underlying barriers to mental health care for physicians and share resources that can help those in distress seek mental health care.

While physician suicide was a crisis before COVID-19, the pandemic has created a sense of urgency to better support physicians mental health and well-being, said Dr. Harner. Over the past year, over 6 in 10 physicians reported they experienced feelings of burnout. When left untreated, burnout can cause more cases of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use, and lead to suicidal thoughts for physicians, directly impacting physician suicide rates.

Nobody really talks about it, said Rosa. But doctors know about it and I hope what happened to him brings attention to the issue. We dont want Zach to be forgotten.

According to doctors, the reasons that a person dies by suicide are not simple and are related to mental anguish that interferes with clear thinking.

We may be asking each other Why? and "What could have been done to prevent this?" Grosheider said. In reality, however, no one has the ability to predict imminent suicide. We do know that talking saves lives. We ask that you continue to talk to each other and acknowledge any difficult feelings with which you may be dealing with. If you find that your gut instinct tells you something is different about a colleagues behavior, please engage in a conversation with them. And if you still remain concerned about their mental well-being, please encourage them to seek help and consider letting your supervisor or other trusted colleague know about your concerns.

If you or someone you know have thoughts of self-harm, encourage them to call, text or chat with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, go to the emergency room, or call your local emergency services.

We are all saddened by Dr. Stamiles passing, he was an excellent physician that cared for our community members, said TCRHCC CEO Lynette Bonar. We recognize National Physician Suicide Awareness Day to break down the culture of silence around physician mental health and physician suicide.
ABBY BUTREMOVIC, Wheeler Volleyball, Sophomore; Butremovic had 23 digs as Wheeler beat Montville in three sets for its second victory of the season.

KATIE ANBARI, Stonington, Field Hockey, Sophomore; Anbari scored with 57 seconds remaining for the games only goal, lifting the Bears past East Lyme. Anbari leads the team in goals with four this season.

RACHEL FEDERICO, Westerly, Volleyball, Senior; Federico had nine kills, six digs and served for two aces in a win over Mt. Hope. Westerly was unbeaten in Division II through Sept. 24.

MYLES PRICE, Chariho Football, Senior, Price returned a lateral from teammate Collin Fitts on a punt return for the winning touchdown on the games final play to lift the Chargers over Coventry. Price ran about 25 yards across the width of the field after receiving the ball from Fitts.

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Added value: Iodine produced by Iofina is in demand as an additive in salt and has many other health uses

Brazil, the US and the Philippines may have little in common. But they are among dozens of countries that add a small amount of iodine to their salt to ensure citizens do not suffer from iodine deficiency.

Iodine deficiency is the biggest cause of brain damage in the world. The mineral is essential for growth and development and is especially important for pregnant women.

In the UK, however, salt is not iodised. Children and adults alike are expected to get their fair share from milk and dairy products, eggs and fish, but not everyone does, with scientists raising concerns that many people in this country suffer from a mild deficiency.

Iofina is an AIM-listed business based in Colorado, which produces iodine and turns it into compounds sold around the world. The shares are 23.25p and should increase substantially over the next few years.

The company has perfected a way of extracting iodine from brine that is left over during onshore oil and gas production. Iofina then turns the mineral into compounds used in a range of industries, from healthcare to nutrition to technology.

Inclusion in salt is essential in much of the world, but the biggest single use for iodine is as a component of special compounds  known as contrast agents  that make MRI scans clearer. Contrast agents help doctors to detect issues from tumours to heart failure and their use is growing as populations age and healthcare systems become more sophisticated.

Iodine compounds are included in certain statins as well. They are added to animal feed, used in paint to stop it going mouldy, feature in LCD screens and play a role in numerous industrial and chemical processes.

Demand is strong across the board, supplies are limited and iodine prices have been rising, reaching record highs of $70 (60) per kilogram in recent weeks from lows of less than $18 a few years ago.

Such lows are unlikely to be repeated in the near term, but chief executive Tom Becker has worked hard to ensure that Iofina is one of the lowest-cost producers in the world, making the group more resilient should prices fall from current levels.

Around two-thirds of the world's iodine comes from the Atacama desert in Chile. There, ore is mined from beneath the ground, broken up into small pieces using explosives, transported to special facilities and turned into iodine through a chemical process known as leaching.

Iofina's brine approach is friendlier to the environment and less expensive. The process has been designed for areas where oil and gas companies' waste brine contains plenty of iodine.

Oklahoma is one of those places and Becker expects to start work on a sixth plant later this year, with another one coming on board shortly afterwards. With further plants on the cards, Becker hopes to double annual production to 1,000 tons within the next three to five years.

All the iodine that Iofina produces is used by its chemical division, turned into compounds and sold to businesses in a range of industries.

The group buys in a small amount of iodine from other producers too, and also makes compounds from fluorine and chlorine. These share similar properties with iodine and mean that Iofina is not reliant on a single chemical element for all its sales.

The firm spends time developing new uses for its raw materials too, so it can expand into fresh markets, such as the fast-growing semiconductor industry, which uses fluoromethane in the production process.

Iofina has had a troubled past. The group expanded too quickly a decade ago, when the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan disrupted the iodine market and sent prices soaring.

They collapsed a few years later, leaving Iofina with large debts and loss-making plants. Today however, the company is profitable with a strong balance sheet. Becker is ambitious but careful too, making sure that the firm does not repeat past mistakes.

Interim figures, released this week, should be encouraging and brokers expect a 5 per cent increase in full-year turnover to $41 million, with profits up by 26 per cent to $6.2 million. Growth is forecast to be even stronger in 2023, with a turnover of $46million and profits of almost $8million.

Encouragingly too, former star fund manager Richard Sneller is a big fan of Iofina. With a personal stake of almost 18 per cent built up over the past two years, he is now the group's largest shareholder.

Midas verdict: Iodine is an essential mineral and demand is growing across a variety of very different industries. Iofina is not just a low-cost producer  it also turns iodine and other chemicals into much-needed compounds worldwide. At 23.25p, the shares are deeply undervalued. Buy.

Traded on: AIM Ticker: IOF Contact: iofina.com or 001 859 356 8000
The takeover of British satellite group Inmarsat by a US rival has been given the all-clear by the Government.

Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg waved through the 5.6billion acquisition by Viasat, saying it is no threat to security. The move will stoke fears about a hollowing-out of British industry as overseas predators swoop on assets.

Those fears look set to be stoked next week with French conglomerate Schneider Electric mulling a bid for tech group Aveva ahead of a deadline on Wednesday.

Surprise: Business Secretary, Jacob Rees-Mogg waved through the 5.6billion acquisition by Viasat, saying it is no threat to security

The Government had been monitoring the Inmarsat takeover under the National Security and Investment Act, which lets ministers block deals.

Viasat chief executive Mark Dankberg said: 'The clearance is another important step forward to closing the deal.'

But analyst Russ Shaw, of Tech London Advocates, said: 'I was surprised and I am interested to see what the Business Secretary does next. His attitude could be, 'Let's get the Government out the way and let the market do their thing.' Early signs are he's not an interventionist.'

Inmarsat is Britain's leading satellite company. It is the largest provider of in-flight wifi for airlines and is a major player in internet connections for ships.

And it is still being investigated by competition regulators, with a decision expected by October 5 on whether to refer the deal for a more in-depth probe.

Meanwhile, Aveva and Schneider are talking about Schneider acquiring the 40 per cent of Aveva it does not already own. A September 21 deadline has been imposed by the UK takeover watchdog.
Clash: Philip Green and Mike Ashley

Mike Ashley's audacious bid for the Australian fashion firm MySale was rejected yesterday in his latest clash with arch-rival Sir Philip Green.

The tracksuit tycoon's 2p per share offer was snubbed as 'materially undervaluing' the business.

Ashley and Green are the AIM-listed firm's two biggest shareholders, owning a combined 45 per cent of the business.

They bought into the flash-sale specialist when it joined the London Stock Exchange in 2014, but Ashley dumped his stake five years later after a rift opened up between the pair. Green held on to his stake, despite its value being almost totally wiped out.

Ashley then became MySale's biggest shareholder when he bought a 28.7 per cent stake this summer.

At the time a friend of Green's said Ashley 'does not know what he's doing'.

Weeks later Ashley made an offer through his Frasers Group to pick up those shares in the business he does not own for 13.6m  or 2p each.

Frasers said it wanted to use MySale to boost growth in Australia and New Zealand and to clear out unsold stock.

But his offer has been rejected by the MySale board. When Green invested in the business shares were worth 226p, meaning he would take a loss of around 80m if the takeover was approved.

MySale said Ashley's bid was a quarter below the company's value the day before it was made and noted it was the lowest offer he could have made under City takeover rules. Retail analyst Nick Bubb described the bid as 'cheeky'.

MySale said Ashley's offer was not 'fair and reasonable' and told shareholders to vote against it.

But MySale's rejection was undermined when chairman and founder Carl Jackson stepped down over his decision to back Ashley's bid. Jackson is MySale's fifth-biggest shareholder, with a 10.6 per cent stake. He is being replaced by senior director Charles Butler.

MySale buys excess stock from retailers in Europe and sells it cheaply online in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.
Battle: David Harding with wife Claudia

Billionaire philanthropist David Harding has waded into a legal battle against one of London's oldest exchanges.

Harding's Winton Capital Management has teamed up with other hedge funds after the London Metal Exchange (LME) halted billions of pounds of nickel trades in March.

The debacle, the result of mounting sanctions against Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, sparked fury on Europe's last open outcry trading floor. The controversial cancellations took place after prices shot up by more than 50 per cent in hours.

This led to many traders missing out on lucrative profits, but potentially saved China's largest steel company, Tsingshan Holding Group, which was on the losing end of a significant short position.

The scandal has triggered nearly 400m of legal claims from Elliott Management and trading firm Jane Street, both seeking a judicial review into the legality of LME actions.

US firms AQR Capital Management and Capstone Investment Advisors have been named in a separate claim with Harding, a physicist-turned-financier who is almost as well known for giving money away as he is making it. He gave 100m to his alma mater, the University of Cambridge.

He founded Winton in 1997. Court documents have revealed the severity of claims facing the LME, which has been accused of withholding private conversations around its controversial suspension.

Questions are also being asked about JP Morgan's role.

It has been described by City sources as the 'main dealer-broker' on the trades but a source close to JP Morgan has said it had no influence over the LME's decision-making.

An upcoming High Court hearing will determine whether the historic exchange must hand over information.

AQR said: 'Given the circumstances surrounding the suspension, the unprecedented decision to cancel agreed-upon trades in these circumstances, and the LME's piecemeal disclosures regarding its actions, the applicants seek disclosure of certain documents from the LME to enable them to assess their legal position.'

An LME spokesman said: 'We consider that application to be without merit, and we look forward to setting out our arguments opposing the application in due course.'
When Mooky Greidinger was handed a criminal conviction this summer, he was devastated. He told an Israeli court it was something he'd never expected to happen.

But life was not about to get any easier for the cinema tycoon.

Two months later, Greidinger's company Cineworld  which grew to become the world's second largest cinema chain  filed for bankruptcy protection in the US.

Optimistic: But boss Mooky Greidinger has been found guilty in an Israeli court

The near collapse has been painful, for both Greidinger and his shareholders.

Documents seen by The Mail on Sunday show the group, once worth 4.4billion, was down to its last 4million. The figure was a far cry from the funds needed to pay its 30,000 employees worldwide or keep the lights on across its 9,000 screens.

'Two and a half years ago our life's work collapsed,' he said at his hearing. 'Because of Covid-19, I've been fighting every day to save what we have built.

'We were an unprecedented success story. I don't think there are many Israeli companies that reached a status similar to the world's second largest cinema chain.'

However, the company has been thrown a lifeline. A multi-billion-pound rescue package agreed with Cineworld's lenders earlier this month will allow the company to embark on a drastic restructuring process.

Its cinemas will remain open and its shares are still trading  albeit at a fraction of their peak value.

In a presentation to creditors earlier this month seen by The Mail on Sunday, Cineworld pinned its problems on the Covid crisis and the delayed return of Hollywood blockbusters that followed. It described the pandemic as the 'plot twist' in the group's colourful rise and fall.

Little reference was made in the presentation slides to its most ambitious deal  the one that signalled the peak of Greidinger's ambition.

The $1.65billion (1.45billion) deal to buy Canadian giant Cineplex collapsed just months after Covid struck. Cineworld has been handed an 800million legal bill for pulling the plug on the deal  which weighed heavily on the group's already mounting debt pile.

The chain said its problems post-Covid were exacerbated by production delays that pushed back the release of films such as the James Bond movie No Time To Die and Marvel Comics' Black Widow.

Queues in its foyers seem unlikely to match the 275million visitors in 2019. Cineworld welcomed 80million customers in the first six months of 2022. But the shares are trading at 2.7p  less than 1 per cent of their 2019 high.

Happy ending? Romcom Ticket To Paradise with George Clooney and Julia Roberts could help Cineworld as movie-goers head back to cinemas

Greidinger will be hoping other releases later this year, including the romantic comedy Ticket To Paradise starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts; Avatar: The Way Of Water; or perhaps, more appropriately, the disaster movie Halloween Ends will help salvage the group's fortunes.

The company's struggles have not prevented Greidinger from drawing lucrative rewards from Cineworld  including 1.48million in 2021. Last month, The Mail on Sunday revealed that he and his brother Israel had received nearly 26million from Cineworld over the past eight years.

Argonaut Capital Partners' Barry Norris, who holds a short position in Cineworld, has criticised the pay and bonuses as the company lost billions and received furlough money.

He said: 'These guys were taking money out in the good times. And in the bad times they were still paying themselves well.

'One of the things I can't get my head around is how you could preside over such a disaster and not have resigned yet.'

But Greidinger's thoughts will soon be plunged back to the Israeli courts that handed him his criminal conviction  a rare and dubious distinction for the boss of a London-listed company.

His conviction stems from a lawsuit brought by Israel's competition authorities, which found that one of his companies withheld movies from a competitor in Tel Aviv. The court accepted a plea bargain.

'This is a difficult moment for me,' he said at the time. 'A criminal conviction is not something I was expecting after so many years.'

The court will next month decide whether he will be handed a fine or a suspended prison sentence.

Despite his troubles, Greidinger said that neither he, nor Cineworld, would be heading anywhere fast.

'Our goal remains to further accelerate our strategy so we can grow our position as the best place to watch a movie,' he said.

No doubt the story will have a few more plot twists.
TUCSON  Robbie Woodhouses grandfather began nearly a century of family farming along the Gila River near Yuma in the middle 1920s when he dug up a bunch of mesquite stumps on his land to make way for his barley, wheat, Bermuda seed, cotton and melon fields.

Farming never really took off at the Woodhouse homestead until 1954, when the federal government finished a 75-mile-long concrete canal to bring Colorado River water to whats now known as the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District, which covers about 58,500 acres along the Gila River east of the Colorado.

Today, Woodhouse presides over the governing board of a district with more than 120 individual growers, partnerships, trusts and other operating entities growing about 100 different crops, including seed crops as well as staples like wheat, cotton, lettuce and other produce. Wellton-Mohawk is one of six agricultural districts in the Yuma area that together grow 90% of the cauliflower, lettuce, broccoli and other winter vegetables sold in the U.S.

But now, the future of this district, of farming in the Yuma area in general and of Arizonas second largest drinking water supply for urban residents are all mired in a sea of uncertainty. Due to a logjam in interstate negotiations for massive cuts in Colorado River water deliveries, farmers and urban users have no idea how much water use theyll be ordered to cut, possibly starting next year.

All the Yuma area irrigation districts depend entirely on Colorado River water to nourish their crops. While groundwater does lie beneath many of the farm fields, its quality is uncertain or poor in many places.

Obviously were very, very concerned," said Woodhouse, whose 1,250 acres grow mostly produce, such as cauliflower, broccoli and lettuce. Without the water, we dont grow anything. But I wouldnt say we are scared. We do feel an obligation to do our part.

EDITORS NOTE: This is part of a collaborative series on the Colorado River as the 100th anniversary of the historic Colorado River Compact approaches. The Associated Press, The Colorado Sun, The Albuquerque Journal, The Salt Lake Tribune, The Arizona Daily Star and The Nevada Independent are working together to explore the pressures on the river in 2022.

Water officials of Arizona cities of Tucson, Goodyear and Scottsdale are also concerned and a little on edge although theyre not panicking. They are the most dependent of Arizona cities on river water delivered through the Central Arizona Project, a $4 billion, 336-mile-long canal system running from the river to the Phoenix and Tucson areas.

While all these cities have backup supplies, led by groundwater, to cushion them in the short- to medium-term in the event of river water cuts, their long-term picture is more uncertain because the CAP was extended into Arizona nearly 40 years ago precisely to get them off groundwater.

Arizona got about 36% of its total water supply from the river as recently as 2020. That share of river water feeding farms and cities has declined some since then, with the advent of a federally approved Drought Contingency Plan that will cut the states river water use by 21% starting in 2023. Its expected to drop even further in the coming years but nobody knows how much right now.

The uncertainty was triggered first in June, when Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton testified at a U.S. Senate Committee hearing that to stabilize the rivers declining reservoirs Lakes Mead and Powell, the basin states need to cut their water use by roughly up to 30% starting in 2023, and come up with a plan to do that by mid-August. If a plan doesnt appear by then, she warned the federal government would impose its own, to protect the system.

But mid-August came and went with no agreement and no plan or timetable for a plan from the bureau. The bureau did say at an Aug. 16 news conference, however, that it was going to look closely at several measures such as modifying the Hoover and Glen Canyon dams so they can keep delivering water at lower elevations and counting evaporation of water from Lake Mead and the river against the Lower Basins total water supply, thereby reducing that supply by hundreds of thousands of acre-feet a year.

So now, Wellton Mohawk and the other irrigation districts are pushing a plan to cut one acre-foot of water used per acre annually, on 925,000 acres along the Lower Colorado River in Arizona and California. In return, theyre seeking $1,500 an acre-foot in compensation, or a total of $1.387 billion annually.

With that money, theyll invest in water-efficient farming tools like drip irrigation, gradually switch to less thirsty crops from water-slurping alfalfa and weather economic losses from reduced water use, Woodhouse said.

What we want to have happen is for each individual farmer to operate their farms in the matter that they want to operate and plant the crops that they feel they can maintain the fertility of their soils, he said. Im sure its going to greatly change crop rotations and also change management practices of individual farmers, to exist on less water. Its real important that those decisions be left to each individual farm.

This proposal has been roundly criticized by urban water leaders, however. While saying farms must take the biggest water use curbs because they use 72% of Arizonas water and close to 80% basin-wide, Central Arizona Project officials say the farmers price tag is unrealistically high and that whatever money is paid should be used strictly to modernize irrigation practices for the long term.

Anytime anyone wants to sit down with us and talk about it, were more than willing to do so. But no one has been willing to discuss it, countered Wade Noble, an attorney representing the Yuma-area irrigation districts. Until we get to that point, our voluntary forbearance of a significant amount of the water we control will remain on the terms we put on the table. Were not going to negotiate with ourselves.

Time is of essence

Where both Arizona farms and cities agree is that the other river basin states and the federal government havent moved fast enough to reduce water use.

Reclamation has got to show some leadership and say this has got to be done and give us a guide map as to how the system is protected as the commissioner promised what it would be, Noble said.

The CAPs board president Terry Goddard and its previous president Lisa Atkins wrote a letter on Aug. 19 to Interior Secretary that made essentially the same point. To date, no written response from Interior has been forthcoming.

With no action forthcoming on a deal, some Arizona water users have pulled back on past commitments to leave water in Lake Mead to prop it up. The Tucson City Council, for instance, had pledged earlier this year to leave 30,000 acre-feet in the lake in 2022 and 2023 but has since backed off that pledge and voted to order its full allocation of 144,191 acre-feet for 2023 pending the negotiations outcome. The Gila River Indian Community withdrew an even larger commitment, to leave nearly 130,000 acre-feet in Mead next year. The CAP is holding onto 35,000 acre-feet it was going to leave in Mead and announced plans to remove another 18,000 acre-feet from the lake next year.

Unfortunately, the community has been shocked and disappointed to see the complete lack of progress in reaching the kind of cooperative basin-wide plan necessary to save the Colorado River system, said Gila River Indian Community Chairman Stephen Roe Lewis.

Until now, its left almost 600,000 other acre-feet of its CAP supply in Mead since 2016. In 2022 alone, CAP users and other Arizona Colorado River users left nearly 800,000 acre-feet in Mead, led by 512,000 acre-feet it legally had to leave there under the terms of the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan due to the lakes falling levels. Arizona and California left another 268,000 acre-feet in the lake this year from whats called the 500 Plus Plan, which had sought a half-million acre-feet in voluntary contributions to the lake, but projections for next year show more water will be removed from the lake under that plan than will be left in it.

Many Arizona cities using river water are preparing for the inevitability theyll have to use less. In Goodyear, in the Phoenix areas West Valley, whose population is about 101,000, the city has recharged about half of its annual CAP supplies into the ground for several years. Its also been recharging treated sewage effluent into the ground, and has stored a total of seven years' supply of both sources. It anticipates no short-term problems in delivering water to customers, said Ray Diaz, Goodyears water resources and sustainability manager.

Colorado River shortfalls arent going to affect what the city does now but could in the future.

What would happen if we were shorted and had to continue our approved development?" said Diaz. "Its something we would have to look into and really assess what we could afford for the future  how much water we can provide.

Tapping into supplies

In Scottsdale in the Phoenix areas East Valley, CAP supplies about 70% of the water for its 250,000 residents. Most is delivered directly to homes and businesses rather than recharged. If the city had to sustain a large cut in CAP supplies, it would have to rely much more heavily on groundwater, said Gretchen Baumgardner, the citys water policy manager.

It has stored about 230,000 acre-feet of CAP water and treated sewage effluent in the ground  about 2.5 years worth of its current supply  but town officials dont want to use it all at once, Baumgardner said. It also gets about 15% of its supply from Salt and Verde River surface supplies, delivered by the quasi-public utility the Salt River Project.

There will be a larger portion of groundwater used in the future, said Baumgardner, adding that city officials wont know how much until they learn how drastic the cuts in CAP deliveries will be.

The city is also looking to extend its supply further. Its wastewater treatment plant in North Scottsdale operates a pilot project to treat a small amount of effluent to exceed state drinking water standards, a process called direct potable reuse. The city is working with the State Department of Environmental Quality to help set up new state regulations that would allow the plant to reuse its wastewater for drinking on a larger scale.

But when asked if a Day Zero could ever arrive in which Scottsdale failed to meet all residents demands for water, Baumgardner replied, Its just one of those uncertainties right now. That will really be hard to answer, in part because of a pending effort by federal officials to overhaul its guidelines for operating its reservoirs  an effort that wont be finished until 2026.

In Tucson, officials of the Tucson Water utility are more optimistic about their ability to survive major CAP cuts. The utility about 40 years ago signed up to take almost a third more CAP water than it needs today to serve the 735,610 customers living inside and outside city limits. Thats allowed it to store nearly five and a half years worth of CAP in large, recharge basins  water that can be pumped when needed during CAP shortages later. The utility also has access to a huge aquifer lying under a large expanse of former farmland northwest of the city that it bought and retired in the 1970s. It also is regularly recharging and storing underground large amounts of partially treated effluent that can be pumped later for drinking.

But there is one cautionary note. A recent Bureau of Reclamation study found that as the Southwests climate warms up, runoff of melting snows into rivers and washes surrounding the city is likely to decline, meaning less water will be replenishing its aquifer than in the past. That would increase the possibility that groundwater pumping in place of CAP water use could put increased pressure on the aquifer, triggering higher pumping costs and more likelihood of subsidence in which the ground collapses, possibly triggering fissures.

Ultimately, the story of CAP water in Arizona is a story about groundwater, added Kathryn Sorensen, a researcher for Arizona State Universitys Kyl Center for Water Policy. When theres less Colorado River water delivered to Arizona, the cities, farms and other users fall back on groundwater, she said.

We are very blessed to have plentiful aquifers in central Arizona we can fall back on, Sorensen said while noting they are fossil aquifers, meaning water entered them thousands of years ago and they are not easily replaced.

"If we pump them and are unable to replenish the pumping, the aquifers will pay the price, she said.
Luxury concierge group Quintessentially has declared a return to profit after a turbulent period of trading during the pandemic.

Quintessentially  co-founded by the Queen Consort's nephew, Tory grandee Ben Elliot  provides luxury services for the super-rich who pay an annual subscription fee.

An internal letter circulated to staff, seen by The Mail on Sunday, said pre-tax profit is expected to be 2.4million in the year to April 2022, the highest in ten years.

Luxury: Quintessentially provides services for the super-rich who pay an annual subscription fee

Total group revenues are forecast to hit 45million in the period.

The letter takes a far more optimistic tone to recent documents filed at Companies House which showed that the firm made a 2.6 million loss in 2020 as it scaled back operations during the pandemic.

The accounts from that year issued a warning over the company's future as a going concern and included details of a loan from a US shareholder to help it keep trading.

But, in the letter, chief executive Darren Ellis, said the gloomy nature of Quintessentially's delayed accounts simply reflects 'a mass of historical restructuring and writeoff costs'.

He sought to ease staff fears by describing the firm's recovery as a 'universal success', adding that this year's numbers should give 'optimism for greater profitability and success in the future'. He also revealed plans for new offices in Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

Ellis said the company is now 'better positioned to grow and develop further than it ever has before', and is 'supported by our main shareholders'.
Chemicals giant Johnson Matthey is considering scrapping jobs in a shake-up of the company.

The firm, worth 3.6billion, has reportedly told dozens of staff in Stockton-on-Tees they could be made redundant and their work moved to Malaysia.

But there are fears that the FTSE250 firm could be looking at a wider jobs cull after it said it was 'exploring all options' as part of a 'new strategy to simplify the business'.

Shake-up: Johnson Matthey has reportedly told dozens of staff in Stockton-on-Tees they could be made redundant and their work moved to Malaysia

At its annual results in May, it said political and economic uncertainty 'may affect' the year ahead.

Last year, it issued a profits warning, and Liam Condon, previously of German group Bayer, took over as chief executive in March.

The firm, which has more than 13,000 staff worldwide, said: 'We are exploring all options as part of our new strategy to simplify our business and service our customers better.'

It said it would consult employees before making any decisions.
Keeping track: Little Birdie is an online manager for all your subscriptions

Saving money when shopping online can be time consuming and fiddly.

You have to trawl the internet for valid discount codes, compare prices at different retailers  and remember to cancel subscriptions that are no longer good value.

However, a growing number of tools are being launched that claim to do all of this legwork for you automatically.

The idea is that you can benefit from all of the best deals, prices and discounts without having to track them down yourself.

All are free to use on your desktop or tablet and some work on smartphones.

We road-tested six to see how easy they were to use and if they really saved us money.

Little Birdie is an online manager for all your subscriptions.

It keeps track of your subscriptions for services such as insurance, broadband and TV streaming and sends you an alert when a free trial is about to end or there is a price rise.

It also searches around to see if it can find you a better deal.

To use Little Birdie, you need to download the mobile application on to your smartphone. Launched this month, it will add new features in October, such as the ability to cancel unwanted subscriptions. It claims it can save households 550 a year.

Verdict: The app is simple to download and set up. You have to input your subscriptions or upload the information from the website of your current account provider, using the open banking service.

When I download the app, I notice that my O2 phone bill has risen in price by 46p. It also suggests a cheaper broadband deal that I could switch to.

If you have ever searched for a discount code when shopping online, you will know how frustrating it is when the code you find has expired or is invalid. PayPal Honey aims to take the hassle away by applying the best value codes at the checkout automatically.

It also offers special customer discounts and online store rewards.

The technology it uses is known as a browser extension, which is a piece of software that you download on to your computer. Once downloaded, there is nothing further you need to do.

If you subsequently visit a shopping website on your computer, a notification pops up on your screen showing if PayPal Honey has identified a discount code that could save you money.

Verdict: It's quick and easy to install the extension. However, when I visit the websites of five major retailers, PayPal Honey does not once alert me that it has uncovered a working discount code for me to use. However, the browser extension works on more than 30,000 websites and has been given a top five-star rating by its users, so maybe I was just unlucky.

Cashback websites such as TopCashback and Quidco can be a good way to save money when shopping online. They pay you money when you go through them to spend with retailers, including high street shops such as Marks & Spencer, as well as from major utility, broadband and insurance companies.

To earn cashback, you need to head to a cashback website and click through to the retailer of your choice to make a purchase. TopCashback says its members get back 300 a year on average.

However, it is easy to forget to click through from a cashback website and miss out on making money.

TopCashback has a browser extension, which automatically alerts you every time there is an opportunity to earn cashback.

Verdict: I install the browser extension and then visit the Argos website to buy a new washing machine. A window pops up on my computer to tell me that I could earn up to 10 cashback. I click on the window and the cashback offer is automatically applied. I don't even have to visit the TopCashback website. It can take several weeks for cashback to be paid out.

The website CamelCamelCamel is handy for checking if an Amazon deal is really as good as it looks. It displays the price history for millions of products and notifies you if the price drops on a product you are interested in buying.

The website has a browser extension called Camelizer, which automates the process.

Once you have downloaded Camelizer, every time you search for something on Amazon, a box pops up on your computer showing you the item's price history.

Verdict: I download Camelizer and then visit Amazon to shop for a pair of Bluetooth headphones. The headphones are on sale at 27.99 (the non-sale price is 42.99).

This looks like a good deal, until a window pops up from Camelizer to let me know that the headphones have been at this price since last November. I find the tool clunky and slow to use, but it does save me from rushing to take advantage of a sale price that has been available for several months.

Savoo is a website that offers voucher codes for more than 4,000 shops, including Tesco, Boots and Asos. It supports good causes by donating up to half of the commission it receives to charities such as Marie Curie, Heart Research UK and Mental Health UK.

Savoo also has its own search engine, and for every search you make, Savoo will automatically donate a penny to your chosen charity on your behalf, with no cost to you.

The search engine is powered by Microsoft Bing.

Verdict: Using discount codes on shopping, while Savoo donates to charity, is a great way to save money and support good causes effortlessly.

I like the idea of making money for charity just by searching for things online  something that I do anyway. However, I would have to make 100 searches to generate a 1 donation.

I think I'd prefer to just make a donation and stick to my usual search engine.

Beagle Button could be a good option if you are trying to shop more sustainably. It works as a browser extension, which you download on to your computer.

Then when you shop online, a popup window appears on your computer if Beagle Button identifies more sustainable alternatives to the products you are considering.

Launched this summer, it works with more than 200 sustainable companies, including Beauty Kitchen and Nudie Jeans.

Verdict: Beagle Button is unlikely to save you money, but may offer a useful nudge if you are trying to rethink your shopping habits.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia on Friday of committing war crimes in Ukraines northeast and said it was too early to say the tide of the war was turning despite rapid territorial gains by his forces this month.

The Ukrainian leader also told Reuters in an interview that the outcome of the war with Russia, now in its seventh month, hinged on the swift delivery of foreign weapons to his country.

He compared the situation in newly liberated areas of the northeast to the bloody soap opera after Bucha, a town near Kyiv where he accused Russian forces of committing numerous war crimes in the first phase of the war. Moscow denied the charges.

As of today, there are 450 dead people, buried (in the northeastern Kharkiv region). But there are others, separate burials of many people. Tortured people. Entire families in certain territories, Zelenskiy said.

Asked if there was evidence of war crimes, he said: All this is there There is some evidence, and assessments are being conducted, Ukrainian and international, and this is very important for us, for the world to recognise this.

The Kremlin did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Zelenskiys new allegations.

Russia regularly denies targeting civilians during what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine and has said in the past that accusations of human rights abuses are a smear campaign.

The governor of Kharkiv region, Oleh Synhubov, told reporters on Friday at one of the burial sites in the city of Izium that some bodies exhumed there had been found with their hands tied behind their backs.

Moscow has not commented on the mass burial site in Izium, which was a Russian frontline stronghold before Ukraines counter-offensive forced its forces to flee.

NO EARLY END TO WAR

Fridays interview took place in the presidents office in the heavily-guarded government district, which is now like a citadel for Zelenskiy and his advisers. Sandbags were piled up in the windows of the buildings labyrinthine, dimly-lit corridors.

An air raid siren  used to warn of the danger of incoming missiles  sounded in Kyiv shortly before the interview.

Zelenskiy, who visited Izium on Wednesday, repeated his appeal forWestern countries and others to step up weapons supplies to Ukraine.

We would want more help from Turkey, We would want more help from South Korea. More help from the Arab world. From Asia, he said.

Zelenskiy also cited certain psychological barriers in Germany to supplying military equipment because of its Nazi past but said such supplies were vital for Ukraine to defend itself against what he called Russian fascism. He has often accused Berlin of dragging its feet over providing arms.

He lauded Ukraines rapid counter-offensive but played down any suggestion that the war was entering some kind of end game. Its early to talk about an end to this war, he said.

Zelenskiy said he would only support the idea of reopening Russian ammonia exports through Ukraine, an initiative proposed by the United Nations, if Moscow handed back Ukrainian prisoners of war to Kyiv.

Speaking in Uzbekistan on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin brushed off Ukraines counter-offensive with a smile, but warned that Russia would respond more forcefully if its troops were put under further pressure.

Zelenskiy said he had been convinced that foreign weapons supplies to Ukraine would have fallen if Kyiv had not launched its counter-offensive and that the territorial gains would impress other countries.

I think this is a very important step that influenced, or will influence, the decisions of certain other countries, he said.

Asked on the 205th day of the war if he ever got a chance to relax, Zelenskiy said: Id really want the Russians to relax.

SOURCE: REUTERS
A reception at Buckingham Palace and an event hosted by the UKs new Foreign Secretary are among the events Irelands president and premier will attend around the Queens state funeral.

The historic funeral will be one of the rare occasions where both the Irish president and Taoiseach are out of the country at the same time.

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina, along with Taoiseach Micheal Martin and his wife Mary, will be among the hundreds of foreign dignitaries attending the funeral at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday morning.

This afternoon President and Sabina Higgins attended a service of reflection for the life of Queen Elizabeth II at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast pic.twitter.com/Fw5mWZjqHQ  President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) September 13, 2022

With most countries invited to send their head of state or head of government, along with their spouses, it is believed that Irelands four-strong delegation is unusual.

Mr Martin will also be one of several world leaders that will meet Liz Truss ahead of the state funeral.

He is due to arrive in London on Sunday morning for a meeting with the new Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street, where he is expected to convey his condolences on the death of the monarch.

Political issues are also likely to be discussed, although Downing Street has suggested any meetings between political leaders will be more of a chat than a bilateral session.

Good call with British PM @trussliz today.Offered our sincere condolences to the British people on the loss of HM Queen Elizabeth. Agreed to keep in close contact in the weeks ahead. https://t.co/mtH3dMetY8 pic.twitter.com/sGz936V1ze  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) September 9, 2022

Afterwards, Mr Martin and Mr Higgins will pay their respects at the Queens coffin which is lying in state at Westminster Hall, and will also sign a book of condolence at Lancaster House.

The King will host a reception for visiting heads of state at Buckingham Palace on Sunday evening, which the Martins and Higginses are expected to attend.

Following the funeral, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will host a reception for foreign dignitaries at Church House, next to the abbey.

The Taoiseach will fly out of London on Monday afternoon on the Government jet, ahead of his trip to the UN General Assembly in New York.
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As many activists have claimed for years . . . The case against a former KCK Detective is one of the most shocking and brutal this town has ever seen.



Here's today's argument to keep the guy behind bars . . .

The federal prosecuting team wrote in their court motion that Golubski is more dangerousnot lesstoday. They stated their investigation has brought to light Golubskis tendencies to keep tabs on and threaten his victims. They also point out he faces a potential life sentence.



His connections to organized crime and criminals; and his facility with manipulating those connections to gain benefits for himself, the document read. The defendants victims live in fear because he has used his position of power to terrorize and traumatize them.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

'Detention is necessary': Prosecutors release graphic details of alleged Golubski sexual assaults KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - "Detention is necessary." In a graphic court motion filed Friday, federal prosecutors urged a judge to keep disgraced ex-police officer Roger Golubski behind bars. The former Kansas City Kansas Police Department detective was charged Thursday with federal civil rights crimes for sexually assaulting two victims while acting under color of law, the U.S.

New documents detail Golubski's alleged abuse of 7 new victims KANSAS CITY, Kan. - New court documents filed by federal prosecutors detail decades of alleged abuse by former Kansas City, Kansas, Police Det. Roger Golubski, including information on seven victims that have not been previously disclosed. Golubski was indicted this week by a federal grand jury on six counts of violating the civil rights of two women between 1998 and 2002.

DA: Golubski arrest creates challenging legal questions for potential victims KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Former Kansas City, Kansas Police Detective Roger Golubski is in jail on federal charges related to sexually assaulting two women and using his authority as a police officer to violate their civil rights.

Feds argue Roger Golubski is too dangerous to leave jail, detailing assaults of 7 more women In an unusually graphic motion aimed at keeping Golubski in jail before trial, federal prosecutors laid out how the former Kansas City, Kansas, detective engaged in a pattern of kidnapping and sexually assaulting women and girls as young as 13 years old, before threatening his victims into silence.

Court records reveal new details in the case against former KCK police detective Court records reveal new details in the case of a former Kansas City, Kansas, police detective accused of sexual assault.Roger Golubski faces six counts of sexual assault against two different victims. Golubski is accused of sexually assaulting the first victim multiple times between 1998 and 2001, and a second victim between 1999 and 2002.KMBC has learned that one victim was a middle school girl.

Developing . . .
Street art funded by former NYC Mayor Bloomberg has garnered a nationally televised victory for Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas amid a historic pace for homicides, rising property crime and an ongoing lawsuit battle with local police.



We should have seen this coming when "public radio" spent all week wondering why Kansas City hipsters are too scared to cross the street.

How we see this playing out . . .

Painting BLM branding on local streets doesn't look good in retrospect for a majority of KCMO voters. However, now Mayor Q can "paint" this action as part of a public safety effort and clean up his connection to a group that has lost its luster amid luxury home buying scandal.

That's one theory but right now most civic boosters are merely celebrating a nice bit of publicity about "public safety" amid more dire circumstances on local streets.

Check-it . . .



"In Kansas City, Missouri, artists are transforming an infamous intersection into the picture of safety. The project is the latest among dozens of street murals across more than 40 cities that are part of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Asphalt Art Initiative. NBC News Steve Patterson shares more details about how the initiative is making cities safer."

Take a look via www.TonysKansasCity.com link/embed . . .

You decide . . .
"The lower third of the face is the final frontier," says Dr. Lara Devgan. - Kelly Jacob
Will anything fix my under-eye bags? Ask The Kit
Toronto police ID man, 19, shot and killed in south Etobicoke

Toronto police said Tenzin Rinchen, 19, and another man were allegedly shot near Mimico Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard
'Youre not alone': Widows of fallen officers offer support to family of Toronto police Const. Andrew Hong
Scarborough mom goes to extraordinary lengths after her son diagnosed with rare eye cancer

Toronto woman raises awareness and funds after her five-month-old son was diagnosed with a rare form of ocular cancer, unilateral retinoblastoma
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have eliminated 54,250 Russian soldiers since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, estimates say. That's including 200 enemy troops in the past day alone.

This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces, according to Ukrinform.

Also, Ukraines defenders destroyed 2,202 enemy main battle tanks (+3 on Friday, September 16), 4,701 (+11) armored combat vehicles, 1,306 (+4) artillery systems, 312 (+0) multiple rocket launchers, 168 (+0) air defense systems, 251 (+1) warplanes, 216 (+0) helicopters, 911 (+3) operational and tactical-level unmanned aerial vehicles, 236 (+3) cruise missiles, 15 (+0) warships/cutters, 3,571 (+21) trucks and tankers, and 121 (+0) units of specialized equipment.

The incoming reports on enemy losses are being verified, the General Staff noted.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled enemy attacks near five settlements, inflicted heavy losses on the invasion troops.

Photo: General Staff of the AFU
Spain has sent to Ukraine the fifth transport aircraft of the Spanish Air Force with ammunition for large-caliber artillery systems.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in a Facebook post, citing Spain's Ministry of Defense, Ukrinform reports.

In particular, Spain's Ministry of Defense officially announced that "on September 9, 2022, a T.23 aircraft of the Spanish Air Force took off from the Torrejon de Ardoz air base (Madrid) and is transporting large-caliber field artillery ammunition to Ukraine."

According to the ministry, this is already the fifth aircraft with weapons recently provided by Spain to Ukraine. Last week, four aircraft took off from the base in Rota (Cadiz) with the support of an ally.

In total, the cargo transported over the past few days includes 75 pallets of large-caliber ammunition.

Photo credit: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
An 11-year-old girl injured in Russias missile strike on the Kharkiv regions Chuhuiv has died at hospital.

The relevant statement was made by Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Head Oleh Syniehubov on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

An innocent child has died from Russian terror. One more woman was injured in the missile attack on Chuhuiv; her condition is moderate, Syniehubov wrote.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak also reacted to Russias missile attack on Chuhuiv, noting that Russians are weak losers who fight against children.

In Chuhuiv, Russians killed an 11-year-old girl. The weak losers who fight against children. The Russian nation is shameful, because it is responsible for those who commit cowardly crimes. For those who crossed out the future of the entire generations of Russians, who will pay for all of this, due to their own insecurities and inadequacy, Yermak stressed on Telegram.

A reminder that, on September 17, 2022, the Russian military launched a missile strike on the Kharkiv regions Chuhuiv.

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A missile strike by Russian troops on the private sector of Kramatorsk city, Donetsk region, damaged more than 30 houses and injured civilians, including a 16-year-old girl.

The National Police said this in a statement, Ukrinform reports.

According to preliminary information, the invaders used S-300 missile system to strike the city. The shell hit between two houses, destroying them. 32 other houses were damaged. Civilians aged 16 to 72 were injured by the missile attack.

An investigative team, police paramedics and explosives experts worked on the spot. The consequences of the shelling have been documented, and evidence of Russia's war crime has been collected.

The invaders actions are classified under Article 438 (violation of the laws and customs of war) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

As Ukrinform reported, on September 17, Russian troops struck Kramatorsk, injuring three civilians.

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The duration of Russia's war against Ukraine depends on the terms of weapon supplies to the embattled nation.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine made the statement in an interview with Reuters, Ukrinform reports.

"It's too early to talk about the end of the war. I think it's too early...Today, Id like to emphasize 100 percent the fact that this war depends on terms that are connected only with arms supplies. Only on that... Speeding up aid to Ukraine means speeding up our victory," said Zelensky.

He noted that for Germany, the issue of supplying armored vehicles and main battle tanks to Ukraine stumbles upon a "psychological barrier", because "they cannot understand how German equipment can be in Ukraine" in the first place.

"It seems to me that this is some kind of their internal problem... their modern German equipment is fighting for the truth, it is fighting against Russian fascism. And that is exactly what it symbolizes  the fight of modern Germany against Russian fascism," the president said.

Zelensky added that Germany's assistance is very important for Ukraine.

He also noted that he would like to receive more help from Turkey, South Korea, the Arab world, and Asia. Zelensky emphasized that at the same time, many countries stand aside from Russia's war on Ukraine.

As reported, there is a major discussion ongoing in Germany regarding the provision of offensive weapons to Ukraine, in particular, Marder infantry fighting vehicles and Leopard 2 main battle tanks.
Four powerful explosions were recorded at a cotton mill in Russian-captured Kherson, which hosted enemy personnel and equipment.

Thats according to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Ukrinform reports.

"As a result of the effective action on the part of Ukraines Defense Forces, four powerful explosions were recorded at warehouse 2 of Alcoresurs LLC on the territory of the Kherson cotton mill, where the Russian occupiers personnel and equipment were based. Tentative reports say 180 Ruscists were killed. It took three refrigerators to take their bodies out of the city. Several dozen more were taken to Kherson medical facilities in a critical condition," the report says.

The defense intelligence also noted in its report information on the aftermath of the strikes on the invaders positions across Zaporizhia region. In particular, in the area of Kamianka, Hulyaipole, Polohy, and Kinsky Rozdory settlements, up to 80 enemy forces were injured, and up to five units of military equipment were destroyed. Up to 15 so-called Kadyrovites, who recently arrived to carry out filtration, were killed in the Vasylivka area.

Read also: Russian drone downed in Kherson region

In addition, in the occupied Perevalsk of Luhansk region, six Ukrainian missiles inflicted heavy losses on enemy units.

Also, in Dokuchaevsk, Donetsk region, the food warehouse set up by the invaders on the premises of the repair and mechanical center, was completely destroyed.

In the village of Sadok, Kherson region, Ukrainian artillery fire destroyed four Grad multiple launch rocket systems.

As reported, the Russian military death toll in Ukraine as of September 17 was estimated at 54,250.

Photo: GUR
In the coming months, the United States will deliver to Ukraine two NASAMS air defense systems.

Pentagon Press Secretary, General Patrick Ryder stated this at a press briefing at the U.S. Department of Defense, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Two NASAMS are expected to be delivered (to Ukraine ed.) within the next two months or so, he said.

Ryder stressed that these air defense systems will further contribute to protecting Ukrainians from enemy air threats, to include aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles.

As reported by Ukrinform, the United States has already supplied NASAMS systems to Ukraine, where military experts are already familiar with the operation of these systems.

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A ship carrying 30,000 tonnes of wheat for the residents of Ethiopia has departed from Ukraine's Black Sea port of Chornomorsk through the "grain corridor."

The Odesa regional military administration reported this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"The bulk carrier IKARIA ANGEL, chartered by the UN World Food Program, sailing under the flag of Panama, carrying 30,000 tonnes of wheat, this morning departed from the port of Chornomorsk to the port in Djibouti, through which humanitarian cargoes arrive to African regions," the report said.

According to Ukraine's Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov, this grain will be distributed in Ethiopia, a country experiencing food insecurity after four years of drought.

"Part of the population of Ethiopia, according to the conclusions of the UN, is currently on the verge of a food disaster. As part of the UN Program, an additional 190,000 tonnes of grain will be purchased for further export to countries suffering from food shortages," Kubrakov added.

Since the grain deal between Ukraine, Turkey, Russia and the UN came into force, 149 ships with 3.4 million tonnes of agricultural products have left Ukraine's Black Sea ports.

The first ship with Ukrainian foodstuffs left the port of Odesa on August 1.
Berlin is deliberately dragging on with the provision of real military assistance to Kyiv, as it still hopes to restore normal cooperation with Russia.

This opinion was expressed by Polands Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau, who spoke in an interview with I.pl, Ukrinform reports.

"Meanwhile, the scale and pace of Germany's support for Ukraine shows signs of deliberate delay, as if the intention is that, regardless of the outcome of this war, German-Russian relations suffer as little as possible, also due to the free worlds trust in Germany," Rau said.

The head of Polish diplomacy has noted that he does not envy Germany in the current situation, since its policy toward Russia and the countries of Eastern Europe has suffered a fiasco, including as a result of the implementation of a flawed economic model based on cheap Russian energy.

Rau believes that Warsaw and Berlin have different views on many issues, including aid to Ukraine. According to him, Poland helps Ukraine as much as possible, while Germany's actions in this direction wish for the best.

Memo. On February 24, Russia launched a new stage of its eight-year war against Ukraine  a full-scale invasion. The enemy has been massively shelling and bombing peaceful cities and villages. The Armed Forces, Territorial Defense Troops, and the entire Ukrainian nation are effectively repelling the Russian onslaught, inflicting heavy losses on the invasion forces.
Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Jan Lipavsky has called for the immediate establishment of a special international tribunal to punish the Russian Federation for the war crimes committed in Ukraine.

The relevant statement was made by Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Jan Lipavsky on Twitter, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to Lipavsky, Russia left behind mass graves of hundreds of shot and tortured people in the Izium area. In the 21st century, such attacks against civilians are unthinkable and abhorrent, Lipavsky stressed.

We must not overlook it. We stand for the punishment of all war criminals. I call for the speedy establishment of a special international tribunal that will prosecute the crime of aggression, Lipavsky noted.

A reminder that, according to the Ukrainian Internal Affairs Ministry, the number of Ukrainian civilians killed by Russian troops in the Kharkiv region may be significantly higher than that in the Kyiv regions Bucha.

Photo: Zelenskiy / Official

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In the online media of African countries, Russian narratives have been detected purposefully shifting responsibility for all troubles to Ukraine  the food crisis, the Russian war against Ukraine, shelling of civilians in Ukraine, etc.

To find out what African online media write about Russias war against Ukraine and how Russian propaganda influences it, the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security analyzed in detail the media landscape in June and July of 4 African countries  Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and the Republic of South Africa.

The main trends were identified during the monitoring conducted by the Ukrainian social startup LetsData in partnership with the NGO Detector Media. In real-time, publications containing references to Ukraine and/or Russias war against Ukraine are collected in the original language and processed using artificial intelligence elements.

What Topics about Ukraine Are Covered in the Online Media of African Countries?

June 13 throughout July 29, the activity of covering topics varied, but the economy was consistently the first one, with the largest number of publications during the study period, although in the second half of July the topic of news from the front line was also added to the study, which was ahead of the topic of the economy in the number of publications.

Invariably, in June and July, the issue of military assistance to Ukraine was the least covered. This trend corresponds to the global one, in particular, we noted the low activity of coverage of this issue in the study of the media landscape of European and North American countries in the period from July 1 to July 14. However, further monitoring of LetsData indicates that this trend continues until at least the end of July.

It is also worth noting the topic of the food crisis, which was not below fourth in the activity of coverage during the study period, and in the period from July 1 to July 14 even came second. Back in March, Human Rights Watch reported on the growing food crisis in the Middle East and North Africa due to Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In particular, Libya imports more than 40% of wheat from Ukraine, and Egypt purchases wheat and large volumes of oil. So, the topic is quite important for African countries. And this, by the way, is what Russia manipulates, which we will discuss in more detail in the section on the Kremlins narratives.

Africas online media quoting pro-Kremlin sources

*The study of pro-Kremlin media citation indicators began on July 1

The citation of the pro-Kremlin media in some African countries is quite frequent. For example, from July 15 to July 29, the percentage of citations among all publications on Ukraine amounted to 6.4% in Egypt, which was the highest indicator among the 29 countries studied on 5 continents. In the first half of July, Nigeria had a similar percentage of citations (6.9%), which was also among the leaders in citations among the 29 countries studied between July 1 and 14, next to Kazakhstan (16.72%), and Lithuania and Latvia (8.65% overall).

All the main propaganda media of the RF such as RIA Novosti, TASS Agency, Sputnik, RT are represented in the online media of Africa, only Izvestia is not very popular among the cited media. In particular, for the study period in July, they were noted only in Egypt (no more than 2%).

How do African online media call Russias war against Ukraine?

Some publications of the study noted the use of toxic vocabulary, in particular the Kremlin terminology to designate the Russian war against Ukraine. For example:

Special military operation. The highest rate of using this formulation was detected in Egypt between July 1 and 14. It should be noted here that the use of this term to refer to the war of the RF against Ukraine is a dangerous option in any case. For example, the absence of quotation marks indicates the reproduction of Russian narratives, while its use as a quote, on the one hand, indicates the inappropriateness of the term, on the other  the citation of Russian sources.

Conflict. The term is the most used among the toxic vocabulary in the online media of all four countries Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and the Republic of South Africa. For example, in the period from July 1 to July 14, it was mostly used in the online media of Egypt, and in the second half of July  in the online media of the Republic of South Africa (the study of indicators of toxic language use in South Africa began on July 15).

Ukrainian crisis. Currently, Ukrainian crisis is the least used term to refer to Russias war against Ukraine overall in the global dimension, but in the online media of Africa it is still preserved in Egypt.

Kremlin narratives in Africas online media

In the online media of Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and the Republic of South Africa during June and July, Russian narratives about Russias war against Ukraine concerned a large number of topics. However, a common feature was that almost all narratives constructed the image of Ukraine as the state to blame for all the troubles  Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the food crisis, etc.

Justification of Russias full-scale war against Ukraine. Africas online media did not find a single reason for Russias invasion of Ukraine, so, in June-July, several Russian narratives on this topic were detected. In particular, in Nigeria  the West provoked the war of the Russian Federation, in Kenya  people who remain in the frontline cities of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts are often considered pro-Russian, waiting for the arrival of Russian troops, in Egypt  Ukraine has not fulfilled the previous peace agreement.

Shifting responsibility for the food crisis onto Ukraine. Above, we have already noted the impact of illegal actions of the RF regarding Ukrainian grain on African countries. Therefore, this topic is quite important for the inhabitants of this continent and the Kremlins narratives entering the information space with manipulations and disinformation on this topic only play into the hands of the Kremlin. Such narratives manipulate painful issues for audiences in Africa, and therefore have a stronger impact. It is not surprising that this is exactly what Russia is trying to take advantage of. For example, in Egypt, it is said that Ukraine set fire to wheat fields on the border with Kherson oblast, and in the Republic of South Africa  Russia convinces African countries that it is not to blame for the food shortage.

Sanctions against Russia and their consequences. The narrative about the negative consequences of economic sanctions against Russia for African countries was identified in Kenya in the first half of July  Kenyan farmers suffer from sanctions against Russia.

Ukraine is shelling its own cities and civilians. Such a narrative was noted in the online media of the Republic of South Africa from July 15 to July 29 in the context of the shelling in Olenivka and the Donetsk oil depot, in Egypt from July 1 to July 14  in the context of the shelling of Nova Kakhovka. Therefore, it is not surprising that during June-July, descriptions of events in Ukraine as a civil war appeared in African online media from time to time.

Supply of military assistance to Ukraine. Although the percentage of coverage of Ukraines military assistance in Africas online media is insignificant, even among it, the presence of toxic narratives has been noted. For example, in Kenya, the narrative the conflict was fuelled by large arms supplies to Ukraine from the West was detected, in Egypt  Western support will not continue, weapons stocks are running out and Western weapons threaten to shell Russias territory.

Ukraine will lose the war. This narrative was detected in the first half of July in the online media of Egypt and Kenya.

Newsbreaks in an attempt to pit Africa against the West and Ukraine. Some newsbreaks focused on the hostility of the West and Ukrainians to African countries. Such stories are not frequent, but were found in the second half of July in Egypt  Lavrov criticized the Wests position on Africa and in Kenya  a Ukrainian woman emphasized her dislike for Nigeria on social networks.

However, it is worth noting that the agenda of Africas online media includes not only Kremlin narratives; the study also discovered neutral and productive messages.

Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security
Exactly a year ago, it was the first time since the enforcement of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 1970 that weapons-grade nuclear material was agreed to be transferred to a non-nuclear weapon state. It happened under the AUKUS pact among Australia, the UK, and the U.S. With the agreement, Australia would be getting nuclear submarines in a major blow to global non-proliferation efforts.

Although the deal has been signed, the actual transfer hasn't taken place yet. That means there is still time for the world to realize the gravity of the situation and force the three countries to reverse their decision.

Despite being signatories of the NPT, the three countries are going counter to the very spirit of the treaty. As Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has calculated, the amount of nuclear material required to build the submarines would be enough to make 64 to 80 nuclear weapons.

This has completely changed the security calculus of the Asia-Pacific, and the region is vehemently opposing the deal since its signing.

Several ambassadors from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries visited the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing for deliberations immediately after the deal was announced; Indonesian and Malaysian Foreign Ministers jointly rejected the agreement, and just last month at the review conference of the NPT, Indonesia said that the transfer of nuclear technology to non-nuclear weapon states will be catastrophic.

Countries of the Asia-Pacific neither want militarization nor nuclearization of the region because in the event of any nuclear incident, extra-regional forces will, at maximum, lose a fleet or two but the civilian populations of littoral states will face unimaginable consequences of the devastation.

To avoid exactly these scenarios, ASEAN countries signed the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty in 1985. And today, China is willing to take a lead in making the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone a reality.

Besides, the global economy is facing headwinds that are not showing any immediate signs of subsiding. AUKUS can trigger an arms race at such a time when East Asian states will have to redirect their resources to defense technologies to counter the nuclear submarines possibly roaming in their waters. These are the same resources they would otherwise be investing in economic revival and development.

Back in Australia, too, the amount being expended on the nuclear purchase will be much better spent on the uplift of indigenous and other disadvantaged communities that have disproportionately high levels of poverty. Hearing from the Australian Defense Minister, Richard Marles, instead, that he intends to accelerate the delivery of nuclear submarines from 18 years to 8 years is highly deplorable.

Island states of the region have been living with Australia's hegemonic mindset ever since the first colonizers set foot on the continent. Seeing its latest nuclear ambitions, they have every right to be apprehensive of the AUKUS deal. Many among them are looking at other major countries in the face of Australia's growing belligerence.

And as far as Australia's security is concerned, the nuclear submarines will actually be pushing the country into a security dilemma where its actions will cause counteractions from other regional stakeholders, forcing it to feel even more insecure.

Australia must also realize that bloc politics have no place in the Asia-Pacific. Earlier, Western intellectuals and policymakers failed to understand local conditions while exporting their brand of democracy. Now they are repeating their mistake while exporting the bloc system.

There have been several attempts to build an "Asian NATO" of sorts. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), failed to gain traction even before it could be upgraded to a full-fledged security collaboration among the U.S., Australia, Japan, and India. While the former two have found other ways of working together, the latter two are still not willing to sacrifice their economic interests in the service of their extra-regional partners.

Being a closed and exclusive group, AUKUS cannot be defended even under the cover of multilateralism. It is not a platform where countries can come together to solve common problems. Being inherently conflictive, it is rather a detriment to regional and global peace.

Lessons from the Cold War should guide AUKUS countries in managing differences while keeping nuclear proliferation under check. They need to open those notes again and stop making their perceived security issues a hammer and nail problem. The AUKUS deal should be revoked and nuclear weapons deployed abroad must be recalled before it is too late. Let's give peace a chance and avoid reducing treaties like the NPT to mere pieces of paper.

The author Hayat Bangash is a freelance columnist on international affairs with degrees in business administration and war studies. (Source: CGTN)
(@FahadShabbir)

Damascus, Sept 17 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Sep, 2022 ) :An Israeli airstrike near Damascus airport killed five Syria soldiers on Saturday, Syrian state media said.

"The aggression led to the death of five soldiers and some material damage," Syria's official news agency Sana quoted a military source as saying.

The strike carried out at approximately 00:45 am (2145 GMT Friday) came "from the northeastern direction of Lake Tiberias, targeting Damascus airport and some points south of Damascus," it added.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor confirmed that the strikes killed five Syrian soldiers, and said two Iran-backed fighters were also killed.

The monitor, which relies on a wide network of sources inside Syria, said Israel targeted sites where Iran-backed groups are stationed near Damascus airport and in the Damascus countryside.

An Israeli strike in the countryside around the capital Damascus and south of coastal Tartus province killed three soldiers last month.

In June, Israeli airstrikes put Damascus airport out of service for nearly two weeks.

In the past month, Israeli airstrikes have twice targeted Aleppo airport.

The rights monitor said at the time that those strikes had targeted weapons depots belonging to Iran-backed militias.

Since civil war erupted in Syria in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes against its northern neighbour, targeting government troops as well as allied Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters.

While Israel rarely comments on individual strikes, it has acknowledged carrying out hundreds.

It says its air campaign is necessary to stop arch-foe Iran gaining a foothold on its doorstep.
President Joe Biden warned Vladmir Putin to avoid using nuclear weapons as his forces are beaten back in Ukraine or face 'consequences.'

In a preview for this Sunday's 60 Minutes, Scott Pelley asked the president what words he would have for his Russian counterpart if he is considering using chemical or tactical nuclear weapons in the Ukraine.

Biden responded: 'Don't. Don't. Don't. You will change the face of war unlike anything since World War II.'

When Pelley pushed the president for America's response should Putin cross the line, Biden declined to comment on a specific plan, only saying that the US would act if nuclear weapons are put into play.

'It'll be consequential,' Biden said. '[Russia] will become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been.

'And depending on the extent of what they do will determine what response would occur.'
(@FahadShabbir)

New Delhi, Sept 17 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Sep, 2022 ) :Eight Namibian cheetahs arrived in India Saturday, decades after their local extinction, in an ambitious project to reintroduce the big cats that has divided experts on its chances for success.

Officials say the project is the world's first intercontinental relocation of cheetahs, the planet's fastest land animal.

The five females and three males were moved flown from a game park north of the Namibian capital Windhoek aboard a chartered Boeing 747 dubbed "Cat plane" for an 11-hour flight.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the release at Kuno National Park, a wildlife sanctuary 320 kilometers (200 miles) south of New Delhi selected for its abundant prey and grasslands.

Each of the animals, aged between two and five and a half, have been fitted with a satellite collar to monitor their movements.

They will initially be kept in a quarantine enclosure for about a month before being released in the open forest areas of the park.

Critics have warned the creatures may struggle to adapt to the Indian habitat.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Like others part of the country, the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) was observed at Sukkur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Jaccababad, Kashmore, Noushehroferoze and other parts, including Rohri, Pano Aqil, Kot Diji with religious spirit, devotion and respect on Saturday

SUKKUR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Sep, 2022 ) :Like others part of the country, the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) was observed at Sukkur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Jaccababad, Kashmore, Noushehroferoze and other parts, including Rohri, Pano Aqil, Kot Diji with religious spirit, devotion and respect on Saturday.

The Majalis Aza programmes, seminars and conferences were held in the several districts to highlight the sacrifices and the services of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) for islam.

Speakers paid rich tributes to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), and his 72 companions who sacrificed their lives for the holy cause. In all parts of the northern Sindh, mourning processions were taken out to highlight the importance of the day, and to pay rich tribute to the Karbala martyrs.

Addressing the Majlis-e-Aza in Sukkur, speakers said Azadari (Self flagellation) was the strongest citadel and most effective spiritual weapon against international colonial powers.

They said Azadari echoed the patience and sufferings of Zainab (RA) and Zain-ul Abideen (RA).

They said Azadari-e-Imam Hussain (RA) preached courage and bravery and the lesson of sacrifice with spirit of sacrifice.

In Khairpur, speakers said Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) sacrificed his life along with 72 near and dear ones in Karbala for protecting Islamic values, supporting human dignity, and defending religion and Shariat.

The great Shahadat of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) wrote a new golden chapter in the world history and derived support of the mankind for his sacrifices, patience, forbearance, and firmness, they said, adding that Karbala became the source of guidance for all movements for independence.

They said Hussaini sacrifices preached us many lessons; one of which was how to tackle with oppression, suppression and brutality and giving priority to death in honour over life in disguise. They said Karbala was the source of guidance for all movements of independence the world over.

A heavy contingent of police and Rangers were deployed at various points to avert any incident. Rangers and police also carried out patrolling.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) Atif Munir Sheikh has welcomed the appointment of Rao Khalid as Honorary Consul General of Pakistan in Kazakhstan

FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Sep, 2022 ) :President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) Atif Munir Sheikh has welcomed the appointment of Rao Khalid as Honorary Consul General of Pakistan in Kazakhstan.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, FCCI chief mentioned recent visit of the Ambassador of Kazakhstan Mr Yerzhan Kistafin to FCCI in which Rao Khalid also participated and explained in details the possibilities of increasing bilateral trade between the two countries.

He said that posting of Rao Khalid in Kazakhstan would help Pakistan to buy cheap raw material including cotton for value addition.

The products manufactured with raw material could be re-exported to earn precious foreign exchange, he added.

He said that Pakistani investors could also establish their textile industry in Kazakhstan and market their products to the landlocked Central Asian state.

He said that Pakistan had to switch over towards technical textile to maintain its supremacy in the textile sector.

He congratulated Rao Khalid on his new assignment and invited him to visit FCCI in accordance with his own convenience.
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and some of her staff may join one of the delegations of the European countries that will participate in the UN General Assembly high level week in New York, a United Nations source told Sputnik

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th September, 2022) Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and some of her staff may join one of the delegations of the European countries that will participate in the UN General Assembly high level week in New York, a United Nations source told Sputnik.

"The assumption is that Tikhanovskaya and her staff may join Poland or one of three Baltic states - Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia. Both of their relations with Belarus are actively bad," the source said.

It is not yet clear whether Tikhanovskaya will have access to the UN General Assembly Hall during the general debate, or whether her presence will be limited to meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly meetings.

However, Tikhanovskya's presence could constitute a breach of United Nations practices and would politicize the entire event, the source said.

The source did not exclude that if the information is confirmed, it would raise concerns about the Belarusian opposition being financed by the West and used as leverage to undermine the situation in the country.

The UN General Assembly kicked off its 77 session on Tuesday. The main event - the general debate - during which world leader gather to discuss world issues will start on September 20.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th September, 2022) Russia's continuing military presence in southern Syria has provided a stabilizing presence in the region by preventing Islamist extremist organizations from recovering and reasserting their power there and beyond, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said.

"The truth is that the Russian presence in Syria has been a stabilizing influence in the south (of the country)," Safadi, who also serves as Jordan's deputy prime minister, told a meeting at the Woodrow Wilson Center on Friday.

Safadi said Jordan needed to maintain effective diplomatic relations with Russia because of its role in the region and physical proximity to Jordan, as well as for the stabilizing role it continued to play in Syria.

"We still need to re-engage with Russia," he said.

Last month, a Russian air strike hit and killed Islamist militants in the vicinity of the US-controlled Al Tanf garrison in southeastern Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The ministry accused US special forces of financing and training the terrorist group, which has hideouts in the desert along Syria's borders with Iraq and Jordan.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th September, 2022) The reports of mass graves being discovered in Izyum, Ukraine is another monstrous provocation by Kiev in a bid to repeat Bucha in a new way and mobilize the Western public amid the United Nations General Assembly next week, Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov told Sputnik.

"The Kiev regime fills information spaces with lies about crimes against humanity allegedly committed by Russian troops in Izyum," Stepanov told Sputnik on Friday. "We are talking about another monstrous provocation, about an attempt to stage 'Bucha' in a new way. All this is being done on the eve of the opening of the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly in order to try to mobilize a certain part of the Western public on the Ukrainian topic.

"

That Western media and officials immediately pick up "fabrications of Kiev" about the alleged crimes against humanity in Izyum without double-checking is simply an indicator of how aggressive the information war is against Russia, Stepanov said.

At the same time, Stepanov said he is optimistic that the truth about Izyum will come out as was the case with the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria.

On Friday, Ukrainian authorities alleged that mass burial sites were found in Izyum following the Russian troops' withdrawal from the Kharkiv region in early September with more than 400 bodies found so far.
MOSCOW/ROME (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th September, 2022) An Italian journalist, Mattia Sorbi, who received an injury from a Ukrainian mine in the Kherson region, has been treated in Russia and is traveling back home, the Russian Red Cross (RRC) said on Saturday.

The Russian defense ministry stated on September 8 that officers rescued an Italian journalist who was covering the fighting from the side of the Ukrainian troops. Sorbi was admitted to the intensive care unit with multiple shrapnel wounds and received the necessary medical care.

"An Italian journalist, who was injured by a mine in the Kherson region, has been treated and is already on his way back to Italy. The Russian Red Cross, the oldest humanitarian organization in the country, organized the treatment of the foreign journalist in Russia, provided assistance and transportation," the RRC said.

The President of the Russian Red Cross, Pavel Savchuk, noted that the Italian Red Cross appealed to the Russian side to help with Sorbi's situation.

"The President of the Italian Red Cross, Francesco Rocca, asked us to help return the journalist to Italy. And we quickly responded to the request... We got in touch with Mattia, found out that he was well cared for, and that his condition was stable. The Kherson hospital, where the journalist was staying, ensured his transportation to Crimea, where the Russian Red Cross took him in and provided for his further logistics," Savchuk explained.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera published a photo of Sorbi on stretchers being carried up on board a plane. The newspaper noted that the plane, which was provided by the crisis center of the Italian foreign ministry, will head to Istanbul and then fly to Milan.
Senegal President Macky Sall on Saturday named a new prime minister -- a position he abolished in 2019 and reinstated last year -- after July's tense legislative elections

Dakar, Sept 17 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Sep, 2022 ) :Senegal President Macky Sall on Saturday named a new prime minister -- a position he abolished in 2019 and reinstated last year -- after July's tense legislative elections.

A presidential decree named Amadou Ba, a former foreign minister, as the new premier of the divided country, five days after the return of parliament which was marked by a series of incidents and carried out under heavy security.

Ba has served under Sall as finance minister between 2013 and 2019 before becoming foreign minister in 2019 until 2020.

Sall promised to appoint a figure from the winning party in the polls.

His coalition narrowly won the election but was only able to keep its absolute majority with the support of an opposition MP.

In a speech to the nation broadcast on Friday, Sall said the new prime minister would be responsible for addressing the rising cost of living.

"Measures to reduce the cost of living and support employment and entrepreneurship for young people, the fight against floods and costly rents will remain the highest of priorities for me," Sall said.

Ba echoed these sentiments during his first speech after presidency's secretary general read out the decree.

Sall, 60, was elected in 2012 for seven years then re-elected in 2019 for another five.

When Sall removed the premier role, the opposition and parts of civil society denounced his attempt to seize greater power.

Concerns over his rule persist and some accuse him of wanting to break the two-term limit and run again in 2024.

Authorities on Friday banned a concert due to be held on Saturday and organised by civil society groups promoting limited mandates in Africa because of what authorities said were the "risks of unrest", triggering a wave anger on social media.

Sall has also fallen out with a key figure in his camp, former prime minister Aminata Mimi Toure, who was not chosen to lead the national assembly and has since denounced "injustice".
BELGRADE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th September, 2022) Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic promised on Saturday that Belgrade would remain non-aligned as Europe continues pushing the western Balkan nation to pick a side in its conflict with Russia.

"Serbia has chosen the path of military neutrality and has been following it steadily and firmly," Vucic told Serbian cadets ahead of a parade in Belgrade.

Vucic said last weekend that EU, German and French envoys had tried to make him side with the European Union during their recent visit to Belgrade. The EU has been pressing Serbia to recognize Kosovo's independence to secure its future in the bloc.

The Serbian leader said his country did not pose a threat to anyone but was committed to bolstering its own security, supporting the next generation of officers and enhancing the national defense industry.

"We will develop and strengthen the defense industry, increase its capacity and expand the range of products," Vucic said in the address.

Serbia will never give up "even one inch of its territory in Kosovo and Metohija," the Serbian president said, referring to Kosovo, a breakaway southwestern region of Serbia that proclaimed independence in 2008.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th September, 2022) The Sri Lankan authorities plan to restore flights with Russia by mid-October, Sri Lankan Minister of Transport and Highways and Minister of Mass Media Bandula Gunawardena said on Saturday in an interview with Sputnik, adding that the country first wants to restore flights with Moscow, and then connect St. Petersburg.

"First, we will try to restart (flights from) Moscow to Colombo (and back). After that - St. Petersburg," Gunawardena said, adding that the flights are expected to resume by mid-October this year.

Gunawardena added that flights between other cities may also appear later.

Aeroflot Airbus A330-300 flight from Colombo to Moscow expected to depart on June 2 was canceled due to the lack of authorization from the Sri Lankan aviation authorities and was detained at the request of a leasing company. The Russian Foreign Ministry handed a note of protest to the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Moscow, as Aeroflot suspended further flights to Colombo.

On June 6, a Sri Lankan court suspended the order barring the Aeroflot plane from leaving the country.
Nebraska continued to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country in August.

According to the Nebraska Department of Labor, the state's unemployment rate was 2.1% last month, which was up from 2% in July but down from 2.5% in August 2022.

That ranked third nationally for the month. The national unemployment rate in August was 3.7%.

The department reported that there were 1,029,051 filled jobs in August, down 3,238 compared with July, but up 16,336 from a year ago.

The total number of people employed also rose by more than 16,000 from a year ago.

The number of people listed as unemployed rose in August compared with July, but Labor Commissioner John Albin said that was evidence of "an uptick in new entrants in the labor force.

The unemployment rate in the Lincoln Metropolitan Statistical Area also was 2.1% in August, down from 2.3% in both July and August of 2022.

Lincoln's count of filled jobs grew by more than 800 from July to August and by more than 2,700 from a year ago. The number of people employed grew by more than 400 month to month and by nearly 3,800 from a year ago.

The Lincoln area did not show an increase in unemployed people from July to August, although unlike the state data, the local data is not seasonally adjusted.
DUSHANBE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th September, 2022) Kyrgyz border troops are violating the ceasefire requirements after another incident of confrontation on the poorly marked border, the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan (SCNS) said on Saturday.

The committee claims that at 11:10 a.m. local time (05:10 GMT), the commander of the 707th military unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, stationed in the former school building of the village of Koktosh of the Batken district, contrary to the requirements of the ceasefire agreement, voluntarily gave the order to fire from all types of weapons at the territory of Tajikistan.

"This situation indicates that individual commanders do not obey the central headquarters of the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan," the press service of the SCNS noted.

On Friday night, a mosque, located near a school, was destroyed in the village Ovchiqalacha on northwestern Tajikistan by a combat unmanned aerial vehicle, the SCNS said, adding that dozens of residential houses of citizens, service points, public and personal transport vehicles were also shelled in this area.

"There is also deployment of additional military forces and equipment of Kyrgyzstan on the border and the strengthening of combat positions, which indicates readiness for the next provocative actions of the Kyrgyz military to destabilize the situation," the SCNS press service said.

Large-scale clashes on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan began on Friday morning. The sides accused each other of shelling. Serious fighting between the military of the two countries lasted all day almost along the entire perimeter of the border. The ceasefire was achieved only by nightfall. However, on Saturday morning, the parties reported shelling from both sides.

At 07.30 a.m. local time on Saturday, the commanders of the border troops of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan held a meeting on the fulfillment of the conditions of the declared ceasefire. The parties discussed the stabilization of the situation, the return of additional forces and equipment to their original positions.

The Kyrgyz-Tajik state border often becomes a conflict zone between local residents and border guards due to the non-delimited areas.
BISHKEK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th September, 2022) The Tajik military fired mortars at the Kyrgyz village of Pasky-Aryk, the press office of the Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security (UKMK) told Sputnik on Saturday.

"In violation of agreements reached earlier, from 8:50 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. (local time, from 02:50 to 02:55 GMT), the Tajik side fired mortars at the village of Pasky-Aryk in the Batken Region," the office's spokesperson said.

As of 9:00 a.m. on Friday, the situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border remains tense, he added.

"Personnel of the units of the border guard service of Kyrgyzstan's UKMK, deployed in the Batken Region, are taking measures to stabilize the existing situation," the spokesperson said.

He added that the night on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, where fierce armed clashes took place between the armed forces of the two countries on Friday, "passed quietly, without incidents."
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th September, 2022) US AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile) anti-radar missiles showed zero effectiveness in Ukraine, as most of them were shot down in the air, a source told Sputnik on Saturday.

In mid-August, Washington supplied AGM-88 HARM missiles to Ukraine. According to open sources, the missiles are used by the Ukrainian MiG-29 and Su-27 aircraft.

"These missiles showed actually zero effectiveness in the framework of the hostilities in Ukraine - most of them were shot down by Russian anti-aircraft missile systems, another part was suppressed or set aside by means of electronic protection of air defense systems," the source said, adding that some of these missiles also failed or missed the target.

The source noted that the low efficiency of HARM missiles is due to their mediocre maximum speed, which is a little over 600 meters per second (1342 miles per hour), and high visibility.

According to the source, Ukrainian aviation uses these missiles from a long range to avoid destroying the aircraft, which allows the Russian military to detect missiles long before they approach the area where Russian air defense systems are located.

At the same time, the source added that HARM missiles create certain difficulties in time-coordinated combined strikes because air defense systems are automatically redirected to them as a priority threat.

"However, Ukrainian troops have not yet been able to hit a single radar of the Russian air defense system, as well as illumination and engagement radars in the area of the special military operation with HARM missiles," the source said.

The HARM missile was adopted by the US air force in 1983. The maximum speed of the missile is declared at 2,280 kilometers per hour or 630 meters per second, while the launch the range is up to 100 kilometers when used from high altitudes. For comparison, the maximum speed of the Russian AS-17 Krypton and AS-11 Kilter anti-radar missiles exceeds 1,000 and 1,100 meters per second respectively, and the launch range is over 200 kilometers.
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, gets shot at as he delivers humanitarian aid in Pope Francis name near the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, emerging unscathed and continuing his mission.

By Gabriella Ceraso & Devin Watkins

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski is currently in Ukraine for the fourth time since Russias invasion on 24 February.

He is there to deliver humanitarian aid, rosaries, and spiritual closeness in the name of Pope Francis, who sent the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity.

The Polish-born Cardinal traveled first to Odessa, then to Zaporizhzhia, where he presently finds himself. His mission should take him next to Kharkiv.

A special day

Cardinal Krajewski spoke to Vatican News by telephone on Saturday, explaining why he thinks it marks a noteworthy day in his life.

Today is a special day, he says, because it has been nine years since the Holy Father chose me as the Papal Almoner and on this day I was ordained a Bishop.

The Cardinal received his episcopal ordination on 17 September 2013 in St. Peters Basilica during a ceremony in the presence of Pope Francis.

On this anniversary, Cardinal Krajewski found himself near the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, along with a Catholic Bishop, a Protestant Bishop, and a Ukrainian soldier.

With their help, he loaded up his minibus with provisions and drove to the frontlines of the war, an area he says no one besides soldiers enter anymore due to the heavy firing.

He went precisely to help people stuck in this no-mans-land with a friendly hand, foodstuffs, and other aid supplies.

The Cardinal and his companions

In the crosshairs

As he finished unloaded supplies for some local people, Cardinal Krajewski and his charitable entourage came under light arms fire.

Together with his companions, the Cardinal sought cover. For the first time in my life, he told Vatican News after the event, I didnt know where to run because its not enough to run. You have to know where to go.

The Papal Almoner in Ukraine

Delivering Popes closeness and aid

Cardinal Krajewski and those with him escaped the incident unscathed, and continued to deliver the aid loaded in the minibus.

He even handed out all the Rosaries he had that were blessed by the Pope, as those who received them put them around their necks.

Saturday, therefore, was a special anniversary of the Cardinals episcopal consecration, he surmised.

It was a day he described as without mercy, for whichas he said during his last mission on the Easter Triduumthere are neither tears nor words.

After this most recent incident, Cardinal Krajewski reiterated his belief that we can only pray and repeat: Jesus, I trust in you.
Hong Kong: Govt recruitment begins

The Government has started an exercise to recruit graduate grade civil servants from today until October 7.

The openings include 55 administrative officers (AOs), 220 executive officers II, four assistant trade officers II and 15 transport officers II.

The recruitment is open to all permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region who meet the relevant entry requirements. Current final year undergraduates may also apply for the posts.

The entry requirements have been uploaded to the Civil Service Bureau's website and the government portal GovHK. Information on hiring AOs are also available on another dedicated website.

The Government said that starting from the current recruitment exercise, it will remove the condition of having resided in Hong Kong for not less than seven years from the entry requirements of the AO post.

People who wish to apply for any of the four posts must take the Basic Law & National Security Law Test and attain a pass result in order to be considered for appointment, it added.

Applications can be submitted online, while application forms are also available at the bureau's website and at home affairs enquiry centres, Labour Department job centres and the information counter on 1/F of the Trade & Industry Tower.

This story has been published on: 2022-09-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Mexico celebrates Independence Day

EditorWang Xinjuan Time2022-09-17 15:53:22

A member of the Mexican National Guard participates in the military parade for Mexico's Independence Day at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2022. Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212nd anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei)

MEXICO CITY, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Mexico on Friday celebrated the 212th anniversary of its struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule with a call for world peace and several commemorative activities.

Mexicans gathered around the capital city's main square, Plaza de la Constitucion, to watch a military parade and aerial show commemorating the start of the 1810 independence movement.

Participating in the parade were 7,380 National Guard troops, 2,108 Army troops and 1,057 Navy personnel, as well as 111 aircraft from the three branches of the Armed Forces.

The guests of honor at Mexico's celebrations were the former presidents of Uruguay and Bolivia, Jose Mujica and Evo Morales, respectively.

On the eve of the Independence Day, Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador gave the traditional Grito de Independencia, or Cry of Independence, from the balcony of the National Palace.

With more than 100,000 people gathered at the main square, the president led 20 cheers, including a call for the "death of corruption, classism and racism."

It was a special evening for Mexicans after two years of muted celebrations due to COVID-19. Celebrations included performances by the popular musical group Los Tigres del Norte and fireworks.
Hundreds of Boko Haram jihadists have fled a forest enclave in northeast Nigeria, escaping airstrikes by the military and floods from torrential rains to seek shelter on Niger's side of Lake Chad, sources told AFP.

Northeast Nigeria is facing a 13-year armed insurgency by jihadist groups that has killed more than 40,000 people and forced about 2 million from their homes.

The violence has spilled into neighboring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, with the jihadists maintaining camps in the vast Lake Chad region straddling the four countries.

A Nigerian security source said Boko Haram militants have been leaving the Sambisa forest since last month because of sustained bombing of their hideouts.

Nigeria has also recorded a more intensive rainy season, which usually runs from May through September, and floods have hit almost every part of the country.

"The exodus of the Boko Haram terrorists has increased in recent days as the bombardments have intensified, coupled with the floodings that have submerged many of their camps," said the security source in the region who asked not to be identified.

On Monday, a convoy of more than 50 trucks carrying Boko Haram fighters and their families passed through villages on a route linking Sambisa with Lake Chad, several residents in the region said.

The fighters are believed to be loyal to Bakura Buduma, a Boko Haram factional leader, the sources said.

"The Boko Haram convoy is definitely heading to the islands on Lake Chad in the Bosso area of Niger where the group has camps," said a fisherman named Kallah Sani who said he was familiar with Boko Haram movements in the region.

Niger authorities could not immediately confirm the movement.
Australia is investigating claims by First Nations groups that mining and manufacturing industries are threatening significant cultural sites.

Indigenous settlement of Australia dates back an estimated 65,000 years.

This vast history is documented in ancient songs, stories, dance and art, but development threatens part of the culture.

The federal government has appointed an independent investigator to gauge the threat of industrial expansion to 40,000-year-old Indigenous rock art in Western Australia.

It is a controversy that has been brewing for months.

In August, the government rejected Aboriginal groups application for a 60-day moratorium to stop Perdaman, the multinational operator of a fertilizer plant, from relocating sacred rock art. However, authorities in Canberra have now agreed to appoint an expert to assess whether the art is at risk, and whether it must be protected by a ministerial declaration.

The site at the remote Burrup Peninsula, 1,500 kilometers north of Perth, has been recommended for a United Nations World Heritage listing. It is considered to be one of the world's most significant collections of ancient rock carvings.

The region has more than a million petroglyphs, or art carved, scratched or scoured from rock, spread over 37,000 hectares. First Nations elders have said the depictions are all connected, and that moving some of the carvings would damage their spiritual connection to the sites that tell stories of creation.

Indigenous leader Raelene Cooper told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that sacred sites need to be shielded from industrial development.

It is appalling that at this day and age we are still, as First Nations people, being told to sit in the back sit and that aint [is not] me, Cooper said. If there is anything that I could, I guess, advise for all of my country mob all over this continent we have a right and we have a story and we have a history here and our government needs to start acknowledging it.

The independent investigation could take months. However, Perdaman already has official permission to start work on its Burrup Peninsula project. The fertilizer manufacturer has consulted with local Indigenous communities about its plans to relocate some rock carvings. It has not yet commented publicly on its operations.

The Western Australian government supports the development, saying it has the appropriate environmental and heritage approvals.

The state government has also set up an extensive program to monitor the impact of emissions from local gas production on ancient petroglyphs in the area.

A parliamentary inquiry into the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters by resources giant Rio Tinto in 2020 recommended new laws to protect thousands of sacred sites across Australia.

However, some legal experts believe not enough has been done and that economic interests continue to be placed ahead of First Nations culture.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said in July the new Labor government would implement new cultural heritage legislation, but a timeframe has yet to be set.
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made his first visit to the White House on Friday, where he and US President Joe Biden discussed global security, climate change, trade, food security and health  and African nations reluctance to condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine. VOAs Anita Powell reports from the White House. Video editor: Kim Weeks
President Joe Biden again is warning Russian President Vladimir Putin against using weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in Ukraine.

Dont. Dont. Dont. You will change the face of war unlike anything since World War II, he said in an interview with CBS News scheduled to air Sunday night.

Biden would not comment specifically on a U.S. response if Russia were to use chemical or nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

"They'll become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been, he added. And depending on the extent of what they do will determine what response would occur."

It was not Bidens first warning to Putin: Following a meeting with European Union and G-7 partners and NATO allies in March, Biden said NATO would respond in kind to any use of WMDs in Ukraine.

We will respond if he uses it, Biden said, referring to Putin. The nature of the response depends on the nature of the use.

A month later, Biden chastised Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as irresponsible after Lavrov told Russian state television that the risks of nuclear war were considerable.

No one should be making idle comments about the use of nuclear weapons or the possibility of the need to use them, Biden said.

Just days into his invasion of Ukraine, Putin ordered Russias nuclear forces on high alert for the first time since the fall of the former Soviet Union, prompting the White House to assemble a team of national security officials  the so-called Tiger Team  to study potential responses in the event Russia deployed chemical, biological or nuclear weapons against Ukraine, neighboring nations or NATO convoys of weapons and aid headed for Ukraine.

In 2000, Russia updated its military doctrine to allow the first use of nuclear weapons in "in response to large-scale aggression utilizing conventional weapons in situations critical to the national security of the Russian Federation, according to the U.S.-based Arms Control Association. The 1997 version of the doctrine had allowed the first use of nuclear arms only "in case of a threat to the existence of the Russian Federation.

The newest version also states for the first time that Russia has the right to use nuclear weapons to respond to all "weapons of mass destruction" attacks.

Meanwhile, Russias targeting of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has renewed nuclear anxiety across Europe. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi reported Saturday that the plant, Europes largest, is once again receiving electricity from the national grid.

Grossi cautioned that the general situation for the plant, however, remains precarious, as long as Russian forces are shelling in the wider region around Zaporizhzhia.

The nuclear plant remains under Russian control, the IAEA said, but Ukrainians are handling its operations.
At a gathering of current and former U.S. officials and private-sector executives Friday in Washington, concern was rampant that the United States has fallen behind China in the development of several key technologies, and that it faces an uncertain future in which other countries could challenge its historic dominance in the development of cutting-edge communications and computing technology.

The gathering was convened by the Special Competitive Studies Project, an effort spearheaded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, the stated purpose of which is "to ensure that America is positioned and organized to win the techno-economic competition between now and 2030, the critical window for shaping the future."

Among attendees, the prevailing sentiment was that the nation's ability to actually win that competition was under threat.

Dire predictions

A few days before the summit, the SCSP issued a report predicting what would happen if China became the global technological leader.

"Understanding the stakes requires imagining a world in which an authoritarian state controls the digital infrastructure, enjoys the dominant position in the world's technology platforms, controls the means of production for critical technologies, and harnesses a new wave of general purpose technologies, like biotech and new energy technologies, to transform its society, economy and military," the report said.

The report envisions a future where China, not the U.S., captures the trillions of dollars of income generated by the new technological advances and uses its leverage to make the case that autocracy, not democracy, is the superior form of government.

In the report's grim vision, China promotes the concept of a "sovereign" internet, where individual countries limit the flow of information to their people, and where China develops and possibly controls the key technology supporting critical infrastructure in countries around the world.

Finally, the report warns that under such a scenario, the U.S. military would lose its technological lead over China and other competitors, and China might be in a position to cut off the supply of "microelectronics and other critical technology inputs."

'Nothing is inevitable'

In an address to the summit, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan appeared to agree that the nation faces significant challenges in keeping pace with China in the development of new technology.

"We know that nothing is inevitable about maintaining America's core strength and competitive advantage in the world," Sullivan said. "And we know that it has to be renewed, revitalized and stewarded, and that is especially true when it comes to U.S. technological leadership."

In China, he said, "we're facing a competitor that is determined to overtake U.S. technology leadership and is willing to devote nearly limitless resources to do so."

Sullivan also said, however, that President Joe Biden's administration is aware of the threat and has been working to meet it. In particular, Sullivan noted the recent passage of the CHIPS Act, which directs more than $50 billion toward establishing advanced microchip fabrication facilities in the U.S.

"We're making historically unprecedented investments, putting us back on track to lead the industries of the future," Sullivan said. "We're doubling down on our efforts to be a magnet for the world's top technical talent. We've adapted our technology protection tools to new geopolitical realities. And most importantly, we've done this in a way that is inclusive, force multiplying and consistent with our values."

Not 'fast enough'

H.R. McMaster, a retired Army general who served as national security adviser during the Trump administration, appeared as a panelist at the conference. He said that while progress is being made, the pace needs to be quickened.

"It's not going fast enough, because we're so far behind, because there's too many years of complacency based on flawed assumptions about the nature of the post-Cold War world," McMaster said.

He called for a more active effort to block China's technological advancement, saying, "We need export controls now, to prevent China from getting a differential advantage, [while] maintaining our competitive advantages."

China has repeatedly criticized U.S. efforts to impede its technological advancement, an issue that Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed this week when asked about U.S. export controls.

"What the U.S. is doing is purely 'sci-tech hegemony,' " she said. "It seeks to use its technological prowess as an advantage to hobble and suppress the development of emerging markets and developing countries. While trumpeting a level playing field and a so-called 'rules-based order,' the U.S. cares only about 'America first' and believes might makes right. The U.S. probably hopes that China and the rest of the developing world will forever stay at the lower end of the industrial chain. This is not constructive."

5G as a warning

A recurring theme at the event was the development of 5G wireless internet technology, a field in which Western countries, including the U.S., fell far behind China. With the benefit of favorable treatment from Beijing, Chinese firms, specifically Huawei, developed a dominant global position in the provision of 5G networking equipment.

Concerned that having Chinese-made equipment serve as the backbone of sensitive communications technology could create an espionage or security risk, the U.S. and some of its allies mounted a global campaign to block the installation of Huawei's equipment, even if that meant significant delays in the rollout of 5G wireless service.

"The key message here is we need to make sure that what happened to us in 5G does not happen again," said Schmidt. "I cannot say that more clearly. You do not want to work on platform technologies that you use every day that are dominated by nondemocratic, nonopen systems."

Schmidt said that it would be difficult to stay ahead of China technologically, predicting that Beijing would "double down on competing in the areas that we care about," including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology and others.

Maintaining relations

Jon Huntsman, a former U.S. ambassador to China, said that Americans are generally uninformed about how far China is ahead of the United States in some technologies. Now the vice chairperson of Ford Motor Company, Huntsman said that in the development of electric vehicles, for example, China is at least five years ahead of the U.S.

He said that the U.S. must walk a fine line to catch up with China in some areas and to maintain its advantage in others. In particular, he stressed the need to retain person-to-person business and other relationships with the Chinese people.

"Decoupling our people is not a good thing," he said. "We'll wind up with China right where we are with Russia if we do that." He added, "Decoupling is only going to create estrangement, misunderstandings and instability, globally, on the security side."
A new Gallup Poll released Friday confirms overwhelming support among Finns and Swedes for their nations' expected accession to NATO, while their views toward Russian leadership have turned "profoundly negative" as the war in Ukraine rages on.

The survey found that 81% of Finns and 74% of Swedes approve of the alliances leadership, while their approval of Russian leadership dipped to a miserly 6% in Finland and 2% in Sweden.

In releasing the survey, Gallup noted that both countries had been cautioned by Russia against pursuing membership in the alliance. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said there would be serious consequences if its two Nordic neighbors were to take that step.

Those threats proved to be largely empty, observers have noted. But Moscow has long warned against NATO expansion and cited Ukraines NATO ambitions as one of the reasons for launching an invasion into that country.

The latest Gallup report also included figures on support for U.S. leadership among Finns and Swedes. It found that 62% of Finns and 40% of Swedes approve of U.S. leadership.

Those figures reflect a rise of positive sentiment toward the U.S. in Finland from a year ago but a drop in such sentiments in Sweden. In 2021, the approval for U.S. leadership among the Finns, according to a Gallup Poll, was 52%, 10 percentage points lower than this year.

In Sweden, however, approval of U.S. leadership has dropped from 52% in 2021 to the current 40%. Gallup did not suggest a reason for the drop.

RJ Reinhart, a U.S.-based Gallup analyst and author of the report, told VOA in a phone interview that Scandinavian countries approval of U.S. leadership has often fluctuated.

He noted both in the report and in the interview with VOA that the outcome of the war in Ukraine will likely affect opinions in Finland and Sweden of NATOs leadership, while noting the timeline, trajectory and outcome of the war are hard to pinpoint.

What is clear is the finding that Finns views of Russian leadership are nearly universally negative, with a mere 6% of Finns expressing support for Russian leadership and 92% thinking otherwise.

The report noted that Finns disapproval of Russias leadership dropped to a similarly low level in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea.

In Sweden, Russias leadership has not enjoyed more than 9% approval for as long as Gallup has been asking the question, the report said. The current approval stands at a mere 2%, with 96% disapproving.

It is likely that both countries are largely positive about NATO as they see membership as a potential security guarantor against potential threats from Russia, the reports author wrote.

Finland and Sweden simultaneously submitted their applications for NATO membership May 18, just months after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. The applications followed thorough debates across their whole societies and with large parliamentary majorities supporting the decision, NATO has noted.

The two countries were invited to attend the NATO Madrid Summit held the following month in the Spanish capital. Accession protocols were inked July 5 after accession talks had been completed. Those protocols must be ratified by every member of NATO before the two countries can become official members.

The parliaments of Greece and Spain ratified the membership bids Thursday and Portugals parliament followed suit Friday leaving only three NATO members still needing to give their approval. Those three are Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announced progress this week in stemming a prolonged water crisis. For weeks, the 150,000 residents of the state capital, Jackson, were instructed to boil water before drinking it or using it to cook, wash dishes or brush their teeth.

On Thursday, Tate announced the boil-water advisory was lifted, but citizens of America's poorest state are left with the aftermath of the failure of an essential service  safe, plentiful tap water  that Americans in Jackson and some other parts of the country can no longer take for granted.

"It's been frustrating to run the water in my bathtub and see it come out brown," said Ellen Rodgers Daniels, who has lived in Jackson for 16 years. "My family and I brush our teeth with bottled water, and we go to a friend's house outside city limits to shower, but that's not a luxury everyone in Jackson has."

By almost any economic measure, Jackson is an especially impoverished city. A quarter of its residents live below the poverty line, and Jackson's per capita income of under $23,000 lags far behind a statewide average income that itself is the lowest in the nation.

Lacking clean drinking water has added to people's woes.

"I haven't drank tap water in Jackson for years," Daniels told VOA. "I just drink bottled water, but then I go outside my office and see lines of cars outside the distribution center  people already struggling who now have to leave their jobs so they can get safe drinking water to bring home to their families. It's heartbreaking."

Decades in the making

The city had been under a continuous boil water advisory since July. Late last month, flooding from the Pearl River, which runs through Jackson, forced the city's largest water treatment facility to stop treating drinking water.

As a result, water pressure across Jackson dropped dramatically, leaving residents and businesses with dry taps and few options.

"When the water pressure dropped, we had multiple groups cancel their events," said Ebony Jones, the owner of a Jackson-based catering company. "And I can't blame them. Who wants to pay for a caterer making premium locally sourced food at an event with Porta-Johns and paper plates?"

But residents are especially frustrated because this episode was far from an isolated event. In fact, Jackson's water-related headaches have been going on for decades, said Cristiane Queiroz Surbeck, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Mississippi.

"The only difference this time is that most of the city went without running water for many days due to the major flooding," Surbeck told VOA. "So there was flooding and a lack of usable water at the same time. But this isn't new. Jackson has had an ongoing crisis of lead in its drinking water, an ongoing crisis of boil water alerts, an ongoing crisis of leaking water mains, and an ongoing crisis of mismanaged water bills."

These crises pose real health risks. Consuming water containing high levels of lead can cause health problems in adults and children; in the latter, it can damage the brain and nervous system, slow growth and development, and lead to problems with learning, behavior, hearing and speech. Drinking untreated water that has not been boiled can lead to dangerous microbial infections.

In 2010, a winter storm destroyed several water mains and caused widespread outages. Two years later, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that Jackson's drinking water was below national safety standards.

Another winter storm in February 2021 shut down the same water treatment facility that failed in August, leaving residents without water for a month.

Residents say that since the 2021 shutdown, they have often complained of low water pressure, and even of floating sewage in the city's streets. City officials asked the state to fund repairs, but most of that funding has not arrived, resulting in a series of boil water advisories. Last year alone, Jackson was under such an advisory for a whopping 225 days.

But for many in Jackson, a city in which 83% of the population is Black, the problem goes back even further and is far deeper.

"Mississippi, unfortunately, has a long history of racism, and when the Black population in Jackson sees their water supply in shambles while elsewhere in the state is fine, they don't just see dangerous lead and damaged pipes," said attorney Corey Stern, who represented victims of another water crisis in Flint, Michigan, and is now doing the same in Jackson.

"They see decades of institutional racism through which their communities are being ignored and not being invested in."

A broader problem

Failing infrastructure is a problem confined neither to Jackson nor to water treatment plants. Last year, the American Society of Civil Engineers, or ASCE, estimated it would cost $2.6 trillion over the next decade to fix America's crumbling roads, dams, airports, railroads, pipes and more.

President Joe Biden's $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, passed in November, will cover but a fraction of those needs.

"If something costs a certain amount of money to fix and you only give me half, then I can't fix the problem," Stern said to VOA. "Unless we meet the price tag to fix our water infrastructure, it's going to continue to crumble and it's going to continue to poison our children."

Experts say communities across the country will suffer as Jackson has if proper investments are not made.

"No drinking water or wastewater infrastructure is designed to last forever," said Jason Barrett, an assistant extension professor in the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute at Mississippi State University. "There will be maintenance required for all systems, and you can't delay the inevitable. If you don't invest, the results can be disastrous."

Water system disasters have popped up across the country: Flint, Michigan; Baltimore, Maryland; New York City; and now Jackson.

The ASCE estimates that by 2029, $109 billion will be needed per year to maintain the country's drinking water and wastewater systems. Jackson is currently requesting $1 billion for its drinking water infrastructure.

"Jackson is not unique," Barrett told VOA. "Not even in Mississippi. Jackson is the capital city and the largest water system in the state, but we're seeing the same issues play out all over, from cities to communities of less than 500 people."

Making things right in Jackson

Stern said Jackson shares some important similarities with Flint, where in 2014 water was found to be contaminated with lead and dangerous bacteria.

"The demographics are suspiciously similar," he said. "These are areas made up of poorer minority residents, and they've experienced decades without getting the investment they should have gotten."

In his recent announcement, Governor Reeves warned there could be additional boil water advisories for Jackson as federal, state and city officials struggle to get the crisis under control.

Stern believes the sooner the residents of Jackson advocate for themselves in large numbers, the sooner they will force their government's hand.

"As a lawyer, my job is to fight so my clients get safe and clean drinking water, as well as get compensated for the damage their children have suffered as a result of these systemic failures," he said. "But what we learned in Flint is that when real people stand up and say, 'This is my child, and this is what you did to her,' that's when they see real results."

Many Mississippians who live and work in Jackson say they have had enough and are eager for long-term solutions.

"It's like we've become numb to it over the years  these boil water advisories happened so often," said Jessica Davenport, a Black businesswoman who lives outside Jackson but works in the city. "But this isn't normal. This is a class issue, and there are specific communities who aren't receiving the assistance they need. They've been forgotten while politicians blame each other, and it needs to stop."
The security chiefs of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan sat down for talks Saturday to stop the fighting on the border between the two countries that so far has killed at least 24 people and wounded more than 100.

The Kyrgyz border service announced the new round of talks as the two ex-Soviet nations traded blame for shelling that resumed Saturday morning after what appeared to be a brief respite overnight.

The fighting, which started Wednesday for no obvious or publicly announced reason, intensified Friday. Kyrgyzstans Health Ministry said early Saturday that the bodies of 24 people killed in the clashes were delivered to hospitals in the Batken region that borders Tajikistan.

Kyrgyz hospitals and clinics also treated 103 people wounded in the shelling, the ministry said. It wasn't immediately clear whether there were any casualties on Tajikistan's side.

Tajik authorities, however, accused Kyrgyz forces of destroying a mosque and targeting civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings. Tajikistan's security officials also charged that Kyrgyzstan was amassing troops and military equipment near the border in preparation for provocations."

It wasnt immediately clear what prompted the fighting on the tense border between the two Central Asian neighbors. An attempt to establish a cease-fire on Friday afternoon quickly failed and artillery shelling resumed later in the day.

Kyrgyzstans Emergencies Ministry said 136,000 people were evacuated from the area engulfed by the fighting.

The border guard chiefs of the two countries met around midnight and agreed to create a joint monitoring group to help end the hostilities.

In 2021, a dispute over water rights and the installation of surveillance cameras by Tajikistan led to clashes near the border that killed at least 55 people.

The presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Sadyr Zhaparov and Emomali Rahmon, met Friday at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Uzbekistan. According to a statement on Zhaparovs website, the two leaders discussed the border situation and agreed to task the relevant authorities with pulling back troops and stopping the fighting.

Zhaparov said Saturday in an online statement that the issue of disputed borders has always been accompanied with conflicts and casualties.

But we will not give anyone a single meter of our land, which we inherited from our ancestors, Zhaparov said. We will firmly defend national interests."
An infusion of federal dollars will allow Nebraska to install charging stations for electric vehicles along the length of Interstate 80.

The Biden administration this week announced that Nebraskas plan for the stations has been approved. The state is set to receive $11 million initially via the bipartisan infrastructure bill approved last year. Through the programs funding formula, Nebraska eventually will have access to about $30 million.

Interstate 80 is a major national transportation corridor, and the federal plan requires states to focus first on Interstates. Nebraska was among the first batch of states approved for the funding, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Charging stations are to be installed every 50 miles and should be within 1 mile of the interstate exit ramp, according to the federal guidelines.

Electric vehicle charging stations already exist along some stretches of I-80, so the goal of this funding is to fill in the gaps and upgrade as needed. Areas with charging stations include Lincoln to Omaha and portions of the Interstate west of Kearney and North Platte.

Ryan Huff with the Nebraska Department of Transportation said that once fully built out, the I-80 project will result in seven new charging stations. Each station will have four separate stalls capable of charging a vehicle within 30 minutes.

Huff estimated that construction would begin in the next year or two and would likely take two to three years to complete. However, he cautioned that supply chain problems and other logistical issues could slow the projects progress.

Huff said that federal funding should cover 80% of the cost and that the state plans to have those who will operate the stations cover the rest of the cost. Customers will have to pay to use the charging stations.

According to the states plan submitted to the federal government, Nebraska already is distributing $1.8 million for the construction of 35 charging stations. That money came from the trust fund established as a result of the multistate lawsuit against Volkswagen.

The money in the infrastructure bill can be used for a wide range of activities related to the work, from upgrading existing stations and building new ones to getting public feedback and providing signs and maps.

Signed into law last November, the bipartisan infrastructure bill received mixed support from Nebraskas congressional delegation, with Sen. Deb Fischer and Rep. Don Bacon voting in favor, and Rep. Adrian Smith, Sen. Ben Sasse and then-Rep. Jeff Fortenberry voting against it.

The federal government is providing $900 million this year and eventually $5 billion over five years to fund a nationwide system of electric vehicle charging stations. Doing so is considered critical to lessening dependence on fossil fuels because electricity can be generated from renewable sources like solar, wind and hydropower. Transportation accounts for more than a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the federal Transportation Department.
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.

The latest developments in Russias war on Ukraine. All times EDT.

9:18 p.m.: The Wall Street Journal reports that Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones started appearing above the battlefields of Ukraine. Ukrainian commanders say the drones took out four self-propelled howitzers, and two armored infantry vehicles. The drones have been mostly deployed in the Kharkiv region, where Russian forces no longer have an artillery advantage, thanks to the recent Ukrainian counter-offensive. The Journal report quoted a Ukrainian field commander as saying he hoped the U.S. and allies could provide Ukraine with more advanced antidrone technologies, or would step in to disrupt Iranian drone shipments to Russia.

8:11 p.m.: A leading Ukrainian ballet dancer who died this week fighting on the front line of his country's war against Russian invaders was honored with a memorial service in the National Opera of Ukraine on Saturday, Reuters reported.

The National Opera described Oleksandr Shapoval as a "courageous romantic" and brave warrior who died under Russian mortar shelling in the eastern Ukraine on Sept. 12

Mourners included soldiers from Shapoval's unit, honor guards and members of the artistic community of Kyiv.

"To lose a friend is always very hard. To me he was a friend, brother-in-arms. He was a very decent person. My soul is empty. To me he will forever be alive," said Roman Turshyiev, who fought alongside Shapoval in the same unit.

Shapoval, 47, retired from a long dancing career at the National Opera last year and began teaching in Kyiv before joining a territorial guard to defend the capital after Russia's Feb. 24 invasion.

He later volunteered to join the army and fought in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, scene of some of the war's most intense fighting.

7:02 p.m.: Poland's top leaders celebrated the opening Saturday of a new  albeit unfinished  canal that they say will mean ships no longer must secure Russia's permission to sail from the Baltic Sea to the ports of the Vistula Lagoon, The Associated Press reported.

The event was timed to mark 83 years since the Soviet invasion of Poland during World War II and to demonstrate symbolically the end of Moscow's say on the economy and development of a region that borders Russia's Kaliningrad exclave. The government says the waterway gives Poland full sovereignty in the northeastern region, which needs investment and economic development.

6:06 p.m.: President Tayyip Erdogan said he was targeting membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for NATO-member Turkey, broadcaster NTV and other media said on Saturday.

He was speaking to reporters after attending the SCO summit in Uzbekistan before heading to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly.

Turkey is a dialogue partner of the SCO, whose members are China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Amid bilateral discussions at the summit, Erdogan had talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdogan said Turkey and Russia had reached a deal resolving a dispute over a nuclear power plant being built at Akkuyu in southern Turkey.

5 p.m.: The Czech Republic, which currently holds the EU presidency, on Saturday called for the establishment of an international tribunal for war crimes after new mass graves were found in Ukraine, Agence France-Presse reported.

The appeal follows the discovery of around 450 graves outside the formerly Russian-occupied city of Izium with some of the exhumed bodies showing signs of torture.

"In the 21st century, such attacks against the civilian population are unthinkable and abhorrent," Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on Twitter.

Investigators said some bodies in the graves found near the eastern Ukrainian city of Izium had hands tied behind their backs. They also found the bodies of children.

4:35 p.m.: An honor guard fired a three-gun salute toward cloudy skies as friends and comrades-in-arms gathered in Kyiv to bid farewell to a Russian woman who was killed while fighting on Ukraine's side in the war with her native country, The Associated Press reported.

Olga Simonova, 34, was remembered for her courage and kindness at a funeral in the Ukrainian capital on Friday.

Simonova's coffin was draped in the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag, with a cuddly toy lion on top. Her nom de guerre was "Simba," like the main character in the Disney cartoon "The Lion King."

3:25 p.m.: The representative of the Pope in Ukraine, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, and the company with whom he was traveling in Ukraine came under fire Saturday while transporting humanitarian aid near the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, Ukrinform reported.

Neither Cardinal Krajewski nor any of his party were hurt.

The cardinal, along with Catholic and Protestant bishops, accompanied by a Ukrainian military serviceman, were on a mission to distribute humanitarian aid.

On one of the planned stages of the trip, the group came under fire, and the cardinal had to run for shelter.

"For the first time in my life, I didn't know where to run, because running is not enough, you need to know where to run," the cardinal told Vatican media.

Krajewski is on a fourth visit to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in late February.

2:30 p.m.: Ukrainian authorities exhumed more of the dead Saturday from a mass burial site by a cemetery in the town of Izium, where officials say hundreds are buried in territory recaptured from Russian forces.

There was no immediate public comment from Russia, which denies deliberately attacking civilians. The head of the pro-Russian administration which abandoned the area last week on Friday accused Ukrainians of staging atrocities.

Police experts and investigators documented the findings on camera and inspected the bodies. Some bodies found so far have been of Ukrainian soldiers; others are civilians.

2 p.m.: Greenpeace environmental activists blocked the unloading of a shipment of Russian gas at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in northern Finland, RFE/RL reported.

"The shipment contained liquefied natural gas coming from Russia," Olga Vaisanen, a spokeswoman for Finnish state-owned company Gasum  which imported the blocked gas  told the French news service Agence France-Presse Saturday.

The activists demanded that the Nordic nation cease importing Russian gas following the Kremlins decision to invade Ukraine in February.

"It's completely unacceptable that Russian gas is still allowed to flow in Finland, more than six months after [Russian President Vladimir] Putin launched his invasion," Greenpeace activist Olli Tiainen said in a statement.



"The Finnish government and Prime Minister Sanna Marin must ban all fossil fuel imports from Russia immediately," Greenpeace posted on Twitter.

1:35 p.m.: Serhiy Haidai, the head of the Luhansk civil-military administration, today warned the region's residents not to expect heating this winter, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

"Russian forces destroyed practically all of the infrastructure there," Haidai said in a Telegram message. Even if the region were to be liberated, local authorities will ask residents not to return home long because it would be impossible for workers to restore boilers in time for cold weather.

12:50 p.m.: Russia's defense ministry said Saturday that its forces had launched strikes on Ukrainian positions in several parts of Ukraine. It also accused Kyiv of carrying out shelling near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Russian forces conducted their strikes in the Kherson, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, according to the ministry, adding that Ukrainian forces had carried out an unsuccessful offensive near Pravdyne in Kherson.

11:45 a.m.: Ukraines Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is once again receiving electricity directly from the national grid after engineers repaired one of the four main external power lines that have all been damaged during the conflict, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported today.

But IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi cautioned that the situation at the plant remains precarious as long as Russia is shelling in the wider area.

10:30 a.m.: President Joe Biden has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin against using chemical or tactical nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine.

In an interview with CBS News to air September 18, Biden said, Dont. Dont. Dont. You will change the face of war unlike anything since World War II.

Interviewer Scott Pelley asked what the U.S. response would be in such a case.

"You think I would tell you if I knew exactly what it would be? Biden said. Of course, I'm not gonna tell you. It'll be consequential.

And he added, "They'll become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been. And depending on the extent of what they do will determine what response would occur."

9:55 a.m.: Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal thanked the United States on Saturday for its support after Ukraine received a further $1.5 billion in international financial assistance.

"The state budget of Ukraine received a grant of $1.5 billion. This is the last tranche of $4.5 billion aid from the United States from @WorldBank Trust Fund," Shmyhal tweeted.

He said the funds would be used to reimburse budget expenditures for pension payments and social assistance programs.

9:30 a.m.: Andriy Yermak, President Voldymyr Zelenskyy's chief-of-staff, posted photos on Twitter, showing graves allegedly containing the bodies of a six-year-old girl and her parents reportedly murdered by Russian forces, in Izium, Kharkiv region.

The Russians are killing entire Ukrainian families, Yermak wrote. Izyum, Olesya, 6 years old. Killed by Russian terrorists. Her parents are buried nearby.

The Ukrainian military general staff on Friday published a photo of a recently discovered grave site in Izium, with Zelenskyy saying that many of the already exhumed bodies showed signs of torture, including broken limbs and ropes around their necks. He said more than 440 graves have been found at the site but that the number of victims was not yet known.



Ukraine's Ministry of Reintegration suggested that the number of victims in Izium could be higher than in Bucha, another formerly occupied town where Russian forces were reported to have committed atrocities. Ukrainian authorities have said 458 bodies were found there after a 33-day Russian occupation.

9 a.m.: Spain has sent five cargo planes with artillery ammunition to Ukraine, The Kyiv Independent reports. Ukraines general staff says Spain has delivered 75 pallets of ammunition for large-caliber artillery systems to Ukraine over the "last several days," and is also delivering military cold weather gear to Ukraine.

"[This] is an example of Spain's decisive and constant support of the Ukrainian people," said Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles.

8:15 a.m.: Russian forces are building fortifications in Luhansk, transferring troops and equipment to the area of Svatove, and have turned off cable internet for the population, Serhiy Haidai, head of the Luhansk region civil-military administration, Ukrainska Pravda reports.

After the mobile internet, cable internet is also being turned off in the territory of Luhansk Oblast (region). The population of the so-called "LPR" (self-proclaimed "Luhansk Peoples Republic") is isolated from the outside world," Haidai said in a message on Telegram.

7:50 a.m.: Donetsk region Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko reported Saturday that a Russian attack had damaged a thermal power plant in Sloviansk, and that firefighters were on the scene, The Kyiv Independent reported. The shelling also impacted the water supply in the neighboring town of Mykolaivka, according to Kyrylenko.

5:17 a.m.: In its latest Ukraine assessment, the Institute for the Study of War, a U.S. think tank, said the discovery of mass graves and torture chambers in liberated Izyum confirm previous ISW assessments that the Bucha atrocities were emblematic of Russian activities in occupied areas rather than an anomaly.

Ukrainian forces, the assessment said, captured all of Kupyansk City on Sept. 16, continuing offensive operations east of the Oskil River. They also reportedly shelled targets in Valuyki, Belgorod Oblast, Russia, overnight Sept. 15-16.

4:19 a.m.: The latest intelligence update from the U.K. defense ministry said Ukraine continues offensive operations in the north-east of the country while Russian forces have established a defensive line between the Oskil River and the town of Svatove.

3:15 a.m.: Russia has barred another 41 Australian nationals from entering the country, the foreign ministry said on Friday, according to Reuters.

Among the individuals added are journalists from Australia's Sky News, ABC, 7NEWS and Nine News, as well as arms industry executives.

2:16 a.m.: The defense ministers of Germany and Greece have agreed on a deal to deliver 40 BMP-1 tanks to Ukraine, the German Defense Ministry said Friday, according to Reuters.

1:13 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said he had not yet decided whether to personally attend a summit of the Group of 20 nations in Indonesia in November, Reuters reported.

However, Putin, speaking to reporters in Uzbekistan after a regional summit, said Russia would be represented at the meeting.

12:02 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday there were no plans to adjust Russia's military operations in Ukraine despite a counter-offensive, saying Moscow was in no rush to finish the campaign, Agence France-Presse reported.

"The plan is not subject to adjustment," Putin told reporters during a regional summit in Uzbekistan.

"Our offensive operations in Donbas itself do not stop. They are going at a slow pace ... the Russian army is occupying newer and newer territories," Putin said.

"We are not in a hurry ... there are no changes."

Putin said Russia was "not fighting with a full army" but only contract soldiers and said the main goal of the campaign remained "the liberation of the entire territory of Donbas."

He accused Ukrainian forces of attempts to carry out "terrorist acts" and damage Russian civilian infrastructure.

"We are really quite restrained in our response to this, for the time being," Putin said. "If the situation continues to develop in this way, the response will be more serious."

Some information in this report came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Arab media is reporting that an Israeli airstrike on a weapons depot in the vicinity of the Damascus Airport has left at a number of Syrian government soldiers and pro-Iranian militia fighters dead.

Syrian TV reported that government anti-air defense missiles responded to the Israeli airstrikes that took place early Saturday morning in the region of Damascus Airport. It was the latest Israeli attack on Syrian territory since Israeli missiles hit targets at Aleppo Airport on September 6.



Ramy Abdel Rahman of the Britain-based opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told Arab media that five government soldiers and two pro-Iranian militia fighters were killed in the Israeli airstrikes overnight.



He notes it was not clear if the Israeli attack was inside or outside the direct perimeter of Damascus Airport but says the explosion of a weapons depot that was targeted could be heard not far from an area controlled by Lebanese Hezbollah militia fighters.



Israeli media indicated the attack was the 25th by Israeli forces on Syrian territory so far this year. Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV reported that pro-Iranian militia forces withdrew recently from their positions near Deir el-Zour in the east of Syria over fears of security lapses."



In addition to the strike on pro-Iranian militia forces near Damascus Airport, Israeli attacks included positions near the Damascus suburbs of Sayeda Zeinab, al-Kuswa and an area called Ghasoula Farms. Lebanon's Hezbollah militia is reported to store rockets and drones in the area.



Syrian analyst Bassam Tallab told government TV that several foreign governments, including Turkey, Israel and the U.S. are "continuing aggressive policies inside Syrian territory in the north and east of the country," asserting the ongoing conflict in Syria "serves Israeli interests."



Khattar Abou Diab, who teaches political science at the University of Paris, told VOA that despite the Russian presence in Syria, Israel is continuing to attack weapons stockpiles of pro-Iranian militia forces in the country when it feels they represent a threat.



He said Saturday's attack is just one more targeting the Iranian military infrastructure in Syria, including efforts by Tehran to supply Lebanon's Hezbollah with precision-guided missiles and other weapons from Iran's military complex in Syria and elsewhere.



Russia recently withdrew one of its S-300 anti-missile defense systems from Syria's coastal region near Latakiya, taking it to Crimea, as its conflict with Ukraine continues. It is not clear if that has prompted more aggressive Israeli targeting of Syrian territory.



Abou Diab says tensions between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah "could spark a conflict at some point" amid the ongoing dispute over maritime borders between the two countries and offshore gas resources.



Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah reportedly threatened to target Israel's offshore gas operations Saturday, amid the tensions.



Joshua Landis, who heads the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, told VOA, "Iran and Israel are fighting each other in Syria," and that "high-stakes negotiations over Iran's nuclear capacity have reached a crescendo, which partly explains the more dramatic attacks on Iran in Syria."
The first "green hydrogen" power plant being built in Africa is expected to begin producing electricity in Namibia in 2024, an official from France-based HDF Energy told Reuters news agency this week.

That presents something of a dilemma for Namibia, which is championing the clean energy but also said this month that huge oil deposits had been discovered off its coast after many failed attempts at drilling.

Green hydrogen is produced by using renewable energy  like wind and sun, both of which Namibia has in abundance  to power the electrolysis of water. A plant producing green hydrogen, a clean power source that can potentially be used for industry and electric vehicles, is due to open in less than two years.

But at the same time, oil companies Shell and Total recently discovered the oil deposits, estimated to amount to more than 1 billion barrels, about 290 kilometers off the Namibian coast.

Herbert Jauch, the head of a local nonprofit, the Economic and Social Justice Trust, wants Namibia to forsake oil drilling and focus on green hydrogen, a much-touted energy source of the future.

However, Jauch said, it's "tricky" for Namibia to give up possible oil revenues when advanced nations are still making heavy use of fossil fuels, even as carbon admissions cause global warming.

The oil discovery coincides with what needs to be the end of fossil fuels, and therefore it is quite tricky for Namibia to move into that direction, to go into large-scale oil exploration," he said, noting the potential for ecological danger in drilling and the effects of climate change in many countries. By accenting solar energy and green hydrogen, "Namibia could become a front-runner in renewable energy."

Maggy Shino, the petrol commissioner at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, cautioned that there was still a long way to go before Namibia could become an oil-producing nation.

We need to understand that for us as explorers, we have a very long journey ahead of us before we can be able to change the narrative to say that we are an oil-producing nation," Shine said. "We are oil finders, we have oil accumulation, but we are not yet an oil-producing nation. For us to get to that stage, a lot of work still needs to be done.

Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo said even if Namibia did begin to produce oil, it would have competition from other African countries, and citizens should not expect a financial windfall from oil revenue.

We just came from an oil and gas conference that was held in Senegal," he said. "Senegal has discovered a lot of oil; so has Ghana; Uganda has oil, although they have not produced yet. So has Equatorial Guinea, so has Angola, so has Nigeria."
Basma Alawee fled with her family from Baghdad, Iraq, to Florida in 2010 after receiving threats on their lives. She is a former refugee and an activist on refugee issues.

She is also a naturalized U.S. citizen.

I counted the days to become a citizen for so many reasons, she said. One, because I really want to have the passport so I could travel and see my family.  And the second, I wanted to vote, I wanted my voice to be counted. I want to make sure that I vote for people who protect communities.

Alawee said the naturalization process can be expensive, and because of the pandemic, there are added barriers, such as backlogs and long waits while applications are processed. For example, in the Tampa, Florida, Field Office, 80% of U.S. citizenship applications are completed within 14 months. But in Baltimore, Maryland, processing times are reaching 16.5 months. And it costs $725 to apply for U.S. naturalization.

As the pandemic eased, the number of U.S. naturalizations rose. In 2021, 814,000 people became citizens, up 30% from 628,000 in 2020, according to a June 2022 annual report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

In my time, it took around eight to nine months since the day I applied, said Alawee, who became a citizen in time for the 2016 presidential election. I felt more belonging to this home and to this country, she told VOA.

Green cards

To become a U.S. citizen, most legal permanent residents (LPRs), also known as green card holders, must live in the U.S. for five years after receiving their LPR status.

A green card is, in most cases, the required first step on the naturalization path. Those adjusting their immigrant status by marrying a U.S. citizen generally must wait only three years to send an application.

Of the current 13.1 million green card holders in the U.S., 9.2 million meet the naturalization requirements of residency and are potentially eligible to naturalize, an increase of 260,000, or 2.9%, from 2020, according to the DHS report. The growth of the eligible population, the report says, is also a consequence of COVID-19s impact on the immigration system.

The suspension of in-person naturalization services from March 18, 2020, to June 4, 2020, to help slow the spread of COVID-19, contributed to the lower number of naturalizations in 2020, the report shows.

The top 10 countries with the highest number of U.S. naturalized people in 2021 were Mexico, India, Philippines, Cuba, China, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Jamaica, El Salvador and Colombia.

California, Florida and New York have the highest numbers of naturalized U.S. citizens.

Citizenship day

Laila Martin Garcia is getting ready to vote for the first time on November 8 in the midterm elections. She became an American citizen in May 2022.

Garcia, who is married to a U.S. citizen, moved from Spain to the U.S. in 2017. She said many people do not talk about it, but going through the naturalization process affects the whole family.

I was studying a lot. I would listen to the [citizenship] questions at home, in the car with my 7-year-old [in the back seat.] And by the end of the process, my son knew more than half of the 100 questions, she said.

On Thanksgiving, a national holiday celebrated in the United States with family gatherings, she had her relatives take the citizenship test.

We had Thanksgiving dinner with my husbands family, and I decided I was going to see who at that table could become an American. And I found it funny that out of the 14 people, only one person  my husband  was actually able to pass that test, Garcia said.

There are 100 questions on the civics section of the U.S. citizenship test, and those taking it are asked 10 of those questions orally by an immigration officer. Applicants must answer at least six of them correctly. Applicants are also asked to read, write and speak in English.

Services suspended

Because of COVID-19 closures, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) suspended all in-person naturalization services, including naturalization oath ceremonies. The agency is resuming those in-person services by having shorter ceremonies to limit possible COVID-19 exposure for those in attendance.

The agency also hosts outside events to celebrate important days in U.S. history. In 2021, USCIS welcomed 21,000 new citizens in 355 events across the country in observance of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, which are celebrated on September 17.

USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou wrote in a statement in 2021 that Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is a special one at USCIS.

[Its] an agency where many people come to work every day to help those at home and abroad realize the full meaning of U.S. citizenship. As we take time to reflect on what citizenship means to each of us, let us share in the commitment to invest fully in this countrys promise to be a place of hope and possibilities for all, she wrote.

For people like Garcia and Alawee, who received their U.S. naturalization certificates through different immigration paths, their hope is for Americans to support folks who want to become U.S. citizens.

Because for people who are born here, they have a sense of belonging. They don't have to earn their sense of belonging, but we have to prove it.  And I was one of the people that got that support, Garcia said.
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived Saturday in Armenia, days after the Caucasus country's deadly border clashes with Azerbaijan jeopardized Western efforts to broker lasting peace between the arch foes.

The worst clashes since Yerevan's 2020 war with Baku erupted on Tuesday, claiming the lives of 215 people, before hostilities ended on Thursday after international mediation.

Pelosi said her visit "is a powerful symbol of the United States firm commitment to a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Armenia, and a stable and secure Caucasus region."

She is the highest-ranking U.S. official to travel to Armenia since the tiny, impoverished nation's 1991 independence from the Soviet Union.

The three-day visit "will play a big role in ensuring our security," Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan told journalists ahead of her arrival.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars, in 2020 and in the 1990s, over the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region, Azerbaijan's Armenian-populated enclave.

Together with France and Russia, the U.S. co-chairs the Minsk Group of mediators, which had led decades-long peace talks between Baku and Yerevan under the aegis of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

"We will convey the strong and ongoing support of the United States, as an OSCE Minsk Chair and longtime friend to Armenia, for a lasting settlement to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh," Pelosi said in a statement.

The latest escalation came as Armenia's closest ally, Moscow, is distracted by its nearly seven-month war in Ukraine.

Analysts have said the hostilities have largely undone Western efforts to bring Baku and Yerevan closer to a peace deal.

With Moscow increasingly isolated on the world stage following its February invasion of Ukraine, the European Union had taken a lead role in mediating the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process.

The six weeks of fighting in 2020 claimed the lives of more than 6,500 troops from both sides and ended with a Russian-brokered cease-fire.

Under the deal, Armenia ceded swaths of territory it had controlled for decades, and Moscow deployed about 2,000 Russian peacekeepers to oversee the fragile truce.

Ethnic Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The ensuing conflict claimed around 30,000 lives.
A blanket of multicolored plastic waste flowing in from tributaries covers Lake Suchitlan in El Salvador.

It is a sorry scene that has also become an all-too-common sight on the Caribbean beaches of Honduras, where thousands of tons of rubbish arrive from neighboring Guatemala.

Fizzy drink bottles, medication packets, tattered flip-flops  all sorts of plastic rubbish can be found floating on 13,500-hectare Lake Suchitlan, which serves as a reservoir for a power plant and is considered by UNESCO to be a wetland of international importance.

Local fishermen say the pollution forces tilapia and cichlid fish deeper into the artificial lake  the largest body of freshwater in the country  where they cannot be reached with fishing nets.

"It has been more than two months since we've been able to fish," angler Luis Penate, 25, told AFP.

To make ends meet he has started ferrying around tourists in a boat owned by another fisherman.

Ducks clear paths through the rubbish, little turtles climb on top of floating bottles to sunbathe, and skinny horses wade into the lake to drink the contaminated water.

This contamination is unprecedented, says Jacinto Tobar, the mayor of Potonico, a small village 100 kilometers north of San Salvador in Chalatenango department.

"The fauna and flora are suffering a lot," and there are ever-fewer tourists, he said.

The fishermen must also compete with 1.5 million black cormorants that inhabit the lake, according to Tobar, who says they have become a type of plague since arriving as migratory birds and then staying put.

With a population of 2,500, Potonico is the most affected of 15 riverside villages.

The state body that administers the reservoir employs dozens of workers to clean the lake by hand.

Some locals also help with the task, which Tobar says will take three to four months to complete.

"What can we hope for in the future if we don't look after our environment, if we soil our streets, rivers, lakes, forests and beaches," said President Nayib Bukele earlier this week at the launch of a "Zero Rubbish" campaign.

Environment Minister Fernando Lopez said the country generates 4,200 tons of waste a day, of which 1,200 tons end up in rivers, beaches and streets.

'Unable to stop it'

One of the worst affected areas of the Central American Caribbean coast is the beaches of the Omoa region in Honduras.

It is a beautiful coastline with abundant vegetation and palm trees, some 200 kilometers north of Tegucigalpa.

But in some places the sand is almost entirely covered with plastic waste of all sorts, including syringes.

"This rubbish comes from the Motagua river on the Guatemalan side; they weren't able to stop it," said Candido Flores, 76, a local resident.

"As the river rises, it returns again."

It has created islands of floating waste that have been denounced by local authorities and activists and has caused tensions between the two countries.

Every year, some 20,000 tons of plastic waste comes through the Las Vacas River, a tributary of the Motagua, according to The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch NGO.

Most of that comes from a landfill in the Guatemalan capital.

Environmental activists say the problem must be tackled at its source.

"We must attack where the main flow of rubbish comes from," said Eduardo Arguera, 29, an architecture student at the University of El Salvador who has launched several cleanup campaigns.

To contain plastic waste and prevent it from reaching rivers and lakes, he suggests fencing it in at strategic points.

Ricardo Navarro, president of the Center of Appropriate Technology, says only 30% of the waste floats; the rest sinks to the bottom of the bodies of water.

The United Nations Environment Program says 11 million metric tons of plastic enters the world's oceans every year and warns that number could triple in the next 20 years.
Somalias Information Ministry said Saturday the countrys military has targeted al-Shabab militants in the Hiran region.

The Somali National Army has killed more than 30 al-Shabab militants in an operation conducted on the outskirts of the town of Bulo-burde in the central region of Hiran.

Thats according to a statement Saturday by Somalias Information Ministry, which says the operation was conducted overnight after the army received intelligence.

The government says five of its soldiers were injured during the operation.

Hiran has seen increased military activity this month as the army claimed it had gained significant ground from the al-Qaida-affiliated militant group al-Shabab.

The group has not commented on the Somali governments claim, but it said that an airstrike in the same region killed a traditional leader and other civilians. The information could not be independently confirmed.

Somalias Internal Security Ministry also said the countrys national intelligence and security agency, NISA, has arrested 10 al-Shabab operatives in the capital, Mogadishu.

Ministry spokesman Abdikamil Moalim Shukri said at a news conference in Mogadishu that NISA also seized three houses that al-Shabab was using.

He said special forces of the national intelligence and security agency, based on intelligence information, have destroyed an al-Shabab network that was behind killings and insecurity in Mogadishu. The intelligence forces have arrested 10 al-Shabab conspirators, including militants who were prepared to kill and doctors who were treating al-Shabab members, he added.

The Somali government recently announced its forces liberated 21 villages from al-Shabab in a fresh offensive in parts of the country.

The government also said it killed about 100 al-Shabab militants.

Somalias new president, Hassan Sheikh Mahamud, who assumed office earlier this year, announced that his administration will wage a total war against the Islamist al-Shabab network after the group carried out a deadly hotel siege in Mogadishu that killed more than 20 people and wounded at least 100 others.
Officials and aid workers in Somalias drought-stricken south say the area is expecting many deaths from famine if aid is not quickly scaled up.

Somalias South West state is one of the places the United Nations expects famine to arise as the prolonged and worst drought in 40 years continues to devastate the country.

State Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Minister Nasir Arush told VOA in an interview after he visited hard-hit areas, including Wajid in Bakol region, that the situation there is desperate.

You know, we have been dealing with drought for the last three years but the situation is getting really, really bad, he said. The latest report showed that 214,130 people in South West are in a catastrophic situation, that number was 112,400 on June 4.

He said the urgent situation needs an urgent response.

Dr. Said Yusuf Mohamed who works at a stabilization center, a unit inside the biggest hospital in South West state, told VOA that the drought is having a devastating toll on children. He said that every day a child is dying at his stabilization center due to malnutrition.

He said you can see that the number of patients who need treatment for malnutrition is increasing and there are times when the hospital reaches beyond its capacity, and now it is possible to admit over 90 patients a week and sometimes more than 20 a day.

Maadeey Muumin is a 60-year-old a father of nine children. He arrived at the hospital with his malnourished granddaughter. He said he received an $8 loan from a family member to reach the hospital that is located over a hundred kilometers from their settlement.

He said people there are devastated by the drought that killed all their livestock and put the population at risk of starvation, especially their children.

Muumin said that the parents whose children are ill from malnutrition dont have the resources to transport them to hospitals for treatment. He said if the drought continues until next year, the situation will only worsen. He said people there dont have anywhere else to go.

On a trip for journalists to the famine-projected areas in South West arranged by the aid agency World Vision, Tobias Oloo, the World Vision operations manager told VOA that after four seasons of no rains, more than 7 million people are facing famine, in some places reaching starvation stage.

He said about 1 million people have been displaced and they are moving from locations where they cannot get help to locations where they can.

Some areas have been affected more than others, he said. We are seeing Baidoa is one of the areas that is seriously affected and also Burhakaba in Bay region of South West state. As an organization, we are providing cash so that people can buy food, we are providing assistance in water so that they can have water to drink; we are also providing protection programs to ensure that girls and women are protected from gender-based violence.

Oloo said that the current drought is worse than the 2011 drought that killed thousands of Somalis because of a combination of Somalias internal conflicts, four consecutive rain failures and food prices skyrocketing due to Ukraine war.

Petroc Wilton, spokesman for the World Food Program in Somalia, told VOA that the WFP has been issuing warnings for months and is already actively assisting those in need.

[The] WFP has been working to scale up humanitarian assistance to unprecedented levels in Somalia despite limited resources, he said. In July [the] WFP reached 3.7 million people in Somalia with lifesaving relief assistance, more than double the number in April, the most we ever reached in Somalia in a single month. We also reached over 300,000 with treatment of malnutrition.

The Somali government last year declared the drought a national emergency and called for urgent help.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said that his country is seeing gains in the fight against the Somali-based, al-Qaida-affiliated Islamist militant group al-Shabab, following recent clashes in central Somalia between the Somali National Army supported by pro-government local clan militias and al-Shabab.

We see a strong momentum against al-Shabab and want to sustain it to defeat a group that has proven to be remorseless and [like the] mafia, which has attained economic autonomy through intimidation and the murder of innocent people, Mohamud said.

In a speech to the Somali diaspora community in the Washington area Friday, he said his government is organizing a strong military front in the southern Jubaland state of Somalia.

There is ongoing preparation to liberate al-Shabab from middle-Juba region in southern Somalia, the only region in the country where the militants control its entirety, Mohamud sad.

He said his governments new approach is being encouraged by the resistance of local clan militia, who keep fighting al-Shabab in the central Somali regions of Hiran and Galguduud.

Once they could not tolerate the intimidation, the extortion and the abduction of their children, now some local clans say they have started fighting al-Shabab. Therefore, we want to support our people to live in peace and dignity, Mohamud said.

On Saturday, hours after the presidents speech in the U.S. state of Virginia, the Somali National Army said it killed 43 militants in central Somalia.

The Somali National Army launched an attack on the al-Shabab base in Aborey village and took over the militant base, killing 43 militants, Brigadier General Mohamed Tahlil Bihi, infantry commander of the Somali National Army told government radio.

Aborey is 25 km east of Bulaburte, a town 220 km north of Mogadishu.

On Thursday, speaking to the government news agency (SONNA), Somali army chief General Odowaa Yusuf Rageh said the SNA killed at least 18 al-Shabab militants in an operation in the Buq Aqable area in the same region, located about 90 km south of Beledweyne city, the provincial capital of the Hiran region.

Government military officials say that in the recent military campaign against al-Shabab army troops, backed by armed locals, have killed more than 100 al-Shabab fighters and "liberated" 20 villages from the al-Qaida-affiliated group.

Mohamuds Washington visit

In an exclusive interview with VOA Somali, President Mohamud said he discussed new government strategies to fight al-Shabab with top U.S government officials, who he said pledged full support for his government.

At the Pentagon, President Mohamud met Thursday with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, at the White House with the presidents National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Homeland Security Adviser Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, and at the State Department with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland.

He said his trip to Washington has been mainly focusing on two things, security and the drought, which is feared to cause famine in parts of Somalia from October through December.

All the existing policies and strategies against the militant group seem to have fallen short of our expectations and the expectations of our partners because the militants keep changing tactics to survive. We came up with a new strategy that is based on two things, [an] ideological war front and cutting al-Shababs economic lifeline, Mohamud said.

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense, Austin and Mohamud "exchanged views on the security outlook for the Horn of Africa in light of climate shocks, humanitarian issues, conflict, and the threat of violent extremism."

A White House statement said, Mr. Sullivan and President Hassan Sheikh discussed the importance of political reconciliation in Somalia, particularly the renewed coordination between the federal government of Somalia and federal member states to improve governance, law enforcement, service delivery and security for the Somali people.

Great to see Hassan Sheikh Mohamud with Under Secretary of State in Washington to discuss shared stabilization, good governance and humanitarian goals. The United States is committed to helping the people of Somalia counter terrorism, prevent famine, and advance democracy, and save lives, Blinken said in a Twitter post.

It was a pleasure to meet with secretary Blinken and Under Secretary Nuland in Washington. We agreed on the importance of combating terrorism, promoting good governance and responding to [the] drought in Somalia. The U.S. is a strategic partner in Somalias sustainable development and progress. Mohamud said in a Twitter post.

Mohamud also met with The World Bank Group President David Malpass and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

Mr. Malpass has reaffirmed to President Mohamud the World Bank Groups (WBG) support to Somalias response to ongoing drought and humanitarian crises through reprogramming and additional financing and utilizing resources from IDA (International Development Association) Crisis Response Window, the World Bank said.

I have discussed with all the U.S. government officials and the leaders of the other Washington-based institutions I have met, including senior officials from the World Bank and IMF on security, economic recovery and reform, as well as the ongoing drought situation in Somalia, Mohamud told VOA.

Mohamud also served as Somalias president between 2012 and 2017 and is the first Somali leader to win a second term in office. After his victory in May he promised to transform the troubled Horn of Africa nation into "a peaceful country that is at peace within and with the world."
Pictures of Khatera Ahmadi were shared across the world when the Taliban ordered female journalists to cover their faces on air. The former TOLOnews journalist has since fled to Pakistan over fears for her familys safety. Muska Safi has the story, narrated by Roshan Noorzai.
Billings police have arrested two men after an attempted armed robbery in the 4700 block of King Avenue East Friday afternoon.

The two men, one armed with a rifle and the other a machete, forced their way into an RV, police said in a social media post.

During a scuffle, at least one round was fired, police said.

Investigators were able to quickly locate and arrest the two suspects.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his daily address Friday that crimes Russian forces have committed in Ukraines now-liberated Kharkiv region are being revealed and recorded.

Zelenskyy said that, so far, more than 440 graves have been unearthed at a mass burial site near Izium and evidence is emerging that Russian soldiers shot at the buried just for fun.

In addition, he said Russian soldiers have held some people, including foreigners, captive for months. He cited seven Sri Lankan nationals who had been students at Ukraines Kupyansk Medical College at the time of the invasion who had been held captive by the Russians since March.

Only now, after the liberation of Kharkiv region, these people were saved, they are provided with proper medical care, he said.

Zelenskyy also said he had talked Friday with representatives from Nike. He said he thanked the Nike representatives for the decision to leave the Russian market. The right decision. This is an example of how business can play a significant role in protecting humanity and freedom. If a state chooses the path of terror, it is the duty of every self-respecting company to distance itself from such a state.

The British Defense Ministry said Saturday on Twitter that, Ukraine continues offensive operations in the north-east of the country while Russian forces have established a defensive line between the Oskil River and the town of Svatove. Russia likely sees maintaining control of this zone as important because it is transited by one of the few main resupply routes Russia still controls from the Belgorod region of Russia."

In addition, this line sits along the border of Luhansk Oblast, part of the Donbas, which Russia aims to 'liberate' as one of its immediate war aims. the ministry said. Adding, Any substantial loss of territory in Luhansk will unambiguously undermine Russia's Strategy."
For much of its 20-year existence, some observers have suggested the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) could become an anti-Western bloc dominated by China and Russia. The groups Central Asian members have complex collaborative relationships with the United States and Europe, though and Uzbekistan, the host of SCO, used its chairmanship of the event held in Samarkand September 15-16 to emphasize the group is not and should not be anti-American or anti-NATO.



During our chairmanship, we sought to intensify practical cooperation within our organization, to increase its potential and international prestige. Along with security issues, priority was given to enhancing trade, economic, and humanitarian cooperation, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said in his remarks at a summit covered by more than 800 journalists from around the world.

Mirziyoyev welcomed 13 leaders, from members China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia and Tajikistan. The presidents of Belarus, Iran and Mongolia attended as observers, while those from Azerbaijan and Turkey attended as invited partners.



Minsk and Teheran aim to join the group soon. Iran, which has tried but failed to gain admission for years, signed a membership memorandum with the SCO leadership, while Belarus also expressed its desire to join.



The SCO is evolving from a regional to a global bloc, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko noted, arguing that his countrys interests are closely aligned with those of the SCO members. "We are very grateful for the unanimous support of our bid to join the organization as a full member," Lukashenko said. "We can offer our transit, industrial and scientific potential, and experience in peacekeeping and multilateral diplomacy," he added.



Iran is closer to joining, say SCO officials, pointing to the memorandum. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi denounced American unilateralism, calling for the expansion of free trade within the SCO, boosting financial deals and banking, making clear that Tehran views membership as a way to attempt to bypass U.S. sanctions.

Xi-Putin meeting



The most newsworthy meeting of the summit was held on the sidelines between Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which the leaders pledged to respect one anothers core interestsa euphemism in Beijing for Russian support on issues related to Taiwan.



Chinese accounts of the meeting were vague about Xis pledges. The two leaders have met frequently over the years but had not done so since the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, shortly before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The trip to Central Asia was Xis first overseas venture in the years since the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020.



Putin thanked Xi for what he called a balanced approach regarding Ukraine, while criticizing Washington for its ugly policies, such as supporting Kyiv.



Xi took a more measured tone, though, saying that in the face of changes in the world, times and history, China is willing to work with Russia to reflect the responsibility of a major country, play a leading role and inject stability into a troubled and interconnected world.

Putin argued that Moscow and Beijing jointly stand for forming a just, democratic and multipolar world based on international law and the central role of the United Nations, not rules invented by some who try to enforce them on others without explaining what they are.



Yet local analysts told VOA the SCOs fundamental goals have not been hijacked by these current eventsor by the groups two biggest members.



Ulugbek Khasanov, professor at Uzbekistans University of World Economy and Diplomacy, acknowledges the SCO is a complex circle of nations disagreeing with each other on many critical issues. But they gathered in ancient Samarkand with an agenda to strengthen security, trade and innovative cooperation.



Khasanov calls the SCO mission diverse and ever evolving, viewing its focus on climate change, food and energy security, and regional security as a positive sign of collaboration.



Taking action



Kazakh and Kyrgyz analysts shared similar insights with VOA, but they argued that members will need more tangible steps to improve the groups potential.



These Central Asian scholars echo their governments desire to avoid letting the SCO become a proxy for China and Russia. The SCO must be a just and equal platform for all members, Khasanov, once a top communications officer in Tashkent, agrees with that intention.



Central Asia is at the heart of this organization, says Khasanov, and if you want to work with the region, you must listen to Uzbekistans ideas and proposals, not least its position on Afghanistan. In other words, to act locally in Central Asia, he maintains, China, Russia, and others need to reflect Central Asian priorities and agendas.



Muzaffar Djalalov, head of Inha University in Tashkent, says the SCO must be a development platform above all.

All the members have their own interests and policies. But whats clear is that the SCO is not a military bloc and should not be seen as a scale balancing between the West, on the one hand, and Russia or China.

Establishing priorities



Djalalov sees the SCO members eager to partner in areas closer to the agenda that Central Asians tend to prioritizeeducation, science, and health care. He cheers President Mirziyoyevs proposals for a SCO role promoting digital literacy and information technology.



Some SCO countries have better experience and skills. Collaboration in these fields is key for our overall development.



International observers see Tashkents proposal to launch an assistance fund for Afghanistan as a significant humanitarian step.



Roli Asthana, U.N. resident coordinator in Uzbekistan, told VOA the U.N. takes seriously every initiative that brings countries together. As President Mirziyoyev reiterated in his speech, international cooperation is absolutely critical to solving the global challenges of today.



When asked for the U.N.s take on the SCO summit, Asthana said, Whether it is climate, connectivity, recovering from the pandemic, preparing for future pandemics, or people-to-people links, global challenges require international cooperation. And it was heartening to hear leaders today commit to cooperation on important issues like trade, connectivity, food security and sustainable development.

Indianotable as the only consolidated democracy among the groups membersjoined the SCO in 2017 alongside rival Pakistan, and it is the incoming chair. The two rivals stood out in Samarkand by not holding bilateral talks.
Editor's note: Here is a look at immigration-related news around the U.S. this week. Questions? Tips? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com.

Number of US Naturalizations Rose 30% in 2021

As the pandemic eased, the number of people who became naturalized U.S. citizens rose. In 2021, 814,000 people became citizens, up 30% from 628,000 in 2020, according to a June 2022 annual report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Story by VOA's immigration reporter Aline Barros.

US Law Enforcement Takes Down 'Prolific' Human Smuggling Operation

Speaking at a press conference at the Justice Department, law enforcement officials said the network ran a prolific smuggling operation, trafficking hundreds, if not thousands, of undocumented migrants from Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia into the United States in recent years. Story by VOA's Justice Department reporter Masood Farivar.

Florida, Texas Escalate Flights, Buses to Move Migrants

Republican governors expanded their tactic of sending migrants to Democratic strongholds without warning, including Martha's Vineyard, a wealthy summer enclave in Massachusetts, and the Washington home of Vice President Kamala Harris. The Associated Press reports.

Tears, Uncertainty as Migrants Depart Martha's Vineyard Amid Political Standoff

Massachusetts transported migrants off the wealthy island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on Friday, to a military base where they will be housed temporarily. As the 50 or so migrants boarded buses to leave, some of the island residents who sheltered them in a church for two nights wept, Reuters reported.

Report: Biden Urges Mexico to Take Migrants Under COVID Expulsion Order He Vowed to End

As border crossings have soared to record highs, U.S. President Joe Biden's administration is quietly pressing Mexico to accept more migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela under a COVID-19 expulsion order that the White House has publicly sought to end, according to seven U.S. and three Mexican officials. Reuters reports.

US Secretary of State Discusses Migration, Economics in Meeting With Mexican President

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday to repair relations between the two neighboring countries that have frayed over immigration and other issues. We discussed shared efforts to address irregular migration in the Americas, including through humane border management policies and through expanding legal pathways, said Blinken during a press conference. Story by VOAs State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching.

Migration around the world

Ukrainian High Schoolers Create App to Help Young Refugees

Helping people find a safe way to a safe place. Thats the goal of a new app called Refee, created by three Ukrainian high schoolers. Lesia Bakalets has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.

UN Report Cites Nicaragua's Clampdown on Democratic Freedoms

A report submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council this week on Nicaraguas human rights situation condemns what it calls the further deterioration of civil and political rights by a government seeking to keep its people in check. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.

News in brief

 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated cap on H-2B visas for temporary nonagricultural workers for the first half of fiscal year 2023.

 U.S. border officials participated in the High-Level International Conference on Border Security in the Americas hosted by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). The fight against human smuggling, the campaign to crack down on transnational criminal organizations, and the effort to tackle the root causes of irregular migration cannot succeed through any single countrys individual policies. These tasks are a collective responsibility, and we must lead this vital and urgent work together, according to Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) John K. Tien.
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John Kirby, the National Security Councils director of strategic communications, sat down Friday with VOA White House correspondent Anita Powell ahead of a banner week in global diplomacy, starting with the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and ending with the worlds premier diplomatic summit, the U.N. General Assembly, in New York.

Kirby also spoke about the Biden administrations view that the growing closeness between the presidents of China and Russia  the two leaders met face to face this week  is really more of a partnership of convenience than a strategic alignment. And he addressed calls by some to designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism over the atrocities its forces have committed in Ukraine.

He also discussed the latest U.S. military aid package for Ukraine and said that although it appears that Ukraine is making military gains, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not ready to sit down at the negotiating table  and neither is Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The interview, held in the Secretary of War Suite on the White House campus, has been edited for clarity and length.

VOA: Next week is the United Nations General Assembly. What are the president's goals for the U.N. General Assembly, especially with regards to further isolating Russia?

Kirby: I think what you're going to see from the president is a focus on demonstrating the degree to which United States leadership on the world stage is back and revitalized. Hell have a chance to address the whole General Assembly in the morning. Hell be dealing with issues of food security around the globe  food security which is exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, clearly. And hell have a chance to talk about the Global Defense Investment Initiative and some of the efforts that the United States is helping lead in terms of providing alternate sources of investment funds for countries, particularly low- and middle-income countries, that are trying to improve their own infrastructure at home or their own health care at home, and to help lift them up as well.

VOA: Can I ask you to talk about the energy security goals that the U.S. is bringing to the UNGA?

Kirby: I think the president has been very focused on energy security  since his time in office. And as you know, energy security as well has been put at risk by what Putin is doing in Ukraine, literally weaponizing energy.

The president stood up a task force earlier this year to try to look for ways to improve the stores of natural gas in Europe, to get more LNG to the continent, and we've done that. The U.S. alone has doubled our commitments, the commitments he made back in March, and we're working with other allies and partners in the industry to see what else can be done, because winter's coming.

VOA: On the conflict in Ukraine, does the administration believe that Russia has switched its tactics toward targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure as we've seen in recent days? And if so, does the U.S. plan to respond to hold Russia accountable?

Kirby: Sadly, we have seen almost from the beginning of this war  that the Russians, Russian soldiers, Russian leadership, has not only approved of but participated in atrocities against the civilian population of Ukraine  everything from airstrikes on hospitals, to actual on the ground war crimes against the men and women and their children in Ukraine.

And the United States is involved with the international community in making sure that these instances are being documented, and that they are available to international investigators so that Russia can be held accountable. 

But the brutality that Mr. Putin has visited upon Ukraine, and Ukrainians, has been there almost since the very beginning. And I think you're referring to some recent airstrikes that he has conducted with respect to civilian infrastructure. It's of a piece of his utter disregard for civilian casualties and his contempt for the very culture of Ukraine. Now, he's hitting these, these infrastructure targets, we think, because he's lashing out at the counteroffense that the Ukrainians have been conducting, particularly in the north, and he's basically trying to punish the Ukrainian people for the work of their soldiers on the battlefield.

VOA: Let's move on to the initial goal of this conflict. I think it was Secretary Antony Blinken who said this was to strengthen Ukraine's hand at the negotiating table. That seems to have happened with these recent victories. So, does the administration believe that now is the time to pressure President Zelenskyy to get to the negotiating table, and is he ready?

Kirby: We believe it's up to President Zelenskyy to determine if and when he's ready to sit down at the negotiating table. And he has said himself that he's not in a position to move that forward right now. We respect that.  I would also note that Mr. Putin has also made it very clear that he's not interested in stopping the fighting.  Obviously we want to see this war end. Clearly a diplomatic solution would be a preferred option, but a much more preferred option would be for Mr. Putin to just stop it today. ... He could end this war today absent negotiations by just pulling his troops out and stopping the violence on the Ukrainian people, and we can't forget that.

So, again, we're going to continue to support President Zelenskyy, as President Biden has said, for as long as it takes. Were going to make sure that  not only can he succeed at the negotiating table if and when it comes to that, but that he can succeed on the battlefield today. Because Vladimir Putin is still prosecuting this war against Ukraine today.

VOA: I want to talk a little bit about the debate over the state sponsored terror (SST) designation [for Russia]. And earlier [State Department spokesman] Ned Price said that the administration, while they've decided against it, is going to apply sanctions and tools that are analogous to an SST. ... What tools do we have other than existing sanctions and export controls?

Kirby: So what we're talking about here is looking for and working with Congress to look for additional measures of holding Russia and Mr. Putin accountable for what they're doing in Ukraine. There have been very effective, very stringent sanctions and export controls already put in place by the United States alone, let alone our European colleagues, on Mr. Putin. And we're going to continue to look for additional ways to hold him accountable and to increase the cost and consequences for this war.

We don't believe that a state sponsor of terrorism designation is the most effective way to do that.  We talk to humanitarian groups, and  they have expressed concern that with such a designation, it might make it hard for them to work with vendors inside Ukraine, to get humanitarian assistance to the men and women there who desperately need it.  The Food Security Deal could also come under risk.  We've now been able to get, because of this Food Security Grain Deal out of the Black Sea, more than 2 million [metric] tons of grain have left Ukraine.  And if we designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, it's possible that that grain deal could be put in jeopardy. ...

And then lastly ... about the negotiating table, we want to make sure that Mr. Zelenskyy has enough flexibility, not only to leverage, but flexibility when he sits down on the negotiating table. That designation could, in fact, reduce his flexibility to come up with a negotiated solution.

VOA: Im going to ask you to give us a precis of the new aid package, which was approved last night.

Kirby: I think what you'll see  it's very consistent with most of the recent packages here since the Russians have really focused on the Donbas and down in the south. And so, you're seeing more ammunition for the HIMARS system, the advanced rocket system, you're seeing more artillery rounds, you're seeing small arms and ammunition and other items that we know the Ukrainians are literally using every day  and we want to make sure that they get more of them.

VOA: Moving on to the meeting yesterday between the Chinese and Russian presidents.  Do you believe that this new alignment or this closer alignment is tactical or strategic? And we also heard Putin say that China expressed its concerns and questions over the conflict in Ukraine.

Kirby: Well, I think it's been no secret that President Putin and President Xi have been forging a closer relationship. That's not new. It's not really surprising either, because both leaders of those two countries have expressed their annoyance and their dislike of American leadership around the world, and in the rules-based international order, that not only the United States but so many other countries around the world espouse and try to improve.

I think it's noteworthy, though,  that Mr. Putin recognized publicly that China has expressed concerns.

We  don't believe that this is the time for business as usual in Russia by anybody. It's not the time to be buying their oil at these exorbitant prices. It's not the time certainly to be violating the sanctions. And we have not seen the Chinese provide any material support to Mr. Putin for the war in Ukraine. And we haven't had any indications that they are violating sanctions.

So, it is noteworthy that Mr. Putin would mention that China had some concerns. China's got choices to make. And as we've said many times before, we would clearly prefer that the choice they make is to condemn what Mr. Putin is doing in Ukraine  and make clear these concerns that they apparently have about what he's doing there.

VOA: How are you going to leverage that? Because there is a disagreement between these two great powers. How's the U.S. going to work that diplomatically, or what tools are you going to bring to bear?

Kirby: We're going to keep doing what we've been doing to support Ukraine and to hold Mr. Putin accountable. And we're going to continue to keep the lines of communication open with Beijing, as we must. There are issues of disagreement, clearly, between the United States and China, but there's also areas where we have said we can and we should cooperate on, such as climate change, such as the opioid crisis, such as counterterrorism. And it's regrettable that the Chinese have shut down, I think, some of those avenues for us to have a discussion, particularly for opioids, fentanyl and, of course, climate change.  We look for ways to continue to make sure we can keep those lines of communication open.

I think it's also important to note that these two countries are not, like, best of friends. I mean, they have a relationship, obviously, but it is not built on a whole heck of a lot of mutual trust and confidence. Its really more a partnership of convenience then it is anything akin to the kinds of alliances and partnerships that the United States has around the world.

VOA: On the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action], the Iran nuclear deal ... how optimistic is the administration that a deal can be reached, and do you have any timelines or any predictions for that?

Kirby: I couldn't give you a prediction. I wouldnt begin to speculate on that.

I would just tell you a couple of things. The president has been very clear that we're not going to allow Iran to achieve a nuclear weapons capability, because he knows that no problem in the Middle East gets easier to solve with a nuclear-armed Iran.

The president has also said that he believes the best way to achieve that outcome is through a diplomatic process, and we have been involved in back-and-forth negotiations for 16 months, trying to get the JCPOA reimplemented and get everybody back into that deal from 2015.  And as you heard Secretary Blinken say, we are actually farther apart now than we were  even just a few weeks ago. And as the secretary said, it's unlikely that we're going to be able to  get us back into the deal anytime real soon. But that doesn't mean that we've given up on the effort. It doesn't mean that it's all abandoned.
Princes William and Harry stood vigil at either end of the coffin of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Saturday, heads bowed as a line of mourners streamed past the late monarch's lying-in-state.

The two sons of King Charles, attired in military uniforms, stood in silence at a 15-minute vigil in the vast Westminster Hall where the coffin has been lying since Wednesday, draped in the Royal Standard and with the bejeweled Imperial State Crown on top.

William and Harry were joined by their six cousins, including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, who earlier paid tribute to Britain's longest-reigning monarch. The queen died on September 8 at her summer estate in the Scottish Highlands at age 96.

"You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world," said the sisters, daughters of Prince Andrew. "You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever. For now, dear grannie, all we want to say is thank you."

Hundreds of thousands of people have lined up for long hours in a queue stretching along the River Thames, waiting to file past the coffin and honor the queen, a testimony to the affection in which she was held.

The other cousins at Saturday's vigil were Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, the children of Princess Anne, and Louise and James, the children of Prince Edward.

Earlier on Saturday, Charles and his heir William shook hands and greeted well-wishers in the queue, asking people how long they had been there and whether they were warm enough.

To cheers of "hip, hip, hurrah" and shouts of "God save the King," Charles and William spoke to mourners near Lambeth Bridge, as they neared the end of the massive line to see the lying-in-state in the historic Westminster Hall.

On Friday night, Charles joined his three siblings, Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward, in a silent vigil at the coffin.

"She wouldn't believe all this, she really wouldn't," William was heard telling one man of the late queen, who came to the throne in 1952. "It's amazing."

One woman told Charles it had been "worth the wait" and others wished him well and cheered as he moved down the line.

Ahead of the state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday, world leaders also start arriving in the British capital.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were among the dignitaries to pay their respects on Saturday while New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was seen curtsying to the coffin on Friday.

U.S. President Joe Biden was expected to go to the lying-in-state on Sunday.

On Saturday, Charles met leaders of the 14 countries where he is head of state such as Canada, Australia, and Jamaica after meeting the governors-general  the people who represent the monarch in overseas realms  at Buckingham Palace.

Security operation

London's police force has described the funeral as the biggest security operation it has ever undertaken as prime ministers, presidents and royals come together and huge crowds throng the streets. The king visited police headquarters on Saturday to thank emergency services workers involved in the planning.

Underscoring the risks, police said one man had been detained and arrested after a witness told Sky News he "ran up to the queen's coffin." Footage showed a man being pinned to the ground by police officers and taken away.

By 5 p.m. local time, Britain's culture ministry said the waiting time to reach the lying-in-state was up to 11 hours.

Inside the silent hall, some mourners wept, many were tearful while current soldiers and veterans saluted their former commander-in-chief. Others in the line fell to their knees.

New friendships, acts of kindness and the struggles of standing in line for hours, sometimes in the cold overnight, have come to define what has become known as just "the queue."

The state funeral, to be attended by nearly 100 presidents and heads of government, is likely to be one of the biggest ceremonial events ever held in Britain.

Soldiers took part in early morning rehearsals in Windsor, where the queen's coffin will be taken after the funeral at Westminster Abbey. Marching bands playing music and Grenadier Guards, who wear a tall bearskin hat on ceremonial duties, were seen marching down the High Street in preparation.

Liz Kelshall from Leatherhead, southern England, said she had brought her two children to Windsor so they would never forget the queen.

"It's really important for them to grow up and remember this and it's important for us as a family to come and show some respect for an amazing woman," she said.
Californias legislature has passed a bill banning foreign entities from buying its agricultural land, a move that is part of reignited discussions about whether the United States should block parties from unfriendly countries from buying farmland.

The California bill makes no mention of China, and Governor Gavin Newsom has until the end of the month to sign it into law. But on a national scale, some experts and politicians are concerned that Chinas increasing investments in U.S. agriculture pose a threat to the countrys security. Other analysts told VOA Mandarin that those concerns are overblown, saying there is little evidence to suggest that Chinas actions are harmful.

Senator Melissa Hurtado, the Democrat who introduced the California bill, represents a district in the Central Valley with some of the worlds richest and most fertile farmland. For her, security is the key issue behind regulating foreign ownership of farmland. Food can, and is, being used as a weapon like we are seeing in Ukraine, she said in a statement.

The Food and Farm Security Act, passed by the California Senate on Aug. 31 after passing the Assembly on Aug. 22, would prohibit a foreign government from purchasing, acquiring, leasing or holding an interest, as defined, in agricultural land within the State of California.

California grows two-thirds of all fruits and nuts in the United States and one-third of all vegetables. That production would be jeopardized if foreign governments controlled our agricultural land, Hurtado said in a statement to VOA Mandarin.

My concerns are not with a particular foreign government, but rather with the well-being of Californians, Americans and the millions of people around the world who depend on us for food, Hurtado said. My bill will help maintain Californias strong agriculture industry and allow us to remain resilient, even during times of global unrest or international conflict.

The United States does not have a national law regulating the amount of agricultural land that can be foreign-owned.

Its very surprising that there are currently no federal regulations governing ownership of agricultural land in the United States, Caitlin Welsh, director of the Global Food Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank in Washington, told VOA Mandarin. I do think that this is something that both the federal and state governments of the United States should look into.

Just 2.9% of U.S. privately owned agricultural land is foreign-owned, according to a December 2020 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which was the last time such data was released.

Canada accounts for the largest share of foreign-owned U.S. agricultural land at 32%, or 12.4 million acres, as of 2020, according to the report.

China holds 352,140 acres as of 2020, which is slightly less than 1% of foreign-held acreage in the United States.

Fred Gale, an agricultural economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, does not think China currently poses a threat to the United States through its agricultural land investments because the investments are so small.

When we look at the composition of land purchased by Chinese owners, only about one-third is real crop land, Gale told VOA Mandarin. Most of the rest is what we call other kinds of farmland, which is just a miscellaneous category.

Chinese investors holdings of U.S. agricultural land increased from 13,720 acres in 2010 to 352,140 acres in 2020, according to a May 2022 report by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. This rise was mainly due to Shuanghui International buying Smithfield Foods in 2013.

As of 2019, the Chinese-owned Smithfield properties accounted for 76% of all the U.S. agricultural land owned by Chinese entities, according to the May report.

That rapid increase in Chinas holdings from 2010 to 2020 prompted much of the concern over Chinese ownership of U.S. agricultural land, according to Cory Combs, an analyst at the China-focused policy research group Trivium.

Its poorly understood whats driving this investment, and to my mind, the real issue is no one really has a clear idea of  Is this state-led investment? Is this opportunism? Is this food security diversification? Combs told VOA Mandarin. The unknown  the uncertainty  is whats really the most threatening aspect of this.

Chinas Washington embassy did not reply to VOAs email requesting comment.

There isnt much concern that the top countries that own U.S. agricultural land  such as Canada and the Netherlands  have harmful motives, since their relationships with the United States have long been friendly, Combs said.

China is facing food security issues at home due to arable land lost to rapid urbanization and industrial growth, population decline and natural disasters, according to a report from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Recognizing its challenges, China has also gone abroad to address its needs through investments and acquisitions of farmland, among other means, the report said.

The question of Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland has been a periodic flashpoint  most recently in July, when a Chinese food manufacturer, the Fufeng Group, bought 300 acres of land near Grand Forks, North Dakota, to set up a corn milling plant. The sale raised national security concerns because the project is located about 20 minutes from the Grand Forks Air Force Base.

Following the controversial sale, Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota introduced a bill in August that would ban the governments of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from buying or investing in U.S. agricultural land.
Ukrainian officials say theyve found at least 10 "torture centers" in territory recaptured from Russia in the countrys east. This follows the discovery of a mass grave containing about 450 bodies at a site near Izium.

The Russians occupied the city in the Kharkiv region until a Ukrainian counteroffensive pushed Russian troops from the region last weekend.

"This is just one of the mass burial sites discovered near Izium, said Mykhaylo Podolyak, a senior presidential aide. In the occupied territories, rampant terror, violence, torture and mass murders have been reigning for months."

The United Nations said it wants to send a team to investigate the site of the reported mass grave and determine the circumstances of the deaths.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who visited the recaptured city Wednesday, said the Russians were responsible.

"Russia is leaving death behind it everywhere and must be held responsible," Zelenskyy said in a video address late Thursday. He said he would release more information Friday about the mass burial site in Izium.

A regional police official said the victims at the burial site were killed by shooting or in shelling. Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Russian forces of perpetrating war crimes there.

Russia has denied targeting civilians or committing war crimes.

Putin ally concerns

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Friday that now was not a time for war.

Putin has maintained that Russia is not isolated because of its ties with India and China. But at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in the Uzbek city of

Samarkand, Modi publicly voiced his concerns about Russian action in Ukraine.

"I know that today's era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this," Modi told Putin.

The Russian leader, who pursed his lips and looked down while Modi made his remarks, said Moscow is doing everything it can to end the conflict.

"I know your position on the conflict in Ukraine, the concerns that you constantly express," Putin said. "We will do everything to stop this as soon as possible."

On Thursday, Putin acknowledged that Chinese President Xi Jinping also has concerns about the situation in Ukraine and he praised Chinas leader for his "balanced" position on the conflict.'

Continued fighting

Meanwhile, a series of apparent targeted attacks against pro-Russian officials in occupied territories continued with a blast in the Russian-held city of Lugansk. The separatist administration's top prosecutor and his deputy were killed, pro-Moscow authorities said.

"Today, Prosecutor General Sergei Gorenko and his deputy Ekaterina Steglenko died as a result of a terrorist act," the press service of the leader of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic, Leonid Pasechnik, said on Telegram. He added that the attack "showed that Kyiv's regime had crossed all possible limits."

Two other pro-Moscow officials were killed overnight in the southern port city of Berdyansk, according to pro-Russia local authorities.

There are also reports of intensified firing on the southern front of Kherson, where the Ukrainian army claims it has made gains over the past few days. A Moscow-installed official in the southern Zaporizhzhia region said Ukrainian forces struck Kherson city's administrative building, killing one and injuring another.

Ukraine has said it will target "collaborators" who work for or with Russian-installed administrations in towns occupied by Russia.

Kyiv says it has taken back more than 7,800 square kilometers (3,000 square miles) of territory occupied by Russia in the east and south of the country since the beginning of September.

NATOs secretary-general says that while Ukraine's counteroffensive against invading Russian forces has been very effective, it does not signal the beginning of the end of the war. Jens Stoltenberg warned that nations should prepare for the long haul.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday that Ukraine must win the war against Russia. Pelosi spoke at a Group of Seven countries meeting in Berlin. She added that Russia must be held accountable for the conflict.

More US aid

U.S. President Joe Biden announced another $600 million arms package for Ukraine, the 21st time the Defense Department has pulled weapons and other equipment off the shelves to deliver to Ukraine, the White House said.

Biden used the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the president to authorize the transfer of excess weapons from U.S. stocks.

The memo does not detail how the money would be used, but The Associated Press reported it would include more of the same types of ammunition and equipment that have helped Ukrainian forces beat back Russian forces in portions of the east and south.

The U.S. has sent about $15.1 billion in security assistance to the Kyiv government since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Earlier Thursday, the U.N. nuclear watchdog's board of governors adopted a resolution demanding that Russia end its occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, diplomats who attended a closed-door meeting on Thursday in Vienna said.

The resolution adopted by the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) calls on Russia to "immediately cease all actions against, and at, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and any other nuclear facility in Ukraine," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. (RFE/RL is a sister network of Voice of America.)

The resolution also says the military occupation of the plant significantly increases the risk of a nuclear accident that would endanger the population of Ukraine, neighboring states and the international community.

Russia's mission to the IAEA said "the Achilles' heel of this resolution" was that it said nothing about the systematic shelling of the plant.

Also, the U.S. imposed new economic sanctions on an array of Russians, including some that it accused of stealing Ukrainian grain, an official who allegedly has directed the deportation of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia and relatives of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

"The United States continues to hold the Russian government to account for its war against Ukraine," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

The top American diplomat said those targeted include major Russian defense entities, key advanced-technology firms that support Russia's defense industrial base and financial infrastructure, a Russian military intelligence agency and individuals linked to human rights abuses.

Additional sanctions were levied on Kadyrov, who already had been blacklisted by the U.S. since 2017. The new blacklist also targets three of Kadyrov's wives and three of his adult daughters.

Blinken said Maria Lvova-Belova was sanctioned for her efforts to deport Ukrainian children to Russia.

The United States estimates that Russia has forcibly deported" up to 1.6 million Ukrainians, including children, to Russia since the Russian invasion in late February. Earlier this month, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations told the U.N. Security Council that in July alone, more than 1,800 children were taken to Russia from Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine.

RFE/RL contributed to this report. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Mqondisi Dube

GABORONE, BOTSWANA  Botswana has announced it will cull more than 10,000 cattle in the country's northeast in a bid to fight an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. One of Africa's largest beef producers, Botswana was forced in August to halt beef exports over the virus, including to the lucrative European Union.

Assistant Minister for Agriculture Molebatsi Molebatsi said the decision to kill affected livestock was taken following consultations with disease control experts.

"The decision to depopulate is the one we have taken," Molebatsi said. "We took the decision after consultation with experts. We don't want any traces of the virus to remain or to have any further viral circulation."

Molebatsi said 19,000 cattle are in the affected zone, which is near the Zimbabwe border, and more than 10,000 will be slaughtered. Some goats and sheep will also be culled.

Veterinarian Mbatshi Mazwinduma said culling means farmers must be compensated.

"It comes at a great cost because it means people have to be compensated," Mazwinduma said. "And there is also environmental issues of animals that have been slaughtered ... on how do you dispose of them safely."

Mazwinduma said in disease control, there should be certain considerations, particularly for the affected farmers.

"When you are trying to control the disease, you have to consider the economic, social and often political impact. Politically speaking, remember at times you are going to be slaughtering animals that belong to farmers, and you might push them further into abject poverty," Mazwinduma said. "Most of the time, the compensation of animals that are slaughtered is nowhere near the equivalent value if they were to sell them at the market."

Bose Sethupa, a farmer from the affected region, said while the livelihoods of many people will be affected, the government has to contain the disease.

"It is a good move to try and contain the spread of the disease, but at the same time, it is not too good to the farmers because the government compensation is lower than the value of what the farmer will be having," Sethupa said. "But apart from that ... the move is good. It is truly meant to protect the export market, which is very key to our economy."

Roughly half of Botswana's beef exports  or about 9,000 tons  are sent to the EU each year.
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The 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will commence on Tuesday, September 13, 2022. UNGA 77th session will bring together world leaders to address urgent global concerns for two weeks in New York City.
Billings Police continued Saturday investigating an early morning shooting of two teenagers on the Rims.

At about 3:45 a.m., an 18-year-old man and 17-year-old girl were shot after an argument, police said in a social media post.

Both of the victims were taken in a personal vehicle to a nearby hospital with serious injuries, police said.

A male suspect ran from the area and the investigation continues.

It is the second shooting in two days in Billings.

On Friday, an 18-year-old woman was arrested after a 43-year-old man was shot in the 300 block of 25th Street North in downtown Billings. The woman has been booked into jail, police said. The man was taken to a hospital for treatment of serious injuries, police said.

Also on Friday, Billings police arrested two armed men who had attempted to rob the occupants of an RV in the 4700 block of King Avenue East.

The two men, one armed with a rifle and the other a machete, forced their way into an RV, police said in a social media post.

During a scuffle, at least one round was fired, police said.

Investigators were able to quickly locate and arrest the two suspects.
President Vladimir Putin announced to the Secretary General of the United Nations, as well as reiterated to the Council of Heads of State and Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, his intention to make available to developing countries the 300,000 tons of fertilizers currently blocked in ports of the EU.

Moreover, Russia is ready to ship them free of charge.

Fertilizers are crucial for crops, especially phosphate fertilizers as regards poor soils. Nitrogen fertilizers are made from gas. Russia is the second largest fertilizer exporter after China. Only rich states have the means to acquire it; developing countries generally cannot afford it, hence their low agricultural output and their consequent food problems.

According to the United Nations, the disruptions in the global fertilizer market, following Western sanctions against Russia, will mechanically cause a considerable drop in agricultural production in eighteen months. The Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has been warning since the end of August about the risk of starvation. Comparatively, the problem of fertilizers dwarfs the one concerning the deliveries of cereal crops grown in Ukraine.
For more than a year, clashes have opposed the border guards of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the borders between the two countries never having been precisely defined.

Last week, these clashes escalated into a battle, causing casualties on both sides.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon decided on a ceasefire while attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. This is the second ceasefire in the space of a few days. The previous one was violated within hours of being signed.
The story passed down through generations of the Crow tribe is now available to students throughout Montana.

The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) and Hardin School District will host an event on American Indian Heritage Day near Pryor Creek, where whats widely considered the most important event in Crow history occurred. The event coincides with the release of a new childrens book based on the legendary battle between the Crow and a coalition of warring tribes that nearly eradicated them. The event looks to both recognize the battles significance and celebrate the books entry into Montanas curriculum.

I dont think many of the non-native people know much about our culture, Crow member and co-author Sabrena Half said. And I think this is really good material for them.

Elk Morning at The Battle of Arrow Creek, is the second book in the Elk Morning series and fifth book by the Crow publishing company Bakaate, LLC to be accepted into the OPIs Indian Education For All (IEFA) curriculum. The IEFA curriculum requires all Montana public schools to recognize the states indigenous heritage and preserve it through public education. The book places the fictional titular character in the actual events of the battle that took place in the early 1860s with real names changed for the story.

The story chronicles Elk Morning and the rest of tribe as they battle a troop of allied enemy tribes who had planned a conquest of the tribe. It is estimated by storytellers that they were outnumbered 1 to 25, but is also believed that a miraculous turn of events that included a timely herd of roaming buffalo and an appearance by a spirit warrior played parts in the Crow's favor. Given the improbable nature of their victory, the story has lived on though oral retellings of what became known as the Battle of Arrow Creek, the Crow Apsaalooke name for Pryor Creek.

"The Crows were almost annihilated," Half said. "And something wanted the Crows to survive."

Outside the fictional characters, the book is historically accurate with facts and details sourced from both documented accounts from the Little Bighorn College Library and oral retellings of the battle from Crow elders who include Joe Medicine Crow and Elias Goes Ahead.

Despite the battle site getting declared as a historical landmark and receiving grants to document its oral history, its story is not believed to be widely known outside Crow country. Knowing this, Half and Montana State University Billings marketing professor A.J. Otjen co-authored the book, with Otjen writing most of the text and Half providing accurate details of the Crow tribe and story. It also features original illustrations by acclaimed Crow painter Kevin Red Star.

Before the book was officially published, Half wanted to verify it with the tribe to see if it was authentic enough to share.

I was a little scared at first because it is a pretty well-known storyand they were really supportive, she said. They think its good that Im making these books.

According to OPI Indian Education Specialist Mike Jetty, the book was quickly approved by the IEFA unit at OPI for purchase, distribution and lesson plan development across Montana following its release. Schools in Red Lodge, Colstrip, and Wyola have already begun to incorporate the book into their lesson plans. Unlike the previous Bakkate books, however, this story is entirely based on true historical events.

And it brought me to tears when he [Jetty] told me that the book was going to every [elementary] school in the state, Otjen said. Thats Indian education for all, after all of these years of talking about it.

Realizing the significance of the books release, Jetty began to develop an event celebrating the books release on Montanas American Indian Heritage Day on September 23rd and got in touch with District Indian Education Director Bianka Rock Above to begin planning. Rock Above, a former Crow student who grew up hearing the story herself, worked with local property owners to reserve specific areas where the battle took place along Pryor Creek for 5th grade students at Hardin, Crow and Fort Smith to experience the story as the elders did.

She explained her job in the newly created position is to implement the state law and purpose of Indian Education For All in an authentic way.

Thats one of the reasons for this program, she said of the Elk Morning book. We need to share this story.

Throughout the day, students will hear oral histories of the battle spoken in Crow by elders Harry Rock Above and Vincent Goes Ahead Jr., readings of Elk Morning at the Battle of Arrow Creek by Half and Otjen and play traditional native games with teachers and staff. A parade and appearance by the Chief Plenty Coups Honor Guard is also tentatively scheduled.

As for future installments of Elk Morning, Half isnt sure if shell write another book detailing specific moments in Crow history like the battle, saying that there are plenty of traditions, practices and rituals unique to the tribe for her to work with.

We have a really rich culture, I think, and we still practice it all the time, Half said. Its still a part of our everyday lives over here in Crow.

Both Elk Morning books and all other Bakaate books are available at www.bakaate.com/store, the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, This House of Books in Billings, The Little Bighorn Battlefield Bookstore, Trading Post in Crow Agency and Kevin Red Star Studios in Roberts.
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The economic and social crisis thats driving support for Italys hard right ahead of the Sept. 25 elections is making the euro zones third-largest economy vulnerable to even deeper infiltration by organized crime. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight In a speech in May, one of his last before the collapse of his government, now-caretaker Prime Minister Mario Draghi warned that organized crime had assumed new but equally fearful forms. Beyond violence  and the threat of violence  organized crime has insinuated itself into the boards of companies, he said. They pollute the economic fabric from the real estate sector to wholesale supply chains.In its search for profit and power, organized crime  from the Cosa Nostra in Sicily, to the Camorra in Naples, and the Ndrangheta in Calabria  has extended its tentacles from the south deep into Italys wealthy industrial north. Overall, Italys criminal groups control about 9% of the economy, according to various estimates.

Draghis immediate concern was the risk to the 260 billion euros ($261 billion) of European Union recovery funds programmed for Italy by 2026. While mobsters found new ways of making money during the pandemic -- muscling in on mask production and funeral services -- the EU cash offers a fat new target.

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As Europe faces the bleak winter of a conjoined economic and energy crisis, police officials and crime experts are sounding a new alarm about mafia groups acquiring businesses at risk of default. Its a problem across southern Europe, but Italy is at particular risk as small and midsized firms make up some 80% of the economy. Criminal ownership of business is a nightmare scenario that would undermine the legitimate economy, distorting competition, rule of law, and the social fabric. Worse, its already happening.

Milan Police Commissioner Giuseppe Petronzi recently warned of a military operation by the southern mafia to infiltrate the north, one of Europes wealthiest regions. Recent data suggests thats not an exaggeration. Italy saw a 9.7 rise in the number of companies investigated by the financial police due to suspected mafia activity between March 2020 and February 2021, the latest data available, according to Vittorio Rizzi, the nations deputy director general of public security. The Rome-based research group Demoskopika has estimated some 4,500 firms were at risk of mafia infiltration after the Covid-19 crisis, especially those in tourism and restaurants and bars.

The risk Italy faces now is a proliferation of what the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime calls the mafia entrepreneur. Italy was the first country where this role was identified more than a decade ago. Specifically, the mafia entrepreneur typically involves an adherent to an organized crime group -- with identities concealed by a shell company  taking a minority stake and effective control of a legitimate business. I recently asked Michele Riccardi, deputy director and senior researcher at Transcrime, a Milan research center on transnational crime, how bad he thought mafia infiltration of Italian business could get. I cannot imagine it being any worse than it is, he responded glumly.

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The cost falls on everyone because the commercial dysfunction wrought by the mafia can substantially reduce per capita GDP growth, according to a study published in August by a trio of Bank of Italy economists.

How then can organized crimes deeper penetration into legitimate commerce be confronted? Big data can lend a hand. Transcrime recently signed a three-year agreement with the financial police in Lombardy, the region around Milan, to use big data to track anomalous applications for post-pandemic funding, and oddities in the structure of company acquirers.

The hope is better computer-driven analysis will work faster than criminals can insinuate themselves into the corporate system. And cutting out human involvement can overcome other obstacles to detection too -- such as fear. One local entrepreneur in the Veneto region I spoke to described a rash of small family-owned firms going up for sale since the pandemic. We know who is selling, but we have no idea who is buying. And sometimes its just better to mind your own business and not ask, he said, asking not to be named.

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Draghi called for community vigilance to defend the legitimate economy. Thats laudable. But Europes looming energy crisis could very well widen social divisions, creating the kind of fissures into which organized crime can crawl. Enrico Letta, leader of the Democratic Party, which is running second to Giorgia Melonis far-right Brothers of Italy, has warned of a coming social and economic crisis this winter. Thats only going to push more companies to the brink. It doesnt help that Melonis campaign is fanning fears of a breakdown in law and order. Nor does it help that one of Melonis allies, the disgraced tycoon Silvio Berlusconi, has spent two decades denying allegations of mafia links.

Draghi is widely considered to have brought stability to Italy. A revival of concern about the rule of law is only going to make foreign companies even more reluctant about investing in a sluggish, debt-riddled economy. Depressingly, that may leave Italy more exposed to the infiltration of organized crime into the fabric of its industry and society.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 In Todays Wars, Everything Can Be Weaponized: Max Hastings

 Italys Right Clings to the Past  and Falls Flat: Maria Tadeo

 Putin Wannabes Are a Growing Threat to Europe: Pankaj Mishra

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina surprised us all on Tuesday by proposing a federal ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy with almost no exceptions. The pro-choice side was understandably outraged, while Republicans recoiled at having a federal ban back in the spotlight after their efforts to avoid the issue before the midterm elections.

Grahams pitch was likely just a political ploy aimed at shifting the conversation away from where it had been focused since Roe fell: on miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies and rape, leaving Republicans playing defense. He knows his bill isnt likely to come to a vote. And the absence of exceptions for the health of pregnant women make it a non-starter with the majority of Americans.

But the clamor over Grahams bill also creates an opportunity for abortion-rights supporters to make a proposal of their own, one that expands access to first-trimester abortions so that fewer women ever reach the stage of needing an abortion after 15 weeks.

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Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of second-trimester abortion even as they remain wary of limiting womens health options. Only 36% of Americans think abortion in the second three months of pregnancy should be legal in most circumstances, which is why Republicans have often had success campaigning against it, even though it is a rare occurrence. Some 93% of abortions happen at or before 15 weeks, and less than 2% happen after 18 weeks. A pro-choice proposal could start by suggesting legislation that would make first-trimester abortions much easier to obtain across the country.

Most women who have second-trimester abortions would have preferred to end their pregnancies earlier, but had a difficult time saving money for the procedure or the travel needed to obtain it. Around two-thirds of Americans believe first-trimester abortion should be legal.

Women seeking later abortions tend to be younger and poorer; more likely to be victims of domestic abuse or single mothers; and live further away from an abortion provider. Telling their stories might make more Americans realize that if first-trimester abortion become more accessible, second-trimester abortion will become that much rarer, while women in difficult circumstances will get the health care they need.

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No amount of improving first-trimester abortion access can cover every medical eventuality, and some level of second-trimester abortion will always be necessary. One in 13 women dont discover they are pregnant until the end of their first trimester. Late discovery is especially likely when the pregnancy occurred despite the use of birth control  about half of women seeking abortions used birth control the month they got pregnant, and 1 in 10 women on the pill get pregnant every year. And there will always be women who face heartbreaking medical complications that either didnt exist earlier in the pregnancy or couldnt be diagnosed without prenatal screening tests (which generally take place between 12 weeks and 20 weeks).

But many of the 7% of abortions that happen after 15 weeks could be avoided if medication abortion (which is only meant to be used in the first 12 weeks) were cheaper and easier to obtain. Offering universal coverage for first-trimester abortion, making abortion services far more widely available and getting rid of patronizing mandatory waiting periods also would reduce the incidence of second-trimester abortion.

And most importantly, making first-trimester abortions easier to get would mean there are fewer women in the grim position of saving for an abortion and trying to find a provider while feeling more pregnant with each passing week.

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Republicans have spent so much time talking about things like partial-birth abortions (a political coinage, not a medical term) because later abortions are politically unpopular. Advocates for reproductive rights should keep the focus on the people who need abortions, and how the best way to help them is to make early termination easier to get.

More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion:



New Hampshire Shows GOP Isnt Learning the Right Lessons: Jonathan Bernstein



Bernie Sanders Is Wrong About Natural Gas: Karl W. Smith



A Texas Judge Just Took Religious Freedom Too Far: Noah Feldman

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Sarah Green Carmichael is a Bloomberg Opinion editor. Previously, she was managing editor of ideas and commentary at Barrons and an executive editor at Harvard Business Review, where she hosted HBR IdeaCast.

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The surge in atom activism comes as countries again reassess their attitudes toward the power source, in the face of climate change and war.
The Montana Department of Agriculture did not fully comply with reporting requirements in 2020 after an online phishing scam led to the theft of more than $344,000 and another attempted theft was thwarted prior to an exchange of $1,000 in funds, a legislative audit report has found.

The Montana Legislative Audit Division released a financial compliance report on the department this month. Auditors identified three issues with accounting or reporting practices and issued recommendations to address those concerns.

The department concurred with all three recommendations.

In October 2020, a scammer impersonating a grant recipient obtained $344,000 in an email phishing attack. A phishing attack occurs when a scammer purports to be a different person or entity conducting legitimate business in an effort to trick the victim into providing money or information.

The department notified its chief attorney, then-Gov. Steve Bullocks office and the Department of Administrations Tort Defense and State Financial Services Division.

The hacker attempted to receive two grant payments from the department, the audit states. The department was able to stop the first payment, but not the second. The Department of Administration modified state policy in response to this situation.

A separate phishing scam occurred in April of 2020. In that incident a state employee purchased $1,000 in gift cards, later becoming suspicious and informing a supervisor. The gift cards were refunded, according to the audit.

Auditors found that the department did not fully comply with state law in response to the scams. The law requires notification of both the attorney general and legislative auditor in writing, upon the discovery of any theft, actual or suspected, involving state money or property under that agencys control for which the agency is responsible.

In both cases, the legislative auditor was not notified. Department of Administration officials did notify the attorney general of the October phishing scam and theft. Agriculture officials told auditors they contacted the attorney general as well.

Department of Justice spokesperson Kyler Nerison said Friday the scam was classified as a "business email compromise scam," described similarly to a phishing attack. He provided a link to the FBI's website, which calls the scam "one of the most financially damaging online crimes." An investigation remains open into the theft with DOJ's Division of Criminal Investigation, he said.

The agencies told auditors they did not believe notification was necessary for the April phishing attack because it was not successful.

Auditors countered that state law also requires the notification whenever theft is suspected, and recommended the agency comply with theft reporting requirements.

Auditors also found issues with accounting in the departments grant account for its wheat and barley program. Finally, antiquated software failed to flag overpayments for certain permits and licenses, and refunds were only issued if requested in writing. Auditors recommended changes to correct those issues.

In an August letter accompanying the audit, department Director Christy Clark concurs with the audits findings and recommendations.

Prior to this calendar year-end, we intend to put revised department policies into place to ensure these oversights are not repeated in the future, she wrote. The Department Of Agriculture is committed to complying with state laws and accounting policies, as well as strengthening our internal controls.

The Daily Montanan was first to report on the audit.
I remember where I was when I first watched a film shot by a cinematographer who looked like me. It was 2017, and I was sitting in the ACMI cinema in Melbourne to watch Kirsten Johnsons Cameraperson. It was the first time I realised that my skills and perspective as a woman in the male-dominated industry of filmmaking were not only valuable, but essential.

Sadly, Australia still has a long way to go  especially when it comes to who actually shoots the stories we watch in cinema and on TV. The Australian Cinematographers Societys A Wider Lens report, published in July this year, highlighted just how bad the lack of representation of women, people of colour, First Nations people and non-binary people is locally.

Writer and director Grace Moore. Credit:Emily Seif

According to the research, conducted by Deakin University, the University of Tasmania and Tallinn University, men outnumbered women and non-binary people 10 to one in almost every camera-related department, and the gap is starkest in the most senior roles  ie, those who have the most power.

Headlines about the ACS report focused on the high rate of sexual harassment and bullying, but on the ground theres another fundamental issue for those from marginalised backgrounds: how few of them there are, and the difficulties they experience obtaining funding.
We are faced at this moment with the horrifying effects of pollution in all its cancerous forms. There is the growing menace of oil pollution at sea, which almost destroys beaches and certainly destroys tens of thousands of seabirds, he told the Countryside Steering Committee for Wales. There is chemical pollution discharged into rivers from factories and chemical plants, which clogs up the rivers with toxic substances and adds to the filth in the seas. There is air pollution from smoke and fumes discharged by factories and from gases pumped out by endless cars and aeroplanes. Years later he would have his favourite Aston Martin converted to run on byproducts of wine and cheese manufacturing. Some didnt take his early adoption of biofuels as a serious environmental initiative. Charles, pictured in 2020 with his Aston Martin DB6, which runs on biofuel. Credit:Getty But since that speech as a young man Charles has spoken publicly about his environmental concerns. Addressing the COP26 global climate talks in Glasgow last November Charles described climate change and biodiversity loss as problems so serious that leaders needed to adopt a war footing to address them.

Charles urged the private sector and governments to at once deploy trillions of dollars to decarbonise every aspect of the global economy. Loading Over the years, Charles advocacy has been criticised as everything from eccentric to unseemly, but one of his chief environmental advisers, Tony Juniper, a former chief of Friends of the Earth and now head of Natural England, told the Herald and The Age this week that history has validated the former princes views. What were once fringe concerns about climate and pollution are now at the very centre of global politics and diplomacy. Even more quixotic of his concerns, such as his support for organic agriculture, have more mainstream acceptance. I reckon science firmly backs up what King Charles said for many years while he was Prince of Wales, says Juniper.

We know now, for example, that pesticides kill beneficial insects such as pollinators that are essential for food security, as well as harmful ones. Removing habitats like hedgerows also deprives those beneficial creatures of a home, so the twin assault by chemicals and clearance of the land for crops and nothing else can actually lead to declines in yield. There are farmers in England now who are restoring hedges and other features while cutting chemical use and the yield per hectare is going up, not down. He has said for a very long time that we need to take an integrated approach on questions like food security, and hes been right about that. He decided a long time ago to use his unique position to achieve as much good as he could. How effective Charles lobbying has been is an open question, but some observers believe his support for climate action helped cement support for ambitions emissions reduction goals in Britain in the UKs conservative government. Juniper chooses his words carefully when asked about this.

He decided a long time ago to use his unique position to achieve as much good as he could. And speaking about climate change and other environmental questions with the voice of the Prince of Wales, undoubtedly reached parts of society that other campaigners wouldnt reach, he says. I think that he has been hugely important actually, in being able to create different audiences. Juniper says he has no idea whether Charles will be able to continue his public advocacy on climate and environmental issues as King, though convention would suggest not. During an interview with the BBC to mark his 70th birthday, Charles himself said he viewed the roles of heir and monarch to be different. Asked if he would be a meddlesome King he responded, Im not that stupid. But this is not to suggest that as monarch Charles will not air his concerns in private meetings with British and world political leaders, nor that he will be expected to remain mute on the issue in his public role.

Queen Elizabeth also attended Glasgow meetings and urged world leaders to act fast on climate. She noted that her husband Philip had advocated for pollution reduction throughout his life, adding, it is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William. I could not be more proud of them. This reference to William, now himself the Prince of Wales, appears to have been both deliberate and significant. Prince William focused on the environment during his speech at Buckingham Palace celebrating the platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth in June. Credit:Getty When the royal family celebrated the Queens platinum jubilee in June, Charles gave an address focused on the work and office of his mother, while William spoke exclusively about the environment.

Im so proud that my grandfather and my father have been part of those [environmental] efforts, he said. And Im in awe of people like the great Sir David Attenborough, who look at the beauty and power of our Earth and then work to celebrate and preserve it. In Junipers view, a green torch was being deliberately passed on. As to the badgers, they survived Charless ire. In an example of deft constituent management, Blair wrote to the future king explaining how much he enjoyed hearing his views, particularly on agricultural topics, and noting that he agreed that there was evidence that badgers spread tuberculosis among cattle. While he personally backed knocking off the badgers, Blair explained, he would not want to prejudge ongoing research into the problem.
The cost of years of delay was that the rot got worse. When, in 1995, Transparency International published its first global corruption rankings, Australia was rated the seventh-cleanest country in the world. Its ranking last year? Eighteenth. And its slide was accelerating. But there also was advantage in the lag. Every state and territory set up its own anti-corruption agency in the meantime. Their experiences illuminated the problems that the national parliament now seeks to avoid. The MP for Indi, Helen Haines. Credit:Simon Dallinger The government doesnt plan to make the text public until it has presented it to its own caucus members the day before, on Tuesday the 27th. After so long in the making, Jacqui Lambie reckons theres no need to rush it: You cant eat a half-cooked chook. A delay of a few months would be perfectly understandable, says the senator for Tasmania, herself a staunch advocate for a commission.

But we have quite a lot of information already about what it would look like. And Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says the chook is well done and ready to serve. He set out the seven design principles in a speech a couple of weeks ago. First, the proposed National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) would operate independently of government, says Dreyfus. Second, it would have broad jurisdiction to investigate serious or systemic corruption across the Commonwealth public sector. Third, it would have the power to investigate ministers, parliamentarians and their staff, public servants, statutory office holders, and contractors. Fourth, it would have discretion to commence inquiries on its own initiative or in response to referrals from anyone, including anonymous referrals. Next, the commission would be able to investigate both criminal and non-criminal corrupt conduct, and conduct occurring before or after its establishment. Sixth, it would have the power to hold public hearings where it is in the public interest to do so. Finally, a Parliamentary Joint Committee will oversee the commission and will be empowered to require the commission to provide information about its work, according to Dreyfus, providing oversight and transparency. Dreyfus has spent years debating and thinking about this, and hes consulted closely with independent MPs and senators. So its no surprise that the parliaments leading independent voice on an anti-corruption commission, Helen Haines, is in full-throated support of these seven design principles.

Im confident that the seven fundamental design principles are sound, she tells me. Theyre essential to a commission that is independent and powerful. Loading But she has pointed questions for Dreyfus on six features of what she calls the design architecture. Haines is seen inside and outside the parliament as something like a patron saint of parliamentary integrity, so her opinion carries weight. Albanese made plain this week that he doesnt need the vote of independent MPs  including Haines  to carry his bill in the House, where the government wields an absolute majority. But he still needs to persuade the crossbench in the Senate in the event that the Liberals oppose the bill. If hes smart, hell work hard to win Haines blessing. And shes not yet convinced its ready to serve: If the chook is not cooked properly, the moment you put it in your mouth it will taste bad. Its actually bad for your health.

Democracy salmonella, anyone? Haines outstanding concerns? One is funding. She wants to protect the NACCs budget from malicious cuts by a future government. Shes come up with the idea of a parliamentary budget inspector who can make recommendations about the agencys funding needs. But this clashes with a basic principle. A parliament cant bind a future parliament. Any mechanism put in place that attempts to bind a future parliament can always be undone by a future parliament. The governments plan offers an alternative: the parliamentary oversight committee would have the power to make recommendations on the funding and resources needs of an NACC. In reality, the commissions best protection probably would be public opinion. The Liberals malicious pursuit of the ABCs budget comes to mind. This ultimately damaged the Coalition more than it hurt the ABC. A second Haines concern is about the parliamentary oversight committee  whos to be on it? Unsurprisingly, Haines, a member of the crossbench, wants the committee to include crossbenchers. She has been given no assurances. But it would be a wise move by the government to include the crossbenches and, on this, Im informed that wisdom will prevail.

Third on Haines list is whistleblowing. She wants any witnesses who come forward to the NACC to be protected from reprisals and actively supported. Shes called for one of the NACCs deputy commissioners to be assigned the function of whistleblower protection commissioner. But the governments bill wont address this because its committed to a separate process for protecting whistleblowers. The former Integrity Commissioner Philip Moss delivered his review of the failures of Australias whistleblower laws in 2016. The Coalition promised to act on his recommendations to reform the Public Interest Disclosure Act. Surprise! It never did. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Dreyfus intends to act on this separately to the NACC bill. Haines will need to be reassured on this, a fundamental concern. Fourth on Haines list is that she wants the NACC to be able to initiate its own investigations, at its own instigation, especially targeting pork-barrel schemes and rorts. On this, so-called grey zone corruption, her thoughts are as one with the governments. The Albanese governments bill would indeed give the commission power to start its own investigations, and political abuse of taxpayer funds would fit within the definition of corruption to be included in the bill.

Sports rorts and car pork, for instance, would make legitimate targets for an anti-corruption commission. As Haines says, this element of corruption really chimes with the man on the street. And with former Coalition ministers, perhaps? We all know who were talking about, Haines replies pointedly. Fifth on the Haines list: Would the commission have the scope to investigate people other than public officials  business people or union officials, for example? The answer is yes. If a business person or union boss is involved in corrupt conduct with a politician or public servant, theyd be fair game. This should also satisfy Peter Duttons demand  that an anti-corruption commission is needed to police the relationship between crooked union officials and Labor politicians. Finally, Haines wants the NACC to have a pro-active role in educating officials, MPs and the wider public about integrity. On this, the government is open-minded but is inclined to think its best left to the NACC itself to decide how, and how much, educational work it should do. In all, it seems the government and crossbench recipes for cooking the chook are broadly similar, with differences at the margin. The government bill will go to a parliamentary inquiry before going to a vote, but with the intention that an NACC should be legislated, funded and setting up by the middle of next year.
With Ukraines hospitals desperate for more medical equipment, this Aussie is organising supplies  and an eclectic band of volunteers to get them there.

September 16, 2022

by David Crowe
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, an avowed republican, stood in tight-lipped observance as the British national anthem was played outside Parliament House. He says now is a time to pay tribute to the life of Elizabeth II, not debate our system of government. While few would argue with the PM about this, debate is happening nonetheless. There has always been this tension in Australia and the tension point is, of course, when the monarch dies, particularly such a long-serving one, Keneally tells The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. It is a pious hope that the conversation wont come back, but it is the next paragraph. If you talk for more than two sentences about the monarch then it comes up again. Author and Australian Republican Movement co-founder Thomas Keneally. Credit:David Mariuz Australia is one of 14 Commonwealth realms outside Britain. Republican sentiment is strongest across the nations of the English-speaking Caribbean, where Britains slave trade persisted well into the 19th century. Barbados split from the monarchy last year and the governments of Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda have flagged their intention to do the same. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she hopes to see a republic in her lifetime but shifting to one isnt on her agenda. In Canada, the constitutional bar for severing ties with the monarchy is set even higher than it is here. It requires amendment by unanimous consent: the support of both houses of parliament and all 10 provinces.

In Australia, republicans and monarchists alike have long understood that once the Queen died, the simmering argument over Australias constitutional arrangements would come to a boil again. Malcolm Turnbull, the former Australian Republic Movement chairman who led the failed 1999 referendum campaign, declared six years ago that we would never see a republic while Elizabeth reigned. Loading Now that the Queen is dead, the republic will return to the national political conversation, but in substantially altered form and context. Key figures involved in the push for a republic and constitutional recognition of our First Nations people acknowledge that, although proposals for a Voice to Parliament and an Australian head of state must be decided by separate referenda questions likely to be held years apart, the two issues are fundamentally entwined. Keneally says recognising the tower of history and human occupation that existed before 1788 is crucially important and a necessary step towards preparing Australia for a republic. This is a significant development in the republican movement since 1999 when, according to Yawuru man Peter Yu, the concerns of First Nations people were barely paid lip service.

Professor Yu, through his previous leadership of the Kimberley Land Council, cut his teeth in the fiercely contested native title debates of the 1990s and is today Vice-President (First Nations) at the Australian National University and a member of the prime ministers advisory group on the Voice to Parliament. He sees the Voice, a truth-telling commission, treaty and eventually, a republic, as progressive steps on Australias path towards a modern, social democracy. We are on that journey and we have been on it for some time, he says. Peter Yu, a member of the prime ministers advisory group for the Voice to Parliament says reconciliation and an Australian republic are now connected. Credit:Enrique Ascui It is an agenda of immense ambition and one the Albanese government is committed to, one step at a time. Albanese and Aboriginal leaders are alive to the risks associated with blurring the campaigns required to build consensus for constitutional recognition of First Nations people and removing the Crown from the constitution. The PM was emphatic this week that only the Voice would go to a referendum in this term of parliament. I couldnt envisage a circumstance where we changed our head of state to an Australian head of state but still didnt recognise First Nations people in our constitution, he told ABC TV. Dr Jackie Huggins, a Bidjara and Birri Gubba Juru woman who is also a member of the advisory group on the Voice, says this is the correct order. It will allow First Nations people to be heard on the question of the republic; a foundational consideration in any debate about sovereignty.

I was involved in that process of looking at a republic referendum leading into 1999, and it was very white bread, she says. Now it could be more informed, one would hope, which would give the campaign more gravitas. Im pretty optimistic that will happen. Loading University of Sydney Professor Mark McKenna says that in the decade leading up to the 1999 vote, the republic and reconciliation movements ran in parallel, with almost no communication between the two. What we effectively said back then was: Look, our republic matters more than your exclusion from the constitution. Now, we can see how wrong that was. Phil Cleary, an outspoken member of the direct election camp that helped sink the Australian Republican Movements preferred minimalist model at the last referendum, agrees that the Voice, if established, will have a big role to play in any future republican campaign. He also argues Australia cannot fully reconcile with its First Nations people unless it severs its links to the institution ultimately responsible for their dispossession. He says Australias ceremonial response to the Queens death, particularly the juxtaposition of welcome to country ceremonies with minutes of silence and renditions of the British national anthem, exposed contradictions that can only be resolved through constitutional change.

We cant institute an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and turn a blind eye to the wrongs that began with the Crowns act of dispossession and flowed into every fabric of Indigenous life, Cleary says. Its inevitable that the Queens death will generate a conversation about how we marry the Voice to a new parliament free of that old empire. Wiradjuri and Wailwan lawyer Teela Reid says if Australia is to become a republic, these are conversations we need to have. You cant talk republic without understanding what we are putting on the table. If you are going to engage in that dialogue around a republic you have to have an equal conversation with First Nations people about what that means to us. The Voice is just one part of reframing that relationship. University of Sydney First Nations lawyer in residence Teela Reid. Credit:Steven Siewert. The ARM is maintaining what its chair Peter FitzSimons describes as a dignified silence while the Queen is commemorated and mourned. Earlier in the week, he momentarily broke that silence on Twitter to point out that, given the visceral public reaction to the Queens death, it was right and respectful that the ARM takes a very brief pause. Once its campaign resumes, it is likely the ARM will formally throw its support behind the Voice. What does the public response to the Queens death tell us about the prospects of Australia becoming a republic? Professor David Flint, a monarchist who helped lead the no campaign in 1999, says the loss expressed by so many Australians suggests there will never be another referendum on a republic, let alone a successful one. Mark Latham, a strong supporter of a republic when he led the Labor Party, believes the cause is now dead for a generation, if not longer.

Social researcher Rebecca Huntley, who was 23 years old when she campaigned for the republic in 1999, offers a different take on the public mood. She [the Queen] was the wallpaper of our lives, that wallpaper you have as a kid, she says. It is incredibly familiar, you probably dont even see it, you know it has to go but when it does, it sparks a whole lot of unexpected trauma and nostalgia. Huntley points out that, although many people are exhausted from dealing with COVID and, perhaps, overwhelmed by climate, energy and geostrategic challenges facing Australia and its place in the world, the election of so many teal independents at this years federal election shows there is an appetite to challenge and improve our political culture and institutions. Social researcher Rebecca Huntley says: If we are going to have these conversations ... lets really have them. Credit:Nick Moir In 1999 there was a minimalist model where we werent going to talk about the quality of our democracy, we are not going to talk about First Nations people and their fight for justice and reconciliation and truth, we are just going to have the teeniest, tiniest model because we think it is going to be successful, she says. There is now a sense that if we are going to have these conversations, which are going to be polarising and difficult, lets really have them. It would seem extraordinary to have a conversation about becoming a republic that doesnt engage in larger questions about the quality of our institutions and democracy.
The state public defender office is amid a "meteoric turnaround" after a historically difficult year for the agency, Director Brett Schandelson told state lawmakers this week.

The Office of the State Public Defender has seen open positions around the state fall from 35 to just under 10, and turnover has cooled off, largely due to a new commitment of enforcing workload limits on attorneys and raising pay for staff and contract lawyers, Schandelson told an interim budget committee on Wednesday.

It's a new scene compared to May, when OPD was facing its highest-ever vacancy rate among staff and leaning more heavily on contractors than the agency ever had. The office was also defending itself against multiple contempt orders from a Yellowstone County judge who sanctioned the agency for failing to assign attorneys to indigent clients.

"We're really optimistic right now," Schandelson said. "That is a meteoric turnaround for us."

The agency has, for "the first time in its history," begun holding the line on attorneys' caseloads, Schandelson said.

"Limiting our work has helped us retain attorneys because they're not getting burned out," he told the Legislature's public safety budget committee. Explaining during job interviews how the agency handles workloads has eased some applicants' concerns about the historically overworked public defenders office, Schandelson said.

One of the agency's biggest efforts to stabilize the situation in Yellowstone County was contracting with a private law firm to take on the municipal and justice court cases, freeing up staff attorneys to focus on more intensive cases in district courts.

Schandelson said the agency has since expanded the model to two other locations.

Great Falls was teetering on a crisis similar to Yellowstone County, so the agency contracted with a private firm and freed up two full time attorneys to serve clients in district court, finding the same resource management improvement as Yellowstone County.

The other new contract model went into place in the 16th Judicial District, which covers seven counties in rural southeast Montana. The area has a far lower volume of cases, Schandelson said, but required a lot of travel time for staff attorneys.

It's early in both the contracts and the new fiscal year to see how these changes will affect the agency's budget in the long run, but OPD is in a better place, Schandelson told lawmakers.

"It does not mean our problems are solved, but it means we are not on fire in the way we once were," he said.
University of Queensland emeritus professor Clive Moore, one of Australias foremost experts on Solomon Islands, describes Sogavare as intelligent and energetic but also emotional, quite paranoid and self-serving. Sogavare, according to Moore, has no problems with destroying the basic principles on which the nation is founded if necessary to remain in power. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Beijing in 2019. Credit:AP Despite Sogavares broadsides against Australia and disturbing signs of a drift away from democracy in the Solomons, Albanese will welcome his counterpart to Canberra for an official visit next month. The unstated but undeniable mission: to stop him moving any closer to Beijing. Albanese this week also offered to fly Sogavare and other Pacific leaders to Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral on the governments VIP jet. Sogavare declined, with the Solomon Islands governor-general taking up the offer instead.

Anthony Bergin, a senior fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says: Sogavare is a master of playing us like a fiddle. Hes demonstrated hes very skillful at manipulating other countries, including Australia. Sogavare is keeping other important nations off balance as well. In August, he offended US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman by skipping a scheduled appearance at a commemoration service for the 80th anniversary of the Guadalcanal campaign, a crucial Pacific battle in WWII. Soon after, Sogavare instituted a moratorium on foreign naval vessels docking in Solomon Islands, including US Navy ships. Australia was exempted from the temporary ban. Batley, now a distinguished policy fellow at the Australian National University, says Sogavare is occupying a fair bit of Canberras bandwidth with his provocations and policy shifts. Its a significant achievement given he leads a nation of just 750,000 people, around half the population of Adelaide. But the Solomons proximity to Australia, and its blossoming relationship with Beijing, makes Sogavare impossible to ignore. We have major national interests at stake in our relationship with the Solomon Islands, Batley says.

Even though Sogavare insists he has no plans to allow a Chinese military base in his country, Mihai Sora, a former Australian diplomat posted in Honiara, says: The current trend of Solomons relationship with China is one of the biggest concerns for Australia in the Pacific. Now a research fellow at the Lowy Institute, Sora says: Its very concerning because it is introducing China as a security actor in the Pacific. It draws the Pacific into that global geopolitical contest between the US and China in a way it had previously been shielded from. Sogavare opposed the RAMSI intervention force as an attempt to re-colonise Solomon Islands. Credit: The current difficulties are just the latest chapter in Sogavares tumultuous relationship with Australia. Sogavare regularly spoke out against the Australian-led RAMSI peacekeeping mission, seeing it as an infringement on his nations sovereignty. In 2007, he expelled Australias high commissioner in Honiara, Patrick Cole, declaring him persona non grata and accusing him of meddling in local politics. Then-foreign minister Alexander Downer stood by Cole and described Sogavares behaviour as eccentric. Former Solomon Islands politician Alfred Sasako has suggested there is a mystical element behind Sogavares apparent antagonism towards Australia. In 2007 Sasako claimed Sogavare told him several years earlier he had been visited by the spirit of a deceased prime minister who warned him that Australia couldnt be trusted.

The Australian government is an important foreign aid contributor to Solomon Islands and is helping pay for next years Pacific Games. Canberra deployed troops and police officers to the country last November at Sogavares request when riots broke out in Honiara. Nevertheless, Sogavare has bristled at Australian politicians describing his country as being in Australias backyard. The backyard, he told the Solomon Islands parliament earlier this year, is where rubbish is collected and burned and where we relieve ourselves. Australian army soldiers talk with local citizens in Honiara in November last year. Credit:Australian Defence The recent transformation in the Solomons relationship with China has been more dramatic and, to many, alarming. In three years he has taken Solomon Islands from the most Taiwan-friendly nation in the Pacific to the most pro-China, Bergin says. Until 2019, Solomon Islands was one of the few nations in the world that diplomatically recognised Taiwan rather than Beijing  a result, critics said, of aggressive chequebook diplomacy from Taiwan. Then Sogavares government flipped and decided to recognise Beijing instead.

In a recent program, the ABCs Four Corners alleged that Chinese-funded bribes to Solomon Islands politicians had been used to shore up Sogavares numbers in the parliament before a no-confidence vote last year. China is keeping this government together, Ruth Liloqula, Transparency Internationals Solomon Islands head, told the ABC. We all assume that China is remotely controlling the government and Solomon Islands affairs. Sogavare signed the condolence book for Queen Elizabeth this week but has declined to go the funeral. Credit:AP The Sogavare government angrily denied the report. The Solomons shift towards China has coincided with troubling signs for media freedom and democracy. Last month the government took tighter control of the state-owned Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, a decision opponents say was aimed at censoring the news.

Then there was the delay in the scheduled four-yearly elections, a move approved by the Solomon Islands parliament last week. In the lead-up to the vote, Wong appeared on ABC Radio and spoke about the governments offer to help pay for the elections, prompting a furious response from Sogavare. Some foreign policy observers believed it was Wongs first notable mistake since Labor formed government in May. There was a not lot of value in making that offer public, a former senior diplomat says, describing it as a smart alec move given Sogavare was determined to delay the poll and had the numbers in parliament to do so. Penny Wong may have made her first wrong move as foreign affairs minister in revealing the Australian offer to fund Solomon Islands elections. Credit:Joe Armao In an unusually strident criticism of Wong, opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said the government was right to offer financial assistance but the execution of that offer appears to have been woefully undertaken. Bergin, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says he wishes the Albanese government would take a tougher line on Sogavare. Australia, he argues, should have made funding for the Pacific Games conditional on its elections being held as scheduled. Im buggered if I know why were hosting him in Canberra, he adds.
The Wyoming Republican Party has begun the process of finding an interim secretary of state.

The state GOP announced Friday that it will hold a central committee meeting on Sept. 24 to nominate three possible replacements for Ed Buchanan, who left office this week for a judgeship. The meeting is open to the public and will take place at 1 p.m. at Pavillion's Wind River Recreation Center.

Buchanan did not run for reelection and recently vacated his seat to take a position as a district judge in Goshen County.

The secretary of state is Wyoming's No. 2 elected official. The office oversees elections as well as business registrations, among other things.

The central committee -- which is made up of three Republican leaders from each Wyoming county -- will choose three candidates at the Sept. 24 meeting. Gov. Mark Gordon will then appoint one of them to fill out the roughly three months remaining on Buchanan's term. Gordon is statutorily required to make a pick within five days.

The state GOP used the same procedure after Jillian Balow left her post as superintendent of public instruction in January. That process spurred a lawsuit led by former Speaker of the Wyoming House Tom Lubnau.

He and others alleged the appointment violated the state and U.S. constitutions because it defied the "one man-one vote principle. That's because each county had the same number of votes (three), despite drastically different populations in some cases.

The lawsuit failed, and Lubnau said he does not plan to bring a suit over the coming secretary nomination process.

Buchanan's replacement will be required to oversee the November general election after only a couple weeks in the job. Given that timeline, the state party unsuccessfully requested that Buchanan remain in his seat until after voters cast their ballots.

Most incoming Secretaries of State have almost two years to prepare for their first general election. However, if you resign in mid-September when there is an election 6 weeks later, it may be setting your appointed successor up to fail, State GOP Chairman Frank Eathorne wrote in a letter from earlier this month.

Casper Rep. Chuck Gray secured the Republican nomination for secretary of state and is all but guaranteed to win in the general election since he's without a Democratic or independent challenger. Per the Wyoming Constitution, Gray does not appear eligible to be the temporary replacement because his term as a state representative is ongoing.

Interested parties should send a letter of interest, a statement of qualifications, and "any other information pertinent to the office" to party Executive Director Kathy Russell by 5 p.m. Wednesday. You must be a resident of the state, 25 years old and a registered Republican.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Cloudy, breezy, and cool with a bit of rain or some times of drizzle, especially in the afternoon..

Tonight

Cloudy and brisk with a few showers remaining or a touch of drizzle.
STROUD TWP., Pa. - A Monroe County jury has found a man on trial for homicide not guilty.

Randy Halterman was on trial for shooting two intruders in his home, killing one of them. We spoke with Halterman as he was leaving the Monroe County Correctional Facility. After almost two years in jail, he's now a free man.

"What an ordeal, I knew I didn't do what they accused me of doing," said Halterman, as he hugged his former girlfriend, Carolyn Kautz.

Kautz and other family and friends were there to greet him outside the correctional facility.

"This was a horrific day for everybody involved. I'm happy I'm released. I've been in here 19 months," said Halterman.

After only two and a half hours, the jury came back with a not-guilty verdict on all counts. Halterman was facing homicide, attempted homicide, and aggravated assault charges for shooting two intruders in his Stroud Township home on January 19, 2021, killing one of them.

The man who died was 20-year-old Adam Schultz. His girlfriend, Chasity Frailey, was also shot and testified on the stand that they thought the house was abandoned, and they asked Halterman to stop shooting.

Halterman claimed he was justified under the Pennsylvania Castle Doctrine, which says you can use deadly force on someone in your home if they broke in and you are in fear for your life. He also called 911 after the shooting, something the prosecution said he should have done earlier.

"I made a 911 call for a plea for help, and he turned it into a confession," said Halterman.

Kautz also testified on the stand, saying she found a crowbar in Halterman's house that may have been used to break in. She and Halterman's lead attorney, Eric Closs, were happy with the result.

"Justice has been served. It's like God bless the jury, God bless the jury," said Kautz.

"We're just relieved the jury rendered a just verdict. We're glad this case is over and Mr. Halterman can be free finally," said Closs.

And Halterman is now free, but with a grudge against the Monroe County District Attorney's Office.

"I knew I didn't do what they accused me of doing. It's not right what they did to me," said Halterman.

We did try to speak with the prosecutor, First Assistant District Attorney Michael Mancuso, after the trial, but he was not available for comment.
Apparently some media pundits in North Dakota dont care much how women in North Dakota feel and what they think. The coverage and commentary they are disseminating about Mark Haugens decision to leave the U.S. House of Representatives race show how little they understand this new political landscape with angry women in it.

When columnists and editorial writers are dismissive of one issue taking center stage in North Dakota politics, it's because they dont get or dont care how much reproductive freedom and access to reproductive health care matter. Lives literally are at stake.

When they are self-righteous in condemning one party for its unwillingness to compromise, they really are saying women should just suck it up. Never mind that Republicans won't compromise. Too bad if North Dakota doesnt send representatives to Washington to represent them at one of the most critical junctures in the history of reproductive rights and of freedom from government interference in our private lives.

When they smugly point out dissent in the Democratic-NPL Party, they ignore the large swath of the party that has felt silenced about abortion rather than jeopardize one of its candidates. They look the other way about the chaos in the state Republican Party caused by the entrance of a third independent candidate into the U.S. Senate race.

When they accuse members of the Democratic-NPL Party of having extremist views on abortion, they forget that over 64% of voters in North Dakota in 2014 rejected the Republicans extremist personhood amendment to the North Dakota Constitution. They ignore the fact that state Republicans moved forward anyway with a trigger ban making abortion illegal. They seem unaware that the Republican Party across the country has rushed to implement the most draconian measures imaginable, criminalizing medical care and endangering lives.

When they opine that the party should listen to its constituents and what they care about, they are oblivious to voters saying they care about reproductive freedom. The North Dakota Dem-NPL party at its 2022 convention in March adopted a platform that supports access to reproductive health care. This mainstream position is in keeping with a majority of North Dakotans and the rest of the country.

Mark Haugen was endorsed as a candidate for the U.S. House at that same convention. Individual candidates might not support every part of the partys platform. That is their right. But candidates also face the consequences of their positions. In this case, the situation changed dramatically. Despite assurances by the Republican- nominated justices to the contrary, the U.S. Supreme Court issued the Dobbs decision overthrowing fifty years of established case law decided by Roe v. Wade in 1973. Then a pro-choice independent candidate announced her intention in North Dakota to file for the U.S. House seat.

Haugen left the race when the numbers to victory were clearly not in his favor in a three-way contest, listening to seasoned members of his party. It was obviously not an easy decision, but he did the right thing by stepping aside.

Now there is a two-way race for the House between Cara Mund, an independent, and the incumbent Kelly Armstrong, a Republican. The Senate seat has a three-way race between Democrat Katrina Christiansen and Republican John Hoeven and Independent Rick Becker. Now there is a clear choice for North Dakota women and others who care about keeping the government out of their medical decisions and doctors offices. One candidate for each office supports codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law, Christiansen and Mund. The others, if seated in the U.S. House or Senate, will vote against protecting individual freedom and vote in favor of federal measures that would codify Republican extremism. These votes by North Dakotas Senators and Representatives couldnt be more crucial.

Its time North Dakotas media take a deep breath and ask themselves who they listen to. Maybe they should be listening to the majority of voters who dont support Republican extremism on abortion. Maybe they should be listening to the majority of the Dem-NPL party that adopted the common sense solution of advocating access to reproductive health care in its platform at the March convention.

Maybe they should be listening to women across the state who are alarmed and angry about the Supreme Courts decision and the North Dakota GOPs extremism. Maybe they are the ones who should be listening to their constituents.
SKIPPACK TWP., Pa. - What started as a training exercise at SCI Phoenix, a state prison in Montgomery County, turned into a tragic accident Thursday.

An explosive device being installed by the bomb squad went off too soon and five people had to be sent to the hospital.

Three were with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office: Cpl. Ryan Volk, Cpl. Tim Metz, and Cpl. Andrew Noto.

Volk was taken to a hospital for severe injuries. Metz and Noto were sent to the hospital.

All three men are veterans with the department, with each having more than a decade of experience.

Metz and Noto have since been released from the hospital. Volk is still hospitalized with what we're told are non-life-threatening injuries.

"We have grief counselors, we have psychologists, and we are dealing with the emotional trauma that has happened to our office," said Montgomery County Sheriff Sean Kilkenny.

The other two victims at the scene were a Pennsylvania State Trooper and Special Agent from FBI Philadelphia. Both had to be hospitalized. We're still waiting for them to be identified.

Officials say the FBI agent has been released. Safe to say, the agencies involved are looking to avoid future incidents like this one.

"Hopefully we can move past this, get better standards if they are needed and make sure this never happens again," Kilkenny said.

The FBI and Pennsylvania State Police are still investigating how the accident happened. The Montgomery County Sheriff tells us his department will be doing a thorough analysis once those details are released.
PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. - In Warren County, New Jersey, two fires at two diners located just minutes from each other on Route 22 started mere hours apart. The owners tell 69 News officials told them the two fires are unrelated.

"It's like a staple of Phillipsburg," local Joel Richline said about Key City Diner.

Key City Diner on Route 22 in Lopatcong Township has been owned by the same family for 22 years.

"That would be like our late-night place to go and get food," Richline said.

Owners tell 69 News it was around 2:30 or 3 p.m. that they were changing lightbulbs inside the diner, when suddenly there was smoke. It was inside the walls, they said, so they were unable to put it out. They ran outside, called 911 and say firefighters came within minutes.

"It is kind of odd, though, two diners caught on fire," Richline said.

The fire at Key City Diner came just hours after another diner fire just about four minutes down the road. Catch 22, also on Route 22, was supposed to have its soft open the same day it caught fire.

That owner tells 69 News the fire started around 1:30 or 2 a.m. Friday. He says the fire marshal told him it was due to the old neon sign on the diner.

The owner of Catch 22 posted on Facebook that he's "heartbroken" about the fire. He tells 69 News he bought the diner so he'd have something to leave his children when he's gone.

Officials didn't respond to requests for comment.

But Lopatcong Township Fire Company #2 also posted on Facebook that they responded to the Catch 22 diner fire around 1:45 a.m. Friday and "were able to quickly extinguish the fire."

"It's upsetting, and I hope that they rebuild and come back," Richline said.

The owners of both diners tell 69 News they hope to regroup, and reopen, as soon as possible.

The owner of Catch 22 says after dealing with his own diner fire and then learning about the other diner fire, he went over to lend his support.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin mounted on the battlefield and in the halls of global power as Ukrainian troops pushed their counteroffensive Saturday to advance farther into Ukraine's partly recaptured northeast.

Western officials and analysts said Russian forces were apparently setting up a new defensive line in Ukraines northeast after the counteroffensive punched through the previous one, allowing Kyivs soldiers to recapture large swaths of land in the northeastern Kharkiv region that borders Russia.

Putin, at a high-level summit in Uzbekistan this week, vowed to press his attack on Ukraine despite the recent military setbacks but also faced concerns by India and China over the drawn-out conflict.

I know that todays era is not of war," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Russian leader in televised comments as they met Friday in Uzbekistan. We discussed this with you on the phone several times, that democracy and dialogue touch the entire world.

At the same summit a day earlier, Putin acknowledged China's unspecified questions and concerns about the war in Ukraine while thanking President Xi Jinping for Beijing's balanced position on the conflict.

The hurried retreat of Russian troops this month from parts of a northeast region they occupied early in the war, together with the rare public reservations expressed by key allies, underscored the challenges that Putin faces on all fronts. Both China and India have maintained strong ties with Russia and had sought to remain neutral on Ukraine.

Xi, in a statement, expressed support for Russias core interests but also wanted to work together to inject stability into world affairs. Modi said he wanted to discuss how we can move forward on the path of peace," adding that the biggest concerns facing the world are the problems of food security, fuel security and fertilizers.

"We must find some way out and you too must contribute to that, Modi stressed in a rare public rebuke.

The comments cast a shadow over a summit that Putin had hoped would burnish his diplomatic status and show he was not so internationally isolated.

On the battlefield, Britain's Defense Ministry said the new front line likely was between the Oskil River and Svatove, 150 kilometers (90 miles) southeast of Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city.

After Russian troops retreated from the city of Izium, Ukrainian authorities discovered a mass grave site, one of the largest found so far.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that there were more than 440 graves at the location containing the bodies of hundreds of civilian adults and children, as well as soldiers, and that some had been tortured, shot or killed by artillery shelling. He cited evidence of atrocities, such as a body with a rope around its neck and broken arms.

Torture was a widespread practice in the occupied territory. Thats what the Nazis did. Thats what (the Russians) do, Zelenskyy said Saturday in his nightly video address. We will establish the identity of all those who tortured, who mocked, who brought this atrocity from Russia here to Ukrainian soil.

Ukrainian forces, in the meantime, were crossing the Oskil River in the Kharkiv region and have placed artillery there, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said Saturday. The river, which flows south from Russia into Ukraine, had been a natural break in the newly emerged front lines since Ukraine launched its counteroffensive about a week ago.

Russian forces are likely too weak to prevent further Ukrainian advances along the entire Oskil River, the institute said.

Videos circulating online indicated that Ukrainian forces were continuing to retake land in the country's embattled east, although their veracity could not be independently verified.

One showed a Ukrainian soldier walking past a damaged building and then pointing at a colleague hanging the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag over a mobile phone tower. The soldier identified the seized village as Dibrova, just northeast of the city of Sloviansk in Ukraines Donetsk region.

Another video showed two Ukrainian soldiers in what appeared to be a bell tower, with one saying they had retaken the village of Shchurove, also northeast of Sloviansk.

The Ukrainian military and Russia did not comment on the two villages.

Elsewhere, Russian forces continued pounding cities and villages with missile strikes and shelling.

A Russian missile attack early Saturday started a fire in Kharkiv's industrial area, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. Firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Syniehubov said remnants suggested the Russians fired S-300 surface-to-air missiles at the city. The S-300 is designed for striking missiles or aircraft in the sky, not targets on the ground. Analysts say Russias use of the missiles suggest they may be running out of some precision munitions.

Shelling of the nearby city of Chuhuiv later in the day killed an 11-year-old girl, Syniehubov reported.

In the southern Zaporizhzhia region, a large part of which is occupied by Russian forces, one person was wounded in shelling of the city of Orikhiv, the region's Ukrainian governor, Oleksandr Starukh, reported on Telegram. He said Russian troops also shelled two villages in the region, destroying several civilian facilities.

Explosions were also reported in Russian-occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia. Russian-installed official Vladimir Rogov said on Telegram that at least five blasts were heard in the city of Melitopol. The city's Ukrainian mayor, Ivan Fedorov, said they were in a village south of the city, where the Russian troops had relocated some military equipment.

Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region also came under Russian fire overnight, according to its governor, Valentyn Reznichenko. The enemy attacked six times and launched more than 90 deadly projectiles on peaceful cities and villages, he said.

Meanwhile, Ukraines atomic energy operator, Energoatom, said a convoy of 25 trucks had brought diesel and other critical supplies to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant  Europe's largest  which was shut down a week ago amid fears that nearby fighting could result in a radiation disaster.

The trucks were allowed through Russian checkpoints Friday to deliver spare parts for repairs of damaged power lines, chemicals for the operation of the plant and additional fuel for backup diesel generators, Energoatom said.

The six-reactor plant was captured by Russian forces in March but is operated by Ukrainian engineers. Its last reactor was switched off Sunday after repeated power failures due to shelling put crucial safety systems at risk.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported Saturday that one of the nuclear plants four main external power lines had been repaired.

The Russian military accused Ukraine of renewed artillery shelling of the power plant. Ukrainian authorities did not immediately address the claim.

In Russia, one person was killed and two others wounded Saturday by shelling, according to Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Russian border region of Belgorod. Gladkov blamed Ukraine. The claim could not be verified.

Karl Ritter in Kyiv contributed to this report.

Follow AP war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  Riot police clashed Saturday with soccer hooligans in downtown Belgrade, where a pan-European Pride march was held despite threats from anti-gay groups and an official earlier ban on the march in the traditionally conservative Balkan state.

Tensions were high in the Serbian capital as ultranationalist fans hurled stun grenades, stones and flares at a police cordon, which repelled the attack with batons and riot shields. Hundreds of Pride march supporters, meanwhile, gathered a few kilometers (miles) away in the pouring rain, dancing and singing their march was held on shortened route.

"We need justice and freedom, said Goran Miletic, one of the Pride event organizers.

Although several Pride marches have been held in Serbia in the past years, the Slavic nation that is formally seeking European Union membership appears to be sliding toward Russia and its conservative traditions.

Holding rainbow flags, hundreds of LGBTQ activists and their supporters marched through a central Belgrade area that was sealed off by police who put up metal fences and stood in cordons in full riot gear.

U.S. Ambassador Christopher Hill was among the participants. Hill told N1 regional television that we are all brothers and sisters and Gods children.

Its an important day for equality and an important day for this country as well, he said.

As the column passed by a church in central Belgrade, bells constantly tolled, reflecting the Serbian Orthodox Churchs staunch opposition to the Pride events. Participants of the march then headed to a concert.

Earlier, Serbian activists said the main reason for the march is the fight for more rights for the beleaguered LGBTQ community in Serbia, including laws that would regulate the rights of same-sex partnerships, such as inheritance, property and other issues.

Serbian police this week banned the parade, citing the risk of clashes with the far-right activists. But organizers on Saturday said they received guarantees from Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who is a lesbian, that the event could go ahead.

Brnabic said she was proud that during "this entire week, with more then 130 (LGBTQ) events, there wasnt a one single incident. And that really is the right image of Belgrade and Serbia.

Brnabic said 5,200 police officers were deployed on Belgrade streets during the Pride march, 64 people were detained and 10 policemen sustained sight injuries.

A far-right party leader said Brnabic should have been arrested and charged with treason for allowing the march to be held.

The European Pride Organizers Association chose Serbias capital three years ago to host the annual event, hoping it would represent a major breakthrough for a Slavic country that is traditionally conservative and strongly influenced by the Orthodox Church.

EU and other Western officials, as well as rights groups, had urged populist Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to allow the Pride march but Vucic had claimed that police cant cope with possible riots by right-wing groups amid the energy crisis brought on by the war in Ukraine.

AP writer Jovana Gec contributed to this story.
Across the globe, we humans throw away more than 80 billion pairs of chopsticks every year. AtlasObscura explains:

For more than 5,000 years, chopsticks have been the preferred dining utensil of a sizable swath of humanity. Nowadays, around a third of the global population uses chopsticks daily. This is both a fact of life and, given these implements are often single-use, a serious environmental problem.

Well, one Vancouver-based company called "ChopValue," founded in 2016 by Felix Bock, is trying to do its part to help recycle some of those disposed chopsticks. Again, AtlasObscura:

Company staff pick up around 350,000 used chopsticks from 300-plus restaurants every week, all of which become book shelves, cutting boards, coasters, desks, and custom decorations. According to Bock, the startup has saved more than 50 million pairs of chopsticks from landfills since its launch. Transforming a teriyaki sauce-slicked piece of bamboo into a rolling cabinet takes quite a bit of work. To remove any trace of food waste, the chopsticks are first coated in a water-based resin, then sterilized at 200 degrees Fahrenheit in a specialized oven for five hours. A hydraulic machine then breaks the wood down into a composite board, which is sanded, polished, and lacquered as necessary. "This material is then the core piece for everything from desks and table tops to home decor," Bock says. For ChopValue to be more than a novelty, Bock knows that it needs to scale. The company recently received $3 million in funding and, in 2021, launched its first international franchise in Singapore. "We're trying to expand responsibly and chose to franchise the concept so that other business owners could own their own microfactories," he says.

I took a look at the products for sale on the ChopValue website, and they are really quite beautiful. They sell office furniture and accessories, as well as tables, shelves, all kinds of kitchen accessories (think coasters, cutting boards, and more), and even games like dominos and cribbage sets. And the prices aren't outrageousthey are what you'd expect from sustainably made work. AtlasObscura explains that each piece of furniture has a "negative net-caron impact," and each comes with information about how many chopsticks were re-used. A work desk, for example, uses 10,852 chopsticks that would otherwise probably have ended up in a landfill!
By Chen Hong

On September 15, 2021, then-Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and leaders of the US and UK jointly announced the establishment of AUKUS, a trilateral security partnership,in a high-profile manner. To some extent, this can be regarded as an "alliance in alliance" in the traditional American alliance system. Morrison called it a "historic opportunity " with complacency. As of now when a year has passed, what has Australia gained from the strategic alliance?

According to the pact reached by the three countries, Australia canceled an estimated 90 billion Australian dollars (about $65 billion at that time) contracts with France for 12 conventionally-powered submarines , and instead bought eight nuclear-powered submarines capable of performing long-range missions from the UK and the US. This has been known as the "first pillar" of AUKUS. However, it is estimated that Australia may have to wait until 2040 to complete the building of its first nuclear-powered submarine according to the most optimistic estimates that the design and construction could have begun in September last year. On the one hand, Australia has to pay over 830 million Australian dollars (about $584 million at that time) in compensation to France; on the other hand, it needs to purchase the technology and equipment required for nuclear-powered submarine construction from countries such as the US and the UK at enormous costs. Even so, the Australian side is but ushering in a prospect unforeseeable.

As a makeshift, Australia proposed to acquire one or two US-made Virginia-class or Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered submarines at first. But it is extremely ironic that Rear Adm. Scott Pappano of the US Navy said recently that the US submarine manufacturing capacity is limited recently, and accepting additional orders from Australia would be detrimental to its (the US) own interests.

The Morrison government has failed this year's federal election, leaving the new government with such an unmanageable mess. The Australian public didn't know about AUKUS a year ago, nor now a year later. Neither the then Australian prime minister nor the newly-elected one has made a speech on this, with the AUKUS pact-related content yet to be unveiled.

As we all know, after WWII, Australia has completely stand by the US on foreign and security policies, regarding the US as its most important military ally, and willing to participate in almost every US military operation abroad at all costs. However, for Australia, the US has always been an "unreliable" friend.

On the other hand, the AUKUS pact does not stipulate whether the US is supposed to provide assistance when Australia's security is under direct threat. In the 1960s, when Australia saw the confrontation between Indonesia and Malaysia as a threat to itself, the Menzies government turned to the US for military support and got flatly rejected by then US President John F. Kennedy. After that, Australia has twice sought assistance from the US in the case of issues of Irian Barat and East Timor, which had also been ruthlessly rejected.

The Morrison government has intended to further bond Australia's future with the US hegemony strategy with the AUKUS. Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles recently stated that Australia would get tactically integrated with its "strategic partners" including the US and the UK for coordinated operations.

Australia has always thought itself in a super-alliance with the US, but the fact is that the US guided by its egoistic foreign policy has not and will not put Australia's security and interests at the forefront. Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser once said the US was the "most dangerous ally" to Australia. No wonder some Australian media have proposed to "reconsider the strategy of deep bond with the US" and questioned about "Can Australia relies on the US?"

(The author is the director of the Australian Studies Center of East China Normal University)

Editor's note: This article is originally published on huanqiu.com, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
Two new resources expose the violence of solitary confinement, and the dignity and will of people struggling to survive incarceration

Flying Kites : A Story of the 2013 California Prison Hunger Strike

"Every day, in prisons and jails across the United States, some eighty thousand people are held in solitary confinement, isolated and deprived of human contact. A growing body of scientific evidence shows that such conditions cause the brain to wither and can lead to permanent neurological damage. Per the United Nations' "Nelson Mandela Rules," which, in 2015, were adopted as minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners around the world, prolonged use of the practice amounts to torture and should be abolished." Thus begins the New Yorker Magazine's article about the debut of a documentary short by James Burns and Shal Ngo, The Box: Minds Lost in Solitary Confinement.

Burns experiences 11 months of solitary confinement when he was sixteen years old. To tell this complicated and simple story, "the film blends first-person narration, live-action reenactment sequences, and stop-motion animation to explore the psychological trauma that solitary confinement inflicts on survivors." Click here to view the short.

In 2021, Haymarket books published the newest book from the Stanford Graphic Novel Project, Flying Kites: A Story of the 2013 California Prison Hunger Strike. Shifting back and forth between a father-daughter relationship lived through letters and visits; the state-wide political organizing for prisoner's rights; and the political movement that emerged inside and outside the walls. "Based on the events of the historic 2013 California prison hunger strike, Flying Kites is a story about resilience, forgiveness, hope, and what it means to find your own voice."

"After guards find a book in his cell containing the penciled name of a suspected gang member, Rodrigo Santiago is 'validated' for gang affiliation and sent to indefinite solitary confinement in the Pelican Bay State Prison Secure Housing Unit, or SHU. Life in the SHU is monotonous, isolating, and enraging. It literally drives prisoners insane.

Rodrigo resolves to survive. He struggles to maintain a connection to his daughter, Luz, through letters that are his only happiness. As Luz grows up, though, she presses Rodrigo for more insight into his daily life. She wants the real him. Willing to give her anything she asks, but finding himself at a loss for words, Rodrigo makes a mistake that threatens to destroy the trust between them."

Kiteslettersbecome the medium through which Rodrigo expresses himself, his reflections about being in prison and his decisions, the narration of events concerning the strike, and through letters he reconnects with Luz. All this is taking place in the context of state-wide hunger strikes across California, and particularly in the Pelican Bay SHU, that involved family members, community organizations, students, journalists, and lawyers.

The artists and writers, designers, and journalists that created this politically potent and powerful work of art include Candice Kim, Katherine Liu, Lily Nilipour, Sarah Shourd, Lucy Zhu, Peter DiCampo, Danial Shadmany, Nik Wesson, Elena Kamas, Serena Zhang, Sharon Tran, Luke Soon-Shiong, and (Michelle) Bae.

In addition to the main text, there are appendixes for further learning about solitary confinement, a timeline of events, and information about Unlock the Box: the Campaign to End Solitary Confinement. The participants in the Flying Kites Project also found their own voice through the collective research and learning that went into preparing to write, produce, and illustrate these stories. To represent their own process of creating the comic book, the participants pJenned and illustrated the "The Inside Story: How We Created Flying Kites." A comic within the comic, and a way of making transparent the collective process of creativity and knowledge production, the story shares the process of learning together, of being shocked, angry, and disciplined about representing stories accurately, and about being brilliant thinkers and artists. "The more we read, the more angry we became. Putting violent and mentally ill people in conditions that made them more sick and violent? That didn't make sense."

The Stanford Graphic Novel Project is a twenty-two-week course at Stanford University. The course combines "nonfiction research, visual storytelling, and long-form narrative structure."

"Since its inception the Stanford Graphic Novel Project has hewn to a few central tenets: 1) that the telling of a human story is a deeply necessary enterprise, one worthy of study and creative devotion; 2) that sourcing stories from the real world increases their capacity to do good, seek justice, and bring about change; and finally, 3) that through collaboration, a story can become richer, more inspired, and more layered with human experience."

Time-in-Cell (2021), a report produced in collaboration with the Arthur Liman Center for Public Interest Law at Yale Law School, together with the Correctional Leaders Association, found that almost 50 thousand people are held in solitary confinement in the US. The research "is the only comprehensive, current national data on the number of prisoners in solitary confinementor what prison directors call restrictive housingand the length of time prisoners are housed under these conditions. As of the summer of 2021, an estimated 41,000 to 48,000 prisoners in the United States were held in isolation for an average of 22 hours a day for 15 days or more."

Purchase this book to support this and other graphic novel projects. Click here for a list of all eight of the comics created so far. It is also available in a Dropbox file here.
JUNEAU  A 46-year-old Milwaukee woman will serve three years of probation and six months in jail for abandoning her stillborn baby in a wooded area in the town of Theresa in 2009. The baby was given the name Baby Theresa by people close to the case.

Karin Luttinen pleaded guilty to the felony charge of concealing the death of a child in April. She appeared before Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Kristine Snow, who imposed and stayed 1 years of prison and two years of extended supervision only to be served if Luttinen does not successfully complete probation. The court also required that she serve six months in jail as a condition of probation, pay a $5,000 fine and complete 60 hours of community service. Mental health treatment was also ordered as a part of the sentence.

Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg agreed not to give a specific recommendation of time as part of a plea agreement, but he was able to argue the case and offer other recommendations that had been submitted to the court for prison time.

The officers and medical examiner who had to respond to the scene and conduct the investigation live with the emotions and pain of what the defendant did to this day, Klomberg said. The childs father has had his life turned upside down. Our community suffered through the most painful experience in our collective memories. All of that pain was caused by the fact that the defendant would not give Baby Theresa the dignity that she deserved.

Members of law enforcement filled the seating area behind prosecution during the sentencing hearing.

According to the criminal complaint:

Luttinen said she was unaware she was pregnant until near the end of her pregnancy, and gave birth to the girl in April 2009 in a bathtub before disposing of the childs body. An autopsy on the newborn  dubbed Baby Theresa by authorities  determined she had died of fetal demise, which indicates a child may have died prior to or shortly after birth.

The baby was found by a man cutting wood on a private property on April 29, 2009. Her body was discovered on Lone Road less than a mile from Highway 175 and less than 3 miles from Highway 41.

Authorities found a maxi pad wrapper in the trash bag containing the infant. It was sent to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab and came back with a DNA profile of Baby Theresas then-unidentified mother.

The case was initially charged using the name Jane Doe in 2014 to prevent the statute of limitations from expiring. However, it wasnt until Jan. 29, 2021, that Luttinen was first approached about the case. A special agent for the Wisconsin Department of Justice went to speak to the father of the child and Luttinen following a potential match on the family tree DNA results.

According to the complaint, Luttinen initially denied ever being pregnant but submitted a DNA sample. DNA results showed on March 1, 2021, that Luttinen was a major component source for the maxi pad wrappings. DNA markers also showed that Luttinen was the biological mother of Baby Theresa.

DNA testing was done throughout the years, however, it wasnt until 2018 when Dodge County Detective Vickie Brugger started speaking to county Medical Examiner PJ Schoebel about revisiting the investigation using forensic genealogy. Additional genetic analysis was completed and narrowed the search to a specific branch of the family.

Baby Theresa never lived to see her birth, but she deserved more dignity than she got to be placed in a trash bag and left in the woods, Klomberg said.

Luttinen appeared with her attorney Aneeq Ahmad, who argued that the 46-year-old, who had no other criminal record and a steady work history, be placed on probation.

Ahmad recognized that the incident was a tragedy for everyone involved but said that the trauma of the birth affected Luttinens decision-making that day.

For a woman to give birth alone in her home, and for the child to be stillborn is a traumatic event, Luttinen said.

Family and neighbors sent in letters supporting Luttinen being placed on probation and said Luttinen was supportive of her family and friends. Ahmad said Luttinen needed therapy but felt she would better get those services in the community and was not a threat to the community.

Luttinen said she had no excuse for the decisions she made that day and apologized to those she hurt, including Baby Theresa.

I am so sorry that you are not here with us now, Luttinen said. If I could take your place, I would. I want you to know you are loved and missed every single day. I am sorry your family did not know about you. If you were with us now, I know everyone would have loved you and spoiled you. It should have been our family who laid you to rest properly.

Klomberg reached out to state Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, and state Sen. John Jagler, R-Watertown, over the low penalties in the current law soon after Luttinen was charged in March. The pair of legislators have authored legislation to bring the penalties for concealing the death of a child in line with the higher penalties of hiding a corpse.

Concealing the death of a child is a Class I felony with a maximum sentence of 1 years in prison and two years of extended supervision. Hiding a corpse is a class F felony with a maximum sentence of five years in prison and 12 years of extended supervision.
Zhao'an County, in Zhangzhou, a city in Southeast China's Fujian Province, has been widely known for the planting of guavas (a tropical fruit with yellow skin and pink pulp) for more than 30 years. Due in part to the poor growing techniques used in the past, the guavas in Zhao'an were not of a good quality. Therefore, the guavas sold for a low price. Chen Xiaodong and her husband, Li Xiangfeng, noticed that good-quality guavas sold very well in urban areas. In 2016, the couple decided to improve the method used to plant guavas in their hometown, Zhao'an. During the past several years, they have helped fellow villagers, especially women, increase their incomes by growing higher-quality guavas.

Better-Quality Guavas

After Chen and Li returned to Zhao'an County, Chen realized although the guavas tasted sweet, the skins of the fruit were too thick. She began studying growing techniques, so she could improve the quality of the guavas. She learned how to farm from her grandfather. She and Li planted 42 seedlings, in a field, as a trial. They took photos of the seedlings, and they asked experienced farmers to teach them how to improve their growing skills.

The couple started their guava-growing business from scratch. They believed it was important to first improve the species they were going to grow. They formed a team, and they completed several agricultural-production courses. They visited experts and experienced farmers, outside their hometown, to learn advanced-growing techniques. Following a series of trials, Chen and Li planted, in 2019, guavas that ripened with very sweet, and soft, pulp. Chen named the species "Mrs. Chen's guavas."

Chen and Li then visited their fellow villagers  door to door  and persuaded them to participate in the guava-growing business. "In the past, farmers earned 4,000 yuan (US $615) a year, generally, by growing guavas on one mu (0.067 hectare) of land by traditional techniques. But now, the newly developed species of guava helps them earn 20,000 yuan (US $3,077) per mu a year," Chen says. To date, villagers from 800-plus households, from 10 neighboring villages, are growing "Mrs. Chen's guavas." The combined growing area exceeds 1,300 mu (86.67 hectares).

Chen and Li run the business together, but they shoulder different responsibilities. Chen meets with farmers, while Li focuses on e-commerce management. "Mrs. Chen's guavas" are known on the Internet as "popular guavas that taste like ice cream." The couple promotes their guavas via livestreaming events. They use online platforms to develop e-commerce, and to help farmers sell various agricultural products.

A Growing Business

Chen and Li have helped villagers in their hometown, especially rural women, learn from each other e-commerce management and agricultural production tips and skills. They have invited experts and professionals, from scientific-research institutes, to guide the farmers as they try to improve their growing techniques. Chen and Li also established a company, which has been named by the Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences an industrial techniques innovation and service basement.

Influenced by the couple, villagers in Zhao'an have developed an interest in e-commerce and entrepreneurship. "Someone has visited me and my husband to ask if I can help sell products to those who are from a computer'," Chen says.

Chen and Li care about rural women, especially those who make up their minds to start a business. Under the guidance and with support of women's federations, at all levels, Chen and Li have helped women from 10 neighboring villages start a home-based business. More than 3,000 women have found work planting, packaging and/or transporting guavas. What's more, Chen has organized various charitable events, such as "reading day," to help children in her hometown broaden their horizons.

Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at the beginning of 2020, farmers in Zhao'an have coped with various difficulties as they have tried to sell guavas. Many of the farmers have not been able to transport their fruit from their hometown to other places. A lot of guavas have rotted. Meanwhile, customers in urban areas have had a difficult time purchasing fresh fruits. Chen and Li have used their WeChat Moments and other groups to connect farmers with their customers. They have tried very hard to achieve contact-free distribution. The couple have also bought guavas and given the fruit as gifts to people who have worked on the front line of epidemic prevention and control.

During the past six years, Chen and Li have been known as the famous "couple of entrepreneurship" in Zhao'an. More and more families in the county, especially couples, have been following Chen and Li's lead, and they have been working hard to live happy and prosperous lives. Chen and Li have both said they want to make contributions, especially to change the traditional look of their hometown  by encouraging fellow villagers to start businesses, and to strive for rural revitalization.

Chen and Li's family was named a National Most Beautiful Family earlier this year.

Photos Supplied by Interviewees

(Source: The Department of Family and Children's Affairs of the All-China Women's Federation/Women of China English Monthly August 2022 issue)
Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with other leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states before the restricted session of the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO at the International Conference Center in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16, 2022. Xi attended the restricted session here on Friday. [Xinhua/Li Tao]

SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday attended here the restricted session of the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The meeting was chaired by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and attended by leaders of SCO member states including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The leaders exchanged views on SCO development and major international and regional issues bearing on the political and economic situation in the region.

At 9:55 a.m. local time, Xi and leaders of other SCO member states arrived at the Samarkand Congress Center and received warm welcome from Mirziyoyev.

The leaders took a group photo before the restricted session started.

In his statement, Xi spoke highly of Uzbekistan's hard work and important contribution to preparing for the Samarkand summit and advancing SCO's development under its presidency.

Xi pointed out that since the founding of the SCO more than twenty years ago, it has upheld the Shanghai Spirit and succeeded in exploring a new path for the development of international organizations. There is much we can draw on from its rich practices, he said.

It is important to forge political trust, Xi said, adding that guided by the vision of forging enduring friendship and peace among the SCO member states, the member states respect each other's core interests and choice of development path and support each other in achieving peace, stability, development and rejuvenation.

Noting that it is important to pursue win-win cooperation, Xi said that the SCO member states accommodate each other's interests, stay true to the principle of consultation and cooperation for shared benefits, enhance synergy between our respective development strategies, and keep to the path of win-win cooperation toward common prosperity.

It is important to treat each other as equals, the Chinese president said, adding that the SCO member states are committed to the principle of equality among all countries regardless of their size, consensus-based decision-making, and addressing issues through friendly consultations. The SCO member states reject the practice of the strong bullying the weak or the big bullying the small, he noted.

Noting that it is important to advocate openness and inclusiveness, Xi said that the SCO member states stand for harmonious coexistence and mutual learning between different countries, nations and cultures, dialogue between civilizations and seeking common ground while shelving differences. We are ready to establish partnership and develop win-win cooperation with other countries and international organizations that share our vision, he said.

Xi stressed that the world today is not a peaceful place. Rivalry between two sets of policy choices -- unity or division, cooperation or confrontation -- is getting more acute. This brings shocks to world peace and stability and is detrimental to the long-term development of the region.

In the face of the complex situation, Xi urged the SCO member states to keep the SCO on the right course, deepen cooperation in various fields, and continue to foster a favorable environment for the development and rejuvenation of member states.

Xi outlined several priorities going forward.

First, staying committed to the Shanghai Spirit and enhancing solidarity and cooperation. It is important that the SCO stay true to its founding mission, increase mutual trust, and join forces to cope with the complex changes in the external environment. Member states need to continue to support each other on matters concerning each other's core interests and major concerns and serve as a strong backing for each other's development and rejuvenation.

Second, maintaining strategic independence and safeguarding regional stability. Member states need to advocate the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and reject any attempt to create bloc confrontation and damage regional stability. Bearing in mind the security needs of countries in the region, they should build consensus on security cooperation, and work together to protect sustained stability and security in the region. The SCO should enhance its law enforcement cooperation and prevent terrorist and extremist forces from jeopardizing regional security.

Third, pursuing inclusiveness and shared benefits in promoting development cooperation. Member states should actively promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, ensure the stable and smooth functioning of industrial and supply chains, and encourage the orderly flow of resources and factors of production, so as to realize greater economic integration and development in the region. They should redouble efforts to promote complementarity between the Belt and Road Initiative and other national development strategies and regional cooperation initiatives to stimulate the dynamism for growth in participating countries.

Fourth, advancing the SCO expansion process and strengthening SCO institutions. An increasing number of countries have applied to join the SCO family. This fully demonstrates the power of SCO's vision and the widely shared confidence in its future. The SCO should seize the opportunity and step up its work to expand the ranks of cooperation and augment the effective force for international equity and justice.

Xi noted that the Communist Party of China would soon convene its 20th National Congress to draw up a blueprint for China's development in the next stage, adding that no matter what changes may take place in the international landscape, China will remain firm in its commitment to peaceful, open, cooperative and common development, and continue to see the SCO as a priority in its diplomacy.

China stands ready to draw on its own development to contribute to the development of countries in the region and to a better life for the people in the countries, Xi said.

Wang Yi was present at the event.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the restricted session of the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16, 2022. At 9:55 a.m. local time, Xi and leaders of other SCO member states arrived for the event and received warm welcome from Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. [Xinhua/Li Tao]

(Source: Xinhua)
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at Forumlar Majmuasi Complex in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16, 2022. [Xinhua/Shen Hong]

SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday Morning at Forumlar Majmuasi Complex in Samarkand.

Xi pointed out that China and Pakistan are close neighbors linked by mountains and rivers and with a shared future.

The two countries have all along stood with each other through thick and thin, Xi said, adding that no matter how the international situation evolves, China and Pakistan are always each other's trustworthy strategic partners.

China will work with Pakistan to advance their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and accelerate the building of a closer community with a shared future between the two countries in the new era, he said.

Xi stressed that the two sides must continue to firmly support each other, foster stronger synergy between their development strategies, and harness the role of the Joint Cooperation Committee of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to ensure smooth construction and operation of major projects.

It is important to expand cooperation in such areas as industry, agriculture, science, technology and social welfare to create new impetus for the CPEC's development, he said.

Xi also said China hopes that Pakistan will provide solid protection for the security of Chinese citizens and institutions in Pakistan as well as the lawful rights and interests of Chinese businesses.

China commends Pakistan for taking the lead in actively supporting the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and will work with Pakistan to promote the implementation of these two initiatives, said Xi, adding that the two sides need to enhance communication and collaboration within the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other multilateral platforms to voice the developing countries' rightful opposition to bloc confrontation and commitment to multilateralism.

Sharif expressed appreciation to the Chinese side for its timely and valuable support as Pakistan has been affected by the serious flooding.

He noted that President Xi is a leader of strategic foresight, and under Xi's strong leadership, China has secured great achievements in its development and made important contributions to peace and development in the region and the wider world.

The Pakistani people hold President Xi in high esteem and view China as an eternal, great friend of Pakistan, he added.

Pakistan wishes the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China a full success, said Sharif.

Pakistan is firmly committed to the one-China policy, and firmly supports China's position on issues concerning its core interests including Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong, he said, adding that Pakistan is resolutely opposed to the attempt of certain forces to undermine China's sovereignty and to interfere in its internal affairs.

The Pakistan-China friendship is unbreakable and unparalleled, said Sharif, adding that Pakistan will make its best efforts to protect the security of Chinese citizens and institutions in Pakistan, continue its active participation in the Belt and Road cooperation and make CPEC a model of mutually beneficial cooperation.

He added that Pakistan will work with China to take their bilateral relationship to a new height.

Relevant departments of the two countries signed documents on cooperation in railway, e-commerce and other areas.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi and He Lifeng were present at the meeting.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at Forumlar Majmuasi Complex in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16, 2022. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao]

(Source: Xinhua)
Zunyi, in Southwest China's Guizhou Province, is a well-known tourist destination, given its key role in China's revolutionary history. During the Long March of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, the Zunyi Conference, a pivotal meeting of the CPC, was held in the city in 1935. The meeting established the leadership of Mao Zedong (1893-1976) in both the Red Army and the CPC Central Committee.

Women Red Army Soldiers Memorial Hall, which covers more than 200 square meters, is located near Chishui River, in Tucheng, a town in Xishui County, in Zunyi. The Red Army's crossing of the Chishui River four times was one of the army's brilliant military moves during the Long March.

Women Red Army Soldiers Memorial Hall is the only memorial hall in China dedicated to the Red Army's women soldiers. The Western-style building, completed during the early 20th century, was used as the headquarters of the Third Army Group of the Red Army in January 1935.

Mu Yanbi is curator of the memorial hall. During the past 15 years, Mu has dedicated herself to telling stories of the women soldiers, and to inheriting and promoting their spirit. Mu is an excellent docent, and she is head of the women's volunteer publicity team of both the All-China Women's Federation and the women's federation of Guizhou Province.

She has worked hard to bring the history of women Red Army soldiers to life, through high-quality publicity activities.

Dedicated to Work

The Red Army was a people's army, led by the CPC, during China's agrarian revolutionary war period. Adversity breeds success. The history of the Red Army reflects success through hardship. Even though it was well known the women soldiers of the Red Army overcame numerous hardships, there were relatively few complete materials that recorded the stories of the women soldiers.

In September 2009, Women Red Army Soldiers Memorial Hall opened to the public. The memorial hall houses photos of 600-plus women soldiers, and 216 items of women soldiers. The memorial hall also displays the names of 4,113 women soldiers, and the heroic deeds of 731 women soldiers.

Mu, who participated in the early stages of building the memorial hall, has witnessed the arduous process of collecting materials for display. She regards the memorial hall as her home, and she is familiar with each item on exhibit  and each women soldier's story.

"Every time I tell the women soldiers' stories, I better understand the hardships and difficulties of the women soldiers. In the revolutionary era, they made the brave choice and devoted themselves to the revolutionary cause. What choice should I make in the new era? I think it is my duty and obligation to tell their stories, so their spirit and deeds can be more vividly displayed  History belongs to our ancestors, and the future belongs to us. Every era has its heroes. Through telling the women soldiers' stories, I hope the spirit of the Red Army will inspire more people. This is the thing I can do for the revolutionary martyrs, and I must do it well," Mu says.

To interpret the spirit of the Red Army more vividly, Mu has studied many historical materials about the history of the Red Army, especially of the women soldiers. She has also learned from experts and local people the history of the women soldiers.

Mu stresses the importance of innovation while telling the stories of women soldiers, and while advocating the spirit of the Red Army. Various performances and educational activities are held in the memorial hall, including poetry recitations and stage plays related to women soldiers' stories.

Improving Services

Mu has set the eighth day and the 28th day of each month as the two special days to share women soldiers' stories. On those days, the memorial hall organizes both on-site and livestreaming activities. The online activities have helped expand the hall's popularity.

Mu has invited "red-culture" experts, descendants of women soldiers and officials and public figures to attend seminars on the spirit of women Red Army soldiers.

In November 2018, China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism launched a nationwide campaign to cultivate and present awards to five-virtue "red tourism" docents. Since then, Mu has strengthened the training provided to docents in the memorial hall, to improve overall services at the venue.

In 2019, two of the hall's docents were given the title of national five-virtue docent, and the memorial hall also became a national demonstration unit for cultivating five-virtue docents.

Given the concerted efforts of Mu and her colleagues, the memorial hall has become a revolutionary education base for women, from all sectors of society, and students of universities and primary and middle schools. The memorial hall has cooperated with many primary and middle schools to organize various "red-culture" activities, and it has trained more than 100 students to be docents.

Mu has also participated in the program to cultivate women volunteer docents in Guizhou Province. The memorial hall has cooperated with Guizhou University, Zunyi Vocational College and other universities and colleges to research and develop "red" political education courses. Their courses have been well-received.

"I have been working in the memorial hall for more than a decade  I have a passion for red culture,' and, more importantly, I always respect and have a grateful heart toward women Red Army soldiers. It is a great honor for me to be a volunteer docent. For me, that means affirmation, hope and trust." Mu says.

"Although the brave and fearless women Red Army soldiers left us forever, their revolutionary spirit has always inspired us to move forward, courageously. With the support of ACWF, and relevant departments, we will continue to do a good job in promoting women soldiers' stories and inheriting their spirit. We will establish more courses aimed at women, from all walks of life, and unite women in pooling their strength and forging ahead on the new journey," Mu adds.

Photos Supplied by Guangzhou Women's Federation, Interviewees and VCG

(Women of China English Monthly August 2022 issue)
The brothers of Omega Psi Phi fraternity had a unique pitch for selling special Kids Day editions of The Buffalo News at the Tops on Elmwood Avenue on Saturday.

Good morning! Go, Bills!" they called out to shoppers entering and exiting the store. "Would you like to support the childrens hospital?

The volunteers, decked out in their fraternitys trademark purple and yellow hats and T-shirts, received many a Go, Bills! in return  and sold a few hundred Kids Day papers for the suggested donation of $5 each, with many folks contributing more.

The Kids Day effort, dating back to 1984, benefits both Oishei Childrens Hospital and Cradle Beach, an organization serving disabled and challenged children throughout Western New York. Although the sale of printed Kids Day papers is over, supporters can still donate online.

Brian Connolly, vice president for business development for The Buffalo News, said more than 500 volunteers, including many News employees and community members who have participated for years, came out to sell papers from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday at 44 Tops locations.

Tops Markets also contributed financially to help The News exceed its lifetime goal of $5 million raised for OCH and Cradle Beach from Kids Day donations. The volunteer Kids Day captains have through Monday to turn in the donations they collected to M&T Bank, so Connolly said he will not have a total for donations raised until then.

After suspending Kids Day for two years during the pandemic, The Buffalo News brought it back this year with some changes  holding it early on a Saturday and at Tops stores rather than posting teams of volunteers on street corners during a weekday morning rush.

Some volunteers selling the paper Saturday said they felt they sold more papers on the streets. In the past, we would go out to the community, whereas this way, the community has to come to us, Omega Psi Phi member Andrew Huff said.

Connolly said The News was just happy to be able to bring Kids Day back and wanted to keep volunteers as safe as possible in the process. We all miss having hawkers out on the street, but this format ensured all of our volunteers safety, he said.

We worried about people occasionally darting out into traffic to sell papers, he added. But we are going to look at how this went and well be super flexible about figuring out what we learned from this year, and we always try to make it better next year.

Connolly called this years Kids Day edition the best ever, with eight full-color pages of inspiring stories and photographs by Buffalo News journalists about the children and families touched by the work being done at Oishei and Cradle Beach, as well as a double-truck photo gallery by News photographer Derek Gee.

[RELATED: See the Kids Day stories and photos here.]

Just as valuable as the money we raise is the awareness we raise through telling the stories, Connolly said. We are also so grateful to have such a loyal volunteer base for such a heartfelt cause.

The cause was a big reason many longtime volunteers spent their Saturday morning hawking papers and why many Tops shoppers gladly bought the Kids Day edition.

Catherine Stilson, who was selling the paper at the Tops store on South Park Avenue, said she has volunteered for Kids Day for over two decades because she owes her life to the childrens hospital.

When I was 2 years old, I was in that hospital for three months and six days being treated for spinal meningitis, said Stilson, now 50. I do this to pay them back for having saved my life.

Jim Peszko, a team captain for volunteers at the Tonawanda Tops, said he just likes to support good causes. His crew included Janet Brinkman, her husband Scott and a friend, Dan Wiles. Peszko estimated they had collected about $400 by 10 a.m. Saturday.

One of their customers, Marsha Kral, said she worked in the dental clinic at Oishei for many years and also had a son with cerebral palsy who received years of medical treatment before passing away there at age 18. Kral handed Peszko $10 for one newspaper and told him, I hope you get top seller.

At the Elmwood Avenue Tops, Omega Psi Phi members W. Charles Brandy, Carlos Pilot and Daren Thons said Kids Day is one of their fraternitys favorite fundraisers. Ive been doing this 34 years, Thons said. I came in in 1988 as part of my community service as an undergrad at Buffalo State, and Im still here. We are having fun, meeting some new people and just giving back.

Its important that we support the children because they are our greatest asset, Brandy added.

The frat brothers little sister, Esperanza King, come out to assist them for the same reason.

Children are our future, she said. We have to make sure they are healthy and well financially, mentally and physically, because we need to mold them to take over when we leave this earth.

Tops shopper Donovan Lysek gladly bought a paper from the crew as he left the store with his groceries. Its Kids Day, he said. Its what you are supposed to do.
A federal appeals court on September 16 upheld a controversial Texas law that restricts the ability of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to moderate content on their platforms.
U.S. District Court Judge Greg Stivers wrote in a summary judgment ruling Thursday that Crawford violated Leas right against unreasonable search and seizure.
More than a dozen arrested, 9 others charged in fentanyl investigation in Paducah
Prince William and the Queen's other grandchildren arrive to mount a vigil on Saturday.
Wrexham scouts supporting HM Queens lying-in-state

Three youngsters from Wrexham are amongst 120 Scouts from across the UK who have volunteered to support the lying-in-state of Her Majesty The Queen.

Megan Sayer, aged 19, Ethan King, 20, and Chip Drew, 24, were selected to take part in the operation supporting the long queues of people who are waiting to pay their respects to The Queen in Westminster Hall, codenamed Operation Feather.

Following the announcement of the death of Her Majesty, the Scouts jumped into action inviting Scouts aged 18-25 from across the UK to volunteer to help with the smooth running of this important part of the plans to mark the Queens remarkable life.

Megan said: I was lucky enough to have attended the World Scout Jamboree in the USA in 2019 when I made friends Scouts from around the world.

Now I am once again meeting people from across the globe but in a totally different way as they pay their respects.

Ethan said: Its an absolutely wonderful opportunity to help celebrate Her Majestys life.

As Scouts we made a promise to do our duty to the Queen, now I feel we are carrying this out.

Chip added: My mum and dad were in the army so have served their Queen before, now its my chance to serve Her Majesty, so it seems its a tradition in my family. Its an honour to be involved.

The Scouts will volunteering in shifts throughout the week until the State Funeral on Monday.

They are staying at the UK Scout headquarters, Gilwell Park in north London and being bussed in each day.
A 50-year-old Cuban national with an outstanding warrant from the New York City Police Department was arrested Thursday by Customs and Border Protection officers at the Peace Bridge.

Maximo Gomez, a Cuban citizen, was in a taxicab and had been refused entry into Canada by the Canada Border Services Agency, according to Customs and Border Protection.

The taxi driver and Gomez were subsequently directed to a secondary inspection area for verification of identity and citizenship.

That is where it was discovered that Gomez had an active felony warrant for burglary, according to customs officials.

After he was processed, Gomez was turned over to Buffalo police for extradition.
In an action that combines gratuitous cruelty and a deliberate appeal to fascistic elements in the Republican Party, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered two planeloads of desperate migrants flown to the Massachusetts offshore island of Marthas Vineyard, where they were abandoned Wednesday with only the clothes on their backs.

Immigrants provided refuge inside a church on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts [Photo by State Rep. Dylan Fernandes]

DeSantis gave no notice of the move either to Massachusetts state officials, the local authorities on Marthas Vineyard or any charity which serves migrants, leaving the 50 migrants to fend for themselves. They included numerous children, including one three-year-old in need of medical attention.

Most of the migrants were refugees from Venezuela who had made the long trek of more than 1,000 miles, up through the Isthmus of Panama, all of Central America and then the length of Mexico, before they turned themselves in at the US-Mexico border seeking asylum.

All had been processed by US immigration authorities and then released after being given dates to report for hearings on their asylum claims. None were illegal border crossers or invaders, as the fascist Republicans and Trump supporters term them.

Removing the migrants from Texas served to disrupt many of their asylum claims. This cowardly political stunt has placed our clients in peril, the Lawyers for Civil Rights group said in a news release Friday. Some now have immigration hearings as early as Monday thousands of miles away.

The political purpose of the actionan effective kidnapping of 50 people, for which DeSantis and his aides should be arrested and prosecutedwas evident in the arrangements made by the Florida governor, who is running for reelection in November and widely touted as a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.

Fox News was brought in as a virtual partner in the operation, given exclusive access to the migrants. Fox cameras met the flights at the airport in Marthas Vineyard and the spectacle was featured on the networks evening news presentation.

The asylum seekers were not even removed from Florida. They had begun the morning in San Antonio, Texas, after their release by US immigration authorities, who had registered their asylum claims. They were then approached by an agent of DeSantis, who told them that flights were available to take them to Boston, a major metropolitan area with a large population of immigrants.

The agent, a woman who gave her name only as Perla, paid at least one migrant $200 to identify other migrants who might be willing to travel. She claimed to be acting on behalf of an anonymous benefactor who was paying for the flight.

After they accepted this false promise, the migrants were flown in two private planes to Crestview, west of Tallahassee, the Florida state capital, where they landed, and then flew on to Marthas Vineyard, a small island with a population of 20,000, with connections to the mainland only by ferry or airplane.

In contrast to the brutality and cynicism of the Florida state officials, the population of Marthas Vineyard quickly supplied food, shelter and other items to the migrants. All were given COVID-19 tests, while children had access to a play area. They were housed in a local church for the next two nights.

On Friday morning they were bused to the ferry and taken to the mainland, where a reception center and housing had been arranged at a military base on Cape Cod. All the refugees left Marthas Vineyard voluntarily, although they expressed great appreciation for the warm reception they had received there.

One immigrant, identified only as Leonel, told the New York Times he had never seen anything like the generosity of the island residents. He was given a pair of shoes. I havent slept well in three months, he said. Its been three months since I put on a new pair of pants. Or shoes.

Political and press aides for DeSantis exulted in the supposed success of their criminal operation, gloating that Democratic-controlled states and cities would now share the burden experienced by Texas, Arizona and Florida in the influx of cross-border migrants.

States like Massachusetts, New York and California will better facilitate the care of these individuals who they have invited into our country by incentivizing illegal immigration through their designation as sanctuary states and support for the Biden administrations open border policies, said Taryn Fenske, DeSantis communications director.

Welcome to being a state on the Southern border, Massachusetts, tweeted Jeremy Redfern, another DeSantis spokesman.

DeSantis was particularly proud of choosing the island of Marthas Vineyard for the operation, because of its role as a summer playground for wealthy Democrats, including former President Barack Obama. Most of the year-round residents, however, are working-class, and it was their response that the stranded immigrants appreciated.

The Florida legislature approved a budget that included $12 million for such immigrant exports, with the funds designated for contracting with private companies to ship migrants to other parts of the country.

If you have folks that are inclined to think Floridas a good place, our message to them is we are not a sanctuary state, and its better to be able to go to a sanctuary jurisdiction. And yes, we will help facilitate that transport for you to be able to go to greener pastures, DeSantis declared.

DeSantis is competing with Donald Trump for the allegiance of the fascists who comprise a large portion of the Republican Partys base. While Trump demonizes immigrants in speech after speech, condemning them as criminals who threaten the American people, DeSantis is using his powers as governor to demonstrate to the racists and anti-immigrant bigots that he can actually take action.

Republican governors in Texas and Arizona continue to ship migrants to cites like New York, Washington D.C. and Chicago, although by bus rather than airplane. The most politically provocative of these actions this week came Thursday morning, when two buses sent by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, carrying more than 100 migrants from Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba and Guyana, arrived outside the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris at the US Naval Observatory in Washington D.C.

The Biden-Harris administration continues ignoring and denying the historic crisis at our southern border, which has endangered and overwhelmed Texas communities for almost two years, Abbott said in a statement to the press.

Other busloads arrived in Chicago, and Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker called out the National Guard and declared a state of emergency, deploying 70 soldiers to set up shelter and camp kitchens to feed the new arrivals.

In New York City, which has received 11,000 migrants from Texas and Arizona in recent months, Democratic Mayor Eric Adams hinted Wednesday that he might seek to rescind the citys right to shelter because of the new and unforeseen reality. After a backlash from charitable organizations, Adams seemed to pull back from the idea, but the suggestion has been made, and it foreshadows a policy shift at some point.

Much of the Democratic Party commentary on the migrant shipments has been to attack DeSantis from the right, because the migrants were largely from Venezuela, which has been the target of a vicious campaign by the State Department and the American media, aimed at demonizing the government of President Nicolas Maduro and building public support for a US-led destabilization operation.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that DeSantis action was a cruel, inhumane way to treat people who are fleeing communism.

Florida state Sen. Annette Taddeo, who is running against incumbent Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar for a Miami congressional seat, told The Hill, You cant be talking about anti-communism and be talking about freedom in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and all these other countries if youre going to do this: mistreat people when they come here fleeing oppressive regimes.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), said the Venezuelan refugees had escaped from one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world, adding, That DeSantis would go to Texas to round up Venezuelans to drop them off in Marthas Vineyard, the guy has not the shadow of a heart or a conscience. Its outrageous.
It has been more than a week since Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96, yet the ceremonies of her death still dominate media coverage as though they were some sort of world event.

The evening news programs give over a majority of their time to her body, lying in state, and all the theatrical rigamarole of royal death. The morning talk shows are filled with encomia and hagiography, presenting Elizabeth II as an icon for women, the steady hand on the rudder of the British state and a symbol of decency and civility in a heartless world.

People watch as the cortege with the hearse carrying Queen Elizabeth's coffin departs from St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh en route to Edinburgh Airport. September 13, 2022. [AP Photo/Petr Josek]

Why the adulation? Elizabeths sole contribution was to have lived so long. She was not a world-historic figure; it is difficult to imagine anyone of less historical significance. Endowed with incalculable wealth by the accident of birth, she lived for nearly a century and yet was sheltered from everything that that century actually entailed.

There is something troubling about the five-mile-long queue to view the queens coffin that has formed along the south bank of the Thames. An estimated three-quarters of a million people will endure a 22-hour wait to walk past her remains. It speaks to the general emptiness and shallowness of public life over the course of several decades that the death of this woman who never contributed anything to anyones life is seen as a meaningful event. Those who wait to view her corpse may believe that the queue will bring them into the presence of history, but at its end all they will find is the past.

Like her life, the entire spectacle surrounding her deathfrom the ponderous, creaking departure from Balmoral to the boys choir benediction in Westminsteris unreal. Reality is hard-bitten and pregnant with crisis. The British working class confronts a staggering rise in prices; energy costs have risen as much as ten-fold. Half the population may not be able to adequately heat their homes this winter.

The unreal spectacle has nothing to do with the passing of an elderly woman and everything to do with the royal institution that encrusted her and the monarchic principle she embodied.

The capitalist class buried the ghosts of its republican ancestors long ago. Confronting social and political crises of unprecedented magnitude, it turns to autocracy and authoritarianism as bulwarks in defense of its privileges, and recognizes in monarchy an institutional form of its class aspirations.

Monarchy is an institution of colossal stupidity, a barbarous vestige of the feudal past; its persistence is an embarrassment to humanity. Founded on heredity, shored up with inbreeding, intermarriage and claims of divine right, the monarchic principle enshrines inequality as the fundamental and unalterable lot of humanity and maintains this lot with the force of autocratic power.

The kings and queens enthroned by this principle are stunted by more than just hemophilia and the Habsburg jaw. Their social function distills in their lineage the most concentrated reaction. Elizabeth II was cousin to the Tsarist Romanovs; her Nazi-sympathizing uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936 and headed off to Germany with his Nazi-sympathizing wife to salute Adolf Hitler.

The royal family is marked by the sorts of scandals that develop among those with a great deal of unearned money and unspent time. Her son, Prince Andrew, sold arms to autocratic regimes and paid 12 million to cover up his role in sex trafficking underaged girls with Jeffrey Epstein. Her grandson, Prince Harry, used to dress up in full Nazi regalia.

It was in defiance of the monarchic principle that the American Declaration of Independence stated, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

This conception fueled the American Revolution. Thomas Paines pamphlet, Common Sense, which historian Gordon Wood termed the most incendiary and popular pamphlet of the entire revolutionary era, directly attacked not just George III, but the very existence of monarchy, writing:

In England a king hath little more to do than to make war and give away places; which in plain terms, is to impoverish the nation and set it together by the ears. A pretty business indeed for a man to be allowed eight hundred thousand sterling a year for, and worshiped into the bargain! Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.

Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the US Constitution codified this principle for the new nation: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States.

Immense concentrated private wealth, founded on exploitation and inequality, and the unending expansion of empire have stamped out any trace of such democratic sentiments in the American ruling elite. They no longer, in the phrase of Milton, prefer hard liberty before the easy yoke of servile pomp. They seek to defend their interests through autocratic rule and look with welcome upon the principle of monarchy.

On the order of President Biden, US flags were deferentially lowered for the dead queen, placed at half-staff for 12 days. Elizabeth II is separated from George III by generations; Biden is separated from Jefferson by an unbridgeable historical chasm.

The essence of empire is autocracy; it is not susceptible to democratic governance. Washington launches wars, stages coups, bombs small countries into the Stone Age without any regard for human life or the opinion of the American people. Capitalism has produced unprecedented levels of inequality and social misery around the globe, including at its very core in the United States. Imperialism is, in the words of Lenin, reaction all down the line. Even the pretenses of democracy can no longer hold.

Over the past six years we have witnessed a turn among the ruling elite around the globe to openly autocratic and dictatorial forms of rule as social and political crises have sharpened and turned deadly. It is this that fuels the unrestrained adulation in the American media for the dead queen and the crown she wore. An unprecedented political crisis grips the United States. The idea of a monarchical system, of an autocratic head of state who stands above the conflict, has a powerful appeal to the embattled bourgeoisie.

The media give voice to these longings and package them for popular consumption. The phrase of J.A. Hobson, writing of imperialism at the opening of the 20th century, is apt: snobbish subservience, the admiration of wealth and rank, the corrupt survivals of the inequalities of feudalism. The deferential and servile talking heads of television news cultivate these traits. Often dressed up as progressive by identity politics, the monarchic principle is everywhere glorified, from Wakanda to Beyonce to Downton Abbey.

The relentless adulation for the dead queen is mind-numbing. It is tempting to hunker down and weather the storm of stupidity. It must, however, be taken seriously, for it is a warning.

Capitalism can play no progressive role whatsoever in human development, but its fecund rot is capable of breeding all forms of reaction. Looking desperately to secure its social position, the bourgeoisie is turning to autocratic forms of rule. In service to this end, it is rehabilitating one of the most backward conceptions in history, the principle of monarchy.
Following the collapse of Moscows northern front of Russias six-month-old invasion of Ukraine, the United States has responded by further intensifying its involvement in the war against Russia in Ukraine and preparations for war with China over Taiwan.

In the course of one week, Ukrainian forces advanced dozens of miles, capturing massive quantities of Russian weapons and ammunition, along with, according to Ukrainian officials, thousands of Russian soldiers.

On Thursday, the Biden administration announced an additional $600 million in weapons to Ukraine, adding to the more than $50 billion in armaments and other assistance that has been allocated to date.

The new arms shipment, the 21st such drawdown since the start of the war, includes ammunition for the HIMARS missile system, 36,000 rounds of 105mm artillery, counter-battery radar and a thousand precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds.

This adds to the tens of thousands of antitank missiles, hundreds of drones, 15 HIMARS missile launchers, and hundreds of vehicles, as well as the USs most advanced anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, that have been delivered to date.

US Senators called for even more weapons to be provided to Ukraine, with US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell demanding that the White House provide Ukraine with the long-range ATACMS missile capable of striking deep inside Russian territory.

The Ukrainians need more weapons than what were giving them. They need to start getting them faster, and they need new capabilities like long-range ATACMS missiles, large drones and tanks, McConnell said.

Senator Marco Rubio added, I think the concern some would say is that the longer-range missiles could target deep inside of Russia and trigger a broader conflict. Im not sure Im as troubled by that.

These demands for expanding the range of weapons delivered to Ukraine were accompanied by the most explicit declaration to date of US goals in the conflict.

The momentum has really shifted in favour of Ukraine and theyre the ones that are literally calling the shots, declared former US Army Europe Commander Ben Hodges.

He added that we may be looking at the beginning of the collapse of the Russian Federation, adding,  its a population that by and large is not truly lets say ethnic Russian, I mean theres 120 different ethnic groups out there

I think people out in Tuva and Siberia and Chechnya and others... may see opportunity to to break away so um i think that we... collectively the west need to be... thinking about what are the implications for this?

The statement by Hodges developed his declaration in April, in the aftermath of Russias retreat from Kiev and the allegations of Russian atrocities in Bucha, that the aim of the United States is breaking the back of Russias ability to project power outside of Russia.

As in April, the renewed escalation of US involvement in the war is accompanied by allegations that Russia systematically murdered civilians, this time in the outskirts of Izum.

These military moves have been accompanied by an escalation of the US-NATO economic war. On Friday, the German government took control of three refineries owned by Russian oil company Rosneft. This is a far-reaching energy policy decision to protect our country, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.

Alongside the escalation of the war with Russia, the US escalated its conflict with China in the wake of the Russian collapse.

On Wednesday, the Senate Foreign relations Committee voted to move forward the Taiwan Policy Act, a bill that would send $6.5 billion in weapons to Taiwan and effectively end the USs One China Policy.

The Bill states that Taiwan shall be treated as though it were designated a major non-NATO ally, effectively implementing a military treaty with Taiwan, obliterating the USs formal position that it has no diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Critically, it replaces provisions that arms provided to Taiwan be used in a defensive manner with the declaration that the US will provide arms conducive to deterring acts of aggression by the Peoples Liberation Army, raising the prospect that these weapons could be used in a preemptive conflict.

As the US escalated its involvement in the war against Russia and its conflict with China, Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first in-person meeting since the start of the war at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. The crisis triggered by Russias military debacle was on display.

We highly appreciate the balanced position of our Chinese friends in connection with the Ukrainian crisis, Putin said at the start of the meeting. We understand your questions and concerns in this regard.

Similar tensions were on display in Putins discussion with Indian President Narendra Modi. I know that todays era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this, Modi told Putin. I know your position on the conflict in Ukraine, the concerns that you constantly express, Putin said. We will do everything to stop this as soon as possible.

Despite the crisis triggered by the Russian military debacle, Russia and China are being objectively driven closer together by the escalating US war drive.

In a statement to the Financial Times, Alexander Gabuev, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, commented If Putin is that obsessed with Ukraine, what can [Xi] realistically do? Gabuev said the departure of the Putin regime and the unlikely prospect of a pro-western government in Russia is a terrible nightmare for China.

Emboldened by the Russian debacle in Northern Ukraine, the US is only escalating its preparations for a global military conflict that threatens all of humanity.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, introduced a bill on Tuesday that would ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The move follows the US Supreme Courts ruling in June in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization that overturned the constitutional right to abortion.

The proposed legislation, the Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act, is aimed at enshrining in federal law the high courts reactionary ruling. It comes as Republican-controlled states continue to enact harsh restrictions on abortion rights in the wake of the Dobbs decision.

While it is unlikely that the bill will come to a vote in the Senate before the mid-term elections, this does not alter the right-wing Christian fundamentalist nature of the legislation and the warning it sends that far-right forces are determined to outlaw the democratic right to abortion in all 50 US states.

Minority leader Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, told reporters Tuesday that he felt the issue should be left up to the states and that most Republican members of Congress would agree with him.

Many Republican senators, including Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and John Cornyn of Texas, have not backed Grahams bill. Both Cornyn and Johnson told CNN that the issue should be left to the states.

This has little to do with states rights, or softening Republicans opposition to abortion rights, but rather reflects crude political calculations on Republicans part aimed at shoring up the partys fate in the upcoming mid-term elections. Polls show that support for abortion rights continues to increase, including among registered Republicans.

A recent Pew Research Center poll showed that 61 percent of US adults believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases. A May 2022 Gallup survey found that 50 percent of Americans say abortion should be legal in some circumstances, and 35 percent believe it should be legal in all circumstances, for a combined total of 85 percent.

Grahams bill makes a mockery of science, beginning with its title. The claim that the legislation would protect Pain-Capable Unborn Children is based on an interpretation of an embryo or fetus ability to sense pain for which there is presently no consensus among neuroscientists.

There is agreement among scientists that nociceptors, or pain receptors, begin forming at about seven weeks gestational age, and that by about the 20th week, nociceptors are present throughout the fetal body. Nerves connecting these nociceptors to the thalamus, the region of the brain involved in pain implication, finish developing at around 20 weeks.

The text of Grahams bill states that from as early as 12 weeks gestational age, and certainly by 15 weeks gestational age, the fetus is extremely sensitive to painful stimuli. But this assertion is based on an interpretation of fetal pain that requires measurement of a fetus subjective feelings, which cannot be determined for obvious reasons.

Key to the bills argument for banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy is the contention that fetuses at this gestational age are unborn children. According to the legislation, The term unborn child means an individual organism of the species homo sapiens, beginning at fertilization, until the point of being born alive

Grahams bill borrows from the 2007 decision in Gonzales v. Carhart, which upheld the Partial-Birth Abortion Act of 2003. Partial-birth abortion is not an acceptable medical term and is not used by abortion practitioners or the medical community at large. It refers to a surgical procedure performed after 21 weeks gestation that removes an intact fetus from the uterus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about 1.3 percent of abortions were performed at or greater than 21 weeks of gestation in 2015. The overwhelming majority of such procedures are carried out due to fetal unviability or when necessary to protect the mothers life or health. They are not undertaken lightly by either patient or doctor.

The majority opinion written by Justice Anthony Kennedy in Gonzales v. Carhart held that Congress ban on partial-birth abortion did not impose an undue burden on the due process right of women to obtain an abortion. This ruling held that such an abortion is performed on the fast-developing brain of her unborn child, a child assuming the human form (emphasis added).

Citing Gonzales v. Carhart, the Graham legislation asserts: The Supreme Court of the United States has acknowledged that, by at least 12 weeks gestation, an unborn child has taken on the human form in all relevant aspects.

The words Late-Term Abortions in the Graham bills title are also deliberately misleading. The legislation seeks a federal ban on abortions performed after the 15th week of pregnancy. With the first trimester encompassing weeks 1 through 12, and the second from week 13 to the end of week 26, week 15 can hardly be considered late-term.

This misleading and anti-scientific terminology is aimed at obscuring the fact that anti-abortion forces in the far-rights orbit seek the federal outlawing of all abortions, with minimal if any exceptions.

The Graham legislation sets forth minimum requirements for abortion providers, including making an assessment of the age of the unborn child, that a physician trained in neonatal resuscitation be present for an abortion, and that documentation be provided that rape or incest was reported to a government agency. Any provider who performs an abortion in violation of these and other stringent requirements is subject to a fine, imprisonment of not more than 5 years, or both.

The Biden administration, while expressing mild disappointment over the Roe decision, has long capitulated to the right-wing religious zealots behind the assault on abortion rights exemplified by the Graham legislation.

With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, nearly one-third of American women of childbearing age, around 21 million, immediately lost access to abortion.

Indiana was the first state to draft and pass a full ban on abortion after the overturning of Roe. On Thursday, a ban on nearly all abortions took effect in the state.

West Virginias governor signed a bill on Friday banning nearly all abortions, with immediate effect.

Abortion is banned in Oklahoma at the point of fertilization.

Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas now ban abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest.

Mississippi bans abortion with exceptions for rape and incest.

In Georgia, abortion is banned after six weeks of pregnancy.

Abortion is banned after 15 weeks of pregnancy in Florida and Arizona, after 18 weeks in Utah, after 20 weeks in North Carolina and after 22 weeks in Iowa.

In cases where a states abortion law is more restrictive than the 15-week ban in Grahams bill, the states ban would take precedence. In states where the law is less restrictive, federal law would overrule the states law.

As the World Socialist Web Site wrote at the time of the Supreme Courts striking down of Roe v. Wade and the constitutional right to abortion:

The decision is the opening salvo in an historically unprecedented attack by the ruling class on all democratic rights. The concurring opinion by Clarence Thomas announces that the court will now begin to revisit all prior cases in which the Supreme Court protected the substantive due process rights of the population. In future cases, Thomas wrote, we should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell. These decisions, respectively, protected the right to contraceptives, overturned laws criminalizing sodomy, and legalized same-sex marriage.

Though these decisions are first on the chopping block, [Justice Clarence] Thomas concurrence makes clear they are just the starting point.

Democratic rights under threat include the banning of school segregation, the right to free criminal defense counsel, laws banning interracial marriage, laws upholding minimum wage and child labor restrictions and more.

The Democratic Party has not mobilized in defense of the constitutional right to abortion any more than they have exposed the threat of fascistic forms of rule demonstrated in the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol and held those responsible accountable.

The Dobbs decision, state moves to ban abortion and Grahams proposed anti-abortion bill demonstrate that the defense of basic democratic rights today is entirely dependent on the development of a mass movement of the working class, independent of the big-business, two-party system.
On Monday, over 75 workers from Glenugie Estate, at Upcot in the Nuwara-Eliya district, protested wage cuts by the Maskeliya plantation company, amid the countrys escalating cost of living. The demonstration outside the estates office was called by the Glenugie Estate Workers Action Committee (GEWAC).

Over the past month, the wages of all Glenugie Estate workers who fail to reach new unrealistic daily work targets have been cut by more than half. The daily tea leaf plucking target has increased from 16 to 20 kilograms and the land clearing target doubled from 75 to 150 square metres.

A Glenugie Estate worker speaks to the media during protest on 12 September, 2022 [Photo: WSWS]

The wage cuts and work targets are part of the ongoing and systemic attempts by the Sri Lankan tea plantation companies, with the assistance of the trade unions, to drive up productivity and boost profits.

The protesting workers held signs with slogans such as: Stop wage cuts, Stop the increase workloads and Stop price increases of essentials. They also called for reinstatement of sacked and victimised Alton Estate workers and the immediate withdrawal of frame-up charges against them. Other slogans called for an end to International Monetary Fund (IMF) austerity measures, the building of action committees and for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural masses.

The estate branches of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and the National Union of Workers (NUW) have done nothing to oppose the increased workloads and wage cuts.

Instead, their leaders attempted to disrupt the protest. CWC and NUW local leaders met workers personally, telling them they needed police permission to hold a protest and management would victimise anyone who joined the action. Many workers, however, defied this intimidation and participated in the protest, which was reported by Shakthi FM Radio and Thamilan, a Tamil newspaper.

A female worker from Glenugie Estates Deeside division told the World Socialist Web Site how management had cut wages and driven up productivity.

Last month, I worked 18 days, but was only paid 9,350 rupees ($US25). My actual wage should be 18,000 rupees, according to the 1,000-rupee daily wage ordered by the courts, but they avoided paying the 1,000-rupee daily amount by increasing targets that we cannot fulfill. We cannot manage on this meagre wage because the prices of everything are rising daily.

Another worker said he had worked 28 days but was only paid 16,400 rupees. None of the trade unions has opposed this unjustifiable wage cut, he added.

In order to receive the 1,000-rupee daily wage, workers have to pluck 20 kilograms of tea leaves. If a worker plucks 12 kg, they are only paid 500 rupees for 10 kg, with additional amounts paid on the basis of 40 rupees per kilo.

While estate workers have been fighting for years for higher wages, these struggles have been suppressed by the companies, assisted by the unions.

A graphic example of the treacherous role of the unions is revealed in their response to action taken last year by Alton Estate workers in Upcot. In early 2021, hundreds of Alton workers went on strike to demand higher wages. The estate manager reacted with a series of provocations.

When Alton workers opposed this harassment and held protests outside the estate managers residence on February 17, 2021, he concocted a story, claiming that workers had damaged his residence and physically harmed him.

As a result, 22 workers were arrested, and still face ongoing court cases, and the company summarily sacked 38 workers. The CWC directly assisted this conspiracy while the other estate unions said nothing, silently supporting this repression.

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the Alton Estate Workers Action Committee initiated by the SEP are the only organisations fighting to defend these workers, demanding their full and unconditional reinstatement, and the complete withdrawal of the trumped-up company-police charges.

Fearing the rising anger of plantation workers over their poverty-level wages and social conditions, the government of former president Gotabhaya Rajapakse, in collaboration with the unions, ordered the plantation companies in April 2021 to pay a 1,000-rupee daily wage.

This was rejected by the plantation companies, which filed a case calling for the labour ministers gazette announcing the wage hike to be revoked. On August 9, an appeal court dismissed companies case.

The judiciarys decision indicates ongoing concerns in sections of the ruling elite over the growing unrest, not just among plantation workers but in the working class as a whole. This was reflected this year with the eruption of mass protests and general strikes that brought down the Rajapakse regime.

The plantation unions hailed the court judgment, with CWC president Senthil Thondaman declaring it a victory for plantation workers and the CWC.

This claim is completely false. Firstly, the companies are continuing their efforts to drive up productivity and cut wages, and secondly, even if the 1,000-rupee daily wage is paid, it is a pittance in the face of the skyrocketing increases in the cost of essentials.

When the demand for a 1,000-rupee daily wage was first raised five years ago, the unions used this to block a much-higher pay increase needed by plantation workers who are among the lowest paid sections of the Sri Lankan working class.

The plight of plantation workers is the direct result of the betrayals of the unionsthe CWC, NUW, Up Country Peoples Front, Democratic Workers Front and the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union (LJEWU). They have a long and sordid record of undermining the fight for higher wages and improved conditions.

With anger rising in the plantations, LJEWU general secretary Vadivale Suresh recently presented a memorandum to the labour ministry calling for estate workers daily wages to be increased to 3,250 rupees. Previously controlled by President Ranil Wickremesinghes United National Party (UNP), the LJEWU is now run by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, which evolved out of the UNP.

The LJEWUs wage proposal is cynical posturing aimed at hoodwinking plantation workers. It will be ignored by the Wickremesinghe government, which is fully committed to implementing new IMF-dictated austerity. This includes higher taxes and higher prices for essentials, along with privatisation and the destruction of hundreds of thousands of public sector jobs. Like their counterparts across the country, the plantations unions support the IMF austerity program.

CWC leaders recently met with Wickremesinghe. CWC president Thondaman told the Tamil daily Veerakesari that they discussed the economic crisis.

We specifically asked about the demands of the IMF and the presidents plans to develop the country economically, Thondaman said, adding: As a party which understands well the countrys situation, the CWCs policy is not to demand this or that.

In other words, because the capitalist economy is in a deep crisis, the CWC will not make any demands on behalf of workers and will suppress their struggles.

Glenugie Estate workers protest on 12 September 2022, to demand higher wages and lower daily work targets. [Photo: WSWS]

The rising unrest at Glenugie and in other estates over wage cuts and impossible workloads poses the necessity for workers to take their struggles into their own hands. That is why the SEP initiated the action committees at the Glenugie and Alton estates, and urges workers to form action committees in every estate, independent of the unions and the capitalist parties.

Estate workers need a decent monthly wage, not based on productivity targets, but in line with the rising cost of living. Accordingly, they need a 75,000-rupee minimum monthly wage, indexed to the cost of living, as well as full pension rights, fully paid medical leave, improved health and education facilities, and decent housing in the plantations.

The fight for these demands must be taken forward in unity with the broader struggle of workers and poor against the savage austerity measures of Wickremesinghes government and the capitalist class.

The SEP insists that in order to defend jobs, wages and other social rights, workers must fight for the nationalisation of the big companies, the plantations and the banks, under workers democratic control, and for the repudiation of all foreign loans. This struggle can be organised and advanced only if workers and the rural masses form their own independent action committees.

To fight for this perspective, the SEP calls for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses, based on elected delegates from these action committees. The building of such a power centre in opposition to the Wickremesinghe government will pave the way for a workers and peasants government to implement socialist policies based on international socialism.
Daniel Warmus of Alden was sentenced to 45 days in custody to be followed by 24 months of probation for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, when he was among the first wave of rioters to breach the U.S. Capitol.
The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) club at the University of Melbourne (UofM) has been disaffiliated by the University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU). If the decision remains, the IYSSE, the youth wing of the Socialist Equality Party, will be unable to reaffiliate for 12 months.

The move is a blatant attack on the democratic rights of the IYSSE and the entire student population. It is part of a broader onslaught on cultural and political life at universities, as they are transformed into fully corporatised instruments of big business, governments and the military.

A 2019 meeting of the IYSSE at the University of Melbourne [Photo: WSWS]

Within this context, the targeting of the IYSSE is particularly significant. The disaffiliation of its club is aimed at suppressing any discussion of the key political issues confronting young people, including the mounting threat of world war, the disastrous consequences of the let it rip COVID policies and the turn to authoritarianism by governments around the world.

The IYSSE, moreover, advances a genuine alternative to the right-wing, pro-capitalist politics of the student union and every other political tendency on campus. It fights to turn students to the emerging struggles of the working class, based on a socialist perspective aimed at transforming society in the interests of ordinary people.

Disaffiliation from UMSU means the IYSSE can no longer book university classrooms or lecture theatres for events. The IYSSE is blocked from holding on campus speakouts and accessing the limited grants funding that UMSU provides clubs.

UMSUs Clubs & Societies Committee (C&SC) oversees the management of clubs and societies on campus. Each year, every club is forced to submit to the C&SC the names and details of at least 30 student members.

The IYSSE attempted to submit online its list of 34 members on March 14, well before the deadline. However, under unexplained circumstances, the IYSSEs list was not uploaded to the clubs online portala fact that only became apparent to the clubs executive months later.

Equally inexplicably, the only communication from the C&SC warning that the committee had not received the IYSSE membership list and that the club risked being disaffiliated was an email on June 2 which went to the IYSSEs spam folder.

No attempt was made by the C&SCwhich has multiple full-time staff and several student membersto call members of the IYSSEs executive, who were required to give their phone numbers when elected in 2021.

On June 16, the C&SC voted to disaffiliate the club.

Having independently noticed the failed attempt to upload the membership list, the IYSSE executive submitted the list on July 1 and informed the C&SC. This was taken by the C&SC as an appeal by the IYSSE of its decision to disaffiliate the club.

The appeal was heard by the UMSU Student Councilthe highest decision-making body of the student unionin an August 4 meeting. No notice of the discussion of the IYSSEs appeal was given to the club ahead of the meeting.

C&S Officer Eleanor Cooney-Hunt told the student council, according to the minutes of the August 4 meeting, that the IYSSE did not respond to multiple correspondence and that if the club is not operating, C&S cannot do anything further [emphasis added]. The council voted in favour of upholding the C&SCs disaffiliation of the IYSSE.

Having ensured the IYSSE did not know about the meeting, the council minutes state: No representative from IYSSE was present to speak to the appeal.

For over a month after the August 4 Student Council meeting, the IYSSE was still not notified of the appeal hearing. Only when the IYSSE president requested the minutes of the meeting on September 9 was the club made aware of the August 4 vote.

After the IYSSE wrote a letter of opposition to its disaffiliation on September 12, UMSU general secretary Millie Macwhirter told the IYSSE: I was in contact with the club regarding the decision and the outcome of the student council meeting. This is patently false.

Macwhirter, a member of the Greens club on campus, added: The decision made at the C&S committee meeting and Students Council are final and this matter is unable to be reheard by Council.

UMSU representatives have close connections to the major capitalist political parties, including the Greens and Laborparties that are presiding over war, austerity and attacks on democratic rights.

These forces have long sought to prevent the IYSSE from having a presence at the UofM.

The IYSSE was compelled to wage a two-year campaign to affiliate at the university after spurious and anti-democratic attempts by the C&SC and UMSU to censor the club. Twice in 2014 and 2015, the club was denied affiliation on the false C&SC assertion that the IYSSE shared aims with the pseudo-left Socialist Alternative club.

C&SC rejected the IYSSE affiliation again in 2015 and 2016 on the extraordinary grounds that the IYSSE sought to expose the committees political censorship. That the IYSSE was able to establish a club at UofM in 2016 was the result of an intense campaign, winning the support of students and exposing the anti-democratic character of the C&SCs attempts to reject the clubs affiliation.

Similar anti-democratic attacks on students rights to organise have taken place at campuses around the country.

The IYSSE at Macquarie University was disaffiliated earlier this year, along with 45 percent of the clubs at that university. An overnight culling of clubs was undertaken with management and the student representative body working hand-in-glove. It sets a dangerous precedent whereby university managements can arbitrarily change affiliation conditions without warning, removing clubs as they please. The clear target of such attacks are socialist clubs.

After playing a critical role in the political and cultural life at UofM for six years, the IYSSE is again in the sights of the student union and C&SC.

Far from being a club that is not operating, the IYSSE has been intensely active, holding weekly campaigns and meetings on a variety of political and historical issues of immense importance for students and young people.

A particular focus of the IYSSEs work has been the fight against war, amid the US-NATO proxy conflict in Ukraine and active preparations for a US-led war against China.

The erosion of democratic rights on campuses is intimately connected to their transformation into militarist hubs, and official attempts to suppress anti-war opposition.

As one of the sandstone institutions in the country, UofM plays a key role in the war drive. The university has hosted the military think tank, the Defence Science Institute since 2010. In 2016, UofM announced a $13-million partnership with the worlds largest arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

The IYSSE has also played a central role in the fight against the authoritarian measures that accompany the war policies. It has campaigned for years in defence of courageous journalist and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a former UofM student. Assange has been subjected to a decade-long witch hunt led by the United States for his role in exposing US war crimes in the Middle East.

The attempted disaffiliation of the IYSSE club must not be allowed to stand! We warn students: the C&SC is attempting to determine what you can discuss, campaign about and even think while on campus. Whatever the immediate motivation, this body is functioning as the instrument of attempts by the university administration, the official political parties and the ruling elite they represent to shut down oppositional voices on campus.

The IYSSE is launching a public, international campaign against this anti-democratic attack. We demand that the IYSSE be reaffiliated immediately, with all rights restored. We do not recognise the decision of the C&SC to disaffiliate the club and will proceed with our Annual General Meeting (AGM) at 1:30 p.m. (AEST) on Thursday, 22 September. Students can attend the AGM which will be held via Zoom at this link.

We urge all students and student clubs to support our campaign. Students should attend and help build our AGM. Get in contact with the UofM IYSSE, give statements of support and join our fight against this anti-democratic attack.

To get in contact with the IYSSE email at iysse.uom@gmail.com

Join the IYSSE Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/IYSSEaustralia

Follow us on Twitter at @IysseA
The collapse of Russian forces in the face of a counteroffensive by Ukraine the northeast of the country has brought to the fore bitter conflicts within the Russian oligarchy.

Over the past week, the Russian military has lost about a tenth of the territory it had previously occupied in Ukraine. The fleeing troops vacated almost all of the Russian-occupied parts of the Kharkiv province, including several strategically and logistically important towns like Izyum and Balakliya, leaving behind military equipment.

The military debacle has not only exposed the significant logistical and intelligence problems of Russias military, and the extremely low morale among its troops. Above all, it has dealt a severe blow to the strategy of the Putin regime. Having emerged out of the Stalinist destruction of the Soviet Union and the restoration of capitalism, the Putin regime has responded to decades of NATO encirclement and provocations with the invasion of Ukraine, hoping that it could force the imperialist powers to the negotiating table. A principal component of this strategy has been the effort to contain what is essentially a war with NATO.

But this strategy has been blown to pieces by the aggressive moves to escalate the war by the imperialist powers and the transformation of the Ukrainian armythe second largest in Europe after Russiasinto a well-equipped fighting force. According to the New York Times, it was the Biden administration, which has pledged over $50 billion in weapons for Ukraine since February, that proposed the offensive to the Zelensky government. Moreover, the American media and military figures are openly bragging about the central role of US-delivered weapons and intelligence in the offensive, making it all but impossible to deny that the Russian military is fighting a NATO proxy army in Ukraine.

Coming on the heels of a series of major provocations, including strikes on Crimea and the assassination of Daria Dugina, a prominent proponent of the war near Moscow, the offensive is clearly part of the efforts by the imperialist powers to goad the Kremlin into an expansion of the war and embolden the most hawkish elements within the Russian state and oligarchy.

Already, the military debacle has provoked an outcry even among the most loyal Putin supporters. Within the media and political establishment, there are ever more open calls for a general mobilization and a public acknowledgement that what is taking place is, in fact, a full-scale war.

At a Duma (parliament) session on Tuesday, September 13, a deputy from the ruling United Russia Party, Mikhail Sheremetv, said, Without a complete mobilization, the transition [of the entire country] into war mode, including of the economy, we will not achieve the necessary results [in Ukraine]. I am saying that society must now be consolidated as much as possible and be determined to achieve victory.

Gennady Zyuganov, the head of the Stalinist Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF), flat-out refused to speak of a special military operation. For the past six months, the Kremlin has insisted that what is taking place is only a special military operation. The term war is banned from the Russian media.

Zyuganov said, How is a special military operation different from a war? A military operation can be stopped at any point. But you cannot stop a war, it either ends with victory or defeat. I am telling you that what is happening is a war, and we have no right to lose it. We must not panic now. What is needed is an all-out mobilization of the country, entirely different laws are required. Zyuganov also called for an increase in military expenditures and more modern equipment for the army.

Zyuganovs statements are all the more significant as his party, which openly glorifies Joseph Stalin and the Great Terror, has functioned as the largest loyal opposition party to the Putin regime for over two decades, and has played a critical role in stifling and disorienting social opposition.

The leaders of the other nominal opposition parties, including Just Russia, supported Zyuganovs calls for a general mobilization and also insisted that the war should be named for what it is.

Following the heated session at the Duma, the Kremlins spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted that at the moment there is no discussion in the Russian government about a full or partial mobilization.

Nevertheless, the Russian media continues to be filled with discussions about it, with many media outlets publishing extensive analyses of what a partial or general mobilization would look like. Based on Russian law, a mobilization can only be introduced in case of aggression against Russia, the immediate threat of aggression or the emergence of armed conflicts that are directed against Russia. In the case of a full mobilization, all male citizens aged 18 to 50 can be drafted and the entire economy would be refocused on war production. Much of everyday social and economic life would be regulated and surveiled, in one form or another, by the Ministry of Defense. Some media outlets speculate that a mobilization could also occur, initially at least, in a partial and even secret manner.

Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the North Caucasian republic, who has publicly fumed about mistakes by the Russian army, has spearheaded an effort to mobilize volunteers to strengthen the Russian troops. Several regional governors have supported his calls for a self-mobilization in the regions.

At this point, the Russian military has deployed but a small fraction of its over 1 million men to Ukraine. Putin himself has insisted that only volunteers and no draftees are being deployed to Ukraine.

The bitter conflicts within the Russian oligarchy can only be understood in light of the systematic intervention of imperialism in the Ukraine war and in Russian politics, as well as the class nature of the Russian oligarchy itself. Having emerged out of the Stalinist bureaucracys destruction of the Soviet Union and restoration of capitalism, it never had and never could have any independence from imperialism. All the different factions, if by starkly different means, ultimately seek an accommodation with one or another imperialist power, and fear nothing more than a movement in the working class.

Despite constant efforts by the oligarchs find an agreement with imperialism, the imperialist powers have systematically encircled Russia since 1991, seeking to bring all the resources of the former Soviet Union under their direct control. The current war in Ukraine is the temporary culmination of this development. The ultimate aim lies not so much in Ukraine itself, but in the complete subjugation and carve-up of Russia.

The destabilization of the Putin regime is therefore a central component of the war strategy.

In a report from 2019, the RAND corporation, a leading US think tank, outlined a strategy of overextending Russia to destabilize the regime. According to RAND, the principal means to bring about such an economic overextension, apart from sanctions especially in the energy sector, was to force the Russian regime to invest more in its military. The report stressed that the Kremlin was reluctant to do so and that the US would therefore find it hard to persuade Russia to substantially increase defense spending unless it convinces the Kremlin that new threats to Russian security demand a change to this policy.

There is little question that the systematic provocations by NATO in the lead-up to the Russian invasion were aimed at bringing about precisely this change in Russian foreign policy. Since the invasion, NATO has conducted ever more overtly a de facto war against Russia on Ukrainian territory through an army and paramilitary forces that are principally armed and trained by the imperialist powers.

The calculation is that, by goading Russia into an expansion of the war, including a general mobilization, the Putin regime can be fatally destabilized and overthrown by another faction of the oligarchy in a US-backed operation. The latest offensive and crisis in the Russian ruling class has raised hopes that this prospect may be realized sooner rather than later. One of the most vocal spokesmen of US imperialist policy vis-a-vis Russia, retired US general Ben Hodges, wrote in the Telegraph earlier this week, it is a genuine possibility that Vladimir Putins exposed weaknesses are so severe that we might be witnessing the beginning of the endnot only of his regime, but of the Russian Federation itself.

In this operation, the imperialist powers rely on a faction within the Russian oligarchy that is gathered around the pro-NATO misnamed liberal opposition. While their main figurehead, Alexei Navalny, continues to be imprisoned, almost as soon as news of the collapse of Russian offensive broke, municipal deputies from Petersburg that are associated with the liberal opposition launched a petition aimed at impeaching Putin based on allegations of high treason. These layers stand in the tradition of a faction of the Russian oligarchy that has advocated an integration of Russia into NATO. They are effectively calling for a whole-sale capitulation to imperialism, hoping that they would staff the puppet regimes that would emerged out of an imperialist carve-up of Russia.

Facing growing pressure from different factions of the oligarchy, the Putin regimes main concern is the prospect that, much like World War I which was ended by the Bolshevik-led October revolution, the war will lead to a social revolution in Russia and internationally. In a recent piece for a Kremlin-aligned think tank, Sergei Karaganov, a leading foreign policy pundit, explicitly warned of a repetition of what he called the disaster of 1917. Even more so than the oligarchys delusionary belief in the possibility of an agreement with the imperialist powers, this is the main reason for Putins desperate efforts to contain the conflict and limit its impact on the home front.

For the working class, the critical question is to develop its own, socialist response to the emerging world war, independent from and in opposition to all factions of the oligarchy and imperialism. The principal political basis for this fight is the assimilation of the entire political heritage of the struggle of the Trotskyist movement against the Stalinist betrayal of the October revolution, and for the political independence of the working class. This requires a determined struggle to build sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International in both Russia and Ukraine.
Preservationists were dealt a blow to their efforts to save the Great Northern grain elevator when an appeals court judge denied them a temporary restraining order Friday night to stop crews from tearing down the 128-year-old building.

Demolition began Friday morning on the structure as an excavator tore down bricks and one bin inside the building.

"That necessarily puts a great deal of time pressure on us," said Tim Tielman, the executive director for the Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture & Culture.

Tielman was hoping to buy some time through the restraining order as his organization prepared a legal appeal before the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court's Fourth Department in Rochester.

Without the restraining order, demolition can continue.

Tielman was disappointed by the ruling but pointed out that the massive building is solidly built and demolition will be long and tedious work that's expected to take months.

"It took them seven hours to take down one bin," he said regarding the large cylindrical structures that held grain. There are dozens inside the structure, he said.

"The frame is really robust," Tielman said. Tearing it down "is not an easy task for them. That's why we're hopeful."

Tielman realizes that demolition will likely continue as they prepare their next legal battle, but the fight to save the building is far from over. "We'll save whatever parts of it we can. It can't be 100%. We'll take 95%," he said.

The grain elevator is owned by Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., commonly known as ADM, a multinational food processing and commodities trading corporation headquartered in Chicago.

"The Great Northern Elevator constitutes a safety hazard and is beyond repair, a reality that has been clear to us, the City of Buffalo, and a court in its rulings upholding the citys demolition permit," according to an ADM statement on Friday. "As a result of these rulings, the citys emergency demolition order is in full effect, and we are continuing to move forward with safely dismantling the facility."

Earlier this week, Catherine Amdur, the Buffalo commissioner of permit and inspection services, said the demolition process could take up to eight months.
Remember the promises that state lottery proceeds would go to education? Erie County has adopted an excellent version of that idea in its approach to funding a training program for people interested in health care careers.

The Erie County Healhtcare Careers Program turned out to be far more popular than organizers expected, based on previous levels of interest. With insufficient fund to meet the demand, the county turned to the found money that funnels in from casino gambling. With that, the county is pressing those dollars into a program that will help improve the lives of residents, restrain the demand for public assistance and, eventually, expand municipal tax bases. Its a creative and entirely appropriate use of those funds.

The program serves Erie County residents with a high school diploma or GED. Applicants must be making less than $25 an hour, be able to meet entrance requirements and complete financial aid applications for other sources of support.

The ECHC program is an absolute, tremendous success, said Zachary Evans, the county executives senior economic development specialist, said Thursday. The story behind its new funding suggests thats more than just hyperbole.

The program began 12 years ago as a federally funded grant project, but the grants ended in 2021. Recognizing its value, the county last fall devoted $1.3 million to keep it going. The math suggested that would be enough.

It wasnt even close.

As a federally funded effort, the program produced 110 licensed practical nurses a year. Assuming the number of applicants would more than double, that funding should have sufficed. But interest in the training program ballooned, with 485 people having applied by Sept. 1. The years total is expected to top 500, Evans said. Thats a program that deserves every effort to meet its burgeoning demand.

This program is well targeted, with health care workers are in short supply. While the majority of applicants seek training as licensed practical nurses and registered nurses., the program also offers pathways into careers as surgical, medical and physical therapy assistants, lab technicians, and surgical or radiologic technologists, among other professions.

The spending is also well directed. It seeks to match low-income residents with high-demand jobs in the health care industry. The program matches applicants with more than half a dozen local colleges and training providers, most of whom offer career training and degree programs lasting between seven weeks and two years. Some qualified careers, like a bachelor of nursing degree, would require longer schooling, but this offers a start.

The program, Evans said, is directly benefiting the community by getting Erie County residents in training programs and into health care professions to help our significant staffing shortage here in the county.

What is more, by plowing casino money into the effort, the county is making the best use of revenues that can be unreliable and some of which rely on the poor judgment of gamblers. Its an ethical and productive use of the pot of money. The county should plan on continuing to fund the program with these dollars.

Casino gambling in Western New York is the province of the Seneca Nation of Indians, whose 2002 agreement with the state will be up for renewal next year. It hasnt been an easy path for either party, with bad blood infecting the relationship.

It could be a broadly helpful idea  in terms of mending fences and meeting needs that exist among the Senecas  to ensure that members of their nation are aware of this opportunity.

Information on the program is available at workforcebuffalo.org/echc.

  

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
Despite the lengthening history of the abuse of power by the Department of Justice and FBI, many believe the armed search of former President Trumps Secret Service protected Mar-a-Lago home was undertaken to protect national security. The evidence is accumulating that this was not the case.

New important evidence is buried in a footnote in Judge Cannons Order for a Special Master. According to the Order, the FBI seized about 11,000 documents in its raid and only about 100 contained classification markings (far fewer than on the infamous Clinton server).

Both numbers are telling. The FBIs failure in their nine-hour raid to collect materials narrowly relevant to its warrant and instead haul out 11,000 documents suggests it was a fishing expedition. The fact that so few seized documents contained classification markings (under 1%) suggests the search was not about national security. This is reinforced by the FBI releasing a photograph of seized classified documents  all without Attorney General Merrick Garland or President Biden uttering so much as a public rebuke, much less initiating an investigation. Turns out the documents were safer with Trump than with the FBI.

The raid was not about national security. It was once again about getting Trump. This is the real threat to our democracy. No wonder 53% of Americans (according to a Rasmussen survey) believe there is a group of politicized thugs at the top of the FBI who are using the FBI as Joe Bidens personal Gestapo.

James Campbell

Buffalo
Common

Craig Sjodin/Walt Disney Television/Getty Common

Chicago great Common is entering the world of theatre this winter.

The Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winning multi-hyphenate was announced by Second Stage Theater this week as a new addition to Stephen Adly Guirgis' play Between Riverside and Crazy. Common, who will take on the role of Junior in the show, is one Tony Award short of reaching the coveted EGOT status, and a stint like this one could be his first step to getting there.

"This has been a dream of mine for a very long time to act in a play, to do theater, and to be a part of a theater company. I am supremely grateful and overwhelmingly inspired to be a part of Between Riverside and Crazy," Common wrote on Instagram Friday. "I can't wait to begin this process and to live this journey."

RELATED: Common 'Evolved' Into the Man He Is Now with Tiffany Haddish: 'I Listen to What She Has to Say'

The character of Junior is the recently paroled son of ex-cop Walter "Pops" Washington in the dark comedy that follows them through issues arising with a rent-stabilized apartment, new houseguests, and some life changes. The production, directed by Austin Pendleton, will feature original company members Victor Almanzar, Elizabeth Canavan, Rosal Colon, Liza Colon-Zayas, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Michael Rispoli.

"You never could have told me that little south side boy that he would be on Broadway," Common wrote.

When he first got the role, Common called his mother like he had just been signed to a label for the first time, he wrote on Instagram. To him, it was a moment of joy.

"I have been told how hard the work is and that there's nothing like it," Common shared. "This is what I want as an artist and as a being that believes art can heal and inspire. I want to be a part of the theater community to express that light and love. I thank GOD for this opening of doors and this blessing. So pls come check out our play y'all. Thank you @2stnyc for the opportunity! Wooooooooo."

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RELATED: Watch the Touching Trailer for Ava DuVernay's Social Experiment Series Home Sweet Home

Common earned his first Oscar in 2015 for his track "Glory" with John Legend, he has three Grammy Awards after winning his first in 2003 for the song "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" and he has an Emmy for his work on the 2016 Ava DuVernay documentary 13th.

Earlier this month, Jennifer Hudson opened up to Gayle King on CBS Mornings about securing EGOT status, and explained that she gave herself the nickname of "17" after winning her first Tony in June. The nickname represents Hudson being the 17th person to ever earn the title of EGOT.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"It came as a surprise," Hudson said. "I did not fully see it coming. I went there to celebrate the cast for getting 11 nominations, and I don't feel like I've been present. And then when they said, 'Strange Loop, best musical,' I was cheering for them. And once we get on the stage, everybody started chanting, 'EGOT, EGOT,' and I was like, 'Wait what?'"

Opening night for Common's performance in Between Riverside and Crazy will take place on Dec. 19, while previews begin on Nov. 30, at Second Stage's Hayes Theater.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis paid an aviation company $615,000 to transport migrants by plane to Martha's Vineyard

Volunteers mingle outside of St. Andrews Episcopal Church. Two planes of migrants from Venezuela arrived suddenly Wednesday night on Martha's Vineyard. Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Two planes with 50 migrants arrived on Martha's Vineyard last week.

The planes were organized with the help of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who used state funds for the transport.

State records show that Florida paid an aviation company more than half a million dollars for the transportation, WTSP reported.

Florida paid an Oregon-based aviation company $615,000 using state funds to transport migrants on a plane from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, WTSP reported.

State records showed that Florida paid Vertol Systems Company Inc. less than a week before 50 migrants were recently flown to Massachusetts.

The flights were a coordination effort between DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, both of whom are Republicans who have sharply criticized the Biden administration's immigration policy.

The migrants landed on Wednesday with no warning, and Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed responsibility. The move was part of an effort to blame Democratic policies for unauthorized migration at the Southern US border and force so-called sanctuary cities to take responsibility for them.

"I think what we're continuing to do is use every tool at our disposal to insulate the state of Florida from the negative ramifications of [Biden's] reckless border policies. And, yes, that involves helping with transport," DeSantis said during a press conference.

Aaron Parseghian WTSP (@AaronParseghian) September 16, 2022

DeSantis also said he intends to use "every penny" of the $12 million that Florida budgeted to relocate migrants, CNN reported.

"These are just the beginning efforts," he said. "We've got an infrastructure in place now. There's going to be a lot more that's happening."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Krishma Sood Bhojwani's wedding. Wedding Nama; Courtesy of Krishma Sood Bhojwani

The big, fat, Indian wedding is the stuff of dreams.

For Krishma Sood Bhojwani, this meant hosting a four-day-long celebration at the JW Marriott in Phuket, Thailand. The wedding featured cheese wheels imported from Italy, Iberico ham sourced directly from Spain, and a photography team from Mumbai. Chefs were flown in from India and Japan, with cooks preparing fresh food across 24 dining stations.

The wedding consisted of eight events spread across four days, all set against the backdrop of the oceanfront resort where lush jungle meets the province's coastline. The 120 guests, who flew in from around the world and wore black-tie attire and intricately embroidered lehengas, were treated to cocktail dinners by the beach and ballroom parties.

Bhojwani had arranged for a floating altar and wore traditional outfits that were made by luxury designers like Sabyasachi, whose designs can go for $30,000 a piece.

As for the cost? Around $400,000 for the wedding events alone, Bhojwani estimates  and that doesn't account for the couple's jewelry and outfits.

"I did have a strict budget  money doesn't grow on a tree. We were sharp on cost and didn't spend a dollar over what I said we would," Bhojwani, who's from Australia, told Insider.

Krishma Sood Bhojwani's wedding. Wedding Nama; Courtesy of Krishma Sood Bhojwani

In India, the wedding industry is worth a whopping $50 billion, and it's not uncommon for wealthy families to spend astronomical amounts of money on weddings. In 2018, billionaire tycoon Mukesh Ambani spent a reported $100 million on his daughter's wedding, with guests like Beyonce, Shah Rukh Khan, and Hillary Clinton in attendance.

But even for the just ordinarily wealthy, weddings can ring up serious price tags: Indian families are known to spend as much as $800,000 on destination weddings at five-star hotels and resorts across Southeast Asia. Traditionally, the bride's family would bear the wedding costs, but that's now considered an outdated practice  many families, including Bhojwani and her husband's, choose to share the expenses. As Bhojwani put it, Indian couples typically have a "huge amount of parental support" in financing the costs of their wedding.

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Krishma Sood Bhojwani's wedding. Wedding Nama; Courtesy of Krishma Sood Bhojwani

Now, as luxury resorts across Southeast Asia emerge from the pandemic, many of them are competing for these lucrative Indian weddings. Many of these establishments are still reeling from the financial impact of the pandemic, and they're sparing no effort to attract the business of wealthy Indian couples to make up for the deficits. After all, that big Indian wedding may just be the tipping factor between ending the year in red or black.

The big business of big Indian weddings

One reason high-end Indian weddings can be so expensive is because they're often not single-day events  Sikh wedding ceremonies, for example, are held over several days, said Vin Ramash, a wedding planner with Singapore-based wedding and events company Alangkaar.

Krishma Sood Bhojwani's wedding in Phuket. Wedding Nama; Courtesy of Krishma Sood Bhojwani

"At the higher end, Punjabi weddings start at $100,000 per day, so spending $500,000 is possible," Ramash told Insider, explaining that this is typical of weddings held at premium hotels like Capella, St. Regis, or Ritz-Carlton.

But the bells, whistles, and whims of the couple also contribute to the hefty price tag.

Hand-made mandaps, or altars, and custom-designed decorations can cost around $40,000, Ramash said  and additional requests like fireworks can cost even more.

And then there's the travel element.

As destination weddings become more popular among high-net worth Indian couples, many couples are looking to Thailand. Ramash said Alangkaar's tourism partner in the country anticipates 400 to 500 "large-sale Indian weddings" in 2023 alone.

Krishma Sood Bhojwani's wedding. Wedding Nama; Courtesy of Krishma Sood Bhojwani

"Couples love destination weddings in Thailand because of the value you get for every dollar you spend. People want an experience  it's not just about status," Ramash, who plans weddings in Singapore, Bali, and Phuket, added.

Bhojwani and her husband had initially planned to host their wedding at the Intercontinental Hotel in Phu Quoc, Vietnam. After lockdowns, travel restrictions, and four postponements, they finally decided to host their wedding in Thailand.

Vendors and planners in Phu Quoc failed to understand what they wanted for their wedding "no matter how hard we negotiated," Bhojwani said. The planners and venue in Thailand, meanwhile, "understood the vision, the scale, the grandeur, and experience" she and her husband were looking for.

Krishma Sood Bhojwani's wedding. Wedding Nama; Courtesy of Krishma Sood Bhojwani

Tourism boards and luxury hotels are fighting for weddings

Given the pent-up demand, and in an effort to get back to pre-pandemic business levels, tourism boards and luxury hotels are prioritizing marketing campaigns that target the ultra-luxe destination Indian wedding segment. That means that destinations like Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Maldives are often vying for the same big-budget weddings.

Resorts are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to become the destination of choice. Hotels are catering to all sorts of demands from the wedding parties, including making special arrangements for religious rituals like providing a Hindu priest to solemnize the wedding. In some instances, they've even offered to rebook guests at sister venues if a bigger wedding party wants to book out the entire property.

Tourism boards are getting in on it, too.

For Thailand, wedding revenue is embedded into the tourism revenue for the year. Thailand expects a 600 billion to 700 billion baht, or $16 to 19 million, boost to tourism revenues this year from luxury weddings and honeymooners, Reuters reported, citing a senior tourism official. Indian tourists are the "priority" this year, Tanes Petsuwan, the deputy governor of Thailand's tourism authority, told Nikkei Asia.

Krishma Sood Bhojwani's wedding. Wedding Nama; Courtesy of Krishma Sood Bhojwani

Other tourism boards, like Indonesia's, are also on the prowl to woo these glitzy-eyed couples. These exclusive weddings can cost anywhere from $200,000 to $500,000, Sanjay Sondhi, the CEO of Om Tourism and the head of Indonesia's tourism board for India, told Insider.

Indonesia tourism board officials often collaborate with the biggest wedding planners in countries like India, and in some instances are even present when resorts are pitching to the prospective brides and grooms.

The fruits of this labor can be sweet. For one high-profile wedding slated to be held in the tropical island of Bali, talks are now revolving around a chartered flight for around 250 guests, Sondhi said. The couple was previously mulling a destination wedding in Thailand.

Hotels lay out the red carpet

With the main Indian wedding season, which runs from October to December, just around the corner, hotels are seeing a pick-up in inquiries.

Demand for Six Senses properties across Southeast Asia for Indian destination weddings has been on the rise, with Six Senses Uluwatu in Bali being the absolute "favorite," Agnes Poon, the director of sales and marketing for Six Senses in Asia, told Insider. In August, the five-star resort held the wedding for a high-end family based in South India, Poon said. And in late 2021, the hotel chain hosted the wedding of Bollywood stars Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal. The wedding took place at the chain's flagship property in India, Six Senses Fort Barwara.

Poon said queries are coming in for minimums of 200-250 rooms at the resort, which rests on the famed limestone cliffs of Uluwatu and opens up to sweeping views of the Indian Ocean.

To be sure, it's not just Indian weddings that are big business. The global wedding services industry generated $160.5 billion revenues in 2020 and is expected to generate revenues of $414.2 billion in 2030, per an Allied Market Research report.

Luxury hotel Capella Singapore has weddings scheduled for every weekend of the year, Victoria Lim, a content marketing specialist at Capella Hotel group, told Insider. Demand for venues is topping pre-pandemic levels  but the type of demand is also diversifying. Capella is seeing an increase in small and intimate solemnization, especially for couples who put their weddings on pause due to the pandemic, Lim said.

Krishma Sood Bhojwani's wedding. Wedding Nama; Courtesy of Krishma Sood Bhojwani

But for many of those taking the traditional big Indian wedding route, it's worth it to dish out  even if they had to change their plans multiple times along the way.

"I've always dreamed of having a beautiful wedding," Bhojwani said of her April wedding. "It was really hard, it was delayed for three years but we got there in the end. It's definitely worth it."

Read the original article on Insider
Reese Witherspoon celebrated the 20th anniversary of "Sweet Home Alabama" with an Instagram tribute. (Photo: ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

Reese Witherspoon is paying tribute to a movie that completely changed her life.

On Saturday, the Big Little Lies star took to Instagram to share a series of clips from her 2002 romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama. In the film, Witherspoon plays Melanie, a New York City fashion designer who returns to her small hometown in the South in order to get a divorce from his first husband, played by Josh Lucas.

The film also stars Melanie Lynskey as her former best friend and Patrick Dempsey as the current fiance waiting for her back in Manhattan. Dakota Fanning, in one of her earliest roles, portrays a young version of Witherspoons character.

20 years ago Sweet Home Alabama came out and completely changed my life. Incredible memories of shooting this movie with these amazing actors Josh, Patrick, Dakota, Melanie, Jean, Ethan, Mary Kay, Fred, and Candace, of course, Witherspoon wrote in the caption of her post. So many great scenes and my favorite line... So I can kiss you anytime I want. Do you remember seeing it for the first time?

Witherspoons followers loved the throwback  including Dakota Fannings sister, The Great star Elle Fanning, who wrote THE BEST. Rachel Zoe concurred, BEST MOVIE EVER.

The Hello Sunshine producer often honors her previous work on social media. Last year, she celebrated the 20th anniversary of Legally Blonde  in which she played sorority president-turned-Harvard law student Elle Woods  with a special message about how important the film remains to her.

Every meme, graduation cap, musical number, halloween costume and bend & snap has brought me so much JOY over these past two decades!" she gushed. "I wonder... what will Elle do next?"

Fans will learn what Elle Woods is up to next: Witherspoon is set to reprise her role in Legally Blonde 3 , with a script penned by Mindy Kaling. Right now, its unclear exactly when the movie will hit theaters.
Austrian director Ulrich Seidl has cancelled his visit to San Sebastian for the Sept. 18 world premiere of Sparta, amid allegations of impropriety and child exploitation made against the director.

The world premiere will still go ahead at San Sebastian with the film playing in main competition contending for San Sebastians Gold Shell.

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Seidls decision comes after the Toronto Film Festival pulled Sparta and on Sept. 14, FilmFest Hamburg announced that it would no longer be giving Seidl its Douglas Sirk Award, though it would be screening Sparta.

I am very grateful to [San Sebastian director] Jose Luis Rebordinos for supporting Sparta from the beginning, despite the media pressure and the sudden and unexpected polemics it has created. It means a lot to me, Seidl said via a written statement transmitted on Saturday by Spanish SVOD platform Filmin, which distributes the film in Spain.

My initial impulse was to attend San Sebastian and not leave alone the film on which I and my team have worked for so many years, Seidl continued. However, he went on, Ive realized that my presence at the festival could overshadow the reception of film. Now is the moment for the film to speak for itself.

San Sebastian issued its own statement on Saturday after news of Seidls cancellation confirming that Sparta would still screen on Sunday at the festival. A photocall and press conference have been cancelled, however.

Torontos withdrawal of Sparta came after an investigative report published by German news magazine Der Spiegel on Sept. 2. This alleged that Seidl did not reveal the films focus on pedophilia to its young actors nor their guardians, the actors being between the ages of 9 and 16 and not from professional backgrounds.

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The young actors were also exposed to alcoholism, nudity and violence during the production without sufficient preparation nor support, Der Spiegel claimed.

Seidl has denied the claims. My films are not the product of my manipulating my actors, misrepresenting the film to them, much less abusing them, he wrote in statement posted on his website.

San Sebastian has stood firm behind Seidl confirming in a statement after Toronto pulled the film that it does not have the ability to judge how a film has been shot and whether a crime has been committed in the course of the filming. If anyone has any evidence of a crime, they should report it to a judge.

The statement concluded: Only a court order would lead us to suspend a scheduled screening.

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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral

Karwai Tang/WireImage Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will not join other members of the royal family at a Buckingham Palace reception for world leaders traveling to London for Queen Elizabeth's funeral.

PEOPLE understands that while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were initially invited to the event on Sunday, the palace now says the reception is "for working members of the royal family."

Hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla, the reception will welcome heads of state and official overseas guests who have traveled to London for Queen Elizabeth's state funeral on Monday. About 2,000 people are expected to gather at Westminster Abbey for the event.

RELATED: Meghan Markle Wears Earrings Gifted to Her by Queen Elizabeth at London Service

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave after a service for the reception of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin

BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

On Saturday evening, Prince Harry will join his seven cousins in standing vigil around Queen Elizabeth's coffin in Westminster Hall, where it has been lying in state and visited by thousands of mourners since Wednesday.

For more on Queen Elizabeth's funeral, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

Although it was announced earlier this week that only working members of the royal family who hold military rank would wear their service uniforms for the Queen's funerary events, Prince Harry  who served two tours in Afghanistan during his 10-year career in the British Army  will wear his military regalia for the vigil.

The update comes "at the King's request," according to a palace source, and the decision was made without Prince Harry requesting a change, PEOPLE has learned. The Duke of Sussex was prepared to wear whatever was asked, PEOPLE understands, and his focus is on honoring his grandmother.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex looks on as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is brought into Westminster Hall on September 14, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is taken in procession on a Gun Carriage of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lay in state until the early morning of her funeral. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.

Darren Fletcher - WPA Pool/Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Sept. 14

Prince Harry, who turned 38 on Thursday, and Meghan, 41, had traveled to Europe from their California home for a series of charity events when Queen Elizabeth died on September 8.

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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!

On September 10, Meghan and Harry joined Prince William and Kate Middleton at Windsor Castle to view tributes to the late Queen and greet well-wishers. Prince William, who invited his brother and sister-in-law to join him and Kate, thought the outing "was an important show of unity at an incredibly difficult time for the family," a royal source tells PEOPLE.

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the long Walk at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. Crowds have gathered and tributes left at the gates of Windsor Castle to Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September, 2022. (Photo by Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

The couple were at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday when Queen Elizabeth's coffin arrived from Scotland, and they joined members of the royal family on Wednesday for a service at Westminster Hall after Prince Harry joined his father, brother and other family members in a procession through London.
World War II was the deadliest international conflict in world history, leaving almost 80 million people dead. Although the devastating impact of World War I tended to stick to the battlefield, fighting and bombings in World War II destroyed countries and economies across Europe.

Total cost of the destruction is estimated at over $1 trillion, causing many European nations to struggle in their recovery efforts following the conflict. World War II came after the rise in power of the Nazis in Germany under Adolf Hitler and included the deliberate murder of millions of Jewish people in the Holocaust.

But when exactly was World War II, and what caused the conflict that decimated Europe? Here's a short history lesson.

What is NATO?And why is Ukraine not in it?

Who has the most nuclear weapons?And can the US stop a nuclear attack?

When was World World II?

World War II took place from 1939 to 1945 between the Axis powers  Germany, Italy and Japan  and the Allies  mainly France, Great Britain, the Soviet Union and the United States.

Americans go ashore during the invasion of France on June 6. 1944. Waves and waves of men swept Normandy shore.

In many ways, the war was a continuation of World War I, or the Great War, which had taken place 20 years earlier from 1914 to 1918, according to History.com.

Just curious: We're answering your everyday questions

What started World War II?

World War I devastated Europe, leaving the continent destabilized and millions dead. This instability and the rise in power of Adolf Hitler, in an economically and politically unstable Germany, led to the start of another war in Europe.

When Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, there was already widespread resentment among the German people over the harsh terms imposed on their country in the Versailles Treaty which had ended the Great War. After rising to power, Hitler quickly consolidated power in the German government and changed his title to Fuhrer, which translates to "supreme leader."

Hitler believed there was a superiority among the Germans, leading him to become obsessed with creating a supposedly superior Aryan race. To do this, he believed Germany needed to grow in order to give the German people the chance to expand. Hitler began to secretly rearm Germany, a violation of the Versailles Treaty.

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From there, he became more bold, signing a treaty with Japan and Italy against the Soviet Union and occupying Austria in 1938. The following year, Hitler annexed Czechoslovakia, according to History.com.

Despite his increased aggression, his actions went mostly unchecked as France and Britain were not interested in another conflict, and the Soviet Union and the United States dealt with their own internal issues.

France and Britain would be driven to declare war on Hitler, however, once he invaded Poland.

When did Hitler invade Poland?

Hitler invaded Poland on Sept. 1, 1939 as German forces bombarded the country by land and air. The invasion of Poland by Germany would become known as the blitzkrieg strategy, characterized by a bombardment to destroy communication lines, railroads and air capacity followed by an overwhelming land invasion.

Prior to the invasion of Poland, Hitler and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin signed the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact. The pact allowed the Soviet Union to feel it would not face German aggression and have time to build up its army, while for Hitler it meant he could invade Poland without opposition.

A secret agreement in the pact, however, outlined details about how Germany and the Soviets planned to divide Eastern Europe. The pact, however, fell apart in June 1941 when Germany invaded the Soviet Union, according to History.com.

On Sept. 3, 1939, two days following Hitlers invasion of Poland, France and Britain declared war on Germany. With this, War War II had officially begun.

How did World War II end?

A series of victories for the Allied powers between 1943 and 1945 led to the end of World War II, anchored most notably by D-Day. On June 6, 1944, the Allies began an invasion, landing with 156,000 American, Canadian and British soldiers on the beaches of Normandy, France.

In response to the invasion, Hitler moved the remainder of his troops to Western Europe, solidifying his loss in the East.

The Battle of the Bulge, which was Hitlers attempt to divide American, French and British forces in their move toward Germany from December 1944 to January 1945, was the last main German offensive of the war.

The Allied land invasion of Germany and extensive bombardment of the country led to Germanys surrender on May 8. Prior to the surrender, Hitler died by suicide on April 30.

Two months after the surrender of Germany, Allied leaders met in Potsdam, Germany to discuss peace settlements. Although fighting in Europe had ended, the conflict continued in the Pacific. On July 26, 1945, the U.S., China and Britain called for Japan's unconditional surrender.

Fears of a casualty heavy land invasion of Japan led President Harry Truman to order atomic bombs be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9. The devastating impact of the bombs led the Japanese government to declare it would accept the Potsdam Declaration on August 15.

The official end to the war came Sept. 2, 1945 when U.S. General Douglas MacArthur accepted Japan's surrender.

Winston Churchill, left, Harry S. Truman and Josef Stalin, right shake hands in front of Churchill's residence in Potsdam, Germany on July 23, 1945.

How many people died in World War 2?

An estimated 60 to 80 million people died in World War II. Around 55 million civilians were killed during the conflict with the war leading to between 21 and 25 million military deaths. Additionally, 6 million Jewish people were murdered in Nazi concentration camps. Aside from the mass casualties, millions were left wounded and with their homes and property destroyed.

World War II: Poland seeks $1.3 trillion in reparations from Germany on anniversary of Nazi invasion

How many people died in the Holocaust?

The Holocaust was the deliberate persecution and murdering of Jewish people as well as the murdering of individuals with disabilities, those who were gay and members of other small ethnic groups. According to the National World War II Museum, that total is at least 11 million people.

Jewish people and other groups were targeted because the Nazis and Hitler did not feel they fell under what they believed was the supposed superior Aryan race of the German people.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When was World War 2? How did it start? A short history.
K-pop may have centered South Korea in global pop culture in recent years, with its stars attracting legions of fans and becoming muses for some of luxury fashions leading labels, but the nation has had a long and rich history in fashion  regardless of whether the West was watching.

Thats what Lee Talbot, curator at the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum, wants the world to see with the Korea Fashion: From Royal Court to Runway exhibit open now through Dec. 22, 2022.

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I have found it really frustrating and almost laughable that so much writing about fashion and fashion history and fashion theory equates fashion with the West, says Talbot, who has lived in Korea and studied its culture and customs for years. And they say, well, fashion and the fashion system that we have today came about because of modernism in the West, because of the individualism that we have in the West, the special kind of market conditions that we have. But that is just not the case at all. So what were showing in this is exhibit, even hanbok, which we tend to translate as traditional Korean garments, was subject to fashion, it changed over time, there would be trends that would come and go. You see hemlines rise and fall, colors that come in and out of fashion.

What I want to show with this exhibition is, its not that Korea went from traditional, unchanging and then all of a sudden with adopting Western fashion and Western modern lifestyles, all of a sudden fashion starts to appear, he continues. No. What Im trying to say in this exhibition is that Koreans have always been fashionable. Always.

Heo Yeong (Korean, 1947-2000), jacket (jeogori) with folk painting design (minhua), Korea, 1990s. The Textile Museum Collection 2022.3.17. Gift of Dr. Young Yang Chung. - Credit: Courtesy of The Textile Museum

Courtesy of The Textile Museum

The show marks the first time Korean textiles and fashion have been featured as the sole focus of a museum exhibition, at least outside of Korea, and the first time the Textile Museum has ever shown textiles from Korea, Talbot says.

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The moment may be long overdue considering Korean fashion made its way to the American stage in 1893 via the Worlds Columbian Exposition, or the worlds fair in Chicago that year. Articles from that fair 129 years ago will be on display at this exhibit.

The exhibition is bookended in time and it starts with the objects that were sent to the Chicago Worlds Fair and then it finishes with a screen that will be updated weekly showing just street fashions of Seoul, Talbot says. What I thought was really wonderful about these bookends is that both of them are Koreans presenting themselves through fashion to the world.

In 1893, Korea was introducing itself to a global public in its first appearance at a worlds fair, and it chose to do so with fashion.

Two bridal robes or hwarrot on loan from Chicagos Field Museum that will be part of the exhibit, are, according to Talbot, almost like Holy Grail kind of material because they have this really interesting provenance. The king put together a commission at the royal court to choose the objects that would represent their country its just fascinating as a group of objects that this is what the royal court chose.

Bridal robes, which would have traditionally been reserved for the aristocracy but eventually became standard for all brides (which is still the case today, though the costly embroidery and craftsmanship leads many brides to rent them), speak to the stories traditional Korean clothing can tell about its wearer.

As Dr. Young Yang Chung, a Korean-born textile historian and embroiderer who consulted for the Korean Fashion exhibit, explains, Clothing is not clothing. It all has meanings, and especially 100 years ago.

Bridal robe (hwarrot, )(front), Korea, 19th century.  The Field Museum, Image No. A113982c, Cat. No. 33159. Gift of J. F. G. Umlauff, H. Higenbotham. - Credit: Photo by John Weinstein

Photo by John Weinstein

One of the two robes that will be on display is made of red, yellow and blue silk  a patchwork of various older garments crafted into a new one  and embroidered with symbols that would also have had meaning.

Describing one of the robes, Chung says, It has a 1.5-foot-wide sleeve with three color bands and is constructed with 10 layers of padding [made of] of rice paper to make it stiffen.The color will determine age, gender, occasion and social status.

Red and blue, she says, symbolize harmony and this unique way of constructing, with fully embroideredsymbolic patterns of the bride and grooms harmony is another thing. Lotus and peony flowers, for example, represent wealth and dignity.

This exhibition is so important for the public to understand the Korean color and concept and the symbolic meanings of patterns, Chung says.

The exhibition travels through time and through Koreas at-times troubled history, from Japans colonization of the country to the Korean War  factors Talbot and Chung agree could have been among the reasons the country was off the radar for something like fashion. It extends to more contemporary times, featuring pieces like a multicolored mid-60s saekdong dress from designer Nora Noh and then brings things even further forward to a chaekgado jacket, tunic and pants by designer Lie Sang Bong shown in 2017.

A look from a Lie Sang Bong collection in 2017 shows a modern take on traditional Korean clothing. - Credit: Femina Group / Dachri Megantara

Femina Group / Dachri Megantara

The link among the designers who are featured, according to Talbot, is Korean tradition as a point of inspiration for new expressions, or designers who have tapped into the past to create for the present.

I think what [Lie Sang Bong is] doing is showing ways that Korean cultural heritage can be interpreted for the modern world. For example, some of the designers in previous generations that received some international success, such as Lee Young Hee, you look at her garments and for the most part you recognize them as Korean. If you recognize Korean garments, you can see the ancestry of hanbok in them. So its kind of a literal reimagination of hanbok or traditional Korean clothing, Talbot says. Lie Sang Bong? Not so much. In fact, you dont see the cut, the construction, the forms of hanbok, but you see elements of Korean culture coming out. For example, one of the outfits that we have has these very colorful patterns that were inspired by architectural paintings from the Joseon dynasty, so thats an aspect of Korean culture that you dont necessarily expect to see manifest in clothing. He is probably best known, certainly in Korea, for using Korean script, Hangul, as a decorative element and well be emphasizing that in the show as well.

The interest in bringing the old into the new in terms of clothing has ramped up in recent years, according to Yoo Jin Choi, a PhD student and curatorial intern at the Textile Museum who, as a native Korean speaker, provided research support and insight for the exhibition.

In Korea, the interest in this modernized traditional clothing has been increasing quite a lot in the past five years, with a lot more amateur enthusiasts making their own clothing, a lot more online shops opening to be more accessible to Koreans in their twenties and thirties, she says, which has encouraged many people to try their hand at what she called modern hanbok for everyday wear.

Even the government is in on it, having created school uniforms and uniforms for public officers inspired by traditional Korean garments, and these will be on display in a section of the exhibit.

Choi, too, wants the fashion-seeking public to see beyond what K-pop has brought to the table.

Korean culture has been mostly defined as the very recent contemporary fashion, mostly worn by K-pop idols or some very few street [style] snaps because of such exposure to the K-pop culture, she says. And I just want to show that Korean culture existed way beyond these contemporary cultures that have been becoming more available in the past decade or so.

Korea, according to Talbot, who began working on the current exhibit pre-pandemic when he saw what he calls an explosion of cultural content coming out of Korea, is one of the most fashion-forward nations in the world.

In a word, hed owe it to hybridity.

Koreans are really adept at combining lots of really different influences and creating something totally new. And that is not unique to contemporary fashion. Its something that we see with historical material as well, he says. There would be influences coming in from China, for instance, and it would be very adroitly incorporated into Korean costume and Korean-ized and they would create a whole new look. So thats something that weve seen over time but we certainly are seeing it now in contemporary fashions, which combine traditional elements of couture and elements of streetwear, [its] all of these things coming together in a really unique aesthetic.

For those who may not make it to the museum, an international symposium titled Hahn Moo-Sook Colloquium for Korean Humanities: Korean Fashion, in conjunction with the exhibit, will take place on Nov. 5, both virtually and in-person at GWs Elliott School of International Affairs.

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Hafiz Akbarzada, an Afghan refugee and former pilot, poses in his Colorado neighborhood on Sept. 12, 2022. Akbarzada, who dreams of flying once again, is soon starting a customer service job with United Airlines and plans to begin training to get back in the air. (Photo: Eli Imadali for HuffPost)

Hafiz Akbarzada, an Afghan refugee and former pilot, poses in his Colorado neighborhood on Sept. 12, 2022. Akbarzada, who dreams of flying once again, is soon starting a customer service job with United Airlines and plans to begin training to get back in the air. (Photo: Eli Imadali for HuffPost)

Abdul Hafiz Akbarzada packed to leave Kabul the day the U.S. completely withdrew its forces on Aug. 30, 2021. He knew this was his last takeoff from the country he had always called home.

He wore his navy blue, gold-striped pilots uniform and flight bag. He boarded the plane, but this time, he sat in the passenger seat.

When Kabul had fallen to the Taliban two weeks earlier, many pilots stayed underground and refused to take flights. But Akbarzada, 32, was one of the few commercial pilots who continued to operate despite the chaos that plagued the airport.

At a time when tens of thousands of people were rushing to the airport to flee the country for fear of the Talibans retaliation, he felt his knowledge and experience were needed. During the frenzied evacuation, commercial airlines provided planes to airlift thousands of people to countries including UAE, Qatar, Albania and Uganda. Akbarzada flew four flights to Qatar and UAE during the last two weeks of August and airlifted hundreds of Afghans.

There was chaos everywhere, Akbarzada recalled. He was scheduled to fly a plane to Ukraine the day Kabul fell. To get to the airport, he had to walk for an hour and a half because the roads to the airport were packed with cars. When he arrived, he found that nothing was the same anymore.

There was no authority, no order, no nothing, he said. The airport and the roads leading to it were clogged with people who were trying to flee. The civilian side of the airport was left uncontrolled, and everyone was rushing to board any aircraft on the ramp. There were shootings and screams everywhere, he said.

He never previously considered leaving the country, though he had plenty of chances.

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But his commitment to staying had wavered before one of his last commercial flights when Taliban members stopped Akbarzada and his captain as they were walking to the terminal for an evacuation flight to Qatar. They both wore their usual navy blue pilot suits with golden stripes, white shirts and ties, carrying their iPads, headphones, licenses and flight documents in their bags.

When the Taliban members checked their bags, Akbarzada tried to explain that they were only civilian pilots who had nothing to do with the military or former government. But one of the Taliban inspectors pointed a gun at him and yelled, Shut up, Infidel, I will shoot you!

Akbarzada never thought the Taliban would threaten a civilian pilot. He couldnt help but think about his family, about his pregnant wife and his unborn child, about his younger siblings and their futures. What would happen to them if I am threatened and not respected as a pilot at the airport? he asked himself.

So he left. Akbarzada is now one of the thousands of Afghans in the U.S. who fled their country when Kabul fell to the Taliban last summer in order to avoid revenge killing and persecution. Many more are expecting to relocate this year.

Akbarzada flew four evacuation flights to Qatar and UAE prior to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. (Photo: Eli Imadali for HuffPost)

Akbarzada flew four evacuation flights to Qatar and UAE prior to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. (Photo: Eli Imadali for HuffPost)

A Dream Cut Short

Akbarzada started out in 2011 as a check-in agent for Kam Air, the largest private airline in Afghanistan. One day, when a captain and his cabin crew were passing through the terminal hallway, he noticed everyone standing with their right hand on their chest as a sign of respect, and that was the moment he knew he wanted to be a pilot. His love of flying only grew after he joined the cabin crew.

He decided to begin saving up to move abroad and train as a pilot. After talking it over with his boss and securing some funding, he eventually made it to the United States to complete his professional aviation education. In 2017, he completed a rigorous two-year training program in Daytona Beach, Florida, and earned his commercial pilot license from the Federal Aviation Administration. He returned home as a licensed commercial pilot and made his first flight as a trainee pilot for Kam Air.

It was a dream come true, Akbarzada said. I was very excited. Its the most amazing feeling especially when you take off and land for the first time and you are sitting in the cockpit controlling the aircraft.

Hafiz Akbarzada as a pilot in Afghanistan, where he worked for Kam Air. (Photo: Courtesy Hafiz Akbarzada)

Hafiz Akbarzada as a pilot in Afghanistan, where he worked for Kam Air. (Photo: Courtesy Hafiz Akbarzada)

With more than 3,000 hours of flight time as a first officer pilot, Akbarzada hoped to one day sit on the left side of the cockpit as a captain. He wanted to buy a house and raise his child in Kabul. That dream died when he was forced to flee.

I had mixed emotions, Hafiz recalled of the moment his plane took off from Kabul that day. Youre sad because you left everything youd built, glad because your familys safe, anxious because you dont know what the future holds for you.

After spending nine months in the facility in Abu Dhabi known as the Emirates Humanitarian City, which has housed hundreds of displaced Afghans since last year, Hafiz and his family made it to the U.S. in July of this year and settled in Denver. Thousands of Afghans are still living in temporary housing in Abu Dhabi, awaiting resettlement in the United States or other countries.

Starting Over Again

Akbarzadas displacement cost him his sense of normalcy and peace. He was a successful pilot, about to become a father for the first time, with a loving wife and family and a bright future ahead. Having his son in a temporary shelter with no permanent country to call home was the last thing he ever expected.

There were times I thought maybe I should have stayed and never left, he said. But as I looked at my son again, I knew I had made the right decision.

Akbarzada said his position as a check-in agent for Kam Air

Akbarzada said his position as a check-in agent for Kam Air "taught me to be patient and work towards my goal slowly and consistently." (Photo: Eli Imadali for HuffPost)

Akbarzadas arrival in the United States, however, has given him renewed hope for a fresh start. Since he is a certified commercial pilot, he hopes to fly again in the U.S. He speaks fluent English, a skill many Afghans lack and that prevents them from getting better jobs in America. Additionally, U.S. airlines are experiencing a pilot shortage, making Akbarzadas thousands of flying hours highly desirable.

But for Akbarzada to get back to his career, he will need to spend thousands of dollars and weeks obtaining a separate license called an ATPL  Airline Transport Pilot License.

Akbarzada recently began working as a customer service agent for United Airlines at Denver International Airport  starting in an entry-level position at an airline once again. It reminds me of my early days as a check-in staff at Kabul airport, he said. I think those days taught me to be patient and work towards my goal slowly and consistently.

He hopes the job will help pay his bills and fund the costs associated with the ATPL.

A flight certificate sits framed on Hafiz Akbarzada and his wifes dresser in their new Colorado apartment on Sept. 12, 2022. (Photo: Eli Imadali for HuffPost)

A flight certificate sits framed on Hafiz Akbarzada and his wifes dresser in their new Colorado apartment on Sept. 12, 2022. (Photo: Eli Imadali for HuffPost)

Like Akbarzada, thousands of highly skilled recent Afghan arrivals in the U.S. have been forced to take low-paying occupations to make ends meet. Many of these individuals used to work in management, information technology, engineering, medicine or aviation.

Akbarzadas temporary immigration status could also hinder his career as a pilot. Without permanent residency, he cant fly overseas. It could take years for Afghan arrivals to get their green cards unless lawmakers enact the Afghan Adjustment Act introduced last month. The proposal would make it possible for Afghans to get permanent status outside of the currently backlogged asylum system.

But that hasnt discouraged Akbarzada.

Ill never give up flying, he said. My goal is to get back in the air and one day become a captain in the U.S.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
Hillary Clinton speaks during the New York Democratic Convention at the Sheraton in Midtown Manhattan on Feb. 17, 2022. Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Hillary Clinton said sending migrants to Martha's Vineyard is "literally human trafficking."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent 50 undocumented migrants to the Massachusetts island on plants.

Republican lawmakers are sending migrants to blue cities after blaming Democratic policies for a rise in migration.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned sending planeloads of migrants to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.

They 50 migrants arrived in two planes, on Tuesday, seemingly at the direction of Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis  unwittingly becoming pawns in a political game over U.S. immigration policy.

"Some politicians would rather not only have an issue but exacerbate it to the extent of literally human trafficking," Clinton said while appearing on MSNBC's Morning Joe.

"I happen to believe still the majority of Americans are good-hearted and generous, and when people end up on their doorstep in need, they're going to respond. They'll feed them and house them, and the kids in the AP Spanish class will be let out of high school so they can go and translate."

Gov. DeSantis took credit for chartering planes to transport the undocumented migrants to the island in Massachusetts on Wednesday in an apparent bid to force authorities in another state to take responsibility for them. The migrants were primarily from Venezuela.

Martha's Vineyard is an exclusive vacation destination where former President Barack Obama has a holiday home, and Bill and Hillary Clinton often visit.

Taryn Fenske, DeSantis' communications director, told Fox News Digital that the move was part of Florida's "relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has similarly implemented a policy to send migrants from Texas to blue states.

Other Democratic politicians also condemned the Martha's Vineyard stunt, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez saying it amounted to "crimes against humanity on refugees."

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Martha's Vineyard residents appeared to pull together to welcome the migrants by quickly coordinating shelter, meals, and healthcare.

Massachusetts State Senator Julian Cyr told Martha's Vineyard Times that the move was "deeply disgusting."

"This is a cruel ruse that manipulates families seeking a better life," he said, describing them as "fundamentally racist tactics."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Photo credit: Knut Neerland - Magent AS

Having grown up in New York City, an international fashion capital with a busy community of high-profile creatives, centuries-old fashion houses, and heritage magazines, it was hard for me to fully grasp the quiet renaissance that is currently taking place in Norway, until I saw it firsthand.

On a recent visit to Oslo to tour the massive project that is Steen and Strmthe oldest shopping center in the world, which is now being reformatted to focus on luxuryI was able to experience the Scandinavian citys Fashion Week, their sixth since Oslo Runway launched the event in 2015.

Photo credit: Knut Neerland - Magent AS

Throughout the week, local designers showed their cool, smartly-tailored collections in front of a local crowd of creatives. Envelope 1976 showed their edgy, minimalistic, party-girl-in-the-city designs in a stark white, industrial warehouse with a concrete floor and walls. One and Other showed their dreamy neutral and pastel-colored staples in their own studio, an all-white flat with large walls and high ceilings with decorative molding. And designer Elisabeth Stray Pedersen, of ESP, showed her sustainable knits and outerwear made from local lambswool in the citys historic former central library, and had models read and interact with the books while walking down the runway.

For some designers, it was their first Fashion Week, and as up-and-coming brands, they all debuted perfectly edited wardrobes, many of them crafted using sustainable practices, and made-to-order models. Apart from that, the down-to-earth nature and intimacy of the shows made it all feel so new and freshno fuss, no intimidation, no ego. Holzweilers after party, for example, was held in the docks in Lysaker, an industrial area with an ocean view, bordering Oslo proper. Attendees included emerging local designers, artists, models (the Norway modeling industry is also spiking), and even Shaman Durek Verrett, the fiance of Norways Princess Martha Louise. Throughout Fashion Week, the countrys royals attended various events, always in good spirits and with no expectations.

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Photo credit: elxeneize - Getty Images

The same peacefulness, kindness, and attention to the environment exists in the citys docklands district. On cobbled streets, between modern lofts built over clear water canals, are strings of restaurants and boutiques from Norwegian designersof streetwear, athleisure, and outerwear. Jewelry is also having a moment in the city, with vintage-inspired designers like Aur Studio, refined minimalists like Mold Atelier and eccentric maximalists like Pearl Octopussy, using recycled metals to make their precious pieces.

Overlooking the fjord that borders the shops, surrounded by sculptures by different artists, are the art hubs of the city: the Oslo Opera House, designed by local architecture group Snhetta, and the Much Museum, dedicated to the late Norwegian painter Edvard Munch. A few streets away is the National Museum of Norway, which has recently expanded its fashion archive, and next to it, the soon-to-be-opened International Library of Fashion Research. The first of its kind, the library was founded by 22-year-old Elise By Olsen, who launched her Norwegian fashion paper, Recens, when she was just 13.

Photo credit: Pawel Toczynski - Getty Images

On early weekday mornings, locals swim in the fjord before heading off to work, and on weekends, live bands play near cafes, providing a silky soundtrack for shoppers. Few things are open before 10 a.m. or after 9 p.m., and though most of the population is very well educated, well traveled, and financially well off, its not considered cool to be stressed or overworkedlets call it European Zen. So, for the first time ever, Fashion Week did not feel hectic, not in Oslo.

What is most unique about all of this is that most of it did not exist four years ago. There were few boutiques and restaurantsas it really wasnt in the Oslo culture to shop or eat outno luxury stores, and young students didnt really consider any area of fashion as an approachable or realistic career. Plus, most locals dressed practically, in sportswear, outerwear, and sneakers, not purely to match their active lifestyles, but because being creative with ones fashion was not common or even considered. Now, more universities in Norwayincluding Kunsthgskolen, ESmod, Oslomet, and Sofi Schoolare teaching fashion, and apart from funding and partnering with local designers to foster new talent and create a larger fashion community in Norway, Steen and Strm, Oslo Runway, and Promenaden Management (who leases prime retail and commercial buildings in central Oslo), are introducing the concept of luxury into the community.

Photo credit: Knut Neerland - Magent AS

Steen and Strm, the beating heart of Promenaden, Oslos new fashion district, is being reworked to introduce high-fashion and footwear from Adidas to Chanel, as well as designer boutiques inside the shopping center. There is also a beauty floorwhere Dior and Fenty Beauty are in the midst of a friendly popularity contestand a food hall where you can experience various cuisines, including the strange delight that is Norwegian-Mexican fusion.

David Wilkinson and Kaia Kongsli, the executive director and the head of marketing, respectively, said that by honoring Norwegian designers while also bringing in international labels, they hope to make the department store a must-visit destination for both locals and travelers. Essentially, what Bergdorf Goodman is to New York City: engrained in the citys DNA and undeniably iconic.

Photo credit: STEPHANE MURATET

Framing the center, between Oslos two main roads, Prinsens Gate (Princes Street) and Karl Johans Gate (named after King Charles III John), are the worlds biggest luxury brands, Gucci, Dior, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Burberry, and Rolex, to name a fewan incredibly exciting first for Norway, and Scandinavia as a whole. The two-story Dior ready-to-wear boutique includes an entire menswear floor, and is the first location for the French fashion house in all of Scandinavia.

Though it has only been a few years in the making, and Steen and Strm's project is far from finished, the influence of high fashion has already reached the furthest corners of Oslo. Norwegian Rain and SWIMS Norway, both local activewear-meets-outerwear brands, remain immensely popular, but even they are gearing more toward cool, effortless luxury these days.

This introduction to luxury will change Oslo for the better, putting it on the radar to become the next fashion capital, helping highlight its local talent, and pushing residents to take interest and invest in fashion in their hometown rather than elsewhere in Europe. But the goodhearted, grounded nature of the city and its people will never change. The motto of Oslo, Wilkinson and Kongsli told me, is, "No person is better than the other," and that is how they truly live, with humility at the forefrontluxury labels or not.

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Republicans have spent the past months proving a point I've been trying to make: Repealing Roe was never about federalism and state's rights. It has always been, and always will be, about taking away women's bodily autonomy.

I am not surprised that it didn't take long for anti-abortion extremists to show their true colors and push for even more restrictions on abortion rights, as well as some outrageous proposals for "solutions" to an inevitable wave of unwanted pregnancies because of Roe being overturned.

Sen. Lindsey Graham is one of the more prominent Republicans who seems to have missed the "it's about federalism, we're pro-states" nonsense the GOP was pushing when they got rid of the constitutional right to an abortion this summer. As an unmarried, childless male, the South Carolina senator decided to push for a federal 15-week abortion ban and further erode the rights of women in states where they still have agency over their bodies, states like Colorado (where a woman's fundamental right to abortion was reaffirmed statutorily post-Dobbs), and California (where access to abortion was expanded after Roe fell).

GOP and political stunts: Ron DeSantis' Martha's Vineyard stunt cruelly uses migrants as human pawns, helping no one

In 2022, women's bodies are not where Republicans want to wage political war.

The Democrats rallying on abortion

Because it's a midterm, predictions would normally be that the presidents party is almost guaranteed to lose seats. President Obama had historic midterm losses in 2010, while President Trump lost the House to Democrats in the 2018 midterms. The trend runs back to before World War II.

Abortion-rights supporters cheer as the proposed Kansas constitutional amendment fails on Aug. 2, 2022.

But instead of a referendum on the economy, it seems like access to reproductive healthcare is top of mind since the Dobbs decision, with women turning out in unprecedented numbers to register to vote. For instance, in Pennsylvania 62% of new female voters registered as Democrats (15% registered as Republican). In Kansas, 70% of newly registered women voters signed up as Democrats. In Wisconsin, women have out-registered men by almost 10%, with Democrats making up 52.36% of all of those newly registered voters (16.59% of new voters registered as Republicans.) In Michigan, women are out-registering men by 8.1 percentage points as new voters and Democrats are out-registering Republicans by 18 percentage points. Louisiana, Florida and Texas are seeing similar phenomena.

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So, no on states' rights? Lindsey Graham mansplains his federal abortion ban: 'I picked 15 weeks.' Got it, ladies?

And voter registration isn't the only good thing happening for Democrats worried about abortion rights receding even more. In Ohio, a judge just temporarily blocked that state's six-week abortion ban, saying it violated "Ohios Equal Protection and Benefit Clause," and restored the previous limit of 20 weeks while the case proceeds.

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In Michigan, a state judge recently ruled that a 91-year-old law that banned abortion violated the state constitution. In Kansas, voters upheld the right to abortion after state legislators proposed an amendment to the state constitution that would have repealed the right to an abortion in the deeply red state, even though that right was affirmed in a state Supreme Court ruling in 2019. And in New York Democrat Pat Ryan, who made abortion rights a cornerstone of his campaign, recently beat out a Republican candidate in a special election for control of the state's 19th congressional district.

No tangible action by Republicans to help women

So what are the humanitarian solutions Republicans have come up with to help women and girls facing unwanted pregnancies: expecting raped children to give birth, building more baby drop boxes for unwanted newborns?

It's as insulting as it is pathetic and sad. Everyone knows that regular polling over the years has consistently shown that Americans support abortion care. Yasmin Radjy, Executive Director of the progressive political group Swing Left, told me that "In terms of where voters are, Republicans and Independents agree with Democrats that women should have the right to safe and legal abortion. 77% of Americans agree on that point."

Unsurprisingly, after Roe was overturned and the unthinkable actually happened, support for abortion rights actually increased.

June 24, 2022: Abortion rights demonstrators march through the streets to protest the Supreme Court's decision in the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health case in Detroit, Michigan. The Court's decision in the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health case overturns the landmark 50-year-old Roe v Wade case, removing a federal right to an abortion.

So it's mind-boggling that Republican lawmakers pushed through with these unpopular policies, against the wishes of voters. The need to access abortion care cuts across party lines and abortion bans were never going to be good politics. And they did all this without having a set plan to support the people they decided to force into parenthood.

All the lonely people: Why Americans' isolation is a threat to our democracy

But not everyone in the GOP is putting their head in the sand. In a bid to save their November campaigns other Republicans are scrambling to scrub their websites of hardline anti-abortion rhetoric because, well, it was a bad idea in the first place.

But it's too late. Americans know who's to blame for this human rights monstrosity and they're going to take them to task come November.

Extreme factions of the GOP have misread Americans. Come November, it's all about abortion rights.

Carli Pierson, a New York licensed attorney, is an opinion writer with USA TODAY, and a member of the USA TODAY Editorial Board. Follow her on Twitter: @CarliPiersonEsq.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abortion bans are firing up Democrats in lead up to November elections
By Jacqueline Thomsen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Friday asked a federal appeals court to let it resume reviewing classified materials seized in an FBI search of former President Donald Trump's Florida estate.

In the filing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, the Justice Department said the circuit court should halt part of the lower court decision that prevents prosecutors from relying on the classified documents in their criminal investigation into the retention of government records at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach after his presidency ended.

The department also asked that a third party appointed to examine all the records taken in the federal raid at Trump's part, Senior U.S. Judge Raymond Dearie, not be permitted to review the classified materials.

The government asked the appeals court to rule on the request "as soon as practicable."

Trump's attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the unprecedented search of the former president's property, the Justice Department has said it is investigating the retention of government records - some marked as highly classified, including "top secret" - as well as obstruction of a federal probe.

The Justice Department must now convince the Atlanta-based appeals court, with a conservative majority, to take its side in litigation over the records probe. Trump appointees make up six of the 11 active judges on the 11th Circuit.

The government's motion comes after U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Thursday rejected the same requests from the Justice Department.

Cannon, whom Trump appointed to the bench in 2020, had said she would tell Dearie, who is filling the role of a "special master" in the case, to prioritize the classified records in his review, which she set a Nov. 30 deadline to complete.

There were roughly 100 classified documents among the 11,000 records gathered in the FBI's court-approved Aug. 8 search at the former president's Mar-a-Lago resort.

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If Cannon's ruling stands, experts said, it would likely stall the Justice Department investigation involving the government records.

The government's Friday filing at times directly took issue with Cannon's prior decisions in the case. Prosecutors said the judge cited court papers from Trump's lawyers that suggested the former president could have declassified the documents marked as classified, but those legal briefs stopped short of claiming Trump did so.

"The court erred in granting extraordinary relief based on unsubstantiated possibilities," the government lawyers wrote.

The Justice Department also criticized Cannon's direction that classified records be disclosed to Dearie and Trump's lawyers as part of an outside review of all records taken in the search, and described the former president's attorneys as potentially being witnesses to "relevant events" in the criminal probe.

The department is also looking into possible obstruction of the probe after it found evidence that records may have been removed or concealed from the FBI when it sent agents to Mar-a-Lago in June to try to recover all classified documents through a grand jury subpoena.

Trump's lawyers had opposed the government's latest requests to Cannon, telling the judge in a Monday filing they dispute the government's claim that all the records are classified, and that a special master is needed to help keep prosecutors in check.

Trump's attorneys instigated the litigation over the records investigation last month, seeking a third party to go over the materials taken by federal agents and determine if any should be shielded from investigators. The former president's legal team argued that some materials could be covered by attorney-client privilege or executive privilege - a legal doctrine that can shield some presidential records from disclosure.

Cannon granted that request in a Sept. 5 ruling, rejecting Justice Department arguments that the records belong to the government and that because Trump is no longer president he cannot claim executive privilege.

Dearie said earlier on Friday he will hold his first hearing on the privilege review for the seized documents on Tuesday, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn.

(Reporting by Jacqueline Thomsen; Editing by Tim Ahmann and William Mallard)
By Ivan Lyubysh-Kirde

IZIUM, Ukraine (Reuters) - Dressed in white protective suits and wearing rubber gloves, Ukrainian emergency workers on Saturday dug up more bodies from a wooded burial site in territory recently recaptured from Russian forces, while townspeople looked for dead relatives.

Ukraine says hundreds are buried at the site discovered this week, including at least 17 Ukrainian servicemen found in a mass grave on Friday and others who may be civilians buried in individual graves marked with flimsy wooden crosses.

The causes of death have not yet been established, although residents say some of the graves near the town of Izium were of people who died in an airstrike. Ukrainian authorities have said at least one of the bodies had tied hands and rope marks on the neck.

Moscow has not commented on the discovery of the graves. It regularly denies committing atrocities in the war or targeting civilians.

Reuters saw workers carefully exhume at least five graves with shovels, while police experts and investigators documented the findings on camera and inspected the bodies on the sandy soil between trunks of pine trees.

Investigators said the condition of the teeth showed some of the people were elderly.

"Exhumations are under way. Their identities are currently not known," said Roman Kasianenko, a regional prosecutor. He said three bodies dug up on Friday had been identified.

Clutching a neatly written list of names and numbers, resident Volodymyr Kolesnyk stepped between graves looking for relatives he said were killed in an airstrike on an apartment building shortly before the town fell in April, as the invaders swept through the northeastern region of Kharkiv.

Ukraine last week took back dozens of towns and villages in the area in a surprise counterattack.

Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Synehubov on Friday said he had been aware of mass deaths when shells hit a five-storey apartment block shortly before the Russian occupation. In May, a Ukrainian military official said more than 40 people died in an attack in the town.

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Reuters could not immediately verify details of the attack, or who buried the bodies.

GRAVE 199

Kolesnyk said he knew his relatives had been taken to the burial site, and were in some of the graves marked with numbers, but that he had not dared visit while the town was under occupation.

He paused before a cross marked with the number 199 and after checking the list, carefully hung a small sign on it bearing the name of Yurii Yakovenko, his cousin.

Cross number 164, he said, was his cousin's wife. And 174, his cousin's mother, Kolesnyk's aunt.

The list was given to him by a local funeral company that dug the graves, he said.

"They buried the bodies in bags, without coffins, without anything. I was not allowed here at first. They (Russians) said it was mined and asked to wait. And there was a lot of them in the woods, so it was scary to come here," Kolensk told Reuters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday said officials have found evidence of torture on exhumed bodies, adding that around 10 torture sites have been found across the territory liberated this month.

The head of the Russia-installed administration that abandoned the northeastern area around Izium last week accused Ukrainians of staging atrocities. "I have not heard anything about burials," Vitaly Ganchev told Rossiya-24 state television.

(Reporting by Ivan Lyubysh-Kirde; Writing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Wizz Air rescued one of four planes stranded in Ukraine on Tuesday in a daring escape. Getty Images

An airline rescued an Airbus plane stranded in Ukraine for seven months in a daring mission.

Flightradar24 data appeared to show the WizzAir jet flying at 10,000 feet with its transponder off.

WizzAir confirmed it repatriated the jet on Tuesday following an "in-depth risk assessment."

An airline rescued one of its planes stranded in Ukraine in a daring escape that involved flying at a low altitude and turning off its transponder, data suggests.

Budapest-based Wizz Air repatriated one of four Airbus jets that have been stranded in the country since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.

Data from Flightrader24 showed that the Airbus A320 flew from Lviv in western Ukraine to Katowice in neighboring Poland on Tuesday. The jet was flying at 10,000 feet when it eventually reappeared on radar as it entered Polish airspace after appearing to switch off its tracking system.

Ukraine's airspace has been largely closed to passenger jets since Russia's invasion, as have a number of its airports, leaving four Wizz Air jets stranded for nearly seven months.

Flying at a low altitude may have helped the jet avoid being detected by radar or anti-aircraft missiles.

An airline spokesperson told Insider: "Wizz Air confirms that, following an in-depth risk assessment and thorough preparation, its one aircraft based in Lviv departed from Danylo Halytskyi International Airport and successfully landed in Katowice on 13 Sep 2022."

The rescue mission marks the first step in Wizz's plans to rescue its jets. The airline didn't comment on plans to liberate the remaining three Airbus planes that are still stuck in Kyiv.

Wizz Air is one of several airlines and leasing companies whose jets remain stranded in Ukraine and Russia. Global market leader AerCap has 152 planes trapped in Russia and Ukraine, according to aviation consultancy IBA.

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The airline has long expressed a desire to start flying again to both Ukrainian and Russian cities. In March it offered 100,000 free tickets to Ukrainians in neighboring countries.

Last month the airline told Gulf News that it planned to return to Russia with an Abu Dhabi to Moscow route in October, before backpedaling citing "industry supply chain limitations."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Queens grandchildren stood guard around her coffin in a solemn vigil as King Charles prepares to welcome world leaders at a state reception.

The Duke of Sussex joined his brother the Prince of Wales on Saturday in wearing uniform around the coffin in Westminster Hall, ahead of the Queens state funeral on Monday.

Harry, who saw action on the front line during two tours of duty in Afghanistan, has previously been denied the chance to wear his military uniform as he publicly mourns, because he is no longer a working royal.

Queen Elizabeth II's Grandchildren Mount Vigil At Westminster Hall (Getty Images)

But the King decided his youngest son could wear uniform for the vigil, saying he would stand at the foot of the coffin, with William at the head.

William and Harry were joined in their silent tribute around the coffin by cousins Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Lady Louise Windsor and her brother Viscount Severn.

Beatrice and Eugenie on Saturday paid a personal tribute to the Queen, saying: Goodbye dear Grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters and were so very proud of you.

(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

On Friday evening, the Queens children  Charles, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex  took part in their own vigil.

The King, Anne, Andrew and Edward had solemn looks on their faces as they stood vigil around their mothers coffin, with their heads bowed throughout as members of the public filed slowly past them.

It comes as final preparations are under way for the funeral on Monday, with politicians and royal dignitaries from around the world arriving throughout the weekend.

On Saturday, Prime Minster Liz Truss met the prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand  Anthony Albanese and Jacinda Ardern  at the Governments Chevening country residence, a No 10 spokesperson said.

Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese signs a book of condolence to late Queen Elizabeth II at Lancaster House in London, Saturday, Sept. 17 (AP)

On Sunday, she will meet Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Canadian premier Justin Trudeau, Polish President Andrzej Duda at Downing Street.

As well as her head-to-heads with world leaders on Sunday, Ms Truss will have an audience with the King before attending his reception for visiting heads of state at Buckingham Palace.

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Charles has also met chiefs of staff at Buckingham Palace on Saturday and visited police headquarters to thank the emergency services for their work in planning the funeral.

Charles concluded his tour of the home nations on Friday, starting his day with a visit to Wales, after trips to Northern Ireland and Scotland in recent days.

Meanwhile, thousands of people continue to queue to see the Queens coffin laying in state, with some facing more than a day in line.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN'S LYING-IN-STATE QUEUE UPDATE, 1:15AM, 17 SEP



The queue is near total capacity with a wait time of at least 25 hours



Please do not travel to join the queue



Check back for updates in the morning pic.twitter.com/3bLTgIfgHu  Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (@DCMS) September 17, 2022

As of 5am on Saturday, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sports lying in state queue tracker said lines were expected to last for at least 24 hours, after stretching out to 25 hours earlier in the morning.

Those inside Westminster Hall were briefly shocked on Friday night when a man was arrested after moving out of the queue to approach the Queens coffin.

Metropolitan Police said the incident occurred around 10pm, as the live feed from inside the hall cut away for a brief period.

A statement from Scotland Yard said: Around 22:00hrs on Friday 16 September officers from the Mets Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command detained a man in Westminster Hall following a disturbance.

He was arrested for an offence under the Public Order Act and is currently in custody.

Two thousand people will gather inside Westminster Abbey in London on Monday for the Queens funeral.

Some 800 people, including members of the Queens Household and Windsor estate staff, will attend the committal service afterwards at 4pm in St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle.

After the funeral, the King and members of the royal family will walk behind the Queens coffin to Wellington Arch when it leaves Westminster Abbey, before it is driven to Windsor on the state hearse.
Democrats have zeroed in on the top issue to pummel Republicans with in their quest to win the 2022 midterm elections: the end of Roe v. Wade.

In dozens of ads backed by tens of millions of dollars, Democratic candidates, party committees and affiliated groups are attacking Republicans on the issue of abortion in key battleground races that will determine control of Congress, governorships and state legislatures.

Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvanias attorney general and the Democratic candidate for governor, opened his $16.9 million fall advertising campaign with an ad hitting Republican Doug Mastrianos anti-abortion views as a threat to business investment in the state. Political committees connected to the Democratic Governors Association have slammed GOP candidates in Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Rhode Island for their opposition to abortion rights. In Texas, former congressman and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto ORourke opened his general election campaign withads hitting GOP Gov. Greg Abbotts work to enact the most restrictive and punitive anti-abortion laws in the country.

In the fight for Congress, Democrats main super PAC supporting House candidates rolled out ads hitting eight Republicans in crucial battleground districts for their positions opposed to abortion access. And after spending millions on ads this summer attacking four GOP Senate candidates for their abortion positions, the partys chief Senate super PAC launched its latest salvo on Tuesday with a $2.3 million ad buy hammering Arizona Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters for opposing abortion access with no exceptions.

The ever-increasing ad avalanche on abortion signals that the conservative-majority Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization to overturn the nearly 50-year-old right to an abortion has flipped the issue on its head, forcing Republicans to answer for their unpopular anti-abortion positions as they are now actually becoming law.

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The threat to abortion rights used to be theoretical, but people now understand and believe the real impact  that candidates want to ban abortion and can ban abortion  and they are scared and they believe them, said Jenny Lawson, president of Planned Parenthood Votes, the campaign arm of the pro-abortion rights group that has promised to spend $50 million on the midterm elections.

A Real-World Test Case

The decision to make the end of Roe the central negative attack line of the midterms follows from public and private polling showing that the Republican position on the issue is broadly and increasingly unpopular.

There have also been actual elections to test the issues salience, like the landslide defeat of a referendum stripping state constitutional abortion rights protection in Kansas on Aug. 2 and, more directly, Democrat Pat Ryans win in the New York 19th Congressional District special election on Aug. 24.

Democrat Pat Ryan won a surprise victory in the special election for New York's 19th Congressional District after running heavily on his support for abortion rights. (Photo: Mary Altaffer via Associated Press)

Democrat Pat Ryan won a surprise victory in the special election for New York's 19th Congressional District after running heavily on his support for abortion rights. (Photo: Mary Altaffer via Associated Press)

Ryans campaign advertising focused negative attacks on his GOP opponent Marc Molinaro over the issue of abortion. In beating Molinaro, a moderate who avoided the topic, Ryan outperformed President Joe Bidens 2020 result in the district and showed how the issue worked against Republicans who werent even the most vocally anti-abortion. He showed a path forward for Democrats running in the kind of battleground districts Republicans need to win if theyre going to take control of the House.

That was really an incredible real-world test case of how this was going to perform because it was very clearly an issue on the airwaves and, moreover, it was not even the most extreme case of an anti-choice Republican that were going to see here, said Vriti Jain, deputy executive director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Ryans win in the NY-19 special election showed that the post-Dobbs political environment was different than past elections when Democrats tried to energize supporters by claiming Republicans would take away abortion rights.

Less than one year earlier, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, running for his second non-consecutive term as Virginia governor, tried and failed to rally opposition to Republican Glenn Youngkin by claiming Youngkin would ban abortion if elected.

I think that the hard sell we had with voters is that they didnt believe that Roe was going to go away as a right, David Turner, communications director for the Democratic Governors Association, said. And now people see that thats not the case.

The threat to abortion rights used to be theoretical, but people now understand and believe the real impact  that candidates want to ban abortion and can ban abortion  and they are scared.Jenny Lawson, president of Planned Parenthood Votes

There may be races where Democrats focus on other issues when there is even more salient ammunition for a negative attack, such as GOP Ohio House candidate J.R. Majewskis attendance at the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

There are also some states, like Nevada and New Hampshire, that Democrats view as having historic pro-choice electorates and anticipate the issue working exceptionally well. In fact, Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) launched her first general election ad attacking GOP nominee Don Bolduc on abortion on Wednesday.

Aside from these slight differences in races and state politics, Democratic operatives see the abortion issue working across demographic groups in almost any race.

In qualitative work we have done, people bring it up unprompted as a concern, Jain said. What has surprised us is not that it pops in certain groups. It pops in every group.

Women Driving The Response

Despite the widespread resonance of abortion as an issue, some evidence suggests that female voters are disproportionately driving the post-Dobbs thermostatic reaction against anti-abortion politics. In Kansas, women accounted for 69% of new voter registration between the day the Dobbs decision was released and the states vote on its anti-abortion referendum, according to research by Tom Bonier, the CEO of the political consulting firm TargetSmart.

This statistic was more striking than any single election statistic I can recall discovering throughout my career, Bonior wrote in a Sept. 3 New York Times op-ed.

Many of the ads run by Democrats and their affiliated groups feature women speaking directly to the camera about how GOP-backed abortion bans threaten their personal freedom and could have or did threaten their lives when they needed abortions.

Days after New Hampshires Sept. 13 primary election, Women Vote!, the super PAC run by the pro-choice womens group EMILYs List, went on air with a $1.2 million ad buy hitting GOP Senate candidate Bolduc on abortion. The ad features a woman who had complications during pregnancy and had an abortion to save her life.

Noting that Bolduc said that people should rejoice over the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe, she says, My decision saved my life, and Don Bolduc shouldnt be able to take that away.

In an ad launched by Senate Majority PAC, the main super PAC for Senate Democrats, and VoteVets, a Democratic Party-aligned veterans organization, a female veteran whose husband died in service calls Arizona Republican Masters anti-abortion views the kind of extremism and government control [that] is the opposite of what we fought for.

In an ad run by the DSCC, Jennifer, a woman from Mesa, Arizona, recounts the abortion she had at 18 after her abusive partner impregnated her.

Blake Masters has no idea what I went through, and he has no business making that decision for me or any woman, she says.

And in Georgia, an ad jointly run by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams and a subsidiary of the Democratic Governors Association features multiple women calling the abortion ban enacted by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp an attack on the women of Georgia that could result in women being investigated and imprisoned for a miscarriage.

Their Own Words

Since Ryans win and the opening of the post-Labor Day fall campaign season, the number of ads targeting GOP candidates on abortion has increased dramatically. And Democrats have much riper targets than candidates like Molinaro, as many Republicans have publicly expressed opinions on abortion far outside of the mainstream.

In Arizona, Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, Senate Majority PAC and VoteVets have all run ads hitting Masters for calling support for abortion rights demonic and stating that we should go further than repealing Roe and enact a federal personhood amendment to ban abortion nationwide.

My body, my choice, is ridiculous nonsense, Mastriano is quoted saying in ads run by Shapiro and a Democratic Governors Association-affiliated PAC called Putting Pennsylvania First. These ads also highlight Mastrianos opposition to exceptions that would allow abortions in the case of rape, incest or endangerment to a pregnant persons life.

In an ad that launched on Sept. 8, Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock knocks GOP candidate Herschel Walker for his response to a question asking whether he supports any exceptions to an abortion ban. Not right now I dont, Walker says.

TV ads from Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), Senate Majority PAC and Women Vote! are running GOP candidate Adam Laxalts statements referring to Roe as a joke and the decision overturning it as a historic victory.

In North Carolina, Duty & Honor PAC, a subsidiary of Senate Majority PAC, hit GOP Senate candidate Rep. Ted Budd for calling the end of Roe a historic victory, while Women Vote! put $2.7 million behind an ad noting that Budd co-sponsored a federal abortion ban bill in 2021.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers ran an ad hitting GOP candidate Tim Michels for telling a local TV interview that he supports the states 19th-century abortion ban that does not provide exceptions for rape or incest.

Similarly, in the Michigan gubernatorial race, Republican Tudor Dixon is being hammeredfor openly stating, on camera, her support for the 1931 abortion ban law that could go into effect in the state. That law provides no exceptions for rape or incest, and when asked if she was going to support such exceptions, Dixon replied, I am not.

"'My body, my choice, is ridiculous nonsense," GOP Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano said about his support for banning abortion without exception. (Photo: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

In a Michigan congressional race, Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee went on the air on Wednesday hitting his GOP opponent, Paul Junge, for saying that Roe v. Wade provided made-up rights to women.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, ranads against her Republican opponent Yesli Vega in Virginias 7th congressional district for saying that women cant get pregnant after being raped and supporting a nationwide abortion ban.

An ad from Rep. Cindy Axne (D-Iowa) shows footage of Republican nominee Zach Nunn raising a hand in a GOP primary debate agreeing that all abortions in the country should be banned with no exceptions for rape, incest or protecting the life of the mother.

In the face of this ad onslaught, a number of the GOP candidates have attempted to revise their positions.

Masters scrubbed his website of any mention of his support for a federal personhood amendment and his endorsement of jailing doctors who perform abortions. So did Republican congressional candidates running in Colorado, Michigan and North Carolina, and gubernatorial candidates in Minnesota and Oregon.

Some of these candidates have even released ads touting a different position on abortion than they previously held. Masters said that ads showing his actual prior statements on abortion are lies. In Minnesota and New Mexico, Republican gubernatorial candidates Scott Jensen and Mark Ronchetti previously expressed strong anti-abortion views. Now, Jensen claims he does not want to change state law allowing abortion. Ronchetti, however, has called for a constitutional amendment to ban abortion after 15 weeks. In response to ads run by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Republican Senate candidate Tiffany Smiley, who previously praised Texas anti-abortion laws, promises that she would not support an abortion ban in multiple ads.

But these walk-backs will be hard to carry off, as the public is well aware that Republicans oppose abortion rights and have for decades.

The credibility of the attack is partially because this is something that Republicans have been clamoring for for 50 years, Turner said. So, [voters] believe Republicans are generally inclined to support these policies. And also, we have them on video and audio saying it, and saying it repeatedly.

A Nationwide Abortion Ban

Not all Republican candidates have provided video and audio recordings of their unpopular views on abortion for Democratic ad-makers. That doesnt mean that they have been spared in attack ads. Instead, Democrats are attacking these Republicans for potentially providing votes for a Republican House or Senate majority that could then pass a national abortion ban.

If Don Bolduc and congressional Republicans take control of the U.S. Senate, they would push for a nationwide abortion ban, Hassans first general election ad states.

The same attack has already surfaced in the Pennsylvania Senate race between Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz, and in a host of House races.

With Roe v. Wade overturned, Republican senators want to ban abortion nationwide. That could make doctors and nurses criminals, and they need Mehmet Oz to do it, an ad from Planned Parenthood Votes says.

A House Majority PAC ad targeting John Duarte, the Republican candidate in Californias 13th Congressional District, says that if he gets to Congress, Duarte will vote for partisan leaders in Washington whove pledged a nationwide abortion ban.

A similar ad from the DCCC targeting George Logan, the Republican running in Connecticuts 5th Congressional District, says Logan pledged to back his party leaders, who would outlaw abortion nationwide.

Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.) has already run twoads backed by six-figure buys hitting her Republican opponent April Becker for being endorsed by the anti-abortion group Nevada Right to Life, which supports a nationwide abortion ban. Under fire, Becker clumsily backtracked her abortion position on Thursday by claiming she would oppose an abortion ban because she thinks it would be unconstitutional, a position that has angered anti-abortion allies.

This echoes the attack the DCCC and Ryan launched against Molinaro in the NY-19 special election race. That ad targeted Molinaros opposition to abortion, even though he tried not to talk about the issue, and noted that he would vote for Republican leaders who oppose abortion rights.

Democrats received some unexpected help in tying Republicans to a prospective nationwide abortion ban on Tuesday when Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced a nationwide ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy and declared that Republicans would pass it if given control of Congress.

Grahams bill gives air to Democratic claims that Republicans would pursue a nationwide ban and forced GOP Senate candidates to state their support or opposition. Masters, Budd and Walker all backed the bill, while Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, who has co-sponsored Grahams previous nationwide abortion bans after 20 weeks, said the issue should be left to the states. Oz refused to say he was for it or against it, while Smiley and Colorado Senate candidate Joe ODea said they were opposed.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) gave further confirmation to the potency of Democrats abortion attack when he responded to Grahams bill by saying he would prefer this be handled at the state level.

Based on the Democratic Partys response to Grahams nationwide ban, the torrent of attack ads on abortion will intensify over the remaining weeks of the election.

As Planned Parenthood Votes Lawson says, Weve got everything to gain and nothing to lose.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story used an incorrect last name for David Turner. This story has also been updated to clarify Mark Ronchettis stance on abortion.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
The report of an armed man luring a student into the woods that led to a police investigation at a cross-country meet Saturday was falsified, New Hartford Police Department said.

Police were called around 10 a.m. Saturday to Perry Junior High School, where the New Hartford Central School District was hosting a cross-country meet. A student competing for a visiting school said he had been lured into the woods by a man dressed in camouflage with a handgun, a release from New Hartford police states.

The student said he was able to run away and became lost before being found by a civilian off the school campus, according to police.

After being found, 911 was called and the cross-country meet was canceled, the release said. Participants and spectators were evacuated by police and school staff. New Hartford police and firefighters set up a perimeter and a command post and Utica police and New York State Police were called in to assist and provide K-9 officers to search the wooded area. The Oneida County Sheriff's Office Drone Unit also assisted in the search, the release said.

The student eventually admitted to police he made up the story and nothing that he had reported was true, the release states.

The news release states that the police department will not release the student's name because he is underage. The student has been charged with misdemeanor falsely reporting an incident and will be referred to the Oneida County Probation Department, according to police.

Public safety:Since the 2022 school year began, two threats have been reported at local schools

School sports:Section 3 boys cross country results for the 2022 season

School sports:Section 3 girls cross country results for the 2022 season

H. Rose Schneider covers public safety, breaking and trending news for the Observer-Dispatch in Utica. Email Rose at hschneider@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Police: New Hartford track meet canceled due to false report
A Russian soldier on guard in Kherson, south Ukraine, on May 20, 2022. AP

Several pro-Kremlin officials in Ukraine's occupied territories have been killed or attacked.

In Kherson, at least one official was killed in an attack using HIMARS missiles, occupation officials said.

Ukraine has not taken responsibility for the attacks.

Ukraine struck an office building where pro-Kremlin collaborators were meeting in Kherson, the latest apparent attack on authorities in occupied territories, occupation officials have claimed.

Kirill Stremousov, the Russian-installed deputy leader of Kherson, told Russian state TV that US-provided HIMARS rockets struck the area around his office on Friday, per Reuters.

Videos taken after the explosion appear to show smoke billowing from the damaged building.

Stremousov said that while it was too early to confirm the number of casualties, several people had been killed and wounded.

The Kremlin-appointed labor minister for Kherson, Alla Barkhatnova, said she was injured in the attack and her driver was killed, Russian media reported.

Separately, the prosecutor-general of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic and his deputy were killed in an explosion at their office on Friday, the head of the separatist administration said on Telegram.

Ukraine has not taken responsibility for either attack, which Kremlin collaborators have labeled "terrorist" acts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's senior adviser Mykhailo Podolyak denied that Ukraine was behind the Luhansk explosion, suggesting on Twitter it was likely due to organized criminal groups or an attempt to get rid of witnesses of war crimes.

There have also been reports of attacks on officials in the occupied city of Berdyansk.

While there have previously been sporadic reports of attacks on occupation officials, they have not typically been on such a coordinated scale or through the use of long-range munitions.

Ukraine is currently waging a successful counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, where it is making sizable gains, along with counterattacks in the southern region of Kherson.

Read the original article on Business Insider
martha's vineyard photo Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

Members of the Biden administration are meeting Friday to discuss pertinent immigration concerns, including how best to respond to the Republican governors relocating migrants in protest of President Biden's border policies, CNN reports.

A White House official said the meeting was planned before Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) sent two busloads of migrants to Vice President Kamala Harris' residence in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has also come under fire after flying two planes of migrants to Martha's Vineyard on Wednesday.

Biden admonished the two Republicans for "playing politics with human beings" and "using them as props," per CNN. During a news conference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said DeSantis and Abbott were using "tactics we see from smugglers in places like Mexico and Guatemala." The migrants were "reportedly misled about where they were headed," she continued, adding that the GOP governors "treated them like chattel in a cruel, premeditated political stunt."

In addition to mulling potential repercussions, officials are also discussing issues concerning operational support at the border and funding for increased resources in destination cities.

Attorneys from the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security will explore whether they can take legal action against the Republican governors for moving migrants out of their respective states.

Meanwhile on Friday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) published a letter asking the DOJ to consider kidnapping charges against DeSantis and Abbott.

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Political fallout continued Friday as Democrats and Republicans sounded off about the transportation of migrants from border states to cities and areas run by Democrats.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, both Republicans, escalated their months-long effort to push migrants to Democratic areas by sending approximately 100 migrants to Martha's Vineyard and near Vice President Kamala Harris's Washington residence.

Republicans are cheering the move while President Joe Biden and Democrats condemn it as a heartless political stunt.

The feud underscores the political headache immigration poses for the Biden administration this midterm election cycle amid an influx of asylum seekers.

"All we're trying to do is offer transport to sanctuary jurisdictions, free to the alien, but certainly not mandatory," DeSantis said at a press conference on Friday. "And that way they're able to go and these sanctuary jurisdictions can put their money where their mouth is."

MORE: GOP leaders seek base-driving narratives: The Note

DeSantis acknowledged that the migrants he flew to Martha's Vineyard were from Texas, not Florida, but claimed many had their sights set on making their way to his state. He also promised more migrant vans would be sent as he plans to use all the money in the state budget for this relocation program.

"I have $12 million for us to use and so we are going to use it and you're gonna see more and more," DeSantis said. "I'm going to make sure that we exhaust all those funds."

PHOTO: Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses attendees during the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit, July 22, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP, FILE)

The White House, meanwhile, continued to fire back at Republicans who they say are interfering with the federal process for managing migrants and even putting them at risk.

"These are the kinds of tactics we see from smugglers in places like Mexico and Guatemala. And for what? A photo op?" press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters during Friday's press briefing.

Press sec. Karine Jean-Pierre excoriates GOP governors DeSantis, Abbott over migrant relocations, calling the move "the kinds of tactics we see from smugglers." https://t.co/BLjjXefXrc pic.twitter.com/lqWlnOSybX  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) September 16, 2022

Reporting on the ground this week painted a confusing and chaotic situation as local officials said they received no notice that the migrants were being transported. Massachusetts State Senator Julian Cyr told ABC News' Brad Mielke that one migrant he spoke to "referred to a feeling of essentially being kidnapped."

Story continues

Jean-Pierre cited reports from NPR and other outlets stating migrants thought they were being transported to other cities, not Martha's Vineyard or northwestern Washington.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has formally asked the Department of Justice to investigate whether DeSantis broke any criminal or civil violations of federal law.

Charlie Crist, Florida's Democratic nominee for governor, is filing a Sunshine Law request for all emails, texts and all forms of internal communication regarding DeSantis's decision to fly migrants to the island south of Cape Cod.

MORE: Buses and planes carrying migrants arrive in liberal states without warning

Jean-Pierre repeatedly deflected questions about a potential legal response from the administration, stating any decision would come from the Department of Justice -- which has yet to publicly comment on this issue.

PHOTO: Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds the daily press briefing at the White House, Sept. 16, 2022. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

DeSantis and Abbott both denied Friday that migrants were misled.

"These are voluntary transportation that they're signing up for," DeSantis said. "But they're given a good ride, they're given everything  What's not humane is what Biden is doing. He's false given a false promise that the borders open, luring people out here for political purposes, and then basically cutting these people loose and leaving them high and dry."

The White House has defended the administration's work on immigration challenges so far, stating they inherited a broken system from the Trump administration.

President Biden, speaking at a gala for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Thursday night, said his administration was dedicated to finding a solution but offered no concrete steps to further alleviate the situation.

"We're committed to fixing the immigration system," Biden said. "Instead of working with us on solutions, Republicans are playing politics with human beings, using them as props. What they're doing is simply wrong."

- ABC News' Miles Cohen, Quinn Owen and Armando Garcia contributed to this report.

DeSantis, White House trade more fire over migrant drop-offs originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
TALLAHASSEE  State Sen. Ray Rodrigues will take the helm of Floridas state university system, as the Board of Governors on Wednesday unanimously approved the Estero Republican as the successor to outgoing Chancellor Marshall Criser.

Criser took over as chancellor overseeing the states network of 12 universities in 2014. He announced in July that he would be stepping down from the job.

During a board meeting in Pensacola on Wednesday, Rodrigues laid out his overarching objectives for leading the university system, noting that the bar has been set high by Criser.

The goal is for us to provide the highest quality education at the most affordable price, with degrees that lead to employment, Rodrigues said.

Sen. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, is chairman of the Senate Reapportionment Committee.

GOP leader: State Sen. Ray Rodrigues drops Senate reelection bid

U.S. News 2022-23 Best Colleges: Here's how Florida colleges and universities ranked

Rodrigues was most politically connected candidate

Rodrigues was by far the most politically connected candidate of eight people who applied for the chancellor job. He competed with only one other finalist for the post: Lori Cromwell, chief business officer for Emory Universitys Candler School of Theology.

Board member Eric Silagy, who was a member of the chancellor search committee, said Wednesday there was significant daylight between the two candidates qualifications for the job.

You bring a very strong mix of experiences, both personal and professional, including your experience in the private sector, your experience at the university level, your experience with budgets and your experience obviously in the legislature, Silagy, who is chairman, president and CEO of Florida Power & Light, said of Rodrigues.

Rodrigues currently is employed as Director of Interagency Partnerships at Florida Gulf Coast University, a job he will vacate to become chancellor. Rodrigues, who spoke to the board Wednesday about his being a first-generation college student, has held jobs at the university for the past 16 years. He served as the schools director of community relations and was a business manager for the universitys College of Arts and Sciences.

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Rodrigues in June announced that he would not seek re-election to his Southwest Florida Senate seat, setting off rumors that he would seek a job in higher-education.

Rodrigues served in Florida House and Senate

Rodrigues served in the state House for six years prior to his 2020 election to the Florida Senate, where he quickly became one of Senate President Wilton Simpsons top lieutenants. One example of his legislative heft is having led the Senates efforts in Floridas once-a-decade redistricting process.

Rodrigues also shepherded controversial higher-education bills through the process during his time in the Senate, including a measure that now requires colleges and universities to annually survey students and staff about intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity on campuses. That law is the subject of an ongoing federal lawsuit.

During this years legislative session, Rodrigues sponsored a measure that allows the Board of Governors to create its own tenure-review process for professors. The measure also requires colleges and universities to change their accrediting organizations --- a response to long standing tension between the state and the current accreditor for its higher-education institutions. The measure (SB 7044) was approved by lawmakers and later signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in April.

The United Faculty of Florida opposed both laws. Andrew Gothard, president of the faculty union, on Wednesday called the tenure-review and accreditation laws bad policy, top to bottom. But he expressed optimism about the union creating a new relationship with Rodrigues.

We have certainly had our disagreements with Sen. Rodrigues, much as we have had our disagreements with the Board of Governors in the past. We have not often agreed on what makes good policy for higher education. We have not agreed on how faculty and students should be treated. But we have also had opportunities on a few occasions to work with Sen. Rodrigues on various bills, and so we hope that in this appointment we can forge a new relationship, Gothard told The News Service of Florida.

Contract details not finalized

Details of Rodrigues contract and compensation package have not been finalized, as the boards approval of Rodrigues Wednesday gave the go-ahead to initiate the negotiation process. Also uncertain is when Criser will exit the job and when Rodrigues will officially start as the university systems chancellor. Those dates will be decided during negotiations, according to Board of Governors spokeswoman Renee Fargason.

Criser is paid $412,000 per year through a combination of $200,000 in state funds and $212,000 from the Board of Governors Foundation, and also receives a $55,000 yearly housing and vehicle expense allowance.

Vikki Shirley, the boards general counsel, on Wednesday read a recognition for the outgoing chancellor, crediting Criser with presiding over a strengthening of the state university system over his eight-year tenure. The recognition also highlighted parts of Crisers time as chancellor, such as his oversight of the university systems response to COVID-19.

During this period, system enrollment, student retention and graduation remained stable, Shirley said.

Criser did not indicate what his next move will be when he officially vacates the chancellor post.

The Board of Governors on Wednesday also scheduled a "special" meeting for Sept. 22, though it is unclear if that meeting is related to Rodrigues appointment. As of late Wednesday afternoon, a meeting agenda had not been posted on the boards website.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Estero's Ray Rodrigues tapped to head Florida state university system
Sep. 17Two weeks after David Stockton was part of a trade that sent him to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, G-League affiliate of the NBA's Indiana Pacers, the former Gonzaga point guard has signed with the Pacers and will have an opportunity to compete for a roster spot in training camp.

Stockton's returning player rights were acquired by Fort Wayne two weeks ago when he was part of a trade that involved his former team, the G-League Memphis Hustle. Fort Wayne acquired Stockton and a third-round pick in the 2023 G-League draft while the Hustle received the returning player rights to Derrick Walton Jr. and Kenny Williams, along with a 2023 first round pick.

The move could unite Stockton with another former Gonzaga point guard, Andrew Nembhard, who was selected by the Pacers in the second round of the 2022 NBA draft.

Stockton, the son of Gonzaga and Utah Jazz star John Stockton, enters his ninth professional season.

The 31-year-old has had multiple stints in the NBA and G-League and has played overseas in Croatia, New Zealand, Germany and Puerto Rico. He's played a total of six games in the NBA  three each with the Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings.

Last season Stockton played 14 games for Memphis' G-League affiliate, averaging 11.2 points, 4.3 assists and 2.9 rebounds.
Dear Texas history buffs,

Think Texas readers rarely let me down.

In a recent column, I asked which Texas dish best honorably stands in for the entire state.

Dozens of readers responded. The range of dishes stretched as wide as Texas.

Among the fresh candidate were pinto beans, Frito pie, barbecue crab and King Ranch chicken casserole.

In today's column, I report on the the delicious advice given by readers.

Please send tips about Texas memory pages to mbarnes@statesman.com.

Miss a column? Go to our column archives.

Miss a newsletter? Go to our newsletter archives.

Sign up: To get the free Think, Texas weekly digital newsletter, go to the American-Statesman newsletter page, or that of your hometown USA Today newspaper in Texas.

THE COLUMN

Tastemakers: Readers share their favorite dishes from the Lone Star State

The ballots have been certified. The votes have been tallied.

The winners?

All Texans who love food.

On Aug. 30, I asked readers which dish best represents the entire state of Texas.

Monica Peters Hardy of Abilene summed up the range of responses best: "Texas is so culturally diverse that picking one favorite dish to represent Texas was difficult for me."

In particular, Hardy wanted to make sure that I didn't forget great German Texan dishes, especially those she craves from Fredericksburg.

About 60 readers wrote to describe their quintessential Texas dish. Yet many correspondents, like Hardy, could not choose just one. Too many mouth-watering options.

King Ranch chicken over tortilla chips.

Some of the culinary candidates took me by surprise.

"I don't know if this can be called a 'dish,' but I nominate the humble pimento cheese on Texas toast for at least an honorable mention," writes Joe Starr, a longtime friend who lives in Houston. "When my family moved from California to Corpus Christi in 1972, I had heard of neither, but I soon became a convert."

Other dishes were new to me.

"We cant possibly leave out BBQ crabs," writes Rima Isam Anabtawi, who resides on the Texas Gulf Coast, "Sartins Seafood Style  originating in Sabine Pass."

Story continues

Then there were the readers who wanted it all.

"Breakfast tacos for breakfast," writes David Rojas, a former Austinite who now lives in New York City. "Brisket for lunch. Enchiladas for dinner."

READ MORE

THE PODCAST

On the latest episode of "Austin Found" podcast, J.B. Hager and I remember Jackie McGee, the first woman to serve as principal of an urban public high school in Texas.

American-Statesman columnist Michael Barnes and Austin360 Radio personality J.B. Hager team up on "Austin Found," a podcast about how Austin became Austin.

HOMETOWN HISTORY

This week's Hometown History theme is food, food and more food

 From Abilene: Dixie Pig restaurant going strong after all these years

 From Amarillo: The Big Texan Steak Ranch celebrates 60 years

 From Austin: What did the early days of Austin's food scene look like?

 From Corpus Christi: Shoop's Grill was popular seafood spot in downtown Corpus Christi

 From Lubbock: Traditional Mexican fare has deep roots in Texas

 From San Angelo: 10 must-see spots to visit in historic San Angelo

 From Wichita Falls: A new buddy gets a taste of a longtime Wichita Falls restaurant

FUN TEXAS FACT

Spanish-language dramatic company attracts large audiences

On Sept. 11, 1891, the Solsona Dramatic Company, a family-operated, Spanish-language, professional dramatic company was reportedly attracting large audiences in San Diego, Texas.

After arriving from Laredo at the end of the previous month, the Compania Dramatica Solsona had first attracted small audiences, but its popularity quickly grew.

By March 1892, the company had apparently moved to San Antonio and performed each Sunday on a regular basis at the Teatro Salon San Fernando, which operated loosely under the auspices of San Fernando Cathedral.

The bill included a full-length drama of a moralistic, instructional nature with religious overtones, followed by a juguete comico, a short comic play with songs. Compania Solsona greatly helped to establish the theater as an important gathering place for the Mexican-American community in San Antonio.

(Texas Day by Day / Texas State Historical Association) READ MORE

TEXAS TITLES

I recommend: "The Third Reconstruction: America's Struggle for Racial Justice in the 21st Century" by Peniel E. Joseph

University of Texas professor Peniel E. Joseph, who teaches at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, breaks down three periods of racial reconstruction: one following the Civil War, another during the late 20th-century civil rights movement, and a third age ushered in by Barack Obama's election to the presidency in 2008 and the Black Lives Matter campaign that intensified after Trayvon Martin's killing in 2012.

READ MORE ON TEXAS TITLES

Happy Trails,

Michael Barnes, Columnist

Think, Texas and Austin American-Statesman

Michael Barnes

Email: mbarnes@statesman.com

Twitter: twitter.com/outandabout

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Think Texas newsletter for Sept. 20, 2022
World Cup-bound Wales will address any issues raised by Qatars laws and customs at their Nations League camp this week.

Wales will play at their first World Cup for 64 years in November when the tiny Gulf state becomes the first Arab nation to hold the tournament.

A cultural behaviour guide to Qatar, addressing issues such as dress code and alcohol consumption, has been posted on the tournaments official website.

Wales manager Robert Page says it is important that his players and staff respect Qatari culture during the World Cup (Zac Goodwin/PA)

The guide stresses that visitors should not stare at Qataris or ask women for information, and suggests cameras should be used as little as possible.

Wales manager Robert Page, whose side conclude their Nations League campaign in Belgium on Thursday and at home to Poland three days later, said: Weve got meetings (planned) to address anything we think is going to be an issue out there.

Its important we respect their culture when we get out there. We dont want to unintentionally upset anyone.

We have to understand what were going into, what to do and what not to do.

Accusations over the treatment of migrant workers and a poor record of human rights have plagued Qatar since it was controversially awarded this winters finals back in 2010.

Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney has said Wales players will be canvassed over their views relating to controversial issues surrounding the World Cup in Qatar (David Davies/PA)

Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney said after qualification was secured through the play-offs in June that players would be canvassed over their views relating to issues surrounding the World Cup.

Male homosexuality is punishable by a prison sentence and same-sex marriages are not recognised by the Qatari government.

When asked in May about gay people attending the tournament, Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said we expect and we want people to respect our culture.

Wales will play their three group games against England, Iran and the United States at the 40,000-capacity Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.

Page was part of an FAW delegation to Qatar in July and said: It was 44 degrees (Celsius), crazy hot, and thankfully its not going to be that in November.

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 Stadiwm Ahmad bin Ali Our home for the @FIFAWorldCup Group B matches.#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/TGpR0cCmmO  Wales  (@Cymru) July 6, 2022

Theyve done their best to accommodate that. I went to the stadium where we play our three games and it is exceptional.

Theyve put air conditioning units all around the pitch, I could feel it from where I was stood.

Im not so sure the players will feel it from the middle of the pitch, and certainly our supporters wont from the top of the stand.

Im really pleased with the hotel and the training facilities are outstanding, being out there made us look forward to it even more.

Its not cheap to get there and I feel for the supporters because I want them to have that great experience. But we havent been at a World Cup for a long time, and I believe they will get to Qatar.
When Dawn DeMeo was named the 2022 Teacher of the Year, she joined a list of illustrious colleagues who preceded her.

But she also kept a unique family tradition alive.

DeMeos father, John DeMeo, a former math teacher at Coginchaug Regional High School, and her brother, Scott DeMeo, a math teacher at Amity High School, both received teacher of the year honors from their respective districts. Now, DeMeo adds her own accomplishment to the family mantle.

It was a pretty special Labor Day, said DeMeo, with a laugh.

On Aug. 25, during the Cheshire Public Schools annual Convocation Ceremony, DeMeo was announced as the Teacher of the Year. As per tradition, DeMeo had been informed about the award before the end of the previous school year and was required to keep silent about the honor until the ceremony in August,

It just honestly feels like the ultimate acknowledgement, said DeMeo. It really feels like (the administrators) see you.

I just kept thinking about how Im in such really good company, DeMeo continued. My colleagues, I see how hard they work, so its humbling (to be chosen from amongst them). Its really the ultimate compliment, and it comes from people who know what it takes to do a good job as a teacher.

Finding out in June was especially significant for DeMeo as it coincided with a visit from another Teacher of the Year recipient, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-5), who spoke with students in DeMeos Black and Latino Studies course. During her speech, Hayes, who was National Teacher of the Year in 2016 before eventually running for office, spoke about the riots at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, explaining that, as she hid under her desk she began writing, in an almost unconscious manner, a lesson plan, harkening back to her roots as an educator during the traumatic moment.

I just realized that (being a teacher) is just so meaningful, said DeMeo. I also realized, in listening (to Hayes) that something good could come from the award. It could provide a real platform.

DeMeo has been in Cheshire since 1999 when she started as a long-term substitute teacher and eventually accepted a full-time teaching position. I didnt really think I would stay all that long but, now, here I am, 24 years later, she said, laughing.

In addition to her duties as an English teacher and co-educator of the Black and Latino Studies course, DeMeo is also intimately involved in school productions throughout the year, serving as the director of the spring musical each season.

I knew, for me, I didnt want to just be in the classroom, she said, referencing the extracurricular activities she helps to lead. I am always involved in 100 different things.

But, in fact, the classroom was always where DeMeo knew she wanted to be right from the start as she watched her father make an impact on young peoples lives.

He is probably the biggest role model in my life, she said.

Growing up, going to his high school, seeing him do his job, it was a real inspiration, she continued, adding that her father also became her teacher when she attended Coginchaug. Just seeing how you got to be someones sophomore math teacher, someones (school play) director, and you could touch so many kids lives. It just seemed like a logical career for me.

Initially, DeMeo assumed she would become a math teacher like her father, but she ended up gravitating towards English and literature, despite the fact that the subjects did not come easily.

I never have been afraid of a challenge, said DeMeo. I ended up really chasing English. Then, in college, I (developed) a passion for literature. Thats where it was really codified for me. That when I knew I wanted (to teach English).

DeMeo graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine with her teaching certificate, meaning she could immediately enter the profession. However, the late-1990s were not an easy time to find a job in education, so DeMeo took long-termsubstitute positions in Durham and Watertown, before finally landing a full-time job in Madison. However, the young teacher also had a burning desire to travel, so she went to live and teach in Brazil for a year before returning to Connecticut and eventually taking a job in Cheshire.

DeMeo admits that, being so nervous when she first began, I would script almost the entire class. I would script not only what I was going to say, but what I thought the students were going to say.

Yet, since DeMeo couldnt know exactly what her students would ask, the environment wasnt as conducive to educational discovery as the newbie teacher would have liked.

It wasnt a discussion, she said.

Now, DeMeo approaches her students with questions not knowing or even anticipating their answers.

I really listen to what they have to say, she said.

As far as the students themselves are concerned, DeMeo stated that the modern high schooler is more savvy than previous generations because they are exposed to so much.

They are getting a lot of knowledge on their own, and they are coming (into class) trying to make sense of things, she said. I see my role as an educator as creating an environment where (the students) feel safe to have conversations.

Yet, while the current crop of teens might be more in tune with whats happening in the world  They arent just citizens of Cheshire or of Connecticut now, said DeMeo. They are global citizens.  how she relates to her class hasnt changed.

The connection you make with the kids is the same, she said. In the sense of human interactions, its all the same as it has been.

That desire to get to know her students on a personal level has resulted in profound relationships that have lasted well after students moved on from Cheshire High School. DeMeo mentioned attending former students weddings and baby showers, all because of the bonds formed during their time together at CHS.

Some of that bonding also takes place during drama productions. DeMeo, who studied dance and theater while in college,  she did a semester abroad at New York University  always knew she wanted to incorporate her love for the arts into her time as an educator, and she believes the experience helps both her and the students.

Its just a lighter experience, she said. I see the kids in a different way, and they get to see me in another way. It helps you to see each other as human beings.

Over the last two years, attention has been paid to the difficulties faced by all involved in public education, from the teachers to the students to the parents. Numerous educators have decided to step away, leading to teaching shortages reported around the country.

However, for DeMeo, her passion for her chosen profession has only grown during the time of uncertainty.

I think what the past two years have shown us is how important our role really is, said DeMeo, about teachers. I dont just teach literature. Its far more than that.

I believe this is the most important, most relevant work I can do, and its constantly changing, she added. (School) is a fascinating place to be. Its where the world is for me. And as much as I love teaching and spending time with the kids, many of my colleagues feel the same way. CHS has amazing school spirit and I hope the parents in the community appreciate the time, love and effort that all the teachers at the high school put into educating their kids, with a genuine care for their education and welfare.
Mother and daughter migrants take in the view as the boat pulls away from ferry terminal on Martha's Vineyard, in Vineyard Haven, Mass. on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. (Matt Cosby/The New York Times)

WASHINGTON  A pair of southern Republican governors this week used scores of migrants in a political stunt designed to bludgeon Democrats about the state of the nations immigration system, loading the migrants onto airplanes and buses bound for heavily progressive places to the north.

But while the political message from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was clear, the abrupt drop-offs left uncertain what would happen to the human beings involved and raised complicated questions about how the immigration system works, what rights migrants have and what legal issues are involved.

Immigration lawyers and legal observers said they were still determining whether any laws were broken when Abbott sent nearly 100 migrants, including children, to be dropped off by bus without warning outside Vice President Kamala Harris residence in Washington, D.C., and when DeSantis arranged for about 50 more to be flown on chartered planes to Marthas Vineyard, the island vacation spot in Massachusetts.

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Heres what we know so far.

The migrants were already in immigration limbo.

The migrants transported to Marthas Vineyard are Venezuelans who recently crossed the southwestern border without authorization and turned themselves in to border officials. The migrants who were dropped at Harris home were from Colombia, Cuba, Guyana, Nicaragua and Panama and came into the country in the same manner.

After they were taken into custody, they were screened and released to face proceedings in the future. The Biden administration has been using this process with nearly all of the Cuban and Venezuelan border crossers because it lacks the diplomatic relations with those countries that would be necessary to send them back to those countries.

But many of the migrants probably plan to claim asylum, declaring that they face violence or persecution in their home countries and are afraid to return. Under American law, any migrant has the right to do so, starting a process in which federal officials determine whether the claim is valid and they can obtain authorization to reside legally in the United States.

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That process faces a yearslong backlog, meaning that these migrants, like many in the United States, are living in a state of immigration limbo.

Its legal for states to transport migrants, but the drop-offs raise questions.

Under the law, once migrants have been released by border officials and served documents to appear in court, they are no longer in federal custody and are free to travel within the United States. It is not illegal for a state government to pay for that travel.

But if there is evidence the migrants were lied to by state officials about where they were going or what awaited them, as some attorneys have alleged, the migrants could pursue tort suits for fraud or severe emotional distress, according to Heidi Li Feldman, a professor at Georgetown University.

Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, the executive director for Lawyers for Civil Rights Boston who is representing some of the migrants sent to Marthas Vineyard, said his clients were denied their constitutional right to due process, since the trip to Massachusetts probably means they will be unable to attend their immigration court appointments in San Antonio.

If you are coerced and induced onto an airplane under false promises and told youll be flying to one place and directed somewhere else in midair, that is a deprivation of liberty the Constitution forbids, Espinoza-Madrigal said.

Some lawyers have also said federal agents deliberately listed incorrect addresses for the migrants, which would prevent them from receiving proper notifications for their immigration hearings. But it was unclear whether any laws were broken; it is not uncommon for a federal agent confronting a migrant who does not have an address in the United States to list the name of a homeless shelter in the destination to which the migrant says they are headed.

Although critics have compared the actions of DeSantis and Abbott to human trafficking or kidnapping, multiple lawyers cast doubt on the possibility that they could be prosecuted for such crimes because no evidence has surfaced that the migrants boarded the flights or buses unwillingly.

Top Trump officials first weighed migrant drop-offs.

Nonprofit organizations have for years helped migrants pay for flights and buses to join friends and relatives around the United States.

But the plan for the government to use migrant drop-offs in Democratic cities and towns dates back to former President Donald Trumps administration, when it was embraced by Stephen Miller, his senior adviser and the architect of his immigration policies. Miller and other immigration hard-liners in the administration saw the move as a way to retaliate against so-called sanctuary cities that limited their cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The idea was ultimately scrapped after it was rejected by Matthew Albence, then-acting deputy director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who raised concerns about liability issues if a migrant was injured during transport. He also said the agencys budget had not been appropriated for the drop-offs.

Critics of the recent migrant drop-offs have made comparisons to the so-called Reverse Freedom Rides arranged by white segregationists in 1962 to retaliate against those protesting segregation in the South.

The segregationists misleadingly promised jobs and permanent housing to Black Americans, leading about 200 of them to travel north. Those families, too, were dropped off in Massachusetts, near the holiday home of President John F. Kennedy.

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Married at First Sight UK is back for a new series, with a new group of singletons betting on love as they tie the knot with complete strangers.

The dating show returned to E4 at the end of August, showing a new group of contestants as they met their future spouses for the first time on their wedding days.

The couples have now been through their wedding days and honeymoons and are settling into married life.

When the show reaches its conclusion, the married couples must choose whether they will stay together or go separate ways.

Here are the Married at First Sight UK couples...

Chanita and Jordan

Jordan and Chanita (Channel 4)

The first pair to couple up were Chanita, 29, and Jordan, who may be one of the best matched marriages of the series so far.

Jordan told Chanita she looked beautiful in her wedding dress and the pair bonded when Jordan opened up about the death of his grandma.

Fans called the pair the best couple ever as they enjoyed their honeymoon in Mauritius.

Social worker Chanita was in a 10-year relationship until two years ago and hopes to settle down and start a family with her new husband.

Jordan comes from Darlington and owns his own home, is close with his family and a good cook. However, Jordan isnt prepared to settle for the sake of it.

Whitney and Duka

Whitney and Duka (Channel 4)

Whitney, 31, and Duka, 31, met on their wedding day in the first episode and its safe to say it wasnt love at first sight for personal assistant Whitney.

She initially said that she was ready to do a runner, but the couple later connected when Whitney opened up about the recent death of her mother.

She later branded Duka fake and rolled her eyes whenever he spoke.

Whitney previously said that she wanted a man who was perfect and would tick all the right boxes for her.

Recruitment HR co-ordinator Duka, who moved to England from former Yugoslavia aged 10 without speaking any English, said he traditionally gets bored of the women who are attracted to him.

Thomas and Adrian

Thomas and Adrian (Channel 4)

From the moment Thomas, 31, and Adrian, 37, met and Thomas said he hadnt been expecting someone blonde who looked like Clare Balding, it was clear this couple might not be the perfect match.

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Adrians best friend Katie expressed her disapproval with the relationship, saying that she didnt want the digital designer to go on his honeymoon.

On the trip, the couple clashed, with Thomas storming off, saying: Im not f***ing talking to you.

Mental health care assistant Thomas loves being the centre of attention and says being described as nice is his worst nightmare.

Adrian wants a partner who can make him laugh and is adventurous and trustworthy.

April and George

George and April (Channel 4)

After April, 32, and George, 40, got married, they reached an early problem with their relationship as April told father-of-four George that she wasnt sure she wanted children.

Upon learning of his family, she said she would give George a chance. However, George later revealed that hed learnt April had kissed a girl in a hot tub as a dare while on their honeymoon.

Former Miss Great Britain April then broke down in tears after being accused of cheating.

The wedding dress designer said she wanted a partner who allowed her to be independent.

George, who has been divorced, said he was looking for someone to keep him on his toes.

Jess and Pjay

Pjay and Jess (Channel 4)

While Jess, 31, and Pjay initially appeared to have a good start to their relationship on their wedding day, Jess was left unimpressed by Pjays job as a stripper with the Dreamboys. However, Pjay vowed he would quit his job if it made her happy.

On their honeymoon, she admitted that she felt things were more friendly than romantic and rejected his offer of a massage.

However, the pair got closer when Jess broke down in tears as she opened up about an ex-partner cheating on her with a member of her family.

Youre a good person, everyday weve had here, everyday gets better, youre wonderful, Pjay told her.

Pjay had previously admitted that his partners had previously struggled to trust him due to his job.

Jess, who hails from Cambridgeshire, is a dental hygienist and has said that humour is the most important thing to her in a relationship.

Lara and Richie

Lara and Richie (Channel 4)

Lara, 49, and Richie, 52, got off to a not-great start on their wedding day after Richie admitted that hed never had a serious relationship and still lived with his parents.

When Lara told him that shed been married twice and had two sons, Richie said that this wasnt an easy thing to hear.

Canadian waitress Lara has said that she wants a love like her parents, who have been married for 51 years. She has been single for 12 years.

Richie previously worked in the music business as a songwriter before working as a sales advisor.

Kasia and Kwame

Kwame and Kasia (Channel 4)

Kasia, 36, and Kwame, 42, were coupled up by the shows experts and married at a stately home.

Things got off to a bad start after Kwame was accused of fatphobia as he commented that he usually goes for a more petite woman than Kasia.

Kwame then struggled to connect with his new in-laws and told Kasia that he wouldnt have sex with her on their wedding night.

Much to Kasias annoyance, he then joked that she should sleep on the sofa bed.

Kasia left school at 16 to have her first child (both her children are now adults) and she owns a body contouring clinic.

Business consultant and former Mr Ghana Kwame has been married and had kids before, but is now divorced and looking for love.

Zoe and Jenna

Jenna and Zoe (Channel 4)

The final couple to tie the knot were Zoe, 30, and Jenna, 32.

The pair, who make up the first same-sex partnership on the show, met when Jenna walked down the aisle and initially appeared to be attracted to each other.

However, they hit a stumbling block on their honeymoon in Iceland after arguing over Jenna, who runs a zero-waste shop, and her veganism.

Speaking before the series, Blackpool-based Jenna said that she hoped shed find her happily ever after on the show.

Self-proclaimed serial dater Zoe, meanwhile, said that she wanted to find someone to start a family and share her softer side with.
MARAT SADANA

A new busload of 50 migrants, including a 1-month-old child, were dropped in front of the Naval Observatory on Saturday, which is the Washington D.C. home of Vice President Kamala Harris, Fox News first reported.

The group mostly originated from Venezuela and add to the growing list of migrants who have been transported to the vice presidents home.

It marks the third bus of migrants sent from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott after others arrived earlier this week. Separately, six more buses from Texas carrying migrants reportedly arrived at New Yorks Port Authority on Saturday, Fox News reported.

NBC shared video of the migrants arriving off the bus from Texas Saturday.

Minutes ago, a bus of migrants sent from Texas arrived outside the Naval Observatory in Washington DC. Were told theyre from Venezuela and Nicaragua. Men, women, children - even newborns. This is the second bus to arrive outside of the VPs residence this week. @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/P7dHGQ3CMJ  Gary Grumbach (@GaryGrumbach) September 17, 2022

Aid workers quickly took the migrants away to a local shelter. Two buses first arrived at the Naval Observatory in Washington D.C. on Thursday, where Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff live.

Were sending migrants to her backyard to call on the Biden Administration to do its job & secure the border, Abbott wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

However, U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) called the shipments a form of human trafficking.

Shipping vulnerable migrants across the country is not a campaign tactic. It is human trafficking, she tweeted Thursday. It is the abuse of dozens of human beings and a celebration of that abuse for political gain.

Migrants from Venezuela, who boarded a bus in Texas, outside the residence of US Vice President Kamala Harris, at the Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, on Thursday. STEFANI REYNOLDS

Around 8,000 migrants have been sent from Texas to Washington since April, The Guardian reported, adding that Arizona has moved nearly 2,000 migrants to Washington since May. During that same time, according to the New York Post, over 11,000 migrants have been transported to New York City, with a majority coming from Texas.

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Harris accused Republican governors of a dereliction of duty in a Vice News interview.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has also played a part in deporting refugees from his state.

Both conservative governors have cited border security as the reason behind their massive plan.

Social services immediately provided aid to the migrants who arrived in front of Harris home on Saturday, but organizations say the constant shipment of immigrants puts a strain on resources.

Abbotts office did not immediately respond to The Daily Beast's request for comment Saturday.

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Photos taken by investigators at Adam Dearmon's Camp Verde home.

The possibility that states might decriminalize the general use of peyote is raising concerns among Indigenous practitioners, who employ the cactus in traditional settings like the Native American Church. Already, the Navajo Nation is moving to oppose any changes in the law.

As states continue to decriminalize marijuana, Tracy Willie, director of the Navajo medicine man group Azee Bee Nahagha of Dine Nation, Inc., said there could be a domino effect of states wanting to decriminalize peyote, which is a Schedule I controlled substance under the Federal Controlled Substance Act.

At this point in time the challenges we are enduring is there are other nationalities that have interest because of what they see in the peyote, they call it mescaline, said Willie. Thats the primary interest.

Mescaline is the hallucinogenic agent found within the peyote plant, and Willie and other members of the Native American Church across the country are worried that with the already limited availability of peyote, once it is decriminalized, it could become even more scare for actual traditional use.

We want to preserve and protect this way of life, of worship, of belief not only for us, but for children, our grandchildren. We are looking 50 years down the road, 100 years down the road, said Willie. The peyote, where it grows, is very limited in the state of Texas and the vegetation and availability is limited.

This week, leaders from the Native American Church of North America went to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers to discuss the protection of peyote. Larry Wright, Jr., executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, spoke with members of the Native American Church of North America, reassuring them the group stands in support of their stance to protect peyote.

On behalf of NCAI I want to reaffirm our support for the Native American Church of North America, said Wright. In 2009, NCAI passed a resolution, and this was support for the Native American Church of North America and the ability to harvest peyote. We want to make sure we are supporting that moving forward.

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Amid concerns, Navajo council weighs action

Where peyote is grown in Texas and Mexico, it is declining due to land development, ranching, agriculture, poaching, psychedelic tourism, incorrect harvesting and climate change, according to Azee Bee Nahagha of Dine Nation, Inc.

Formerly known as the Native American Church of Navajoland Inc, the Azee Bee Nahagha of Dine Nation, Inc. was established in 1966 as a non-profit organization, and was incorporated in New Mexico in 1972. In 1989, the Navajo Nation Council granted a revocable land use permit for the group in Chinle.

Azee Bee Nahagha of Dine Nation recognizes peyote as sacred among the Navajo people, affirming that peyote has been consumed by Navajo people for religious, cultural and ceremonial purposes since time immemorial, according to the group.

The Navajo Nation Council is considering a measure that states the tribe is against the decriminalization of peyote. The legislation had gone through three other committees, with Navajo council delegates passing the legislation without hesitation, but the councils Naabikiytai committee recently tabled the legislation for 45 days after the sponsor said members of the Azee Bee Nahagha of Dine Nation werent on the same page.

If the legislation passes, it would put the Navajo Nation firmly in opposition to any state decriminalizing the use of peyote.

The measure would urge all states to limit the non-criminal use of peyote to religious, ceremonial and cultural purposes only, as it is stated in the American Indian Religious Freedom Act amendments of 1994.

Congress enacted the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 to protect the rights of Native Americans to exercise their traditional religions by ensuring access to sacred sites, use and possession of sacred objects, and the freedom to worship through ceremonial and traditional rites without repercussions from the federal government.

The law, Willie said, "only identifies that peyote is to be used by federally recognized tribes. We are one of those federally recognized tribes.

Native American politics: Arizona tribal leaders launch a political advocacy group to encourage Indigenous voters

The journey to peyote practitioner

As a Navajo traditional practitioner, George Tolth has conducted numerous Native American Church meetings. He is also a veteran, former Navajo Nation police officer and a former council delegate who is seeking office again nearly 30 years after his last term ended. He is currently the chapter president of his community of Casamero Lake.

The journey for him to become a traditional practitioner took years, he said. When he came back from the military and became a police officer, he didnt believe in the traditional use of peyote, and when his parents decided to hold an NAC meeting for him, he said he was agitated at the idea.

I would say, 'why are you eating that stuff?' remembered Tolth. I didnt believe it.

Then he met his mentor, another practitioner who would teach him the songs, prayers, and proper way of conducting NAC meetings. Tolth would help his mentor as he conducted ceremonies.

I kept going to his meetings, said Tolth. Started to learn the content of it, of how the medicine is talking to you. How the fireplace is talking to you. I learned how he conducted his meetings and what the purpose of it was.

Tolth rarely uses peyote now, but it's not because he doesnt believe in it. His belief in this traditional medicine thrives because it helped him get through tough times. What he worries about when it comes to peyote is peoples misuse and abuse of it, which he has seen on different occasions.

I still believe in the Creator and the peyote, because if it wasnt for that I wouldnt be here, said Tolth. It put me here, and I can't walk out and say, forget it. I still use it, but the problem is I see people misuse it.

Threats to the plant in its habitat

A peyote plant can take 12-16 years to mature, which adds to the limited availability. So the wasteful misuse of it can have a dire impact on its supply for NAC members.

Azee Bee Nahagha of Dine Nation believes if peyote is decriminalized, it could be excessively harvested, endangering the plant. That would also substantially affect the religious, ceremonial and cultural practices of Indigenous people across the western hemisphere, including the Navajo Nation, where many people hold a sincere religious belief and a strong connection to the use of peyote for ceremonial and cultural purposes.

The Cactus Conservation Institute is a non-profit organization that has been studying ways to preserve and protect the wild habitat of endangered cactuses, including peyote, in the deserts of the southern U.S. and northern Mexico.

In a 2021 study, the institute concluded up to 261 greenhouses would be needed to meet the demand for peyote for use by the more than 500,000 members of the Native American Churches in the United States.

One or two, or even 10, greenhouses are clearly inadequate to fulfill the current or future need, the CCI report said. The longer the lag time before starting cultivation on a significant scale, the greater the risk of wild extirpations continuing to spread (with possible wild extinction).

To create a cultivation program for a slow-growing perennial plant with projections of annual harvests in the future, an equal number of plants need to be planted every year until the operation can become sustainable on a rotating harvest basis, stated the report.

For peyote, that cycle may be 12-16 years, or longer if the locale is less favorable. Peyote can be grown more quickly though light feeding and heavy watering, or by grafting, but it would be unsuitable for use as medicine unless enough additional time is spent under more natural conditions of growth. Without that time, the mescaline content will be low, the report explained.

Because of the possibility that peyote could go extinct in less than 50 years, the group Decriminalize Nature believes decriminalizing peyote will be the plant's saving grace. The group recommends several policies that should change:

Cultivation of peyote by members of federally recognized tribes and Native American Churches should be immediately decriminalized and removed from federal oversight and regulations, allowing tribes and churches to choose this means of decreasing demand on the limited natural habitats.

Decriminalize peyote for personal cultivation for non-Indigenous people to reduce the demand for the cactuses that are extracted from Indigenous sources and habitats for the peyote trade.

Peyote in its natural habitat should be available only for Indigenous communities and poaching should continue to be penalized.

But some members of Azee Bee Nahagha of Dine Nation say decriminalizing peyote will negatively affect the plant and have harsh consequences on their religious practice.

I was raised with the peyote ceremony, which to my family is a very sacred religion and the partaking of this form of medicine is also sacred to us Native people and is used in a very strict and sacred manner, said NAC member Earl Morris Jr.

"To decriminalize the usage of peyote would result in unintended consequences that will destroy our way of life, Morris said. "Popularizing the usage of peyote to outside Native communities and allowing recreational usage of peyote would result in mass production efforts and attempts to commercialize this holy sacrament.

Arlyssa Becenti covers Indigenous affairs for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Send ideas and tips to arlyssa.becenti@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Native religious leaders oppose moves to decriminalize peyote
Queen Elizabeth II

Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II shared her birthday with an American pen pal.

Before Her Majesty died at age 96 last week, she exchanged letters every year with a North Dakota woman who was born on the same day, according to KFYR. Adele Hankey, of Park River, North Dakota, said she'll miss corresponding with her friend: "Oh absolutely. You miss your pen pals."

Hankey sent her first letter to the Queen when she was crowned in 1953. "I could have jumped out of my shoes," she said of receiving a birthday card in return.

RELATED: How to Watch Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral

For the past 70 years, Hankey would reach out on their shared birthday, noting that she made sure to perfect her penmanship, and the Queen always got back to her. "We had a teacher in school that said make your l's long and your e's little. So, we did," she explained.

"I asked her for a hat. I was hoping she would send me one. But she sent a lovely picture on her birthday," Hankey added, admitting she doesn't know how many letters they exchanged every year for their birthday tradition, though the two never actually met.

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Hankey, who is a cookbook author, noted that: "The recipes the queen liked were with marmalade. And so do I. How about that?"

Queen Elizabeth died at age 96 last Thursday. Her death follows her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, who died at age 99 in April 2021. She is succeeded immediately by her eldest son, King Charles III, 73, who is now the monarch.

RELATED VIDEO: Queen Elizabeth's 4 Children Stand Solemn Vigil at Their Mother's Coffin in Historic Moment

The Queen's coffin traveled to Westminster Hall in a solemn procession on Wednesday, and it is now lying-in-state for mourners to pay their respects. More than 2,000 people from around the world will gather Monday at Westminster Abbey for the Queen's funeral, before she's laid to rest at Windsor Castle.
DHAKA (Reuters) - A 15-year old Rohingya boy was killed and at least six people were injured when mortar shells fired from Myanmar exploded in Bangladesh, the latest in a series of violent incidents, officials and a Rohingya leader said.

More than a million Rohingya are living in camps in southern Bangladesh that comprise the world's largest refugee settlement, the vast majority having fled from Myanmar during a military crackdown in 2017.

The Rohingya have been caught in the crossfire between Myanmar's military and the Arakan Army, an armed group fighting for self-determination for ethnic minorities in Rakhine state.

The teenager was killed late on Friday, said Dil Mohammed, a Rohingya leader in no-man's land, a strip of land along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border where an estimated 4,000 Rohingya live.

"We are living here in constant fear. Anytime any catastrophe can happen," Mohammed told Reuters by phone.

Strong protests would be lodged with Myanmar over the incident, a Bangladesh government official and border guard official said.

Bangladesh this month issued a statement expressing deep concern over falling mortar shells inside Bangladesh territory, indiscriminate aerial firing from Myanmar in the bordering areas, and air space violation from Myanmar.

The Myanmar envoy in Dhaka has been summoned three times in recent weeks so that those concerns could be conveyed.

(Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
To excite international travelers about the foodie experience that awaits them in Taiwan, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau is partnering with Boiling Point and Wushiland Boba for US locals to experience the Taiwanese hot pots and authentic bubble teas, and a chance to win one round-trip airfare to Taiwan for two.

LOS ANGELES, Sept.16, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- With the publication of this year's "MICHELIN Guide Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung 2022", which includes 321 restaurants, it is no longer a secret that Taiwanese cuisine, including homegrown street food, makes for one of the best gastronomic experiences in Asia. In just four years, the MICHELIN Guide has grown from recommending 110 restaurants in the capital city of Taipei to 321 restaurants throughout the West Coast cities of Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.

To raise awareness of Taiwan's contributions to the culinary world and excite international travelers about the foodie experience that awaits them in Taiwan, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau is collaborating with local Taiwanese restaurants Boiling Point and Wushiland Boba to host the Taiwan Foodie Travel Sweepstake. This promotion includes limited-time menu items and surprise appearances by Oh! Bear, Taiwan's friendliest black bear, and a chance to travel to Taiwan to indulge in the freshest local culinary delights.

Participating Los Angeles restaurant, Boiling Point, is known for promoting Taiwanese hot pot culture on the West Coast. Since opening its inaugural location in 2004, the franchise has expanded to comprise 28 restaurants in the Western US, 3 in Canada, and even a location in Japan's trendy Shibuya District. With a vast selection of hot pot soups to choose from, including house special, Taiwanese spicy, and milk cream curry, as well an array of street-food-inspired dishes like spicy fermented tofu and garlic pork belly, the restaurant is the perfect destination for curious foodies salivating for a taste of Taiwan

Wushiland Boba, which imports tea leaves directly from Taiwan, offers Californians a chance to taste authentic hand-made Taiwanese bubble tea. Its commitment to using the best and most authentic ingredients has helped the brand come a long way since its inception in Tainan, Taiwan in 1994. Today, it boasts five locations in Southern California. During the sweepstake period, Wushiland Boba will offer one of Taiwan's quirky cult classic recipes: Four Seasons Tea with coconut jelly, boba, and pearls, also known as "Secret Menu #1".

In 2018, Taipei became the eighth city in Asia to receive a dedicated MICHELIN Guide. In 2020, the MICHELIN Guide expanded to include Taichung. With the further expansion of this year's "2022 MICHELIN Guide: Taipei, Taichung, Tainan & Kaohsiung", including the Starred, Bib Gourmand, and selected restaurants, the full 2022 restaurant selection of the MICHELIN Guide in Taiwan now totals 321 restaurants, with 170 eateries in Taipei, 68 in Taichung, 44 in Tainan, and 39 in Kaohsiung. In a testament to Taiwan's delicious and affordable street food culture, 141 of these restaurants have been awarded the Bib Gourmand distinction, an award reserved for eateries offering three courses for under NT$1,000 (approximately $32). Some, like the "Oyster Egg Omelette" stall in Ningxia Night Market, are so modest that they are only identified by their sole signature dish.

The Taiwan Foodie Travel Sweepstake will run from September 16, 2022, to October 16, 2022. One Grand Prize winner will receive a round-trip flight and tour package to Taiwan for two; three First Prize winners will receive initial luggage sets; multiple runner-ups will receive travel essentials such as instant cameras, tech pouches, portable chargers, and travel adapters.

Please visit Taiwan Tourism Bureau's Instagram or official Facebook Page for entry rules.

Taiwan is excited to welcome international travelers for tourism and sightseeing once again. As of September 12, 2022, Taiwan has resumed visa-free entry for travelers from more than 60 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia. Incoming travelers will have to abide by Taiwan's current quarantine policy and will be free to travel after completing the process.

Please follow Taiwan Tourism's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/TourTaiwan to learn more about the exciting and diversified Taiwan themes, tours, and various products such as food, lodging, travel, and shopping.

For more tourism information, please visit: https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/

***

ABOUT THE TAIWAN TOURISM BUREAU

The Taiwan Tourism Bureau is the official government agency responsible for domestic and international tourism policy development and execution. There are three North American tourism offices located in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Media Contact

Wanda Li, Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Los Angeles, 626-350-7888, wanda@airsupplycomms.com

SOURCE Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Los Angeles
Russia is facing calls for an international war crimes tribunal after the discovery of mass graves in Ukraine.

It comes as the Ministry of Defence questioned whether Russian frontline forces have sufficient reserves or adequate morale to withstand another concerted assault in the east of the country.

Any substantial loss of territory here would unambiguously undermine Vladimir Putins strategy for the conflict, the experts say.

Mr Putin warned on Friday that Ukraine risks provoking more serious action from Moscow with its sweeping counteroffensive, claiming that we so far have responded with restraint.

He vowed to press on with his special military operation during his address to reporters after attending a meeting of Asian world leaders, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, in Uzbekistan.

He said the liberation of Ukraines entire eastern Donbas region remained Russias main military goal and that he has no intention of giving up the fight.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi offered a public rebuke to Mr Putin for the first time and the Russian leader admitted there were also concerns about the situation in Beijing.

Key Points

Ground report: Bodies were put in sacks and thrown onto trucks in Izyum

India offers rare direct rebuke to Putin

Putin warns of Ukraine escalation amid widening diplomatic isolation

EU presidency calls for war crimes tribunal over mass graves

20:30 , Sam Rkaina

Current holders of the European Unions rotating presidency the Czech Republic has called for a tribunal into Russias alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Czech Republic Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavsky tweeted: Russia left behind mass graves of hundreds of shot and tortured people in the Izyum area.

In the 21st century, such attacks against the civilian population are unthinkable and abhorrent. We must not overlook it. We stand for the punishment of all war criminals.

I call for the speedy establishment of a special international tribunal that will prosecute the crime of aggression.

Story continues

A view of unidentified graves of civilians and Ukrainian soldiers (AP)

Four people reportedly killed in Ukrainian shelling

20:00 , Jane Dalton

A Ukrainian shelling attack reportedly killed four people in downtown Donetsk.

According to the citys mayor Alexey Kulemzin, fragments of munitions for Caesar howitzers were found.

Shelling in Donetsk, controlled by Russian-backed separatists (AP)

More bodies exhumed from mass graves

19:30 , Jane Dalton

Ukrainian authorities exhumed more of the dead on Saturday from a burial site by a cemetery in Izium, where officials say hundreds are buried in territory recaptured from Russian forces.

There was no immediate public comment from Russia, which denies deliberately attacking civilians.

Up to 30 emergency service officers carefully dug up bodies at the wooded burial site using shovels.

Police experts and investigators documented the findings on camera and inspected the bodies, which are of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.

Russian shelling kills girl, 11

19:15 , Jane Dalton

Russian shelling in the city of Chuhuiv in the Kharkiv region has killed an 11-year-old girl, according to the regional governor.

Oleh Syniehubov said a missile attack started a fire in an industrial area.

Remnants suggested the Russians fired S-300 surface-to-air missiles at the city, he said.

The S-300 is designed for striking missiles or aircraft in the sky, not targets on the ground. Analysts say Russias use of the missiles suggest they may be running out of some precision munitions.

11-year old girl died as a result of a Russian missile strike in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region. Russians cannot win on the battlefield in Ukraine, they escaped from Kharkiv region under pressure from the Ukrainian military. That's why they attack civilians. There must be no impunity  Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) September 17, 2022

Memorial service for ballet dancer-turned-soldier

18:40 , Jane Dalton

A leading Ukrainian ballet dancer who died this week fighting on the front line has been honoured with a memorial service in the National Opera of Ukraine.

The National Opera described Oleksandr Shapoval as a courageous romantic and brave warrior who died under Russian mortar shelling in eastern Ukraine on Monday.

Mourners, including soldiers from Shapovals unit, honour guards and members of the artistic community of Kyiv, crowded the lobby of the opera house, laying flowers on his coffin before it was wrapped in a Ukrainian flag.

Shapoval, 47, retired from a long dancing career at the National Opera last year and began teaching in Kyiv before joining a territorial guard to defend the capital. He later volunteered to join the army and fought in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region.

To me he was a friend, brother-in-arms. He was a very decent person. My soul is empty. To me he will for ever be alive, said Roman Turshyiev, who fought alongside Shapoval.

(REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

A final ovation for ballet dancer Oleksandr Shapoval at the Kyiv Opera House.



Hed performed for 28 seasons before volunteering to fight in the east.



While Ukraine enjoys successes on the battlefield, his death is a reminder of the enduring, awful cost of this war. pic.twitter.com/6V1m2vVFlr  James Waterhouse (@JamWaterhouse) September 17, 2022

Power line to Russian-held nuclear plant repaired

18:05 , Jane Dalton

One of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plants four main power lines has been repaired and is once again supplying the plant with electricity from the Ukrainian grid two weeks after it went down, the UN nuclear watchdog says.

Even though the six reactors at Zaporizhzhia, Europes biggest nuclear power plant, have been shut down, the fuel in them still needs cooling to avoid a potentially catastrophic meltdown. That means the plant needs electricity to pump water through the core of the reactors.

The power supply at Zaporizhzhia has been a source of major concern after the last main line went down and then three back-up lines that can connect it to a nearby coal-fired power plant were also disconnected.

That prompted the plant to go into so-called island mode where its last operating reactor provided it with power, though that mode is not sustainable. A back-up power line was reconnected a week ago, enabling that reactor to shut down, too.

With the main lines reconnection yesterday afternoon, the three back-up power lines are again being held in reserve, the International Atomic Energy Agency watchdog said.

The three other main external power lines that were lost earlier during the conflict remain down.

In pictures: Ceremony for Russian woman who fought with Ukraine

17:30 , Jane Dalton

A Ukrainian soldier holds a photo of Olga Simonova (AP)

Friends and comrades-in-arms gather to bid farewell to Olga Simonova (AP)

Ukrainians honour Russian woman who fought beside them

17:00 , Jane Dalton

An honour guard fired a three-gun salute as friends and comrades-in-arms gathered in Kyiv to bid farewell to a Russian woman killed while fighting on Ukraines side in the war.

Olga Simonova, 34, was remembered for her courage and kindness at a funeral in the Ukrainian capital on Friday.

Ms Simonovas coffin was draped in the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag, with a cuddly toy lion on top. Her nom de guerre was Simba, like the main character in the Disney cartoon The Lion King.

Ms Simonova served in a trench in the Donbas region, alongside Ukrainian soldiers, first as a volunteer fighter, then a paramedic and ultimately as an enlisted member of the armed forces.

I had this internal feeling that I could handle it and that what I was doing was right and necessary, because I cant turn a blind eye to the situation, she told the The Associated Press. I just had to buy a one-way ticket. I bought it and I left.

She said she never hid her Russian origin from her colleagues and gained their trust by showing her commitment to Ukraine on the battlefield.

In 2017 she received Ukrainian citizenship.

She became a sergeant and was given command of both infantry and artillery units.

Friends and colleagues said Ms Simonova, who was unmarried and had no children, had recently redeployed from the east to the southern Kherson region, where Ukraine has launched a counteroffensive against Russian forces.

They said she died four days ago, after her vehicle hit a landmine.

She was respected not only as a commander, but as a person, said Dmytro Karabinovskyi, her former commander and friend.

Editorial: Justice must be served after mass graves found

16:15 , Jane Dalton

In case you missed it:

President Zelensky says there is evidence of genocide against Ukrainians. International authorities will determine what exactly took place in this merciless war of aggression, and who should be charged - including Vladimir Putin.

Editorial: Justice must be served for the merciless war of aggression in Ukraine

Pressure on Russian forces mounts

15:30 , Jane Dalton

Western defence officials and analysts said they believed Russian forces were setting up a new defensive line, but Ukrainian forces continue to cross the key Oskil River in the Kharkiv region.

They are trying to press on in a counteroffensive targeting Russian-occupied territory, according to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War:

Pressure on Russian forces mounts after Ukraine's advances

One person dead, two injured in Russia  report

14:45 , Jane Dalton

One person was killed and two others were injured near the Russian city of Belgorod, not far from the border with Ukraine, Moscows Tass news agency cited local authorities as saying.

Reuters was unable to independently verify the reports.

Satellite images show tanks near mass graves month before bodies found

14:01 , Jane Dalton

Satellite images appear to show tanks near the site of a mass grave in the Ukrainian city of Izyum months before it was discovered.

One satellite image shows two tanks along the edge of the forest north of the cemetery, on 29 August, while artillery guns can be seen at the entrance to the cemetery on 8 April. Chiara Giordano reports:

Satellite images show tanks near Izyum mass graves month before bodies found

Ballet dancer who volunteered to fight killed in Donetsk

13:15 , Jane Dalton

Servicemen pay their last respects to volunteer soldier Oleksandr Shapoval, a ballet dancer soloist of the National Opera, killed in a battle in Donetsk (AP)

Russia carries out strikes in four Ukrainian areas

12:22 , Jane Dalton

Russias defence ministry says its forces have launched strikes on Ukrainian positions in several parts of Ukraine, and accused Kyiv of carrying out shelling near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Russian forces conducted their strikes in the Kherson, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, according to the ministry.

It said Ukrainian forces had carried out an unsuccessful offensive near Pravdyne in Kherson.

The radiation situation at Zaporizhzhia, Europes biggest nuclear power plant, remains normal, according to the ministry. It said two incidents of Ukrainian shelling were recorded near the plant on Saturday.

A spokesperson for Ukraines foreign ministry denied that its forces had carried out shelling there.

The UN International Atomic Energy Agency passed a resolution on Thursday demanding that Russia end its occupation of the plant.

Russia setting up new defensive line, says MoD

11:51 , Jane Dalton

Defence officials and analysts say they believe Russian forces are setting up a new defensive line in Ukraines northeast after Kyivs troops broke through the previous one.

The Ministry of Defence said the line is probably between the Oskil River and Svatove, some 90 miles southeast of Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city.

A Ukrainian counteroffensive punched a hole through the previous front line in the war and recaptured large swaths of land in the northeastern Kharkiv region that borders Russia.

The MoD said Moscow probably sees maintaining control of the zone as important because it is transited by one of the few main resupply routes Russia still controls from the Belgorod region of Russia.

It said a stubborn defence of this area was likely, but it remained unclear whether the Russians would be able to withstand another concerted Ukrainian assault.

Desperate Ukrainians trawl through dead looking for lost loved ones

10:45 , Bel Trew

All day the Ukrainian women search through photos of corpses posted by Russian soldiers showing off their kills, in the desperate hunt for their missing loved ones.

In the crude images of frozen grey faces, blood smeared torsos and the scraps of remains, they look for a flick of something recognisable: a scar or a ring.

Twenty hours a day I go through these Telegram channels looking for him, says Maria, her face gripped by grief.

We are a community of women who are looking for our loved ones. All of us have to trawl through the photos of the dead. We have to see if they are there.

We may never find them: Desperate Ukranains hunt for their loved ones

How Russian oil is still reaching US, Europe, and other countries sanctioning Moscow

10:15 , Shweta Sharma

Russian energy is continuing to flow into the US, member nations of the European Union, and other countries that have imposed the toughest sanctions on Moscow, potentially blunting the sting of sanctions designed to cripple the Kremlins ability to finance the war in Ukraine.

Major Indian refiners on the west coast  which is the leading destination for Russian crude  are selling on huge quantities of refined products to the US and Europe, two leading oil analytics firms told The Independent.

Read my report on how Russian oil is still making its way into the west.

How Russian oil is still reaching US, Europe, and other countries sanctioning Moscow

Now is not an era of war: Indias Modi berates Putin over Ukraine conflict

09:45 , Shweta Sharma

Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly scolded Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking at a regional security bloc summit in Uzbekistan, he told the Russian president that now is not a time for war, with food, fertiliser and fuel security among the major concerns of the world at present.

I know that todays era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this, Mr Modi told Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation security bloc summit in Uzbekistan.

David Harding writes.

Now is not an era of war: Indias Modi berates Putin over Ukraine conflict

Biden warns Putin against using chemical or tactical nuclear weapons

09:15 , Shweta Sharma

US president Joe Biden has warned Vladimir Putin against using nuclear or chemical weapons in Ukraine as it would change the face of war unlike anything since World War Two.

In an interview with CBS News, Mr Biden did not reveal how the US would respond if such weapons were used when asked by the anchor.

Dont, dont, dont, President Biden responded.

Mr Putin has put the countrys nuclear arsenal on special alert, citing aggressive statements by the west.

You think I would tell you if I knew exactly what it would be? Of course, Im not gonna tell you. Itll be consequential, Mr Biden responded.

If Russia were to use weapons of mass destruction theyll become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been. And depending on the extent of what they do will determine what response would occur.

Ce que dirait Biden a Poutine



"Don't. Don't. Don't. You will change the face of war unlike anything since World War II,"



Entretien pour 60 Minutes/CBS



pic.twitter.com/RPqh8b1Ul5  Philippe Corbe (@PhilippeCorbe) September 17, 2022

Latest from defence experts

08:58 , Katy Clifton

It is unclear whether Russian frontline forces have sufficient reserves or adequate morale to withstand another concerted assault in eastern parts of Ukraine, according to defence experts.

British defence intelligence analysts believe Moscow has established a defensive line between the Oskil River and the town of Svatove following a successful counter-offensive from the Ukrainians, forcing the Kremlin to concede swathes of territory.

The zone is viewed as important partly because it sits along the border of the Luhansk region, part of the Donbas, which Russia has sought to liberate as one of its key war aims.

Any substantial loss of territory here would unambiguously undermine Vladimir Putins strategy for the conflict, the experts say.

In its latest update on the situation in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it is unclear whether Russias frontline forces have adequate reserves or morale to withstand another concerted Ukrainian assault in eastern parts of the country.

Read more below:

Russia may not have sufficient reserves to withstand further Ukraine assault

Putin cannot achieve his Ukraine goals, says Pentagon intel chief

08:28 , Shweta Sharma

The Pentagons intelligence chief said on Friday that Vladimir Putins forces are incapable of achieving his goals, citing recent setbacks and stretched resources.

Were coming to a point right now where I think Putin is going to have to revise what his objectives are for this operation, said Lt General Scott Berrier, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, at an intelligence and national security conference outside Washington.

Because its pretty clear right now that hes... not going to be able to do what he initially intended to do.

The Russians planned for an occupation, not necessarily an invasion, and that has set them back, Mr Berrier added.

The Russian presidents reluctance so far to fully mobilise Russian forces and risk more manpower in the fight shows they planned to quickly sweep aside the Zelensky administration and enjoy an occupation in Ukraine rather than a prolonged war, he says.

All the latest developments in Ukraine

07:47 , Shweta Sharma

Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Reuters that it was too early to say which way the tide of the war was turning and that the outcome hinged on the swift delivery of foreign weapons to his country.

In his first comments on Ukraines counteroffensive, Russian president Vladimir Putin brushed off the advances with a smile but warned that Russia would respond more forcefully if its troops were put under further pressure.

On the ground, Ukraine continues its offensive in the northeast while Russia has established a defensive line between the Oskil River and the town of Svatove, protecting one of its few main resupply routes from Russias Belgorod region, British military intelligence said on Saturday.

The head of a pro-Russian administration pushed out by the counteroffensive, Vitaly Ganchev, accused Ukrainians of staging atrocities in the city of Izyum.

United Nations human rights monitors will go to Izyum to try to establish a bit more about what may have happened, a spokesperson said.

Western sanctions are starting to hurt Russias ability to make advanced weaponry for the war in Ukraine, a top Nato military adviser told Reuters, though he said Russia could still manufacture a lot of ammunition.

Ground report: Bodies were put in sacks and thrown onto trucks in Izyum

07:18 , Shweta Sharma

The crosses are in neat rows, placed with almost military precision in a silent forest of falling autumn leaves. The tranquil scene hides what lies beneath: bodies, in their hundreds, of the dead of Izyum.

The mass grave was found by Ukrainian forces who recaptured the town; around 440 corpses, of more than a thousand estimated to have been killed during the Russian occupation.

Some of those buried in the forest appear to have been killed by bombs and artillery strikes in the fierce fighting for the town, which became the main Russian stronghold in the area.

Andryi Makarenkoin in Izyum and Kim Sengupta bring you details from the mass grave site.

Izyum mass grave discovery will be first of many, residents fear

UN votes in favour of Zelenskys pre-recorded speech at General Assembly

07:08 , Shweta Sharma

Volodymyr Zelensky will be allowed to address the gathering of world leaders for the UN General Assembly next week virtually, making an exception to its rule of in-person speech.

The 193-member world body approved Mr Zelenskys virtual address by a vote of 101-7 with 19 abstentions including China. The seven countries voting no were Belarus, Cuba, Eritrea, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia and Syria.

An amendment put forward by Belarus, a close ally of Russia, to allow pre-recorded addresses in future for any leader facing exceptional difficulties was defeated by a 23-67 vote.

The document, which was proposed by Ukraine and had more than 50 co-sponsors, permits Mr Zelensky to submit a pre-recorded statement to be played in the General Assembly hall.

It stresses that this will not set a precedent for future high-level assembly meetings.

Tortured, shot, killed: Zelensky accuses Russia of genocide after Izyum mass grave discovered

06:57 , Shweta Sharma

Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of genocide after the discovery of a mass grave allegedly containing 440 bodies near Izyum, a city recently recaptured from Russian forces.

The Ukrainian president said there was evidence that victims had been tortured. He said that some had been found with broken limbs and ropes around their necks, and that the burial site contained the bodies of civilians and of military personnel.

Children and adults. Civilians and military. Tortured, shot, killed by shelling, Mr Zelensky said. Even entire families are buried there: mother, father and daughter.

Read Tom Batchelor and Joe Middletons latest report.

Tortured, shot, killed: Zelensky accuses Russia of genocide after mass grave found

After China, India offers rare direct rebuke to Putin

05:51 , Shweta Sharma

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi told Vladimir Putin that todays era isnt of war, making his first direct rebuke of the Russian leader after months where New Delhi has held a position of neutrality in the Ukraine conflict.

Todays era isnt of war and Ive spoken to you about it on the call, Mr Modi said in his first public criticism of Mr Putin.

Today well get the opportunity to talk about how can we progress on the path of peace. India-Russia has stayed together for several decades.

In response, Mr Putin sought to assuage Indias concern about the conflict in Ukraine, telling Mr Modi that Moscow wants to see a quick end to the fighting and alleging that Ukrainian officials wont negotiate.

I know your stand on the conflict in Ukraine and the concerns that you have repeatedly voiced, the Russian leader told Mr Modi. We will do all we can to end that as quickly as possible. Regrettably, the other side, the leadership of Ukraine, has rejected the negotiations process and stated that it wants to achieve its goals by military means, on the battlefield.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Putin told the Chinese president Xi Jinping that he understands his questions and concerns about the Ukraine conflict.

Putin warns of Ukraine escalation amid widening diplomatic isolation

05:33 , Shweta Sharma

Vladimir Putin has warned of more serious action against Ukraine amid intensifying questions at home and widening isolation on the world stage.

Our offensive operation in the Donbas is not stopping. Theyre moving forward - not at a very fast pace - but they are gradually taking more and more territory, he said after a summit of authoritarian leaders in Uzbekistan.

The Russian army was forced to pull back its forces from large swathes of northeastern Ukraine last week after a swift Ukrainian counteroffensive.

In what was the largest largest military setback for Moscow since it was pushed back from the capital Kyiv early on in the invasion, Ukraine moved to reclaim control of several Russian-occupied cities and villages.

Lets see how it develops and how it ends, he said referring to the Ukrainian counteroffensive.He said Ukraine has also attacked Russian civilian infrastructure and we so far have responded with restraint, but just yet.

If the situation develops this way, our response will be more serious, Mr Putin said.

Just recently, the Russian armed forces have delivered a couple of impactful strikes, he said in an apparent reference to Russian attacks earlier this week on power plants in northern Ukraine and a dam in the south.

Lets consider those as warning strikes.

04:54 , Shweta Sharma

Good morning, welcome to our coverage of the Ukraine war on Saturday, 17 September.
You are the owner of this article.
Xi urges SCO to strengthen cooperation, promote building of closer SCO community with shared future

EditorWang Xinjuan Time2022-09-17 00:23:48

Chinese President Xi Jinping makes remarks while attending the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the International Conference Center in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to uphold the Shanghai Spirit, strengthen unity and cooperation, and promote the building of an even closer SCO community with a shared future.

Xi made the remarks while attending the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO, during which he delivered a speech entitled "Ride on the Trend of the Times and Enhance Solidarity and Cooperation to Embrace a Better Future."

In the speech, Xi pointed out that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Guided by the two founding documents, the SCO has succeeded in exploring a new path for the development of international organizations, and there is much to be drawn upon from its enlightening practices, including upholding political trust, mutually beneficial cooperation, equality, openness and inclusiveness, and equity and justice. These five points fully embody the Shanghai Spirit, namely mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development, said Xi.

To promote the building of an even closer SCO community with a shared future, Xi called on SCO members to enhance mutual support, expand security cooperation, deepen practical cooperation, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges and uphold multilateralism.

Leaders of SCO member states signed and released the Samarkand Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

At the meeting, several statements and documents were issued on protecting international food and energy security, tackling climate change, and keeping supply chains secure, stable and diversified; a memorandum of obligations on Iran's SCO membership was signed; the procedure for Belarus' accession was started; MOUs granting Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar the status of SCO dialogue partners were signed; agreement was reached on admitting Bahrain, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Myanmar as new dialogue partners; and a series of resolutions were adopted, including a Comprehensive Plan for the Implementation of the SCO Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation for 2023-2027. It was decided at the meeting that India will assume the SCO rotating presidency for 2022-2023.
A large stretch of highway from Madison to near Wisconsin Dells is being studied for possible upgrades.

On Wednesday, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation held a public meeting regarding issues and possible solutions for a 67-mile corridor of Interstate 39/90/94 from Madison to the southern portion of Juneau County.

Problems such as deteriorating pavement and bridges, flooding history, traffic congestion, and outdated lane configurations leading to a high volume of crashes highlight WisDOT's considerations for the future.

The department held the meeting at the Wintergreen Conference Center in Lake Delton. It also held a similar event at Yahara Elementary School in DeForest on Tuesday.

"This corridor has some aging infrastructure," said Dan Schave, a WisDOT Major Studies Supervisor. "It was originally built in the '60s. Pretty old bridges and pavement along the corridor. We have frequent congestion issues, which leads to a lot of safety issues, especially during our peak periods on Fridays and Sundays."

Any project coming from the study would not change the corridor route. Added lanes along the corridor and on exit ramps are major possibilities, according to WisDOT officials. No new sections have been explored yet.

Fridays and Sundays present especially high traffic volume during the summer months, often with travelers going to and coming from Wisconsin Dells. The proposed corridor stretches from I-39/90's intersection with Highways 12/18 (Beltline Highway) in Madison to Juneau County between the Dells area and Lyndon Station.

Schave also discussed sustainability issues in the area where I-39 splits off near Portage. He mentioned a large flood in 2008 that caused a full interstate closure, multiple flood-related shutdowns, as well as sandbagging operations to combat flooding in 2018. There have been six notable floods in the past 30 years along the corridor.

Pavement conditions have also gotten progressively worse, and have been exacerbated by the increased amount of freight vehicles stemming from the spike in e-commerce purchases following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Truck volumes along the 67-mile corridor increased 12% to 16% from 2019 to 2021.

"This interstate corridor is vitally important to the state," said Schave, adding that over $100 billion in freight passes through it annually.

Intersections that have carried high accident volumes along the corridor include the one with Highway 151 in Madison, the I-39 split, and the Dells area intersections with Highway 12 and Highway 13.

A potential project could add two new interchanges near the Madison area, with one on Interstate 94 just east of the Badger interchange (interchange between I-94, I-39/90, and Highway 30), and the other just north of it on I-39/90/94. Fifteen interchanges would be evaluated for safety and ability to accommodate current and future traffic demand.

Schave is optimistic that the department understands what the 67-mile corridor needs in order to improve the infrastructure and traffic flow, as well as decrease the risks of crashes and flooding shutdowns.

The corridor includes a long bridge over the Wisconsin River in Columbia County just before I-39 splits off. That bridge will be replaced by two separate bridges with traffic in both directions. This project is receiving $80 million in federal funding, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

$80M awarded to state to replace interstate bridge The Interstate 39/90/94 bridge that spans the Wisconsin River is set to be replaced by two separate bridges thanks to $80 million in federal funding.

The department will have input from citizens of communities near and along the corridor, businesses, public works departments, law enforcement agencies, municipal and county governments, state government, and tribes.

"Anybody that is affected or impacted, both close to the interstate and also those who are impacted away from the interstate but utilize the interstate as a means of business," said Frank Pritzlaff, a WisDOT project manager. "We've got excess of 23% trucks, so that's a large population."

Pritzlaff added that various environmental organizations such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are also heavily involved with project planning.

"We are trying to reach out to everybody that we can," he said.

Possible consequences of no project

A main point of the study was to emphasize what could result if the study, which is slated to last through 2024, does not move forward as a project.

WisDOT anticipates that 86 bridge structures would require replacement or significant construction within the next 30 years, as well as 16 possible pavement maintenance/rehabilitation projects.

"If you did those individually, you would have a lot more impact with the traveling public and, likely, more costly in the long run," said Schave regarding the potential bridge projects.

Nearly all of the bridges along the corridor will require maintenance or replacement before 2040, according to WisDOT. The many bridge projects, along with the projected concrete work needed with no official project, could cause severe delays, even in rural areas.

Schave said that a full project on the corridor would be more cost-effective. He said that the pavement projects would require the department to seek contracts every year, which he said "adds up" because of contractors' needs to redistribute their equipment each time.

Night construction would mitigate and even eliminate delays in the Madison and Dells areas, but is more costly and dangerous, as well as not possible in some areas along the corridor.

The department made future traffic calculations prior to the public meeting and determined that the entire corridor would have much more congestion by 2050 if no project results from the study.

Study schedule

The study began in May, when the department began collecting data and developing project purpose and need, as well as alternatives for various situations, including no project. The scoping process for a potential project will happen during the upcoming winter.

In 2023, more alternatives will be developed and the department will begin analyzing the studied area with regard to possible environmental impacts of a project. WisDOT will also hold two more public involvement meetings during the year.

More public involvement and a May public hearing are slated for 2024, as well as a completed environmental analysis. The department hopes to have a project in place by the end of 2024.

There will be three total public involvement meetings, including the ones earlier this week.
The Rev. Tomas Vazquez Tellez, left, talks with defense attorney Deric Orr during a hearing in Benton County Superior Court in Kennewick. Hes charged with rape.
Delhi Traffic Police has recently released a new campaign for road safety on Twitter about the benefits of wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler. Now, the department has released a list of 10 hot spots that are accident-prone, and Delhi Traffic Police wants road users to be extra careful as they pass through these spots. Revealed in a tweet, Delhi Traffic Police posted that a total of 59 people died on these spots, and around 145 accidents took place at these 10 shortlisted hotspots. Also, the tweet asks road users to wear helmets and seat belts while making their way through these places.

Accident-prone areas in Delhi

Please exercise extra caution at these 10 most accident prone areas in Delhi. In 2021, 59 persons were killed in 145 road accidents in these areas.



Wear helmet. Wear seat belt.#DriveSafe#RoadSafety pic.twitter.com/Qv1xUSAVnz September 16, 2022

Talking of the list of these 10 shortlisted accident-prone areas, it starts with Bhalswa Chowk on Outer Ring Road, followed by Punjabi Bagh Chowk on Ring Road, Mukarba Chowk on Outer Ring Road, Zakhira Flyover around New Rohtak Road, Libaspur Bus Stand, Mukund Pur Chowk on Outer Ring Road, Moti Bagh Flyover, Nangli Poona, Siraspur, and Shastri Park/IT Park on GT Road.

The traffic police department released a video of these places on Twitter, which ends with the text Delhi Police Cares. Obey traffic rules. Drive safe.

Narendra Modi birthday: Evolutions of PM's cars - Mahindra Scorpio to Mercedes-Maybach S650

Recently, the police department in the nation's capital is running a campaign to inform two-wheeler users of the life-saving benefits of wearing a helmet. The police agency posted a 15-second video clip to social media, demonstrating how the rider's life was spared twice by wearing a helmet. "God helps those who wear helmets," the Delhi Police tweeted along with the footage.

Also read - Top 10 best-selling compact SUVs in India: 2022 Maruti Suzuki Brezza to Tata Nexon

Also, on September 14, the Delhi Traffic Police began a campaign to increase road safety awareness in the nation's capital. The Delhi traffic police issued a challan to a total of 17 individuals with a fine of Rs 1,000 in an effort to encourage people to use rear seat safety belts. The traffic cops checked for compliance on the first day of the special drive on Barakhamba Road near Connaught Place in central Delhi.
Delhi Police has given recommendations to stakeholders involved in road design for lowering accidents in the national capital including removing encroachment on footpaths, creating distinct bus bays, and creating stopping spaces for public transportation vehicles, according to officials. Pedestrians continue to be the most at risk in road incidents in the city, accounting for roughly 41% of the fatalities reported last year, according to the Delhi Road Crash Fatalities Report 2021, which was released by the police on Friday. Sanjay Arora, the commissioner of the Delhi Police, said that a study of the city's accidents from the previous year is included in the report.

The Delhi Traffic Police deviated from convention and changed the word "accident" to "crash" in the annual report that was formerly titled "Road Accidents in Delhi." The report suggested that vendors' encroachment on footpaths must be removed, and designated spaces must be provided for services. It said separate bus bays should be provided at all bus stands extending the road sideways.

"The bus bays should be long enough to accommodate two to three buses (as per the requirement of the point) and provided with grills having gaps only at the position of gates at the bus stands (as provided in case of metro stations having high rush).

Also read: Road safety: Delhi Police arrests 141 drivers, seizes THESE many vehicles for traffic rule violations

"All the major intersections like Peera Garhi, Singhu border, Mukarba chowk, ISBT, Dhaula Kuan, among others, need to be individually designed according to the composition of public transport (DTC, cluster buses, roadways buses, Gramin Sewa, RTV, TSR, rickshaw, e-rickshaw) and pedestrian traffic," the report stated.

It also suggested that a separate halting space be provided for other public transport vehicles like auto rickshaws and 'Gramin sewa' vehicles. A railing can be delivered to separate them and make them stand in a single queue.

"Provide more information on modes of transport to users at the exchange junctions like ISBT, Dhaula Kuan, and Mukarba Chowk, among others, so that people get information about their next mode of transport at the exchange hub. This information can be in the form of route maps of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses like that of the metro route maps to be displayed on the bus stand, at least at the major intersections and transport hubs," the report mentioned.

It also talked about a sufficient number of direction boards for passengers to provide information regarding the availability of the following connecting mode of transport or to reach nearby important places safely through footpaths and foot-over bridges.

"The pedestrian infrastructure, foot over bridges, subways, footpaths, and halting space should be designed and located so as to prevent the pedestrian movement on the carpeted area of the arterial roads, or reduce it to a minimum... "This shall allow the free flow of vehicles on these roads, reducing the conflicts of pedestrians with the vehicles and hence ensuring the safety of all vulnerable road users," it added.

With inputs from PTI
New Delhi: The powerhouse of talent, recipient of multiple honours and recognitions, and a pioneer in the changing representation of women in cinema, Vidya Balan yet again set a precedent with her consecutive victories of the Best Actor Female critics Awards at Filmfare and HT OTT Awards in a span of two weeks.

With a long list of unconventional and groundbreaking films to her credit, Vidya Balan is amongst the most acclaimed actors of Indian Cinema, having prestigious honours like the Padma Shri, National Award, 6 Filmfare Awards and several others over the years.

Adding to the list of awards, Vidya Balan bagged her 7th Filmfare Award this year for her remarkable performance in Sherni, followed by the win at the HT OTT Awards for her latest release Jalsa.

Vidya Balan has emerged as the only actress to receive two consecutive awards for two different films this year, offering testimony to her varied and notable work.

From challenging the norms of patriarchy in Sherni to donning a gray shade in Jalsa, Vidya Balan delivered two impressive and diverse performances back to back, adding to her enviable filmography.

Pioneering a change in the concept of a Hindi film heroine, Vidya Balan is referred to as the first female hero of modern times. The actress is credited with ushering in female-centric cinema in Bollywood and is one of the only few actresses in India to have been able to garner both critical and commercial success for films like The Dirty Picture, Paa, Ishqiya, Tumhari Sulu to the latest additions from OTT like Shakuntala Devi, Sherni and Jalsa.

Taking daring steps that pave a path for others to follow, Vidya Balan was among the first Bollywood stars to opt for the digital route for her films at the advent of the pandemic.

Breaking the mold and setting new precedents with every move, Vidya Balan has offered Indian cinema multiple memorable characters through films.

Currently, having completed the shoot for Anu Menon's next 'Neeyat', and also a comedy-drama starring Pratik Gandhi, Vidya Balan self admittedly is relentlessly on the prowl to give audiences a never before told story.
Two are dead following a Friday morning car accident in Polk County.

On Sept. 16 at 7:41 a.m., the Polk County Sheriffs Office and Polk County emergency responders from Osceola and Shelby were dispatched to a two vehicle accident on Highway 81/92 between Q and R roads, east of Osceola.

According to Polk County Sheriff Dwaine Ladwig, a 2022 white Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by Jerry Swahn, 52, of Weston, was heading westbound on Highway 81/92 when he crossed the center line and collided with an eastbound 2019 white Ford F150 pickup driven by Nathan Peterson, 44, of Stromsburg. The Silverados cab then caught on fire.

There were no passengers in either of the vehicles. Seat belts were in use by both drivers. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation.

The Polk County Sheriffs Office would like to thank Osceola Fire/Rescue, Shelby Fire/Rescue, Polk County Emergency Management and the Nebraska State Patrol for their assistance.
Chitragupta, who keeps an account of the deeds being done by humans in the land of death, is worshipped on the second day of the Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. Yama Dwitiya festival is also celebrated on this day. This year, the Yama Dwitiya festival will be celebrated on October 26. Bhai Dooj will also be on this date.

Chitragupta Puja 2022: Date

Chitragupta Puja is celebrated on the second day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. Bhai Dooj and Yama Dwitiya are also celebrated on this day. According to the Hindu calendar, Yama Dwitiya 2022 will be celebrated on October 26 this year. This day has special significance in Hinduism as it is believed that on this day Yama Dev comes to meet his sister the Yamuna. Lord Chitragupta is considered to be a special associate of Yama Devta, it is said that Lord Chitragupta keeps an account of the deeds of the person.

Muhurat

Shukla Paksha Dwitiya Tithi Begins: 26 October 2022, 02:42 PM

Dwitiya Tithi Ends: 27 October 2022, 12:45 PM

Puja Tithi and Muhurat: 26 October 2022, 01:18 pm to 03:33 pm

Chitragupta Puja 2022: Significance

On the day of Yama Dwitiya, the pen, writing, etc., the replica of Chitragupta, is worshipped. Also, people associated with the business keep their accounts in front of Lord Chitragupta and wish for happiness and prosperity. With this, before starting the work in the new ledger, Mr. starts his work by writing. By doing this, business increases and all kinds of problems are removed. It is also believed that by duly worshipping Chitragupta on this day, one does not have to face the torture of hell after death. This is because Chitragupta is the god who assesses the deeds of man and determines whether a person should give a place in hell or heaven.

Also Read: Eat, pray, love! 5 things to do while visiting Kolkata during Durga Puja 2022; visit THESE top 20 pandals

It is believed to have initially manifested before Brahma on Kartik Shukla Paksha Dwitiya. As a result, the day is picked for puja and ceremonies.
Narendra Modi took the reign of India in his hand in 2014 and since then, there have been numerous occasions that proved his political decisiveness. Be it demonetization in 2016 or returning to power in 2019 with a huge mandate or repealing farm laws for the welfare of society, he has never wavered from taking key policy decisions. Today, we take a look at five instances that prove nation comes first for PM Narendra Modi:

Make in India in Defence: To make India self-reliant in the defence sector, the Narendra Modi government has taken several policy initiatives in the past few years. The government has so far banned the import of 1238 defence sector-related items to promote manufacturing of these items in India. Many significant products including 155mm Artillery Gun system Dhanush, Main Battle Tank Arjun, T-90 Tank, INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Chennai, Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), Software Defined Radios(SDR) etc have been produced in the country during the last few years which are being used by the Indian Armed Forces. Recently, the Indian Navy inducted the indigenously built warship INS Vikrant, the largest warship built in the country that can carry a crew of 1,600 and operate a fleet of 30 fighter aircraft. This shows India's increasing military prowess. The push for Make in India for defence also led to an increase in defence exports. The country recorded the highest ever defence exports of Rs 12,815 crore in 2021-22 while it was Rs 2,059 crore in 2015-16.

Netanyahu's Mic Gaffe: PM Modi visited Israel in 2017. After a few months, then Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahus conversation with east European leaders was inadvertently broadcast where he quoted PM Modi saying that the latter visited Israel to get clean water for India. "I have to take care of the interests of India. I need more water. Clean water. Where will I get it?..." Netanyahu quoted PM Modi as saying. This shows how PM Modi keeps looking for the best technologies available across the world that can help India solve the problems of its citizens. Israel has one of the best technologies for purifying water.

Abhinandan Varthaman Incident: You might recall India's surgical strike in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26, 2019. On Feb 27, some Pakistani jets entered India and were chased out by the Indian Air Force. During the incident, one of the IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman's jet got hit and he landed in Pak territory. India had put immense pressure on Pak to return Abhinandan safely and it was proved from a Pakistan minister's statement. In October 2020, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq quoted then Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi as saying that if Abhinandan was not released, India would attack Pakistan at 9 PM. He said that Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was perspiring and his 'legs were shaking'. This shows PM Modi-led Indian government's resolve to go to any extent to get back the IAF pilot.

Import of Raw Material for Vaccines: Just like other countries, India also faced severe covid waves. While the vaccines were manufactured in India, Pune-based Serum Institute faced a herculean task of getting some raw material from the US as America had banned the export of those materials. Then, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had a telephonic conversation with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and the US agreed to lift the export ban on those items for India.

Oil imports from Russia: After a war broke out between Russia and Ukraine, the United States slapped many sanctions against Russia. On the other hand, Russia was offering oil at cheaper prices. The United States and many European Countries were trying to build pressure on India to not buy cheaper oil from Russia. However, India brushed aside all those pressures and purchased oil from Russia. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said publicly that the government must ensure the best deal and get cheaper oil for people.
New Delhi: Ambassador Mahesh Sachdeva, President, Eco-Diplomacy and Strategies Consultancy on Saturday said that Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit provides a good platform to hold bilateral talks and convey concerns between two nations. Speaking at the 'Interact with Expert' session organized by Zee Media, the former Ambassador said that India's entry into the international alliance has created hope for other nations.

The 2022 annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held on September 15-16 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. India, which joined the bloc in 2017 along with Pakistan, participated in the summit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Russia, Iran and Turkey.

"The SCO summit provides a good platform for holding bilateral talks. Suppose that if you don't meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, how will you get to know what Russia is discussing with China or how will you convey to him that a military tie between Russia and Pakistan will prove detrimental to the India-Russia relationship," said the former ambassador.

"Since the Ukraine-Russia war, the speculations have become strong in the countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan that Russia may try to reoccupy them. However, the entry of India into the SCO has created a balancing hope for this organisation's orientation that is often considered anti-west. India is an outlier nation for the SCO, it is a democracy and will be hosting the summit next year," Sachdeva added.

He said that India's statement that the era of war has gone and there should be peace in this era has left the anti-Russia block delighted.

"What could be the best use of public diplomacy than this? The G20 summit and SCO summit will be held next year so India has to strike a balance," he said.

He noted that the meetings of PM Modi with Putin, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi were important given the current global scenario".
New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Saturday registered three FIRs at Jamia Nagar police station after the Anti Corruption Bureau conducted raids at the premises of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan and his aides in the national capital on Friday.The South East District Police lodged two FIRs against the AAP MLA's aide, Hamid Ali and Kausar Imam Siddique, while the third one was lodged for obstructing the ACB's raid party in the discharge of government work. The police registered its first case against a close aide of Khan, Hamid Ali (54) under the Arms Act. Ali was arrested by the police earlier in the day after the ACB conducted raids at his premises and recovered one illegal weapon, some live cartridges, and Rs 12 lakh from his possession.

The second case has been registered against Kausar Imam Siddique alias Laddan, from whom one country-made pistol and three live rounds were recovered. As per the information, Siddique is currently evading arrest.The police further registered the third case for obstructing the raiding party of ACB in the discharge of government work. Those involved in this are being identified.

Also Read: TROUBLE for Arvind Kejriwal, ILLEGAL arms and lakhs of CASH recovered during RAIDS at 5 locations of AAP MLA

The Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan on Friday in connection with the Delhi Waqf Board corruption case on the basis of the recovery of incriminating material and evidence against him during the conducted searches. A weapon was found at one of the locations. It is learnt that he could not show any license of the recovered arms (Breta pistol). However, the MLA came out in his defence and said that he was arrested in a "baseless and outright fake" case.The AAP MLA was arrested after the ACB raided four locations related to Khan and his business partner, from where cash and weapons were recovered.

The ACB had summoned Khan in connection with the case which pertains to financial misappropriation and other irregularities in the functioning of the Delhi Waqf Board.According to the officials, a total of Rs 24 lakh in cash was recovered along with two illegal weapons.
New Delhi: Congress MP Jairam Ramesh announced Bharat Jodo Yatra in Assam, ten days after Congress began its nationwide march from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. In a press conference, he said that Assam would start its own Bharat Jodo Yatra from November 1 from Dhubri to Sadiya town. He also said that a similar march will also happen in West Bengal in the next three to four months.

In Assam, the yatra will begin on November 1 from Dhubri in the West to Sadiya in the east with several local and national leaders undertaking it, Jairam Ramesh said.

"Next year, we may plan a Yatra from Porbandar in the west to Parshuram Kund in the east, depending on the outcome of this present one," Ramesh added.

Bharat Jodo Yatra - Assam will begin on 1st November, from Dhubri to Sadiya. Similarly, in the next 3-4 months, Bharat Jodo Yatra - West Bengal will also be held: Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications pic.twitter.com/NStzkCFQpw  ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2022

Jairam Ramesh called 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' a "booster dose" for Congress and a "decisive and transformational moment" for the politics of the country.

The 3570-km 'padyatra' is being undertaken by Rahul Gandhi from Kanyakumari to Kashmir over five-and-a-half months to galvanise Congress cadres and strengthen the organisation, giving it new energy, Ramesh along with his Rajya Sabha colleague Digvijay Singh said at a press conference.

"The yatra is a booster dose for the Congress and a decisive and transformational moment for the politics of the country. Workers will reach out to people at block, district and state level, thus enhancing the organisational strength of the Congress," he said.

Attacking BJP

Hitting out at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his remark that India was already united and there was no need to reunite it by undertaking a yatra, Ramesh said, "I want to tell him that the country is breaking for three reasons primarily - economic inequalities, social polarisation and political autocracy."

He alleged that price-rise, unemployment, GST imposition on staple food products and other economic policies of the BJP-led Centre have led to the widening of the gap between the rich and the poor.

On the political front, "constitutional offices are being weakened, the rights of the states curtailed", with the "autocratic ways of the prime minister and the Union home minister leading to divisive politics", he said.

Leaders leaving Congress

Asked about Congress leaders leaving the party, the Rajya Sabha member said that these can be classified into two categories - the first are those who took everything from the party for 30-40 years and then left for their selfish reasons.

"The second are those who need the BJP washing machine to clean stains (corruption charges) to survive in politics. The Assam chief minister falls in this category," the Congress leader alleged.

"He was with us for some years and before that with 'tukde tukde' organisations. It was late chief minister Hiteswar Saikia who saved him. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others," the former Union minister stated.

Asked about the pending elections for the post of Congress president, he said that the grand old party was the only one in the country which allows such polls and any member to contest it. Referring to the yatra, the AICC general secretary in-charge of communication, publicity and media said that the route from Kanyakumari to Kashmir was zeroed upon after taking into consideration security and geographical aspects.

The 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', led by Rahul Gandhi, is set to cover 12 states with the average age of the participants being 38.
After 7 long decades of extinction, the roar of the cheetahs can once again be heard in India. A special cargo Boeing 747 chartered flight carrying 8 cheetahs from Namibia landed at the Indian Air Force Station in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the cheetahs into Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park today on his 72nd birthday. The cheetahs, jaguars and leopards are often confused with one another, but the fact is all these big cays have their own distinctive features. While the cheetahs are the fastest, the Jaguars are the biggest. Leopards climb trees with ease. Let's check out some fascinating differences between the three big cats. The other big cats include the tiger, lion, panther and cougar.



Cheetahs:

With the ability to go from zero to over 96 km (60 miles) an hour in only three seconds, the amazing cheetahs are the world's fastest mammals on land. The adult cheetah can weigh between 34 kg to 56 kg, and the males are on the heavier side. The tawny (yellowish-brown or orange-brown colour) fur coat is covered with black round spots and each coat of one animal differs from the other. They also have bold black stripes that streak like tears from the inner corners of their eyes down to both sides of their mouths, and the ends of their bushy tails are encircled by black rings, mentions National Geographic. The cheetahs are the most endangered of the three cats. The Asiatic cheetahs were found in India but thanks to extensive hunting and loss of habitat, they were completely extinct in 1952 from India.



Jaguars:

Among the three big cats - Jaguars, leopards and cheetahs - Jaguars are the largest. They are considered the third biggest cat in the world, after the tiger and the lion. Jaguars can weigh anywhere between 65 and 140 kg. But there have been smaller females and exceptionally large male jaguars too. The jaguar's coat ranges from pale yellow to tan or reddish-yellow, with a whitish underside and covered in black spots. While like leopards, jaguars have rose-shaped spots on their body but in the case of the latter between both the cats, you will see a black dot between its rosettes. Jaguars have great swimming abilities and they are not found in India.

Leopards:

Leopards live in sub-Saharan Africa, northeast Africa, Central Asia, India, and China. But outside of Africa, these animals are largely endangered. Their specialized muscular bodies allow them to climb trees easily. As National Geographic points out, "Most leopards are light coloured with distinctive dark spots that are called rosettes, because they resemble the shape of a rose." These cats have shorter legs relative to their long bodies and also have broad heads and big skulls. These wild cats, which spend a large part of their time on the trees, are the smallest members of the large cat category and can grow to a maximum size of six feet. The snow leopard is another distinct variety which is native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia.

Also read: 8 Namibian cheetahs coming to India on PM Narendra Modi's birthday - 10 points
New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday claimed that in view of the "worrying" job situation in the country, the youth are marking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday as "National Unemployment Day", and demanded that he employ them as promised. The opposition party also greeted Prime Minister Modi on his 72nd birthday and wished him good health and long life. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said the birthdays of Indian prime ministers have always been celebrated as special days.

"Given his love for children, Nehru Ji's birthday is marked as Children's Day, Indira Ji's birthday is celebrated as Communal Harmony Day and Rajiv Gandhi Ji's birthday is celebrated as 'Sadbhavna Diwas'. "Even, Atal Ji's birthday in December is celebrated as Good Governance Day, which is why it worries and pains me that Mr. Modi's birthday is being celebrated by the youth of this country as National Unemployment Day," Shrinate said.

She said it is a huge cause of concern that despite India being the youngest country in the world, 60 per cent of the country's working-age population is either unemployed or not looking for work.

Also Read: India facing highest unemployment rate, Rahul Gandhi slams BJP during Bharat Jodo Yatra

"In fact, in the 20-24 age group, 42 per cent of the youth are unemployed. If this is not a worrying situation, I wonder what is. And the prime minister can neither hide behind Covid, nor the Russia-Ukraine war because unemployment peaked at a 45-year high even before the first case of Covid was reported. "The latest unemployment rate of 8.3 per cent is a hugely worrying thing for our economy and population," the Congress leader said.

Modi promised about two crore annual jobs but instead only seven lakh people have been given employment in the last eight years, she claimed, adding that 22 crore people had applied for jobs. "Each time you mention unemployment and price rise, they want to talk about unnecessary, irrelevant, distracting issues and they promote disinformation," the Congress leader alleged.
Uri: A joint party of police and army on Saturday recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from Uri in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district. The security forces launched a search operation acting on a specific intelligence input by agencies regarding the presence of a cache of arms and ammunition in the area of Hathlanga Uri. A joint party of Baramulla Police and Army 3 Rajput launched the search operation in the wee hours near the Hathlanga area of Uri sector including Hathlanga nallah which led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and 28 rounds of AK-47 ammunition.

A case under the Indian Arms Act has been registered in the Uri Police Station. Further investigations are underway.

Earlier on Saturday, the Jammu and Kashmir police solved the case of the killing of a migrant labourer by arresting three terrorists in the Sadunara area of Hajin in North Kashmir's Bandipora district.

Senior Superintendent of Police Bandipora, Mohammad Zahid while addressing a press conference, said that on the intervening night of 11-12 August, a migrant labourer identified as Amrez Masoori of Bihar was shot dead by some unknown terrorists in Sadunara following which a formal case was registered and an investigation was set into motion.

SSP said that during the investigation various suspects were called and questioned and technical assistance was also brought into use.

Also Read: J&K: Two AUGH terrorists killed in joint operation by Kashmir Police, Indian Army in Srinagar

Eventually it was found that three local terrorists identified as Waseem Akram, Yawar Reyaz and Muzamil Sheikh all residents of Sadunara were in touch with a LeT handler Babar, who is operating from Pakistan".

SSP Zahid said that Babar had instructed them to kill any non-local labourer to terrorize them to leave the Valley and carry out more such strikes in future to revive local terrorism in Bandipora.

All three terrorists have been arrested and the weapon of offence including one pistol along with a magazine and four live rounds which were concealed by terrorists was also recovered.
Lakhimpur Kheri: The Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday arrested two persons on the charges of alleged physical assault of a girl who later died in the Bheera police station area of Lakhimpur Kheri. The victim later succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment in the Bhiju CHC. The arrested persons have been identified as Salimuddin and Aasip, who hailed from the same village as the victim and allegedly assaulted her while she was sitting at the entrance of her house in Musepur, an official statement read.

As per the police, they have arrested the accused persons under sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and section 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) was later added to it.

Superintendent of Police, Sanjeev Suman informed that Outpost Incharge Sunil has been suspended from the force after he was accused by the victim`s family of negligence. The police had claimed that earlier a complaint of assault was given on behalf of the victim, on the basis of which the case has been registered under the relevant sections, it said quoting a video with the recorded statement of the victim and her family.

Also Read: Nirmala Sitharaman URGES women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders to take up leadership roles in large numbers

The victim was, however, undergoing treatment at the Community Health Centre of Bijua where she succumbed to her injuries on Friday. IPC Section 304 was extended in the matter after the victim`s death. The victim`s family has also made allegations of rape against the accused persons. The SP has however assured the necessary probe into the matter under the supervision of the Additional Superintendent of Police. More details are awaited.

The aforesaid incident, which took place on September 12, came to light days after two Dalit girls were found hanging from a tree in Uttar Pradesh`s Lakhimpur Kheri on Wednesday (September 14).
The special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation has ordered the Rashtriya Janata Dal President and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, convicted in five different cases of fodder scam, to return his passport. The court of Special CBI Judge Dinesh Rai on Friday ordered the return of his passport after hearing a petition filed by RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. Lalu Prasad had filed an application in court on September 13, requesting to return the passport. Now to take back the passport, Yadav will have to submit an affidavit in court. Yadav's advocate Prabhat Kumar said that after submitting the affidavit on Monday, the court will issue the passport of Lalu Prasad Yadav.

During the hearing on Lalu's application, his lawyer told the court that the Singapore doctor had given Lalu Yadav the date of investigation there on 24 September, so before that he would have to reach Singapore. Therefore, he demanded that Lalu Yadav's passport should be returned as soon as possible. Along with this, the advocate also requested that the passport should be issued for at least two months from the day of going to Singapore. After hearing the application of Lalu Yadav, the court ordered the issuance of his passport.

In the year 1996, a fodder scam was exposed. This scam was of Rs 900 crore. There are a total of six cases of scams. In one of these cases, Lalu Yadav was sentenced to five years in 2013, due to which he got away from electoral politics. Lalu Yadav is currently out on bail in that case. Lalu Prasad Yadav had appealed to hear all the cases related to the fodder scam together, which was dismissed by the Supreme Court and ordered to run the trial of each case separately.
During the Cold War heyday of the Strategic Air Command, any number of celebrities journeyed to Offutt Air Force Base to tour the famous command bunker: Bob Hope, Rita Moreno, Bob Newhart, Tom Clancy. A few presidents and prime ministers. Senators and House members by the score.

But only one queen of England.

For some members of the SAC fraternity, the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 8, at age 96, brought back memories of the only visit of a British sovereign to Nebraska soil.

The queen spent only about 90 minutes at Offutt on Oct. 15, 1984, while her plane, a Royal Air Force VC-10, stopped to refuel en route back home to London.

But it certainly made an impression on those who saw her.

I was right there all the time, recalled Dorene Sherman, the longtime deputy protocol director for SAC and its post-Cold War successor, the U.S. Strategic Command. There were people in every door, watching. They were so excited!

The uniformed staff at Offutt felt it, too.

Buzz is a good word. Because there was, said Dale Rowse, 73, of Bellevue, then an Air Force captain and a briefing officer in SACs underground command post.

The Offutt stopover capped an unofficial visit focused on the Royal Familys horse-racing interests. Queen Elizabeth had just spent several days visiting Henry Herbert, known as Lord Porchester, (who was the queens horse-racing manager and a lifelong friend) and his wife, Lady Jean Porchester, at their 5,000-acre ranch near Sheridan, Wyoming.

The airport in Sheridan had a short runway, and the queens plane could not take off with a full load of fuel for the flight to London. So the royal planners scheduled the refueling stop at Offutt. The queens press secretary, Michael Shea, insisted on a low-key visit, with no press invited or allowed.

Sherman recalls her protocol office receiving no more than a few days notice for the daunting task of planning for even a short royal visit.

She did have plenty of experience with distinguished visitors at Offutt. A self-described farm girl from Wausa, Nebraska, she had worked at the base since 1960. Much of that time she had worked directly for SACs four-star commander in chief.

Since 1970, she had been deputy protocol director. Her job was to ensure that such visits proceeded without a hitch.

The royal VC-10 jet arrived precisely on schedule, at 2:45 p.m. Dressed in a jade-green dress and matching hat, Queen Elizabeth descended the air stairs to the apron, where SAC Commander-in-Chief Gen. Bennie Davis and his wife, Pat, greeted her with a bouquet.

White-gloved members of the SAC Elite Guard security force saluted her. She reviewed a line of about 30 British airmen stationed at Offutt.

The queen shook hands with all of them, telling them how proud she was of them, Sherman said.

Security was extremely tight.

Just three days before the queens visit to Offutt, Irish Republican Army terrorists had bombed a hotel in Bristol, England, where leaders of the British Conservative party were meeting. Five people died and 30 were injured. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher narrowly escaped assassination.

As a result, Gen. Davis nixed plans for the queens party to wait in Offutts VIP waiting lounge in the base operations building.

Instead, he escorted the queens party to SACs ultra-secure headquarters for a tour and a briefing in the command center, six stories underground.

Rowse had been tabbed to brief the queen and her party about SAC command and control procedures, in the bunkers command balcony.

It was a briefing I had given hundreds of times, Rowse recalled.

Still, this was the queen of England.

I was told that, outside of the briefing, I was not to engage in any conversation, Rowse said. As I recall, she thanked me at the end. She was very gracious.

Then the party went upstairs to Gen. Davis command suite, and on to his dining room for high tea, which Sherman said was prepared by two British women who worked at Offutts Officers Club.

Sherman, of course, knew this was a special day at Offutt. So she had alerted her daughter, Kris Yates, who had come from home with her 17-month-old son, Austin, on her hip. She stood in an alcove outside her mothers protocol office, along with many curious SAC workers, hoping for a glimpse of the monarch.

Sure enough, Queen Elizabeth walked by  and immediately took notice of little Austin, and his big, brown eyes.

Perhaps the queen was thinking of her own grandsons at home in England, the children of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

Beautiful baby! the queen remarked to Kris, with a smile.

Yates, stunned, thanked the queen, despite an admonition that one should not speak to royalty.

She was just so warm, she wasnt standoffish at all, Kris said. She was very kind and sweet. She seemed like a regular person.

Soon after, Queen Elizabeth boarded her airplane, its fuel tanks now full, and flew on with her party to London.

Before she left, she waved goodbye and said thanks to Gen. Davis, Sherman and the assembled airmen.

It was the queens first experience with Nebraska Nice, and her last.

The royal visit left a pleasant imprint on those she encountered.

Austin Yates, now nearly 40, doesnt remember his brief encounter with the British sovereign. But he jokes with his mother that she must have made the same remark about thousands of babies during her 73-year reign.

Kris prefers to think otherwise.

He really was the most gorgeous baby, she said.

Rowse thought of his own brief encounter with the queen when he heard of her death last week.

Even though her passing was known to be imminent, it was still kind of a surprise and shock, he said.

Sherman worked another 15 years at SAC and StratCom before retiring in 1999. She met countless VIPs in her long career at Offutt. But her encounter with Queen Elizabeth was a highlight, a story she loves to retell.

Despite the queens advanced age, Sherman mourned her passing.

I thought, My gosh, she was such an angel on Earth,  Sherman said. Now shes an angel up there.
Hyderabad: Amid the ongoing row over the celebration of Hyderabad Liberation Day, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday said that the word `liberation` is wrong as Hyderabad would always remain an "integral" part of India.

"The word liberation is wrong. Hyderabad was and will remain an integral part of India. It should be celebrated as Integration Day," he said.

Earlier also AIMIM chief had written letters to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Telangana Chief Minister KCR, seeking a title change for the Hyderabad Liberation Day to National Integration Day.

"On behalf of AIMIM, I have written two letters to HM Amit Shah and Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao - the phrase `National Integration Day` may be more apt than mere liberation," Owaisi had said.

His remarks came in wake of the Centre`s decision to celebrate 75 years of the region`s liberation and proposal for `Hyderabad Liberation Day` in Telangana on September 17.

"The celebrations will be organized throughout the year under the auspices of the Central Department of Culture to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the state of Hyderabad. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be the Chief Guest present at the inaugural program to be held on September 17 at Hyderabad Parade Grounds," Union Minister Kishan Reddy said earlier.

Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will kick off Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations on Saturday and distribute equipment to Divyangs in a `Sewa karyakram` organised in Hyderabad on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s birthday.

For his day-long visit to Hyderabad, the Home Minister will leave from the national capital this evening and arrive at Hyderabad Airport by 9:30 pm.

On Saturday, the Minister will attend Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations at 8 am at Parade Ground, Hyderabad.

In 1948, the first Home Minister of India Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel unfurled the Tricolour after Hyderabad merged with the Indian Union.

Now, 75 years later, Home Minister Amit Shah will hoist the national flag and kick off Hyderabad Liberation celebrations as we shed the vestiges of our colonial past and baggage.

The erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad, which was under the Nizam`s rule, was annexed into the Union of India following a military action codenamed `Operation Polo`, which culminated on September 17, 1948.
Trinamool Congress fiery leader Mahua Moitra has often been at loggerheads with the BJP and has made headlines with her tweets and comments. On PM Narendra Modi's 72nd birthday, Mahua took to Twitter to wish the Prime Minister. But she took a sly dig also by referring to "our rapidly extinguishing constitutional protections" and the Namibian cheetahs that PM Modi released in MP's Kuno National Park. Mahua tweeted, "Happy birthday to our Honourable Prime Minister - may he look out for our rapidly extinguishing constitutional protections much the same way as he does for extinct cheetahs."

Happy birthday to our Honourable Prime Minister - may he look out for our rapidly extinguishing constitional protections much the same way as he does for extinct cheetahs.  Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) September 17, 2022

But it was not just Mahua, even the Congress' national handle took a dig at Modi while greeting him. The Hindi tweet translates to, "Happy Birthday to PM Narendra Modi. God bless you with a long life. You have done a lot for the youth of the country. This is the reason why today is being celebrated as 'National Unemployed Day'. Every unemployed in the country is grateful to you."

Check out the tweet here:

PM           



                 '  '       



       #__ September 17, 2022

Meanwhile, on PM's Mod's birthday, Opposition leaders, including Congress' Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, Sharad Pawar of the NCP, Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, also wished him. As did Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal. "Birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. Praying for your long and healthy life," said Kejriwal.KCR conveyed birthday greetings to Prime Minister on behalf of the Telangana Government and its people while wishing for PM Modi's good health and long life in the service of the nation."On behalf of the Government and the People of Telangana and on my personal behalf, I wish you a Very Happy Birthday. May God bless you with Good health and long life for serving the nation for many more years," said KCR.

Also read: OVERWHELMED Dilip Ghosh recalls how Narendra Modi remembered his accident even after 3 months

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also extended greetings and best wishes to Prime Minister on his birthday and wished for good health. "Conveying birthday greetings and best wishes to PM Narendra Modi ji. May you be blessed with happiness, good health and long life," tweeted Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wished PM Modi on his birthday. "Birthday Greetings to Hon`ble Prime Minister Thiru Narendra Modi. Wishing you a long and healthy life," said Stalin. Bihar Chief Minister, who recently broke the alliance with BJP and joined hands with Opposition RJD and Congress also wished the Prime Minister on his birthday. "Happy Birthday to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. Wishing him a healthy and long life," said Kumar. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also extended birthday wishes to PM Modi.

Also read: PM Narendra Modi's 72nd birthday - follow LIVE updates
New Delhi: On the occasion of PM Narendra Modi's birthday, he will be releasing the much-awaited National Logistics Policy today at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The Prime Minister's Office claims that a national policy was required since India has higher logistics costs than other affluent nations. The goal of the strategy is to make Indian goods more competitive, hence boosting economic growth and expanding job possibilities. India spends between 13 and 14 per cent of its GDP on logistics expenses. While nations like Japan and Germany, which are renowned for their highly developed infrastructure and procedures for logistics, spend just about 8% to 9% of their GDP on logistics.

More than 20 government organisations, 37 export promotion councils, 40 partner government agencies (PGA), 500 certifications, and more than 10,000 goods are involved in the logistics industry. The logistic policy seeks to reduce logistic costs while enhancing the competitiveness of domestic products in the international market. This will be the nation's first all-inclusive strategy for the logistics market.

Also Read: Narendra Modi's Birthday: BJP to mark PM's 72nd birthday with 16-day Seva Pakhwada program

The Prime Ministers Office quoted, "It is imperative to reduce the logistics cost in India for improving the competitiveness of Indian goods both in domestic as well as export markets. Reduced logistics cost improves efficiency cutting across various sectors of the economy, encouraging value addition and enterprise."

Additionally, it stated that since 2014, the administration has placed a high priority on enhancing both the ease of doing business and the ease of living. "National Logistics Policy, a comprehensive effort to address issues of high cost and inefficiency by laying down an overarching interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral and multi-jurisdictional framework for the development of the entire logistics ecosystem, is yet another step in this direction."

The National Logistics Policy has the potential to revolutionise this industry. Notably, the government unveiled the PM Gati Shakti master plan last year to support multimodal connectivity infrastructure, in line with the larger objectives of the NLP.

(With Agencies Inputs)

Watch: Happy Birthday PM Modi: A timeline of his eventful political career in 60 seconds
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (September 17, 2022) turned 72. Leaders from across party lines and heads of countries extended greetings to PM Narendra Modi today. Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Droupadi Murmu and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were among those who wished the Prime Minister.

Many Bollywood celebrities including Kangana Ranaut, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Anupam Kher among others wished the prime ministern on the special day. And this year even the common man of the country can wish their leader on the special occasion.

Instead of sticking to the usual Twitter and Facebook posts, you can use the PM's app to wish him in different ways. On the PMs birthday in 2022, people can send their wishes through recorded video messages, photos and also some other special ways including Gift of Seva. NaMo app has facilities that would enable you to wish him in many ways.

Video and photo message

The app enables you to capture video messages. You can upload a wish along with a picture too.

Donations

The app also offers micro donations in the range of Rs 05 to Rs 100 for any initiative of their liking. These include Swachh Bharat Mission, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Kisan Seva.

Short video on PMs life

The NaMo app offers a virtual exhibition on the life of the prime minister. People can choose moments from the Modis life which can then be created as a short video and shared on social media, all through the app.

Gift of Seva

This is a unique way to take part in the Prime Minister's birthday celebrations. This feature, present in the app, allows citizens to take a pledge for a particular cause such as LiFE: Pro-Planet People, Blood Donation, Leading Digital India, Swachh Bharat, Vocal for Local to Become Atma Nirbhar, etc.

Personalised e-card

People can send a personalised e-card where they can include their entire family and add their message before the wishes can be uploaded on the app. You can also upload wishes on behalf of your company along with your colleagues or you can do it with your classmates if you are a student.

Notably, PM Modi, India's 15th prime minister, was born on September 17, 1950 at Vadnagar in Gujarat. PM Modi took oath as prime minister of the country for the first time in May 26, 2014. His second consecutive term as prime minister began on May 30, 2019.

Narendra Modi is the first-ever prime minister to be born after Independence. Modi has the distinction of being the longest serving chief minister of Gujarat with his term spanning from October 2001 to May 2014.
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will observe Seva Pakhwara for 16 days in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday. His birthday is on the 17th of September, thus the BJP has decided to host celebrations from today till October 2. Every year on October 2nd, Gandhi Jayanti is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as Mahatma Gandhi. Father of our nation. The National President of the BJP has planned an extensive programme for the Prime Ministers Birthday. Instructions have already been given to all the leaders and party workers for the Seva Pakhwar

At the district level, the BJP is hosting an exhibition about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Distribution of artificial limbs and equipment has been organised, along with a camp for blood donation and free health checks. The distribution of equipment and artificial limbs is planned. The party will also undertake a one-year initiative to eradicate tuberculosis (TB), as part of which everyone will adopt a patient and care for him/her for that period.

Also Read: Narendra Modi Birthday: Ten extraordinary facts about the Prime Minister

The BJP will also launch a campaign to promote the COVID-19 booster dose as part of "Seva Pakwara." Programs planned for PM Modi's birthday include tree-planting and several cleanliness campaigns. JP Nadda has directed all leaders and workers of the party to post pictures of events on the NaMo App. As part of the celebration, he also gave the order to promote the programmes "Unity in Diversity" and "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat."

Also Read: PM Narendra Modis Birthday: BJP makes plans to celebrate Unity in Diversity, Atma Nirbhar Bharat and much more

Today Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned 72. He was born on September 17, 1950, in Vadnagar. Narendra Damodardas Modi comes from a small and unremarkable town in the Mehsana region in North Gujarat and becomes the 14th and currently serving Prime Minister of India. His life has been one of effort and commitment; from an ordinary RSS worker to the leader of the largest democracy in the world, he has inspired billions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is celebrating his 72nd birthday today, September 17, 2022. PM Modi is serving his second term as Prime Minister and during this period, on several occasions, he has expressed his determination to revolutionise the education sector of the country. After the health sector, the education system of the country is on the priority list of India's 14th Prime Minister and to transform this sector PM has been launching a number of policies and infrastructure.

However, when the Coivd-19 pandemic hit the country in 2020, the education system was severely affected. Schools and colleges had to be closed to contain the spread of coronavirus. In pandemic times when normal life was disrupted and studies of millions of students were affected, the Centre took several initiatives to remodel the way of teaching and learning. As PM Modi turns 72 today, we look back at the steps that his government took to ensure that students continue to learn amid the pandemic-induced lockdowns.

PM e-Vidya

In May 2020, the government launched a comprehensive initiative for digital learning, PM e-Vidya as a part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Programme. The initiative unifies all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education to enable multi-mode access to education with the following components:

DIKSHA  One nation, One Digital Education Platform

One class, one TV channel  Swayam Prabha

E-content for Open School

Extensive use of Radio, Community radio and podcast

E-content for visually and hearing-impaired students

DIKSHA  One nation, One Digital Education Platform

DIKSHA is the one nation; one digital platform for school education on which 35 states and UTs have their own vertical along with those of NCERT, CBSE and NIOS of the central government. Containing the e-learning content for students of grades 1 to 12 in 31 Indian languages, DIKSHA can be accessed through a web portal and mobile application.

Swayam Prabha TV Channels- One Class One TV Channel

To make the learning fun for students sitting at home in the Covid-19 lockdown, the Ministry of Education launched Swayam Prabha DTH channels to support those students who did not have access to the internet. A total of 32 channels were devoted to telecasting high-quality educational programmes of which 12 were dedicated to each class of the schooling system.

The ministry also used radio broadcasting to reach out to the children in remote areas and help them with their studies amid the Covid-19 pandemic. NCERT produced high-quality audio/radio programs with effective media treatment such as apt music, sound effects and involvement of seasoned and refined artists of good repute in the media world. The radio programmes based on curricula of class 1 to class 8 were mainly produced in Hindi, English, Sanskrit and Urdu.
New Delhi: Eight cheetahs from Namibia land in India today, as a part of the programme to reintroduce the feline in India seven decades after it was declared extinct in the country. According to an official, the plane landed at the Gwalior airbase shortly before 8 a.m.

The cheetahs were transported in special wooden crates by a modified Boeing plane that took off from the African country on Friday night. These cheetahs will be flown to Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be celebrating his birthday. He will release three of the cheetahs in quarantine enclosures at 10.45 a.m.

#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh: Earlier visuals of the 8 cheetahs from Namibia being brought out of the special chartered cargo flight that landed in Gwalior this morning.



Indian Air Force choppers,carrying the felines, are enroute Kuno National Park where they'll be reintroduced today pic.twitter.com/R2UV36N8E1  ANI (@ANI) September 17, 2022

According to an official, the animals will be flown in an Air Force helicopter from Gwalior to Kuno in the Sheopur district, a distance of 165 kilometres, in about 20-25 minutes.

The cheetahs were not fed during the journey and will be given food once they are released into the enclosures. In addition, a dais has been constructed in the Park to house special cages containing cheetahs, and Prime Minister Modi will release three of them into an enclosure by operating a lever.

According to the official, other dignitaries will then release the remaining cheetahs in other enclosures.

Also Read: Narendra Modi turns 72: Major changes in education sector under PM and way ahead - Read details

The cheetahs were transported in a special flight operated by Terra Avia, a European airline based in Chisinau, Moldova that operates chartered passenger and cargo flights. The park covers 344 square kilometres and is located on the northern side of the Vidhyachal mountains.

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi's birthday: Tamil Nadu BJP plans slew of programmes, to gift gold rings to newborns

The officials had to battle heavy rain, bad weather, and some blocked roads to finish preparing for Narendra Modi's programme to release the big cats into their new home in Kuno. Heavy rain lashed the Madhya Pradesh region of Gwalior-Chambal two days before Modi's arrival.
New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai will be dedicating a comprehensive Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) to the public on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 72nd birthday. Today BJP is celebrating the birthday of PM Modi with extensive programmes. This Urban Primary Health Centre is said to be the country's first of its kind. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Minister and Malleswara constituency MLA Dr Ashwath Narayan stated that the PHC is equipped to provide many services such as testing, diagnostic, treatment, and medicine for free or at a low cost. "The CUPHC is the result of collaboration between BBMP and Manipal Health Enterprises. It includes laboratory, digital x-ray, ultrasound scanning, PFT and ECG services also," says Narayan. The minister went on to say that the centre also houses eye testing, physiotherapy, ICU, dental testing, and the Prime Minister's Jan Aushadhi Kendra.

"The hospital will be integrated with the `command centre` which is also located in the constitution to provide appropriate consultation and assistance for the treatment of ailments like heart disease etc. The centre also has an in-patient department and EMR system," he added

Also Read: Narendra Modi Birthday: PM to release National Logistics Policy today

CUPHCs have been established in the constituency at Nagappa Block, Gandhi Grama, Yeshwantpur, and Mathikere, and will begin operations within a month. According to the minister, an MOU was signed with the Manipal group of hospitals to provide treatments that are not available at the centre.

The minister quotes "The hospital has an oxygen facility with a gas pipeline and generator also. Doctors have been appointed under BBMP and National Health Mission. A total of 150 patients can be treated on a day. An MoU has been signed with Manipal Group of Hospitals to provide treatments which are not available at the centre.

(With Agencies Inputs)
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turned 72 years old on Sunday (September 17, 2022) is one of the worlds most powerful political leaders in todays times. Indias beloved Prime Minister is extremely popular among the masses not only in India but also across the globe. He is also the second most followed political leader on various social media platforms. Known for his excellent oratory skills, down-to-earth attitude and his ability to surprise the masses with his quick and bold decisions, PM Modi is also one of the most protected world leaders.

Because of his international stature and enormous threat to his life, the responsibility to protect him has been given to the Special Protection Group (SPG). The SPG is an agency of the Government of India which has been tasked with the sole responsibility of protecting the Prime Minister of India and, as in past, his close family members. This is extremely significant as PM Narendra Modis security was recently compromised for nearly 20 minutes in Punjabs Ferozepur when his cavalcade was stranded on a flyover due to a protest by the farmers. The incident also later snowballed into a major political controversy with the BJP accusing the then Congress government of trying to harm the PM.

What is SPG

The SPG was created in 1988 by an Act of the Parliament of India to protect the Prime Minister and his immediate family members who live with him at his official and personal residences, whether in India or overseas. The highly trained SPG commandos are part of the first tier of the security circle around the PM and keep a constant vigil on each and every minute detail around him.

How does SPG work and what is ASL?

The SPG is involved in the Advanced Security Liaison. As part of the ASL, SPG and all the top agencies involved in providing proximate security to the PM record and monitor every minutest detail of the Prime Minister's schedule. The local police maintain this minute-by-minute schedule during the PM's visit to a state, but it is overseen by the SPG officials. SPG sanitises the venue and secures the PM's route as part of security protocols. The agency is mandated to carry out anti-sabotage checks and frisking of anyone who may approach the Prime Minister.

How SPG came into existence?

For the first 34 years since India gained Independence from British Rule, Indian Prime Ministers were protected primarily by the Delhi Police, which was overseen by an officer with the rank of Deputy Commissioner. In the wake of Indira Gandhis assassination in 1984, the Ministry of Home Affairs called for an overhaul of the top-level security structure of the VVIPs and VIPs and converted the 1981-born Special Task Force into a permanent unit. This is how the Special Protection Group came into being on 30th March 1985.

Its sole responsibility is to protect the Prime Minister at all times nationally and internationally  while this was initially extended to family members as well, the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Act, 2019 resulted in Narendra Modi becoming the only person in India to be guarded by the SPG.

Where is the SPG head office?

The SPG head office is in Dwarka, southwest Delhi, and the agency draws personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (such as the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police) as well as the Railway Protection Force Service.

How are the SPG commandos selected?

All SPG commandos are volunteers - the best of the best who clear a three-tiered screening process. They are usually seen around the Prime Minister, dressed in black Western-style formal business suits, and sunglasses, and carrying a two-way encrypted communication earpiece as well as concealed weapons.

How does the SPG ensure the PM's safety?

The Prime Minister is always closely surrounded and guarded by the SPG commandos, who go by the instructions and the security protocols mentioned in the 'Blue Book' whenever the PM is travelling.

Who issues the Blue Book?

The 'Blue Book' guidelines are issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which reviews them at regular intervals. According to the Blue Book, the SPG is required to convene an Advance Security Liaison (ASL) three days before each visit by the PM. The agency is required to coordinate, receive and analyse inputs obtained from the Intelligence Bureau, central and state agencies, state police officers, and the local district magistrate. Every minutest detail about the PMs itinerary is recorded during the ASL meeting. The SPG along with other central, and state agencies review the PM's travel plans, including how he will be accompanied, and choices are made based on central and local intelligence input.

The SPG also prepares a contingency plan for any emergency or unexpected event. All agencies, at all levels, remain on high alert mode and keep a constant vigil over developments surrounding the PM.

What if there is an emergency or sudden change in plan?

As the apex agency, the SPG commandos form the first layer of security around the PM while the NSG and state agencies are responsible for the outer security and other safety measures required from time to time. In case of any sudden changes, the state police update the SPG and the PMs route is changed after other alternate routes are secured.

Tiers of PMs security

The Prime Minister is always closely surrounded and guarded by the SPG commandos, who are part of the first tier of the PMs security. In the second tier of the security cordon, Prime Minister's personal security guards, who are trained and skilled as the SPG commandos, are deployed on duty. The third layer of security consists of the National Security Guard (NSG). In the fourth round, there are semi-security force personnel and police officers from different states. Whenever a PM travels to a state, it is the responsibility of the State Police to provide external security cover and thwart any untoward incident. The fifth layer of security consists of sniffer dogs, vehicles and aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art technical facilities with commando and police cover. All these vehicles are equipped with high-capacity military weapons.

Prime Ministers convoy

The Prime Ministers convoy usually involves over a dozen highly protected armoured vehicles which also includes a highly-equipped Ambulance. A Jammer also moves along with the PMs convoy for blocking any unwanted external telephone or satellite signals. Often in a bid to mislead the attackers, the PMs convoy also has two dummy cars identical to that of the PMs vehicle. Sharp Shooters from the National Security Group protect all these cars. In a bid to ensure smooth and hassle-free passage of the PMs convoy, one-side traffic on the route via which the PMs convoy will pass is blocked for 10 minutes. Besides, two police patrol vehicles patrol the entire route with sirens on.

For security purposes, the Prime Minister is accompanied by a team of around 100 people. When he steps out of his vehicle, he is protected by NSG commandos clad in uniform as well as in civil dress.

What happens when the PM reaches a venue?

The venue is sanitised in advance and secured with entry and exit frisking and metal detectors for each and every visitor. The strength of the stage that the PM is supposed to stand on is also thoroughly checked in and out.

The SPG armoury

A vast security net is put in place with commandos and police personnel in combat gear, wearing bulletproof vests, kneepads and carrying assault rifles. The SPG armoury generally consists of FN P90 submachine guns, Glock-17 or Glock-19 pistols for uniformed officers, FN F2000 and FN SCAR assault rifles  all European firearms. Very soon, the SPG will also include IOF Modern Sub-Machine Carbines, which are manufactured within the country.

PMs motorcade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's motorcade was recently upgraded  while the whole fleet consists of several armoured luxury vehicles and even two Mercedes-Benz ambulances, the crown jewel of Indias PM road fleet is the Mercedes-Maybach S650 Guard. This custom S650 offers the highest level of protection to the PM during road travel. PM Modi's new vehicle is not just a car, it's a fort. The car has been upgraded from Range Rover Vogue and Toyota Land Cruiser. The New Mercedes Maybach S650 is the latest facelifted model with VR-10 level protection.

It comes loaded with a number of safety and security features. Its windows come coated with a polycarbonate layer, allowing them to absorb impacts from hardened steel-core bullets. Along with a reinforced, self-healing body shell, the car has an Explosive Resistant Vehicle (ERV) rating, allowing the PM to remain safe even if a 15kg TNT explosion happens just 2 meters from the vehicle. It also comes equipped with an emergency air supply, in the event of a gas attack.

Weighing over two tonnes, the cars 6-litre twin-turbo V12 belts out a serious 516 BHP, allowing it to reach 100 km/ph in just under 5 seconds. Whenever the PM is travelling by air, he relies on two modes of transport - the Air India One, and a custom batch of Mi-17 helicopters. Both come with various measures designed to deter threats during entry or exit, as well as better crashworthiness and armour plating.

Whats the cost of PM Modis security?

According to the Government of India, PM Modi's security costs Rs 1.62 crore every day. In a written reply in Parliament, Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said, "At present, only one person has the SPG security and Rs 592.55 crore was allocated for the year 2020-21 for the SPG security.

(Disclaimer: The article is based on information sourced from govt and other agencies. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of Zee News)
NEW DELHI: In a democratic setup, the safety and security of the President and the Prime Minister, who are the constitutional heads of a state and the leaders of the Union Executive, is a matter of paramount importance. Any breach in their security can have a catastrophic impact on the countrys political and economic stability. In India, the role of the Special Protection Group or the SPG is very significant in protecting the Prime Minister of India. It is a government agency, which provides 24-hour surveillance and security to the Prime Minister of India.

Threat analysis and levels of security in India

The Government of India based on the recommendations of the Union Home Ministry and the state governments provides various levels of security to VVIPs, VIPs and high-risk individuals, following a detailed assessment of the threat to their lives by the concerned agencies, local police and respective state government. Depending on that threat perception, the category of security which may be given to a VVIP, VIP or high-risk individual is further divided into six tiers: SPG, Z+ (highest level), Z, Y+, Y and X. Once the threat analysis is confirmed, the category of security is decided by the Home Secretary, Director General of Police and the Chief Secretary in the state. The details are then sent to the Union Home Ministry for formal approval.

In India, the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Supreme Court and High Court Judges, three Service Chiefs of Indian Armed Forces, Governors of State, Chief Ministers and Union and state Cabinet Ministers, celebrities and high-risk individuals (Very Important Persons) are provided different categories of security for their safety and well-being.

Special Protection Group (SPG)

The SPG is an elite agency whose details are highly confidential and classified. The Prime Minister's security is the sole domain of the Special Protection Group which is described as an armed force in the SPG Act. The SPG, which has more than 3,000 active personnel at present, was created in 1985 in the wake of Prime Minister Indira Gandhis assassination by her own bodyguards in October 1984. The SPC Act calls for providing proximate security to the Prime Minister of India as well as those who have previously held the post.

For the first 34 years since India gained Independence from British Rule, Indian Prime Ministers were protected primarily by the Delhi Police, which was overseen by an officer with the rank of Deputy Commissioner. However, after Indira Gandhis assassination in 1984, the Ministry of Home Affairs called for an overhaul of the top-level security structure of the VVIPs and VIPs and converted the 1981-born Special Task Force into a permanent unit. This is how the Special Protection Group came into being on 30th March 1985.

According to the Special Protection Group Act, 1988, Its sole responsibility is to protect the Prime Minister at all times nationally and internationally, former Prime Ministers of India and members of their immediate families. However, the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Act, 2019 resulted in the Prime Minister (in the present case - Narendra Modi) becoming the only person in India to be guarded by the SPG.

According to the SPG Act, proximate security is defined as protection provided from close quarters, during a journey by road, rail, aircraft, watercraft, or on foot, or any other means of transport and shall include the places of functions, engagements, residence or halt and shall comprise ring round teams, isolation cordons, the sterile zone around, and the rostrum and access control to the person or members of his immediate family. The Act clearly mentions that ring round team, isolation cordons and access control are a mandate of the SPG as part of proximate security defined above.

What is the motto of the SPG?

According to the SPG website, the agency works on the motto of "Zero Error" and "Culture of Excellence". SPG personnel have always discharged their duties and responsibilities with devotion, dedication, hard work and courage within India and in foreign territories. Each SPG personnel dedicate himself completely to upholding the integrity of the nation and the spirit behind the SPG motto "Shauryam Samarpanam Surakshanam" (i.e. bravery, devotion and protection), it reads.

The Charter of the SPG

The charter of SPG bestows great responsibility on its members and this need to be shouldered without any compromise on the standards of performance the Nation expects. New initiatives in modernizing and capacity building of the force are a continuous process.

Who controls the SPG?

According to the SPG Act, the general superintendence, direction and control of the group shall vest in, and be exercised by, the Central Government and subject thereto and to the provisions of this Act and the rules, the command and supervision of the Group shall vest in an officer to be appointed by the Central Govt. as the Director of the Group.

Who is mandated to assist the SPG?

The SPG Act mandates various central and state government ministries, departments and other central and state agencies to assist the Special Protection Group whenever required. It shall be the duty of every Ministry and Department of the Central Govt or the State Govt or the Union Territory administration, every Indian Mission, every local or other authority or every civil or military authority to act in aid of the Director or any member of the Group whenever called upon to do so in furtherance of the duties and responsibilities assigned to such Director or member, the Act reads.

How does SPG work?

The SPG is involved in the Advanced Security Liaison. As part of the ASL, the SPG and all the top agencies involved in providing proximate security to the PM record and monitor every minutest detail of the Prime Minister's schedule. The local police maintain this minute-by-minute schedule during the PM's visit to a state, but it is overseen by the SPG officials. SPG sanitises the venue and secures the PM's route as part of security protocols. The agency is mandated to carry out anti-sabotage checks and frisking of anyone who may approach the Prime Minister.

Where is the SPG HQ?

The SPG head office is in Dwarka, southwest Delhi, and the agency draws personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (such as the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police) as well as the Railway Protection Force Service.

How are the SPG commandos selected?

All SPG commandos are volunteers - the best of the best who clear a three-tiered screening process. They are usually seen around the Prime Minister, dressed in black Western-style formal business suits, and sunglasses, and carrying a two-way encrypted communication earpiece as well as concealed weapons.

How does the SPG ensure the PM's safety?

The Prime Minister is always closely surrounded and guarded by the SPG commandos, who go by the instructions and the security protocols mentioned in the 'Blue Book' whenever the PM is travelling. The 'Blue Book' guidelines are issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which reviews them at regular intervals. According to the Blue Book, the SPG is required to convene an Advance Security Liaison (ASL) three days before each visit by the PM. The agency is required to coordinate, receive and analyse inputs obtained from the Intelligence Bureau, central and state agencies, state police officers, and the local district magistrate.

Every minutest detail about the PMs itinerary is recorded during the ASL meeting. The SPG along with other central, and state agencies review the PM's travel plans, including how he will be accompanied, and choices are made based on central and local intelligence input. The SPG also prepares a contingency plan for any emergency or unexpected event. All agencies, at all levels, remain on high alert mode and keep a constant vigil over developments surrounding the PM.

Various categories of security in India

Z+ category: It is the second highest category of security provided to VVIPs, VIPs or high-risk individuals in India. The Z+ level of security is given by National Security Guard/ Black Cat Commandos. A Z+ category security cover comprises 55 personnel, including more than 10 NSG commandos and police personnel. Around 450 VIPs of India have been currently provided with this security. The NSG and other security personnel are armed with Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machine guns and modern communication equipment and are highly skilled in martial arts and unarmed combat skills.

Z category: This is the third highest category of security cover for any individual in India. It comprises 22 personnel, including between 4-6 NSG commandos and police personnel.

Y+ category: This kind of security cover consists of 11 personnel, including 2-4 commandos and police personnel.

Y category: In this type of security cover, there are 8 security personnel, including 1 or 2 commandos and police personnel.

X category: It is a security cover comprising 2 personnel, with no commandos but only armed police personnel.

(Disclaimer: The article is based on information sourced from govt and other agencies. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of Zee News)
When one thanks Larry Winter for his military service, he'll say something to the effect of, "It's an honor" or "It's a privilege," Winter said.

"Whenever somebody says 'Thank you' I say its a privilege because I dont care how much people complain, to me the United States of America is still the greatest country," Winter said.

Winter, who served in the Navy from 1966-1969 on three cruises in East Asia and some time in California, was honored Sept. 13 with a civilian award of the heartfelt, handmade variety: a Quilt of Valor.

A Quilt of Valor, per the presentation given with each one, came from a dream by Quilts of Valor Foundation Founder Catherine Roberts, who had a very vivid dream while her son was deployed in Iraq.

In the dream, she saw a soldier, hunched over on his bed, mind and body wracked by demons of war in one vision. The second, however, featured the same soldier being comforted by a quilt. From there, she started the foundation.

Dee Augustin, who first suggested making the quilt for Winter, said the idea came about when she noticed him wearing a shirt supporting the military.

"All I did was find Larry at the desk one day at the senior center. He was wearing a U.S. Navy T-shirt and I asked him about the Quilt of Valor and he didnt know anything about it," Augustin said.

From there, a dedicated group of local quilters set to making the quilt, which Winter received in a small ceremony at the Columbus Senior Center.

"When I find out someone served in the military, the first thing I ask is if they have a Quilt of Valor. For me, it's an emotional time when it's presented," Augustin said. "I can't imagine what they go through when they leave their homes and families and especially during difficult times."

Winter said the quilt itself is an honor and a privilege to be able to accept. Many service members, he added, do not get recognized for their efforts so to be presented with an award like this is meaningful.

"I think its fabulous because a lot of servicemen do not get recognized like they should," Winter said. "A lot of them do give up their families and of course when they're in service in a warzone they take a chance they may never see their family again, so its a privilege."
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (September 17, 2022) released eight cheetahs, which had become extinct in India, into special enclosures in Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh`s Sheopur district. Soon after the release, the Congress lashed out at the prime minister and called PM Modi's releasing of Cheetahs in a Madhya Pradesh national park a "tamasha," orchestrated by him as another diversion from pressing national issues and the Bharat Jodo Yatra', while Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra urged Modi to 'look out for our rapidly extinguishing constitional protection'.

Congress general secretary and in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also alleged that the prime minister "hardly ever acknowledges continuity in governance" and the Cheetah project was the latest example of that.

"PM hardly ever acknowledges continuity in governance. Cheetah project going back to my visit to Capetown on 25.04.2010 is the latest example," Ramesh, who was the Environment and Forest minister during 2009-11, said in a tweet.

"The tamasha orchestrated by PM today is unwarranted and is yet another diversion from pressing national issues and Bharat Jodo Yatra," he said.

Additionalloy, Mahua took to Twitter to wish the Prime Minister, but also took a sly dig at him. "Happy birthday to our Honourable Prime Minister - may he look out for our rapidly extinguishing constitional protections much the same way as he does for extinct cheetahs," jibed Moitra in a tweet on Saturday morning.

Eight cheetahs were brought to Gwalior from Namibia in a special plane on Saturday morning as part of the cheetah reintroduction programme. The cheetahs were brought in a special flight of Terra Avia, an airline based at Chisinau, Moldova in Europe that operates chartered passenger and cargo flights.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Modi said, "Cheetahs had become extinct from the country in 1952, but for decades, no meaningful effort was made to rehabilitate them. Today, as we celebrate `Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav`, the country has started rehabilitating cheetahs with a new energy." PM Modi also clicked some pictures of the cheetahs on a professional camera after releasing them.

(With agency inputs)
Telangana: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was on a two-day visit to Telangana, chaired a meeting of the BJP core group of the state on Saturday wherein the party leaders presented before him the progress report of various programmes. Shah expressed satisfaction over the way in which things are progressing in the state unit, but he gave them a detailed Mantra to take this momentum forward.

Sources privy to the development told ANI that the Home Minister has told the party leaders to "keep the fight alive" against the ruling TRS regime. Among the several programmes that the state unit is currently carrying out, one of the key programs is bike rallies.

Shah is said to have told the state unit to take out these bike rallies across all the villages in the state. The state of Telangana has over 10,000 villages at present and the Union Home Minister has advised the state leadership to reach out to each of these villages and talk about the misrule of the KCR-led state government.

"Shah advised the state unit that the message that needs to reach the ground is that both TRS and Congress are two sides of the same coin. Both have only worked for their own political objectives and ignored Telangana and its people all along and eventually will form an alliance before the polls" sources quoted Shah as saying.

Also Read: Amit Shah security BREACH: Hyderabad TRS leader in BIG trouble for doing this ACT - Read details

"Shah said that while TRS continues to be a party that is drowned in corruption due to the family rule the other party, Congress, is gradually losing its significance and is responsible for the unreasonable bifurcations of united Andhra into Andhra and Telangana," the sources added.

The Home Minister was also apprised about the formation of committees on 25,000 booths out of the 32,000 booths in the state.

"Strengthening of the booth and its committees has yielded big results for the BJP. Shah also advised them to work on strengthening of the organisation, especially the booth," said the sources.

Discussions on upcoming by-election

According to the sources, Shah told the state leaders in the run-up to the Munugode by-poll that he is confident that the BJP will win this bypoll too. The first and the most immediate task for the BJP in Telangana will be to prepare for the high-profile bye-election to the Munugode constituency. Last month Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy resigned and joined the BJP in the presence of Amit Shah.

Also Read: Communal forces trying to create hatred: Telangana CM KCR indirectly slams BJP on Telangana Integration Day

While Reddy is likely to get the BJP ticket for the bypoll, it is interestingly a high-profile poll for which the TRS and Congress both have adopted a wait-and-watch policy.

While the election commission is yet to declare the election, it is set to be the semi-final before the final which is the assembly polls next year in the state. Ruling party TRS and BJP are engaged in a bitter war as the buildup to the 2023 state assembly polls in Telangana continues.

Top BJP leaders including state chief ministers like Himanta Biswa Sarma and Yogi Adityanath continue to tour the state to keep the momentum going. Meanwhile, TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has been trying to keep the fight alive while he continues to meet political leaders across the party, in a bid to set up an anti-BJP front.
Hyderabad: There is a heated war of words going on between the TRS and BJP leaders over the celebrations marking the annexing of the erstwhile Nizam-ruled Hyderabad state to the Union of India. Sharpening his attack against the BJP, Telangana Minister for IT and Industries, K T Rama Rao on Saturday accused Home Minister Amit Shah of playing divisive politics. In a series of tweets, the TRS working president slammed the BJP-RSS.

In one of the tweets directed at the RSS, he said, "An appropriate day to remember what Sardar Vallabhai Patel said in 1948 about RSS "All their speeches (RSS) were full of communal poison. As a final result of the poison, the country had to suffer the sacrifice of the invaluable life of Gandhiji".

An appropriate day to remember what Sardar Vallabhai Patel said in 1948 about RSS



"All their speeches (RSS) were full of communal poison. As a final result of the poison, the country had to suffer the sacrifice of the invaluable life of Gandhiji"  KTR (@KTRTRS) September 17, 2022

"There is no doubt in my mind that the extreme section of the Hindu Mahasabha was involved in the conspiracy [to kill Gandhi]. The activities of the RSS constituted a clear threat to the existence of Government and the State". This is what Patel Ji had said banning RSS," he said in another tweet.

Union Minister Amit Shah hoisted the national flag at parade grounds here today to mark the Centre's official celebrations of Hyderabad Liberation Day'.

Comparing Union Minister Amit Shah to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel KTR tweeted, "74 years ago, A Union Home Minister (Sardar Vallabhai Patel) came to UNITE & INTEGRATE the People of Telangana into Indian union, Today A Union Home Minister has come to DIVIDE & BULLY The People of Telangana & their state Govt That's why I say, India needs DECISIVE POLICIES Not DIVISIVE POLITICS."

74 years ago, A Union Home Minister came to UNITE & INTEGRATE The People of

Telangana into Indian union



Today A Union Home Minister has come to DIVIDE & BULLY

The People of Telangana & their state Govt



That's why I say, India needs

DECISIVE POLICIES Not

DIVISIVE POLITICS  KTR (@KTRTRS) September 17, 2022

Also Read: Communal forces trying to create hatred: Telangana CM KCR indirectly slams BJP on Telangana Integration Day

Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday alleged that communal forces who had no role in the integration of Hyderabad State into the Indian Union are trying to divide Telangana society by spreading hatred. Without naming the BJP, he said the disruptive elements were trying to distort Telangana`s history by giving it a communal colour for their narrow political interests.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfall over several parts of India. IMD predicted isolated heavy falls accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning over Uttarkhand and east Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. The MeT Department said that due to a well-marked Low-Pressure Area over central parts of Uttar Pradesh, very heavy to extremely heavy falls over northern parts of the state and Uttarakhand on September 17.

According to the latest weather bulletin issued by IMD, "Yesterdays Well Marked Low Pressure Area over northwest Madhya Pradesh & neighbourhood now lies over central parts of Uttar Pradesh with associated cyclonic circulation extending upto mid-tropospheric levels. It is likely to move east-northeastwards during next 24 hours."

The residents of Mumbai faced massive traffic jams yet again as heavy rain lashed parts of the city on Friday. The Western Express Highway, which connects the entire western suburban areas, was packed with vehicles. The met department has put the coastal areas of Maharashtra on orange alert. Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Palghar and Raigad are on a yellow alert.

Eastern parts of the country are also likely to receive heavy showers till September 20. IMD said that Odisha is expected to receive heavy rainfall till Tuesday. Western parts of the country, including the ghat areas of Maharashtra, are also expected to witness similar weather conditions.

Meanwhile, subdued rainfall activity is likely over South Peninsular and northeast India during the next five days.

Read IMDs rainfall prediction here:

- Light/moderate rainfall with isolated heavy falls & thunderstorm/lightning very likely over Himachal Pradesh & West Madhya Pradesh on 16th; Uttarakhand & East Uttar Pradesh on 17th September, 2022.

- Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall also likely over Uttarakhand & north Uttar Pradesh on 16th September, 2022.

- Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls also likely over northern parts of East Uttar Pradesh on 16th September, 2022.

- Light/moderate rainfall with isolated heavy falls & thunderstorm/lightning very likely over Bihar, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim and Gujarat Region on 16th; ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra and Konkan & Goa on 16th & 17th; Chhattisgarh on 19th & 20th; East Madhya Pradesh & Vidarbha on 20th and over Odisha during 18th-20th September, 2022.

- Isolated very heavy rainfall also likely over ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra and Konkan & Goa on 16th and over Odisha on 20th September, 2022.
New Delhi: Actress Pooja Bedi's stunning daughter Alaya F is a fitness enthusiast and keeps sharing her inspiring posts on social media. In her recent Insta dropping, she stressed on going green but in a way that just wouldn't be able to take our eyes off her beauty.

Taking to her social media, Alaya F shared a really hot picture wearing a green dress while she was killing up with her sizzling expression. The actress very elegantly delivered the message of go green while adding a caption - "Eat your greens, kids!"

Moreover, Alaya keeps on bringing some amazing pictures for her fans with her latest photoshoots while her Instagram profile is also well studded with artworks reflecting the creative mind of this magnificent beauty. Alaya often shares her day-to-day routine with her followers as her schedule motivates her fans and followers to do and aim for better things in life.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Alaya F will be seen in films like U-Turn with Ekta Kapoor, Freddy with Kartik Aaryan, and more unannounced projects.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will celebrate his 72nd birthday on Saturday (September 17th, 2022). The PM was born on this day in 1950 in Gujarats Mehsana district. PM Modi has been an ardent follower of Swami Vivekananda since his early years and decided to become a 'sanyasi'. Later, his guru saw his immense potential and commanded him to follow his path. Narendra Damodardas Modi became the Chief Minister of Gujarat (from 2001 to 2014).

1. We wish you a long life, good health and prosperity. Happy Birthday Prime Minister!

2. Dear Modiji, many many happy returns of the day to one of the world's most popular leaders, the hugely successful Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modiji. May God, bless you with good health and you continue to serve the country for many more years and bring more glory to India across the world.

3. Dear Prime Minister, I have no special gift that I can give you today, instead I want to thank you for being a huge inspiration to the youths. Happy Birthday, Sir!

4. Under your leadership, the honour, self-respect and pride of Maa Bharati has risen manifolds in the whole world. May God bless you with a healthy and long life, Happy Birthday Modiji.

5. We are so thankful for our relentless, resourceful, and generous mass leader. May God continue to bless you with good health!

6. Happy birthday to a wonderful leader! You deserve our greatest respect for the lives you have touched and the stability you have brought to our democracy. Thanks for being our greatest asset, Sir!

7. Birthday wishes to PM Narendra Modi. Your rich insights and wise understanding of Indian diplomacy are of utmost importance to our nation. You are kind and a compassionate leader. I pray for your good health and long life!

8. From spending all major festivals with the army personnel to bringing 'Cheetas' and safeguarding the natural ecosystem of the country, PM Narendra Damodardas Modi has instilled us with great pride. A leader in its true sense, thank you for inspiring millions just with your trademark "Mitron". Happy Birthday, PM Sir!

9. Your sincerity, strong leadership and vision have made a positive difference in every aspect of our country. Many happy returns of the day and happy birthday to you Modiji!

10. To the strongest yet smartest captain of India's ship, Happy Birthday Modiji. You have brought the world to Indias doorsteps and strive harder to bring back the old glory of ancient India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be arriving at KUNO National Park in Madhya Pradesh so make sure to extend your birthday greetings to your favourite leader who has worked hard to make India a superpower.


New Delhi: 'Pushpa' star Rashmika Mandanna, who is making her Hindi cinema debut with Amitabh Bachchan and Neena Gupta in 'Goodbye', said her character Tara is the complete opposite of her and also shared anecdotes about working with the Big B.

She said, in fact, that Tara is more like her sister, Shiman, who is 16 years younger to her and demands a rational explanation for all that she's asked to do.

"I am not at all like Tara, who doesn't believe in rituals and questions everything," Rashmika said in an interview with IANS. "I have great faith in all the rituals and superstitions. I think my sister is more like her. She wants an explanation for everything. Like, why are you doing this or why have I been asked to do this? So, yeah, Tara and my sister are quite similar in this way."

She also talked about her bond with her sister. The relationship between them is more like that of a mother and daughter, rather than that of two sisters. Rashmika said: "My sister is very close to me and shares everything about her friends. If she has a fight with them, she tells me about it, not my mother."

The 26-year-old actress, who's now also called the 'national crush' post 'Pushpa', said that in the initial days of the shoot she came with her pup because he was she was too small.

"In the middle of it all, I got to know that she was ill and was stressing out, but the moment the people on the sets got to know about it, they came with a vet," Rashmika said. "This is the energy that we had on the sets. It was extremely special."

Talking about her first foray into Hindi cinema, Rashmika told IANS: "I think initially it was very intimidating. But after that, I think it came to a point when we all sort of just blended in so beautifully as a family, even if we're just a couple of actors coming in and performing."

On sharing screen space with the Big B, Rashmika said: "I think for me, Bachchan sir was the picture of professionalism. Of course, he has his own aura, but he is most professional and at heart a simple man. The combination is so beautiful."

Whenever she would be shooting with the Big B and Neena Gupta, Rashmika used to have one big complaint: "Everyone used to blend in so well and have fun. I would notice this and ask them, 'How do you guys know each other?' And they would said that they had been working together for a long time. That's when I told them that I want to be part of their group."

Recalling an incident on the sets, Rashmika said: "We were reading our lines and practising the dialogues as Vikas (Behl) sir wanted the longest cut in one go. Bachchan sir was there, I was there and so were the others. Suddenly, Bachchan sir is like, now I want to go home. Why are we wasting time? I was like, did I say something wrong, because this line was not there in the dialogue. We all used to have a lot of fun like this."

Referring to her initial hesitation to take on the role, Rashmika said during her conversation with IANS: "When Vikas sir came with the script I was like, how I am going to do this. I am just a fun- loving and easy-going person and I asked him, 'Have you approached the right person?'. The character is the complete opposite of me, but he showed confidence in me."

She continued: "I just got to know that my eyes can emote either sadness or anger, and these are two emotions I can express very well. Right now, I am experimenting with my craft; There's no fun in doing the same thing again and again."

Rashmika, who made her acting debut with the 2016 Kannada film 'Kirik Party' and launched in Telugu with 'Chalo' and in Tamil with 'Sulthan', is entering Bollywood with 'Goodbye'.

Directed by Vikas Bahl, and produced by Ekta Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor, the film also features Sunil Grover, Pavail Gulati, Ashish Vidyarthi, Elli AvrRam, Sahil Mehta and Shivin Narang in supporting roles. 'Goodbye' is set to release on October 7.
New Delhi: 7th Pay Commission Latest update-- The auspicious occassion of the Navratris could bring in some more happy news for the Central government employees who have been waiting for government's announcement on Dearness Allowance (DA).

Media reports have been constantly saying that the employees may hear the good news by this month itself, with a few reports particularly highlighting that the big announcement on Dearness Allowance might be made during Navratri, i.e September 28. The government has however not made any official announcement regarding the probable date as yet.

If latest media reports are to be believed, Dearness Allowance of the employees could by hiked by 4 percent. This means the total DA could reach upo 38 percent. The All-India CPI-IW for the month of June has hinted at a hike in DA this month. Along with the Dearness allowance hike, employees may also get arrears for the months of July and August.

The Dearness Allowance of central government employees is revised twice a year. The first is given from January to June, while the second comes from July to December.

The All-India CPI-IW for April, 2022 increased by 1.7 points and stood at 127.7 (one hundred twenty seven point seven). On 1-month percentage change, it increased by 1.35 per cent with respect to previous month compared to an increase of 0.42 per cent recorded between corresponding months a year ago, showed a Ministry of Labour & Employment data. As per latest ministry reports, the AICPI figures for May is at 129. Meanwhile, the AICP Index for the month of June is hinting at certainity that the DA would be higher. The AICPI figures for June is at 129.

The first increase in dearness allowance for the year 2022 was announced in March. In December 2021, the AICPI figure stood at 125.4. But, in January 2022, it declined by 0.3 points and fell to 125.1. The All-India CPI-IW for February, 2022 decreased by 0.1 points and stood at 125.0 (one hundred twenty five). On 1-month percentage change, it decreased by 0.08 per cent with respect to previous month compared to increase of 0.68 per cent recorded between corresponding months a year ago. For the month of March, there was a jump of 1 point. The AICPI index figures for March stood at 126.

It may be recalled that the Union Cabinet had on March 30 hiked Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) by 3 per cent to 34 per cent to compensate for the price rise, benefitting over 1.16 crore central government employees and pensioners.

The additional instalment is effective from January 1, 2022. The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
A train journey is ideal for anyone looking for a unique way to explore southern India. Such excursions are an excellent way to learn more about the rich culture and heritage of the country. Moreover, when train journeys in southern India are in conversation are not just scenic beauties; it allows the tourists to experience the rich cultural heritage, the beauty of Indian history, and the amalgamation of multiple cultures rising from deep historical routes. Not to mention that train journeys give a brief experience of the local food and multiple other subtleties of the region.

Kollam - Sengottai

For those who enjoy exploring unusual places, the train journey from Kollam to Sengottai will be a rewarding experience. Through these two junction points, the railway line connects the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Throughout the ride, passengers will see several lush green forests, clean and swiftly flowing rivers, and hills. They pass a heritage bridge and a national highway built above and below the tracks on their way. The train journey allows tourists to experience Kerala's natural beauty, making it the most picturesque trip ever.

Ooty to Coonoor

People who want to travel by train near the hilly areas of the south should not miss the Ooty to Coonoor train journey. Both of these destinations are popular with visitors due to their picturesque scenery. These two hill stations in Tamil Nadu are connected by a special toy train. The tracks connecting Ooty and Coonoor are part of the Nilgiri Mountain railways, which UNESCO has recognized for their exceptional uniqueness and natural beauty. The best part of the train ride is that it takes passengers through Ooty's tea plantations and mountains covered in greenery.

Also read: IRCTC: Indian Railways to run first Delhi-Katra Bharat Gaurav tourist train from September 30

Chennai to Rameshwaram

This train journey is unique in its own right. Aside from providing a nature tour, it also takes visitors on a mythological journey. The railway that connects Chennai and Rameshwaram crosses the Pamban Bridge, which is known as India's first bridge. Locals believe that Lord Rama built Pamban Bridge while searching for Goddess Sita, who Ravana kidnapped. The bridge connects India's Mandapam region to Rameswaram and Pamban Island. Despite the fact that the rail ride is only 2.2 kilometres long, the scenery and religious background make it one of the best life experiences.

Kanyakumari to Trivandrum

The train ride between these two destinations in south India is like a slideshow of the rich plantation practices of the country. In this two-hour-long train journey, travellers pass through many luxuriant plantations of green tea, coconut groves, and farms of a variety of spices. Take the train ride via Island Express; it covers the natural splendours of the path and allows experiencing the local life of the south up close.

Best train services for South Indian trips

Aside from regular railway expresses, one can sweeten their journey to the south by booking a ride with some renowned train services. These are:

Golden Chariot

Golden Chariot Southern Splendour

Maharajas` Express Southern Jewels

Maharajas` Express Southern Sojourn

Deccan Odyssey Jewels of Deccan.

These trains put the luxury of the passenger as their top priority. The trip package offers private and comfortable accommodation, porterage services, an onboard butler, meals, drinks, and snacks free of cost. Travellers also enjoy off-train excursions, WiFi, and even a lounge and bar are part of these luxurious trains` facilities. On some routes, guests can smell the spicy aromas of India and see the mystical waterfalls, lush plantations, and wildlife. Once on the journey, one will truly feel like they have discovered an entirely new continent. Hence, it`s time to experience the splendour of south India`s train journeys yourself rather than searching for them on the internet.

With inputs from PTI
Alphabet, the parent company of Google has suffered a major blow after the continents second-biggest court upholded the European Union's record antitrust fine of $4.1 billion against Google on Wednesday. Google was penalised for allegedly putting in place, strategic restrictions on Android phone makers to ensure that its search engine benefited alone. The EU verdict was almost immediately followed by another one in South Korea, where lawmakers slapped combined fines of $71 million on Alphabet and Meta for alleged privacy violations. Probes showed Google was collecting and studying user data, and tracking their website use.

As Google and other Big Tech giants are facing increasing pressure worldwide over their stifling monopolistic practices on multiple fronts, India too seems to be gearing up to address the technology firms said anti-trust and monopolistic behaviour. Cookie seems to be crumbling for Google in many parts of the world as it beginning to lose one battle after another in different parts of the world.

In India, a series of actions in works led by CCI and MEITY also are leading towards possible scenarios where unrestricted non-accountability of Big Tech to regulatory authorities and also their said anti-trust behaviour in dealing with Indian news publishers are going to be seriously challenged. It may be noted that India has consistently sought to ensure tech bigwigs are not only accountable and responsible to the domestic laws but also do not violate the rights of netizens. A parliamentary committee has also been deliberating on various issues concerning the Big Tech Monopolies. These efforts come against the backdrop of multiple reversals that Alphabet, the owner of the search engine behemoth Google, faced this week in Europe, the US, and South Korea.

As per reports, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Minister of State for Electronics & IT ( MEITY), is spearheading Indias role and response in the global antitrust drive. He has been focusing hard on making social media platforms become more transparent in their operations and, crucially, comply with Indias rules and regulations in the larger interest of netizens. Brainstorming over tougher rules, regulating the internets misuse via bots and algorithms, chalking out Indias first-ever upcoming quarterly audit report on social media companies compliance efforts  Chandrasekhar has his hands full as he seeks to make the internet a safer and more equitable place for netizens.

The Competition Committee of India (CCI), the antitrust watchdog under the Government of India is also proceeding on the petition against Google filed by DNPA ( Digital News Publishers Association ) which is seeking a fair share in the distribution of advertisement revenue earned by Google on its digital platforms of news publishers. These leading media organisations of India under the aegis of DNPA, have come together to make a pitch to call upon Big Tech giants such as Google to be fair in their relationship with domestic news providers and make revenue-sharing more transparent.

In the US, of course, there has been a torrent of developments in recent days aimed at shaking up Google. A group of 13 influential companies called upon the US Congress to green-light a proposed Bill that can considerably shrink the powers of Google and other tech stalwarts. Separately, the US Department of Justice complained to a federal judge, accusing Google of monopolistic behavior. If that motion escalates to a trial and Google is held guilty, big telecom companies could lose out on massive earnings. Thats because disclosures showed Google allegedly pays Samsung, Apple, and other telecom giants billions of dollars to ensure the sole domination of its search engine.
A skydiving accident reportedly killed one and injured another Thursday afternoon at the Crete Municipal Airport, where SkyDive Atlas offers what its website describes as "the only professional tandem skydiving operation in the state of Nebraska."

According to the Crete News, one customer was killed in the incident and an instructor was injured.

In a message to the Journal Star, Sean Tillery, who owns SkyDive Atlas, offered thoughts to affected families.

"We are very sad and our hearts and thoughts go out to the families," he wrote.

Tillery said the company will cooperate with any local or federal investigations into the incident.

In response to follow-up questions on Thursday's wind conditions and whether the company was still offering dives Friday, Tillery said, "We are all grieving."

Crete Police Chief Steve Hensel did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Friday, and a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately respond to a call or email.
New Delhi: Garena Free Fire releases redeem codes on everyday basis. The 12-digit redeem code consists of alphabets and numbers. Players can get rewards such as skins for in-game weapons and characters to improve their gaming experience.

Garena Free fire is banned in India. However, if you are located outside India, you can access the reward codes and redeem them. For that you will be required to visit official Garena Free Fire reward site and log in to your Facebook, Google, and Twitter IDs to access the Free Fire redemption page. (Also read: iPhone 12 gets massive price cut on Flipkart Big Saving Days Sale, offer details here)

Check out the Garena Free Fire Redeem Codes for September 17, 2022

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(Also read: Shocking! Ex-Amazon Web Services engineer hacked data of 10 crore customers)

How to Redeem Garena Free Fire codes for today, September 17, 2022

Step 1: Go to the official Garena Free Fire redemption portal



Step 2: Log in on the portal with either your Facebook, Twitter, Apple, Google, VK, or Huawei ID.



Step 3: Enter a redeem code in the designated text box.



Step 4: Click on the Ok button to get free rewards in your game account.

(Disclaimer: Garena Free fire is banned in India. Hence we advise people to adhere to government rules)
India's diversity is a reflection of the country's mixture of religious and cultural traditions. The nation is home to a large number of world-historic monuments that have an enticing influence and have long drawn visitors from around the world. You would be delighted to acquaint yourself with the many customs and cultures that make up India's cultural heritage. We've compiled a list of some of India's cultural attractions that you should visit if you want to learn more about the splendour of this fascinating nation.

India is the birthplace and the cradle of some of the worlds major cultures and religions. Travellers from all over the world are drawn to India by its many world heritage sites because of its incomparable cultural vibrancy.

Amritsar

Without a doubt, Amritsar, which Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh guru, recognized as a holy place, is the centre of Sikh culture in the nation. The rich and thriving Sikh culture is particularly visible in places like Jallianwala Bagh, Wagah Border, Akal Takht, and the renowned Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple).

Food in Amritsar: In addition to the flamboyant Punjabi culture portrayed in the splendour of the city's tourist attractions, real cuisine is a must-try.

How to reach

By air: Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (ATQ) is at a distance of 11 km from the city centre.

By rail: Amritsar Railway Station is well connected to other Indian cities.

By road: Buses are available from other cities in Punjab as well as from Delhi, Shimla, and Jammu.

Kolkata

The region that transferred from the control of the Nawabs of Bengal to the first British East India Company agents is frequently referred to as the Cultural Capital of India. The majority of India's renowned literary figures come from this heritage city in India, which is also regarded as the birthplace of urban Indian culture and literary ideas. If you want to discover the origins of contemporary Indian subculture, this location needs to be at the top of your list.

Food in Kolkata: Theres something about the local food that Kolkatans cant stop boasting about. The must-try dishes in Kolkata are Mughlai parantha, aakher josh, kosha mangsho, chicken kabiraji, macher jhol, Kolkata biryani, hinger kochuri, Shukto, aloo posto, mochha, and chholar daal are some of the best Bengali dishes.

Sweets: Sondesh, roshogolla, and pitha are some of the most popular sweets in Kolkata.

Street food: Phuchka, churmur, ghugni chaat, jhalmuri, keemar doi bora, chhanar jilipi, and telebhaja are some of the best dishes of street food in Kolkata.

How To Reach

By air: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport situated at Dumdum, 17 km from the heart of the city, is well-connected to several Indian and international cities.

By rail: An extensive railway network connects Kolkata to other Indian cities like Delhi and Mumbai.

By road: Calcutta State Transport Corporation (CSTC), Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC), and West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC) regular bus services within the city and from other cities of West Bengal. The Esplanade Terminus is the main bus terminus in Kolkata.

Rajasthan

The name Rajasthan was chosen for a purpose. The Rajputana splendour and the state's status as a symbol of regal might are to blame. Rajasthan not only features magnificent grounds, but it also contains several well-known forts that have historically aided in defending monarchs and cities. It is one of the top cultural destinations in India since it possesses the right fusion of culinary prowess, tradition, and rich history.

Food in Rajasthan: Sweets- Ghewar is a kind of sweet and savoury- Dal-bati is worth all the wait

How To Reach

By air: The three major airports of Rajasthan are Sanganer International Airport in Jaipur, Jodhpur Airport and Dabok Airport in Udaipur.

By rail: Rajasthan is also well-connected by rail and the major stations here are in Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, and Ajmer.

By road: The National Highway NH8 is the most important highway that connects Rajasthan to the capital city - Delhi, along with Jaipur, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mumbai, etc.

Lucknow

You can only imagine how spectacular Lucknow's heritage and culture are with architecture that is greatly impacted by the Mughals, the Delhi Sultanate, the Nawabs of Awadh, and the British. The capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, is regarded as one of the best cities where you can discover Indian culture and tradition.

Food in Lucknow: The local Awadhi cuisine is drool-worthy. Some of the popular dishes of the Awadhi cuisine are: Ulte tawe ka parantha, Varki, and Sheerma, Galawati Kabab, Boti Kabab, Tunday Kabab, Nihari Gosht, Rogan Josh, and Lucknowi Biryani, Tokri Chaat, Malai Ki Gilori, Lucknowi paan, Kulfi Falooda, and Navratan Korma

How To Reach

By air: Daily flights of major domestic airlines from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Patna, and other important cities serve Lucknow. The city airport is located 14 km from the city centre.

By rail: Lucknow Railway Station at Charbagh is well-connected with other major Indian cities by a strong railway network. Alamnagar, Gomti Nagar, and Aishbagh junction are other railway stations serving the city.

By road: Buses are available from Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Agra, Jhansi, Delhi, and other nearby cities.

Hyderabad

Before becoming a Princely State under the British Raj, Hyderabad was ruled by Sultans, Mughals, and Nizams. Chalukya and Kakatiya ancient kingdoms historically ruled the area. All of these civilizations have had a profound impact on the city's architecture and culture.

Food in Hyderabad: The city is also a culinary paradise for those who want to indulge in the most delectable non-vegetarian Indian dishes. And that doesn't imply that vegetarian options aren't available. Hyderabad is known for its cuisine, which includes delicacies like Mirchi ka salan, khatti dal, Hyderabadi biryani, dum pukht, Hyderabadi marag, Keema samosa, and lukhmis.

How to reach

By air: Rajiv Gandhi International airport located in Shamshabad, 20 km away from the city, is well-connected to several cities in India and other parts of the world.

By rail: Hyderabad Railway Station, Secunderabad Railway Station, and Kachiguda Railway Station are major railheads in the city that connect it to major Indian cities like Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune.

By road: The citys bus terminus is well-connected to its neighbouring towns like Aurangabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Tirupati and Panaji.

Delhi

India's cosmopolitan capital city has been significantly influenced by many dynasties and religions. In these lands, Rajputs, Sultans, Khiljis, Mughals, and even the British left their mark in the form of monuments, artwork, artefacts, literary creations, customs, festivals, and other elements. India Gate, Red Fort, Old Fort, and Qutab Minar are the most prominent tourist places in Delhi.

Food in Delhi: Parantha at Paranthe Wali Gali (Chandni Chowk), Paneer Tikka at QDs (Hudson Lane), South Indian at Saravana Bhawan (CP), Rajkachori at Haldirams and the list is practically endless.

How to reach

By air: Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is well-connected with domestic and international cities.

By rail: Regular trains ply between Delhi and other major cities of the country. Old Delhi Railway Station, Nizamuddin Railway Station, Sarai Rohilla, Anand Vihar, and New Delhi Railway Station are some of the major railheads in Delhi.

By road: Delhi is connected to various cities of North India by road. Local, deluxe, and AC Volvo buses ply between Delhi and other cities of North India.

Kerala

The rich culture of Kerala is a fusion of Aryan and Dravidian traditions, with recurrent influences from other parts of India and abroad. Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity have made significant contributions to Kerala's architecture, rituals & customs, performing arts, and festivals.

Food in Kerala: Gods Own country has a variety of dishes to be served at your behest from Puttu & Kadala, Appam, Idlis, Kerala fish curry and Avial.

How to reach

By Air: Kerala is the second state in India to have four international airports, namely Trivandrum International Airport, Cochin International Airport, Calicut International Airport and Kannur International Airport.

By rail: Kerala has more than 200 railway stations, connecting various major cities as well as small towns of the state.

By road: Kerala is connected to most nearby states via well-maintained roads.

Also Read: Going to Varanasi from Delhi? Here's how to travel and things to do

These cities serve as the nation's most valuable cultural resource, showcasing the ancient past to the current generation.

(Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on general information and does not substitute an expert's opinion. Zee News does not confirm this.)
Vietnam budget holiday: You don't have a budget to splurge but want to go to a beautiful destination outside the country? If that's the case, Vietnam can be your best bet. With beautiful landscapes, cascading rice terraces, pristine beaches and several limestone caves, Vietnam is every tourist's delight. And how can we forget the yummy food, especially street food, that adds to the Vietnam experience? Here are tips to plan your trip within Rs 50,000-60,000 in Vietnam.

Flight tickets

The return airfare for flight tickets can be as low as Rs 17,000! Yes, you read that right! Check the airline booking websites and plan a bit in advance. It's best to keep your dates slightly flexible. You can zero in upon the month you want to travel in, and then look for the cheapest tickets in that month.

Accommodation

There are plenty of budget hotels and hostels. In the capital Ho Chi Minh City, hostels like Suite Backpackers Inn, Eco backpackers hostel are some good options. You can also opt for Airbnb. A single bed in a hostel or an Airbnb accommodation can be available for even below Rs 1,000 a night.

Eating out

Vietnam is famous for street food and doesn't miss out on that experience. Nem Raan or Cha Gio (Fried Spring rolls) and Cha Ca (Grilled minced fish), Pho (broth noodles), Xoi (a kind of sticky rice) are some of the yummy Vietnamese food that you must try.

Best time to visit

February to April, August to October (Though you can visit at any time, just do the necessary research and pack clothes accordingly).

Also read: 7 cheap countries to visit from India; check cost, must-see places - in Pics

Top 6 attractions in Vietnam

Hanoi: The capital of Vietnam houses the brilliant Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and Vietnam Fine Art Museum and gives a glimpse to the city life of the country.

Halong Bay: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this place is famous for mesmerizing sea views.

Ho Chi Minh City: The commercial hub (formerly Saigon) houses French colonial landmarks as well as Vietnamese War history museums and the Cu Chi tunnels.

Hoi An: A delightful Japanese Bridge, beautiful old merchant houses, and the charming old town quarter are some of the key attractions of this place.

Sa Pa (Sapa): This is the top trekking destination in Vietnam with plenty of options. The countryside has rollicking rice fields which are a sight to behold.

Mekong Delta: This is located in the far south of Vietnam and the Mekong river meets the sea here. Rich with paddy fields, mangroves, and floating markets - this is an experience in itself.
Washington: Russian President Vladimir Putin is isolating himself from the international community, the White House said Friday a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him that it is not the time for war in Ukraine.

"Today's era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this," Modi told Putin during their meeting in Samarkand on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. "I know about your concerns. We want all of this to end as soon as possible," Putin told Modi.

The White House was asked about this.

"I think what you heard in Uzbekistan by both the leaders of China and in India are indicative of the fact that Mr. Putin doesn't have a whole lot of sympathetic ears out there to what he's been doing in Ukraine, John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, told reporters at a news conference.

"This was supposed to be a show of unity around Vladimir Putin, and the Indian Prime Minister just told him that it is not the time for a war in Ukraine. So is it your view that maybe the alliances that Putin was able to forge or to maintain around the war in Ukraine are, you know, weakening or crumbling? a reporter asked Kirby.

"And do you expect other countries to change their stance publicly like India just did?? he was asked.

"He (Putin) is only further isolating himself from the international community. We don't believe that now's the time to be doing any business as usual with Russia with respect to what they're doing in Ukraine, Kirby said.

"Again, look at the imagery out of Izium. I don't know how any world leader can look at that and determine that it's okay to do business as usual in Russia. I think you're starting to see even countries who were not vociferous and strident in opposing him are beginning to question what he's doing in Ukraine, and rightly so, because it's just brutal, said the White House official.

"It's absolutely depraved and brutal. And I think it's becoming more and more obvious to the rest of the international community what Mr. Putin and his soldiers are capable of in the worst possible way, Kirby said in response.
For years, the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau has been blazing trails of opportunity built around promoting the area as a weekend getaway for travelers.

This trend started in 2017 with the launch of the Cumberland Valley Beer Trail that capitalized on the success of the emerging microbrewery scene in Carlisle and Cumberland County.

What started out as a travel itinerary on a blog became a game where participants can access an online passport and check in at up to 30 locations. For every five to 10 check-ins, users can earn prizes.

In 2021, the Beer Trail generated about $167,000 in revenue for the local economy, said Kristen Rowe, director of destination marketing for the bureau.

In late July, she briefed the county commissioners on statistics from the first and second quarters of 2022. During that six-month period, the bureau had 1,552 people sign up for passports, mostly from the Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Harrisburg-Lancaster-Lebanon-York metropolitan areas.

Which is where were promoting the Beer Trail, Rowe said. Were glad to see that the advertising is working.

On May 26, the bureau launched the Cumberland Valley Ice Cream Trail that featured 17 locations in Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Shippensburg and the West Shore.

Like the Beer Trail, the advertising campaign focused on bringing in travelers from nearby metropolitan areas. As of late July, Rowe reported that there were 1,094 participants who signed up for passports.

This falls in line with our leisure advertising strategy, said Ashley Kurtz, marketing manager for the bureau and the Cumberland Area Economic Development Corp.

We know that our target market is not coming to the Cumberland Valley for a weeklong vacation, Kurtz said. Theyre going to the beach. Where we have the opportunity to attract them is the weekend getaway. Something that is easy, nearby and fun to do. These are what we call gamified trails meaning you are awarded for participating in them.

The Ice Cream Trail was in effect through Sept. 6, when the bureau launched its Fall Fun Trail consisting of eight farm attractions and 10 outdoor spots that showcase the activities and foliage that highlight the changing seasons.

The farm attractions include corn mazes, play areas for children and opportunities for families to pick their own apples, pumpkins and sunflowers, Kurtz said. The outdoor spots include all three state parks in Cumberland County along with other destinations where visitors and residents can view the fall colors either on hikes or on drives, she said.

The passports give us the opportunity to connect with a lot of partners we dont always have the opportunity to promote, Kurtz said. When looking at leisure travel, the bureau considers attractions and experiences that are distinctive to the county, she said. This look inward formed the basis of the upcoming Cumberland Valley Coffee & Chocolate Trail.

We have a nice selection of chocolate shops where they are making their own chocolate or making it nearby and bringing it in, Kurtz said. We have specialty chocolate not found anywhere else. We just thought it was a really fun opportunity, especially for a trail that were going to start promoting in the winter when its cold and theres not as much to do outdoors. They will have something that is cozier, comforting.

Valentines Day is one of the reasons the bureau is going to promote the Coffee & Chocolate Trail within the first quarter of 2023, Kurtz said. Valentines Day and Easter are some of the biggest candy holidays.

While most of the Trails are seasonal, the Beer Trail is almost year-round. We do take it down for a few weeks every year just to refresh it, Kurtz said. Much of the underlying strategy behind the gamified trail approach could be traced to market conditions that made Carlisle a natural draw for beer aficionados.

In October 2017, Chad Kimmel of Grand Illusion Cider told the Sentinel the microbrewery scene is supported in Carlisle by a mix of institutions that include the Army War College, Dickinson College and Penn State Dickinson School of Law. Local demographic variations in age, generational preferences and education also supported growth, he said.

Another factor is the diversity of people who pass through Carlisle every year, Mike Moll of Molly Pitcher Brewing said in 2017. He said the War College brings in people from around the world while the shows held by Carlisle Events bring in visitors from all over the country.

Like other drivers in the local economy, the system of gamified trails is fed by an extensive network of interstate highways that provide easy access for visitors from major Northeast towns.

The Arrivalist is an online resource the bureau uses to track the frequency, point of origin and the duration of visits by visitors coming into Cumberland County for events or attractions.

Of the 4.8 million arrivals in the county in 2021:

55% involved repeat visitors

52% involved visitors who spent two or more days in the county

31% of the visitors were from 50 to 99 miles away

19% of visitors arrived in Cumberland County on a Friday.

The top five origin markets of visitors to Cumberland County were Philadelphia, New York, Washington, D.C., the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area and Pittsburgh.

We do see a lot of people, said Cassie Fourlas, general manager of the Molly Pitcher Brewing Co. in Carlisle, which has been on the Beer Trail since it started.

This is a nice guide for people, she said. Theyre able to find the hidden gems.

Some of the customers visiting the Cumberland Valley Beer Trail are from areas that host their own beer trails. They like to experience the trails in other areas, Fourlas said. They become beer travelers.

The changeover in recent years from a paper passport with stickers to a digital app has made it much easier on Molly Pitcher staff members to keep track of beer trail enthusiasts coming to their 139 W. High St. venue.

Seve-N-Dots Publik Pizza Place, 40 E. Louther St., Carlisle, got on the trail about six months ago, Manager Whitney Waltz said. Its been doing OK. Some of the guys used to live here. They see were on the trail and stop by.

Relatively new to brewing, Seve-N-Dots is trying to build up its brand and inventory of craft beer.
Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was seen attending an event at a mosque in Tehran on Saturday, according to pictures and a video published on Irans government websites and state media, one day after reports circulated about of his deteriorating health.

One picture showed Ayatollah Khamenei wearing a mask and greeting the crowd attending the ceremony, which marked the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein.

Other pictures showed him seated on a chair to the right side of the room, holding prayer beads and looking at the imam delivering the sermon.

In a 12-minute video, the Ayatollah was seen listening and interacting during the event, where Shia worshipers gather to mark the end of a 40-day mourning period that commemorates the seventh-century death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. A video on state media showed Khamenei addressing the crowd at the event.

The New York Times said on Friday that Khamenei canceled all public appearances last week after falling gravely ill and was under observation by a team of doctors.

Citing four anonymous people familiar with his health situation, the Times reported Khamenei is on bed rest after undergoing surgery sometime last week for bowel obstruction.

The pictures posted on several of Irans media outlets indicate that the 83-year-old Ayatollah was physically able to appear in public at the event.

Ayatollah Khamenei has been the leader of Iran for the last three decades and is one of the longest serving rulers in the Middle East. It remains unclear who might succeed the leader, but it is expected that in the event of his death the Assembly of Experts will convene to discuss his successor.

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A federal judge approved a fund Friday for more than 1,000 people who said they were sexually abused by a former physician at the University of Michigan, according to court documents.

The order allows victims of Dr. Robert Anderson to start collecting some of the $490 million settlement negotiated with the school earlier this year, according to the documents filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Anderson, who worked at the university from 1966 to 2003, has been accused of sexual assault against hundreds of students  including a two-time Super Bowl champion and a former world-class wrestler. Anderson died in 2008.

Last year, an investigation commissioned by the university into the allegations found that university officials failed to act on the reports.

The settlement finalized Friday required consent from 98% of the claimants and was done through a a neutral, third-party mediator who was appointed by a judge, the university said in a Friday news release.

The University of Michigan offers its heartfelt apology for the abuse perpetrated by the late Robert Anderson, university Board of Regents Chair Paul Brown said in a statement. We hope this settlement helps the healing process for survivors.

The victims are responsible for deciding how to divide the settlement funds, the university added.

This settlement allows the university to protect future generations of students and everyone in the university community, university president Mary Sue Coleman said. It complements a separate settlement reached earlier this year that adds a Coordinated Community Response Team to the best practices now in place.

That team was created to improve the universitys response to sexual misconduct reports, according to the university.

The allegations at the University of Michigan mirror those in years past against Larry Nassar at Michigan State University and Richard Strauss at Ohio State University  both doctors who abused their trusted positions to sexually abuse college students and athletes. The cases also involve allegations that powerful institutions ignored or otherwise dismissed complaints about sexual misconduct.

Story continues

Sexual abuse allegations span decades

The investigation into the allegations against Anderson began in March 2020, and a report on the findings dated May 2021 concluded that he had sexually assaulted and abused at least several hundred patients.

After dozens of interviews, the inquiry also found that the university failed to act on reports of egregious misconduct.

The 240-page extensive report cites interviews with hundreds of former patients, as well as approximately 200 current and former University employees, including administrators, faculty members, and coaches, as well as additional (University Health Services), Athletic Department, and Michigan Medicine personnel.

Initially, Anderson served as a University Health Services doctor and was moved to the Athletic Department in 1981 after credible reports of misconduct were relayed to Thomas Easthope, the then-assistant vice president of student services, in 1978 or 1979, according to the report.

In an interview with the reports authors and sworn testimony, Easthope told investigators that he was aware of allegations against Anderson at the time, and claimed to have confronted Dr. Anderson and fired him, according to the report. But Mr. Easthope did not do so, the report said. Easthope died in February 2021.

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Former Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels listens as audio from his FDLE interview is played in court Wednesday.

Clay County's former sheriff says he was being stalked by his lover as he drove down Oakleaf Village Parkway on May 6, 2019, afraid that Cierra Smith might shoot him or he might shoot her if he stopped and things turned violent.

As the trial into whether he used his position to illegally order Smith's arrest entered its third day, the jury heard more admissions from Darryl Daniels as his Oct. 10, 2019, interview with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement interview was played.

"Dirty politics": Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels reaction to sex scandal arrest

Ex-Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels' lover: First to testify in his sex scandal trial

As Daniels sat quietly with his defense attorneys, he was heard apologizing to FDLE investigators for the grief he caused his wife when he finally told her of the affair with Smith, which started in 2014 when she was a Jacksonville corrections officer and he was her chief.

But part of the interview was about that May 6 drive home as Daniels stated he tried to get away from Smith when she appeared behind him, even driving over medians in a school parking lot. This happened only days after he said he told her "it's time to fall on my sword" and inform his wife about the affair.

Daniels is also heard saying he believed "she was out there for a long time" waiting for him to drive by since she did not know where he'd been that night.

"I felt like if I stopped that it could go south, as in a violent confrontation, a physical confrontation," Daniels said in the interview. "... The fact that she just showed up out of the clear blue sky was cause for alarm."

A summary of Darryl Daniels' case

Daniels, 57, was arrested Aug. 13, 2020, following the year-long FDLE investigation. Those charges include destroying evidence and three more counts of knowingly giving false information to deputies, court documents said.

More charges were filed in February against the suspended sheriff for two more counts of false reporting to law enforcement and a new one of tampering or destroying evidence, according to Clay County court records.

Story continues

The governor removed Daniels from office and appointed Michelle Cook as interim sheriff. Cook then beat Daniels and four others to become the county's first female sheriff, and she officially finished his term before taking the job full-time.

Affairs of the heart lead to trouble

Daniels' legal troubles began in 2019 when the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, where he had worked as jail director, announced an internal investigation into corrections officer Smith.

Smith has stated she met Daniels after getting hired in 2013, eventually becoming romantically involved with him "out of work on a weekly basis," according to information she provided in a Clay County report. She said she called off their relationship when she got engaged in 2015, then married and rekindled it with Daniels when she came back to work at the jail in 2019.

Based on the internal affairs investigation, then-Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams recommended Smith be fired that April.

New testimony details texts and FDLE interview

Wednesday jurors heard about the almost 2,000 text and voice messages that Daniels and Smith exchanged in the weeks before and leading up to her being taken into custody May 6 on the grounds of aggravated stalking and trespassing.

FDLE Inspector Keith Riddick spent a lot of time on the stand before and after the replay of Daniels' 2019 interview detailing those text messages recovered from the sheriff's cellphones, some sexually explicit.

Riddick related how Daniels, learning that Smith's internal affairs report with their affair included would soon be publicized by news media, texted her on April 26 that he must tell his wife.

"The only reason I want to be the one who breaks the news is to stop it from going viral," Riddick read from Daniels' text message to Smith. "If they [news media] tell it first, then it will take off. It will sting me, but I have to man up."

"This between me and you will be over soon," Riddick said Smith's response was. "You will never be able to see me again. If you want to save your marriage, I will be helpless."

Daniels' next message to Smith said he didn't know how his wife would respond to the news of the affair and probably would tell him to "call it quits."

On April 27, 2019, Smith texted Daniels, sounding sad, almost desperate as she said she knows what they have together is slowly coming to an end.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Inspector Keith Riddick presents information to the court Wednesday about the investigation into former Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels.

"There will be a point where you will not be able to be in any communication with me because you will be fighting for your marriage," Smith's message said. "I am about to lose everything. ... We both made some jacked-up decisions. But I remember telling you in the beginning that you will still have everything, and I have lost everything."

"Remember, I said I will help you," Daniels texted back that night.

FDLE records indicated that Daniels gave Smith $60,700 over time. He stated on the recording that it was his funds and never anything from the Sheriff's Office. He also said that while some of his text messages back and forth with Smith were probably explicit, they never had sex in a police car or on Sheriff's Office property.

"I never made a phone call to her from a Sheriff's Office cellphone or text," Daniels said.

Later text messages from Daniels to Smith detail how his wife, Denise, stormed out after he told her.

Riddick also related a May 3, 2019, text that Denise Daniels made to Smith using her husband's personal cellphone. She told Smith to never call again, that it was her phone and her husband doesn't want "your crazy ass."

FDLE report on Daniels: Suspended Clay County sheriff deleted cell phone data, used police resources, report says

Daniels faces judge for the first time: Suspended Sheriff Daniels pleads not guilty

Denise Daniels also called her a "low-budget ho," saying she would see her soon, Riddick related.

Smith texted back an image of her and Daniels.

"You just worry about standing by your husband's side when News4Jax airs this story," Smith's text said. "Good night grandma."

Smith had testified Tuesday that she and Daniels arranged a meeting on May 6 in an Oakleaf Village Parkway park where she could give him a copy of the police recording of a phone conversation between him and her husband. But when the 2019 FDLE interview with Daniels was played, the then-sheriff told investigators "That didn't happen."

He had tried to break up with Smith, but several unsuccessful attempts didn't work.

"It's like the breakup never happened," Daniels said.

Former Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels and Cierra Smith in an undated photo.

Daniels is then heard relating how he was driving home on May 6 from a meeting when he saw her Jeep pull in behind him. He said he made some turns to see if he was being followed, and she stuck with him. He said they went "around and around" for what seemed like 10 minutes, with "a million things going through my head" as he called his wife.

He said his wife told him to go to the empty school parking lot as he said he realized "it is not a good look" if people see the sheriff and Smith arguing in the crowded park parking lot across the street. Daniels said his wife drove over immediately and parked next to Smith after a deputy and sergeant appeared outside the school.

Daniels said the sergeant told him there was enough evidence to arrest Smith for aggravated stalking and trespass, and that's when he said he recused himself from the rest of the situation.

Clay sheriff: Public apology to wife

Clay sheriff's wife: Files for divorce

Deputies told prosecutors they didn't feel there was just cause to arrest Smith, and she was released later that night. But the 4th Circuit State Attorney's Office requested the FDLE investigate Daniels after recusing itself due to conflict of interest.

In the FDLE interview, Daniels expressed remorse and referred to himself as a poster child for what not to do in a marriage. But he said he wanted to make things right with his wife if possible. She filed for divorce in 2019.

"I am pretty sure I told her Cierra was crazy," he said. "Because of this breakoff, she is hostile; not hostile to my wife, just hostile, period."

Daniels' trial is expected to last the rest of the week. A St. Johns County judge is overseeing the trial to avoid any conflicts of interest.

dscanlan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4549

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels interview plays at sex scandal trial
Manti Te'o returned to South Bend, Indiana, Saturday ahead of Notre Dame's clash with California.

The 31-year-old had a legendary career with the Fighting Irish. He won the Maxwell Award and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up as a senior in 2012, when Notre Dame went unbeaten during the regular season and reached the national title game.

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.

For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app, homepage and social feedsincluding Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres rings the peace bell to mark the International Day of Peace at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 16, 2022. Guterres on Friday called for global solidarity, collective action, commitment and mutual trust on the occasion of the International Day of Peace, which falls on Sept. 21. (Mark Garten/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for global solidarity, collective action, commitment and mutual trust on the occasion of the International Day of Peace, which falls on Sept. 21.

"As we meet today (to mark the International Day of Peace), peace is under assault -- across regions, countries and communities," he told an annual peace bell ceremony. "The poison of war is infecting our world, jeopardizing the lives of millions, turning people against each other, pitting nation against nation, eroding security and well-being, reversing development."

War is also pushing our shared goals for the future farther and farther away, he added.

Instead of fighting each other on the battlefield, humanity should be rallying together to tackle common challenges, like poverty, hunger and inequality, climate change and biodiversity loss, the COVID-19 pandemic, and racism, said Guterres.

Advancing the cause of peace is the primary mission of the United Nations. But the task of building peace belongs to every person, he said.

"Now more than ever, we need global solidarity, collective action, commitment and mutual trust. It starts here, and it starts now. Let us sound the call for a world of peace for all people," he said, referring to the ringing of the peace bell.

In his remarks, Csaba Korosi, the president of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, said global peace is in grave danger.

More refugees and displaced persons are fleeing violence today than any time since the creation of the United Nations. There are more armed conflicts in the world than any time since the end of the Cold War. The consequences of the conflict in Ukraine are global and felt far beyond the region, he said.

That is a stark reminder that peace can always be threatened and no nation can take it for granted.

"It is my expectation that our work during the 77th session will be rooted in solidarity. It will seek sustainability. And it will consider what science has offered to help us shape a more peaceful world," said Korosi. "May the ringing of this bell stand for the freedom of equality -- of everyone everywhere."

As part of the ceremony, Guterres and Korosi rang the peace bell on the premises of UN Headquarters in New York.
The first Latina to become postmaster for the US Postal Service in Manhattan was sworn in on Friday  25 years after starting her career as a letter carrier, officials said.

Wanda Diaz is the first Puerto Rican woman to hold the role and also the third woman to be named postmaster, according to the agency.

As a carrier I said  one day Im going to be a postmaster, but its real far away, right? But working hard, people recognize me, and yes, I am, said Diaz during a ceremony Friday.

Diaz started at the postal service as a letter carrier in 1996 in the Bronx. Now as a postmaster, she is the executive responsible for overseeing mail to nearly 9 million customers, USPS said.

Diazs sister-in-law, Jeanette Diaz-Hernandez, said she was proud of her achievements.

She is an example of what many single women or women or people that come from difficult neighborhoods, what they can do when you have courage and you press on, Diaz-Hernandez said.

Her historic appointment came a day after Hispanic Heritage Month began on September 15, which will run through October 15. The month is intended to recognize and celebrate members of communities and their ancestors who hail from Mexico, parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America as well as Spain.

Hispanic Heritage Month has roots dating back to 1968, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill designating the week of September 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Week, according to the Office of the Historian and the Office of Art & Archives for the US House of Representatives.

Nearly 20 years later, President Ronald Reagan extended it to a month after Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois submitted a bill for expansion.

It starts in mid-September in acknowledgment of the anniversaries of national independence for a number of Latin American countries that fall either on or after September 15.

More than 62 million people identify as Hispanic or Latino in the US, about 18% of the nations population, according to the latest census data.

CNNs Dakin Andone contributed to this report.

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As a young man, Army 1st Sgt. Mike Schoelhamer chose to follow in his fathers footsteps by enlisting into the United States Army.

After making the decision, and taking those first steps, he spent the next 28 years serving his country.

Schoelhamer began his career as a finance specialist for four years but the majority of his active duty was spent in signal communications. For 15 years, he had the important job of keeping the lines of communication open. His final 9 years would be served in the Army Recruiting Command.

Schoelhamer said he chose the Army because as a youngster he was motivated by its history as the oldest and largest branch.

When asked why he continued serving for 28 years, Schoelhamer said, he felt a sense of pride in what he was doing.

Serving the country, I felt like I was doing something, Schoelhamer said. It just made me feel good about taking care of people at home. I felt patriotic, I guess.

Growing up in a patriotic family, I felt drawn to serving in the military and desired to do something meaningful, Schoelhamer said. My father served in the US Army in the 1960s, many of my uncles have also served. My uncle Dean was in the Air Force. My uncle Jim was in the Army. My uncle Mike was in the Marines. Then my great uncle Mike, who I got my middle name of Michael from, he fought in the 1940s and died in the Pacific during the battle of Leyte Island in defense of this great nation, earning him a Purple Heart.

Schoelhamer has also seen an active war zone as he was deployed to Tirana, Albania during the Kosovo Conflict.

The year was 1998-1999, Schoelhamer was stationed in Germany at the time when his battalion received orders to deploy to Albania for Task Force Hawk.

We rail loaded our equipment from Germany to Tirana and we got on a C130 and flew in, Schoelhamer said. We were with the infantry when we first got to Tirana there and set up on the airbase. Then, got out on a perimeter and all that. Tirana is right there next to Kosovo. We went out the wire and went on convoys.

Schoelhamer said he was only there for maybe six months but that was long enough.

It wasnt long at all but it was a pretty serious thing going on at the time, Schoelhamer said. I didnt have to stay as long because with communications you do your thing, get it all set up, make sure it is working 24 hours a day, no hiccups and somebody comes and replaces you.

Schoelhamer said during his deployments, he was able to see a lot of different cultures and it has opened his eyes to what is going on everywhere.

I think it made me definitely more knowledgeable to what is going on all around, Schoelhamer said. When I was deployed in Bosnia and Kosovo and Albania, third-world countries, you are in Humvees driving along dirt roads with kids running behind us because they are starving.

"It really makes you appreciate what you have back here. It is something that I wont ever forget. We would throw them some things but it just makes you feel so bad.

Schoelhamer also spent five years in Germany and 18 months in Korea. During his 28 years, he was also able to experience many different parts of the United States including Fort Lee in Petersburg, Virginia, Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia, Fort Leonard Wood in St. Robert, Missouri, Fort Dix near Trenton, New Jersey, Fort Lewis near Marysville, Washington, Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Fort Knox located in Fort Knox, Kentucky, just to name a few.

When asked if he would do it all over again, Schoelhamer gave a resounding yes.

My feeling of service to my country and personal accomplishment will always be with me, Schoelhamer said.

As a volunteer for Heart & Soul Hospice, Schoelhamer continues to make an impact on his country, his community, and his fellow veterans. Part of his volunteer duties includes presenting/awarding veterans certificates in order to thank them for their service and sacrifices.

I also like to listen and share stories with them and let them know they will never be forgotten, Schoelhamer said. I definitely have a good relation with any veteran.

"You have veterans that have disabilities, PTSD, brain trauma, and just talking to another veteran they understand the lingo and they know that you are a brother in arms or sister in arms. They know that Ive walked the same ground. It is a common ground that we can relate to and it definitely helps.

When asked what advice he would give to someone thinking about going into the service, Schoelhamer said to follow your heart and soul.

Serving in the military is a life-altering decision and what you make of it will determine your success and the positive impact you make, Schoelhamer said.
The state of the economy has been a major concern this past year and was nearly derailed further by a labor dispute.

Early Thursday, rail companies and their workers reached a tentative agreement to avert a strike that could have shut down the nations freight trains, further adding to supply chain problems that have persisted since the start of the pandemic.

Mortgage rates hit another high this week, topping 6% for the first time since the housing crash in 2008. A year ago the rate was below 3%.

Small businesses are feeling the crunch as consumers pull back on spending, and income inequality has been on the rise.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden unveiled a plan to modernize airports during a stop in Boston and touted a commitment to electric vehicles at the auto show in Detroit.

The midterm elections are right around the corner, so well take a look at how President Biden has altered messaging as well as his approval rating, potential abortion legislation, shifting politics in Georgia and the latest news on former President Donald Trump.

This past Sunday was the 21st anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. We listen to details on memorials from the day as well as the status of the mastermind behind the attacks.

In other national news, there have been many societal changes since the start of the pandemic. Two suspicious packages, including one that exploded, were found in Boston. A onetime aid to Andrew Cuomo is suing the former New York governor.

A deal ended a teachers strike in Seattle. Ken Starr, who investigated former President Bill Clinton, died. It was the 60th anniversary of President Kennedys moonshot speech. And there was an unwanted patron at a North Dakota bar.

Details have been released for Mondays funeral services for Queen Elizabeth II as the United Kingdom mourns its longtime monarch.

In other international news, Ukraine has made progress in pushing back its Russian invaders. We listen to details, as well get an update on the state of a nuclear plant and Russias attempts to influence foreign politics.

Plus, Iranian citizens have been charged in a hacking campaign and the state of COVID in the Philippines.

And finally, in health and technology news, a look at the perception of healthcare in the U.S. and concerns over misinformation on TikTok.

 Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports
One man was arrested in Ault after an hours long standoff with Weld County Sheriff's Deputies. Weld County SWAT was activated after police received calls that Ault resident Marshall Wayne Johnson, 40, threatened to burn down a camping trailer while it was still occupied.

Police were sent to the 21000 block of Colorado Highway 14 at about 3 p.m. after a resident called 911. Johnson was allegedly outside the camper with a can of gasoline and threatened to light the van on fire with the caller and another person still inside.

Johnson returned to his home when police arrived and barricaded himself inside. The earlier callers told police they were worried he may try to light his own home on fire.

The Weld County Sheriff's Office negotiations unit responded and engaged in negotiations with Johnson for hours. By 9 p.m., Johnson surrendered himself without incident. No injuries were reported.

Johnson is being held on felony charges of second-degree burglary, menacing and attempted first-degree arson and misdemeanor charges of harassment, third-degree criminal trespass and theft according to the Weld County Sheriff's Office.

Those with any additional information on this incident are asked to call (970) 400-5392. Anyone with information regarding this or any other crime is asked to call the Weld County Sheriffs Office at (970) 356-4015 or Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Soldiers escort coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 16, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Wang Yijie)

SHENYANG, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Escorted by two Chinese J-20 stealth fighter jets, a Y-20 military transport aircraft carrying the remains and belongings of the fallen soldiers landed at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, at around 11 a.m.

This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014.

Around 400 representatives from central and local authorities, the military, veterans of the war, family members of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs and students attended a ceremony at the airport to welcome the remains of the soldiers.

Following the event, the remains were escorted to the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, where a burial ceremony will be held on Saturday.

"I don't know their names, but I know they are heroes and deserve our memory forever," said Chen Meixu, a student in Shenyang, who attended the ceremony.

"Today, my brothers finally return home," said Li Weibo, a CPV veteran, wiping tears from his eyes.

"Sometimes, I forget what happened yesterday, but I have never forgotten what happened more than 70 years ago," the 90-year-old said.

Escorted by police motorcycles, the motorcade carrying the remains of the CPV martyrs drove past thousands of residents who packed the street to take part in the solemn procession.

The remains of 825 soldiers returned from the ROK and were laid to rest in the cemetery between 2014 and 2021.
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When you hear people talk about previous lives, theyll usually get around to letting you know that in their past incarnation, they were someone special. A princess, or a king. Joan of Arc, maybe, or an Egyptian pharaoh.

Statistically speaking, its more likely they were a scullery maid, an anonymous person in the 15th century rabble at Rouen who cheered as flames licked at the heretic Joan, or a serf toiling in the shadows of a European castle. Someone who was perpetually muddy, hungry, and toothless.

I suspect I was a humble grocery store worker  not that I have visions of past experiences moving soup cans around or putting the ugly fruit at the bottom of shrink-wrapped packages. Instead, its my affinity for grocery stores that makes me wonder. Its like a siren song. I see a grocery store, and have to make the time to go in and look around.

My father used to do this, but it was a byproduct of his work. He was a sales rep for Procter and Gamble, and grocery stores were the bean fields of his labor. He was always checking prices outside his territory. Once in his later years, he proudly showed me a picture of a box of detergent hed photographed while visiting one of my sisters in Germany. It had an unfamiliar name and logo. This is German Tide, he said with a hint of pride-of-ownership. I always think of that when someone mentions the line from Pulp Fiction when Vince Vega asks Jules if he knows what they call a Quarter-Pounder with Cheese in a French McDonalds. Royale with cheese, Vince says proudly.

So why am I more likely to believe I was a stock boy in a previous life instead of picking up a habit of my father? Its simple. Father always compared prices. I never do.

Well, almost never. Because I find the prospect of going to the grocery store as exciting as a dog gets about the suggestion of a walk, Ive offered to make grocery trips for our friends if they need something and dont want to get out. Recently a friend recuperating from an injury took me up on the offer. I was pleased to help, and gathered the items on her list. When I picked up some paper products, I noticed the price label. It was about $18  about three times what I would have guessed.

I might have learned from that experience that I should pay more attention to prices. My inclination is to do the opposite. Cliches are cliches for a reason; I can attest that in certain cases, ignorance is indeed bliss. I could tie myself in knots over the price of gasoline, but I dont know what it cost a year ago or a month ago. It costs what it costs.

On the other hand, I welcomed the arrival of Publix because of the vaunted BOGO program. My impulse is to view such initiatives with skepticism. So what if hominy is on BOGO? I dont want one, and I really dont want two, even if theyre both free. But Publix routinely has really good stuff on BOGO. For instance, ice cream routinely makes the list.

We have an elaborate procedure for grocery shopping that may or may not be a nod to my growing idiosyncrasy. Theres a Publix list, a Sams list, and another for the Pig. Only at the Pig can one find the good grits with the bag that will seal up after you open it. And the Pig carries the biscuits in the striped bag which, while far superior to the multinational conglomerate Grands biscuit, are nowhere to be found in the more high-brow victual emporia.

It has taken a while, but I finally have all this straight, and no longer bounce from IGA to Pig to Winn-Dixie looking for a particular jelly bean.

I also know where to get outstanding chicken salad, but I wont broadcast it. Otherwise, I may never be able to find it again.

What Im reading, still: Ann Patchetts collection of exquisite essays, These Precious Days, Shelby Van Pelts inventive novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures, and the oddly alluring Adventures with the Mojave Phone Booth by Godfrey Doc Daniels.
One of the bedrock American freedoms  ones right to speak freely  isnt an exclusively American concept dreamed up by the founding fathers in the late 1700s. It dates at least as far back as classical Greece, where it was referred to as parrhesia  a cornerstone of Athenian democracy in the 4th century BC.

Its interesting that parrhesia  cherished by ancient Greeks and contemporary Americans alike  is now under fire in 21st century Alabama, on the campuses of the University of Alabama, themselves descended from the academy of Plato, where the free exchange of ideas shaped intellectual thought.

Last week, the Alabama Supreme Court heard arguments in a case brought against the University systems free speech areas that limit speech activities to specific areas of campus.

In defending the universitys stance, its lawyers described the plaintiffs case with curious use of the German phrase sturm und drang with its hint of the sinister, asking the court to protect the university against anarchy and mob rule.

Its not difficult to imagine that anarchy and mob rule would more likely result not from free speech, but the suppression of it.

The University of Alabama System isnt alone in its quest to limit students right to free speech to meticulously chosen corrals on its campuses. Other universities have enacted similar rules. All of them are wrongheaded.

The state Supreme Court, in considering the case of free speech zones on Alabama campuses, should see through the oppressive intent of free speech zones and side with the plaintiffs right to expression without geographical restraint.
A representative of Bosch Vietnam speaks at a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 17, 2022. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Government Portal

Foreign-invested firms expect the Vietnamese government to ensure a consistent business environment and offer transparent tax policies to secure long-term investment.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday, a representative of German engineering and electronics company Bosch in Vietnam pointed out the inconsistencies in legal regulations that make it difficult for them to invest in the country.

"Quick changes in policy can make it difficult for both businesses and tax authorities to enforce and comply," he commented.

The representative said after the 2019 inspection, the tax incentives that Bosch received were partially abolished as per regulations introduced after it made its first investment steps.

Such changes went against investment protection terms specified in the Investment Law, he said.

Referring to tax policy, a representative of Eurocham also said the top priority for European investors is transparency in tax law development.

For many years, Vietnam has used corporate income tax incentives as a top priority for attracting investment. With the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to implement the global minimum tax rule in the near future, the Eurocham representative suggested that Vietnam could apply policies from Europe and other countries to directly support investors.

Finance Minister Ho Duc Phuc said Vietnam has made many tax reforms. The common tax rate has been lowered by 5% to 20%, for instance.

In some areas of investment incentives, the tax rate is currently 10%. Depending on the subject, the preferential tax rate can be 9% within 30 years. Some businesses can be exempt from taxes for the first six years, and have payable tax reduced by 50% in the next 13 years.

"This is a very favorable mechanism," he said.

Administrative procedures are also a concern among foreign business representatives in Vietnam. They complained the lengthy procedure is causing a lot of trouble and wasting time.

Tim Evans, CEO of HSBC in Vietnam, said the average an investor needs is six to nine months to set up a business in Vietnam, while they expect the licensing time to be shortened to three months.

Evans proposed state management agencies should have regular discussions with FDI enterprises to clarify regulations related to capital flow, financing, business establishment and incentives.

The Eurocham representative also suggested the government should soon approve the Power Development Master Plan VIII to make way for the transition to green and clean energy projects in Vietnam.

"We don't want to put a burden on the Vietnamese economy as well as raise electricity prices. We just want to have a specific roadmap for the energy transition," the Eurocham representative said.

During the meeting, PM Chinh also pledged to create a safe and transparent investment environment and urged foreign companies to keep faith while doing business in Vietnam.
A durian tree is seen in the Central Highlands. Photo by VnExpress/Thi Ha

For the first time, Vietnam will export fresh durian to China under the official quota, which reduces farmers risks.

The batch of 20 containers with hundreds of kilograms would be shipped from the central highlands province of Dak Lak under a protocol signed by both countries, Hoang Trung, head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developments plant protection department, said.

Chinese customs officials have approved 76 codes for durian farming areas and packaging in Vietnam.

Vietnam enjoys an advantage in that China has not succeeded in growing the fruit in the provinces of Yunnan and Haian and Guangxi Region.

Exporting under the official quota means exporters and buyers sign a contract before delivery enshrining higher quality standards and farmers face lower risks.

Under unofficial trade, the fruits are transported to the border but might be sent back if the quality is deemed low, or if there are no buyers, causing losses for farmers.

Most durian is exported to China, Vietnams biggest market, unofficially and in refrigerated trucks.

In the first six months of this year durian exports to China were up 123% to US$2.86 million, according to Vietnam Customs.
By Nam An September 17, 2022 | 06:11 am PT

Nguyen Van Thuong is held in Long An for smuggling two pistols through the border from Cambodia, September 16, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Van Dat

A man in the Mekong Delta's Long An Province was found smuggling two pistols through the border from Cambodia on Friday.

Nguyen Van Thuong, 31, was found carrying two K59 pistols when he crossed the border through My Quy Tay in Duc Hue District Friday afternoon.

Long An border guards, in cooperation with customs officials, checked Thuong's luggage and found the pistols, along with 25 bullets. He was then detained for further investigation.

Long An has a border spanning over 134 kilometers, next to Cambodia's Svay Rieng and Prey Veng borders. Since the beginning of this year, authorities have detained over 30 people for illegally crossing the border.

Vietnam does not allow gun ownership among residents.
A group of over 50 Vietnamese workers who fled a casino in Cambodia's Svay Rieng province near Moc Bai border gate were caught by Cambodian authorities on Saturday afternoon.

Authorities in the southern province of Tay Ninh, home to Moc Bai, confirmed that at around 2 p.m., 56 Vietnamese people working in a casino in Bavet Town in Svay Rieng ran from the casino to the main road towards the Moc Bai border gate, around one km from the casino, due to "work disagreements."

But Cambodian police held this group back for investigation.

"The province has sent forces to coordinate with Cambodian authorities to protect Vietnamese citizens and clarify the case," a Tay Ninh official said.

A one-minute-long video recorded by local people shows the group fleeing from the casino under heavy rain. There were many people in black uniforms chasing after them. Some fell and were beaten and arrested by these people.

Over 50 Vietnamese flee Cambodia casino Hon 50 nguoi Viet thao chay khoi casino Campuchia Over 50 Vietnamese run from a Cambodia casino near Vietnam's Moc Bai border gate, September 17, 2022. Video acquired by VnExpress

Tran Ngoc Binh, 32, one of the escapees, said he was tricked into working for the Cambodian casino three months ago. Binh said he and many people were put to stay on the eighth floor of a building with high walls and only one exit. He worked on computer for 12 hours a day, and was not allowed to go out.

Binh said nearly 20 people discussed the escape several days ago. They planned to just run and seek help from people outside the casino. As there were no managers around on Saturday afternoon, they called on each other to escape.

Truong Giang, another escapee, said the casino's owner and managers were avoiding Cambodian police who came to inspect the casino this morning. The Vietnamese workers speculated that they would be sold to another boss, so they decided to run.

"When we broke open the door on the eighth floor, there were only a few guards and they did not try to stop us. But when we reached the casino gate, guards here chased after us and beat us with canes. Around 10 of us were caught," Giang said.

By 6:30 p.m., one of the escapees told VnExpress that Cambodia authorities have arranged for all of them to stay at a hotel to serve the investigation.

Vietnamese who escaped from a Cambodian casino are taken to a hotel, September 17, 2022. Photo acquired by VnExpress

The escape was the second major one by Vietnamese workers in Cambodia reported the past month.

On August 18, 40 Vietnamese swam across the Binh Di River to escape from the Phoenix casino in Cambodia to Vietnam's An Giang Province.

One of two other people who had also attempted to escape  a teenage boy  drowned in the river, while another was captured by the casino people.

The Vietnamese said they were held at the casino against their will and subjected to torture.

In the first half of this year, the Ministry of Public Security has busted several rings smuggling people to Cambodia for illegal work.

Authorities have rescued hundreds of Vietnamese citizens and supported thousands of others in Cambodia with procedures to return home.
The front of the unfinished Ha Long Station, where market gatherings take place. Photo by VnExpress/Le Tan

Over VND300 billion ($12.6 million) have been invested in a northern railway station, but for nearly two years, it has been used as a parking space and local market.

Ha Long Station is a part of Ha Long - Cai Lan, a sub-project of the Yen Vien - Pha Lai - Ha Long - Cai Lan railway construction project. Construction started in 2005, but by October 2011, only the 6-km section of Ha Long - Cai Lan Port - Ban Co Overpass was completed and put in use, while the remaining 120 km was left unfinished due to financial difficulties.

Built to international standards, Ha Long Station has a waiting room, a ticket office, an operating area and a working area for employees. The station also has an underground area to help passengers access another train without having to cross the railway, a souvenir shop, a playground for children and a food zone.

However, after nearly ten years of operation, the station only receives a single train carrying passengers and goods from Yen Vien, Hanoi every day.

Nguyen Duc Tan, head of Ha Long Station, said that the Yen Vien - Cai Lan route has not been completed and rail infrastructure is not synchronized. While most railways in Vietnam have a gauge of 1,000 mm, the Yen Vien - Cai Lan railway follows the international standard gauge (1,435 mm), so it is only able to run from Hanoi to Thai Nguyen and Dong Dang, both in northern Vietnam.

The train running from Ha Long to Hanoi's Yen Vien thus has to go around Kep Station in Bac Giang Province and then enter the Hanoi - Lang Son route to reach Yen Vien. The train used on this route is really old and slow as it has been operating since 1987. It takes seven hours from Ha Long to Yen Vien by train, while only three hours by car.

Tan and three staff members take turns cleaning the station every day even though there is no train coming here.

"We still get paid, but its sad that there is no train coming. We have no clue what the fate of this railway would be," Tan said.

Currently, the area around Ha Long Station is used for parking and a market. On the railway, trains stand to rust. The two-story operating center is also empty.

A carriage left to rust on the railway. Photo by VnExpress/Le Tan

Recently, voters of Quang Ninh Province asked authorities to consider the feasibility of the Yen Vien - Pha Lai - Ha Long - Cai Lan railway project.

On Tuesday, in a reply to voters, the Ministry of Transport said the railway network plan is to complete Yen Vien - Pha Lai - Ha Long - Cai Lan by 2030 in order to develop transportation, ensure connectivity and optimize transport costs along the route.

The Yen Vien - Pha Lai - Ha Long - Cai Lan project is 131 kilometers long with a total investment of VND7,665 billion and divided into four sub-projects operating independently. Starting in 2005, only one sub-project, Ha Long - Cai Lan, has been completed. The remaining three sub-projects including Yen Vien - Lim, Lim - Pha Lai, Pha Lai - Ha Long have already seen ground clearance, road foundation construction and some other items.
Since Thursday morning, a day before stores began selling iPhone 14 models, many Vietnamese waited in front of an Apple Store on Orchard Street in Singapore, suitcases in tow. However, a store manager said that this year, the iPhones would not be sold directly. Only those who had pre-ordered them online could get them.

Many were disappointed with the announcement and waited for the store to change its decision or left to look for another store.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal says that the state budget has received a $1.5 billion grant from the United States via the World Bank Trust Fund.

"The state budget of Ukraine received a grant of $1.5 billion. This is the last tranche of $4.5 billion aid from the USA from the World Bank Trust Fund," Shmyhal said on Twitter.

Funds will be used to reimburse budget expenditures for pension payments and social assistance programs, he said.

The prime minister thanked U.S. President Joe Biden for supporting Ukraine.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's September 8 visit to Ukraine on behalf of U.S. President Joe Biden was intended to show his enduring support for Ukraine, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said.

"This visit itself was another confirmation of support for Ukraine. Blinken candidly said that it was President Biden who sent him to be here at a critical moment in the start of the counteroffensive. The Ukrainian army made important achievements. Even when the Secretary of State was here, he frankly said that came here on behalf of the president, to show undying support of the head of state, the administration, and the American people," Brink said on the national telethon on Friday.

Brink indicated that Blinken had a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and a very productive meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"They talked a lot about U.S. security and defense assistance to Ukraine, as well as future needs. I think it's very important that Secretary Blinken met with Ukrainian citizens," the ambassador said.

Brink also indicated that she was very happy to see how the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was going.

"Although it is still very early to say, I am very glad that the Ukrainians are able to retake the territories. I am proud of the help that we provide together with partners, that this helps achieve success. But I want to emphasize that this is the Ukrainian army, fighters, soldiers and citizens fight and die, giving their lives for their freedom, for their communities, their families. We are very proud to support them," she said.

The diplomat recalled that U.S. President Joe Biden said that the United States would stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary.

"The White House has already indicated that more assistance will be coming soon. Now we are actively engaged in supporting Ukraine in the future, and this 20th funding package, which the Secretary of State announced last week, is for this," Brink said.
Rumors that Washington is pushing the Ukrainian leadership to negotiate with the Russian Federation are an absolute lie, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink has said.

"This is an absolute lie. I can only reiterate what our President and Secretary of State and other high-ranking officials have said. They have said that only Ukrainians and the democratically elected leader of Ukraine, President Zelensky, can decide when and how this conflict should end and when and how to start negotiations. My assignment, and our collective U.S. assignment, is to support the Ukrainians in every way so that they have the strongest possible position at the negotiating table, and we do this by providing the most powerful position on the battlefield," Brink said on the national telethon on Friday.

So the ambassador commented on reports in the Russian media that Washington was allegedly pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to sit down at the negotiating table with the Russian Federation.
Russia repeated in Izium what it did in Bucha (Kyiv region), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video message on Friday evening.

"In Kharkiv region, investigations continue in areas liberated from Russian occupation. All the crimes of the rushists are being recorded, evidence of their guilt is being collected. Dungeons were found in which civilians of the occupied cities and towns were abused, premises in which people were kept  even foreigners," he said.

"The world must respond to all this. Russia repeated in Izium what it did in Bucha. And now we have just begun to learn the full truth about what was happening in this part of Kharkiv region," he said.

Zelensky welcomed the forthcoming trip of the UN mission to Izium. "It's good that the UN structures are already preparing a group of workers who will visit this place near Izium, who will see and be able to tell everyone in the UN system about what the Russian terrorists were doing," he said.

The President promised to "ensure full access for journalists to the liberated territory and all places of mockery of people, to give such access that will help inform the world that rushism must be condemned."

According to him, the Russians mocked and kept people, including foreigners, in enclosed spaces. "For example, citizens of the Republic of Sri Lanka, students of Kupiansk Medical College. Back in March, they were captured by Russian soldiers and kept in the basement. Only now, after liberation, these people were saved, they are provided with the necessary medical care," Zelensky said.
Spain sent five transport planes of the Spanish Air Force with ammunition for large-caliber artillery systems to Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.

"The Spanish Ministry of Defense officially announced that on September 9, 2022, a T-23 aircraft of the Spanish Air Force took off from the Torrejon de Ardoz air base [Madrid] and transports large-caliber field artillery ammunition to Ukraine. This is already the fifth flight with weapons transferred to Ukraine by Spain in recent days. Last week, four flights took off from a base in Roti [Cadiz] with the support of an ally country. In total, the cargoes carried out these days amount to 75 pallets of large-caliber ammunition," the message said on Facebook.

In addition, in response to the appeal of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine during the last ministerial meeting in Prague, the Spanish Ministry of Defense sent a truck with medical supplies.

Also, in response to a request from the Ukrainian authorities regarding materials and uniforms for the winter, twenty trucks with equipment have already left Spain, which were prepared during August by the logistics unit of the Spanish army.
According to updated data, a woman and an 11-year-old girl were injured as a result of missile strikes inflicted by the Russian occupying forces on Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region on Saturday, the girl later died in a hospital, Oleh Synehubov, head of the regional military administration, said.

"Unfortunately, the 11-year-old girl hospitalized in Chuhuiv died from her injuries. Another woman was injured amid the strikes on Chuhuiv, her condition is average," Synehubov wrote in his Telegram channel.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi wished new Italian PM Giorgia Meloni success in leading Italy toward prosperity and a bright future" in a message to congratulate the country's first-ever woman prime minister on her party's victory in the general elections last week.
The German show The Case DARC won the Best Show Award as The Cairo International Days for Monodrama Festival ended its fifth edition on Friday.
The Egyptian artist Ibrahim Abla reveals details of the upcoming caricature competition, Caricatunis, launched by the Fayoum Art Centre.

Ibrahim Abla is an Egyptian-Swiss artist and filmmaker. Son of the renowned visual artist Mohamed Abla, Ibrahim joined his father in the endeavours of the Fayoum Art Centre and manages Caricatunis, a caricature competition held by the Centres Caricature Museum.

Founded by Mohamed Abla in Tunis Village, where the artist had had a second home since 1985, the caricature museum is part of an entire artistic complex: the Fayoum Art Centre.

The first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, the centre opened its doors in 2009 with the aim of founding a space where the art of caricature can find the attention necessary for its effervescence. The museum houses 500 original caricatures by 50 different Middle Eastern artists.

The centre also holds residencies, a winter academy (a series of workshops for the artists), and the competition Caricatunis, the newest addition to the centre's activities.

Ibrahim Abla talked to Al-Ahram Hebdo about the competition, whose deadline for applications is 1 October, and about the Fayoum Art Centre.

Al-Ahram Hebdo: Tell us more about the third edition of the Caricatunis competition.

Ibrahim Abla: Caricatunis 2022 takes place under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. The event is divided into two sections: the Caricature and the Satirical Portrait.

The theme this year is Climate Change. We wanted to shed light on the challenges linked to climate change and its impact on future generations. Artists can consider thinking about ecological utopia, imagine living together, etc. This goes hand in hand with Egypt's current preparations to host COP27 next November.

The Caricature section invites artists to imagine the world of tomorrow. They are welcome to present both the optimistic views and dystopian visions.

In broader terms, however, Caricatunis is a universal call to action, addressed to civil society, to create partnerships for sustainable development between the private and public sectors. Artists, media people and corporations are expected to work together for much needed change.

AH: The Satirical Portrait section is dedicated to the famous cartoonist and caricaturist Georges Bahgoury (born in 1932 in southern Egypt). Why this choice?

IA: I admire Bahgoury as an artist. I also admire his way of carving portraits based on a single line, such as his famous sketches featuring Nasser. In fact, they are exhibited across many venues besides Caricatunis. You can find them in the permanent collection of the Caricature Museum, annexed to the Fayoum Art Centre.

AH: This is the third edition of Caricatunis. Tell us more about how the event has evolved so far.

IA: The first edition of Caricatunis in 2020 focused on celebrating the 10th anniversary of the caricature museum, located in the village of Tunis and renowned for its pottery.

The theme of the first competition was tourism. This choice was mainly inspired by preparations for the Pharaohs' Golden Parade, which took place in April 2021.

Also, the first edition was dedicated to the memory of Palestinian cartoonist Naji Al-Aly (1936-1987). Subsequently, we added to our permanent collection a section reserved for Arab caricatures.

The 2nd edition of Caricatunis, in 2021, had Humour as its theme and was dedicated to the memory of the first cartoonist in the Egyptian press, Mohamad Rakha (1910-1989).

AH: How can artists apply for the competition?

IA: The competition is open to all artists worldwide. Work should be submitted in JPEG, A3 and 300 DPI format. The works can be in black and white or in colour, made in any style or technique.

The applying artist must certify that the work is their own and authorise the organisers to reproduce all or part of the material for free publication and/or display in contest-related media (Facebook and Instagram).

Two prizes are awarded per section. The first prize is $500 (awarded by an international jury) and the second prize $250 (public vote on social media platforms). The deadline for submitting the works is 1 October 2022. Candidates must submit their works with a short biography indicating their nationality, attaching a personal photo to the following email: [email protected].

AH: Caricatunist is part of the Fayoum Art Centre located in the village of Tunis in Fayoum. What is the mission of the centre?

IA: Due to its location, the Fayoum Art Centre is far from the chaos of the city and the crowd. It was founded in 2006 by my father, visual artist Mohamed Abla.

The centre aims to connect art lovers, emerging visual artists, musicians, designers, filmmakers, writers, yoga practitioners, local, regional and international. It provides artist studios and open-air spaces, artistic residences in mini-apartments, workshops in various disciplines, a library, and living and creative spaces near the large Fayoum lake.

The centre also organises the Annual Winter Academy with courses lasting six weeks, from mid-January to the end of February. They follow the model of the International Summer Academy of Fine Arts in Salzburg, Austria.

Mohamed Abla taught there for several years. Among the mentors of this academy are names like the British John O'Carroll, the Swedish Karin Ward, the Nigerian Emeka Ogboh, the American Tavia La Follette, as well as Egyptian artists such as Hany Rashed.

After each semester, an exhibition is organised in Cairo by the Fayoum Art Centre to show the works of the winter workshops participants. This year, for example, we held the exhibition Searching for Zerzura, last March, in Sheikh Zayed at Cairos outskirts.

Similarly, another exhibition is scheduled for 15 October to be held at The Factory in downtown Cairo. The artists with the best works can also benefit from a residency grant at the Fayoum Art Centre.

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Kurdish forces in northeast Syria on Saturday announced the end of a three-week operation against Islamic State group supporters inside the overcrowded and increasingly lawless camp of Al-Hol.

They arrested more than 200 people, including dozens of women, discovered tunnels used by jihadists and seized an arsenal of weapons.

The internal security forces of the area's semi-autonomous Kurdish administration carried out the massive sweep of the camp, which houses tens of thousands of relatives of suspected IS members.

The number of murders inside the camp had risen recently, as had fears that Al-Hol was becoming the hub from which the jihadist organisation was planning its resurgence.

"The operation was launched following the increasing crimes of killing and torture committed by ISIS," a Kurdish statement said, using another acronym for IS.

The UN says more than 100 people have been murdered since the start of 2021 in Al-Hol, which lies in a remote area near the border with Iraq and is home to Syrian and Iraqi families, as well as around 10,000 of others, mostly women and children, originating from further afield.

The Kurdish security forces said IS had relied heavily on women and children in Al-Hol, most of whom had been there for more than three years, to spread the group's extremist ideology.

The last rump of the organisation's once-sprawling "caliphate" was retaken in March 2019, causing an exodus among the proto-state's last denizens.

The families of suspected IS fighters were herded into Al-Hol, a de facto detention camp which Kurdish forces are tasked with guarding and running.

Many countries, such as France which was among the biggest purveyors of foreign fighters to IS, have been reluctant to repatriate their citizens.

Kurdish forces said they made a total of 226 arrests, uncovered 25 "tunnels and trenches", confiscated assault rifles, a rocket-propelled grenade and 25 hand grenades.

The internal security forces also said they freed two women from Iraq's Yazidi minority who were being held by female IS sympathisers inside the camp, as well as four other women who were found chained.

Among the other discoveries were many communication devices used to coordinate with IS cells outside Al-Hol, organise money transfers and plan attacks, the statement said.

The Kurdish authorities reiterated their call on foreign countries to repatriate their nationals, arguing the world had "underestimated the seriousness of the threats in the camp".

"We also call on the relevant international parties to note the organic relationship between the Turkish intelligence services and ISIS cells," it said.

The internal security forces, also known as

Asayish, charged that one of the many NGOs active inside Al-Hol, the Turkey-based Bahar, was complicit in funnelling weapons and money into the camp.

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As part of a cultural cooperation agreement signed between Egypt and Albania last year, the Albanian capital is launching Egyptian Cultural Week.

The Cultural Week in Tirana will run from 19 to 25 September 2022.

A large number of Egyptian artists will showcase their work in a rich week of activities including music, dance, visual art, lectures, workshops, seminars, and film screenings.

The opening day (19 September) will present a concert by artists from the Cairo Opera House with an orchestra conducted by Nayer Nagui and featuring soprano Amira Selim, on the stage of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Tiran.

The performance will include a segment by the dancers from the Cairo Opera Ballet Company.

The cinema segment of the Culture Week will showcase The Blue Elephant, a 2014 film directed by Marwan Hamed (20 and 22 September), the 2009 romantic drama Cairo Time directed by Ruba Nadda (21 September), and action film Diamond Dust by Marwan Hamed (24 September).

The exhibition Description of Egypt will launch on 20 September at the National Library of Albania and continue throughout the Weeks days.

The programme includes lectures and seminars. Ahmed Ghobashi will talk about Egyptology on 21 September and the Egyptian representations of Mediterranean culture on 22 and 23 September, while novelist Ahmed Mourad will discuss Egyptian literature on 21 September.

Egyptian visual artist Ahmed El Shaer will give a workshop presenting contemporary art on 23 and 24 September with a focus on murals in a discussion held on the Culture Weeks final day (25 September).

The closing day will also feature a folk performance by the Egyptian dancers presenting the show at Skenderbej Square, a public square in the centre of Tirana.

The events will span across numerous venues in Tirana, targeting a large variety of audiences.

The venues include the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet, the Gjirokaster Castle, the National Gallery of Arts, Tirana University, the National Centre for Family Culture (Qendra Kombetare e kultures per familie), the Institute of Education, Heritage and Tourism, the Centre for Openness and Dialogue, the Ardian Klosi School, Skenderbej Square, and local cinemas.

Egyptian Culture Week is part of the cultural cooperation between two countries, based on an agreement signed between the Egyptian and Albanian prime ministers in October 2021.

The agreement comprised three cultural cooperation documents: an executive programme for cooperation between the Egyptian and the Albanian culture ministries, a protocol for cooperation between the General Egyptian Book Organisation and the Albanian Ministry of Culture, and a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of museums between the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt and the National History Museum in Albania.

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Moscow uses local currency settlement mechanism in trade exchange between Russia and Egypt - mutual acceptance of payments in the Russian ruble or the Egyptian pound - amid western sanctions that have blocked the country's access to the dollar and euro since the start of the Ukraine crisis, Russian Ambassador to Cairo Georgy Borisenko said.

In an interview with Sada El-Balad TV on Thursday, Borisenko explained that Russia uses a similar local currency settlement mechanism in its trade exchange with China  the Russian ruble and the Chinese yuan - under the framework of the Russian System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS).

Russia has pushed the Russian SPFS system as an alternative to to the international messaging system SWIFT after major Russian banks were removed from the SWIFT system as per western sanctions against Moscow following the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war in February.

Russia has been attempting to expand the number of countries that allow Russians to make overseas payments via its Mir payment cards, which were first issued in 2014, after US-based Visa Inc and Mastercard payments firms halted operations in Russia.

A number of countries have approved the use of Mir cards, including Turkey, Cuba, South Korea, and Vietnam.

Borisenko said Russia is working with the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) to approve the use of Mir bank cards in payments in Egypt soon*.

The approval of the use of the Mir card in Egypt will increase the number of Russian tourists to the country, the ambassador added.

Russian Egyptian economic cooperation

Egypt and Russia have enjoyed strong economic cooperation in the last several years, with trade exchange between the two countries reaching $4.7 billion in 2021 compared to $2.7 billion in 2018.

Russian tourists comprise the largest group of visitors to Egypt in recent years, bringing in millions in much needed foreign currencies to the country.

In 2021, more than 700,000 Russian tourists visited Egypt in 2021, according to figures reported by Borisenko last February.

In July of 2021, Russia lifted a six-year ban on direct flights to Egyptian Red Sea resort.

There are no official numbers for the total numbers and breakdown by country for tourists to Egypt so far in 2022.

Egypt relied on buying 80 percent of its wheat needs from Russia and Ukraine before the start of the war between the two countries.

The country continues to import wheat from Russia despite all disruptions in supply lines caused by the war.

Russia is also helping Egypt build its first-ever nuclear power plant to generate electricity for peaceful use.

* EGP = 3 Russian rubles

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Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shourky will embark on a trip to New York on Sunday to attend the High-Level Meetings of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 77), which will kick off the following day.





This year's theme, A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges, acknowledges the intertwined challenges facing the world today, such as climate change, global food and energy crises, the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, and aspirations for attaining the goals of sustainable development (SDGs).

In light of these challenges, Egypt, as the host of the upcoming global climate conference (COP27), is expected to play a critical role in this year's session, foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement on Saturday.

In addition to bilateral meetings with counterparts and international officials, Shoukry will participate in a number of important meetings and events during his trip, including the Munich-format meeting to advance the Middle East peace process, the spokesman said.

The minister's agenda also includes a ministerial meeting on the importance of water for ensuring food security, a ministerial meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) on coordinating international aid to the Palestinian people, and a ministerial meeting in support of The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

It also includes a meeting of a five-member committee on Yemen, and the ministerial meeting of the Ancient Civilizations Forum that will be held under the presidency of Iraq, Abu Zeid said.

Shoukry will also participate in a high-level meeting on food security, a roundtable event on regional stability and coordination in the Middle East, and a high-level Chinese-led dialogue on the Global Development Initiative, announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping last year.

He will also attend a ministerial meeting for the Group of 77 and China, which will tackle energy and food crises, a ministerial meeting for member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and a ministerial meeting for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the spokesman added.

The top diplomat will also take part in a high-level plenary meeting to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, a meeting on successful UN-peacekeeping missions, and a high-level meeting on climate change, Abu Zeid said.

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The Central Asian republics of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan traded new accusations Saturday over a ceasefire breach at their border where deadly clashes broke out over the past days.

Border disagreements have dogged the ex-Soviet republics throughout their three-decade independence with around half of their 970 kilometre-long (600 mile) frontier still contested.

The incidents took place in the southern Kyrgyz regions of Osh and Batken.

The two sides agreed a ceasefire Friday and Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon met his Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Japarov at a summit in Uzbekistan.

But the two countries traded blame for ceasefire violations only a few hours later.

On Saturday morning, Kyrgyz border authorities accused Tajik armed forces of attacking several border areas and settlements, including in the southern regions of Batken and Osh.

Talks between border guards from both sides took place in the Osh region during the day, according to Bishkek, which said this helped put an end to Tajik fire on three villages by midday.

Tajik border guards also said they would meet Saturday with representatives of the two sides to "discuss the stabilisation of the situation" and the "withdrawal of forces" sent to reinforce the border in the face of tensions.

But Dushanbe also accused the Kyrgyz army of firing twice in the morning on Tajik positions.

Tajik border guards said the situation was "relatively stable" at 10:00 am (0500 GMT) in a statement to official news agency Khovar.

But they still accused the Kyrgyz army of violating the ceasefire and "deploying military reinforcements" at the border.

"Tajik border areas are being fired at from the settlements of Samarkandek and Koktosh in the Batken region (of Kyrgyzstan)," Tajik border officials said.

Fears of larger conflict

At least 24 people have died and 122 people have been injured in the clashes, including children, according to the Kyrgyz health ministry.

In the Batken region, Kyrgyz authorities declared a state of emergency and the head of Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security, Kamchybek Tashiev, visited the scene to "coordinate the resolution of the situation."

On Saturday, Japarov said he would "not stop for a minute" efforts to settle the border with Tajikistan "as soon as possible", while promising that he would "not abandon a single square meter of land" in Kyrgyzstan.

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from Kyrgyzstan's border regions.

Tajikistan's interior ministry said civilians were killed in the clashes but did not provide figures.

In 2021, unprecedented clashes between the two sides killed at least 50 people and raised fears of a larger conflict.

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The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) implemented or signed binding deals to execute 10 projects worth EGP 25.5 billion in 2021, and is studying 44 projects for total investments worth EGP 140 billion over the coming five years, TSFE CEO Ayman Soliman said on Saturday.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly chaired today the first general assembly meeting of the TSFE to review the strategic vision of the Fund and the general investment policies that go in line with its goals, said a statement by the Cabinet.

The meeting also approved the estimated budget of 2022 and the annual financial lists.

A total of 10 projects were implemented or signed in 2021, despite global challenges, in utilities and infrastructure, tourism, real estate, antiquities development, financial services, digital transformation, education, and industry, said Soliman.

Projects under study for the next five years are in utilities and infrastructure, tourism, real estate, antiquities development, health services, pharmaceutical industries, agriculture and food industries, education, and other sectors, Soliman added.

The meeting reviewed the Funds strategy, implemented through its sub-funds established in 2020, to operate in real estate, tourism, and antiquities development.

Investments of the TSFEs infrastructure sub-fund will focus on energy transformation projects, including projects of solar and wind power, as well as green hydrogen and waste-to-energy projects, the statement said.

Egypt is pursuing green hydrogen and ammonia storage projects in cooperation with international partners amid the countrys plans to become a regional energy hub and its prioritisation of localising green hydrogen production.

Minister of Planning and Economic Development and Chairwoman of the TSFE Hala El-Said said at Saturdays meeting that the fund has the privilege of cooperating with counterpart Arab and foreign funds and various financial institutions to secure the required investment revenues.

Late in August, the TSFE announced that it has attracted investments worth $3.3 billion from other Arab sovereign funds throughout this year in green hydrogen, tourism, real estate investment, antiquities development, industry, financial services, digital transformation, and education.

Established in 2018 with EGP 200 billion in capital, the Sovereign Fund of Egypt aims to attract private investments into the Egyptian market by tapping underutilised assets that can boost the Egyptian economy.

In 2020, the TSFE ranked 43rd among 93 sovereign wealth funds globally in terms of asset size in a set of rankings created by the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute.

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Many private universities outside Seoul opened their new semester last week amid an unprecedented shortage of students.

Some 162 second- and third-tier universities in the provinces failed to fill their student quotas during regular admissions season that ended on Feb. 19. This was partly because just 493,000 students took the university entrance exam last year, a record low, with the result that an estimated 10,000 places remain unfilled, mostly at provincial universities that are nobody's first choice.

According to a tally of admissions numbers at 92 private universities nationwide by private crammer Haneul Education, they sought to recruit 11,879 more students, but only 1,983 applied.

Woosuk University in Wanju, North Jeolla Province was one of them, and it took desperate steps, offering to admit freshmen without submitting entrance exam scores and guaranteeing admission to all applicants. But it still fell short of 270 students.

A Woosuk University staffer said, "We came up with all kinds of ideas to recruit more students, but they were largely ineffective. We don't know what to do because applications are only going to drop further."
A regional police official said the victims at the burial site were killed by shooting or in shelling. Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Russian forces of perpetrating war crimes there. Russia has denied targeting civilians or committing war crimes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who visited the recaptured city Wednesday, said the Russians were responsible. "Russia is leaving death behind it everywhere and must be held responsible," Zelenskyy said in a video address late Thursday. He said he would release more information Friday about the mass burial site in Izium.

"This is just one of the mass burial sites discovered near Izium," said Mykhaylo Podolyak, a senior presidential aide. "In the occupied territories, rampant terror, violence, torture and mass murders have been reigning for months." The United Nations said it wants to send a team to investigate the site of the reported mass grave and determine the circumstances of the deaths.

Ukrainian officials say they've found at least 10 "torture centers" in territory recaptured from Russia in the country's east. This follows the discovery of a mass grave containing about 450 bodies at a site near Izium. The Russians occupied the city in the Kharkiv region until a Ukrainian counteroffensive pushed Russian troops from the region last weekend.

 Putin Aly Concerns

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Friday that now was not a time for war.

Putin has maintained that Russia is not isolated because of its ties with India and China. But at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in the Uzbek city of Samarkand, Modi publicly voiced his concerns about Russian action in Ukraine. "I know that today's era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this," Modi told Putin.

The Russian leader, who pursed his lips and looked down while Modi made his remarks, said Moscow is doing everything it can to end the conflict. "I know your position on the conflict in Ukraine, the concerns that you constantly express," Putin said. "We will do everything to stop this as soon as possible."

On Thursday, Putin acknowledged that Chinese President Xi Jinping also has concerns about the situation in Ukraine and he praised China's leader for his "balanced" position on the conflict.

 Continued Fighting

Meanwhile, a series of apparent targeted attacks against pro-Russian officials in occupied territories continued with a blast in the Russian-held city of Lugansk. The separatist administration's top prosecutor and his deputy were killed, pro-Moscow authorities said.

"Today, Prosecutor General Sergei Gorenko and his deputy Ekaterina Steglenko died as a result of a terrorist act," the press service of the leader of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic, Leonid Pasechnik, said on Telegram. He added that the attack "showed that Kyiv's regime had crossed all possible limits." Two other pro-Moscow officials were killed overnight in the southern port city of Berdyansk, according to pro-Russia local authorities.

There are also reports of intensified firing on the southern front of Kherson, where the Ukrainian army claims it has made gains over the past few days. A Moscow-installed official in the southern Zaporizhzhia region said Ukrainian forces struck Kherson city's administrative building, killing one and injuring another.

Ukraine has said it will target "collaborators" who work for or with Russian-installed administrations in towns occupied by Russia. Kyiv says it has taken back more than 7,800 square kilometers of territory occupied by Russia in the east and south of the country since the beginning of September.

NATO's secretary-general says that while Ukraine's counteroffensive against invading Russian forces has been very effective, it does not signal the beginning of the end of the war. Jens Stoltenberg warned that nations should prepare for the long haul. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday that Ukraine must win the war against Russia. Pelosi spoke at a Group of Seven countries meeting in Berlin. She added that Russia must be held accountable for the conflict.

 More U.S. Aid

U.S. President Joe Biden announced another $600 million arms package for Ukraine, the 21st time the Defense Department has pulled weapons and other equipment off the shelves to deliver to Ukraine, the White House said. Biden used the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the president to authorize the transfer of excess weapons from U.S. stocks.

The memo does not detail how the money would be used, but The Associated Press reported it would include more of the same types of ammunition and equipment that have helped Ukrainian forces beat back Russian forces in portions of the east and south. The U.S. has sent about $15.1 billion in security assistance to the Kyiv government since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Earlier Thursday, the UN nuclear watchdog's board of governors adopted a resolution demanding that Russia end its occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, diplomats who attended a closed-door meeting on Thursday in Vienna said. The resolution adopted by the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) calls on Russia to "immediately cease all actions against, and at, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and any other nuclear facility in Ukraine," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

The resolution also says the military occupation of the plant significantly increases the risk of a nuclear accident that would endanger the population of Ukraine, neighboring states and the international community. Russia's mission to the IAEA said "the Achilles' heel of this resolution" was that it said nothing about the systematic shelling of the plant.

Also, the U.S. imposed new economic sanctions on an array of Russians, including some that it accused of stealing Ukrainian grain, an official who allegedly has directed the deportation of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia and relatives of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. "The United States continues to hold the Russian government to account for its war against Ukraine," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

The top American diplomat said those targeted include major Russian defense entities, key advanced-technology firms that support Russia's defense industrial base and financial infrastructure, a Russian military intelligence agency and individuals linked to human rights abuses.

Additional sanctions were levied on Kadyrov, who already had been blacklisted by the U.S. since 2017. The new blacklist also targets three of Kadyrov's wives and three of his adult daughters. Blinken said Maria Lvova-Belova was sanctioned for her efforts to deport Ukrainian children to Russia.

The United States estimates that Russia has "forcibly deported" up to 1.6 million Ukrainians, including children, to Russia since the Russian invasion in late February. Earlier this month, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations told the UN Security Council that in July alone, more than 1,800 children were taken to Russia from Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine.
Berlin on Friday took control of the German operations of Russian oil firm Rosneft to secure energy supplies which have been disrupted after Moscow invaded Ukraine.

Rosneft's German subsidiaries, which account for about 12 percent of oil refining capacity in the country, were placed under trusteeship of the Federal Network Agency, the economy ministry said in a statement. "The trust management will counter the threat to the security of energy supply," it said.

The seizures come as Germany is scrambling to wean itself off its dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Moscow has stopped natural gas deliveries to Germany via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. The move covers the companies Rosneft Deutschland GmbH (RDG) and RN Refining & Marketing GmbH (RNRM) and thereby their corresponding stakes in three refineries: PCK Schwedt, MiRo and Bayernoil.

Fears had been running high particularly for PCK Schwedt, which is close to the Polish border and supplies around 90 percent of the oil used in Berlin and the surrounding region, including Berlin-Brandenburg international airport.

The refineries' operations had been disrupted as the German government decided to slash Russian oil imports, with an aim to halt them completely by year's end. By taking control of the sites, the German authorities can then run the refining operations using crude from countries other than Russia.
Visitors to Jeju Island have found a simple solution to extortionate car rental prices there -- they bring their own from the mainland.

The cost of renting a compact car on the southern resort island has soared to almost W200,000 a day, so instead around 165,000 cars were ferried to the island in the first half of this year alone, most of them apparently belonging to tourists from the mainland. (US$1=W1,388).

At this rate, more than 300,000 automobiles are expected to be ferried to Jeju this year.

According to the Korean Maritime Transportation Safety Authority earlier this week, 225,000 cars a year arrived on Jeju by ferry before the coronavirus pandemic, and the estimated 30 percent increase is attributed to a growing number of visitors who bring their own instead of paying through the nose for a rental.
By Tomoyuki Tachikawa, KYODO NEWS - Sep 17, 2022 - 07:43 | All, World, Feature, Japan

No signs have emerged that Japan can resolve the long-standing issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals, although Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of the signing of a landmark agreement between the two Asian countries.

For the past two decades, North Korea has accelerated nuclear and ballistic missile development, while boosting relations with its powerful neighbors China and Russia, which have apparently supplied Pyongyang with military technologies and resources.

The United States and South Korea remain technically in a state of war with the North given that the 1950-1953 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty, but they held bilateral summits with Pyongyang for two years through early 2019, respectively.

Japan, meanwhile, has been ignored by North Korea as the nation was overtaken by China as the world's second-biggest economy in 2010.

After the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit in June 2018, then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reversed his signature "maximum pressure" policy against Pyongyang, voicing eagerness to hold a meeting with leader Kim Jong Un "without conditions."

A diplomatic source, however, said, "North Korea has no intention to interact with Japan" as it "no longer hopes for financial aid" from Tokyo, with China's economy growing. North Korea depends on China for over 90 percent of its trade.

"Rather, North Korea has become more hostile to Japan as it has deepened ties with China, Pyongyang's most influential ally, and Russia to tackle" the post-Cold War international order dominated by Western countries, especially the United States, the source said.

"North Korea has become reluctant to resume direct negotiations with the United States. Japan is a very close U.S. security ally. Tokyo has lost a chance to resolve the issue" of Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s, he added.

U.S.-North Korea talks over denuclearization and sanctions relief have been in a stalemate for around three years.

Since its founding in 1948, North Korea has kept up stern rhetoric on Japan to promote propaganda of the communists in the nation, while demanding Tokyo pay post-World War II compensation. Japan colonized Korea from 1910 through the end of the war in 1945.

Japan and North Korea have no diplomatic relations. But on Sept. 17, 2002, then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Pyongyang and signed a historic declaration with late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

Under the Pyongyang Declaration, the two Asian countries agreed to make "every possible effort for an early normalization of the relations" and Japan pledged to extend economic cooperation to North Korea after ties are normalized.

Koizumi also drew North Korea's first formal apology for the abductions and five abductees were brought back to Japan, while Tokyo has been seeking the return of 12 others whom it has officially recognized as having been abducted by Pyongyang.

North Korea has told Japan that eight of them, including the iconic abductee Megumi Yokota, have died and the rest never entered the nation.

After Koizumi revisited Pyongyang in 2004, North Korea handed over to Japan cremated remains it claims to be those of Yokota, but they were later proven through DNA analysis not to be those of her.

With negotiations stalled between Tokyo and Pyongyang, Abe, who was premier for about one year from 2006, staged a comeback as Japan's top political leader in 2012. He had accompanied Koizumi to North Korea as a deputy chief Cabinet secretary in 2002.

Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, adopted a tough posture against North Korea, while the nuclear-armed country began to insist the abduction issue has been "already resolved."

In 2014, the Japanese government under Abe, who was fatally shot during an election campaign speech in July this year, reached an accord with North Korea on principles for talks toward the settlement of the abduction issue.

Japan relaxed its sanctions on Pyongyang, which in turn promised a full-scale investigation into it.

But North Korea repeatedly postponed reporting the survey results. The nation then disbanded its investigation team and suspended the probe after Japan imposed additional sanctions in 2016 in reaction to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests.

In 2017, North Korea launched what it said was its "most powerful" intercontinental ballistic missile, capable of delivering a nuclear warhead anywhere in the continental United States, after carrying out its sixth nuclear test that year.

As Kim Jong Un declared the completion of "the state nuclear force," Abe joined hands with other countries to bolster sanctions against North Korea, which is banned from firing ballistic missiles and conducting nuclear tests under U.N. Security Council resolutions.

"Such a move by Abe has definitely prompted North Korea to take a hard-line position against Japan," another diplomatic source said.

In 2019, Song Il Ho, North Korea's top negotiator on normalizing relations with Japan, censured Abe as "rude and immoral," saying in a statement that he "would be well-advised not to dream forever of crossing the threshold of Pyongyang."

Even after Abe, a conservative politician known for his hawkish views on security, stepped down as premier in 2020, North Korea has reiterated bilateral ties would deteriorate further unless Tokyo changes its stance on the abduction issue.

Moreover, Kim Jong Un has been unwilling to restart talks with the Western bloc that has become more vigilant against China and Russia -- traditionally friendly nations of North Korea, whose economy has been dragged down by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak raged in early 2020, "North Korea has largely shut itself off from the world and limited access to the border," said Troy Stangarone, a senior director at the Korea Economic Institute in Washington.

"In conjunction with North Korea's desire to improve relations with Russia and China, it is not surprising" that Pyongyang has "declined the prospect of a meeting" with Japan, he said.

Young-Key Kim-Renaud, a professor emeritus at the George Washington University in the U.S. capital, said, "The whole world, including Japan, should try to reassure North Korea that other countries have no intention to demolish" the nation.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 17, 2022 - 16:28 | All, Japan

Former U.S. President Barack Obama is no longer expected to attend the state funeral of assassinated former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to be held later this month, U.S. and Japanese sources said Saturday.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty is set to attend the funeral slated for Sept. 27 in Tokyo as President Joe Biden's administration wants to offer condolences through a bipartisan representative, they said.

Hagerty was among senators who introduced a resolution honoring Abe, who was fatally shot on an election campaign trail on July 8. Hey became ambassador to Japan in August 2017 under the Donald Trump administration and left the post on July 2019 to run for the Senate.

The U.S. delegation to Japan will be led by Vice President Kamala Harris.

In 2016, Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the site of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima, accompanied by Abe who was prime minister at the time.

There were expectations that Obama would come to the state funeral on behalf of Biden, who was vice president in the Obama administration.

The Japanese government has decided to conduct the funeral despite a number of public opinion polls showing more than half oppose to the state-funded event at the Nippon Budokan hall in the capital. A private funeral for Abe was held on July 12, just days after the 67-year-old lawmaker was assassinated.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed last month his intention to hold a state funeral for the former leader, citing his record stint of eight years and eight months as prime minister as well as his international recognition.

The government will hold the funeral "as an official state event to express the nation's respect and condolences as a whole, and we will invite representatives of each country to this occasion," Kishida has said.

Related coverage:

State funeral for Abe "appropriate" given achievements: Japan PM Kishida

Cost of Abe's state funeral to total over 1.6 bil. yen: Japan
KYODO NEWS - Sep 17, 2022 - 12:29 | All, World, Japan

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako left for Britain on a government plane Saturday to attend Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral, marking the couple's first trip abroad since he ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019.

For the empress, who has long been battling a stress-induced illness, it is also her first overseas trip since she attended the coronation of Tonga's King Tupou VI in 2015.

Japanese emperors do not traditionally attend funerals and the couple's attendance at the funeral of Britain's longest-reigning monarch on Monday will be only the second time, after then Emperor Akihito and his wife, Empress Michiko, traveled to Belgium for the funeral of King Baudouin in 1993.

The rare trip reflects the deep bond between the British royal family and the Japanese imperial family over the past decades. The attendance was decided after the Japanese government confirmed the emperor's intention following an invitation for two representatives extended by the British government, according to the Imperial Household Agency.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is set to attend the U.N. General Assembly next week, will not be present at the funeral.

The emperor and empress, wearing a dark suit and a gray dress, respectively, were seen exchanging words with their daughter Princess Aiko before they left the Imperial Palace in a vehicle in the morning for Tokyo's Haneda airport.

The couple bowed once before entering the plane to Crown Prince Fumihito, senior agency officials and others who were at the airport to send them off.

The two are scheduled to arrive at London Stansted Airport on Saturday afternoon and stay at Claridge's hotel during their visit. They are expected to return home on Tuesday.

During Queen Elizabeth's 70-year reign until her death at age 96 on Sept. 8, the British royal family and the Japanese imperial family maintained friendly relations for three generations, including the current emperor's grandfather and father.

As crown prince, former Emperor Akihito attended Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 coronation in London on behalf of Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa, who visited Britain in 1971.

The queen visited Japan in 1975. Emperor Akihito made his first visit as a monarch to Britain in 1998. He also attended the queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012 to commemorate her 60th year on the throne.

The British royal family invited Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to visit Britain after he ascended the throne in May 2019 upon his father's abdication, but the plan was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A close aide to the emperor said he has been recalling his warm meetings with the queen while he was studying at Oxford.

His statement conveyed by the agency last week said, "I express my heartfelt sorrow and deep sadness."

"From my heart, I declare my gratitude and esteem for her many achievements and contributions," it said.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 17, 2022 - 00:08 | All, Japan

The Japanese government is considering issuing special bonds to achieve a substantial increase in defense spending with an eye to hiking taxes in the future to pay back the debt, sources familiar with the plan said Friday.

For the repayment of the borrowed money, raising the corporate or tobacco taxes would be among the options to ensure higher revenue, the sources said. Such bonds are treated differently from others because the government decides in advance how it will repay them.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is seeking to fundamentally reinforce the country's defense posture and boost defense spending, which has been capped at around 1 percent of the country's gross domestic product.

Work to compile a state budget will intensify toward year's end when a review of the national security strategy and key documents on defense policy will have been completed.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party wants to boost defense spending to 2 percent or more of GDP, which is in line with the benchmark for North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states.

Japan's fiscal health is the worst among developed nations, with its debt more than twice the size of its economy. The yet-to-be-compiled state budget for the next fiscal year from April is expected to hit another record as spending will likely increase to rework the defense posture.

In the past, Japan issued similar government bonds for reconstruction in the aftermath of the 2011 major earthquake and tsunami that led to the meltdowns of three nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The government decided to use tax revenue and proceeds from the planned sale of shares it holds for the repayment.

The government will discuss how much the country's defense spending should increase and how to fund it. Raising the corporate or tobacco tax is expected to meet opposition from the business community.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 17, 2022 - 09:48 | All, World

The United States and South Korea on Friday expressed "serious concern" about North Korea's first-use nuclear doctrine and warned that any nuclear attack would be met with an "overwhelming and decisive response."

In a joint statement following a bilateral dialogue on extended deterrence, which refers to the use of the U.S. nuclear arsenal to protect allies, the two countries said they had committed to using "all available levers," including diplomatic, military and economic tools, to counter North Korean threats.

They said a nuclear test by North Korea would elicit "a strong and resolute whole-of-government response."

The meeting attended by senior officials took place amid signs that North Korea may carry out its first nuclear test in years. The country's top legislature adopted a law earlier this month authorizing the launch of pre-emptive nuclear strikes, according to state media.

The United States and South Korea "expressed their serious concern over the DPRK's escalatory and destabilizing messaging related to nuclear weapons use, including its adoption of the new nuclear policy law," the statement said, using the acronym of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

The United States vowed to strengthen coordination with South Korea to "continue to deploy and exercise strategic assets in the region in a timely and effective manner," it said.

The two countries also highlighted combined training for F-35 fighter jets in July and the upcoming deployment of the U.S. aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan in the Indo-Pacific region as "a clear demonstration of such U.S. commitment." The carrier's home port is in Japan's Yokosuka, near Tokyo.

Both sides pledged to continue their cooperation to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, including through bilateral exercises and training as well as trilateral and multilateral cooperation with partners throughout the region.

South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun Dong and U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs Bonnie Jenkins were among those who attended the meeting of the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 17, 2022 - 11:43 | All, Japan

Around 60 percent of more than 2,000 people with foreign roots surveyed earlier this year by the Tokyo Bar Association have been questioned by Japanese police over the past five years, with encounters more frequent among those of African or Latin American backgrounds, a recently released report showed.

The survey found most people who had been questioned had undergone the treatment on multiple occasions, according to the report released by the association on Sept. 9, adding 80 percent of those with African and Latin American roots had to deal with investigators.

"Guidelines need to be established to end discrimination based on how one looks," the Tokyo organization said in the report on racial profiling.

A number of respondents said they had been offended by questions from police or their attitude, noting in additional comments that they were intimidating or rude, among other descriptions.

The study also found that the frequency of questioning was not reduced regardless of their Japanese ability or how long they had lived in Japan.

"In light of common sense, the percentage is high," said Yoichi Arizono, a lawyer from the bar association. "To question someone who shouldn't be subjected to it based on their looks is also not effective as a criminal policy."

Based on the survey results, the group plans to submit a written opinion to related ministries and urge them to take action.

It received valid answers from 2,094 people mainly via an online survey that was conducted between January and February this year.

The survey was carried out after the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo in December tweeted about multiple incidents of suspected racial profiling by Japanese police.

Following the post on Twitter, the National Police Agency sent prefectural police departments across Japan a request to avoid questioning that could be construed as racist.
People line up for voter registration of the 2023 general elections in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Sept. 3, 2022. (Photo by Kerefala Janneh/Xinhua)

The Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone started voter registration Saturday in readiness for the general elections next year.

FREETOWN, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) started voter registration Saturday in readiness for the general elections next year.

People line up for the voter registration of the 2023 general elections in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Sept. 3, 2022. (Photo by Kerefala Janneh/Xinhua)

The Electoral Commission told Xinhua that the voter registration process would be in two phases, and each phase will take 15 days, adding that over 2,000 registration centers have been established across the country.

"I encourage every eligible Sierra Leonean to turn out in your numbers and present yourself at the registration center where you intend to vote and update your details," said Mohamed Konneh, the Chief Electoral Commissioner of ECSL.

People line up for the voter registration of the 2023 general elections in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Sept. 3, 2022. (Photo by Kerefala Janneh/Xinhua)

He said the commission is working in collaboration with the security sector to ensure that citizens have unhindered access to the registration centers and be registered.

"We want to exercise our right in 2023 and the only way to do so is to register. Amid the economic hardship, we can only effect change when we register," said Mohamed Kamara, a resident in Freetown.

Sierra Leone's general elections will take place on June 24 next year. 
A man receives a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccine in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 16, 2022. Eighty percent of people infected with COVID-19 in Myanmar between Jan. 28 and Sept. 7 are unvaccinated against the virus, the country's Ministry of Health said on Friday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

YANGON, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Eighty percent of people infected with COVID-19 in Myanmar between Jan. 28 and Sept. 7 are unvaccinated against the virus, the country's Ministry of Health said on Friday.

Myanmar has confirmed more than 80,000 new cases of COVID-19, and over 130 new deaths from COVID-19 during the country's fourth COVID-19 wave which started at the end of January this year, official data showed.

The total number of infections from Jan. 28 until Sept. 7 included 80 percent of people who were not vaccinated, 15.9 percent of people who got the first doses of the vaccine, 4 percent of people who were fully vaccinated and 0.1 percent of people who received booster shots, the health ministry said.

The death toll from COVID-19 during the period consisted of 84.1 percent of people who were not vaccinated and who got only the first dose, 14.4 percent of people who were fully vaccinated and 1.5 percent of people who received booster shots, the ministry said.

As COVID-19 infection was on the rise again in the country starting from August, its health authorities have urged people to get booster shots and abide by the health guidelines issued by the ministry to curb the resurgence of COVID-19 infections.

In August, the country also reported COVID-19 cases with Omicron BA.2.75, BA.2.76, BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants after detecting the people who returned from abroad.

"The vaccinated people can boost immunity against COVID-19 and reduce death risks," Tun Min, deputy director-general of the health ministry's Yangon Regional Health Department, has told reporters.

Myanmar has already vaccinated more than 36.9 million people, or roughly over 66 percent of its total population, for COVID-19 as of Tuesday, official data showed.

The figures comprised over 30.4 million people aged 18 and above and more than 6.5 million people aged under 18 years old, it said.

Yangon Region saw the highest number of COVID-19 infections, followed by Kayin State and Mandalay Region in the second place and third place respectively, its figures showed.

Countries including China, Russia, India and Thailand have donated COVID-19 vaccines to Myanmar, and China has been the top donor of COVID-19 vaccines to Myanmar throughout the pandemic.

Myanmar has recorded 618,303 COVID-19 infections in total since the beginning of the pandemic in the country in March 2020.

The death toll from COVID-19 in the country remained unchanged at 19,444 on Friday, and a total of 594,984 COVID-19 patients have been recovered and discharged from hospitals in the country as of Friday, official data showed. 

People wait to receive COVID-19 vaccines in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 16, 2022. Eighty percent of people infected with COVID-19 in Myanmar between Jan. 28 and Sept. 7 are unvaccinated against the virus, the country's Ministry of Health said on Friday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

A child receives a shot of COVID-19 vaccine in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 16, 2022. Eighty percent of people infected with COVID-19 in Myanmar between Jan. 28 and Sept. 7 are unvaccinated against the virus, the country's Ministry of Health said on Friday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

A Buddhist novice receives a shot of COVID-19 vaccine in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 16, 2022. Eighty percent of people infected with COVID-19 in Myanmar between Jan. 28 and Sept. 7 are unvaccinated against the virus, the country's Ministry of Health said on Friday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

A health worker prepares COVID-19 vaccines at a vaccination site in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 16, 2022. Eighty percent of people infected with COVID-19 in Myanmar between Jan. 28 and Sept. 7 are unvaccinated against the virus, the country's Ministry of Health said on Friday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

A Buddhist novice receives a shot of COVID-19 vaccine in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 16, 2022. Eighty percent of people infected with COVID-19 in Myanmar between Jan. 28 and Sept. 7 are unvaccinated against the virus, the country's Ministry of Health said on Friday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

A man receives a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccine in Yangon, Myanmar, Sept. 16, 2022. Eighty percent of people infected with COVID-19 in Myanmar between Jan. 28 and Sept. 7 are unvaccinated against the virus, the country's Ministry of Health said on Friday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
Rescuers evacuate flood-affected people in Jamshoro district, Sindh province, Pakistan, Sept. 15, 2022. (Str/Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 22 people were killed and nine others injured in heavy monsoon rain-triggered flash floods on Friday in Pakistan, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said.

According to a report released by the NDMA on Thursday evening, six children and 10 women were among those who lost their lives in separate flood-related incidents during the cited period.

Tents of flood-affected people are seen in Jamshoro district, Sindh province, Pakistan, Sept. 15, 2022. (Str/Xinhua)

The country's southwestern Balochistan province was the worst-hit region with 13 killed and nine injured, followed by the southern Sindh province with eight killed and the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province with one killed, according to the report.

Moreover, 36,547 houses were destroyed and 9,070 livestock animals perished in different parts of Pakistan, it added.

Flood-affected people take drinking water from a water tanker in Jamshoro district, Sindh province, Pakistan, Sept. 15, 2022. (Str/Xinhua)

The total death toll in Pakistan from this season's monsoon rains and floods since mid-June has risen to around 1,508 along with 12,758 injured, the NDMA said.

Moreover, 1,817,550 houses in total have been destroyed, while an estimated 927,543 livestock animals have perished in the rains and subsequent floods across the country, it said.

People row boats on flood water in Jamshoro district, Sindh province, Pakistan, Sept. 15, 2022. (Str/Xinhua)

Rescue and relief operations by the NDMA, other government organizations, volunteers and non-governmental organizations were underway in the flood-hit areas. 
Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2022 shows the indoor exhibition area of 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China. The four-day 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference kicked off at China International Exhibition Center here Friday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2022 shows an intelligent charging vehicle displayed at the indoor exhibition area of 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China. The four-day 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference kicked off at China International Exhibition Center here Friday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2022 shows an unmanned sweeper displayed at the outdoor exhibition area of 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China. The four-day 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference kicked off at China International Exhibition Center here Friday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2022 shows the outdoor exhibition area of 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China. The four-day 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference kicked off at China International Exhibition Center here Friday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2022 shows the outdoor exhibition area of 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China. The four-day 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference kicked off at China International Exhibition Center here Friday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2022 shows a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle displayed at the indoor exhibition area of 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China. The four-day 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference kicked off at China International Exhibition Center here Friday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

People arrive for the 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 16, 2022. The four-day 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference kicked off at China International Exhibition Center here Friday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2022 shows the opening ceremony of 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China. The four-day 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference kicked off at China International Exhibition Center here Friday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2022 shows a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle displayed at the indoor exhibition area of 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China. The four-day 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference kicked off at China International Exhibition Center here Friday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2022 shows the indoor exhibition area of 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China. The four-day 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference kicked off at China International Exhibition Center here Friday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2022 shows an unmanned cargo platform displayed at the indoor exhibition area of 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China. The four-day 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference kicked off at China International Exhibition Center here Friday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

Photo taken on Sept. 16, 2022 shows an auto delivery vehicle displayed at the outdoor exhibition area of 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Shunyi District of Beijing, capital of China. The four-day 2022 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference kicked off at China International Exhibition Center here Friday. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)
ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia, China, and Germany have renewed their commitment to scaling up their triangular cooperation aiming at improving the environmental, social, and labor standards in the textile sector in Ethiopia and beyond.

The pledge was made on Thursday at the international conference on triangular cooperation between Ethiopia, China, and Germany at the United Nations Conference Center (UNCC) in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa to foster sustainable textile development in Africa and Asia.

Representatives of the three parties, attending the international conference on Sustainable Textile Investment and Operation in Ethiopia, agreed to foster cooperation as part of their triangular cooperation project, dubbed "Sustainable Textile Investment and Operation in Ethiopia."

Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, Zhao Zhiyuan, addressing the conference said China will continue sharing its knowledge, technology, and expertise to help African and Asian countries expedite their textile industries.

"China always attaches great importance to its cooperation with Ethiopia's textile sector and consistently supports the sustainable development of the country's textile industry through various means such as trade and investment," Zhao said.

Highlighting that China remains to be the biggest investor in Ethiopia's textile industry, Zhao said with a population of over 100 million, Ethiopia continues to attract more Chinese investors to its textile industry.

"So far, China is one of the biggest investors in the textile sector in Ethiopia, with a total of about 450 million U.S. dollars. We have over 30 Chinese textile companies in Ethiopia," the ambassador said.

Collectively implemented by the Ethiopian Textile Industry Development Institute (ETIDI), the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and United Nations Industrial Development Organization(UNIDO), the project also aims at tackling global challenges and promoting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda African and Asian countries in the textile sector.

The project has been implemented through capacity development and awareness raising in the Ethiopian textile and garment industry, focusing on Chinese investors and their Ethiopian business partners.

Speaking to Xinhua, Melaku Alebel, Ethiopia's Industry Minister, said the triangular cooperation has helped Ethiopia attract more Chinese investors and promote its textile industry.

"The role of China in Ethiopia's development is multidimensional. When we look at the number of investors in Ethiopia, Chinese investors take the lion's share. The role of China in Ethiopia's foreign direct investment is immense," Alebel said.

The minister further said more than 80,000 new jobs have been created in industrial parks in the last Ethiopian fiscal year which ended on July 7 with Chinese companies hiring the largest number of job seekers, especially women.

According to the minister, Ethiopia aims to grow its textile export earnings from 181 million U.S. dollars to 250 million U.S. dollars this Ethiopian fiscal year.

"We are looking forward to attracting more Chinese investors and making it happen through working with the Chinese embassy in Ethiopia. We are also exploring the Chinese market to export our products there," the minister said.

Calabro Aurelia, UNIDO representative, on her part, stressed that China and Germany have funded the triangular project since its inception two years ago.

"China has been very generous in promoting foreign direct investment in Ethiopia, particularly in the textile and garment sector," Aurelia told Xinhua.

"China and Germany have contributed a lot in introducing new technologies and promoting environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices in the textile sector in Ethiopia and beyond," Aurelia added.

The two-day conference discusses possible ways to create an enabling environment to promote sustainable textile industry development and raise awareness of ESG among all stakeholders in the textile industry in Ethiopia and beyond.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




A burial ceremony for the remains of 88 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs is held at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

SHENYANG, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea were buried Saturday in a cemetery in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The remains of the fallen soldiers returned to China from the Republic of Korea on Friday. It was the ninth such repatriation since 2014, following a handover agreement signed between the countries.

The burial ceremony began at the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang at 10 a.m. A military band played as the ceremony started. Guards of honor carrying the caskets of the martyrs entered the cemetery escorted by Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers as the national anthem was being played.

Around 200 representatives from central and local authorities, the military, veterans of the war, family members of the CPV martyrs and students attended the ceremony. 

Coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are escorted by soldiers during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) veterans pay tribute to martyrs of the CPV at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, on Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Chinese People's Volunteer (CPV) veteran Cui Longfu presents flowers to the memorial wall of CPV martyrs at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are escorted by soldiers during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are escorted by soldiers during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are escorted by soldiers during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are escorted by soldiers during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are escorted by soldiers during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are escorted by soldiers during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Soldiers fire a gun salute during a burial ceremony for the remains of 88 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are escorted by soldiers during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Coffins containing the remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs are escorted by soldiers during a burial ceremony at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Chinese People's Volunteer (CPV) veteran Cui Longfu pays tribute to the memorial wall of CPV martyrs at the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Sept. 17, 2022. The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK). This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 17, 2022 shows Shenzhou-14 astronaut Liu Yang, who is inside the core module, supporting her crewmates who have successfully exited the space station lab module Wentian to conduct extravehicular activities (EVAs). (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

BEIJING, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- China's Shenzhou-14 astronauts have completed their extravehicular activities (EVAs), the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on Saturday.

At 1:35 p.m. (Beijing Time), Cai Xuzhe opened the hatch of Wentian's airlock cabin. By 3:33 p.m., both Cai and Chen Dong were outside.

The pair returned to the lab module at 5:47 p.m. after about five hours of EVAs, according to the CMSA, which has declared the mission a complete success.

During the EVAs, astronaut Liu Yang was inside the core module, supporting her crewmates.

They have completed a series of tasks, including the installation of extravehicular assistance handles and the extended pump set of the load circuits. They also verified the extravehicular rescue capability.

The EVAs have further examined the coordination capability of astronauts and the small mechanical arm, and verified the functional performance of Wentian's airlock cabin and supporting facilities for EVAs. 

Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 17, 2022 shows Shenzhou-14 astronaut Chen Dong (R) and Cai Xuzhe both outside conducting extravehicular activities (EVAs). (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 17, 2022 shows Shenzhou-14 astronaut Cai Xuzhe closing the hatch of Wentian's airlock cabin after finishing extravehicular activities (EVAs). (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 17, 2022 shows Shenzhou-14 astronaut Chen Dong returning to space station lab module Wentian after finishing extravehicular activities (EVAs). (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 17, 2022 shows Shenzhou-14 astronaut Chen Dong (R) returning to space station lab module Wentian after finishing extravehicular activities (EVAs). (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 17, 2022 shows Shenzhou-14 astronaut Chen Dong (L) and Cai Xuzhe returning to space station lab module Wentian after finishing extravehicular activities (EVAs). (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 17, 2022 shows Shenzhou-14 astronaut Cai Xuzhe returning to space station lab module Wentian after finishing extravehicular activities (EVAs). (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)
PRAGUE, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) must strengthen food security, improve the sustainability of agriculture and promote the use of modern techniques, the member states' agriculture ministers agreed here on Friday.

"Ministers agreed that the EU must now act in a coordinated way to maximize sustainable increases in agricultural production and accelerate the use of modern techniques in agriculture," the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU said in a statement after the meeting.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing climate change "are having a major impact" on global food security and world food prices.

One of the main solutions to sufficient food production while ensuring sustainability, according to the ministers, is to use innovation, research and modern technologies, including precision farming, to further reduce pesticide and fertilizer consumption.

"We have a major challenge in the Union to sustainably increase agricultural production, reduce food waste and ensure that people around the world have access to quality food. It may be time to rethink some traditional approaches to food production in favor of new modern techniques," Czech Agriculture Minister Zdenek Nekula said in the statement.

The ministers discussed science, innovation and modern plant breeding methods in agriculture, and agreed that the EU "must react as quickly as possible" to the development of modern trends and change the outdated legislative framework by which it regulates the use of modern plant breeding methods.

"We urgently need drought, frost, disease and pest-resistant crops that require fewer pesticides and artificial fertilizers," Nekula said, noting he was "pleased" that European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski "has clearly stated the European Commission's readiness to bring forward proposals for plant breeding legislation in the short term."

Citing data from the United Nations, the statement said up to 828 million people were affected by hunger in 2021, and about 1.3 billion tonnes of food, or roughly one-third of food produced for human consumption, were lost or wasted globally in 2020, calling for more efforts to sustainably increase agricultural production and reduce food waste. 
by Saud Abu Ramadan, Emad Drimly

RAMALLAH, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Authority is losing its position of strength in the West Bank security affairs because of escalating Israeli military operations, including daily raids of villages and towns in areas ruled by the Palestinians or under Israeli-Palestinian joint governance, Palestinian analysts said.

Since March, the Israeli army has escalated its raids in Palestinian towns and villages in the West Bank to almost a daily routine, killing about 80 Palestinians and arresting some 1,500 others, as part of what the Israeli army called a "mission to thwart terrorism" launched after a series of Palestinian attacks that killed at least 19 Israelis in the territory.

Aviv Kochavi, the Israeli army chief, warned on Sept. 5 that such military operation will intensify if deemed necessary, blaming the increased Palestinian attacks on the lack of Palestinian security control in parts of the West Bank.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry later issued a statement saying the Israeli government "bears full responsibility for the current campaign of escalation, which threatens to explode the conflict into a cycle of violence, and raises the alarm bells against ... any efforts to resolve the conflict."

Likewise, Ramallah-based political analyst Ashraf al-Ajrami and other Palestinian observers highlighted "Israeli incursions" in the areas under the Palestinian jurisdiction as a major factor behind the helplessness of the Palestinian Authority in security affairs.

"The Palestinians are getting killed, injured and arrested every day during the Israeli incursions into the occupied Palestinian territories, without differentiating between areas A, B or C, mainly in Jenin's area in the northern West Bank," al-Ajrami told Xinhua, referring to three administrative divisions in the West Bank that have been largely in place since the mid-1990s.

Back then, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization signed a pair of agreements known as the Oslo Accords, agreeing on the transfer of the control of major Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip to a newly-created Palestinian Authority.

Pending a final arrangement, the accords also established the West Bank's three administrative divisions, with area A under full Palestinian jurisdiction, area B jointly administered by Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and area C under Israeli security and administrative control.

According to al-Ajrami, the ongoing Israeli raids in areas under Palestinian Authority's jurisdiction have not only undermined the latter's role, but reveal the Israeli authorities' rhetoric about strengthening the Palestinian Authority.

"The ongoing Israeli army incursions, arrests, cold-blooded killings, house demolitions, settlements, and the endless settlers' attacks on Palestinians and their property did not achieve any security for Israel," he explained.

"No one can expect the Palestinians to accept this reality, nor the Palestinian Authority to have the material and moral strength to impose security in a way that does not affect the interests of the Israelis," al-Ajrami concluded.

In August, probably the most violent month since March, Palestinians carried out 172 attacks in the West Bank, including 23 shootings and 135 incidents of throwing Molotov cocktails and homemade grenades, according to Israeli media reports.

Describing the recent spasm of Palestinian attacks as an "intifada," Hani al-Masri, director of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies (Masarat), said these incidents are characterized by "a new combination of spontaneous, individual armed actions and popular resistance."

"However, all the incidents, which came in the power vacuum left by the Palestinian resistance factions, have increasingly made the Israeli solution the only one on the table," al-Masri noted. 
BEIJING, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping returned to Beijing Friday midnight after wrapping up attendance to the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and state visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

In a packed schedule of three days and two nights, President Xi flew to Nur-Sultan and Samarkand, stayed for 48 hours, and intensively attended nearly 30 events, featuring both multilateral and bilateral agendas, and covering both security and development issues, said State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Despite the tight schedule, there are many highlights and fruitful results, which have strongly pushed the SCO expansion a new step forward and brought China's relations with relevant countries to a new level, he added.

Wang said President Xi's trip to Central Asia adds more vitality to the Silk Road spanning through Eurasia, brings more stabilizing factors to the international and regional situation standing at a crossroads, and creates more favorable international conditions for starting a new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects.

President Xi has well summarized the successful experience of the SCO, namely, adhering to political trust, win-win cooperation, equality between nations, openness and inclusiveness as well as equity and justice, and adding that the five points fully embody the Shanghai Spirit, which has always been the source of strength for the development of the SCO and the fundamental guide we must continue to follow in the years to come, Wang said.

Xi pointed out that under the new circumstances, the SCO, as an important constructive force in international and regional affairs, should face up to the changing international situation, firmly grasp the trend of the times, constantly strengthen strategic independence, consolidate and deepen solidarity and cooperation, and work for the building of an even closer SCO community with a shared future, Wang said.

To this end, Xi proposed the five points, stressing the need to increase mutual support, expand security cooperation, deepen practical cooperation, strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and uphold multilateralism, Wang said.

These proposals are in line with the shared aspiration of all member states to seek unity, stability and development, and have mapped out a roadmap for the SCO and a new prospect for cooperation, Wang added.

The summit adopted more than 40 documents covering such areas as economy, finance, science and technology, culture and people-to-people exchanges, institution building and external interactions, Wang said.

At the summit, Iran has officially become a full SCO member. China and other SCO members also started the procedure for Belarus' accession, granted Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar the status of SCO dialogue partners, and reached agreement on admitting Bahrain, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Myanmar as new dialogue partners.

The new round of the largest expansion of the SCO membership has consolidated its status and influence as the most populous regional cooperation organization with the vastest territory in the world, Wang said.

This expansion fully demonstrates that the SCO is not a closed and exclusive "small clique," but an open and inclusive "big family," he added.

As a new type of international organization comprising 26 countries, the SCO is increasingly showing strong vitality and bright prospects for development, Wang said, adding that it will inject more positive energy and new impetus into peace and prosperity in Eurasia and beyond, and play an exemplary role in building a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind.

The summit witnessed the signing of the Samarkand Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO, which sufficiently brought in the major contents of a series of important initiatives proposed by the Chinese side, Wang said.

A few years after his previous trips, President Xi paid visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on his first overseas trip since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this fully showed the high-level and uniqueness of China's relations with the two countries, as well as the close friendship and deep trust between the heads of state, Wang said.

President Xi received the Order of the Golden Eagle, or "Altyn Qyran" Order, awarded by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the first Order of Friendship, the highest honor given by Uzbekistan on foreign individuals, conferred by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

President Xi signed and issued joint statements respectively with the heads of state of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, comprehensively summarizing the achievements and experience accumulated during the past 30 years of diplomatic relations and drawing a blueprint for future development, Wang said.

Wang said that in Samarkand, President Xi attended bilateral meetings with 10 leaders participating in the SCO summit, and attended the meeting of heads of state of China, Russia and Mongolia. The meetings play an important role in guiding the development of bilateral relations and boosting regional peace and stability.

During the meetings, the leaders reiterated that their countries will continue to firmly abide by the one-China principle, firmly support China's stance on issues concerning its core interests, including those related to Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

The leaders also wished the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China a full success, expressed full confidence in China's future development, hoped to comprehensively enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with China, and expected China to play a bigger role in international affairs, Wang said. 
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's anti-drug police have arrested two local men for allegedly possessing and trafficking illicit drugs, confiscating 7.8 kg of narcotics, the National Police reported on Saturday.

The two suspects were apprehended during a raid on three locations in Phnom Penh's Boeung Keng Kang and Meanchey districts early Friday after an investigation for months.

"A total of 7.8 kg of drugs, including 7.51 kg of ecstasy (MDMA) and 0.29 kg of ketamine, were seized from the suspects during the crackdown," the National Police said on its website.

The Southeast Asian country has no death sentence for a drug trafficker. Under its law, those found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit drugs could be jailed for life.

According to the Anti-Drug Police Department (ADP), Cambodia nabbed 10,545 drug suspects, including 154 foreigners, during the January-August period of 2022, seizing a total of 6.11 tons of narcotics. 
Li Zhanshu, chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, meets with Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sept. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

KATHMANDU, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Speaker of Nepal's House of Representatives Agni Sapkota, Chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Li Zhanshu paid an official goodwill visit to Nepal from Monday to Thursday.

During the visit, Li met with Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, and held talks with Sapkota and Chairman of National Assembly of Nepal Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, separately.

While meeting with Bhandari, Li first conveyed cordial greetings and best wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Li said that China and Nepal are linked by mountains and rivers, and the two peoples have been enjoying friendly relations for generations.

President Xi paid a historic state visit to Nepal in 2019, during which the two heads of state elevated the China-Nepal relationship to a strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity, offering strategic guidance for the long-term development of bilateral ties, Li said.

He thanked the Nepalese side for unswervingly adhering to the one-China principle, and supporting China's position on the Taiwan question and issues concerning Tibet, Xinjiang and human rights.

China will continue to firmly support Nepal's efforts to safeguard its sovereign independence and territorial integrity, to achieve prosperity and strength, Li said.

He welcomed the Nepalese side to actively participate in the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative proposed by Xi, and congratulated Nepal for its upcoming National Day on Sept. 20.

Asking Li to convey her sincere regards to Xi, Bhandari said Xi's visit to Nepal in 2019 is a milestone in the history of the two countries' bilateral relations.

China has always been Nepal's most reliable good friend and partner, she said, expressing gratitude to China for its selfless help to Nepal in economic and social development, earthquake rescue and relief, and the fight against COVID-19.

With its rapid development, China has become a model of global development and played an important role in safeguarding world peace and stability, she said.

Bhandari expressed hope that Nepal and China will strengthen practical cooperation in various fields and push forward the implementation of important projects.

When meeting with Deuba, Li said China has always regarded Nepal as a priority in neighborhood diplomacy. The two sides should continue to understand and support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and jointly uphold true multilateralism.

Li called for advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, strengthening exchanges and cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure, customs clearance and other areas, and jointly building the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network to bring tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

For his part, Deuba said that both Nepal and China uphold the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and the bilateral ties have enjoyed a solid political foundation. Nepal's development transformation needs China's support and help, he added.

Nepal is ready to strengthen friendly exchanges with China at various levels and expand practical cooperation with China in areas such as economy, people's livelihood, education, tourism and culture, so as to realize common development and prosperity, Deuba said.

In his separate meetings with Sapkota and Timilsina, Li said China's NPC is ready to work with Nepal's parliament to implement the important consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, promote closer exchanges between their special committees as well as friendship groups, strengthen exchanges on governance experience and provide legal support for the practical cooperation between the two countries.

Sapkota said China's foreign policies have fully embodied the notion of win-win cooperation underlined by Xi, expressing his hope that the legislatures of the two countries will further their close exchanges, and promote the implementation of projects in connectivity, livelihood improvement and other areas.

Timilsina said Nepal's parliament actively supports the Belt and Road construction and is willing to learn from China's experience in economic and social development as well as in poverty alleviation.

Li briefed the Nepalese side about the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The Nepalese leaders said that as a friendly neighboring country, Nepal is happy with the great development achievements of the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC.

Under the leadership of Xi, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, China will surely be able to successfully realize the second centenary goal, they said, adding that they wish the 20th CPC National Congress a success.

The Nepalese leaders unanimously reiterated that Nepal has always firmly adhered to the one-China principle and will not allow any force to use the Nepalese territory for anti-Chinese activities or harming China's interests.

During his visit to Nepal, Li also met separately with KP Sharma Oli, chairman of the Community Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), and chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda.

Li also signed with Sapkota a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the NPC of China and Nepal's House of Representatives, met with Nepalese Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka and visited the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, which is undergoing post-quake reconstruction. 
Protesters hold Palestinian flags in front of Israeli soldiers during a protest against the Israeli confiscation of the Palestinian lands, in Masafer Yatta, south of the West Bank city of Hebron, on Sept. 17, 2022. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

The ongoing Israeli raids in areas under Palestinian Authority's jurisdiction have not only undermined the latter's role, but reveal the Israeli authorities' empty rhetoric about strengthening the Palestinian Authority, a Palestinian analyst says.

RAMALLAH, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Authority is losing its position of strength in the West Bank security affairs because of escalating Israeli military operations, including daily raids of villages and towns in areas ruled by the Palestinians or under Israeli-Palestinian joint governance, Palestinian analysts said.

Since March, the Israeli army has escalated its raids in Palestinian towns and villages in the West Bank to almost a daily routine, killing about 80 Palestinians and arresting some 1,500 others, as part of what the Israeli army called a "mission to thwart terrorism" launched after a series of Palestinian attacks that killed at least 19 Israelis in the territory.

Aviv Kochavi, the Israeli army chief, warned on Sept. 5 that such military operation will intensify if deemed necessary, blaming the increased Palestinian attacks on the lack of Palestinian security control in parts of the West Bank.

A Palestinian man tries to take cover from tear gas during clashes with Israeli soldiers in Rujeib town, east of the West Bank city of Nablus, on Aug. 30, 2022. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry later issued a statement saying the Israeli government "bears full responsibility for the current campaign of escalation, which threatens to explode the conflict into a cycle of violence, and raises the alarm bells against ... any efforts to resolve the conflict."

Likewise, Ramallah-based political analyst Ashraf al-Ajrami and other Palestinian observers highlighted "Israeli incursions" in the areas under the Palestinian jurisdiction as a major factor behind the helplessness of the Palestinian Authority in security affairs.

"The Palestinians are getting killed, injured and arrested every day during the Israeli incursions into the occupied Palestinian territories, without differentiating between areas A, B or C, mainly in Jenin's area in the northern West Bank," al-Ajrami told Xinhua, referring to three administrative divisions in the West Bank that have been largely in place since the mid-1990s.

Back then, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization signed a pair of agreements known as the Oslo Accords, agreeing on the transfer of the control of major Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip to a newly-created Palestinian Authority.

An Israeli soldier aims his weapon at Palestinian protesters during clashes following a protest against the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank city of Hebron, Aug. 19, 2022. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

Pending a final arrangement, the accords also established the West Bank's three administrative divisions, with area A under full Palestinian jurisdiction, area B jointly administered by Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and area C under Israeli security and administrative control.

According to al-Ajrami, the ongoing Israeli raids in areas under Palestinian Authority's jurisdiction have not only undermined the latter's role, but reveal the Israeli authorities' empty rhetoric about strengthening the Palestinian Authority.

"The ongoing Israeli army incursions, arrests, cold-blooded killings, house demolitions, settlements, and the endless settlers' attacks on Palestinians and their property did not achieve any security for Israel," he explained.

"No one can expect the Palestinians to accept this reality, nor the Palestinian Authority to have the material and moral strength to impose security in a way that does not affect the interests of the Israelis," al-Ajrami concluded.

In August, probably the most violent month since March, Palestinians carried out 172 attacks in the West Bank, including 23 shootings and 135 incidents of throwing Molotov cocktails and homemade grenades, according to Israeli media reports.

Relatives of Palestinian teenager O'udai Sallah mourn during his funeral in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Sept. 15, 2022. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Describing the recent spasm of Palestinian attacks as an "intifada," Hani al-Masri, director of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies (Masarat), said these incidents are characterized by "a new combination of spontaneous, individual armed actions and popular resistance."

"However, all the incidents, which came in the power vacuum left by the Palestinian resistance factions, have increasingly made the Israeli solution the only one on the table," al-Masri noted. 
George Reuben Sanga checks the vegetables in his green house in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Sept. 16, 2022. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)

DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- George Reuben Sanga feels a thrill of pleasure as he walks around his 120 square meters green house at Makongo Juu in Tanzania's commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

Sanga's farming area covering half a hectare is greenish throughout the year, come sun, come rain as he engages in demonstration for irrigation farming, fisheries and poultry.

"Agriculture is wealth. If one wants to make money one should invest in agriculture because every human being needs food. Unlike running a clothing shop where your customers are limited," 35-year-old Sanga told Xinhua this week.

Sanga said he was trained as a civil engineer at technician level and got employment in a construction company. But he quitted and in 2015 started his farming project called Waloma Investment with a slogan: Agriculture and Livestock Keeping Towards an Industrialized Nation.

"I decided to practice farming after I had underwent training on irrigation farming and fish farming in Dodoma region when I realized that agriculture is indeed the right answer to unemployment facing most youth in the country," he said.

The young farmer, who also grows chili in his four-hectare demonstration farm and another four-hectare pawpaw farm in Mkuranga district in coast region with one of his trainee farmers, said he shares his farming knowledge with the youth who visit his farm from different parts of the country.

"I train them on how to plant various crops. I train them on the use of high quality seeds. I train them on good seasons for planting various crops, including tomatoes," said Sanga.

He added: "Apart from training the youth, people who have retired from employment in private and public companies and people who have interest in agriculture visit my place to learn the ABC of farming, fish farming and poultry."

He said among the beneficiaries of his project are students from the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro region and students from a number of other agricultural colleges in the country.

"They come here with little knowledge about agriculture, but at the end of the day they go back home or to the colleges fully equipped with skills in farming activities," said Sanga, a father of two children.

Seven years of his project has seen him training over 20 young farmers who right now have their own farms.

"I have also employed 10 youth farmers in my project and I have been visited by over 2,000 guests, mostly those who are keen to learn about farming, fisheries and livestock keeping," he said.

The farmer said he sells his produce to his community and to some schools and supermarkets in the business capital.

But like any other businesses, Sanga said he faced a number of challenges, including rising prices of farm inputs and climate change that is hugely impacting on agriculture.

That aside, Sanga has one message to his fellow youth: "Since I started engaging in agriculture my welfare has improved tremendously. And if one wants to succeed in life as a youth one will get it on the farm." 

George Reuben Sanga checks the vegetables in his green house in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Sept. 16, 2022. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)

George Reuben Sanga checks the vegetables in his green house in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Sept. 16, 2022. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)

George Reuben Sanga checks the vegetables in his green house in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Sept. 16, 2022. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)
The file photo shows a Chinese language instructor (L) interacting with students at the Confucius Institute in Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, on April 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping)

Zhang noted that China, Uganda, and Africa at large have always stood on the same side regarding matters of mutual interest in international affairs.



KAMPALA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- A webinar was held on Thursday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Uganda.

The webinar, attended by about 150 people, including officials, diplomats, and scholars from China and Uganda, was organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the Chinese embassy in Uganda, and the Ugandan embassy in China.

China and Uganda established formal diplomatic ties on Oct. 18, 1962, just nine days after Uganda gained independence.

Vice President of CPAFFC Jiang Jiang said China supported African countries to fight imperialism and colonialism. Africa also supported China's resumption of lawful seat in the United Nations in 1971, signaling the deep ties between the two sides.

"African brothers have withstood tremendous pressure, carried China to the United Nations, and always firmly supported China in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests and core interests on international occasions," Jiang said.

The file photo shows Chinese ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong (L) and Ugandan minister of Finance Matia Kasaija attending the signing ceremony of an economic and technical cooperation agreement in Kampala, Uganda, on April 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping)

Zhang Lizhong, Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, said Uganda unwaveringly holds the one-China principle, which forges the core of the ties between the two countries.

Zhang noted that China, Uganda, and Africa at large have always stood on the same side regarding matters of mutual interest in international affairs.

"Together, we have written a splendid chapter of mutual support amid complex changes, and set a good example for building an even stronger China-Africa community of shared future in the new era," Zhang said.

"Over the 60 years, we have nurtured our fraternity through safeguarding international fairness and justice, enhancing our political mutual trust," he added.

China and Uganda in June 2019 elevated their bilateral ties to the level of Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership.

ECONOMIC TIES

The trade volume between the two countries in 2021 amounted to 1.07 billion U.S. dollars, registering a 28.5 percent increase, against the shock waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of 2020, China's direct investment in Uganda reached 710 million U.S. dollars and the investment is mainly focused on manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and logistics.

Uganda's ambassador to China Oliver Wonekha said that China has been playing a central role in building transport and energy infrastructure in Uganda. China is financing the expansion of the country's Entebbe International Airport, the main gateway to the world. China also financed the construction of the Kampala-Entebbe expressway linking the capital Kampala to the airport.

In the energy sector, China financed the construction of the Karuma Hydro Power Plant and Isimba Hydro Power Plant which helped address Uganda's energy deficit, a major bottleneck to the country's development, the ambassador said.

"China has assisted Uganda to move faster on the path of development," Wonekha said.

Figures by the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), a state-run agency, showed that China ranks among the top five sources of Foreign Direct Investment. Several Chinese-owned industrial parks have opened in the country and created much-needed jobs, according to UIA.

Workers work at the newly Chinese-constructed air cargo terminal at Entebbe International Airport, Central Region, Uganda, March 19, 2022. (Photo by Li Nan/Xinhua)

China National Offshore Oil Corporation is also implementing its investment of 4.7 billion U.S. dollars in Uganda's oil sector which would help stimulate the country's economic development, experts say.

Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong said China and Uganda are working closely to implement the nine programs on China-Africa cooperation, which were announced at the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in November last year in Senegal's capital of Dakar.

Jiang hoped that China and Uganda would continue strengthening cooperation in infrastructure construction, digital innovation, green development, and other fields.

PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES

Apart from political and economic ties, people-to-people relations between the two countries are greatly improving, according to Benon Mugarura, president of China-Africa Friendship Association Uganda.

Mugarura said several events, including the Dragon Boat Festival, have been held, which have brought together Ugandan and Chinese peoples to appreciate cultural diversity.

A contestant shows his calligraphy work during the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese proficiency competition for university and secondary students at the Confucius Institute of Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, June 25, 2022. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua)

The Confucius Institute at Makerere University is also helping to promote Chinese culture and language. Besides teaching the Chinese language to students, the institute is also training local language teachers who then will teach the Chinese language in schools.



Hong Yonghong, a professor with the Law School at Xiangtan University in central China's Hunan Province and former Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University, said the cultural exchange between the two peoples is very critical in deepening bilateral ties, adding strong people-to-people relations provide a firm foundation to bilateral relations. 
The file photo shows tourists posing for photos with Table Mountain in the background in South Africa, on April 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Gao Yuan)



South Africa's tourism has rebounded because of the collaboration between government and private sectors.



SUN CITY, South Africa, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's tourism has rebounded because of the collaboration between government and private sectors, said the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA).

The TBCSA chairperson, Blacky Komani, made the remarks at Sun City, in the North West Province, while speaking at the Leadership Conference. The conference started on Sept. 14 and ended on Friday. He said the partnership between government and private sector during COVID-19 should be cemented to grow the sector and surpass the set targets.

"Our current performance as a sector is now at about 85 percent of 2019. Understanding that some of our key source markets have been slow to recover -- domestic travel is still strong. Our quick recovery is assisted by the passion that our industry is known for," says Komani.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Fish Mahlalela, said that the government and private sectors have to work together to address the challenges the industry faces. The country has to improve on infrastructure and address crime to help tourism to grow.

The file photo shows a tourist posing for photos in Bo-Kaap area of Cape Town, South Africa, on Sept. 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)



Mahlalela said, "we must not fear each other; we must not see each other with suspicion. For this sector to expand, there has to be a working partnership between the private and public sectors, and all spheres of government to create an enabling environment for exponential growth. For us to continue to be an anchor for employment and economic growth, we have to work together and this conference is indeed about driving this very sentiment and spirit."



He pointed out that the government would soon start consultations on the 1996 Tourism White Paper and solicit inputs on how to grow the sector.

The Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, said that the government is committed to creating some conducive environment for tourism to thrive. He called for the private sector to work with the government to grow the tourism sector.

In the past two days, government and tourism role players discussed how to make tourism grow and how to strengthen public-private partnerships. The TBCSA CEO, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, said the tourism sector has revised the 2030 arrivals target to lower, from 20 million to 15.6 million. 
DAMASCUS, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Five soldiers were killed by a fresh Israeli missile attack on the international airport of the capital Damascus and military sites south of the capital after midnight Friday, the Syrian military said.

The Syrian air defenses, it said, were triggered by the attacks, shooting down a number of the Israeli missiles.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said the attacks targeted the countryside of Damascus and the Sayyida Zainab area, where Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based Shiite movement and party, is present. 
DAMASCUS, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Israel launched missile attacks on military sites in the Syrian capital of Damascus after midnight on Friday, the Syrian national TV reported.

The report said the Syrian air defenses were triggered by the attacks, shooting down a number of the Israeli missiles. Explosions were heard at Damascus.

The attacks also targeted the southern countryside of Damascus, the report said, without providing further details.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said the attacks targeted the countryside of Damascus and the Sayyida Zainab area, where Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based Shiite movement and party, is present. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with other leaders and guests ahead of the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

* The SCO was born more than two decades ago with a fundamental mission to combat the three forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism. Over the years, security cooperation has remained a major focus for member states within the SCO framework.

* While the SCO members are facing similar security challenges, they also share common aspirations for better and more broadly shared development. In fact, in decades' time, the SCO has grown into a major force for common development in the region and beyond.

* As the world community is wrestling with common challenges like the lingering COVID-19 pandemic and a warming planet, no country can tackle them alone. Over the years, the SCO has successfully explored a path for strengthening global solidarity to tackle such challenges under the guidance of the Shanghai Spirit.

SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- As Chinese President Xi Jinping and other world leaders gathered here on Friday for the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), humanity has come to a critical juncture and is struggling to cope with a torrent of unprecedented global challenges.

While addressing the summit, Xi described the SCO "as an important constructive force in international and regional affairs," saying that it shoulders an important responsibility to uphold peace and development of the Eurasian continent.





FOR COMMON SECURITY

In a highly interdependent world, the fates of all nations are tightly bundled together. Moreover, without security, there will be no development to speak of.

The SCO was born more than two decades ago with a fundamental mission to combat the three forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism. Over the years, security cooperation has remained a major focus for member states within the SCO framework.

From signing the anti-terrorism convention and conducting joint military drills to cracking down on Internet-based propagation of extremist ideology and pushing forward the peace process in Afghanistan, the SCO has witnessed burgeoning security cooperation among its members on regional and international arenas. To build a more secure world, the SCO members can and should do more.

Speaking at the SCO Samarkand summit on Friday, Xi warned that the world today is not a peaceful place, while rivalry between two sets of policy choices -- unity or division, cooperation or confrontation -- is getting more acute. He then called for efforts to continue to foster a favorable environment for the development and rejuvenation of member states.

Calling on the international community to expand security cooperation, he said "the Global Security Initiative (GSI) put forward by China is to address the peace deficit and global security challenges. It calls on all countries to stay true to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture."

"We welcome all stakeholders to get involved in implementing this initiative," he added.

Sergei Lukonin, head of the Department of Chinese Politics and Economics at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said the Xi-proposed GSI "can certainly bring additional new directions for the peaceful development of the whole world."

"I believe that the GSI will help build an indivisible, just and equitable security global community," said Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh.





DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL

While the SCO members are facing similar security challenges, they also share common aspirations for better and more broadly shared development. In fact, in decades' time, the SCO has grown into a major force for common development in the region and beyond.

Within the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, the SCO has unleashed enormous development opportunities for the region and the wider world by building up connectivity. It has also been advancing synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the development strategies of regional countries.

The combined economic size of the SCO countries has risen around 13-fold since its founding. And because of the strong economic complementarity among SCO members, their trade relations have also soared over the years. In 2021, China's trade with other SCO members reached 343.1 billion U.S. dollars, up 40 percent year-on-year. In general, SCO members' foreign trade totaled 6.6 trillion dollars as of 2021, an increase of 100 times from 20 years earlier.

Looking into the future, the Chinese president at Friday's summit urged the members to pursue inclusiveness and shared benefits in promoting development cooperation, saying that they should actively promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, ensure the stable and smooth functioning of industrial and supply chains, and encourage the orderly flow of resources and factors of production, so as to realize greater economic integration and development in the region.

In a statement delivered via video at the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, 2021, Xi proposed a Global Development Initiative (GDI) to steer global development toward a new stage of balanced, coordinated, and inclusive growth in face of the severe shocks of COVID-19.

At the SCO Samarkand summit, he pledged that "China is ready to work with all other stakeholders to pursue this initiative (GDI) in our region to support the sustainable development of regional countries."

The GDI, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov said, conforms to the trend of the times and the aspirations of the people of all countries: the desire for peace, cooperation and development.

Calling the GDI "superb," Muhammadjon Obidov, chairman of the Creative Union of Journalists of the Ferganar region in Uzbekistan, said "the message of this initiative is to promote poverty reduction, ensure food security and dynamic development, and, most importantly, to build a community with a shared future for global development."





STAY COMMITTED TO SHANGHAI SPIRIT

As the world community is wrestling with common challenges like the lingering COVID-19 pandemic and a warming planet, no country can tackle them alone. Over the years, the SCO has successfully explored a path for strengthening global solidarity to tackle such challenges under the guidance of the Shanghai Spirit.

The experience drawn from the SCO's success is that countries should respect each other's core interests and choice of development path; that they should stay true to the principle of consultation and cooperation for shared benefits; that they should treat each other as equals, and reject the practice of the strong bullying the weak or the big bullying the small; and that they need to stand for harmonious coexistence and mutual learning between different countries, nations and cultures, dialogue between civilizations and seeking common ground while shelving differences.

"We should remain firm in safeguarding the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law, practice the common values of humanity, and reject zero-sum game and bloc politics ... so as to uphold true multilateralism, improve global governance, and ensure that the international order is more just and equitable," Xi said.

The very fact that the SCO has been accepting new members and dialogue partners can prove the grouping's inclusiveness as well as growing global popularity. At Friday's summit, Iran has officially become a full SCO member. The meeting also started the procedure for Belarus' accession, granted Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar the status of SCO dialogue partners, and reached agreement on admitting Bahrain, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Myanmar as new dialogue partners. The expanding SCO is making the organization an even stronger force for world fairness and justice.

And those practices by the SCO fully embody the Shanghai Spirit, namely, mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development.

Farhad Javanbakht Kheirabadi, a China scholar at Shahid Beheshti University in Iran, said "the cooperation and coordination within the framework of the SCO can set a basis for the expansion of multilateralism, help resolve global problems and give people hope."

Alexey Avdonin, an analyst at the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies, echoed Javanbakht Kheirabadi, saying that the SCO has not only brought benefits to the people of its member states, but also peace, order and prosperity to the world.

As more countries want to be a part of the SCO, it shows that the SCO vision enjoys broad popular support, and has played a tangible role in promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Enditem

(Xinhua reporters Shi Hao and Yuan Xinfang in Moscow, Sovan Nguon in Phnom Penh, Hu Xiaoming in New Delhi, Guan Jianwu in Bishkek, Cai Guodong in Tashkent, Zhang Jiye in Nur-Sultan, Zou Xuemian in Kabul, Gao Wencheng in Iran, and Lu Jinbo in Minsk also contributed to the story.)
BERLIN, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Germany has taken control of a major domestic refinery owned by Russian oil company Rosneft, the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) said on Friday.

Rosneft Deutschland and RN Refining & Marketing, two German subsidiaries of the Russian company, have been placed under the trusteeship of the Federal Network Agency.

The Agency will now take over the PCK refinery in Schwedt, by far the biggest fuel supplier of the country's capital Berlin.

So far, the PCK refinery has been supplied with Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline. However, due to the European Union's (EU) import ban on Russian oil next year, eastern German ports and a pipeline from Rostock to Schwedt are to be upgraded to create new transport routes for oil.

In addition, the German government has approached the Polish government to discuss potential supply routes via Poland.

With around 12 percent of Germany's oil processing capacity, Rosneft Deutschland is one of the country's largest companies in this sector. The trusteeship is initially limited to six months.

Gazprom's German subsidiary has been placed under the trusteeship of the Federal Network Agency at the beginning of April.

Russia has repeatedly blamed the West's sanctions against it for the energy disputes. (1 euro = 1 U.S. dollar) 
Hong Kong: Anti-virus policies based on factors

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau today stressed that Hong Kong's anti-epidemic measures are not solely based on the fatality rate, but also depend on various factors including the pressure the public healthcare system faces.

Speaking to the media after attending a radio programme this morning, Prof Lo pointed out that the total number of deaths in the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic has already exceeded 9,000.

There are also more than 350 COVID-19 patients admitted to public hospitals daily, he said.

Due to such a large number of hospitalised COVID-19 patients, some of the public healthcare services have been cut and this will affect the treatment of patients with other illnesses.

The health chief urged people not to just focus on the fatality rate in the last three months, which has dropped to 0.1%, adding that the Government will consider a range of factors when determining the anti-epidemic policies.

This story has been published on: 2022-09-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
by Marwa Yahya

CAIRO, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi's state visit to Qatar, the first made by an Egyptian president in four years after the diplomatic rift between the two Arab countries, has added strong impetus to deepening the bilateral relations, experts said.

His two-day visit, which came upon an invitation by the Qatari emir, ended on Wednesday, reflecting that the two countries are keen to consolidate the rapprochement into cooperation in a wide range of fields since diplomatic relations were restored in January 2021, according to the experts.

Leaders of the two countries discussed ways to foster closer cooperation and deepen the relations in trade, economy and investment, in addition to Arab regional and international developments.

They also witnessed the signing of three cooperation agreements respectively in investment, social affairs, and ports, according to Egypt's Presidency Spokesperson Bassam Rady.

"The visit is part of recent moves for warming ties after quite a long time of frayed relations," said Tariq Fahmy, professor of political sciences at Cairo University.

In January 2021, the Arab quartet of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain signed the Al-Ula Declaration with Qatar, ending their all-around boycott of Doha since mid-2017.

In response, Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Cairo in June. In late March, Cairo and Doha agreed to invest 5 billion U.S. dollars in Egypt.

Fahmy told Xinhua that the emir's visit was vital since it expressed good intentions and a willingness to promote closer ties, which was much-needed in the Arab region facing challenges.

He added during the past year, a follow-up committee formed by the two countries to develop the recently-resumed ties held seven rounds of talks.

According to the Egyptian analyst, Sisi's visit to Doha made in the run-up to the Arab League summit scheduled in November in Algeria shows Cairo and Doha have kept each other well-informed of stances, such as the consensus on conflicts in Libya and the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip, and made adjustments if necessary.

"Egypt is strongly present in terms of the Gulf's security," said the analyst, noting Egypt and Qatar along with other Gulf states need to work together to fight against the repercussions of security developments and risks in the region.

As to one of the three memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed in Doha, Waleed Gaballah, an Egyptian economic expert, said "the deal between the two nation wealth funds is an executive measure to start pumping already-planned Qatari investments to Egypt."

Gaballah called for a clear implementation roadmap for the Qatari investment to arrive in the Egyptian markets.

"Regional integration is indispensable to overcome economic woes," Gaballah said, calling for a clear roadmap for the Qatari investment to arrive in the Egyptian markets.

The expert said that regional cooperation is an important part of the solutions that Egypt has been seeking to counter its economic challenges compounded with the impact of the Ukrainian crisis.

He added that high-level exchanges, including state visits, will push the economic ties forward. 
RAMALLAH, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye on Saturday accused Israel of defying all the signed peace agreements and disregarding international law.

He made the remarks during the annual grape festival held in the West Bank city of Hebron, urging the Israeli government to stop all its violations in the Palestinian territories, according to a Palestinian statement.

"The occupation (Israel) violates all the signed peace agreements with disrespect and does not respect the law and international legitimacy," Ishtaye was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian premier announced that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is on his way to participate in the meetings of the UN General Assembly, adding that "his message to the world that all Israel's unilateral measures must stop."

On Saturday, the Israeli army dispersed a demonstration against Israeli settlement and land confiscation in the Masafer Yatta area, south of Hebron, and arrested three demonstrators, according to official Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses. 
ACCRA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Ghana Health Service (GHS) declared an end of the Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak in the country Friday.

"Ghana has therefore successfully interrupted the first MVD outbreak and I declare the outbreak officially over," Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General of the GHS, said at a press briefing attended by the World Health Organization (WHO) officials.

Kuma-Aboagye said Ghana had implemented appropriate response actions to MVD in line with WHO recommendations and would take all necessary measures to prevent a recurrence or any future outbreaks.

The successful containment of the MVD outbreak showed a resilient disease response system with support from the WHO, the West Africa Health Organization and others, he added.

Francis Chisaka Kasolo, the Country Representative for WHO Ghana, lauded the West African country for the prompt manner it reported the outbreak and for ensuring that the disease did not spread beyond its borders.

"While we declare this outbreak over, we still need to continue with the enhanced surveillance, review the response to draw critical lessons, and work on building our capacity for future emergencies," said Kasolo.

The country reported three positive MVD cases in all during the outbreak with two deaths and one recovery. 
JUBA, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The tenth batch of Chinese medical team on Friday started work in South Sudan after arriving with two medical specialists in the laboratory department and infectious diseases.

Isaac Maker, director of Juba Teaching Hospital, said the arrival of the new team demonstrates the strong cooperation between the Chinese people and the South Sudanese since the independence of South Sudan in 2011.

"We are learning from them (Chinese) and they are learning from us, this is how cooperation should be between China and South Sudan. We do appreciate what you have done to us and we value and appreciate your friendship," Maker said.

He made the remarks during the meeting with members of the tenth batch of the Chinese medical team composed of 15 medical specialists in the main referral Juba Teaching Hospital in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Maker also commended the outgoing ninth batch of the Chinese medical team for their dedicated service to the people of South Sudan.

"They are helping us so much. They are seeing our patients and treating them, and we are happy to work with them," he said.

Xu Zhanwei, team leader of the 10th batch of the Chinese medical team, said they will look to further enhance the close cooperation between the first-affiliated hospital of Anhui Medical University and the Juba Teaching Hospital. "This time we have a very big difference from the ninth batch of the Chinese medical team, because we have two specialists, the first one works with infectious diseases, and the other one is a laboratory specialist," Xu said.

He disclosed that the main reason for having these new specialists on the team is to boost the fight against malaria in South Sudan.

Xu also disclosed that nine medical staff from Juba Teaching Hospital will soon be facilitated to China for further studies. Several South Sudanese medics, prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, had benefited from training in China.

Xu said they are looking forward to reviving this kind of medical training cooperation between China and South Sudan, adding that the other aspect of the cooperation will see two medical facilities constructed in the Juba Teaching Hospital.

"We are preparing to construct two centers, one is for laboratory testing, and the other one is for a remote video diagnosis system in Juba Teaching Hospital," Xu said. 
DAKAR, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Senegalese President Macky Sall appointed a new prime minister on Saturday, a position he abolished in 2019 and reinstated last year.

According to a presidential decree, the inspector of taxes and domains Amadou Ba was appointed the prime minister and he received instructions to form a cabinet during the day.

Aged 61, the new prime minister was Minister of Economy and Finance (2013-2019) under the regime of Macky Sall, then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad (2019-2020).

In place since November 2020, the outgoing government had 33 ministers and four Secretaries of State. 
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement has been importantly contributing to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)'s economic development, Cambodian officials and experts said.

Entered into force in January 2022, the mega-regional trade deal comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries including 10 ASEAN member states --Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

The pact will eliminate as much as 90 percent of the tariffs on goods traded among its signatories over the next 20 years.

Speaking to Xinhua ahead of the first RCEP ministers' meeting, scheduled for Sept. 18 in the cultural province of Siem Reap in northwest Cambodia, Ministry of Commerce's undersecretary of state and spokesman Penn Sovicheat said the RCEP has created a huge market for ASEAN and all participating countries have benefited from it.

Noting that Cambodia is a practical example, he said that the kingdom's total export to the RCEP member countries had significantly risen to 3.28 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2022.

"The first semester of 2022 compared to the first semester 2021, our Cambodia's export to RCEP had increased about 9 percent," Sovicheat said. "The RCEP has contributed a lot to the ASEAN economy."

Speaking of the first RCEP ministers' meeting, the spokesperson said Cambodia will propose the RCEP member countries to establish a standalone secretariat in Phnom Penh.

He said the forthcoming meeting will also push the rest participating countries that have not yet ratified the pact, to ratify it as soon as possible in order to make full use of the deal.

Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said the RCEP has been giving a big boost to ASEAN's economic recovery in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era and has also played a crucial role in helping narrow the development gap between the rich and poor ASEAN countries.

All the signatories' countries have access to the Chinese market equally and enjoy tariff concessions stipulated in the pact, he noted.

"This free trade agreement holds huge potential for all participating countries to boost their trade and investment ties and to quicken their economic recovery from the pandemic," he told Xinhua.

"All member countries have reaped and will continue to reap the benefits of the RCEP, especially the four least developed ASEAN countries."

Thong Mengdavid, a research fellow at the Phnom Penh-based Asian Vision Institute, said the RCEP established the biggest trade bloc in the world's history, covering nearly a third of the global population, around 30 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP), and 28 percent of global trade.

"With free flow of products and more relaxing trade barriers among the 15 member states, the RCEP provides various benefits and opportunities for the bloc to diversify their markets and enhance the production capability," he told Xinhua.

"Additionally, the RCEP will enhance the roles of multilateralism based on a rule-based international order, henceforth, promoting more cooperation and peaceful trade activities in the region," Mengdavid added.

According to an Asian Development Bank's study, the RCEP is expected to increase the member economies' incomes by 0.6 percent by 2030, adding 245 billion U.S. dollars annually to regional income and 2.8 million jobs to regional employment. 
NEW DELHI, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- More than 20 people died and many were injured in rain-related incidents in various parts of India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh amid heavy downpour over the past days, local media reported on Saturday.

The dead included over 10 people who died in the state capital Lucknow after a wall collapsed over them Thursday night amid incessant rains.

Continuous rains during the past 36 hours in many parts of Uttar Pradesh have thrown normal life out of gear, as people are forced to leave their houses and stay in temporary relief camps. Water logging has been reported in many parts of the state. 
Hungarian sinologist and literary translator Klara Zombory(C), Eva Kalmar(R) and Miklos M. Nagy, author and director of the Helikon publisher, attend an event organized by the Contemporary Chinese Literature Book Club of Hungary held in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 15, 2022. A literary event organized by the Contemporary Chinese Literature Book Club of Hungary was held here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Chen Hao)

BUDAPEST, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- The oeuvre of famous Chinese contemporary writer Yu Hua was at the center of a recent event organized by the Contemporary Chinese Literature Book Club of Hungary here in a trendy literary cafe-bookshop.

The Chinese author greeted the book club, which premiered with his books Thursday evening, in a video message.

"Each of my works is about the lives and experiences of Chinese people, Chinese people who are shaped by experiencing the changes of the times," Yu said.

The literary event was chaired by Klara Zombory, a sinologist and literary translator. The guests talked about Yu's renowned novel "To Live", the grotesque elements and the omnipresence of life and death in his writings.

Zombory told Xinhua that said that Yu was one of her favorite writers, and translating his work was the reason she became a literary translator.

Explaining Yu's success in Europe, she said Yu's language is easy to understand and the stories he tells are interesting to Europeans.

On the purpose of setting up the Contemporary Chinese Literature Book Club, Zombory said she believed that translating books was not enough, and there needed to be such activities to introduce these books to Hungarian readers.

Hungarian sinologist and literary translator Eva Kalmar said that Yu, considered a master of avant-garde, was a rare expert of modern Chinese society, and depicted its elements in a meticulous way.

Miklos M. Nagy, an author and director of the Helikon publisher, said that Yu was a well-known and popular writer in Hungary. Five of Yu's books have been published in Hungary, and his latest novel "Wencheng" will soon be published in the country.

Daniel Fodor, a young lawyer trainee, said he was eager to learn more about the writer and Chinese literature in general after attending the event.

The event was co-hosted by the China Cultural Center in Budapest, with support from the Chinese Writers Association. 
Iran: A 22-year-old woman died in an Iranian hospital days after she was detained by the regime's ethics police for allegedly failing to comply with hijab rules in the country.

Mahsa Amini was arrested for allegedly visiting relatives with her family while traveling from Iran's western Kurdistan province to the capital, Tehran, after she was found guilty of failing to comply with the country's strict rules regarding women's dress. was arrested for.

Eyewitnesses claimed that Amini was beaten up in a police van, which the police denies.

The announcement comes just weeks after Iran's hardline President Ibrahim Raisi ordered action on women's rights and called for strict enforcement of the country's mandatory dress code, which requires all women since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Must wear hijab.

Amini's family was informed that she had been taken to the hospital several hours after her arrest. He was taken to the Intensive Care Unit of Kasra Hospital.

According to the Iranian human rights organisation, Harana, Amini's family was told during her arrest that she would be released after a "re-education session".

According to the police, Amini had suffered a heart attack. However, Amini's family denied this and claimed that she is healthy and not facing any health problems.

When Amini reached the hospital according to her family, she was in a coma and the hospital staff told them that she was brain dead.

Social media users have shared pictures of Amini lying in a coma on a hospital bed with bandages and breathing tubes on her head.

Iranian celebrities and politicians condemned his hospitalization and his death. Mahmoud Sadeghi, a reformist politician and former MP, has urged Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to speak about Amini's case.

"What about the Iranian police's treatment of Supreme Leader Mahsa Amini, who condemned US police for the death of George Floyd?" Sadeghi released a tweet on Friday.

According to state media, following an order from Raisi, the Interior Ministry and Tehran's prosecutor began an investigation into the matter.

On August 15, Raisey signed a decree banning women's clothing both in public and online and imposing harsher penalties for violating the strict code.

Women have been arrested across the country after declaring July 12 as a national "Hijab and Chastity Day". Sepideh Rashno, a writer and artist, was allegedly beaten up and tortured in custody before apologizing forcibly on television.

According to human rights organizations, additional security forces have been deployed outside Kasra Hospital.

Saudi Arabia surpasses Russia in selling oil to India, Iran still at top

The "Final Stage" of the "Strategic" Russia-Iran Cooperation Agreement has been reached

After Russia, now this Muslim country will give oil to India at low prices!
South Korea: South Korea considers inviting Japan for fleet review based on "past history". According to South Korea's defense minister, the defense ministry is considering an invitation from Japan to review the naval fleet together, but old animosity and unresolved disputes stand in the way.

South Korea's Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said South Korea is determined to build "future-oriented" relations with Japan, and that if mutual cooperation with the US can boost regional security, then their military ties will increase. Must be "improved". Wednesday.

"Japan- [South Korea] defense cooperation is influenced by overall Japanese-South Korean relations," he said. "The terms for improving Japan-[South Korea] relations are currently being established."

However, according to Li, cooperation between the two countries has been hampered by longstanding regional and historical differences.

The two countries have been fighting for decades over the recognition of South Korean comfort women forced into prostitution by Imperial Japan during World War II.

Surviving victims and South Korean lawmakers from all political parties have claimed that the Japanese authorities' previous apologies fell short of their expectations and demanded that their government formally acknowledge its history.

"Japan-South Korea relations remain difficult because of issues from their past," Lee said. "Our people will be uncomfortable if our Navy salutes the Japanese Navy with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Flag, which is similar to the Rising Sun flag, while our Navy participates in the review of the International Naval Fleet."

According to Lee, another unresolved dispute involved a South Korean warship allegedly using radar to target a Japanese patrol plane in 2018.

"The claims made by both sides differ on how the incident happened," Lee said.

According to Japan's Defense Ministry, a South Korean destroyer used its fire-control radar to track down a Japanese P-1 patrol within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone. South Korea's Defense Ministry refuted the claim, claiming that its destroyer saw the plane through an optical camera during the rescue operation.

Japan is also planning an international naval fleet review in November.

South Korea, the United States, China, Australia and several other countries were invited to display their naval assets during the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Fleet Review, which takes place every three years.

According to NavalNews.com, South Korea's Navy has participated in the review three times, the most recent time in 2015. According to the chief of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, it was not invited in 2019 due to "too harsh" relations. two countries. During a news conference that year, Staff Admiral Hiroshi Yamamura K.

Li said the Defense Ministry had not taken any decision on Japan's invitation.

"We will consider the issue carefully with the relevant ministries based on a combination of public sentiment, international norms, etc.," Lee told Yonhap News.

North Korea's official website, Uriminjokiri, published a column on Friday criticizing Japan's fleet review. Those present were punished to pay tribute to the Japanese Navy, which is represented by the flag of the rising sun according to the column.

China may increase its arsenal as a result of a US general's remarks on nuclear deterrence

PLA leaders are unlikely to oppose any attempt by Xi Jinping to invade Taiwan

Israeli PM meets UAE FM to mark 2nd anniversary of diplomatic ties
How anti-Russian sanctions, destruction of Azovstal affect Metinvests European expansion plans 17 September, 05:52 PM The condition of 3,600 Azovstal metallurgical plant after the bombing by the Russian army (Photo:@Kozatsky_D via Twitter)

The Metinvest Group, Ukraines largest mining and metallurgical holding, is considering building a new plant in the EU. There is a shortage of flat-rolled steel products after the destruction of the Azovstal and Illich Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol, and sanctions against Russian plants have hampered imports into Europe. What kind of enterprise will it be?

After Mariupol was occupied by Russian troops, the Metinvest Group, owned by oligarchs Rinat Akhmetov and Vadim Novinsky, changed its plans to build a new plant in the European Union.

"Initially, we had the idea of rolling production," said Yuriy Ryzhenkov, CEO of Metinvest Group, in an interview with NV Business.

Video of day

But it was based on the availability of Azovstal slabs. We will not see these slabs in the near future. Therefore, we started looking at another vector based on DRI raw materials and electric arc furnace production.

The Metinvest CEO says that a new plant in the EU could process iron ore from the Group's Ukrainian enterprises and facilitate the sales of Ukrainian products for export.

Regarding the need for another steel plant in the EU, Ryzhenkov believes that steel is a strategic product and every region of the world is trying to be self-sufficient in steel.

"The EU has no excess capacity, it is a net importer," the Metinvest CEO noted.

Read also: Russia exploits loopholes to continue exporting steel to Europe despite sanctions

He explained that currently, Azovstal and the Illich Iron and Steel Works have left the EU market, so Europe is facing large problems in sourcing with flat-rolled steel products. Prior Ukrainian and Russian imports cannot be quickly replaced.

"At the same time, there are talks about a new package of sanctions, Ryzhenkov said.

It is very likely that the way for Russian semi-finished products to Europe will be closed. This will create an even greater deficit.

All this provides an opportunity to create new steelmaking capacities in the EU using new "green" technologies.

He believes that the European Commission will decide to close the market for Russian semi-finished materials (primarily slabs from NLMK  NV Business), because this count as direct financing of the aggressor's economy, and partially anti-competitive actions against those who cannot buy Russian raw materials.

Despite the loss of plants in Mariupol, Metinvest has managed to find raw materials for its European plants in the United Kingdom, Italy, and Bulgaria.

Read also: Biden abolishes customs duties on steel imports from Ukraine

In addition, the company is looking for opportunities to develop cooperation between its Ukrainian assets. For example, Zaporizhstal (Zaporizhzhia) has started producing slabs from ingots made by Kametstal (Kamyanske), which has a more modern steelmaking process. These slabs are then processed at European branches.

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Photo by Red Dot on Unsplash

Over five decades ago, the Terai region of Nepal had plenty of land for agriculture. The area also had enough land where people had set up private forests. People used to plant crops on arable land along with trees and produce enough grains and other vegetables to sustain themselves.

But, things changed as more and more people started to migrate to Terai, the southern plains of Nepal, from the hills. Most of the land where the private forests were located was sold. This then resulted in different issues as wood became scarce along with other forest resources.

In a bid to stop this, few people in the country have started to commercialise private forests in the country as they aim to ensure the community does not face similar scarcity in the coming years.

A case in point

Megnath Bhusal in his private forest where he plants pipal trees.

One such person is Megnath Bhusal, a resident of the Raptisonari rural municipality in the Banke district. Over the past five years, he has planted 4,000 pipal trees in the area.

My father and grandfather never had to face a scarcity of the wood. But now, its become a major issue and that is why I started to plant trees. There is good money in this, says Bhusal.

Bhusal has planted around 4,000 trees on rough 13,000 square metre land. He says once they grow a bit, he will sell the wood.

Im looking at selling a few after two years, he says.

Bhusal says there is a lot of demand from the furniture industry. Pipal is strong wood and a lot of factories use it to make furniture.

The demand is quite high and the money is good, Bhusal says. There is less risk and the profit is high. I estimate to earn around Rs 20 million from selling some trees.

A few years ago, people in the area started planting rosewood and masala tree. But, these trees suffered from different diseases, after which people stopped planting them and started shifting to pipal trees.

Growing trend

Private forests are quite common in the terai as there are a lot financial benefits.

The past decade has seen a rise in the commercialisation of private forests. According to the Association of Family Forest Owners, there are around 150 people involved in setting up private forests across the country.

Jograj Gaire, the chair of the association, says he and the organisation are providing support to people who are interested in planting trees. He says they are also giving plants away for free as the association has distributed around 150,000 plants over the past few years in Kavre, Banke and Dang.

We want to help these people as they are doing a great job in creating forests around the country, he says. But, there are challenges as these people havent been able to sell it easily due to forest-related laws.

Gaire says the government should allow people to sell tree products easily. He says they should make it easier as selling crops.

Forest expert Naya Sharma Poudel says the rise in private forests is due to the current market that pays quite well compared to 20 years ago.

Access to road has also made it easy to transport wood away from the forest to different factories, says Poudel. Wood from community forests is used by the user group members themselves. Hence, private forests address the market demand.

Poudel says this is a good alternative to farming.
Avelo Airlines pushed its stake further into the ground in Fort Myers Thursday with the announcement of a new destination out of Southwest Florida International Airport.

Avelo added Lexington, Kentucky to the mix and will now serve six destinations nonstop from RSW. Avelo is the only airline offering the Fort Myers nonstop access into the the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky.

Earlier this year: RSW sets single-month passenger record in March

Here's a breakdown of the Avelo flights at RSW:

Avelo currently operates flights several days per week between RSW and the airlines Northeast base in New Haven, Connecticut.

Beginning November 10, Avelo will serve four additional destinations from RSW: Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina (RDU); Binghamton, New York, (BGM); and two cities in Michigan: Kalamazoo (AZO) and Lansing (LAN).

The Lexington route is effective on Nov. 18 with flights on Mondays and Fridays.

Hello, new route! Just in time for holiday travel 



 Fort Myers, FL (RSW) to Lexington, KY (LEX) starting November 18th



Fares from $59 one way*! pic.twitter.com/vpiqiOWeIE  Avelo Airlines (@AveloAir) September 15, 2022

Did you know?

Beginning in November, Avelo will base one 189-seat Boeing Next-Generation (NG) 737-800 jetliner at RSW. Avelos current systemwide fleet consists of 11 airplanes. The airline expects to operate 14 aircraft by the end of 2022 and 16 aircraft by the second quarter of 2023.

How much are Avelo flights to Lexington, Kentucky?

Introductory low one-way fares between Fort Myers Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) and Lexingtons Blue Grass Airport (LEX) starting at $59 are available at AveloAir.com.

What type of Airlplane does Avelo have based in Fort Myers?

Avelo will operate Boeing Next-Generation 737s on all its RSW routes.

Story continues

Here's more information about Avelo Airlines in Fort Myers:

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Avelo Airlines flights: new nonstop flight from Fort Myers to Lexington
How's the transformation of Providence's "Superman Building" coming along?

Slowly, but steadily at the moment. Five months after city and state leaders announced a deal to redevelop the former bank headquarters called the Industrial Trust tower into apartments, the City Council is now ready to debate a 30-year tax break for the building's owner.

What the tax deal looks like

The tax deal released Thursday and referred to a council committee for hearings, would freeze the 26-story tower's tax bill for 10 years after next year. Then, from 2034-2043, owner High Rock Development would pay that same base tax bill plus $250,000 each year.

Starting in 2044, the owner would begin paying a percentage of the full tax bill, including updated assessed value and whatever the tax rate is that year. The percentage of the full bill would escalate until reaching full payment in 2054.

How much all of this will save building owner David Sweetser, who is best known for building suburban shopping plazas in Massachusetts, is unclear.

The Industrial Trust Tower, also known as the Superman Building.

A spokeswoman for Mayor Jorge Elorza, who along with state officials in April hailed an agreement with Sweetser to save the Superman Building, would not say whether his administration has an estimate of the tax savings or not.

"The Finance Department will prepare any required fiscal impact information needed by the Council Finance Committee where we expect it to be fully vetted during public hearings," Elorza spokeswoman Theresa Agonia wrote in an email.

She added that the "Tax Stabilization Agreement," as the tax treaties are known in city government, was "not pre-negotiated by the administration."

The savings to the property owner in the proposed tax treaty could be significant.

The assessed value of the tower has been declining in recent years as it sits vacant, but the draft tax treaty would mean improvements to the building would not be reflected in the tax bill for 20 years. This year the property was valued at $14.1 million, according to assessors records.

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'A notable Providence property'

Elorza, Gov. Dan McKee and General Assembly leaders announced an agreement in April on $41 million in combined state and local assistance to help High Rock complete a $220-million residential conversion of the tower. The building is also counting on around $22 million in federal tax credits.

The property tax deal was not counted in the $41-million incentive package  $26 million from the state and $15 million from the city  but city officials said the redevelopment would include one.

State law sets a maximum length of 20 years for local tax treaties, but at the city's request the General Assembly passed a special bill this summer allowing a 30-year deal for the Superman Building.

City Council spokesman Parker Gavigan said he believed the draft tax treaty introduced to the City Council on Thursday had been written by High Rock attorney Nick Hemond.

"This project will inject more life and activity downtown by transforming a vacant, deteriorating building into a notable Providence property, Council President John Igliozzi said in a news release Thursday night. The Council must ensure the agreement benefits city taxpayers, the building owner, and creates affordable housing in the city.

As the tax deal is vetted, High Rock continues to work on detailed plans for the redevelopment, including what will go in the first-floor bank lobby and what it will look like.

"High Rock continues to work diligently on pre-construction tasks, including completing engineering surveys and plans necessary to commence demolition, as well as finalizing processes and documentation with various transaction participants," company spokesman Bill Fischer said in an email. "We are still targeting commencing demolition activities during the 4th quarter of 2022."

"The TSA is a critical component to the overall structure of financing of the project," he added.

 panderson@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7384

On Twitter: @PatrickAnderso_

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 'Superman Building' tax deal: What we know and what is still unknown
SmartAsset: States With the Best Infrastructure - 2022 Edition

Millions of dollars are on the way to states as a result of two recent bipartisan infrastructure bills. This has the potential to impact the finances of everyday Americans. Some sources suggest that the average American loses roughly $3,300 of disposable income per year due to poor infrastructure  money that could be put to other use such as retirement planning, housing, family spending and more. Better infrastructure means the creation of millions of jobs and lower commute times among other benefits.

SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

In this study, we looked at current infrastructure conditions in all 50 states. We compared states across eight metrics on topics such as road, bridge and public transportation quality, internet coverage, water system needs and electric grid reliability. For details on our data sources and how we put all the information together to create our final rankings, check out the Data and Methodology section below.

This is SmartAssets third annual study on the states with the best infrastructure. Check out the previous version here.

Key Findings

Three of the top five states are in the West. These Western states include Nevada, Utah and Oregon. In all three places, power outages are infrequent (occurring less than 0.79 times a year on average) and they do not last long (less than 101 minutes on average). Additionally, all three states offer wide broadband internet access (coverage exceeding 85%).

Power outages in West Virginia last eight hours on average. This is the highest average in our study. In comparison, Arizona has the lowest average power outage length, which is less than 45 minutes.

None of the six states receiving the most funding per capita under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act rank in the top 10. Across all 50 states, the average funding per person is $1,761. In those aforementioned six states, funding exceeds $3,000 per person. Alaska will receive the most (nearly $6,700 per person), followed by Wyoming ($4,438) and Montana ($3,636).

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1. Nevada

Nevada has the second-lowest average length of power outages (less than an hour typically, at 55 minutes) and the third-lowest average number of outages (0.59 times per year). Nevada also ranks sixth-best for access to broadband internet service (94.2%). In terms of transportation, Nevada has the highest percentage of bridges in good or fair condition (99.2%, tying with Utah).

2. Utah

Utah ranks in the top 10 states for three of the eight metrics we considered. It ties for the highest percentage of bridges in good and fair condition (99.2%), ranks eighth-best for broadband coverage (93.0%) and has the ninth-lowest number of power outages (0.79 per year on average). The average commute time for workers in the state is also low, at 22.0 minutes.

3. Nebraska

Regarding transportation, Nebraska has the fifth-lowest commute time on average (18.9 minutes). A contributing factor could be that 89.9% of roads are considered in good or fair condition (eighth-highest) and 94.8% of bridges are reported to be in the same condition (26th-highest). Power outages occur infrequently (0.58 times per year) in Nebraska and typically are short (66 minutes on average).

4. Oregon

Oregon has the ninth- and 14th-highest percentages of roads and bridges in good or fair condition (89.8% and 96.3%, respectively). About 4% of workers use public transit to get to and from work (11th-highest) and the average commute time in this state is roughly 24 minutes.

5. Maryland

Across the infrastructure metrics we considered, Maryland ranks well for utility-related factors. The state has the third-highest broadband internet coverage (96.3%). Additionally, the average frequency and duration of electricity outages is 0.77 times per year and roughly 76 minutes, respectively. Maryland also ranks fifth in one transportation-related metric: the percentage of workers that use public transit to get to work (7.4%).

6. Delaware (Tie)

Delaware residents can expect power outages lasting roughly 85 minutes on average when they occur (14th-lowest in our study). Almost 96% of the state has broadband coverage (fourth-highest). Long-term, Delaware has the fifth-lowest needs for drinking water over a 20-year period (roughly $833 in water per person).

6. Minnesota (Tie)

Minnesota ranks 12th-best for two metrics: its percentage of bridges in good or fair condition (96.5%) and the average duration of power outages (about 79 minutes). The state also ranks 13th-best for two other metrics: the percentage of workers who rely on public transit to get to work (3.2%) and the frequency of power outages (0.84 times a year).

8. Kansas

Kansas offers workers a commute time that is under 20 minutes (eighth-lowest). Potentially a factor, the state has the ninth- and 12th-highest percentages of bridges and roads in good or fair condition (97.2% and 88.4%, respectively). In terms of electricity stability, residents in Kansas experience an average of 0.86 power outages per year (15th-lowest) and these power outages last under 100 minutes typically (22nd-lowest).

9. Wisconsin

Wisconsin residents experience an average of 0.71 power outages per year (sixth-lowest). Typically, power outages last just under an hour and a half (17th-lowest). Wisconsin also has the 20th- and 21st-highest percentages of bridges and roads in good and fair condition (95.8% and 83.4%, respectively).

10. Arizona

Arizona rounds out our list of the top 10 states with the best infrastructure. The Grand Canyon state has the lowest average frequency and length of power outages (0.51 times a year and roughly 45 minutes, respectively) across all 50 states. Broadband coverage accounts for 88.4% of the state. Arizona also has the fourth-highest percentage of bridges in good or fair condition (98.4%) and ranks 25th-best for its percentage of roads in the same condition (81.4%).

Data and Methodology

To find the states with the best infrastructure, SmartAsset looked at data for all 50 states (excluding the District of Columbia). We compared states across the following eight metrics:

Percentage of roads in good or fair condition. Data comes from the Department of Transportation and is for 2020.

Percentage of bridges in good or fair condition. Data comes from the Department of Transportation and is for 2020.

20-year water system needs. This is an estimate of each states 20-year water system fiscal needs. Data comes from the Environmental Protection Agencys 2018 report, Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment.

Broadband coverage. This is the percentage of the population with broadband coverage. Data comes from BroadbandNow and is for 2021.

Average frequency of electricity outages. This is the average number of power outages occurrences lasting longer than five minutes and excluding major events in a year. Data comes from the Energy Information Administration and is for 2020.

Average duration of electricity outages. This is the average duration in minutes of power outages for occurrences lasting longer than five minutes and excluding major events. Data comes from the Energy Information Administration and is for 2020.

Average commute time. This is the average amount of time in minutes that residents travel back and forth from work. Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureaus 2020 5-year American Community Survey.

Percentage of commuters using public transit. Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureaus 2020 5-year American Community Survey.

We ranked each state in every metric, giving an equal weighting to all but two metrics: average frequency of electricity outages and average duration of electricity outages, each of which was given a half weight. We then found each states average ranking. The state with the best average ranking places first in our study while the state with the lowest average ranking places last.

Financial Tips for Maximizing Your Investments

Capitalize on infrastructure improvements. Learn how to diversify your portfolio with assets tied to infrastructure. Then use our investment calculator to project your growth over time once youve started investing.

Build up your financial plan. Investing in infrastructure can also be a cornerstone for achieving other financial goals. And a financial advisor could help you set up a financial plan to reach them. SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Questions about our study? Contact press@smartasset.com.

Photo credit: iStock/c1a1p1c1o1m1

The post States With the Best Infrastructure  2022 Edition appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
(Bloomberg) --

Most Read from Bloomberg

France denied a report that its considering cutting power exports to Italy, saying its committed to maintaining power supply to its European neighbors.

France reaffirms its commitment to reciprocal solidarity regarding gas and electricity with all our European neighbors, the energy transition ministry said in a statement. Fully functioning electric interconnections are a priority for collective supply security.

La Repubblica said that France had written to Italian authorities to notify them of a possible two-year halt in supply. A spokeswoman for the Italian energy ministry confirmed the story.

Earlier this week, French network operator RTE said in its winter outlook report that in an extreme situation, it may need to halt an interconnector to Italy, as well as one to the UK, a move that would stop exports.

State-controlled Electricite de France SAs nuclear output is set to fall to the lowest in more than three decades as it grapples with maintenance for its aging plants. France, traditionally Europes biggest electricity exporting country, has become a net importer. Along with the squeeze on Russian gas flows, the EDF crisis is a major source of Europes energy deficit.

As Europe heads into a difficult winter, policymakers are acutely aware that shortages risk testing solidarity between countries -- and the system of interconnectors between nations.

Read More: EDF Raises Earnings Hit From Output Drop to $29 Billion

A spokesman for EDF also denied the report, saying the French state-controlled utility hasnt sent a letter to the Italian authorities. A spokeswoman for French power grid operator RTE, which is 50.1% owned by EDF but whose statutes ensure its independence, had no immediate comment.

Story continues

(Rewrites with denial from French ministry.)

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Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - September 16, 2022) - Hemostemix Inc. (TSXV: HEM) (OTCQB: HMTXF) (FSE: 2VFO) ("Hemostemix" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Nadia Giannetti, MD, to its Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Giannetti received her Medical Degree from McGill University. After training in cardiology at McGill, she went on to pursue a Fellowship in Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation at Stanford University in California. She returned to McGill to become an Attending Cardiologist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Giannetti, along with her team participates in the care of over 1000 patients with heart failure. She is the former Chief of Cardiology at the McGill University Health Centre (2010-2021). Since 2021, she has been the Associate Physician-in-Chief for the Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, and is the Medical Director of the Heart Failure and Heart Transplant program.

Dr Giannetti is a Clinical Researcher with an interest in personalized therapy for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and optimizing clinical outcomes in patients living with heart failure. She is the co-Principal Investigator of a large initiative looking at the role of stem cells in personalized therapy for cardiomyopathy.

For the past 10 years, Dr. Giannetti has been an active member of the Canadian Heart Failure and Heart Transplant Guidelines. She has led multiple multi-center clinical trials as a local and national principal investigator. She is the Program lead for a large research initiative entitled the Courtois Cardiovascular Signature Program (cvsignature.ca) and the Director of the Courtois Cardiovascular Biorepository.

Dr. Giannetti is very active in the Canadian Heart Failure and Transplant landscape. She is past president of the Canadian Cardiac Transplant Group, has been on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Heart Failure Society and Governance Committee of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. For the past 10 years, she has been an active member of the Canadian Heart Failure and Heart Transplant Committees and has been a co-author on multiple published Canadian Heart Failure and Heart Transplant Guidelines.

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"Hemostemix is delighted to welcome Dr. Giannetti to the Scientific Advisory Board, as her stem cell cardiomyopathy clinical research, cardiology practice, and interest in personalized therapy for patients who have dilated cardiomyopathy aligns exactly with ACP-01's therapeutic benefits" stated Thomas Smeenk, CEO. "I look forward to her counsel as we move forward to follow-up the results of three previous heart studies that demonstrate ACP-01 is safe and efficacious as a treatment dilated and ischemic cardiomyopathy," Smeenk said.

ABOUT HEMOSTEMIX

Hemostemix is an autologous stem cell therapy company, founded in 2003. A winner of the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Award, the Company has developed, patented, and is scaling a patient's blood-based stem cell therapeutics platform that includes angiogenic cell precursors, neuronal cell precursor and cardiomyocyte cell precursors. Seven studies including 260 ACP-01 recipients define its safety and efficacy profile as a treatment for heart diseases such as Dilated and Ischemic Cardiomyopathy, Angina, and diseases of Ischemia such as Critical Limb Ischemia. The Company owns 91 patents across five patent families. For more information, please visit www.hemostemix.com.

For further information, please contact: Thomas Smeenk, President, CEO & Co-Founder

EM: tsmeenk@hemostemix.com PH: 905-580-4170

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information in relation to: an appointment to the Scientific Advisory Board in relation to the lead product ACP-01, and the retrospective study of ischemic and dilated cardiomyopathy, and the commercialization of ACP-01. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects Hemostemix's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Hemostemix and on assumptions Hemostemix believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the underlying value of Hemostemix and its Common Shares; the successful resolution of the litigation that Hemostemix is pursuing or defending (the "Litigation"); the results of ACP-01 research, trials, studies and analyses, including the analysis being equivalent to or better than previous research, trials or studies; the receipt of all required regulatory approvals for research, trials or studies; the level of activity, market acceptance and market trends in the healthcare sector; the economy generally; consumer interest in Hemostemix's services and products; competition and Hemostemix's competitive advantages; and Hemostemix obtaining satisfactory financing to  fund Hemostemix's operations including any research, trials or studies, and any Litigation. 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 Hemostemix to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the ability of Hemostemix to complete clinical trials, complete a satisfactory analyses and file the results of such analyses to gain regulatory approval of a phase II or phase III clinical trial of ACP-01; potential litigation Hemostemis mayface; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; the actual results of future operations including the actual results of future research, trials or studies; competition; changes in legislation affecting Hemostemix; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; long-term capital requirements and future developments in Hemostemix's markets and the markets in which it expects to compete; lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals; and risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic including various recommendations, orders and measures of governmental authorities to try to limit the pandemic, including travel restrictions, border closures, non-essential business closures service disruptions, quarantines, self-isolations, shelters-in-place and social distancing, disruptions to markets, disruptions to economic activity and financings, disruptions to supply chains and sales channels, and a deterioration of general economic conditions including a possible national or global recession or depression;the potential impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on Hemostemix which may include a decreased demand for the services that Hemostemix offers; and a deterioration of financial markets that could limit Hemostemix's ability to obtain external financing. A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Hemostemix's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although Hemostemix 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. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Hemostemix as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, it is Subject to change after such date. However, Hemostemix expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/137411
LinkedIn founder and Elon Musk's longtime friend said he worried when he heard about the billionaire's decision to buy Twitter: 'It was like "Oh my god, another huge problem"'

Reid Hoffman sits in the lobby of LinkedIn's Mountain View, Calif., headquarters on Tuesday, May 7, 2013. Elon Musk arrives on the red carpet for the Axel Springer media award in Berlin on Dec. 1, 2020. Noah Berger and Hannibal Hanschk via Associated Press

Reid Hoffman said he was initially concerned when he learned of Elon Musk's decision to buy Twitter.

But, the LinkedIn founder said the billionaire has already showed he can juggle SpaceX and Tesla.

Other members of Musk's social circle told Axios they warned him against buying Twitter.

LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman said he was worried when he first learned of Elon Musk's plan to buy Twitter.

"I read the tweet and I think I had the reaction of most people, it was like, 'Oh my God, another huge problem. He's already dealing with a large number,'" Hoffman told Axios in a podcast interview, referencing Musk's offer to buy Twitter on April 14.

Hoffman is a longtime friend of Musk and a member of the so-called PayPal Mafia  the group of entrepreneurs that helped Musk on his first business venture and later went on to found some of Silicon Valley's most successful companies.

The LinkedIn cofounder reportedly wasn't the only one in Musk's social circle who had doubts about the $44 billion purchase. Several of Musk's close friends warned him against entering the deal and worried he had taken on more than he could handle, Axios reported, citing friends close to Musk who declined to speak on the record due to the ongoing lawsuits between Twitter and Musk.

Hoffman told Axios he never doubts Musk for long  even when it came to his initial decision to purchase Twitter.

"After that was the thought, 'I was one of the people who thought he couldn't do both Tesla and SpaceX and clearly was wrong,'" Hoffman said.

The tech founder said he almost immediately texted Musk saying "Okay, this is a big deal." He also texted several friends, "Wow, this could change the world. What do you think the plan is?"

Hoffman has been known to support Musk in the past. In July, the entrepreneur went to bat for Musk after former president Donald Trump slammed the Tesla CEO.

"Not surprised to see Trump's attacks on @elonmusk. Elon's a classic immigrant story  an entrepreneur with a real record of success," Hoffman tweeted at the time. "Started EV revolution w/Tesla, resurrected US rocket industry w/SpaceX, fighting climate change while promoting American innovation."

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After Twitter sued Musk in July for attempting to back out of the purchase agreement, several of Musk's closest friends were drawn into the legal battle  spawning over 100 subpoenas from both sides of the court battle. In August, two of Musk's PayPal Mafia buddies, David Sacks and Joe Lonsdale, slammed Twitter for dragging them into the legal battle. Sacks called Twitter's legal requests a "giant fishing expedition."

Whether Musk will be forced to buy Twitter has yet to be decided. The billionaire is facing a five-day trial in October over the $44 billion purchase.

Listen to Axios' full podcast here.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Meta told staff it plans to roll out a "new workplace experience", The Independent reported.

Workers would need to share desks and book them in advance as part of a hot desking trial.

Some slammed the "cheesy" plans and accused managers of being "dishonest" in how they framed it.

Meta employees have criticised the company's plans to introduce hot desking at its offices, The Independent reported.



The Facebook and Instagram owner said it would trial a "new workplace experience" that makes staff book desks before they arrive at the office, according to the report.



Meta employees objected to hot desking plans on its internal social network, per the report, with one calling them "cheesy". Other staff said it was "dishonest" to frame the plan as a "new experience".



Hot desking is used by numerous big companies to save on office space and costs but means most workers do not have a permanent work station.



"Can we just cut the bulls*** and call it cost-cutting," one Meta employee wrote, The Independent reported. "Nobody is buying this new experience c***." Others said the announcement appeared to treat staff like children.



Some staff said they would come into the office less often because they would have to book a desk and set it up, according to the report. One said the planned move showed management had a "complete and utter disconnect from reality".

"I swear to god, taking something that's working, replacing it with a horrible, non-working alternative, and forcing everyone to move, is such a Meta thing," another employee wrote, according to the report.



Other Meta employees pointed out other companies' use of hot desking and that it could be manageable once implemented, The Independent reported.



Meta has already taken measures this year to cut costs. It told staff in May it was holding off on hiring due to "slower revenue growth than anticipated."



The founder and chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, then told staff in July he would be "turning up the heat" on performance goals to reduce the workforce and get rid of underperforming staff.



Meta did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Prime Minister Liz Truss (Victoria Jones/PA) (PA Wire)

The Prime Minister has met her counterparts from Australia and New Zealand as she kicked off talks with world leaders travelling to the UK for the Queens funeral.

Liz Truss spoke with Australian PM Anthony Albanese and New Zealands premier Jacinda Ardern at the Governments Chevening country residence on Saturday.

The meetings were being framed by No 10 as chats, rather than formal bilateral sessions, with politics likely to feature.

In advance of her talks with Ms Truss, Ms Ardern said the Queens death and new King would be the focus of conversation, with the pair also likely to discuss Ukraine and the UKs free trade agreement with New Zealand.

Today Jodie and I signed the condolence book at Lancaster House. In this time of great grief, we are thankful to be here paying our respects to the Queen for her services to duty, faith, family and the Commonwealth. pic.twitter.com/YF2cWvapxW  Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) September 17, 2022

It was thought the meeting between Ms Truss and Mr Albanese may also touch on trade, with the countries last year signing a deal estimated by the Government to be worth 2.3 billion to the UK economy.

When his British counterpart won the Tory leadership contest earlier this month, the Australian PM tweeted: I look forward to a continued constructive relationship and friendship between our nations and people.

Mr Albanese also signed the condolence book at Lancaster House with his partner, Jodie Haydon, during his visit.

He tweeted: Today Jodie and I signed the condolence book at Lancaster House.

In this time of great grief, we are thankful to be here paying our respects to the Queen for her services to duty, faith, family and the Commonwealth.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

The Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) has now Act 15 for the territory of Bulgaria, ICGB AD told Azernews.

The company noted that the pipeline commissioning procedures progress on schedule and commercial operations will begin on October 1.

Act 15 certifies that the facility is completed and technically sound, as the EPC contractor - the Greek company AVAX, hands it over as a completed site to the contracting entity - the independent gas transmission operator ICGB AD.

"This is the last step we have to take towards obtaining Act 16 in Bulgaria and the corresponding Permit for Use. We have provided the institutions with all the necessary documents, and we expect the administrative procedures to be completed by the end of next week, so that we can start commercial operation on October 1 as planned," ICGB Executive Officers Teodora Georgieva and George Satlas said.

In order to optimize the process of putting the pipeline into operation and issuing a Use Permit, ICGB sent in advance requests for preliminary opinions and necessary documents to 27 controlling authorities, municipal administrations, operating companies and others. As a result, to date, positive positions have been received from all relevant parties. In order to further reduce the administrative deadlines, all the necessary documentation has been previously submitted to the Bulgarian Directorate for National Construction Control (DNCC) and has already been reviewed.

"We are awaiting the convening of a committee for Act 16, we have taken all the necessary steps for that to be possible," the ICGB Executive Officers said.

Moreover, the ICGB Executive Officers emphasized that in parallel, work continues for the necessary operational permit in Greece, so that before the end of September the facility will be licensed on Greek territory as well.

"The 72-hour tests, during which natural gas is transported at working pressure in the direction from Komotini to Stara Zagora, have already been performed. There are no technical issues or setbacks, everything is ready for commercial operation," they said.

Given the importance of timely commissioning of the IGB pipeline and the start of the heating season, the remaining activities as part of the project are divided into phases, with today's signing of Act 15 between ICGB, the construction company, the construction and author's supervision marking the end of the first phase of these activities.

This phase contains all the elements that are of direct importance for the start of commercial operation of the gas pipeline. Secondary activities are identified in a separate stage that needs to be completed by the Greek company AVAX as part of their contractual obligations. All secondary activities identified under the additional phase no not directly affect the operational readiness of the facility - e.g., asphalt laying, anti-erosion measures, spare optical cable. Work on all above-mentioned activities continues, and their final implementation will be inspected by both the contracting entity and the relevant institutions and will be the subject of a separate Act.

The IGB gas pipeline is designed to connect the Greek national gas transmission system (DESFA S.A.) and the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline (TAP AG) in the area of Komotini (Greece), and with the Bulgarian gas transmission system (Bulgartransgaz EAD) in the area of Stara Zagora. The total length of the gas pipeline is 182 km, the diameter of the pipe is 32'', and a design capacity of up to 3 billion m3/year in the direction of Greece-Bulgaria.

The pipeline is designed to increase its capacity up to 5 bcm/y depending on market interest and the capacities of neighboring gas transmission systems.

The opening ceremony of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria was held in Komotini on July 8.
A Spotsylvania man died Friday in a two-vehicle collision in the county, police said.

Joseph Conrey, 73, was killed when his 2013 Hyundai sedan collided with a 2012 Hyundai SUV at the intersection of Lake Anna Parkway and Brock Road, Sheriffs Maj. Troy Skebo said.

Skebo said Conrey was eastbound on Lake Anna Parkway at 4:34 p.m. when he tried to turn onto Brock Road in front of the westbound SUV. Conrey died at the scene.

The SUVs driver, a 28-year-old Manassas man, and a 15-year-old passenger in Conreys car were both were taken to a hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

An accident reconstruction team is investigating the incident, Skebo said. No charges had been filed as of Saturday.
On this episode of Here Weed Go!, host Eddie Celaya is in New York City and he's talking about just how widespread this marijuana movement is in the land of the free.

To help give some context to just how far the country has come in the last 10 to 15 years when it comes to pot, the guest for this episode is Ricardo Baca. As the original marijuana editor for the Denver Post, Baca covered the first-of-its-kind adult-use recreational rollout in Colorado.

More recently, as the founder and CEO of Denver-based, cannabis-focused PR/ad firm Grasslands, Baca has helped companies, brands and individuals within the industry tell their stories to a larger, more mainstream audience.

The discussion touches on how much public perception on cannabis has changed, what new emerging cannabis-friendly state investors and tourists should look out for next, and just how close the industry is to producing its first huge (think Coca-Cola or Kleenex) mainstream brand.

MORE INFO

Grasslands website: https://mygrasslands.com/who-we-are/

More Here Weed Go! content: TucsonMarijuanaGuide.com

Here Weed Go! social media: https://linktr.ee/hereweedgo
THE HISPANIC communities in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, and Stafford County are growing.

The details of this growth are hard to nail down because there are problems with the way the Census Bureau collects and codes racial and ethnic groups. But as Alex Scribner noted in a piece for the Dogwood last year, These errors frequently are at the expense of undercounting minority groups.

Heres how the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia slices and dices the census data.

From 2010 to 2019, the Hispanic population grew by 21.7% and represented 10.9% of Fredericksburgs population in 2019. In Spotsylvania, the Hispanic population grew 57.4% over the same period, representing 10.7% of the population. And in Stafford, the Hispanic population grew 82.5% representing 14.2% of the population.

Hispanics, however, do not at the present time have great visibility in our public square. Currently, there are no Hispanic representatives on the boards of supervisors, city council, or school boards of these three communities.

We hope that will soon change.

The Hispanic community brings with it a welcome breath of cultural, artistic, and economic contributions that we all would be well-served to learn more about.

Thursday, Sept. 15, marked the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage month. So its a great time to raise our collective awareness.

The commonwealths official website is celebrating the month by highlighting notable Hispanics in the commonwealth, as well as the many contributions that theyve made to American society.

From teachers to community leaders, activists, business leaders, and innovators in the fields of art and culture, Hispanics have had a profound impact on Virginia (visit: virginia.gov/hispanic-heritage-month)

Jesus Dominguez, a retired Marine who now works as a contractor in cybersecurity support for the defense industry, lives in Fredericksburg and says that this months celebration comes at a difficult time. He worries that the situation at the southern border is casting a bad light on the community.

For this month of celebration, he tells The Free LanceStar, he hopes that people can put that aside for now and appreciate the contributions Hispanics have brought to this country. The food is certainly a part of that contribution, but Dominguez also points to Latin music and artistry.

He also notes that it is tough on Hispanics who come to our area and dont know English. I hope they can assimilate, he says.

While its true that language gaps can make it hard to elevate ones presence in a nonnative land, its equally true that natives can help Hispanic immigrants feel more comfortable by making an effort to learn some Spanish.

Travel the globe, and few and far between are the places you wont find people who can speak enough English to help you get around.

Americans, by contrast, do a poor job of learning second languages. According to the Census Bureau, only about 20% of Americans are bilingual. That compares with 56% of Europeans. Worldwide, Jay Mathews of the Washington Post reports that about half the population is at least bilingual.

There are lots of ways to learn. Germanna Community College offers classes in Spanish.

For those not interested or able to go the formal classroom route, theres Babbel and other apps.

For just a few dollars a month, you can download a app and learn the fundamentals of conversational Spanish at your own pace.

Even if you choose not to learn some of the language, taking part in cultural events goes a long way toward helping us learn more about our Hispanic neighbors.

There are public events occurring this month at the Fredericskburg Fairgrounds (Sept. 18), Old Mill Park (Oct. 1), and throughout the month at the James Farmer Multicultural Center. You can learn more about all these by visiting fredericksburgva.gov/1827/Hispanic-Heritage-Month.

This is a great month to connect with, learn from, and get to know our Hispanic neighbors. So pick the events that work for you, and vamos!
September 17, 2022, marks the 235th anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States.

Lewis-Clark Chapter, DAR, commemorates this anniversary in a variety of ways. Usually a Constitution Week display is shared with the community at Keene Memorial Library, but this year the display will be in the window of the MainStreet Fremont Office at 529 N. Main St., Fremont.

The display will feature a copy of the Howard Chandler Christy painting, The Signing of the Constitution, and a Constitution Week Proclamation signed by Mayor Joey Spellerberg.

Requests have been delivered to MainStreet headquarters and First State Bank, asking that they post messages pertaining to Constitution Week on their electronic signs, and spot announcements regarding the Constitution have been sent to radio station KHUB.

It has been the tradition of the Lewis-Clark Chapter to share books, posters and educational materials about the Constitution with local schools. Because the chapter has members from surrounding towns, this year the chapter has shared those materials with Scribner-Snyder Elementary School.

In addition, the Constitution Week press release from the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, has been sent to area newspapers.

The culmination of Lewis-Clark Constitution Week activities will be the dedication of a marker at Fremonts Veterans Park, to honor all Gold Star Mothers, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25.
The skies were inky black on a moonless night as Lt. Heath Hoppes prepared to land an F/A18-C Hornet on the USS Nimitz.

Huge, rolling waves were hitting the aircraft carrier, pitching it 30 to 40 feet up and down again like a teeter totter.

At the last minute, a landing signal officer on the carrier told him to go around.

He narrowly missed hitting the back of the warship.

Under those conditions, theres nothing you can do because youre trying to come down steady, but if the deck moves unexpectedly and the timing is off, youre coming down while its coming up, Hoppes said.

The experience would rank as one of the scariest for the former local resident, whose interest in flying began with a job at Fremont Municipal Airport.

From refueling planes and scrubbing bugs off them at the small airport, Hoppes flight into an aeronautical career would take him to combat missions in Afghanistan and later the United Kingdom where he became an instructor for the Royal Air Force.

Now a Delta Airlines pilot, Hoppes recently retired from the military. He celebrated with a retirement flight with U.S. Air National Guard, flying over Fremont earlier this month.

Initially, Hoppes wasnt attracted to flying when he got a job as a line boy at Fremonts airport. He refueled planes, swept out aircraft hangars and cleaned bathrooms.

One day, flight instructor Warren Higgans offered to give him an airplane ride.

I had a blast, Hoppes said. I knew right away that was for me. I ended up spending all my money working here on flight lessons.

Hoppes earned his private pilots license while in high school. He wanted to join the military and fly U.S. Navy jets.

A 1998 Fremont High School graduate, he attended the University of South Carolina on a naval ROTC scholarship, graduating in 2002 with a bachelor degree in accounting.

Hoppes was commissioned as a Navy ensign and trained in Florida and Mississippi.

He flew a two-seat jet and made 10 successful landings aboard the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier to qualify as a naval aviator and earn his Wings of Gold in September 2004.

Hoppes remembers the first time he and other students flew jets to the carrier.

He knew aircraft carriers were huge, but the ship looked small as he looked down on it from 10,000 feet in the air.

It was definitely an unnerving experience, but the training was great and we were ready, he said.

In October 2004, he reported to the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California to train on the F/A18 Hornet fighter jet.

Hed learn combat mission-related skills.

Hoppes became qualified to land a jetday or nightaboard the USS Ronald Reagan.

He was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 97, the Warhawks, at the Naval Air Station in Lemoore, California.

While there, he qualified as a division lead and served as the squadrons expert on the Standoff Land Attack Missile  Expanded Response (SLAM-ER).

Hoppes then was deployed to Japan with Marine Air Group 12, taking part in exercises there and in South Korea and Australia.

The goal was to demonstrate U.S. force in that part of the world and build relationships with allies.

Hoppes enjoyed travel opportunities in Japan and Okinawa and flying exercises with the Australian Royal Air Force.

In late 2008, his squadron was deployed to the USS Nimitz and reassigned to Carrier Air Wing 11.

They began preparing for deployment to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

Hoppes still recalls his attempt to land on the USS Nimitz one dark night. He avoided hitting the aircraft carrier, but by then was out of gas and had to land at Californias Coronado Naval Air Station.

He needed a ride from the airport to the officers quarters.

Then just 30 years old, Hoppes hadnt brought his wallet or phone from the ship.

Hoppes said he begged a taxicab driver for a cheeseburger on the way to the officers quarters. The driver gave him a ride and got him a burger.

He could tell I was a little shaken up, Hoppes said.

Hoppes made it back to the aircraft carrier, where like other squadron members he learned the challenges of living on the vessel.

Unlike being on a land base, they couldnt send for parts down the road.

On the aircraft carrier, theres really no room for error in maintenance, operations and scheduling, he said.

Squadron members trained for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, the latter of which involved protecting soldiers on the ground from the enemy.

In July 2009, the USS Nimitz took Hoppes and other squadron members across the Pacific to fly combat missions in Afghanistan for five-and-a-half months.

A typical mission was eight hours long. Pilots would launch off the carrier, fly to Afghanistan and meet up with an air refueling tanker.

The guy who once refueled small planes in Fremont now had his jet refueled while he was in the air.

In Afghanistan, missions involved looking for insurgents, searching for IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) or supporting military on the ground in firefights.

Wed come in and ether drop bombs on them (the enemy) or scare them off or whatever we needed to do to help keep military personnel on the ground safe, he said.

Theyd do that for a couple hours, then return to another air refueling tanker, fill up and go again.

He and other pilots refueled once more before heading back to the carrier.

Many of Hoppes close calls involved running out of gas.

One time, he was several hundred miles north of a typical operating area, supporting a Special Forces team raiding a compound.

They wanted me to stay so I stayed past when my fuel was very low, he said. It was lonely up there. I didnt want my wingman to run out of fuel so Id sent him back.

Hoppes thought hed have to land in Afghanistan, but a fueling tanker flew several hundred miles out of its way to meet him and refuel his aircraft.

Years later, Hoppes would fly air refueling tankers  grateful for what tanker pilots had done for squadron members in Afghanistan.

Before that, he was selected as an exchange pilot for the United Kingdom Royal Air Force. He became an instructor pilot for the Euro Fighter Typhoon aircraft.

He met his wife, Dr. Katherine Hoppes, in 2010 while he was home for Thanksgiving and proposed three months later. They married in 2012. She stayed in Omaha while he was in England for the next two-and-a-half years. They have two sons Benjamin, 7, and William, 5. She is a physician at Methodist Hospital in Omaha.

While still in England, Hoppes was at RAF Coningsby station  home of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. World War II aircraft are still maintained and flown there.

Hoppes remembers the Battle of Britain night at the officers mess hall when it was buzzed by a Spitfire plane, which landed and pulled up next to the building.

The station commander, wearing his dress uniform, jumped out of the aircraft, walked up to the mess and ordered a gin and tonic.

It would never happen in the U.S., Hoppes said of the commanders antic. They really appreciated the history and had a lot fun.

Hoppes returned to Omaha in 2013, left active duty and became a Navy Reservist. For five years, he commuted to Key West, Florida, flying an F-5 Tiger II fighter aircraft.

He was an instructor, playing the role of the bad guy, for pilots learning how to fly F/A18s.

It was fun, he said.

He did that until 2017.

In the meantime, he was hired by Delta Airlines in 2015. Hes now a Boeing 717 captain.

Hoppes gave up his Navy job, then joined the Nebraska Air National Guard in 2018 and began flying air refueling tankers. His retirement flight with the Nebraska ANG took place Sept. 1.

Retired Lt. Col. Hoppes and his family live in Omaha. His parents, Brian and Nancy Hoppes, live near Fremont.

Recently, Hoppes visited his hometown airport where he and Fremont Aviation President Jim Kjeldgaard posed for a photo near a small plane.

I still love general aviation, Hoppes said.

And someday when his sons are older, hed like to take them for a ride aboard a small airplane from the Fremont airport  just like the ride he got there years ago.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  The head of Chinas legislature called for cooperation with South Korea in advanced technology and supply chains, as he met South Korean leaders Friday amid concerns that their moves to solidify a military alliance with Washington could hamper Seoul's ties with Beijing.

Li Zhanshu, third in the Chinese Communist Party hierarchy and one of President Xi Jinpings closest confidants, is the highest-level Chinese official to visit South Korea since his predecessor did so in 2015. His trip is seen as part of efforts by Beijing to boost ties with neighboring countries ahead of a Communist Party congress next month that will likely grant Xi a third five-year term as leader.

Lis visit is also crucial for South Korea's government, which wants to assure Beijing that its push to strengthen its alliance with the U.S. and participate in U.S.-led regional initiatives wont target China, its biggest trading partner.

Li, chairman of the standing committee of Chinas National Peoples Congress, told a joint news conference with his South Korean counterpart that China supports realizing cooperation in cutting-edge technology sectors and managing supply and industrial chains smoothly and stably.

He didnt elaborate. His comments are likely to reflect concerns in Beijing that its intensifying competition with the United States may lead to supply chain disruptions as some U.S. companies shift sourcing and production away from China. China also opposes South Koreas possible participation in a U.S.-led semiconductor alliance involving Taiwan and Japan.

Lis closeness to Xi suggests his comments reflect the thinking of Xi and his inner circle. Li, who is leading a 66-member Chinese delegation to South Korea, met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and other top officials later Friday.

Earlier this month, Li visited Russia, where he decried international sanctions against Moscow, underscoring Beijing support for Russia in its war on Ukraine despite claims of neutrality. On Thursday, Xi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a regional gathering in Uzbekistan. Putin thanked Xi for his balanced approach to the Ukrainian crisis and blasted Washingtons ugly policies.

Lis talks with Yoon have drawn keen attention because Yoon last month skipped an in-person meeting with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who visited Seoul after a trip to Taiwan that angered China, which claims the self-ruled island as its territory. Yoon, who was on vacation, spoke by phone with Pelosi but faced domestic criticism that he had intentionally shunned her so as not to provoke China. Yoon was the only head of government who didnt meet Pelosi face-to-face during her Asian trip, which also included Singapore, Malaysia and Japan.

Kim Heung-kyu, director of the U.S.-China Policy Institute at Ajou University in South Korea, said Lis visit is different from Pelosis because she arrived after her contentious Taiwan trip. But he said China would still likely see symbolic significance in Li meeting with a South Korean president whom Pelosi failed to meet.

Some worry that Yoons tilt toward Washington could trigger economic retaliation by China, as it did in 2017 when South Korea allowed the United States to base a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense radar system, or THAAD, on its soil. China, which says the radar can spy on its territory, suspended group tours to South Korea and conducted an unofficial boycott of South Korean products.

During their meeting, Yoon said the THAAD issue must not be a sticking point in bilateral ties, and Li agreed on the need for close coordination to resolve sensitive issues, according to Yoon's office.

China is likely to be more cautious about launching another economic retaliation because it would push South Korea closer to the United States and worsen anti-Chinese sentiment in South Korea, according to Professor Kim Han-kwon of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy.

In the case of the THAAD dispute, China shook public opinion in South Korea and caused South Korea to suffer economic losses, he said. But eventually, they failed to get THAAD scrapped and anti-China sentiment grew in South Korea. There was also a public reevaluation of a boosting of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and of South Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation.

South Korea, the worlds 10th-largest economy, is a major supplier of semiconductors, automobiles, smartphones and other electronic products. This makes it an attractive partner to both the United States and China.

Unless South Korea "openly pursues an anti-China policy, China will likely continue to stress a message of amity and cooperation with South Korea, rather than pressure, conflict and confrontation, said Kim, the institute director.

Cooperative relations with China are essential in efforts by Seoul and Washington to convince North Korea to give up its nuclear program. While there are questions about how much influence China has on North Korea, its still believed to have the greatest leverage among regional powers because it is North Koreas last major diplomatic ally and main economic pipeline.

In his meeting with Li on Friday, South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin Pyo said South Korea hopes that China will play a constructive role with North Korea. Li said he and Kim agreed that establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue would serve the interests of both nations.

Associated Press writers Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul and Joe McDonald in Beijing contributed to this report.
Supporters of a new Catholic elementary school in Grand Island say theyre delighted with the progress of the campaign so far.
By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

The process of creating a Turkic Fund is being completed, Secretary-General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) Bahgdad Amreyev said.

He made the remarks at a business forum dedicated to the restoration and development of the Karabakh region in Shusha.

"It's expected to complete the creation of the Fund and sign the relevant document on it. These funds will be allocated for the development of small and medium-sized businesses and the creation of infrastructure. The restoration of Karabakh will also be its main priority. This fund will begin its work from January 2023 and its cooperation will expand with the financial structures of OTS member countries," he said.

He noted that the document will be aimed at increasing trade and creating trade relations among OTS member countries, adding that it's necessary to diversify logistics routes due to the current geopolitical situation.

Further, he noted that a number of agreements are expected to be reached between the OTS member nations.

"The agreement on the simplification of customs procedures between our countries is almost ready for signing. On the eve of the summit in Samarkand, scheduled for November 11 this year, this agreement will be signed. This document will allow our companies to facilitate customs procedures, which is no less important than providing financial support," Amreyev noted.

He added that the organization is also working on an agreement on preferential trade between the Turkic countries, which will also save significant funds for entrepreneurs.

"We have also begun work on creating a free trade regime between our states. This is not an easy process, but today we are ready to sign a free trade agreement in the field of investment and services," the official further said.

Amreyev also stressed the desire of the organization to strengthen the potential of the Trans-Caspian corridor and to develop energy cooperation, which will significantly increase the global potential of the Turkic world.
Abram Sisneros was excited to go to kindergarten at the same school his older brother attended and where he had just completed two years of pr
The law enforcement community is rallying behind the Arvada Police Department, taking calls and patrolling the streets as the city mourns the death of a 27-year-old police officer killed in the line of duty.

Officers from other cities began pitching in to help the department on Sunday, a few hours after Dillon Michael Vakoff, 27, was killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call that morning.

Officers from Wheat Ridge are signing up for extra shifts to help patrol the area of W. 52nd Ave. and Marshall Street, where Vakoff was killed after he and another officer responded to the call.

The second officer, who has not been named and was not physically hurt, is on administrative leave following the fatal shooting. That officer and Vakoff both fired shots, according to sources familiar with the investigation. Just as a Crisis Intervention Response Team investigated the fatal shooting of Beesley and a Good Samaritan who died in that shooting, a CIRT has already been assigned to the case as well.

Other police departments loaning out their officers and patrol cars include Westminster, Jefferson County Sheriffs, Lakewood, Golden and Broomfield.

"Everybody wants to help," Wheat Ridge District Chief Jim Lorentz said. "It's a punch in the gut because many of us knew Dillon. And even if you didn't know him, there's a kinship with other law enforcement officers."

Lorenz said Tuesday would be the last day the Arvada Police will need help, but Wheat Ridge will step up again if asked for Vakoff's funeral, just as they did for Beesley's.

Volunteers with the Fallen Hero Foundation have been working around the clock, planning Vakoff's funeral and advocating for the slain officer's family, according to Lakewood Police spokesman John Romero.

Romero himself said he got the call at 3:45 a.m. Sunday to help Arvada organize media requests.

Vakoff's death comes at a time when it is already hard to recruit law enforcement.

According to the Colorado Peace Officers and Training website, there are at least 90 job openings in law enforcement around the state offering pay from $20 per hour to be a sheriff deputy in Rio Blanco County to as much as $96,000 yearly in Loveland.

Aurora Police are offering a hiring bonus of up to $15,000, which includes a possible $4,000 retention guarantee, and if needed, as much as $5,000 in moving expenses.

"There's incredible competition," Arvada Police spokesman Dave Snelling said about Arvada looking to hire around 30 officers for a force which usually operates at around 200.

As Arvada adjusts to the loss of Vakoff, the man accused of killing him was scheduled to be advised of the charges against him Tuesday afternoon in the Jefferson County Courthouse, but he was a no-show.

Arvada Police recommended eight charges for Sonny Thomas Almanza, 31, including suspicion of first-degree murder of a peace officer, with extreme indifference; murder after deliberation; illegal possession of a weapon by a previous offender; child abuse; and other counts.

The Arvada police department continues to take calls, including a second degree assault which happened Monday.

"Crime doesn't stop for us to mourn," Snelling said.
Colorado Springs police detectives have no doubt who killed 17-year-old Colorado Springs high school student Riley Whitelaw.

"Who do you believe was responsible for the death of Riley Whitelaw?" prosecuting attorney Anthony Gioia asked Detective Stephen Aulino, one of three witnesses called to testify by the prosecution on Friday.

"Joshua Johnson," Aulino responded.

Aulino wasn't alone in that line of thinking, either.

"Do you believe anyone else could have committed this murder?" Gioia asked Detective Michael Lee, referring to Johnson.

"No," Lee responded.

On Friday morning, more than 70 people gathered in an El Paso County courtroom with at least 25 more joining virtually to watch the preliminary hearing for Johnson, who is accused of killing his teenage Walgreens co-worker, Whitelaw, in June.

During the four-hour hearing, the prosecuting attorneys had witnesses outline evidence that they believe show probable cause to continue pursuing first-degree murder charges against Johnson.

On the evening of June 11, Whitelaw was found dead inside the breakroom of a Walgreens at 6820 Centennial Blvd. on Colorado Springs' northwest side, having suffered injuries to her neck.

According to an affidavit acquired by The Gazette, Whitelaw had made complaints to her manager at Walgreens about Johnson, 28, more than a year before her death, saying he was making advances towards her that made Whitelaw uncomfortable, something that was brought up several times in court on Friday.

Three witnesses were called by the prosecution, and each provided evidence the prosecution believes points to Johnson as Whitelaw's killer. Additionally, new details about the crime emerged during testimony.

Aulino during his testimony discussed his interview with Johnson after he was arrested outside Trinidad a few hours after Whitelaw's body was found in the Walgreens breakroom.

Johnson told Aulino that he hadn't killed Whitelaw, but that he walked into the breakroom and discovered "a mysterious man ... with blue eyes that had a gray tint" stabbing Whitelaw.

Johnson claimed to Aulino that this man attacked Johnson after he entered the breakroom, and after suffering scratches to his face and arms he ran. When Aulino asked Johnson why he didn't call the police, he stated that he was scared, and that the mysterious attacker "knew his address."

Aulino told the court that he believed Johnson was describing a man who is friends with Johnson's manager at Walgreens, who was at the store earlier that day. When the man was in the store, about three hours before Whitelaw's death, Johnson told his co-workers that he thought he was "suspicious."

Police investigated the man and found video footage that proved he was at work at the time Whitelaw was killed, Aulino told the court. However, Johnson's defense attorney Deana O'Riley during cross-examination asked Aulino if Johnson ever explicitly said he was talking about that specific man, which Aulino said "no."

Aulino said that Johnson did not have an explanation for the bloody clothes that were found at his home on the bathroom floor or for why he attempted to shave off his hair.

Detective Rebecca Joines further described for the court what was found at the scene of Whitelaw's death.

Joines said that a Gerber multitool was found on the floor of the breakroom with the knife extension sticking out covered in blood. Joines also said that in a storage room near the breakroom police found Johnson's nametag, radio and face mask on the floor.

Police searched the locker belonging to Johnson and found a sheet of paper with the address, locker combination, phone number and Social Security number for Whitelaw and Whitelaw's boyfriend.

Several detectives testified that Whitelaw's boyfriend, who was working at the same Walgreens as both Whitelaw and Johnson for approximately four months, caused Johnson to become "jealous" and "salty."

Pictures were also shown to Judge Eric Bentley  but not the rest of the court  of the autopsy, where Aulino described the extent of the attack Whitelaw suffered. The autopsy report acquired by The Gazette states that Whitelaw suffered 42 wounds from a single-edged knife.

Despite hearing from all three of the prosecution's witnesses on Friday, Bentley was unable to give a verdict on the hearing because the defense attorney who was responsible for the cross-examination of Detective Lee was not able to be in court Friday.

As a result, the cross-examination of Lee and the verdict from Bentley will come on Wednesday.

If Bentley determines that the prosecution can move forward with pursuing charges against Johnson, a date for Johnson to announce a plea could be entered.

Additionally, if Bentley sides with the prosecution, Johnson will continue to be held in El Paso County jail with no possibility of bond.
By Trend

Russia's 'Rossiya Airlines' will start flights from Sochi to Baku on October 31, Trend reports citing the airline's press service.

The air carrier will operate flights on a daily basis.

"Flights will be operated on Saturdays  at 1:40 a.m. (GMT+3), on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays  at 2:00 a.m. (GMT+3), on Thursdays  at 2:30 a.m. (GMT+3), on Tuesdays  at 2:55 a.m. (GMT+3)," said the statement.

According to the airline, the arrival time in Baku is scheduled at 04:35 a.m. (GMT+4), 05:00 a.m.(GMT+4), 05:25 a.m. (GMT+4), and 05:50 a.m. (GMT+4), respectively, while the return flight from Baku will be carried out on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays  at 6:00 a.m. (GMT+3), on Saturdays  at 6:55 a.m. (GMT+3), on Thursdays  at 7:30 a.m. (GMT+3), on Tuesdays  at 8:20 a.m. (GMT+3).

"Moreover, arrival time in Sochi is determined at 7:10 a.m. (GMT+3), 8:05 a.m. (GMT+3), 8:40 a.m. (GMT+3), and 9:30 a.m. (GMT+3), respectively," the statement added.

The airline's press service noted the opening of a new direction contributes to the development of the carrier's regional hub at Sochi Airport, providing new opportunities for transit passengers.
FILE PHOTO: An American flag waves outside the U.S. Department of Justice Building in Washington, U.S., December 15, 2020. REUTERS/Al Drago/File Photo
The EPA declaration means Colorado will need to submit a plan that demonstrates how the Denver metro will achieve the air quality standards under the Clean Air Act. Crucially, the federal law requires the region to sell "reformulated gasoline" within a year of the "severe reclassification."
A federal judge on Friday declined to combine the four lawsuits currently pending before different judges that challenge the constitutionality of gun restrictions in Boulder County and three of its municipalities.

U.S. District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore, who was assigned the case involving the town of Superior, indicated he wished to see the lawsuits proceed separately. He acknowledged there will now be a possibility of conflicting rulings between various judges about whether the various local ordinances violate the Second Amendment.

But, Moore said, "if anyone thinks the district court is going to have the last say on this, theyre kidding themselves. Come on."

The legal challenges in Boulder County are a product of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision from June in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen, in which the court's conservative majority made it more difficult for gun restrictions to pass constitutional muster. Around the same time, Boulder County and the municipalities of Superior, Louisville and Boulder enacted substantially similar firearm regulations, including a ban on large-capacity magazines and "assault weapons."

The pro-gun group Rocky Mountain Gun Owners quickly filed suit in federal court, and successfully obtained a temporary restraining order from Moore that is currently blocking enforcement of Superior's regulations.

The remaining lawsuits are assigned to U.S. District Court Judges Regina M. Rodriguez and Charlotte N. Sweeney. Two additional cases were given to U.S. District Court Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer and U.S. District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang, which seek to overturn the state's ban on large-capacity gun magazines that lawmakers enacted in the wake of the 2012 Aurora movie theater massacre.

The town of Superior, which is receiving pro bono assistance from out-of-state attorneys, moved in late August to consolidate the cases arising from Boulder County, arguing the issues involved were virtually identical. Rocky Mountain Gun Owners did not oppose the request.

But Moore, speaking to the parties in his courtroom on Friday, disclosed that he had talked with Rodriguez, Sweeney and Brimmer, the chief judge, about the request to consolidate the cases to one judge.

"Im not going to get into the content of those discussions because those conversations between district judges, in my view, stay between district judges," he added. "Im not suggesting to you there has been some kind of joint meeting or plan or theres some secret sauce you dont see where Rodriguez and Sweeney and I have this all plotted out."

Moore anticipated the other judges will also proceed separately with the remaining lawsuits, "although I cant speak for them." He acknowledged his decision would complicate the process for the parties, but welcomed coordination between the attorneys in the four cases.

The municipalities have justified their ordinances by pointing to the prevalence of assault weapons in mass shootings, including those perpetrated in Colorado. While the plaintiffs are primarily seeking to overturn those local gun safety regulations, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners filed an amended complaint on Thursday that added a request for monetary damages.

Moore gave the parties four weeks to develop a schedule for proceeding in the Superior lawsuit, during which the temporary restraining order will remain in effect. Rodriguez, who is handling the case against the city of Boulder, indicated she would wait until Moore's decision on the consolidation issue before setting a schedule in that lawsuit.

Sweeney is assigned the lawsuit against Boulder County, and she has already granted a temporary restraining order against prohibitions on the sale or transfer of large-capacity magazines and assault weapons. She has scheduled a hearing for Nov. 8, at which she will consider whether to issue a longer-term preliminary injunction while the case is litigated. Sweeney is also handling the case against Louisville.

In the challenge to Colorado's statewide ban on large-capacity magazines, Wang has set a hearing for Nov. 17-18 to consider a preliminary injunction. Although the plaintiffs originally requested a temporary restraining order to block enforcement of the decade-old law, they withdrew their motion in early September.

The other lawsuit against the statewide ban, assigned to Brimmer, ended on Thursday after the self-represented plaintiff from Colorado Springs voluntarily agreed to dismiss his claims.

Similar litigation is advancing in other states, including Connecticut and Massachusetts, that also have prohibitions on large-capacity magazines.
By Trend

Residents are expected to invest more than 50 million manat ($29.4 million) in Aghdam Industrial Park and create more than 1,000 jobs, Chairman of the Economic Zones Development Agency Elshad Nuriyev said during a special session on "Investment opportunities in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur economic regions", Trend reports.

According to him, a total of 108 business entities received the status of residents of the industrial zones of Azerbaijan, of which 70 are already operating.

"More than 10,000 people have been provided with permanent jobs in the industrial zones. In addition, in the first half of 2022, goods worth 1.3 billion manat ($764 million) were produced in the industrial zones. These products are exported to the US, Asia, Africa, Europe and the CIS countries, in total to more than 50 countries of the world," Nuriyev said.

He stressed that in order to restore and revive Karabakh and develop its industrial potential, Aghdam Industrial Park and Aras Valley economic zone were created in accordance with the relevant decrees of the president of Azerbaijan.

"Aghdam Industrial Park was established on May 28, 2021 and covers an area of 190 hectares. Currently, nine residents are registered there. These residents are expected to invest more than 50 million manat ($29.4 million) in the industrial park and create more than 1,000 jobs," Nuriyev said.
The Touched By Suicide support group holds meetings the third Thursday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. at 1st United Methodist Church in Mason City. Although the group was formed many years ago it came under the leadership of Wendy Martinez in 2007.

Martinez considers herself to be a suicide survivor, someone who has learned to cope and heal after a person they loved committed suicide. For her, it was a brother. Her live-in partner lost a former partner as well.

Until you walk in it directly you dont realize how many have lost someone, Martinez said. Its not a topic that comes up. It's a stigma. I know what it feels like. If I can help one person it is worth it.

Besides leading the support group Martinez is the Board Chairperson/Treasurer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP.org.) Through AFSP she has organized many community event in Mason City such as the Out of the Darkness Walk, the Couples Walk and the Ride to Fight Suicide.

Im just trying to create awareness and a place for people to come, Martinez said.

The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) has claimed September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. According to the nami.org website this organization is encouraging people to bring their voices together to advocate for better mental health care, including an effective crisis response system. 988 is the new nationwide number to quickly connect with support during a mental health, substance use and suicide crisis.

Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Email special events to news@registerbee.com. The deadline is noon Wednesday.

ANNIVERSARIES

New Ephesus Missionary Baptist Church, 375 Ephesus Church Road, Semora, North Carolina, will celebrate its 150th church anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 11 a.m. A souvenir journal that provides a pictorial history of the church has been complied. Reserved copies will be distributed during the anniversary celebration. All proceeds from the sale of the books will be donated to the New Ephesus scholarship ministry and the building fund. For more information about purchasing a copy of the book, call the church at 336-234-8676 and leave a message. When worshipping inside the church, face masks and other health safety precautions are in place. Other opportunities to join in the celebration are by Facebook Live; by teleconference 1-978-990-5000, access code 197724; or in the church parking lot by tuning radio to 107.3 FM.

Staunton Missionary Baptist Church, 6101 Straightstone Road, Long Island, will celebrate its 121st anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 18, beginning at 11 a.m.

INITIAL SERMON

Mount Sinai Glorious Church of God, 716 Jefferson St., will have Cheryl Stephens delivering her initial sermon during the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sept. 18.

SOULFUL SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER

Soulful Sunday in September will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 25 at ARC Family Life Center, 327 East Thomas St., with special performances by "Boule," Kenny Thornton, Darrell MacLean, John Jones, Robert Freeman, Old School Band and comedian Donnie Hunt. A soul food dinner and dessert will be included. Cost is $20 for adults; $10 (17 and under). For ticket information, contact Karen Harris at 434-425-3872 or Robin Owens at 434-728-0028. This is a fundraiser for Christian Life Church on Bell Drive.

COMMUNITY FUN DAY

Fairview United Methodist Church, 1013 Westover Drive, will hold a free Community Fun Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 1 with food, games and door prize at registration. For more information, call 434-713-4404.

SERVICE CHANGE

Bennett Memorial Missionary Baptist Church will not hold parking lot services until further notice. Services can be heard by via conference call at 10 a.m. on Sundays and 6 p.m. Wednesdays. Phone number is 1-774-220-4000, ID number 608-2009.

IN PERSON/ONLINE SERVICES

Ascension Lutheran Church, 314 West Main St., worships Sundays at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary and live on Facebook at www.facebook/ascensionlutherandanville.

Mount Vernon United Methodist Church now offers in-person services at 10 a.m. each Sunday as well as online worship services every Sunday at mtvernonumc.org or www.facebook.com/MountVernonUMC. These will be held until further notice.

IN-PERSON SERVICES

Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1172 Franklin Turnpike, will have in-house worship services on Sundays at 11 a.m. Masking requested if not immunized. Social distancing except for family members. Free books available anytime in outdoor library located on a post next to the driveway.

Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, 406 Gay St., has in-person services at 10 a.m. for their hour of power on the first and third Sundays.

North New Hope Baptist Church, 123 Old Piney Forest Road, has resumed in church worship services at 11 a.m. and Sunday school at 9:30 p.m.

Mount Sinai Glorious Church of God, 716 Jefferson St., will hold services in the sanctuary with Sunday school at 10 a.m. and morning worship at 10:30 a.m. Participants are asked to wear a mask and to practice social distancing. The service also will be streamed on Facebook.

Mount Freeman Baptist Church, 2100 Laniers Mill Road, hosts in-person service at 11 a.m. Sunday. There will be no Sunday school.

ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICES

Sacred Heart Catholic Church will livestream worship service at 9 a.m. Sundays in English and noon in Spanish at www.facebook.com/sheartchurch.

DRIVE-IN SERVICES

Staunton River Baptist Church, Long Island, will hold drive-in services at 10 a.m. each Sunday.

ONGOING SERVICES

Sacred Heart Catholic Church celebrates Mass every weekend with a vigil Mass at 5 p.m. Saturday and at 9 p.m. Sunday in English and noon in Spanish.

Watson Level Missionary Baptist Church holds Sunday worship services each week at 11 a.m. Because of COVID-19, a face mask is required for all attendees and social distancing is mandatory.

Calvary Church of the Nazarene, 2450 Franklin Turnpike, from 6 to 7 p.m. every Sunday, will hold Ladies Need Encouragement, an hour of worship and prayer. Participants are asked to bring a Bible and practice social distancing. The event is for ages 10 and up with adult supervision. For more information, call 540-907-8836.

Mount Zion Temple, now located at 503 Hughes St., presents The Word Homelitic Institute at 10 a.m. every Sunday. Transportation is provided by calling Bishop David K. Fuller at 434-429-8960.
Before wearing the Imperial State Crown, Queen Elizabeth II knelt at the Westminster Abbey altar for a moment of silent, private prayer.

The three-hour coronation in 1953 contained myriad oaths and symbols, but the most ancient rite  Archbishop of Canterbury Geoffrey Fisher anointing Elizabeth with holy oil  sought the highest possible blessing on her lifes work and eventual death.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, he prayed, who by his Father was anointed with the oil of gladness ... that by the assistance of His heavenly grace you may govern and preserve the people committed to your charge in wealth, peace and godliness; and after a long and glorious course of ruling a temporal kingdom wisely, justly and religiously, you may at last be made partaker of an eternal kingdom.

Televised for the first time, 27 million BBC viewers watched what Oxford Don C.S. Lewis called the tragic splendour of this drama.

Over here people did not get that fairy-tale feeling about the coronation. What impressed most who saw it was the fact that the Queen herself appeared to be quite overwhelmed by the sacramental side of it, he noted, writing to an American friend.

It was a feeling of (one hardly knows how to describe it)  awe  pity  pathos  mystery. The pressing of that huge, heavy crown on that small, young head becomes a sort of symbol of the situation of humanity itself: humanity called by God to be his vice-regent and high priest on earth, yet feeling so inadequate.

Few could have imagined that the woman some now call Elizabeth the Great would reign for 70 years, striving to lead by example after the suffering of World War II, into an age in which humanity would be united by the internet, terrorism, pandemics and other challenges.

Throughout her life, Queen Elizabeth II understood the symbolic importance of kneeling, according to former Durham Bishop N.T. Wright. After one Church of England synod, she privately expressed surprise  disappointment, even  that worshippers in Westminster Abbey simply lined up to receive Holy Communion, instead of kneeling.

Kneeling was important to her, said the popular author, in a Premier Christianity tribute. In his encounters with her, Wright found the queen very friendly and clearly a very devout, what we would consider old fashioned Church of England Christian. I remember thinking during more than one Christmas broadcast, she has just preached the Gospel to the nation in a way that perhaps nobody else could have done.

While the queen delivered thousands of public addresses, her Christmas talks  surrounded by family pictures and holiday decorations  were the occasions when she most openly discussed her faith and the challenges facing the nation and even her own family.

In her first Christmas message, she welcomed the chance to face her people through television. New inventions are rarely the problem, she noted. The trouble is caused by unthinking people who carelessly throw away ageless ideals as if they were old and outworn machinery. They would have religion thrown aside, morality in personal and public life made meaningless, honesty counted as foolishness and self-interest set up in place of self-restraint.

In 2011, she warned: Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves  from our recklessness or our greed. God sent into the world a unique person  neither a philosopher nor a general (important though they are)  but a Saviour, with the power to forgive.

In what would be her last Christmas message, the frail queen reflected on losing her husband, Prince Philip, while reminding viewers life is about final partings, as well as new births.

For me and my family, even with one familiar laugh missing this year, there will be joy in Christmas, as we have the chance to reminisce, and see anew the wonder of the festive season through the eyes of our young children, said Elizabeth. They teach us all a lesson  just as the Christmas story does  that in the birth of a child, there is a new dawn with endless potential. And so it was with the life of Jesus, a man whose teachings have been handed down from generation to generation and have been the bedrock of my faith.
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Note: District 6 includes Guilford County and part of Forsyth County; District 10 includes all of Yadkin, Surry, Stokes, Rockingham, Lincoln, most of Catawba and Iredell and part of Forsyth counties; District 13 includes all of Davie, Davidson, Rowan, Randolph, Alamance, Caswell, Person and parts of Chatham and Lee and a small section of Iredell counties. These boundaries will change with the new Congress after the 2022 election.

WASHINGTON  Heres a look at how area members of Congress voted recently.

U.S. House

Trafficking penalties: The House has passed a bill to extend until the end of September a $5,000 federal penalty against criminals found guilty of sexual abuse or human trafficking violations. The penalty had expired on Sept. 11. The vote on Tuesday, Sept. 13, was unanimous with 415 yeas.

Yeas: U.S. Rep. Kathy Manning, D-Greensboro, 6th District; U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-Denver, 10th District

Not voting: U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, R-Advance, 13th District

Drone road inspections: The House has passed the Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant Act to create Transportation Department grant programs for using drone aircraft to inspect roads and other infrastructure. The vote on Tuesday, Sept. 13, was 308-110.

Yeas: Manning, McHenry

Not voting: Budd

Wildfires: The House has passed the Wildfire Recovery Act to increase federal government fire assistance grants by stipulating that the grants will account for at least 75% of the eligible cost of wildfire recovery efforts. The vote on Tuesday, Sept. 13, was 328-88.

Not voting: McHenry, Budd

Yeas: Manning

Passing legislation: The House has passed a motion to pass a set of eight bills en bloc, without an individual roll call vote for each bill. The bills covered such topics as: military veterans and education and mortgages, payments to survivors of deceased veterans, and animal health in disasters. The vote on Wednesday, Sept. 14, was 397-29.

Yeas: Manning, McHenry

Not voting: Budd

Aviation and disease: The House has passed the National Aviation Preparedness Plan Act to require the Transportation Department to develop an aviation preparedness plan for handling U.S. outbreaks of communicable diseases. The vote on Wednesday, Sept. 14, was 293-133.

Yeas: Manning, McHenry

Not voting: Budd

Post-disaster housing: The House has passed the Expediting Disaster Recovery Act, to have the Federal Emergency Management Agency provide financial aid for meeting housing needs following disasters that have destroyed housing in a given area. The vote on Wednesday, Sept. 14, was 406-20.

Nays: McHenry

Not voting: Budd

Yeas: Manning

Emergency reservists: The House has passed the Civilian Reservist Emergency Workforce Act to expand employment rights for reservists for the Federal Emergency Management Agency who are deployed for agency work and therefore must temporarily leave their normal jobs. The vote on Wednesday, Sept. 14, was 387-38.

Yeas: Manning, McHenry

Not voting: Budd

Lighting federal buildings: The House has passed the Bulb Replacement Improving Government with High-efficiency Technology Act to require federal government buildings to use the most life-cycle cost effective and energy efficient lighting systems. The vote on Wednesday, Sept. 14, was 347-78.

Yeas: Manning, McHenry

Not voting: Budd

Government worker Schedule F: The House has passed the Preventing a Patronage System Act. The bill would cancel an executive order issued by President Trump in October 2020 that created a new Schedule F excepted service classification for government workers, and applied to employees in executive agency jobs that have to do with making policy and are not normally replaced when a new president enters office. The vote on Thursday, Sept. 15, was 225-204.

Nays: McHenry

Not voting: Budd

Yeas: Manning

Census: The House has passed the Ensuring a Fair and Accurate Census Act. The bill would set out various restrictions on the Census Bureaus ability to add new questions to the Census, and prevent the Bureaus director from being removed for non-cause reasons. The vote on Thursday, Sept. 15, was 220-208.

Nays: McHenry

Not voting: Budd

Yeas: Manning

Government whistleblowers: The House has passed the Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act to establish various measures intended to increase a federal government whistleblower employees protections against punitive retaliation by politicians and supervisors. The vote on Thursday, Sept. 15, was 221-203.

Nays: McHenry

Not voting: Budd

Yeas: Manning

U.S. Senate

Appeals court judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Salvador Mendoza to be a judge on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mendoza has been a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington since 2014; he was briefly a county court judge before that, and had his own private law practice. The vote on Monday, Sept. 12, was 46-40.

Nays: U.S. Sen. Richard Burr and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, both R-N.C.

Second appeals court judge: The Senate has rejected the nomination of Arianna Freeman to be a judge on the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Freeman has been a federal community defender attorney in Philadelphia since 2009. The vote on Tuesday, Sept. 13, was 47 yeas to 50 nays.

Nays: Burr, Tillis

Third appeals court judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Lara Montecalvo to be a judge on the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals. Montecalvo has been in the Rhode Island governments public defenders office since 2004, and is currently the states public defender. The vote on Wednesday, Sept. 14, was 52-47.

Nays: Burr, Tillis

Fourth appeals court judge: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Sarah Merriam to be a judge on the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Merriam, a U.S. District Court judge for Connecticut since last October, was previously a federal magistrate judge and assistant federal defender in Connecticut. The vote on Thursday, Sept. 15, was 53-44.

Nays: Burr, Tillis

TSA administrator: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of David Pekoske to be the Transportation Security Administrations administrator for a five-year term. Pekoske had been in the post since August 2017, following a career at the Coast Guard. The vote on Thursday, Sept. 15, was 77-18.

Yeas: Burr, Tillis

 Targeted News Service
By Trend

The state budget expenses of Azerbaijan on education is projected at 4.4 billion manat ($2.58 billion) in 2023, Trend reports citing the Finance Ministry's statement regarding the preliminary indicators of the consolidated and state budgets for 2023.

The forecasted figure exceeds 2022's indicator by 517.2 million manat ($303.9 million) or 13.3 percent.
A trio of lawsuits working their way through North Carolinas court system were filed to clarify when Confederate monuments can or must be moved from courthouse property.

On the eve of the first trial, set for this week in Alamance County, a Superior Court judge dismissed the case.

We were mostly disappointed that we werent granted a hearing on the facts, said Barrett Brown, president of the local NAACP branch, which was one of the plaintiffs. Also pressing the case against Alamance County and its board of commissioners were the State Conference of the NAACP, Down Home NC, Engage Alamance and a multi-racial group of individual plaintiffs.

But a decision that favors one county fighting to keep a courthouse monument is unlikely to be the end of the dispute.

Judge Forrest Bridges acknowledged as much in announcing his decision, as did Rik Stevens, the countys attorney, in comments about the case. In an email to The News & Observer, Stevens said, we appreciate the judges ruling but also understand that the ruling could be appealed.

Brown said Thursday that the local NAACP organization is keen to keep fighting. This might be a long trek judicially, but we believe were gonna get justice and were gonna get that monument removed.

Attorneys representing the plaintiffs will likely make a decision on how to proceed next week, after the judge has entered his written order, said Gagan Gupta, one of the attorneys involved in the case in Alamance, as well as similar lawsuits in Gaston and Iredell counties.

The NC monuments law

One reason an appeal is likely is that North Carolinas appellate courts have yet to interpret the statute that is key to Alamance Countys explanation for why it will not move the local monument. Its the Cultural History Artifact Management and Patriotism Act of 2015, often referred to as the monuments law.

The statute bars moving monuments on public property in most circumstances, but it has an exception for An object of remembrance for which a building inspector or similar official has determined poses a threat to public safety because of an unsafe or dangerous condition.

Gov. Roy Cooper invoked that exception when he ordered three Confederate monuments be evicted from State Capitol grounds after protesters pulled two statues down in 2020, The News & Observer previously reported. He cited the physical risk from assaults on the monuments themselves and the strong potential for violent clashes at the site.

Two years before that, the State Historical Commission recommended against removing the same monuments. The commissioners said they felt constrained by the 2015 law.

The plaintiffs attorneys in the Alamance case made arguments similar to Coopers, citing frequent protests and counter-protests, accompanied by guns and death threats, as some of the evidence. They also quoted from a letter that former County Administrator Bryan Hagood wrote to the county commissioners in June 2020.

I believe this would be a terrible thing for Alamance County to have someone seriously injured or killed by one of our Deputies or a Graham Police Officer in an altercation that began as protecting the memorial, Hagood wrote.

He also worried about potential violence by self-appointed monument protectors. I dont believe it is right for things to come to violence over this issue where law enforcement and/or citizens on any side of the issue are hurt or killed, he wrote, before recommending that the monument be moved.

The commissioners rebuffed Hagoods suggestion, writing in a news release that year that he neglected to obtain information about the legality of his opinion before he offered it.

County leaders have repeatedly said they do not have the authority to move the monument.

Whos right?

One of these three cases potentially will set precedent on that question, Gupta said.

A Court of Appeals or Supreme Court decision will likely influence the future of the roughly 70 monuments that remain standing on public property across the state.

Trial dates have not yet been set in the Gaston or Iredell County cases.

All three lawsuits make additional arguments that the monuments violate the state constitution.

A protest hot spot

Debate over whether to move Confederate monuments from public spaces, particularly near courthouses, has roiled communities for years, but particularly since the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer sparked protests across the country.

Since then, leaders in nearly two dozen North Carolina communities have removed or relocated monuments, data from the Southern Poverty Law Center shows.

But perhaps no other monument in the state has been the subject of more intense protest than the Confederate soldier that stands atop a granite column about two stories high in downtown Graham, the Alamance County seat.

The News & Observer and ProPublica chronicled the near-daily conflicts in the towns Court Square in late 2020 and early 2021 in Sound of Judgment, a documentary and investigative report that documented the depth of racial discord there.
A new Helena resource is in the works for both those who are and those who are not members of the LGBTQ+ community.

In May, Zebulon Eaton created a Facebook group called Helena MT LGBTQ, which has now been renamed to West Coast LGBTQ Community to accommodate a wider scope of members since people from cities around the state and from other states were joining.

The group started with three members. As of September, theres around 90.

Eaton is a member of the LGBTQ community. The group started when he realized that if his transgender coworker was needing a support system in Helena, there had to be other people out there struggling as well.

One of my coworkers, who later became my assistant manager (at the Subway store I was managing), is trans, and they didnt really have a support system. I sat down and thought OK, so lets create a support system.

In early July, Eaton brought up the idea of creating a nonprofit called the Pride Room as a resource center in Helena for LGBTQ+ members in the Facebook group.

It was so well received that Im like OK, so this isnt just something that I want to happen, this is something that needs to happen...' said Eaton.

The resources Eaton envisions at the Pride Room are an easy-access food pantry, internet and computer access, support groups, mentorship, 24/7 on-call crisis counselors, a licensed drug and alcohol counselor, free at-home testing kits for HIV and other STIs and more.

Eaton has been working with the Department of Public Health and Human Services in Montana to receive donations of the testing kits. As of October, the testing kits will be available by mail since the Pride Room doesn't have a physical location yet. All information is private, and to get one email theprideroom@outlook.com. Mailing is free of charge.

Eaton pointed out that the resources will be for everyone, even those who are not members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The Pride Room is a safe place. Its a place where you can go and not be judged for who you are, said Eaton. Its a place where you can go and if your pronouns are they/them, that is how we talk to you. If youre a female to male and, you know, your legal name is Alisha but you want to be called Lee, OK then that is what we call you Its a place of mutual respect.

Eaton moved to New Mexico in July, but the idea for the Pride Room started when Eaton lived in Helena, which is why he wants the first one to open here. He hopes to open a physical location by the end of the year and to open a second one in Albuquerque in the beginning of 2023. Eatons goal is to open at least one Pride Room in every state.

As of now, the plan is to be open six days a week, Monday through Saturday, and staffed with at least two volunteers and a manager. The five board members of the Pride Room are from New Mexico, Maine and Montana. Currently, the Pride Room exists as a website (https://bit.ly/3LlpILG).

The Pride Room will be a nonprofit, and Eaton is currently working toward the 501(c)(3) designation. On the low side, Eaton said this could cost $750 just to file.

The Pride Room can apply for grants, but it cant do that until after it is registered as a 501(c)(3).

On Sept. 13, Eaton posted an update in the Facebook group about the Pride Room. Two letters have been sent out for support from local businesses, an employer Identification number (EIN) has been achieved for business purposes, and the application for 501(c)(3) status is being finalized.

Any community member can donate to starting up Helenas Pride Room here: https://donate-the-pride-room.square.site/.

The Pride Room is solely based right now on the donations of the community," Eaton said. "While we already know that were going to get a lot of backlash from a lot of different people because they dont agree with it or whatever the case is, we dont ask that you agree. We just ask that you be kind and courteous to those who support it because not everybody has the same opinion.
BLOOMINGTON  Over 100 years after he died, Joseph A. Kimball is remembered and recognized as he was in life: a hero of the Civil War.

Dozens of veterans and family members gathered Saturday morning at Evergreen Cemetery, where Kimball is buried, to welcome a new Congressional Medal of Honor marker on his grave.

"It's almost overwhelming, and it's hard to put into words," said Betsy Tietz of Decatur, Kimball's great-grandniece.

She said, "I just had no idea that there was a Medal of Honor (recipient) in my family."

Ray Johnston works with the Medal of Honor Historical Society. During the ceremony, Johnston said Medal of Honor recipients receive a special marker on their graves from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Kimball, assigned to Company B of the 2nd West Virginia Cavalry, received the Medal of Honor on May 3, 1865, for his actions on April 6 of that year, when he captured the Confederate flag of the 6th North Carolina Infantry, a remarkable feat that Tietz said could easily have ended with Kimball's death.

"Of course it would be sacred ground," Tietz said. "Of course they would be protecting (their flag), and of course it would be more than one person protecting it.

"And to have the bravery, and to see that flag and to even act on that impulse, knowing that you could die with all the people around it, I'm overwhelmed. I'm just overwhelmed," she said.

Tietz, the unofficial historian in her family, said Kimball and his siblings had an especially close relationship because they grew up without a father, and their mother had died when they were young.

After the war, Kimball moved from West Virginia to Illinois, Tietz said. Kimball's brother-in-law, Brigadier General George Frederick Dick, who was Tietz's great-grandfather, moved his family to Bloomington, she said. Kimball died in 1910.

Johnston explained why it took so long to get the Medal of Honor marker on Kimball's Bloomington gravesite. He said that, about 30 years ago, someone noted that a Private Joseph Kimball's grave in West Virginia was supposed to have a Medal of Honor marker, but it did not. So, a marker was installed there.

Johnston said there was a mistake, though: "We determined that there were two Joseph Kimballs."

The other Joseph Kimball, Johnston said, was from Company C, and he did not earn the Congressional Medal of Honor.

"He was court martialed," Johnston said, "because he'd decided to take off for a couple of months."

Johnston said, "I got ahold of the cemetery ... submitted this information to both the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the VA, and both concurred that this is the correct Joseph Kimball."

But the West Virginia family and the cemetery were not yet willing to give up the marker, Johnston said.

He explained that the VA owns the markers  they are only lent out to the families and cemeteries, and the VA can take them back at any time.

The marker is now with its rightful recipient, and Kimball's family has a proper place to honor his heroism.

"There's so much more depth now," Tietz said. "He was so much more involved in our history than before, in my eyes and in my mind and in what I knew."

Johnston said, "That's where we are today: honoring Joseph Kimball. The man deserves it. After (112) years. Thank you."

After the ceremony, Tietz said she wanted to spend some time at her great-granduncle's grave. "I brought some flowers," she said. "I just want to spend some time with him."
DECATUR  After making its debut in 2018, the Decatur Pride Fest was put on hold in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But on Saturday in Fairview Park, people gathered to celebrate both their pride and the ability to get together again.

The event is important because there's still a long way for us to go with acceptance throughout the community, said Reed Sutman, vice president of Decatur Pride. We've been harassed by quite a few locals. We've received severe harassment online.

The Breitbart News Network recently ran a piece saying the group indoctrinates children, and they've even had death threats, Sutman said.

(Having the event) is incredibly important for moving us forward and past all the hate that's been around, unfortunately, for far too long, he said. There might be a lot more queer people than people realize, so it's important for adults and kids who don't fit into the heteronormative stereotype that they see people who are like them and know they can express themselves and they'll be safe, and be loved, and have community and that there's a place for them in this world.

A youth drag show had been on the schedule for Saturday, but mistress of ceremonies Ceduxion Carrington announced during opening ceremonies that it had been canceled due to the threats the group received. She said the organizers consulted the children's families before making that decision, and the parents and guardians chose not to proceed.

Other events stayed on the schedule: the adult drag show, scheduled for 6:30 p.m.; a singing competition, Voices of Decatur, set for 5 p.m., with the top three finishers receiving cash prizes; and the pet pride/fashion show, where people could show off their so stinking cute fur babies, as Carrington described them. Her own dogs, she said, had had to stay at home.

They are selfish and they love only me, Carrington said. And that's the way I like it.

Intolerance and hate can be overcome by acceptance, affirmation and love, Horn said after reading the proclamation. Today, we celebrate our acceptance of the LGBTIA+ community in our city.

The Central Illinois Democratic Socialists of America booth handed out rainbow stickers and pamphlets, and Kenny Crowe said they were there to show that the Democratic left is on the side of the LGBTQIA+ community.

If we have a chance to come out and show our support, we're going to do it, he said.

Harry Carlsen, of the Springfield chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, said his organization provides support for family members, helping them understand what it's like for their children to come out, and activities for young people who need a place to feel welcome.

CORAL, the Coalition of Rainbow Alliances, provides networking and communication between various organizations for the LGBTQIA+ communities, said Brian Sylvester.

We provide networking for people who want to get out and socialize, he said. We have four primary events a year, a pride picnic, Pride Fest in Springfield, and The Ritz, a dinner/dance function. It brings the LGBTQ community together, but it also brings our allies together, businesses and organizations.
PALOS PARK - A body of water near Palos Park in suburban Cook County has been renamed by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to remove a slur for Indigenous women, a change members of the Native American community welcome with the hope that future generations are spared harm from the word.

The shallow body of water now dubbed Cherry Hill Woods Sloughs is one of nearly 650 geographic features across the country to receive a new name after U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who is the first Native American to lead a cabinet agency, issued a secretarial order in November that declared the word squaw derogatory and created a process for reviewing and replacing geographic names that use the term.

Formerly known as Laughing Squaw Sloughs, the water feature is one of two sites renamed in Illinois on Sept. 8. The other is an island in Calhoun County formerly known as Squaw Island. It will now be named Calhoun Island.

Dorene Wiese, a 73-year-old member of the White Earth Ojibwe Nationand president of the American Indian Association of Illinois, remembers being called the word starting in kindergarten in Minneapolis.

As a child, you know that its not good, people are calling you a name, Wiese said. And then when you get older, you realize it was really worse than we had thought.

Dating back to the 1800s, cartoon drawings depicted Indigenous women and used the term in an offensive way, Wiese said. She hopes that removing references to the word in place names will be a step to ensure the next generation wont be subjected to its offense, or even know of the word at all.

Thats our hope, that in the future that will be erased, she said.

Removing references to the word started in Illinois more than a year ago.

In 2019, Jim Denomie began raising awareness that a creek in Lake County, named Squaw Creekat the time, contained a slur. Denomie is a citizen of the Bad River Chippewa Indians of Lake Superior and a member of the creeks drainage district, an agency that is largely responsible for ensuring the health of farm fields and reducing environmental contamination, Chairperson Patrick Duby said.

But then Im like, We can take on more than one project,  Duby said. So I started looking into how can we correct a wrong.

The group worked with local historians, tribes, school district, state senators and more to gather public support and submit a proposal to the Board on Geographic Names to change the name of the waterway to Manitou Creek. Manitou refers to a spirit, Denomie said.

The water itself is the lifeblood of our mother Earth, he added.

With more than 30 letters of recommendation from levels of government, businesses, tribes and citizens, they submitted a proposal for renaming the creek in September, Duby said, expecting it to be some time before they heard back.

The renaming process, as outlined on the Board on Geographic Names website, takes at least six months and requires a compelling reason and evidence of support for the change. In this instance, the board approved the new name of Manitou Creek in early December, and the Manitou Creek Drainage Districts efforts were soon part of a national movement.

Under Haalands order, the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force received more than 1,000 recommendations for name removal and consulted nearly 70 tribal nations, according to the Department of the Interior. Since February, the word has been referred to as sq___ in all official communications from the department.

In 2021, sq___ became the third term declared derogatory in all uses by the Board on Geographic Names, following pejorative terms for Black people and Japanese people in the 60s and 70s.

Haaland issued an additional order creating the advisory committee on reconciliation in place names tasked with soliciting feedback for additional derogatory terms used on federal land.

I feel a deep obligation to use my platform to ensure that our public lands and waters are accessible and welcoming. That starts with removing racist and derogatory names that have graced federal locations for far too long, Haaland said in a news release.

While Illinois does not have any federally-recognized tribes within the state, Chicago has one of the largest urban Native American populations in the country. Many members of the Native American community still feel cultural ties to natural places and their names signify honor, said Jasmine Gurneau, president of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative.

They are more than just recreation spaces, they are culturally significant, spiritually significant to us, she said.

The former name of Cherry Hill Woods Sloughs was identified as problematic a few years ago by the Forest Preserves, said Carl Vogel, a spokesman for the Cook County Forest Preseve District in an emailed statement. It was likely coined in the 1940s when the area was used as a landmark for camping.

Today, the area is not accessible by trailand no signage or amenities greet visitors at the site and is not one of the five campsites designated by the Forest Preserve District.

The forest district submitted the name to the task force in April, recommending that it be renamed Muskrat Sloughs, a name selected with input from the Native American community, Vogel said. Gurneau said the muskrat is an animal that plays an important role in many of the creation stories of the Great Lakes tribes.

According to a February news release from the Department of the Interior, the task force would prioritize names received from the public and Tribal nations. Both Vogel and Gurneau said its unclear why the name Muskrat Sloughs wasnt selected.

Regardless, the main issue is that the derogatory name will no longer appear in any capacity, Vogel said in the statement.

The Forest Preserve District will continue to review names to ensure they are respectful, he said. Gurneau said these reviews involve not only looking for potentially derogatory names but also for opportunities to educate communities on what current names represent and honor. For example, she said she is currently working the Skokie Park District, which has several parks named after tribal nations.

Maybe the tribe doesnt want that name to be changed, but what a great opportunity it is to uplift that community, she said.

Wiese said before that Thursdays announcement, she didnt know there were places in Illinois that still used the word. Currently based in Chicago, Wieses current goals as president of the American Indian Association of Illinois are raising awareness of the references to Native Americans in public school mascots across the state and working toward the inclusion of American Indian history in public school curricula.

I think anything that draws attention to Native history in Illinois is important because we have so little information about American Indians here and around the country. Wiese said. Its really been a huge lift to try to get an interest in anything about Native Americans in Chicago and Illinois.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 88F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 58F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
By Trend

The Zangazur corridor will play a huge role in transporting commodities between the Turkic-speaking countries, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Baghdad Amreyev told Trend.

According to him, the cargo traffic between the Organization's member states is currently being implemented through Russia and Iran.

"The Zangazur corridor will ensure the direct and shortest route from Turkiye to Azerbaijan, Central Asia, and Europe. Moreover, the corridor will contribute to the maximum engagement of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), which will benefit not only the countries within the region, but also beyond. Opportunities for expanding transportation to China and the Far East will also appear," Amreyev said.

He added that the Organization of Turkic States is also working to strengthen the infrastructure networks of Turkic-speaking countries, including the TITR route.
VALE  Hart Square Foundation will welcome visitors to its 37th annual Living History Festival on Oct. 22. Experience life as it would have been in the early 1800s as you stroll through the nations largest collection of historic log structures. This event will showcase traditional arts, trades, and the pioneer lifestyle in North Carolina.

On festival day, Hart Square Village will bustle with knowledgeable artisans and living historians. Hart Square has a team of 400 volunteers. Many of its craftspeople and historic demonstrators have gained regional and national acclaim for their artistry. This talented group volunteers their time once a year to continue a tradition of bringing Hart Square Village to life and sharing the experience of our pioneer ancestors with the public. You will witness everything from blacksmithing, to cotton baling, to tin smithing, to weaving.

Rebecca Hart, executive director, says, Historic demonstration at Hart Square is passed through the generations. This event brings together our community in a beautiful intergenerational way. It is common to see three-generation family bands and to see grandparents training up grandkids in the ways of lace making, molasses making, and butter churning. Preserving knowledge and passing down tradition, that is why I love this event and hope you will join us at the 37th annual Living History Festival.

Tickets are available at our website for this immersive historical experience. https://www.hartsquare.com/events/37th-annual-living-history-festival-october-22

Hart Square Village is an open-air museum located in Vale, consisting of over 100 historic log structures built between 1760 and 1893. Hart Square Foundation is the nonprofit organization tasked with instilling a pioneering spirit in the next generation through preserving and sharing the history and culture housed at Hart Square Village.
MATTOON  Kent Wilson has a lot of good memories of friendly people and fun games at past Special Olympics Family Festivals, with his only complaint being that the events end at 2 p.m.

"It's exciting," the Special Olympics athlete from Tuscola said of the festival. He added, "It goes too fast."

Wilson and more than 400 Special Olympics athletes from Central Illinois got to play carnival games, sing karaoke, watch a parade and enjoy many other activities on Saturday when the Family Festival returned as an in-person event at Lake Land College after being held remotely in 2020 and 2021.

Each athlete was once again accompanied by a Friend-For-A-Day volunteer. Wilson's Friend volunteer was Alicia Adams, a student from the south suburbs of Chicago who runs track at Eastern Illinois University.

Adams, a newcomer to the Family Festival, said she jumped at the chance to volunteer because she loves events like this. She said she was impressed by the lively atmosphere she found at the festival as she and Martin began exploring canopies full of activities on the front lawn at Lake Land.

"I get to find a new friend. I'm so excited about it," Adams said.

One of their first stops was to pet Sadie, a 4-year-old cocker spaniel that Julie Viertel of Charleston brought from the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. The Alliance's volunteers at the festival also included Jessica Wendling of Charleston, with 6-year-old cocker spaniel-poodle mix Penny.

"Petting them is such great therapy. It relieves a lot of stress and it makes people happy," Wendling said as other Special Olympics athletes and volunteers flocked to the dogs.

Special Olympics athlete Gunner Ballinger of Trowbridge and his Friend-For-A-Day, family friend Wes Andrews of Neoga, headed to a darts game where volunteers kept a large wall filled with balloon targets. Ballinger popped two of the balloons with his dart throws before excitedly heading to the next canopy.

"Everyone is really working hard," Andrews said of the volunteers. He added, "It's nice to see everyone has a friend and nobody is left out."

The Family Festival also included a parade with a long line of emergency response vehicles, Lake Land athletes, pageant royalty, motorcycles and other entrants. This procession rolled through campus after an opening ceremony in which Special Olympics athletes ran the Olympic torch to the mainstage.

Joel Hardin of Noble, who lit the big torch, said he originally was supposed to do this in 2020, but the Family Festival got postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said lighting the torch was worth the wait and was "pretty cool."

Hardin and fellow athlete Eric Midgett of Robinson shared a Friend-For-A-Day, Stenoree Allen, a student from Indianapolis who runs track at Eastern. Hardin, who competes in shot put and other sports, said he was happy to get to know the Eastern track athlete because "he's a cool guy" and he also looked forward to reconnecting with old friends at the Family Festival.

"I like just having fun and spending time with friends you don't get to see very often," Hardin said.

The festival was created in 1984 by Consolidated Communications employees and is recognized as the largest event of its kind in the U.S. Now in its 39th year, the event is organized by employees from Consolidated, First Mid Bank & Trust and Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System as part of a team of more than 1,000 volunteers.
Bookmarks will hold its 17th Annual Festival of Books & Authors on Sept. 24 in downtown Winston-Salem, featuring more than 50 authors from throughout the country and world.

The festival will be held in various indoor and outdoor locations and will offer several ticketed events starting Sept. 22 and closing out on Sept. 26.

Everything is in person this year. No virtual anything, said Juliana Reyes, communications coordinator for Bookmarks. Were really excited. Its a big difference from last year.

She said that Bookmarks held a good amount of festival authors virtually during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Now, we have this opportunity to hold some in person, Reyes said. All of our romance authors  Tessa Bailey, Tracey Livesay and Adriana Herrera  we hosted them online, and now we can bring them here in person for our readers who also joined us for that online portion.

Other authors for Bookmarks 2022 festival include Samira Ahmed, Sarah Addison Allen, Wiley Cash, Sandra Cisneros, Jamie Ford, Alan Gratz, Sandra Gutierrez, Oscar Hokeah, Tiffany D. Jackson, TJ Klune, Charlie Lovett, Sarah McCoy, Marc Palmieri, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Tui T. Sutherland, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Tia Williams.

Books range in genres from poetry to sci-fi and from historical to romance, and more.

Ford attended the festival a couple of years ago.

He had a lovely time, and now were hosting him again for his new book, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy, Reyes said.

Klune, the New York Times best-selling author of Under the Whispering Door, The House in the Cerulean Sea and YA series The Extraordinaries, is a festival favorite.

A lot (of people) in our community are excited to come and meet him, Reyes said.

Sutherland and Gratz are expected to be some of the favorite childrens authors at the festival.

Reyes said Bookmarks has a bunch of children in the store every time Sutherlands books are released.

Gratz writes a lot of historical fiction books, where he writes historical events from the perspective of kids, Reyes said. A lot of kids in the school district in middle school read his books.

This will be playwright Palmieris first time at the festival. The last time he was in Winston-Salem was 2020 when 40-Plus Stage Co. presented his play Levittown.

Im deeply honored to be a part of this amazing festival, Palmieri said.

Palmieri, 51, graduated from Wake Forest University in 1994 as its second-winningest pitcher in the schools history. His first book She Danced with Lightning, a family memoir and medical mystery involving severe epilepsy, will be featured at the festival.

It involves my daughters epilepsy and how we survived with it and moved into a real adventure toward an eventual lifesaving brain surgery, Palmieri said.

He said the book focuses on the history of his daughter Annas condition from age 5 to the time she had to have surgery because of her epileptic seizures at nearly 12 years old. The book also follows Annas battle to persevere as a competitive dancer.

Its been three and a half years since shes had a seizure, Palmieri said.

He said writing the book gave him time to reflect on how challenging the experience of dealing with epilepsy has been on his family and everyone who struggles with it.

On Sept. 23, festival authors will visit with pre-K through college-aged students in Triad schools.

Free day

Sept. 24 will be the main day of the festival, when all events are free from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and festival authors will be featured in free panel discussions, story times and conversations about their books. Throughout the day, there will be sessions for children, teens and adults.

Other offerings will include book signings, children activities, exhibitors and food trucks.

Events will take place at various locations on Spruce, Poplar and Holly streets, with panels in Calvary Moravian Church, Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, Hanesbrands Theatre and Footnote.

The day will kick off at 9 a.m. in Winston Square Park with a Winston-Salem Police Department Paw Patrol Dance Party and a special appearance by the Winston-Salem Youth Chorus.

At 9:30 a.m., Idina Menzel, a Tony-award winner and Elsa in Frozen, and Cara Mentzel, an acclaimed writer and teacher, will present a special story time focused on Loud Mouse, a lyrical picture book about a little mouse finding her big voice with the help of her sister.

Thats the first time weve ever kicked off with a big event like that, Reyes said.

A book-signing with Menzel and Mentzel will follow the event. Due to safety concerns and park capacity, wristbands will be required for this event.

Also in Winston-Square, Bookmarks is teaming up with Read Write Spell during the festival to present the Read Write Spell Corner. The event will include programs for children of all ages, caregivers and educators, as well as information on how to support childrens literacy development and free treats.

A free keynote event  Woman Without Shame: Sandra Cisneros  will be held at 11 a.m. in Calvary Moravian Church. Cisneros is the best-selling author of The House on Mango Street, as well as a poet, short-story writer, novelist, essayist, performer and artist. Woman Without Shame is her new collection of poems. The event is presented with support from WellCare North Carolina.

Ticketed events

The keynote opening event on Sept. 22 with New York Times best-selling author Taylor Jenkins Reid is already sold out, but the festival is offering other ticketed events at various prices.

At 12 p.m. Sept. 23 at Footnote, author Wiley Cash will host the first Southern Lit Lunch presented by the North Carolina Writers Network. The event will feature Sarah Addison Allen in conversation about her new book, Other Birds. This will be the only event to see Cash and Allen.

At 8:30 p.m., Bookmarks will offer a night of conversation and performance at Hanesbrands Theatre, featuring novelists and musicians Josh Ritter and Brendan Slocumb.

Author Grady Hendrix will return to Bookmarks with Paperback From Hell.Live! at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 24. He will offer a history of horror paperbacks from the 70s and 80s.

At 7 p.m. Sept 26, the festival will close out with Neil deGrasse Tyson in Reynolds Auditorium discussing his new book, Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization. He will be in conversation with Matt and Shari Brady, STEM educators and co-founders of The Science Of, or TSO, a nonprofit organization.

I think everyone should come out for the chance for everyone to get together here in Winston-Salem and just enjoy and celebrate the love of reading and books with these fantastic authors, Reyes said of the festival.
NEW YORK  There's a new nature documentary series that promises to show viewers incredible animal behavior in vibrant clarity. Heard that all before? Well, this one is on steroids. "Super/Natural," a six-part series from National Geographic on Disney+, has tapped "Avatar" creator James Cameron as executive producer, and he's added special effects on top of leading-edge filmmaking technology. The effects sometimes morph the animals into something like stars in a Marvel movie, with their bellows distorting the air, lumbering attacks that cause shock waves in sand or pheromones from an insect rendered as bursting noxious clouds. Even trees light up when sugars move through their roots.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service is warning consumers in North Carolina and other Southeastern states not to eat chicken entree products that might contain an undeclared allergen, eggs, authorities said Friday night.

The product is in 12-ounce plastic wrapped containers and carry the name, aprons "Ready to Cook Meal for One Bacon-Cheddar Smothered Chicken," the Agriculture Department said in a news release.

The agency issued a public-health alert regarding the product because eggs were not declared on the finished product label, the Agriculture Department said.

The products were produced on Sept. 9, the agency said. The products have a "to use" date of Sept. 21.

The product has an establishment number P-48176 inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture's mark of inspection, the agency said.

The product was shipped to Publix stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, Florida and Alabama, the Agriculture Department said.

Consumers with an allergy to eggs should not consume this product, the agency said. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for consumers to buy.

There have been no confirmed reports of consumers suffering adverse reactions because they ate this product.

The symptoms of egg allergy consist of skin rashes, hives, nasal congestion, vomiting, cramps and nausea, according to the Mayo Clinic.
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

The Rasul Rza House Museum has been opened in Baku in keeping with the presidential decree, Azernews reports, citing the Culture Ministry.

Culture Minister Anar Karimov visited the house-museum of Azerbaijan's prominent writer Rasul Rza.

In June, President Ilham Aliyev ordered the establishment of the Rasul Rza House Museum in Baku.

All museum exhibits were included in the corresponding list of the Culture Ministry.

Rasul Rza gained popularity as an innovative writer, who left a deep mark in the Azerbaijani literature.

The poet was born on May 19, 1910, in Goychay in the family of an employee and translator Mirza Ibrahim.

From 1938 to 1939, Rasul Rza served as the chairman of the Board of the Union of the Azerbaijani Writers. He also headed the Baku Film Studio between 1942 and 1944.

Rasul Rza started publishing his works in 1927. His first poems were published in newspapers and magazines. In the 1930s, his poems were published in separate editions, receiving wide recognition from readers.

He responded to the Great Patriotic War with collections of poems and stories, which enjoyed huge popularity among people.

Rasul Rza was an innovator in Azerbaijani literature, constantly looking for more and more perfect poetic forms and means. He was never afraid to experiment. A cycle of poems under the general name "Paints" is a vivid example of it.

Since the 1950s, philosophical motives have prevailed in Rasul Rza's activities.

Rasul Rza is the author of many scientific and journalistic works, poems, and plays.

He translated into Azerbaijani the works of Nizami Ganjavi, Aleksandr Pushkin, Lord Byron, Lope de Vega, and other writers.

Rasul Rza always actively supported and cared for young writers, strengthening their desire to bring something new to poetry.

His son is a well-known writer and chairman of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers Anar Rzayev. His granddaughter Gunel Rzayeva is also a writer and the director of the Baku Book Center.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  The Oregon Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from 13 counties in a long-running $1 billion lawsuit over timber revenue and what constitutes the greatest permanent value when it comes to forest management.

The denial ends a six-year legal battle over logging practices on 700,000 acres and is a victory for the state Department of Forestry and environmental groups. The decision leaves in place a lower court ruling saying that Oregon can manage forests for a range of values that include recreation, water quality and wildlife habitat  not just logging revenue.

Its the end of the road for what has been a false narrative for far too long  that its the public forestlands obligation to provide the bulk of the revenues for local communities, Ralph Bloemers, who represented fishing and conservation groups in the case, told Oregon Public Broadcasting.

The counties gave forestland to the state decades ago and Oregon manages the land and funnels timber revenue to the counties.

But 13 counties took Oregon to court, alleging the state was not maximizing logging on the forests. A Linn County jury found in the counties' favor in 2019 and awarded more than $1 billion in damages, but an appeals court struck down the verdict earlier this year.

A representative for the counties called the high court's inaction disappointing.

The underlying issue of forest practices on public lands is left unresolved," Linn County Commissioner Roger Nyquist said in a statement.

Linn is one of several Oregon counties and special taxing districts that receive a cut of logging profits from forestland they gave to the state in the 1930s and 1940s. Oregon agreed to manage those lands, which were mostly burned and logged over at the time of donation, so as to secure the greatest permanent value of those lands to the state.

Oregon has sent millions of dollars to the counties over the years, bolstering local budgets. But 13 counties took the state to court, saying greatest permanent value meant managing forests for maximum timber revenue.

The Oregon Department of Justice, which represented the state government in the case, issued a written statement Friday calling the Supreme Courts decision a victory for Oregons environment and for sound forest management in general.

Our forests serve a range of environmental, recreational, and economic purposes, the statement reads. By allowing what we argued was the correct decision of the Court of Appeals to stand, we have a swifter resolution and finality after a 6-year dispute.
A state watchdog has raised concerns about an increase in serious injuries among children involved in Nebraska's child welfare system during the past year.

But Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare Jennifer Carter said, in her latest annual report released Thursday, that the state has made improvements in dealing with two previous crises.

Those were the formerly troubled state institutions for juvenile offenders, called the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers, and the now-terminated contract with Saint Francis Ministries, a Kansas-based nonprofit that was tasked with managing the care of children in the Omaha metro area.

"In general, after two years of major system-level challenges ... the child welfare and YRTC systems appear to be more stable than they have been in over two years," Carter said. "However, the absence of crises does not equate to an absence of significant issues."

As an example of issues, she pointed to two deaths and 10 serious injuries among youngsters who were current state wards or had been involved with the child welfare system at some point in the previous 12 months. The children ranged in age from infants to a 17-year-old who was injured in a shooting.

Carter said it was the highest number of serious injury and death cases since 2015 that her office is required by state law to investigate. All involved possible abuse or neglect. Her office is not required to look into deaths and injuries that occurred by chance.

Her office is still investigating the cases, she said, but pointed to the disruptions and stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as a potential factor behind the increase. She noted that many professionals are reporting rising mental health problems.

"We are only beginning to understand all the long-term ramifications of the pandemic," Carter said.

She also noted an increase in incidents and complaints related to cases in which child welfare officials had used a different, less adversarial approach to working with families. In the approach, called alternative response, child welfare workers help families without taking them to court or making a finding that there had been abuse or neglect in the family.

Four serious injury cases involved children whose families had gone through alternative response in the previous 12 months, Carter said, noting that her office has not received such reports in the past.

However, she noted that Nebraska's use of alternative response has increased significantly in the last few years. In 2021, the state handled more child abuse and neglect cases through alternative response than were substantiated and handled through the traditional process.

Among other issues, Carter said the availability, stability and quality of placements for children has become a growing concern. She said there have been reports of problems placing even children who have been easy to find care for in the past, such as infants.

High caseloads and turnover among case workers also is a concern, she said. In June, only 38.6% of workers in Douglas and Sarpy counties had caseloads that complied with state law.

Continued failure to meet state caseload standards contributed to Nebraska's decision to end its contract with Saint Francis Ministries, which was responsible for child welfare case management in the Omaha area. The decision was announced in December and all of the cases were transferred to state workers over the next six months.

In a previous report, Carter had called for an end to the contract and to Nebraska's experiment with private case management. In the newly released report, she said incidents and complaints about Saint Francis that her office reviewed had confirmed that ending the contract "was the correct choice."

The new report also noted signs that Nebraska's juvenile offender institutions were stabilizing, three years after Department of Health and Human Services officials removed all the female offenders from the state's Geneva institution after staff shortages, inadequate programming and deteriorating buildings combined to make the facility unlivable. The girls were moved to the formerly male-only juvenile offender center in Kearney, where they remained for 18 months.

The state has since closed the Geneva facility and moved the female offenders to a center in Hastings. The state also opened a facility in Lincoln for juvenile offenders needing more intensive mental health care.
BURCHARD  The Big Blue Ranch and Lodge near Burchard in Pawnee County is a destination for hunters, fishermen and families wanting to unplug.

When Tom Bodie returned from World War II, he was in poor health after being a prisoner of war. Doctors told him he should work in agriculture because it was low-stress. He married Betty, and with his degree in business and her degree in nursing, they purchased the 2,000-acre ranch.

Scott Bodie and his wife, Billie Kay, were the next generation to own the cattle ranch.

We built the lodge to diversify our income, Billie Kay said.

The lodge was designed so visitors can see the ranch's 24-acre lake, which is shaped like a boomerang, from every window in the building.

Our first guests were on Fathers Day weekend in 2007," Billie Kay said. It was a dad and his two sons. They were from Omaha and were amazed. They had never seen the Milky Way before."

The Big Blue Ranch and Lodge has had several visitors who enjoy nighttime photography, as there is no ambient light. There were also guests who specifically came to view the solar eclipse in 2017.

People who come to the lodge to hunt deer, turkey and predators, Billie Kay said. They can fish at the lake, which is stocked with a variety of different species. We have john boats, canoes and kayaks for the guests also.

Some people like to sit on the big, covered porches, she said. There is no internet or television, so people can truly disconnect.

Its absolutely quiet, Scott Bodie said.

In April, guests enjoy bird watching. The rare Greater Prairie Chicken are often able to be viewed and photographed.

The Big Blue Ranch was named one of Eight Great Ecotourism Opportunities in Nebraska by the University of Nebraska.

With only 4% of the regions tall-grass prairie still in existence, the ranch is an ecological gem with groves of trees, large ponds and original as well as restored grasslands. Thanks to generations of sustainability-minded Bodies, the ranch is home to a large amount of ecological diversity, the university said.

In addition to the lodge, the ranch is operated as a custom grazing operation. Scott Bodie said he takes a lot of pride in keeping his pastures clean.

Josh and Carly Black became managers of the Big Blue Lodge because the Bodies wanted to travel more.

The best part of my job is getting to work outdoors. We get to meet a lot of great people, Josh Black said. The ranch is a good place to disconnect.

More information on rates and availability can be found at bigblueranch.com.
Rotarians have fed the hungry, helped beautify parks and playgrounds, and assisted families with emergency needs  and thats just in the cities where they live. Around the world, theyve inoculated millions against polio, built schools and installed water purifying facilities.

Between Sept. 26 and Oct. 7, Rotarians in nearly 70 communities across western Iowa and all of Nebraska will celebrate their contributions to the communities where they live and the help theyve given to so many in other parts of the world. In addition, they will reach out to leaders of their cities, businesses, schools, faith organizations, nonprofits and local citizens to ask what more they can do.

Following the example of Rotary Internationals President Jennifer Jones, the leaders of clubs in Nebraska and western Iowa are planning an Imagine Rotary Impact Tour that will gather Rotarians from across the region at nine hubs. Barbara Bartle of Lincoln and Deb McCaslin of Broken Bow serve as leaders in their respective Rotary districts, and together theyll travel from Ogallala to Shenandoah, from McCook to Omaha, and from Arnold and Broken Bow to York and Lincoln to share Rotarys story, tour communities, and participate in service projects and social activities for a cause.

Rotary clubs in these two districts have an extensive list of accomplishments. These include forming partnerships within the communities where they reside to help renovate parks, such as the splash pad in Ogallala or the Cascade Fountain in Lincoln, to help plant trees in McCook, or to provide flagpoles and flags at the fairgrounds at Shenandoah.

Rotarians in our two states provide food for the needy by working with food banks and missions in their cities, serving hot meals at churches and filling Little Free Pantries across their communities. Rotary has a motto of service of above self, so often the work of Rotary clubs goes unnoticed by the general public because members of the clubs dont seek publicity.

Were People of Action, noted District 5650 Governor Bartle. Im especially proud of what our clubs have done to help the people of Ukraine. From the very first day of the war, Rotarians in our districts and around the world have shown courage, compassion and commitment.

Bartle, a Lincoln resident, exhibited the People of Action theme of Rotary International when she personally went to Poland in April to help welcome refugees from Ukraine. And, while there, she helped coordinate collaboration with the International Rotary Club of Warsaw to help support the refugees.

Members of our clubs in western Nebraska have a heart for service, added McCaslin. Were supporting a Girls Empowerment Project in Zimbabwe reaching nearly 10,000 school-age girls. Weve drilled water wells in villages, provided incubators and neonatal training to combat infant mortality, and supported cleft lips and palate surgeries, just to list a couple of projects. McCaslin is from Broken Bow, and shes known throughout her district as someone who spreads enthusiasm and excitement.

Its through Rotary we truly can make a difference  one child, one family, one little girl at a time, McCaslin said.

Bartle and McCaslin will call together Rotarians to meet with community leaders and citizens in nine hubs across Nebraska and western Iowa. The Imagine Rotary Impact Tour will begin in Kearney on Sept. 26, travel next to Arnold and Broken Bow on the 27th, Grand Island on the 28th, McCook on the 29th and Ogallala on the 30th. The following week, the tour will begin in Omaha on Oct. 3, stop in Shenandoah on the 4th, York on the 5th and conclude the tour in Lincoln on the 6th.

Were involving people from Rotary clubs across our two districts, said McCaslin. We want people to know how we contribute to our communities no matter where we live.

In addition, added Bartle, We want people in those communities to learn about a new project, the Rotary International Community Assessment Tool. It includes a survey, asset inventory and mapping guidelines to help Rotary members plan their next community project. Business, government and education leaders in the two Rotary districts will have the opportunity to participate in the Communities in Action project by participating in the assessment.

The Rotary clubs across Nebraska and Western Iowa are part of a huge international organization that includes 1.4 million individual members who are part of 46,000 clubs in 200 countries. The international nature of the organization speaks to the more than 115 years that Rotary has been around. Founded in Chicago, Rotary has become an international peace and service force that has a history of doing good things in the world. Rotary helped form the United Nations, Rotary has nearly eradicated polio from the face of the earth, and Rotarians are dedicated to being People of Action as they focus on seven key goals including promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water and hygiene, helping mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies and protecting the environment.

The Imagine Rotary Impact Tours involve nearly 70 clubs in the two districts, with representatives of those clubs coordinating events in each of the nine hubs including tours, meetings and meals. The media partner for the tours is Lee Enterprises, providing local news and information, advertising and marketing services across the two states including Lincoln, Omaha, Grand Island, Kearney, York, Plattsmouth, Schuyler, North Platte, Council Bluffs and Columbus. For more information, search online for Rotary Districts 5630 and 5650.
The Nebraska Storytelling Festival is searching for storytellers for its inaugural event set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Lincoln Community Playhouse.

If you have a good story to tell, complete this simple application at https://forms.gle/CQvMjRkiRH48bkoe9.

The festival will bring together people who have interesting and compelling stories to tell, with each storyteller speaking for five to seven minutes. You must be age 15 or older to share a story on stage. Applications will be reviewed, and 10-12 people will be selected. Those selected will be invited to a workshop scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Walt Library, 6701 S. 14th St.

Our mission is to give people of our state a stage to share their stories, understanding the power of our tales, said Randy Bretz, who is helping organize the festival.

Added Mary Kay Roth, also part of the leadership team: Storytelling helps us understand who we are, celebrates the diversity and commonality of human experience, gives meaning to our struggles, brings us together and empowers human as well as community connections.

The event will be open to a live audience with tickets available at: www.eventbrite.com/e/nebraska-storytelling-festival-tickets-415260032937.

Storytelling has been important in all cultures since the dawn of history to bring people together, Bretz explained. Storytelling gives us an opportunity to learn from another person's experience  helping shape, strengthen and challenge our opinions and values.

We hope the stories at the Nebraska Storytelling Festival will create memorable impact and bring people together, Bretz continued. We believe the stories will move, entertain, make people laugh, bring tears to their eyes, inform, communicate and connect.

The Nebraska Storytelling Festival has grown out of a small group of friends who want to give people from across the state the opportunity to share stories in much the same manner as The Moth Radio Hour, which is carried on Nebraska Public Media on Saturdays at 3 p.m.

In addition to Bretz and Roth, others involved in the undertaking are Jan Bretz, Twyla Hansen, Pat Leach, Doug Dickeson, Jodene Glaeseman, Marcia White, Morrie Enders, Rich Claussen, Mark Stephens and Bill Anderson.
KENOSHA  For 60 years, Patricia Sallahan-Schmit has done all she can to help others and serve St. Mark Catholic Church.

On Sunday, she will receive the special recognition and thanks she deserves during a special morning Mass.

Callahan-Schmidt has played for the church since 1950 when she was 11 years old, and continued on to direct the choir in 1963, shortly after becoming the organist.

Ive just been following my vocation, doing my work and so I wasnt sure that it merited a special celebration, Callahan-Schmit said. But he (the pastor) wanted to call attention to the fact that Im probably the longest (working) employee there.

Callahan-Schmidt grew up attending St. Marks and has noticed how much its changed over the years.

When she first started playing, the Mass was still in Latin and rules for being an organist were very rigid, Callahan-Schmidt said.

Once the Vatican II council was enacted, and the Mass became in peoples language, then I would like to say the participation in the people became, No. 1, more active rather than passive; (and) No. 2, more joyful because they could understand what was going on, she said.

Callahan-Schmidt said she also noticed the congregation become more active in its participation in worship services after the changes made by the Vatican II council.

She described people in church as spectators: marching in, sitting down and marching out. The musician supplied the background.

(But) now the musician supports the voice of the congregation, Callahan-Schmidt said.

She noted the community is much more engrossed in being welcoming, in being an outreach community and the one she remembers working for in the beginning.

She recalled memories of her time working with the choir and traveling with them. She took the adult choir on a tour of Rome and they played for the Pope. They toured Spain, did an international choir festival in Cincinnati and have done several things locally.

Some of Callahan-Schmidts favorite songs include The Lord is my Light and Ever on my Lips, the latter of which will be played on Sunday.

I believe that music has the power to say things that you cant put into words, Callahan-Schmidt said. I believe that music is more integral to worship (and) prayer. It speaks more than we can say.

Callahan-Schmidt said shes more used to serving in the background than taking center stage.

Its not my usual place to be in the limelight, she said. In fact, I used to tease by saying most people recognize me by the back of my head.

The special Mass will be held at 10 a.m. and Callahan-Schmidt said there will likely be family, friends and former choir members coming in from out of town to celebrate.

If you have a talent, its important to use it, not to hide it, Callahan-Schmidt said. Whatever your talent is, you need to acknowledge that you have been given the talent and then use it.
RACINE  Saint Patricks Catholic Church will be holding its second annual Fiesta De Grito Festival Saturday from noon to midnight at the church grounds, 1100 Erie St.

The Festival is in honor of the beginning of Hispanic Heritage month and more specifically Mexican Independence day, which is celebrated every year on September 16.

Reverend Juan Manuel Camacho organized the first event in 2021. The parish had done events for its Hispanic following before, there hadn't been one for a number of years. 2021 it was changed to focus more on the Mexican population, which in recent years had grown in the parish. Though Camacho is Colombian, he always loved the idea of how the term Grito came to be.

A Grito, Spanish for shout, is an event commemorating Mexican independence. The history of the Grito goes back to the Cry of Dolores, a moment in Mexican history where Roman Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla from Dolores, Mexico, rang his church bell and cried out Viva Mexico, signaling the beginning of the Mexican Revolutionary war in 1810. The Fiesta De Grito at Sait Patricks will begin with a recreation of the Cry of Delores to start the events off. While the event is named after this key point in Mexican History, the event is set to celebrate all of Mexican Culture as a whole.

We are celebrating certainly more our Hispanic heritage, Camacho said, all of us come together and celebrate that with good food, good music and a good time for our community.

Looking around the parish, especially those in the Hispanic community, most of them are Mexicans coming from Mexico, Camacho said. Last year, we decided it would be good to do an event centered around the Mexican community and especially doing something in September when we celebrate Hispanic Heritage month.

The 12-hour festival will feature two different mariachi bands, Hipodromos de Tierra Caliente and Balazo Norteno, as well as performances from Alicia Villa. Other activities include a Jalapeno eating contest, a grito contest, a costume contest and a salsa dancing class taught by Miguel Angel from 4:15 to 5 P.M.

Traditional Mexican food such as Elotes, Sopes, Bombasos, Tacos and Mexican fruit. Vendors will also be at the festival, offering traditional jewelry and Mexican clothing. People are encouraged to attend events in traditional native garb and decorations.

But while there are staples of Mexican culture that encompass the country as a whole, the planning committee, headed by mother and daughter Amalia and Tricia Pardo, wanted to emphasize that different cultures from the different states that make up Mexico will be represented at the event.

If you look at Mexico, it's culturally rich, just in itself, Eloy Contreras, your paster for Saint Patricks, said. You can tell when somebodys dressed, you can tell its an Oaxacania outfit everybody has their own certain way of dressing. You're gonna see a lot of that this weekend, they bring the pride of their region to this event.

Saint Patricks Church has made efforts like the Grito festival in recent years to reflect the growing population of Hispanic people in not only its congregation but in the City of Racine. Like most Catholic churches, Saint Patricks holds a fish fry on Fridays, but instead of a strip or two of breaded cod, the church offers mojarra fritia, a plate that features a completely fried fish. Another event is the Lady of Guadalupe, a mass that takes place on December 12 where Mexican Catholics honor the Virgin Mary. This event at Saint Patrick's is so populated that it has to bleed over into the churches gym.

For the second year in a row, the Grito will be put on at the same time as Party on The Pavement, an annual block party down Main Street. Contreras and the rest of the planning committee are not worried about turnout to their event being low because of that though, saying that since the Grito runs later than Party on the Pavement, people usually make their way over afterward.

When you're done with party on the pavement, come and party on the hill, Contreras said.
Since the program was announced in March, Help for Homeowners has aided Racine County homeowners experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19.

County taxpayers have received more than $350,000 in property tax assistance from the program, helping homeowners avoid foreclosure and achieve financial stability, according to the county.

COVID-19 has financially impacted thousands of Wisconsin families and many call Racine County home, Racine County Treasurer Jeff Latus said in a statement. The Wisconsin Help for Homeowners program has demonstrated its ability to provide much-needed financial resources to those families. I encourage residents who have experienced a COVID-19-related financial hardship since January 21, 2020, to contact Wisconsin Help for Homeowners to see if they qualify.

The Wisconsin Help for Homeowners program is administered locally by the Racine/Kenosha Community Action Agency. The program distributes financial assistance from the American Rescue Plan Act to help Wisconsin residents with mortgage payments, property taxes and utility bills  including internet  and provides financial counseling and legal services.

Program funds are still available and Racine County residents financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to apply.

For information about the program and to access the application portal, visit the Wisconsin Help for Homeowners website at homeownerhelp.wi.gov. Resources are also available by contacting Wisconsin Help for Homeowners by phone at 855-246-6394.
SOMERS  The crowds turned out for Saturdays Oktoberfest celebration at Petrifying Springs Park Biergarten.

Amid the aroma of hot pretzels and sausages, the beer and good cheer were flowing at the event at 5555 7th St., which enjoyed sunshine and plenty of people during Saturdays ceremonial keg tapping.

Biergarten owner Mike Grab said he expects to go through 60 to 80 barrels of beer and 1,200 pretzels during the weekend celebration. Oktoberfest is typically a successful event for them, although they depend heavily on the weather, which was sunny by mid-afternoon Saturday.

Were just happy to be partners on a community event, Grab said. Having that partnership with the county for six seasons now has been great. Everybodys really embraced it.

County Executive Samantha Kerkman and other local officials were in attendance for the ceremonial Oktoberfest beer keg tapping ceremony. Kerkman spoke glowingly about the Biergarten.

Its a wonderful private-public partnership, Kerkman said. Im so glad I was here to celebrate Oktoberfest with them

Multiple attendees praised the work that has been done on Petrifying Springs Park and the Biergarten, with one retiree who resides in Illinois stopping Kerkman to rave about how much he enjoyed the Kenosha County park system.

Waukesha residents Paul and Lori Young were both dressed in Oktoberfest outfits, as were their two corgis, Pez and Angus. They said they come to Kenosha several times a year to enjoy the parks.

Good crowd, good food, Lori said. As long as it isnt flooding with rain, people will show up to Oktoberfest.

The couple planned to spend the afternoon at the Biergarten, enjoying the sense of gemutlichkeit, a German term for a state of warmth, friendliness and good cheer.

Kenosha and the parks have done a really great job with this biergarten, Paul said. Its a really nice job.

Brian and Veronica Van Dyke, of Pleasant Prairie, also dressed in authentic German dirndl and lederhosen, said theyve been going to the beirgarten since it started in 2017. Now regulars, they said they see plenty of familiar faces.

We started making friends, which is absolutely the way its supposed to be, Veronica said. It becomes a community.

Guests can enjoy the food, beverages, music and fun from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, along with live music from The Brothers Quinn at 3 p.m. There will also be prizes for best dressed in Dirndl and lederhosen.

For residents wishing to attend, parking on the grass is not allowed. Those attending should park in one of the designated lots within the park or the academic lots at UW-Parkside off of Highway JR.

Beer drinkers can bring their own stein or rent one from the Biergarten with a $5 deposit that is refunded when the stein is returned at the end of their visit.

The Biergarten accepts cash only for food and beverage purchases. Two ATMs are available on site.
Sometimes when Kevin Revolinski is out hiking trails around Madison hell see someone with his 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Madison: Including Dane and Surrounding Counties.

I dont personally hike with a book in my hand, but occasionally youll see somebody who pulls up in the car and theyve got a tattered copy, he said.

The definitive guidebook, first published in 2008, with new editions in 2015 and 2020, takes readers through well-known spots, such as the UW-Madison Arboretum, Picnic Point, Devils Lake State Park, the Ice Age Trail and Kettle Moraine State Forest, and the lesser-known Ferry Bluff State Natural Area and Rocky Arbor State Park.

Revolinski, 54, has written Hiking Wisconsin with 71 of the best trails in the state, and 14 other guidebooks, including Backroads & Byways of Wisconsin, Best Rail Trails Wisconsin and Paddling Wisconsin. He has also co-authored Best Tent Camping: Wisconsin.

He said he became the states authority on hiking by chance after answering a Craigslist ad looking for someone to report on five campsites to update another persons book. He said he got paid about $600 for his efforts.

From there, the same publisher asked if hed consider writing a Milwaukee hiking guide. I said, sure, absolutely. Ill take any work. Ill go get hiking boots.

Revolinski said hes always loved the outdoors, but didnt consider himself a hiker back then. He grew up in small town Marshfield, in central Wisconsin, in neighborhoods that had lots of green space, and his grandparents lived on farms in northern Wisconsin.

When he emailed the publisher back about the Milwaukee project, he asked if Madison would make for a better hiking guidebook. They crunched their numbers or whatever magic they do. And offered me a contract to write 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Madison.

Revolinski went on to write two Milwaukee hiking books.

He also did Wisconsins Best Beer Guide, which first came out in 2010, was updated in 2018, and has another edition due next year. In addition, hes done beer guides for Michigan and Minnesota.

Revolinski has written short stories for years, but just last year came out with his first work of fiction, a book of 12 short stories, Stealing Away. It was the first book released by his own publishing company, Back Burner Books.

A year spent teaching in Turkey led to his first book, 2006s The Yogurt Man Cometh, and put him on the path of Im gonna travel everywhere all the time.

He did that for a number of years, but then felt the need to put down roots and returned to Madison in 2005, Revolinski said. He rented a room off State Street as a home base for more travels.

He and his wife, Preamtip Satasuk, 43, live near Tenney Park. He met her in 2006, while in Thailand doing travel writing, and also overseas marketing for Wisconsin English as a Second Language Institute (WESLI).

Satasuk was running an enormous business hotel where Revolinski was attending an education fair for WESLI. She now works as an international student services adviser at UW-Madison.

What brought you to Madison in the first place?

Madison was like New York City to somebody growing up in Marshfield. So, you got to go on a school trip and whoa, Madison. And of course it was nothing like the size it is now. But gosh, its the long way around. I graduated from St. Norbert (College, in the Green Bay suburb of De Pere) a long time ago and took a job in Chicago. Didnt like the big city, moved back to Green Bay and kind of just hung around, played in bands and all this sort of thing, trying to figure out where to go next. And, Madison just seemed like the right choice.

What makes you stay in Madison?

The right balance between small town and massive city and the crazy variety of foods and restaurants here because people come to the university and they stay. So those influences remain. So you can feel like youre traveling a bit, you have access to those things youve seen out there in the larger world without having to fly to them. Natural beauty. I love the lakes and the green spaces and the park system. You just cant find that in some of the bigger crowded cities and yet you wouldnt have a lot of the cultural offerings and concert series in a smaller town.

And youve traveled to, is it 75 countries?

Something like that. Yeah. I always recount somewhere in the 70s, Im trying to get to 80 at least.

Do you have any trips coming up?

I do, a short one just to the Mississippi (River) to spend some time on a houseboat, which is cool. But then, were hoping to go for a couple weeks to Italy and eat our way through Emilia-Romagna, one of the more notable food regions of Italy.

You said you sometimes see people with your guidebooks. That must be a good feeling.

Its nice to be useful. Theres an old saying of Midwesterners, I guess, thats make yourself useful.

Do you and your wife have kids?

No. And planning not to, thats our contribution to fighting global warming.

Tell me what it was like writing fiction when youre so used to nonfiction.

Well, its ironic that you would ask it that way because I was used to writing fiction before I wrote nonfiction. As a kid, I used to love writing. I can remember writing a poem in kindergarten, something to do with the blackbird. I wish I had it. Its just probably god-awful, and making little neighborhood newspapers to pin on the refrigerator door with carbon copies. Good Lord, Im old. But I loved writing creative. I didnt like English class in high school that much. I loved reading. English felt kind of boring to me, but our teacher, Miss Huhn, always came up with creative assignments that I would dive right into. I love the creativity of it. And when I went to college for chemistry, I got tired of cleaning test tubes and thought, I dont want the life of that. So, I switched to English and history, so I wouldnt have a life of anything.

Looking at your body of work, Im thinking you probably know the State of Wisconsin better than anyone.

Oh boy. I would never make that claim. A good buddy of mine, Mary Bergin, is another Wisconsin travel writer. And Im always amazed by stuff that she turns up that I dont know. And I think, Wow, you know everything, and then Ill say something and shell go, I never heard of that. So, its a bountiful well of things to see and do and eat.
By Azernews

By Orkhan Amashov

The state of affairs in the Armenian Prime Ministers backyard is unenviably tense, but one aspect is unmistakably clear: Yerevan will remain unmoved in its vindictiveness unless pressurised by Baku to act otherwise, and any semi-reasonable statement or move made by Pashinyan, revealing his inclination to move towards peace, will prompt an internal uproar, which he will find challenging to placate.

Admission and retraction

In his 14 September post-escalation statement to the National Assembly, the incumbent PM expressed his willingness to sign an undefined paper, which would guarantee for Armenia a lasting peace and security across an area of 29.800 square kilometres, even though by so doing, he would be vilified as a traitor, culminating in his being ignominiously turfed out of office. Again, he resorted to the old formula on the Karabakh subject, first enunciated in April, that the status is not a goal, but a means to ensure the security and rights of the Armenians in the region.

His admission, perceived by many to be tantamount to the possibility of Armenia recognising Azerbaijani territorial integrity, with Karabakh included, led to massive protests demanding his resignation, with some opposition MPs calling for an impeachment procedure to be pursued. Later, Pashinyan backtracked, claiming no document had been signed and he had not seen any draft agreement that he would sign, in an attempt to appease the malcontent.

The question arises as to what exactly that hypothetical document which Pashinyan expressed his willingness to sign is meant to entail. Will it be some sort of a pre-comprehensive deal declaration, establishing mutual recognition of the territorial integrities of both sides, stating an unequivocal position on Karabakh and denoting the fundamentals for a future interstate treaty with a wider remit? Or does Pashinyan mean some sort of an interim resolution, exclusively regulating the state border issues?

There is no clear answer to this question. It seems to be characteristic of Pashinyan to make one statement indicating his resolve for peace and then retrospectively add explanatory additions, altering the original meaning, when forced to deal with specific nuances by his unhappy populace. Dithering is easy to him, as he has been manifestly preoccupied with it hitherto.

The Samarkand summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) could have provided a platform for the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders to discuss the recent situation, but with Pashinyan refusing to attend, this chance has been spurned.

Pashinyans fate

The Armenian leaders predicament has now been considerably exacerbated, as a result of the deadly implications of the recent escalation, which cost lives on both sides, albeit considerably more deleterious for Armenia in terms of its military position alongside the border. Some may argue that if the current PM is chucked out of office as a consequence, it will also be on the conscience of Azerbaijan, whose mode of response was remorselessly swift and debilitating for the other side. British journalist Neil Watson commented: For all his rhetoric and obstreperousness, Pashinyan is the Armenian leader that Azerbaijan needs. A cannier and more committed leader would never have been in this situation.

If one throws a retrospective glance at the tenure of Pashinyan in its cumulative entirety, one would see that Baku has shown enough goodwill over this period. In 2018, now-former President Serzh Sargsyan, whilst on the verge of an imminent overthrow, appealed to the people, voicing the argument that if power changed hands, Azerbaijan would use it for its advantage over Karabakh. Quite the reverse, Baku exercised restraint so as not to be an obstacle to Pashinyans ascendance, with the expectation that a new administration in Yerevan would depart from the hard line pursued by the previous leadership.

When in 2019, Pashinyan renounced the OSCE Minsk Group principles, declaring that Karabakh is Armenia and full stop, Azerbaijan raised its diplomatic measures, without resorting to military means. Now, after the Second Karabakh War, when Yerevan remains committed to delaying a peace deal, any act of tolerance towards Armenias teetering is likely to be utilised by Yerevan as acceptance of further vacillation.

Pashinyan's parliamentary address entailed in itself a premonition of further losses if no concessions were made. This element needs a clearer hearing. It is incumbent upon him to build upon the morbid side of the recent escalation to make a strong case that would not just indicate the judiciousness of the intensification of peace talks, but lead to the upending of Armenia's presently prevailing recalcitrant negotiation position, the continuity of which would, in all probability, amount to further clashes, or possibly a new war.

Ultimately, it all boils down to the degree and clarity with which Yerevan is ready to acknowledge the basic precept that Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan. Pashinyan, in his parliamentary address, indicated that a deal he would sign might not be the agreement of our dreams, hinting at an unpleasant, but inevitable eventuality, the exact content of which remains uncertain.

What he is essentially saying is we will need to agree to something which we wont like. This is a half-feigned harbinger of a conclusive renunciation of Karabakh. Yet, since he also needs to sound plausible to his people, he is unable to call a spade a spade, and it remains a colander, replete with holes. Again, he is navigating between what he will do, what is deemed possible and what will happen if fails to do what is necessary. These fit well with his currently incomplete playbook.

As the hourglass for negotiations reaches its penultimate grain of sand, any escalation is to be viewed as a crisis, which must be transmogrified into an opportunity, or a fresh impetus to follow a lasting peace agenda. Pashinyan may still, whilst looking at the dusky void of escape tunnels, discern a turbid gaslight in the shape of an external saviour. Yet the darkness of his imminent environs is only tempered by a vague radiance coming from Baku, and the candour in his rheumy eyes must follow.
1. Yes. All council members should get a good idea of whats at stake for Fort Hoods future.

2. Yes. Sending a large delegation shows the citys commitment to the Army post.

3. No. Its a waste of taxpayer money. Sending a smaller group would be more efficient.

4. No. Harker Heights and Copperas Cove arent sending anyone. The trip is unnecessary.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say what the value is, before knowing how the conference turns out.

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ABUJA, Nigeria  With monkeypox cases subsiding in Europe and parts of North America, many scientists say now is the time to prioritize stopping the virus in Africa.

In July, the U.N. health agency designated monkeypox as a global emergency and appealed to the world to support African countries so that the catastrophic vaccine inequity that plagued the outbreak of COVID-19 wouldn't be repeated.

But the global spike of attention has had little impact on the continent. No rich countries have shared vaccines or treatments with Africa, and some health experts fear interest may soon evaporate.

"Nothing has changed for us here, the focus is all on monkeypox in the West," said Placide Mbala, a virologist who directs the global health research department at Congo's Institute of Biomedical Research.

"The countries in Africa where monkeypox is endemic are still in the same situation we have always been, with weak resources for surveillance, diagnostics and even the care of patients," he said.

Monkeypox has sickened people in parts of West and Central Africa since the 1970s, but it wasn't until the disease triggered unusual outbreaks in Europe and North America that public health officials even thought to use vaccines. As rich countries rushed to buy nearly all the world's supply of the most advanced shot against monkeypox, the World Health Organization said in June that it would create a vaccine-sharing mechanism to help needy countries get doses.

So far, that has not happened.

"Africa is still not benefiting from either monkeypox vaccines or the antiviral treatments," said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO's Africa director, adding that only small amounts of the lifesaving medicines have been available for research purposes. Since 2000, Africa has reported about 1,000 to 2,000 suspected monkeypox cases every year. So far this year, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified about 3,000 suspected infections, including more than 100 deaths.

In recent weeks, monkeypox cases globally have fallen by more than a quarter, including by 55% in Europe, according to WHO.

Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, head of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, said the lack of help for Africa was reminiscent of the inequity seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Everybody looked after their (own) problem and left everybody else," he said.

Adetifa also lamented that monkeypox outbreaks in Africa never got the international attention that might have prevented the virus from spreading globally.

Rich countries have stretched their vaccine supplies by using a fifth of the regular dose, but none has expressed interest in helping Africa. WHO's regional office for the Americas recently announced it had struck a deal to obtain 100,000 monkeypox doses that will start being delivered to countries in Latin America and the Caribbean within weeks. But no similar agreements have been reached for Africa.

"I would very much like to have vaccines to offer to my patients or anything that could just reduce their stay in the hospital," said Dr. Dimie Ogoina, a professor of medicine at Nigeria's Delta University and a member of WHO's monkeypox emergency committee.

Since WHO declared monkeypox a global emergency, Nigeria has seen the disease continue to spread, with few significant interventions.

"We still do not have the funds to do all the studies that we need," Ogoina said.

Research into the animals that carry monkeypox and spread it to humans in Africa is piecemeal and lacks coordination, said Mbala, of Congo's Institute of Biomedical Research.

Earlier this month, the White House said it was optimistic about a recent drop in monkeypox cases in the U.S., saying authorities had administered more than 460,000 doses of the vaccine made by Bavarian Nordic.

The U.S. has about 35% of the world's more than 56,000 monkeypox cases, but nearly 80% of the world's supply of the vaccine, according to a recent analysis by the advocacy group Public Citizen.

The U.S. hasn't announced any monkeypox vaccine donations for Africa, but the White House did make a recent request to Congress for $600 million in global aid.

Even if rich countries start sharing monkeypox tools with Africa soon, they shouldn't be applauded, other experts said.

"It should not be the case that countries only decide to share leftover vaccines when the epidemic is declining in their countries," said Piero Olliaro, a professor of infectious diseases of poverty at Oxford University. "It is exactly the same scenario as COVID and it is still completely unethical."

Olliaro, who recently returned to the U.K. from a trip to Central African Republic to work on monkeypox, said WHO's emergency declaration appeared to offer "no tangible benefits in Africa."

In Nigeria's Lagos state, which includes the country's largest city and is hard hit by monkeypox, some people are calling for the government to urgently do more.

"You can't tell me that the situation wouldn't have improved without a vaccine," said Temitayo Lawal, 29, an economist.

"If there is no need for vaccines, why are we now seeing the U.S. and all these countries using them?" he asked. "Our government needs to acquire doses as well."
ATLANTA  Sensitive voting system passwords posted online. Copies of confidential voting software available for download. Ballot-counting machines inspected by people not supposed to have access.

The list of suspected security breaches at local election offices since the 2020 election keeps growing, with investigations underway in at least three states  Colorado, Georgia and Michigan. The stakes appeared to rise this past week when the existence of a federal probe came to light involving a prominent loyalist to former President Donald Trump who has been promoting voting machine conspiracy theories across the country.

While much remains unknown about the investigations, one of the most pressing questions is what it all could mean for security of voting machines with the midterm elections less than two months away.

Election security experts say the breaches by themselves have not necessarily increased threats to the November voting. Election officials already assume hostile foreign governments might have the sensitive data, and so they take precautions to protect their voting systems.

The more immediate concern is the possibility that rogue election workers, including those sympathetic to lies about the 2020 presidential election, might use their access to election equipment and the knowledge gained through the breaches to launch an attack from within. That could be intended to gain an advantage for their desired candidate or party, or to introduce system problems that would sow further distrust in the election results.

In some of the suspected security breaches, authorities are investigating whether local officials provided unauthorized access to people who copied software and hard drive data, and in several cases shared it publicly.

After the Georgia breach, a group of election security experts said the unauthorized copying and sharing of election data from rural Coffee County presented "serious threats" to the November election. They urged the state election board to replace the touchscreen devices used throughout the state and use only hand-marked paper ballots.

Harri Hursti, a leading expert in voting security, said he is concerned about another use of the breached data. Access to the voting equipment data or software can be used to develop a realistic looking video in which someone claims to have manipulated a voting system, he said.

Such a fake video posted online or to social media on or after Election Day could create chaos for an election office and cause voters to challenge the accuracy of the results.

"If you have those rogue images, now you can start manufacturing false, compelling evidence  false evidence of wrongdoing that never happened," Hursti said. "You can start creating very compelling imaginary evidence."

There has been no evidence that voting machines have been manipulated, either during the 2020 election or in this year's primaries. But conspiracy theories widely promoted among some conservatives have led to calls for replacing the machines with hand-marked and hand-counted ballots and raised concerns that they could be targeted by people working inside election offices or at polling places.

The suspected breaches appear to be orchestrated or encouraged by people who falsely claim the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. In several of the cases, employees of local election offices or election boards gave access to voting systems to people who were not authorized to have it. The incidents emerged into public view after the voting system passwords for Mesa County, Colorado, were posted online, prompting a local investigation and a successful effort to replace the county clerk from overseeing elections.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, who has organized or attended forums around the U.S. peddling conspiracy theories about voting machines, said this past week that he had received a subpoena from a federal grand jury investigating the breach in Colorado and was ordered to hand over his cellphone to FBI agents who approached him at a fast-food restaurant in Minnesota.

"And they told me not to tell anybody," Lindell said in a video afterward. "OK, I won't. But I am."

Lindell and others have been traveling the country over the past year, holding events where attendees are told that voting machines have been corrupted, that officials are "selected" rather than elected and that widespread fraud cost Trump the 2020 election.

In an interview with the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, Lindell said FBI agents questioned him about the Colorado breach and Dominion Voting Systems. The company provides voting equipment used in about 30 states and has had its machines targeted in the Colorado, Georgia and Michigan breaches.

The Justice Department did not respond when asked for details about its investigation.

Dominion has sued Lindell and others, accusing them of defamation. In a statement, the company said it would not comment about ongoing investigations but said its systems are secure. It noted that no credible evidence has been provided to show that its machines "did anything other than count votes accurately and reliably in all states."

The scope of the federal grand jury probe in Colorado isn't known, but local authorities have charged Mesa County clerk Tina Peters in what they described as a "deceptive scheme which was designed to influence public servants, breach security protocols, exceed permissible access to voting equipment and set in motion the eventual distribution of confidential information to unauthorized people."

Peters has pleaded not guilty and said she had the authority to investigate concerns that the voting equipment had been manipulated. She has appeared at numerous events with Lindell over the past year, including Lindell's "cybersymposium" last August in which a digital copy of Mesa County's election management system was distributed.

David Becker, a former U.S. Justice Department attorney who now leads the Center for Election Innovation & Research, notes the irony of those who raise alarms about voting equipment being involved in allegations of breaches of the same systems.

"The people who have been attacking the integrity of elections are destroying the actual integrity of elections," he said.
When a water crisis forced schools back online in Jackson, Mississippi, fifth-grade teacher Ryan Johnson saw reminders everywhere of pandemic times.

Two and a half years after schools switched to remote learning for COVID-19, he once again logged into online learning to see kids lying in bed at home while tuning in for his classes.

This time, Johnson also had to assist his young daughter, who was stuck at home trying to keep up with second grade. She asked repeatedly when she could go back to school.

The stint in remote learning was short-lived for the 20,000-student school system in Jackson. But it highlighted an alarming reality: Schools are relying on online classes when communities face their most trying times  disasters like wildfires, storms or a lack of water. And experts say its not a sustainable solution.

When Jackson's troubled water system left the city with dry taps and unflushable toilets for several days, school went online for a week. Enough water pressure was restored last week for children to go back in person, and the boil-water notice was lifted Thursday after nearly seven weeks.

Still, online learning compounded the disruption for children and teachers. Families waited in lines for hours to get water to drink or wash. Back at home, children slogged through internet classes, often with the whole family in the house once again.

Johnson said he did his best to juggle it all and keep his students engaged, drawing on his extended experience from the pandemic, but it was far from perfect.

You try to look at the glass half-full as much as possible, he said.

There was a time, early in the pandemic, when hopes were high for remote learning. It made snow days obsolete, and some schools experimented with online learning in place of substitute teachers. The potential seemed endless.

But remote learning's shortcomings have become more clear. The shift to remote learning for COVID-19 left many students behind where they should be academically and added to strains on their mental health.

At the same time, it led to increased access to technology and skills that make remote instruction doable on a large scale  an impossibility just four years ago.

In 2018, two hurricanes  Florence and Michael  struck the same regions in North Carolina, causing schools to close. Some students were out of school for weeks. There were attempts at remote learning, but many lacked access to laptops and other technology. Most schools tried to redistribute students to other in-person facilities, said Gary Henry, dean of the University of Delawares College of Education and Human Development, who has been part of a long-term research effort studying the impact.

Now, Henry thinks districts will reach first for remote learning. In the short term  a few weeks, perhaps  he thinks it could be a way to keep students on track, but the pandemic showed its not a sustainable model.

I think it will be an automatic response in most places to short-term disruptions in schooling, he said. Its going to be the first reaction, whereas, back during the hurricanes, it was: Where can we get these students in another physical location where they can resume their school experience? Now I think its going to be: How can we get organized to provide remote learning?

Schools in Mora, New Mexico, switched to remote learning last April when the town was evacuated due to a wildfire.

It was a rocky start, Superintendent Marvin MacAuley said. Some of the displaced students and teachers were in evacuation centers, without access to their technology. As time went on, people were able to access computers or tablets and the internet.

In mid-August, students went back to school, in person, for the first time since the fire. The year started with an emphasis on social-emotional learning, to address the difficulties students have faced. Even with social workers reaching out, MacAuley said it was difficult gauging how students were doing during remote learning.

When theres a lot of stuff that has happened, its better to have the kids in person so you can see how they are, take note of their behaviors and provide the support to them, he said.

In Cresskill, New Jersey, after Hurricane Ida hit in 2021, the building housing the high school and middle school was left underwater. The school system had no choice but to start the school year virtually.

Thats rough, Superintendent Michael Burke said. Thats rough for kids for mental health issues. Its rough for kids for socialization. And its hard for parents who have to arrange for someone to be home. You know, and thats the most frustrating part, is that it came on the heels of COVID. And people were at a breaking point.

Eventually, Cresskill offered hybrid learning, working with a local church, utilizing its 14 classrooms. Later, in February, the school moved into a neighboring towns church building, which allowed students to go back every day.

Sarah Barrs daughter, who is now a seventh grader, was scheduled to go to orientation the week the storm decimated the school. She said some considered remote learning an adequate solution because they had done it before out of necessity.

Its not school, she said. Its a last resort and it shouldnt be a crutch that we rely on for school.
Spurred by conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election, activists around the country are using laws that allow people to challenge a voter's right to cast a ballot to contest the registrations of thousands of voters at a time.

In Iowa, Linn County Auditor Joel Miller had handled three voter challenges over the previous 15 years. He received 119 over just two days after Doug Frank, an Ohio educator who is touring the country spreading doubts about the 2020 election, swung through the state.

In Nassau County in northern Florida, two residents challenged the registrations of nearly 2,000 voters just six days before last month's primary. In Georgia, activists are dropping off boxloads of challenges in the diverse and Democratic-leaning counties of the Atlanta metro area, including more than 35,000 in one county late last month.

Election officials say most challenges will be irrelevant because they contest the presence on voting rolls of people who are in the process of being removed. Still, they create potentially hundreds of hours of extra work as the offices scramble to prepare for November's election.

"They at best overburden election officials in the run-up to an election, and at worse they lead to people being removed from the rolls when they shouldn't be," said Sean Morales-Doyle of The Brennan Center for Justice, which has tracked aa rise in voter challenges.

The voter challenges come as activists who believe in the election lies of former President Donald Trump also have flooded election offices across the country with public records requests and threats of litigation, piling even more work on them as they ready for November.

"It's time-consuming for us, because we have to consult with our county attorneys about what the proper response is going to be," said Rachel Rodriguez, an elections supervisor in Dane County, Wisconsin, which includes Madison, the state capital.

Michael Henrici, the Democratic commissioner of elections in New York's Otsego County, received a single-line email last week warning of unspecified "election integrity" litigation, then a follow-up complaining he hadn't responded. "These aren't people with specific grievances," he said. "They're getting a form letter from someone's podcast and sometimes filling in the blanks."

Multiple investigations and reviews, including one by Trump's own Department of Justice, found no significant fraud in the 2020 presidential election, and courts rejected dozens of lawsuits brought by Trump and his allies. But Trump has continued to insist that widespread fraud cost him reelection. That has inspired legions of activists to become do-it-yourself election sleuths around the country.

In Linn County, Iowa, which includes the city of Cedar Rapids, Miller said he and the auditors who run elections in the state's other 98 counties have been deluged with both records requests and voter challenges.

"The whole barrage came in a two-week period," Miller said, following the tour by Frank, who uses mathematical projections to make claims of a vast conspiracy to steal the election from Trump, "and it's happening to auditors across the state."

Election offices routinely go through their voter rolls and remove those who have moved or died. Federal law constrains how quickly they can drop voters, and conservative activists have long complained that election officials do not move swiftly enough.

The recent challenges stem from activists comparing postal change-of-address and other databases to voter rolls. Election officials say this is redundant, because they already take the same steps.

Sometimes the challenges come after election conspiracists go door-to-door, often in heavily minority neighborhoods, seeking evidence that votes were cast improperly in 2020.

Texas' heavily Democratic Harris County, which includes Houston, received nearly 5,000 challenges from a conservative group that went door-to-door checking voter addresses. The election office said it dismissed the challenges it legally had to review before the election and will finish the remainder after Nov. 8.

Activists in Gwinnett County, which stretches across the increasingly Democratic northern Atlanta suburbs, spent 10 months comparing change-of-address and other databases with the county's voter rolls. They submitted eight boxes of challenges last month. About 15,000, they said, were complaints that specific voters improperly received mail ballots in 2020. Another 22,000 were for voters they contend are no longer at their registered address.

There are so many challenges that election officials have yet to even count them all. But Zach Manifold, Gwinnett's election supervisor, said that, in every single mail ballot complaint the office has sampled, the voter properly received a mailed ballot.

But if any of the address-challenged voters do try to cast a ballot in November, the county's elections board will need to decide whether that vote should count. They'll only have six days to make a decision.

Manifold estimated his office has a month to log and research the challenges, before mail ballots go out for the November elections: "It is a tight window to get everything done," he said.

Many of the large counties facing voter roll challenges are places where President Joe Biden beat Trump in 2020.
Wisconsin utility regulators have approved a suite of electric vehicle charging programs that Madison Gas and Electric says will help it prepare for the emerging technology while lowering costs for consumers.

The Public Service Commission voted unanimously Thursday to approve three new charging programs for homeowners, apartment dwellers and fleet managers and cement a program that MGE has been testing over the past six years.

MGE says the programs, which will allow the utility to remotely manage vehicle charging, are needed as vehicle manufacturers spend billions of dollars to roll out hundreds of new models in the next three years.

The company cited projections by the Brattle Group that the number of EVs on the nations roads could jump from 1.5 million in 2020 to as many as 35 million by the end of the decade.

If it can manage how and when those vehicles are charged, MGE says it can avoid expensive system upgrades, lowering costs for all customers.

In 2016, MGE launched a pilot program called Charge@Home through which the utility installs a level-2 charging station in the customers home for no up-front fee. Customers pay about $20 a month plus the cost of electricity.

In exchange for lower rates, customers agree to let the utility study and manage loads by shifting charging times, interrupting charging, or reducing power. MGE found it could reduce the spikes that typically occur around 5 p.m. when people get home and plug in their cars. Instead the utility can spread out charging throughout the night, taking advantage of lower wholesale electricity prices.

MGE says it has about 170 customers enrolled in the pilot, which will now be offered to everyone.

But recognizing that many customers prefer to buy their own chargers  or simply use 240-volt cords that come with the vehicle  the utility proposed a new program that uses telematic software to manage charging patterns.

Under the new pilot, customers can use an app to track their charging behavior, set need by times and opt out of managed charging. Some will receive monthly cash rewards of $4 to $8 if 80% of their charging is done during off-peak hours; others will benefit from lower rates for off-peak charging.

Commissioner Tyler Huebner called the program very innovative.

Were kind of on the bleeding edge here, he said. I think its really exciting we have a Wisconsin utility proposing that.

The PSC approved a second pilot program through which MGE will install up to 50 remotely managed charging stations at office and apartment buildings. Building owners will pay $1.22 to $1.58 per day for the equipment, while drivers will use credit cards to pay for the electricity they use.

Under a third pilot program, MGE will install up to 15 remotely managed charging stations per year for business customers to charge their fleet vehicles.

Participation in all four of the charging programs is voluntary. Each program is designed so that costs are borne only by participants.
Hong Kong: Alice Mak meets youth members

Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak today met young people who were appointed to government advisory bodies through the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth to learn about their experiences in participating in the bodies' work.

She also listened to the appointees' thoughts and views on the Youth Development Blueprint and the Government's youth policy.

The scheme aims to encourage more young people aged between 18 and 35 and committed to serving the community to join government advisory bodies and participate in public affairs and policy discussions.

A total of 65 advisory bodies under government bureaus and departments have been covered in the scheme, including the Youth Development Commission and committees related to Lantau development.

Miss Mak said the scheme is a youth programme with cross-bureaus and inter-departmental collaboration, which allows young people to express their opinions on different policy areas and give full play to their strengths.

Talking with the appointees, I am impressed by the young people's commitment to the future development of Hong Kong, as well as their enthusiasm in tendering advice for optimising policies and serving the society, she remarked.

The scheme has launched five phases so far, with more than 8,200 applications received. About 480 posts are held by young people who have been appointed to the Government's advisory and statutory bodies directly or indirectly through the scheme.

This story has been published on: 2022-09-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in Samarkand on September 16, Azernews reports, citing AZERTAC.

Speaking at the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin said:

- Dear Ilham Heydar oglu, I am very pleased to see you  this time on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the summit of this organization.

You and I have already talked to each other many times today, exchanging views on the work of the organization itself, bilateral relations, as well as the situation in the region.

As for bilateral relations, they are developing. In fact, they are developing very successfully, of course. The volume of trade and investment is also growing. Cooperation is carried out through various ministries, departments and parliaments.

Of course, we are all very worried about the aggravation of the situation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border today. We talked about this. As you know, I informed you about it, I spoke with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan last night. It is good that the escalation was finally stopped through coordinated effort, but as far as I understand, it still remains tense.

I am very glad to have the opportunity to see you and talk about all these issues, because they are all important.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said:

- Thank you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, I am very pleased with our new meeting.

Less than three months have passed since our last meeting, but we have been in constant contact all this time, talking on the phone. We are also seeing a very positive momentum in bilateral relations.

After the signing of the Declaration on allied interaction, important documents were signed on various other sectors as well. In general, as you noted, we are observing growth in the turnover and in the volume of cargo transportation. Also, we now intend to fully engage our transit capabilities. So the results are obvious. I am sure that we will finish this year with good results in all areas.

I would also like to express my gratitude to you for your prompt response to the aggravation and escalation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The clashes lasted less than eight hours and have now stopped  although the Armenian side did not immediately begin to implement the ceasefire. In general, the ceasefire has been observed for about two days. Border conflicts happen, but the main thing is that we have managed to stabilize the situation and introduce peaceful conditions.

According to the information I am now receiving from the ground, as I said, the situation has been stable for about two days. The main thing now is not to disrupt the beginning process of normalization of relations, to start moving in this direction. We are welcoming the efforts of Russia towards this, including those made within the framework of the tripartite commission at the level of deputy prime ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia for transport communications, within the framework of the delimitation process, as well as plans to start negotiations on a peace agreement. Of course, we will discuss this in detail.

I want to say again that Azerbaijan is committed to the trilateral documents that were signed by Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia after the second Karabakh war, and we will do everything to ensure that the situation in the Caucasus is stable.

President Vladimir Putin: Thank you very much.








The IAEA Board of Governors Gives Kabuki Theater a Bad Name

Sept. 16, 2022 (EIRNS)Twenty-six of the thirty-five countries on the International Atomic Energy Agencys (IAEA) Board of Governors actually voted yesterday for a resolution calling upon Russia to immediately cease all actions against, and at, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and any other nuclear facility in Ukraine. Note, the resolution might have covered their sophistry by writing, cease all actions against and/or at the plant. At least, that is sort of like cease beating ones wife and/or living in your house. The latter is going on, while the former is suggested of having a more or less equal chance of going on.

But, while one might quarrel with the tortured English, it appears that the IAEAs Board has adopted Kievs bizarre position that Russia is both policing the plant and is acting against the plant that they are at. That is quite a finding, especially considering that the IAEA team that Kiev finally allowed to get to the Zaporizhzhia plant was there when the Ukrainians fired American-made ammunition at the plant. Nor were the IAEA allowed to examine and/or comment upon the evidence of previous artillery casings and the like from previous attacks. That team presented a silly report, that theres artillery damage to the plant, which should stopbut, gee, we couldnt say where the damage is coming from. The IAEA Board has gone beyond both silliness and ignoring the evidence, and seems to have simply embraced a bizarre world, where up is down and down is up.

Otherwise, it decries presence of Russian forces and Rosatom personnel at the ZNPP which continue to pose serious and direct threat to the safety and security of these facilities and other civilian personnel, thereby significantly raising the risk of a nuclear accident or incident, which endangers the population of Ukraine. Dont blink. The Russian personnel secure an important facility in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast that they control, providing electricity for the last six months to both Ukrainian- and Russian-controlled areas. The serious and direct threat is none other than, by their presence there, that they are drawing artillery fire from Kievs forces. But, evidently, it is not permitted to mention the 800-pound gorilla in the room.

Finally, the Board deplores the Russian Federations persistent violent actions against nuclear facilities in Ukraine. So, evidently, Russia not only beats his wife, but beats other wives in the neighborhoodthat is, a serial wife-beater.

It might be the last time that office-holders, administrators, functionaries and the like are compelled to perform a ritualistic kabuki theater, but the IAEA Boards performance will be hard to beat.
Once, the Iraqi town of Hatra was under the control of the Islamic State (IS) militant group. Now, visitors can walk peacefully through the UNESCO world heritage site in the northern part of Iraq.

Local leaders are trying to bring tourists back to the area after the invaders almost destroyed the ancient ruins.

Hatra dates back to more than 2300 years ago. It takes about two hours to drive there from Mosul, the former "capital" of IS. Iraqi and coalition forces recaptured Mosul in 2017.

On Saturday, the first group of tourists arrived. A private museum in Mosul arranged the trip for about 40 visitors, most of them Iraqis. They walked around the more than 2,000-year-old ruins as the sun began to go down.

The tourists took photos of themselves in front of walkways. They inspected the stone structures that the IS extremists damaged.

Luna Batota is a 33-year-old visiting Hatra with her Belgian husband. "It has great history, she said.

A native of Iraq, Batota left her homeland 24 years ago. This is the first time she has returned. Visiting Hatra caused her to have "mixed feelings, she said. "You see bullet holes; you see many empty bullets."

Hatra was an important religious and trading center under the Parthian empire. It had high, thick walls for defense and magnificent temples. The buildings combined Greek and Roman building designs with Asian decorations.

In 2015, IS released a video showing its militants destroying some of the sculptures at Hatra, firing guns at them and cutting them with tools. Some of the sculptures have been repaired. In February, officials showed three figures experts had returned to their earlier appearance.

Tourists at risk

Five years after the defeat of IS, Mosul and its surroundings have gone back to feeling more normal. But efforts to make repairs have met with problems and many areas still show the results of the fight against the extremists.

Many visitors  especially ones from the West  are now exploring the country. Some even go into Mosul.

The Mosul Heritage House is a private museum that opened in June.

It organized the tour of Hatra.

Those in the Hatra group were among the first visitors. They came at a time when the US, British and other governments are warning their citizens against travel to Iraq. They say there are still risks of terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict and civil unrest.

An incident involving a British tourist, James Fitton, may have hurt tourism in Iraq. Fitton was arrested in March and condemned to 15 years in jail over pieces of pottery he picked up at an archaeological site. In July, a court reversed the decision and he flew back home.

Religious tourism to the Shiite holy cities of Karbala and Najaf has been growing, mostly from Iran.

Not only war

Some major problems remain, however. Services and transportation for tourists are still basic in Iraq. Although the country is rich in oil, there has been much damage from the years of fighting.

Beriar Bahaa al-Din is a doctoral student in anthropology at the University of Exeter in Britain. He was part of the group visiting Hatra.

He said: "Mosul isn't only war, IS, terrorism. Mosul is a civilization, heritage, culture." It "should be full of tourists from across the globe."

Im Jill Robbins.

Jill Robbins adapted this French News Agency story for VOA Learning English.

________________________________________________

Words in This Story

site  n. the position or location of a town, building, or the like

tourist n. someone who travels to a place for enjoyment and not for business

decoration  n. an addition that makes something more attractive

sculpture  n. a work of art that is produced by carving or shaping stone, wood, clay, or other materials

pottery  n. pots, dishes, and other objects which are made from clay and then baked in an oven until they are hard.

anthropology n. the study of human, their society and culture

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By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

South Caucasus Weekly Review: 5-11 Sep 22

This project of Azernews is designed to cover major weekly developments in the South Caucasus nations.

HIGHLIGHTS

Armenian, Russian FMs discuss regional security, stability

Armenia not to provide any corridor via its territory to anyone  premier

Armenian PM receives new US senior advisor for Caucasus negotiations

Armenian Defense Minister visits the USA

Georgian PM, EU rep discuss nations EU membership perspective

EU, Georgia issue joint statement following 7th Association Council Meeting

TurAz Falcon-2022 joint flight-tactical drills underway in Azerbaijan

Baku, Spain eye multifaceted cooperation

Baku hands over five servicemen to Yerevan

ARMENIA

Armenian, Russian FMs discuss regional security, stability

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov discussed regional security and issues of stability in Moscow on September 5, Azernews reports, citing the Armenian media.

The ministers touched upon in detail the issues related to the further strengthening of the Armenian-Russian strategic partnership and allied relations, including in trade-economic and scientific-cultural spheres.

Highlighting the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Russia, the sides commended active dialog established at the highest levels, and the close cooperation within CSTO, EAEU, CIS, and other international organizations.

The interlocutors discussed a wide range of regional security and stability issues. They exchanged views on issues regarding the delimitation and border security between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the work on unblocking economic and transport infrastructures in the region.

Issues related to the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the Karabakh conflict were touched upon in detail.

The importance of the implementation of the agreements reached within the Trilateral Statements of November 10, 2020, January 11, and November 26, 2021, was reiterated.

Ministers Mirzoyan and Lavrov also discussed the state visit of the Russian president to Armenia and the process of organization of the CSTO Collective Security Council session to be held in Yerevan.

Armenia not to provide any corridor via its territory to anyone  premier

Armenia will not provide any corridor through its territory to anyone, PM Nikol Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan made the remarks when asked at a meeting with the Armenian community in Vladivostok whether or not the opening of regional connections could be a threat to Armenia, namely to Syunik province.

The opening of the road doesnt create any danger for Armenia and Syunik province, on the contrary, it will bring additional security and stability guarantees, it is another matter that sometimes there are expressions in the Azerbaijani narrative which reveal some dangers. For example, they speak about a corridor. I want this to be very clear: we will not give any corridor to anyone through the territory of Armenia. But we will give a road, we will open the road, and we are ready to do it at any moment. Weve also conveyed proposals, as soon as Azerbaijan accepts these proposals, we can sign a concrete document based on these proposals and very quickly implement this agreement. I assure you this doesnt create any danger, the PM said.

He also voiced optimism about the benefits of opening regional links for Armenia.

He added that the Armenia-Russia-Azerbaijan deputy prime ministers' trilateral task committee on unblocking regional economic and transportation links had made progress.

Addressing the 7th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia on September 7, Pashinyan stressed that Armenia is keen on unblocking communication lines.

I hope that in the nearest future, we will be able to solve this issue with Russias help. Of course, not everything is resolved here. There is a positive dynamic in the work of the trilateral working group, but not everything is solved because we must resolve legal issues as to the legal regulations of these roads. The general position is clear, the roads must function under the complete sovereignty of the countries through which they pass. Based on this principle, we were able to implement the project, which we logically call Armenian crossroad, he said.

Pashinyan also touched upon the Armenia-Turkey normalization process during the 7th Eastern Economic Forum.

As you know, weve started a dialog with Turkey. We hope that we will normalize relations with Russias support, Pashinyan said.

Armenian PM receives new US senior advisor for Caucasus negotiations

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received new American Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Philip T. Reeker on September 10, the PMs Office said.

Pashinyan congratulated Reeker on his appointment to the responsible position and welcomed his visit to the region. He highlighted the important role of the United States as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair country in the settlement process of the Karabakh conflict.

The premier attached importance to the resumption of the negotiations process within the Minsk Group co-chairmanship and the use of latters experience in the context of the comprehensive settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

The sides discussed a number of issues related to the conflict.

Views were exchanged also on the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as other topics relating to regional stability and security.

Moreover, Vice Speaker of Armenian Parliament Ruben Rubinyan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan also held a meeting with Reeker, the foreign ministry said in a press release.

Armenian Defense Minister visits USA

Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan paid a working visit to the United States on September 5, Azernews reports, citing the Armenian media.

As part of the visit, Papikyan conducted a number of meetings with different US officials. Papikyan met the US Under-Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl on September 8 in the Pentagon.

During the meeting, the entire agenda of the Armenian-American defense cooperation was discussed, and agreements were reached on deepening partnerships in peacekeeping missions, military education, military medicine, and other areas.

During his visit to the National Defense University in Washington D.C., Papikyan met with the University President, Lt. Gen Michael Plehn, the Armenian Defense Ministry said in a news release.

A number of issues related to cooperation in the field of military education were discussed during the meeting. Papikyan highlighted the development of cooperation between the National Defense Research University of the Armenian Defense Ministry and the National Defense University of the United States.

Plehn expressed readiness to contribute to the strengthening of ties and expanding the partnership between the two universities in the field of military education.

GEORGIA

Georgian PM, EU rep discuss nations EU membership perspective

Georgias EU membership perspective and steps to be taken toward receiving the status were the key issues discussed at the meeting between Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, prior to the Georgia-EU Association Council meeting in Brussels.

Garibashvili stated that Georgia's European perspective, which it acquired in June, is both a great motivator and a huge duty. He noted that Georgia's current political polarization is a severe challenge for the country and that this issue requires solutions, which is why the government is making every effort to improve the political climate. However, as the prime minister stated, similar involvement from the opposition parties is also essential.

Special emphasis was placed on the fact that Georgia responded quickly to the European Councils resolution and produced an action plan for implementing the EUs 12 priorities. The Prime Minister emphasized that working groups engaging all relevant stakeholders were created for each priority.

It was noted that success in the process of implementing the ambitious reform agenda will be impossible without strong help and assistance from the EU. The PM expressed hope that, since Georgia has become part of the EUs enlargement policy, the financial tools available to the countries in the process of accession will now apply to Georgia as well, which will create more opportunities on the path to Georgias EU membership.

The parties also discussed the regions security environment and the situation in Georgias occupied territories. As the Prime Minister pointed out, it is clear to all that Russia is carrying out the same policy toward Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova. The prime minister expressed the hope that the EU will continue its unwavering support for Georgia, especially now that the risks related to the non-recognition policy of Georgias occupied territories are higher than ever, and the support of European partners in this direction is very important.

The prime minister welcomed the appointment of Pawel Herczynski as the new EU Ambassador to Georgia and expressed commitment to close and productive cooperation with him.

EU, Georgia issue joint statement following 7th Association Council Meeting

The European Union and Georgia issued a joint statement following the 7th EU-Georgia Association Council meeting in Brussels, Azernews reports, citing the Georgian media.

The Association Council highlighted the historic importance of the decision of the European Council of June 23, 2022, to recognize the European perspective of Georgia. The participants acknowledged that the European Council expressed readiness to grant candidate status once the priorities specified in the commissions opinion have been addressed.

The future of Georgia and its citizens lies within the European Union, the Council noted.

In this context, the EU welcomes that the work has started in the Georgian parliament and encourages the ruling party to engage in an inclusive process with the participation of representatives from civil society and parliamentary opposition groups.

The EU urged Georgia's political forces to unify, collaborate, and cooperate in addressing these goals as a matter of urgency. It then emphasized that Georgia's European route is merit-based and that they are prepared to utilize all available tools to promote it.

The new EU-Georgia Association Agenda for 2021-2027 was endorsed by the Association Council. The paper sets a list of jointly agreed goals for furthering the Association Agreement's implementation, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA).

The EU and Georgia underlined their ongoing commitment to providing practical benefits to Georgian residents in important areas of cooperation. The EU stated that it will assist Georgia in carrying out the agreed-upon objectives and priorities.

AZERBAIJAN

TurAz Falcon-2022 joint flight-tactical drills underway in Azerbaijan

The TurAz Falcon-2022 (TurAz Qartali) joint flight-tactical drills, which involved Azerbaijani and Turkish pilots, were held in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing the Defense Ministry.

Under the drills plan, military pilots flying from base airfields on predetermined itineraries fulfilled the given tasks in various episodes.

The required duties were successfully completed by the personnel during the joint flight-tactical exercises, the ministry said.

Azerbaijan and Turkiye periodically hold joint drills to improve interaction and communication between their army units.

The two nations conducted a series of joint drills such as Indestructible Brotherhood, TurAz Falcon, and Three Brothers in previous years. The military personnel of the Azerbaijani armys land, air, naval and special forces joined a number of military exercises and seminars in Turkiye.

Baku, Spain eye multifaceted cooperation

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares Bueno have discussed multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, Azernews reports, citing the ministry.

In an expanded meeting on September 7 as part of Bayramov's official visit to Spain, the ministers emphasized the importance of strengthening the Azerbaijani-Spanish cooperation in a variety of areas, including economy, trade, high technologies, energy, science and education, tourism, culture, and others.

In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the parties stressed the importance of bilateral high-level visits and political involvement in the development of ties.

Bayramov briefed his colleague on the region's post-conflict status, reconstruction activities in the liberated regions, mine clearance, as well as work done to ensure the safe return of IDPs to their homes, and Azerbaijan's efforts to promote regional peace.

The minister stressed that substantial work has been done on the liberated territories in the sectors of tourism, alternative energy, agriculture, and mining industry and broad prospects exist for cooperation with Spanish companies. Moreover, he pointed out that investments in the Alat Free Economic Zone will benefit bilateral relations.

Bueno, for his part, highlighted the Spanish companies interests in investing in Azerbaijan, adding that there are broad opportunities for collaboration in tourism, commerce, and economic spheres.

Opinions were exchanged on Azerbaijan's partnership with the European Union, as well as problems of energy and transit cooperation. It was emphasized that Spain actively supports the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union, and the country will play a more active role in this process during its presidency of the organization in 2023.

The Spanish minister emphasized that the memorandum of understanding signed between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on July 18 opened new cooperation perspectives for Spain. The Spanish corporation Enagas' 16-percent-share in the Southern Gas Corridor was fondly remembered.

Bueno stressed that the European Union supports the mediation efforts in the region, and is ready to contribute to ensuring peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The parties also discussed issues of mutually beneficial cooperation within the framework of international organizations and multilateral formats.

Baku hands over five servicemen to Yerevan

Azerbaijan has handed over five servicemen to Armenia, Azernews reports, citing the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons.

On September 8, guided by principles of humanism, Baku set free and sent back to Armenia five servicemen via the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border.

A relevant agreement was reached at the 31 August meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Brussels.

The European Union (EU) has welcomed Azerbaijan's transfer of five Armenian soldiers to Armenia, Azernews reports, citing EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar.

"Welcome news today regarding the release of five Armenian detainees by Azerbaijan following the meeting of the leaders in Brussels on 31/8. Important humanitarian gesture and likewise noteworthy that the handover took place without intermediaries," Klaar tweeted.

Similarly, the US State Department hailed Azerbaijan's transfer of five Armenian servicemen to Armenia, State Department spokesperson Ned Price tweeted.

"We welcome reports of Armenian detainees returned home, a positive development for Armenia and Azerbaijan peace process. We hope all remaining detainees return home soon and Azerbaijan and Armenia continue taking steps to build trust and resolve outstanding differences," the spokesman said.

Likewise, European Union Council President Charles Michel has applauded Azerbaijan's release of five Armenian military personnel.

Welcome release by Baku of five more Armenian detainees, following 31/8 discussions in Brussels. That handover is taking place bilaterally is a first - and to both Azerbaijan and Armenia credit. Addressing all outstanding humanitarian issues is a key priority, Michel stressed.
All right, Wisconsin, its time to roll out the barrel, get those lederhosen and dirndls out of the closet and work on that arm strength. Its Oktoberfest season!

And as if being down on Regent Street listening to the UW Marching Band tuba section stroll about with their polka-esque tunes on a Badger game day as the fall weather sets in wasnt exciting enough? Now its time for some lager drinking and good ole beer tent story telling.

Originating in Munich, the Bavarian capital of Germany, in 1810, Oktoberfest is the countrys largest folk festival and is known as weisn to the locals. The festival runs from the last two weeks of September through the first weekend of October, spanning 16-18 days annually, and has only not happened during times of war and immense disease.

This very beer-specific celebration showcases only the largest Munich breweries, like Hofbrau and Hacker-Pschorr, and is riddled with enormous white tents and cheerful imbibers drinking from a masskrug  the one-liter stein most often spotted in Bavarian pubs  or hoisting it up at shoulder height for the Masskrugstemmen contest.

Beers poured during Oktoberfest have varied, but most typical of the festival are either marzenbier or Vienna lager. These are the two primary styles American craft breweries have latched onto for their seasonal oktoberfestbier releases.

Historically, marzenbier, or beer brewed in March, was the German response to avoiding warm weather-induced, unwelcomed bacteria and other beer spoilers common to brewing during the summer. Beer was brewed during the cooler spring months and then stored in cold caves to ferment over several months, a technique more broadly referred to as lagering.

Marzens are characterized by a golden amber color from the very aromatic Munich malt, are often sweet, malt forward, and emit bready, nutty and toffee notes bolstered by a satiable mouthfeel. Vienna lagers, on the other hand, are brewed with the much lighter Vienna malt and are characteristically more hoppy, dry and with a crisper, cleaner finish.

This seasonal favorite is a food pairing dream as well. Think German all the way through and grab one of these malt-forward lagers the next time you have schnitzel or bratwurst with sauerkraut and spicy mustard. Meat not your thing, a nice sharp cheddar cheese or nutty Emmenthaler should do just the trick. And dont forget the pretzels, soft or otherwise; just dont wear them on a string around your neck like a beer festival noob.

Ozapft is, Wisconsin! It is tapped!

Central Waters Octoberfest (Amherst, 5.5% ABV)

Vienna and caramel malts provide the backbone for this lovely little marzen-inspired lager. With a rich toffee aroma, medium thin body and balanced hop presence, this beer finishes with a pleasant little fruity note.

Good City Oktoberfest (Milwaukee, 5.8%)

Sweet caramel and bready aromatics lend way to a lightly spicy, slightly herbal hop presence that stands upon a very strong toasted bread crust finish.

Hinterland Oktoberfest (Green Bay, 5.8%)

The only Vienna-style lager out of the bunch sampled on this quest, this beer smells of toasted grain and is delightful on the nose. Cheerios and a grassy hop presence dominate the palate up front while the finish is light, crisp and fast.

Potosi Oktoberfest (Potosi, 5.5%)

This lager presents with very little sweetness up front and the tasting notes follow with a delicious, chewy biscuit-like palate and soft underlying herbal hop character. With the uncharacteristic lack of malt sweetness, I cant help but think how perfect this beer would be alongside a warm apple dumpling and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Third Space Oktoberfest (Milwaukee, 6%)

A little hop-driven spearmint shines through the toasted malt on this very aromatic brew. The palate is a perfect balance of sweet marmalade and depth-providing nuttiness all while finishing a tad bitter. There is a lot going on with this little lager beer and it works so well.

Wisconsin Brewing Patron Saint (Verona, 5.6%)

Definitely the sweetest smelling out of the sampled lot and presents with an underlying fruitiness that highlights a very satiable caramel malt-dominated aroma  almost French vanilla like in richness. The first few sips offer little reprieve. Its a malt bomb, but some people love that.

Working Draft Stackenblochen (Madison, 6.2%)

An incessant breadiness and soft caramel malt backbone provide a nice structure for this very German-style beer. The Mittelfruh hops are present in both taste and aroma and although the beer drinks just a tad thinner than most marzenbiers, the added alcohol warmth and lingering bitterness on the finish really bolsters the palate presence.
GAFFNEY, S.C. (AP)  Nicholas Skylar Lucas gunfire typically hit the bullet-riddled rusty trash can or fallen satellite dish in his backyard, much to some residents discontent.

But on Saturday, Aug. 27, bullets from the intoxicated 30-year-old mans .45-caliber handgun fatally struck Kesha Luwan Lucille Tate, his 42-year-old neighbor and parent to nine children, according to local authorities.

Lucas now faces a murder charge after crime scene technicians said they disproved his initial claim that the shots ricocheted off the dish. The pristine bullet could not have deflected off the target before reaching Tates chest, officials determined. The only way she could have been struck, according to the local sheriff's office, is if the shooter turned in her direction and intentionally fired.

Over the past two weeks, Tate's family has navigated the sudden reality of life without the mother, niece and sister they say held them together. They are seeking legal changes without the woman they described as their strongest fighter. And they don't want to see Tate join the long list of forgotten gun violence victims.

Songbird Lane lies nearly 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) north of downtown Gaffney, a 12,700-person upstate city whose status as South Carolina's peach capital is marked by a 135-foot (41 meter) water tower resembling the pitted fruit. Farm fields line parts of the drive into town. Most trailers sit on property whose boundaries lack fencing. By neighbors accounts, Songbird Lane was a quiet country street where the mobile homes residents mostly kept to themselves.

At the bond hearing, Lucas said the shooting was a complete accident." He denied intentionally killing Tate.

Im really confused about this whole situation," Lucas said. Ive done all kinds of yard work for this lady and everything.

Tate's own children described a grislier scene inside the trailer.

Their mother had been cooking dinner that summer evening while Lucas and his friends were shooting at targets in his backyard, according to family members who heard her children's account. Standing at her backdoor, less than 50 feet (15 meters) from the fallen satellite dish, Tate asked her neighbor to stop firing his gun.

Tate pulled back the curtain a few minutes later when Lucas began shooting again.

"When she looked out the window she yelled, said Terry Manning, her brother-in-law, who relayed the children's account to The Associated Press. She'd been shot.

One week later, children's bicycles remained in the front yard. Window panes on the back door were shattered. Manning and Denise Tate, Kesha's sister, cleaned stains off the wall but said they could not rid the carpet of blood.

If that man got to know my sister he would've never killed her," Denise said. "She would've gave him a place to stay, foot to eat, clothes, all of that. Anything he needed, even for his family, she would've helped.

Beyond seeking a guilty charge, the family said gun laws need to change. South Carolina had the country's ninth highest firearm mortality rate in 2020, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They are pushing for a Kesha Tate Target Law that would make it illegal to shoot a firearm in a residential neighborhood.

Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller said his office received no reports of Lucas firing his weapon at that property over the past year. Even if neighbors had complained about the regular gun shots, Mueller said no ordinance exists outlining Lucas' behavior as illegal. The local sheriffs office has been collecting court records from other jurisdictions to determine whether he could legally own a firearm.

Court records show Lucas had previously been convicted in North Carolina of assault and theft. South Carolina state law bars handgun ownership for anyone convicted in any state of burglary, robbery or assault with intent to commit any offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one year," among other such crimes of violence.

The family is also seeking therapy for themselves and the children, who are taking a break from school. Kesha's 4-year-old daughter cant comprehend the tragedy, but Denise said she knows she hasnt seen her mother lately.

Interviews with family, friends and acquaintances revealed a woman committed to her community. She would give you the shirt off her back, said neighbor Latosha McFadden. She was a social butterfly who would make sure you have a good time, said Manning. She could make anyone laugh, said Beverly Wray.

Wray  Kesha's aunt who was known as her mother  recalled her own most recent birthday in February. Kesha bought her a dress, told her to put on her heels and took her out to eat, where she'd planned a surprise party. That's how she is, Wray said.

For Denise, she was the familys concrete.

Denise recalled trips as a pre-teen with her sister to Brannon's Seafood, which had the best peach cobbler in the world. After school, Kesha would buy each of them a slice.

She always made sure I was taken care of. Even as an adult she was always there. She was my backbone, Denise said. So I gotta keep it together and stay strong for these kids and her grandson.

The family all echoed that sentiment: Kesha's commitment to them must be passed forward in caring for her nine surviving children, several of whom have lost their fathers.

Family members emphasized that they want to raise the children between themselves. They don't want them separated in the foster care system. Traleekia Tate, Kesha's oldest daughter, organized a GoFundMe that has raised more than $11,000. Growing up, she said her mother instilled in her that the family would always take care of each other.

I miss her," she said. "I just feel like she built me for this.

James Pollard 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.
A man wanted in Dane County was arrested Thursday in Beaver Dam after attempting to evade police in a stolen vehicle, police reported.

According to Beaver Dam Police Chief John Kreuziger, officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Knaup Drive at 11:09 a.m. for a motor vehicle theft complaint.

Police located the vehicle travelling westbound on Industrial Drive near North Spring Street. A high speed chase ensued down North Spring Street, continuing southbound onto Highway 151, and then back into town where the individual was apprehended.

Kreuziger said the driver was taken to the Dodge County Jail on two Dane County warrants and multiple new charges.
The Madison School District quietly rolled out a policy Thursday that prohibited parents and others outside school buildings from sending email to elementary and middle school students, but then reversed course after the Wisconsin State Journal began asking questions about it.

The change was to officially go into effect Friday, but some parents who sent emails to students Thursday found their messages bouncing back. It was to start two weeks into a school year in which a number of schools are for the first time formally prohibiting students from using cellphones in class or while school is in session.

The new email policy was buried at the bottom of an Aug. 30 online newsletter under the heading, Tech Service UpdatesWhat You Need to Know for the 2022-23 School Year, but district spokesperson Tim LeMonds said it was also shared with principals as part of an administrative bulletin and that principals were free to share the policy with students families.

It said that students in 4K through eighth grade would no longer be able to send or receive emails or file-sharing requests from individuals outside of (the Madison School District) domain (@madison.k12.wi.us) or their respective buildings.

The welcome back digital newsletter was emailed to district families on Sept. 2.

In an email Thursday, LeMonds said the policy has been paused.

The district is committed to providing safe communication systems which promote respectful digital citizenship environments for all of our scholars and families, the email said. In consideration of this commitment, (the district) has paused and lifted its recently incorporated safety protocol of restricting external emails to 4K-8 students to allow for broader conversations on the topic and further consideration.

Before this school year, district technical services implemented the practice to strengthen student safety and to protect sensitive and confidential student data, the email said.

It said that school districts around the country have been adopting similar protocols over concerns of student access to gmail accounts and to strengthen their defense against outside parties gaining access to student information.

We look forward to providing you additional information on this and all future student safety protocols in the upcoming months, the email said.

When the protocol was in place, all external emails were restricted for K-8 students.

High school students were never part of the aborted policy. The only change impacting students in grades 9-12 is the ability to email students in grades 4k-8, the newsletter said.

East and La Follette high schools and OKeeffe Middle School are among those that have cracked down on student use of cellphones. The district has not provided a complete list of the schools that have changed their policies and in what ways.

Melissa Salisbury said she occasionally emails her daughter, a sixth-grader at Toki Middle School, to check in or send encouragement.

Salisbury supports the schools new policy limiting cellphone use during the school day and understands the need to limit spam and other unwanted messages, but said cutting off parents ability to email their children went too far.

I want my kid focused on academics and in-person relationships and positive socialization  off of screens, she said. Also, we live in a society where scary things happen in schools. We want to have some way to communicate.

Salisbury called the districts communication of the policy change infuriating.

Just be transparent, she said. Make sure people are aware of that so we can preview that with our kids and have that understanding. It just causes all these little unnecessary hiccups in our lives.

State Journal reporter Chris Hubbuch contributed to this report.
Martha Siravo and Mattie Reese, along with a group of mothers in the Madison area, were tired of hitting roadblock after roadblock when advocating for their students special-education needs.

They discovered a sense of empowerment when they joined each other for support in meetings with school officials to discuss individual education plans for their students. And its that sense of empowerment the group, as Madtown Mommas and Disability Advocates, is hoping to pass on to other parents who reach out in search of support after hitting roadblocks when seeking special-education services for their students.

Just having that one body in the room that you know is there for you makes a big difference and it builds confidence, Reese said. We put in a lot of work to make sure that the students receive the services they need to thrive in school.

Madtown Mommas was formed in 2019 by a group of five mothers, including Reese and Siravo, who were fed up with being told "no" by area school districts when advocating for their students with special needs.

They join meetings between families and school district officials regarding students' individual education plans (IEPs) or provide other supports to parents as they navigate an often turbulent process. Their advocacy has morphed to include protests at the Capitol and providing educational resources for parents, and has recently crossed the country after the organization was tapped to help United Teachers Los Angeles with a project focused on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Members of Madtown Mommas draw on their own experiences and strengths to support each other as well as the students and families you advocate for. Can you talk a little bit about that?

Reese: My son needed services and was denied, and I had to be one of those parents to really fight to get him an IEP and the things that he needed to get his education, and now hes off to college, and Im really proud of that.

When I met with Martha, that was the team of women I needed to be around at that present time. I wasnt as educated about the process as they were, but I was demanding and I had the drive to say, This isnt it, and Im not giving up. Thats what I try to instill in the parents we work with, to say were not going to give up because we know that the resources are out there.

Siravo: I cant do certain conversations alone without Mattie because of the culture that exists within some of the schools and the types of things the kids need to hear from someone who identifies with them better. Mattie has stepped in a few times, and its made a huge difference in the kids' lives. I love the group factor behind that, because thats how work gets done.

Reese: Majority, its Black and brown people who dont know how to navigate the system to receive what they need, and Im just the one to say, You tell me no, Ill make it a yes.

Siravo: Watching Mattie bring the community together during the pandemic was empowering. We met through Madison Partners for Inclusive Education a couple of years prior to the pandemic. With the moms that I met through the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities, thats how Madtown Mommas got formed, and then we started looking into the community, and once Mattie and I crossed paths, it was a natural fit. I was like, She needs to be here for the different strengths everyone brings to the table. I love the team effort behind it.

Reese: With Madtown Mommas, were not just focused on children and mothers here in Wisconsin. Martha will send us nationwide. When she gets me going, gets my brain going and thinking outside of the box, its on and poppin in a great way, and because of the results we get out of the work, I can sleep at night.

I want to go back to both of your experiences with school districts prior to forming Madtown Mommas.

Reese: My mother knew my son had some type of disability, but as a parent its hard to accept that your child is not the norm to society, especially as an African American mother. I had to accept the reality from his social worker when she said, Hey, if you dont get him evaluated and get him some type of services, hes going to end up in prison. When she said that to me, I went all in. I knew that I had to get my son some help. I tried to get him an IEP, he was denied, and then she helped me get him an IEP. When we moved out to Waunakee his freshman year, thats when I really started pushing and saying, Hey we really need to get him what he needs to graduate from high school. Thats how I met Martha. We were able to sit at the table with those who made decisions and let them know what he needed. He ended up graduating and hes going on to college, to barber school at MATC.

Siravo: Jaz (Siravos daughter) is only in fourth grade, so I really started diving in in November 2015. There was so much to learn from the very beginning. I was lucky to have some people at Head Start who really held my hand and gave me some tools to hang onto to help me understand and supports that Jaz needed. But when we got to kindergarten, with the Madison School District under former Superintendent Jennifer Cheatham, it was like we had to start all over again. I had to file a DPI complaint.

What was the moment when you realized you needed to band together to support other parents who may be going through the same thing?

Reese: That pipeline from school to prison is one of my biggest concerns because I lived it with my child. It made me open up my eyes a little more. ... When it comes to African American and Black and brown children who have IEPs in schools, we really have to be careful with what we do and say. I see it in students who not are of color as well, but the ones that have IEPs are more subject to go through that school to prison pipeline vs. if you dont have an IEP because a lot of them have behavior issues. Theres not enough support for children who have IEPs or disabilities, there just isnt enough support.

Siravo: Mattie will ask what kind of supports parents have for their students when dealing with something thats looked at as a behavior issue, and if there should have been an IEP in place. Also, what kind of families are getting these IEPs? And are they appropriate?

Do you serve Madison students exclusively?

Siravo: The nice thing is that were not stuck to a district, were not stuck to a city, and we can be really flexible. We can help parents from everywhere. ... If anything, parents are so under-supported from the get-go that you become so overwhelmed when trying to navigate the system. Having that extra set of ears and eyes really makes a difference.

Reese: Weve helped families in Waunakee, Stoughton, Sun Prairie  its all over.

Siravo: Union Grove, thats closer to Milwaukee, Menominee Falls. And during COVID, we actually worked with the United Teachers Union of Los Angeles. UTLA was working on a project that was focused on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and so our local teachers union, Madison Teachers Inc., connected us with them. For the past year and a half weve been working with UTLA on IDEA funding at the federal level.

Where do you hope to take Madtown Mommas? Whats your plan for the future?

Siravo: Eventually, I might run for School Board, but I wont do that now because I need to be on this side of the fence. I cant replace myself right now.

Reese: Im looking forward for us to take a few trips down to Milwaukee to bring Madtown Mommas there so we can help more families. Well keep moving and well grow.

Siravo: Eventually, I would love for Madison to have a disability resource fair. Right now we exist through social media and word of mouth.

Could you estimate how many families Madtown Mommas has helped since 2019?

Reese: Personally, through advocacy connected to Madtown Mommas, Ive helped about 25 families.

Siravo: As an organization as whole, probably around 100. Help has different levels. Sometimes its just help with basic knowledge, or joining families to advocate for their students during IEP meetings or meetings with school officials.
Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and his Democratic challenger, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, have agreed to one televised debate ahead of the Nov. 8 election.

Johnson and Barnes on Friday both agreed to an Oct. 13 debate in Milwaukee hosted by WTMJ-TV. Johnson, a two-term incumbent, said he also agreed to televised debates hosted by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association and WISN-TV in Milwaukee.

Barnes said he had agreed to appear at a forum hosted by the Main Street Alliance and the Wisconsin Farmers Union, groups that typically align with Democrats.

Typically, challengers to incumbents like to debate as many times as possible in order to raise their profile and get more earned media. It is unusual for an incumbent to agree to more televised debates than a challenger.

Johnson accused Barnes of hiding from him.

Depending on what we can agree on, Id do three, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Johnson as saying. Id do three. Ill do two. Ill do one. I cant force the other guy out of hiding.

In the governor's race, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican challenger Tim Michels are debating just one time on Oct. 14. That debate is being hosted in Madison by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association.

A Marquette University Law School poll released on Wednesday showed both races to be about even.
JUNEAU  A 46-year-old Milwaukee woman will serve six months in jail and three years of probation for abandoning her stillborn baby in a wooded area in the town of Theresa in 2009. The baby was given the name "Baby Theresa" by people close to the case.

Karin Luttinen pleaded guilty to the felony charge of concealing the death of a child in April. She appeared Friday before Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Kristine Snow, who imposed and stayed 1 years of prison and two years of extended supervision only to be served if Luttinen does not successfully complete probation. The court also required that she serve six months in jail as a condition of probation, pay a $5,000 fine and complete 60 hours of community service. Mental health treatment was also ordered as a part of the sentence.

Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg agreed not to give a specific recommendation of time as part of a plea agreement, but he was able to argue the case and offer other recommendations that had been submitted to the court for prison time.

The officers and medical examiner who had to respond to the scene and conduct the investigation live with the emotions and pain of what the defendant did to this day, Klomberg said. The childs father has had his life turned upside down. Our community suffered through the most painful experience in our collective memories. All of that pain was caused by the fact that the defendant would not give Baby Theresa the dignity that she deserved.

Members of law enforcement filled the seating area behind prosecution during the sentencing hearing.

According to the criminal complaint:

Luttinen said she was unaware she was pregnant until near the end of her pregnancy, and gave birth to the girl in April 2009 in a bathtub before disposing of the childs body. An autopsy on the newborn  dubbed Baby Theresa by authorities  determined she had died of fetal demise, which indicates a child may have died prior to or shortly after birth.

The baby was found by a man cutting wood on a private property on April 29, 2009. Her body was discovered on Lone Road less than a mile from Highway 175 and less than 3 miles from Highway 41.

Authorities found a maxi pad wrapper in the trash bag containing the infant. It was sent to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab and came back with a DNA profile of Baby Theresas then-unidentified mother.

The case was initially charged using the name Jane Doe in 2014 to prevent the statute of limitations from expiring. However, it wasnt until Jan. 29, 2021, that Luttinen was first approached about the case. A special agent for the Wisconsin Department of Justice went to speak to the father of the child and Luttinen following a potential match on the family tree DNA results.

According to the complaint, Luttinen initially denied ever being pregnant but submitted a DNA sample. DNA results showed on March 1, 2021, that Luttinen was a major component source for the maxi pad wrappings. DNA markers also showed that Luttinen was the biological mother of Baby Theresa.

DNA testing was done throughout the years, however, it wasnt until 2018 when Dodge County Detective Vickie Brugger started speaking to county Medical Examiner PJ Schoebel about revisiting the investigation using forensic genealogy. Additional genetic analysis was completed and narrowed the search to a specific branch of the family.

Baby Theresa never lived to see her birth, but she deserved more dignity than she got to be placed in a trash bag and left in the woods, Klomberg said.

Luttinen appeared with her attorney Aneeq Ahmad, who argued that the 46-year-old, who had no other criminal record and a steady work history, be placed on probation.

Ahmad recognized that the incident was a tragedy for everyone involved but said that the trauma of the birth affected Luttinens decision-making that day.

For a woman to give birth alone in her home, and for the child to be stillborn is a traumatic event, Luttinen said.

Family and neighbors sent in letters supporting Luttinen being placed on probation and said Luttinen was supportive of her family and friends. Ahmad said Luttinen needed therapy but felt she would better get those services in the community and was not a threat to the community.

Luttinen said she had no excuse for the decisions she made that day and apologized to those she hurt, including Baby Theresa.

I am so sorry that you are not here with us now, Luttinen said. If I could take your place, I would. I want you to know you are loved and missed every single day. I am sorry your family did not know about you. If you were with us now, I know everyone would have loved you and spoiled you. It should have been our family who laid you to rest properly.

Klomberg reached out to state Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, and state Sen. John Jagler, R-Watertown, over the low penalties in the current law soon after Luttinen was charged in March. The pair of legislators have authored legislation to bring the penalties for concealing the death of a child in line with the higher penalties of hiding a corpse.

Concealing the death of a child is a Class I felony with a maximum sentence of 1 years in prison and two years of extended supervision. Hiding a corpse is a class F felony with a maximum sentence of five years in prison and 12 years of extended supervision.
Sorting out my own grief over the death of Queen Elizabeth II, I feel some of what I imagine Frederick Douglass felt when he wrote his historic speech titled What to the Slave is the Fourth of July.

Douglass had escaped slavery to become a journalist, orator, statesman and friend of a president, Abraham Lincoln.

This Fourth of July is yours, not mine, Douglass told an abolitionist audience in 1852 a decade before the Civil War. You may rejoice, I must mourn.

That describes the divided tone of reactions to the death of the queen last week, at 96. For most Brits, by various news accounts, it was a genuinely traumatic event. I would venture to say the same is true, though perhaps with less trauma, for many of us Americans who, like me, grew up knowing no other British monarch.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a past and perhaps-once-again-future newspaper columnist, outdid most tributes in describing her in a speech as the person who all the surveys say appears most often in our dreams.

Yet, as with all matters of history, there is another side to this story, especially when it deals with history as vast and complicated as the British Empire.

One particularly inflammatory tweet from Uju Anya, a Carnegie Mellon University professor, went viral on the day the queen passed away.

I heard the chief monarch of a thieving raping genocidal empire is finally dying, the professor tweeted. May her pain be excruciating.

To call that harsh would be an understatement. By the time the tweet was removed by Twitter for violating platform policies, an online backlash erupted, including a response from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

But Anya justified the ill will as rooted in her very painful experience with the British colonial government overseen by the queen, if mostly symbolically.

The harm shaped my entire life and continues to be my story and that of the people she harmed  that her government harmed, that her kingdom harmed, however you want to frame it, Anya wrote.

While the United States was largely preoccupied with the Vietnam War, the ill-fated secession of Nigerias Biafra region killed more than 2 million ethnic Igbo people. The British government wasnt just in political support of the people who perpetrated this massacre; they directly funded it, Anya wrote. They gave it political cover and legitimacy.

Anya was born in Nigeria to a Nigerian father and a mother from Trinidad and Tobago.

Britain colonized both countries. But Nigeria became independent in 1960, with Trinidad and Tobago following two years later.

But old colonial feelings and grievances die hard, if they die at all. As a new war of words breaks out between those who are outraged by Anyas words and those who are outraged that her critics are outraged.

About 4,000 people reportedly have signed a petition defending the professor, in a matter that offers a small example in this former British colony of the larger challenges facing the monarchy at the end of the second Elizabethan Age, as some already are calling it.

It is the fortune, good or bad, of the new King Charles III to take the throne at a time when the monarchy still has widespread support, yet struggles to maintain its stature, especially among younger Brits.

Elizabeth actually came to power at a time when she oversaw the dismantling of colonialism, which continues today, mostly peacefully despite a history of violent conflicts from Africa to Asia and, let us not overlook, Northern Ireland.

In an age in which some Black Americans, with varying degrees of success have campaigned for reparations for slavery and Jim Crow segregation, it is not surprising that Britain and other former colonizers also wrestle today with what their forebears did. More folks than ever, it seems, are asking where the crown jewels came from.

What is the crown to todays formerly colonized? Much the same message, I would say, that she expressed in her 1957 radio address:

I cannot lead you into battle, the young Elizabeth said. I do not give you laws or administer justice, but I can do something else. I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands, and to all the people of our brotherhood of nations.

It was a message with a power that sounded much more than symbolic. Her passing leaves her countrymen in an identity crisis, many say. But she did her best to assure us, as an old song goes, therell always be an England.
BURLEY  The Cassia County School Districts board of trustees deferred a decision to remove a trustee from office Thursday after redistricting placed the trustee outside of the zone she was elected to represent.

The board voted to postpone action until the Idaho Attorney Generals Office can weigh in on the issue, school Superintendent Sandra Miller told the Times-News.

Trustee Mandy Baker was elected to the Zone 4 seat on the board in November 2021. She was informed that she would be removed from office after the school district learned in August that the districts redrawing of zones placed her home outside the boundaries of Zone 4.

The Cassia County Clerks Office discovered the conflict while updating the district maps.

This situation has been disappointing and frustrating for me, Baker said.

The citizens of Zone 4 will not be represented by the person they elected, she said. Our representative form of government is weakened when elections are replaced with appointments.

Miller said that according to her research, laws governing other types of boards say an official can finish their term when redistricting places them out of their elected zones. Laws regarding education, however, say that when redistricting moves an official to another zone, the official who has served the longest in the new zone is retained and the law does not address whether the official can continue to serve in the zone they were elected to represent.

Redistricting moved Baker from Zone 4 to Zone 1, which is served by Ryan Cranney. Under that interpretation of the law, Cranney would be retained and Baker removed from office.

We love Mandy Bakers passion and her desire to remain on the board, Miller said. For us, it is very touching.

Sen. Kelly Anthon, R-Declo, has agreed to present the issue to the AGs office on the school districts behalf, she said.

After the district receives the opinion, Miller said, the board will make a decision.

In a letter from Bakers attorney, Don Chisholm, dated Sept. 12, Chisholm wrote to the board that the state statute violates the Constitutional rights of Baker as a resident and elector of the zone and the rights of other residents of the zone to have her represent them on the school board.

The U.S. Supreme court has ruled numerous times that election districts must be balanced by population, so the vote of each elector has approximately the same weight as the vote of any other elector. The right to proportional representation arises under the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Those cases have not required the replacement of duly elected officials by appointed ones, the letter reads. The U.S. decennial census is the tool that the governing boards of the respective political subdivision use to meet the constitutional districts. The one man, one vote, mandate of the U.S. Supreme Court was not intended to divest an elected official of an office to which that person has lawfully been elected. It was not intended to have an appointed trustee or representative take the place of an elected trustee or representative.

Letting the duly elected trustees serve until the next election is the appropriate way to honor the rights of the parties to be represented by the persons they have elected, Chisholm wrote.
Democracy is messy. Its noisy, rancorous, contentious, sometimes untruthful and sometimes can be used in dangerous ways to kill democracy.

Thats a feature, not a bug.

The beauty of democracy is that all voices are heard. The danger of democracy is that all voices are heard.

Thats the paradox of democracy.

And thats the subject of a new book, The Paradox of Democracy: Free Speech, Open Media, and Perilous Persuasion, by Zac Gershberg, associate professor of journalism and media studies at Idaho State University, and Sean Illing, a senior writer at Vox.

This is not the book we had thought we were going to write, Gershberg told me in a video interview. We thought we were going to write a book that was very much, Oh, democracy is dying, and stuff like that. And theres a lot of books like that out there right now.

Instead, Gershberg and Illing look at how advancements in communication have always disrupted democracy, going all the way back to Athens and the ancient Greeks.

They had a whole host of different new forms of communication from developing rhetoric to the role of writing, itself, became this controversial thing and there was ostracism and crazy politics, Gershberg said. And were like, Well  this is actually more consistent with our experience, lets say in 21st-century American politics. 

And when the history of the struggle for democracy is matched up with the history of developments of modes of communication, they began to see the recurring theme of technological advances that, at each step of the way, brought on great democratization but also led to great disruption that threatened the very existence of democracy.

We call this the paradox of democracy, they write, a free and open communication environment that, because of its openness, invites exploitation and subversion from within.

Media and democracy

The book provides a sprawling and deep historical look at the concept of democracy and how methods of communication had an impact on democracy along the way  from wooden tablets etched with wax to the advent of parchment as a boon to Christianity, to the printing press and the hyper-partisanship of early American newspapers, the burgeoning of the penny press, and the development of the telegraph, film, radio, television and yes, our modern-day conundrum, the internet and social media.

There is always a sort of vulnerability that comes from an open society based on free expression, Gershberg said. And so thats sort of comforting that weve been here before.

New forms of media have always been used and abused, perhaps no more infamously than Adolf Hitlers attacks on the free press and his use of state-sponsored propaganda, the radio, movies and over-the-top political rallies to gin up his supporters.

The United States has at times flirted with the excesses of democratic free speech spilling over into fascistic tendencies. Notably, U.S. Sen. Joe McCarthy used the media, releasing unchallenged accusations right at newspaper deadlines, to go on a witch hunt against supposed communists, impugning reputations and destroying lives along the way. Television was his vehicle to prominence but was also his downfall. As fascism rose in Europe in the 1920s and 30s, back in the United States, Father Charles Coughlin used a radio show and a magazine to spread an antisemitic, pro-Nazi message and led an America First Committee.

Most recently, the United States is still reeling from the Jan. 6 insurrection, a direct attack on democracy, a threat to the function of government and a dangerous byproduct of seemingly unfettered free speech that spread misinformation, disinformation and fear fomented by the internet and social media, led by a charismatic leader with tendencies to authoritarianism.

What we saw on January 6 is actually something that has happened to numerous different democracies over the years from Europe under fascism to South American presidential systems, to ancient societies, Gershberg said. And so we had the experience of a self-coup attempt  and it didnt work.

Free speech and fascism

So is the United States safe from such excesses? Are we somehow more protected from the vagaries of free speech? Are the internet and social media just the latest form of communication that we need to acclimate ourselves to? Or are we doomed to devolve into a fascistic state, duped by an egomaniacal leader who has learned best how to manipulate our most current form of communication?

In other words, as a friend of mine asked me recently, Are we screwed?

I think were more resilient than what might emerge out of just glancing at our overall culture, Gershberg said. So Im hopeful, but I think that theres no escaping the paradox here. Democracies are always going to be vulnerable.

Surprisingly, I came away from the book feeling much more optimistic about the survival of democracy in the United States. I think of the dozens of citizens who showed up to defend the Meridian Public Library against those who would ban books and defund libraries. They used the new tools of social media and employed good speech to win the day over bad ideas.

While some may view our current state as a downward spiral of devolution leading to the inevitable destruction of democracy as we know it, Gershberg and Illing view democracy more like Sisyphus pushing the boulder uphill, struggling in a never-ending battle to reach the pinnacle. In Gershberg and Illings view, there is no pinnacle of democracy, only constant effort. Its always a work in progress.

The other hopeful thing I think when it comes to digital media and fake news and propaganda is in some ways citizens learn how to use media a little bit better, Gershberg said. And so certain forms of propaganda can always work on some people, but I think theres ways where different messaging, different efforts at disinformation or misinformation  their ability to work isnt always in perpetuity. So thats something Im hopeful for.

Read the book. Youll feel better about where we are in our never-ending struggle to preserve democracy.
By Trend

Political consultations were held in Baku between the Foreign Ministries of Azerbaijan and Romania on September 16, Azerbaijani ministry told Trend.

According to the ministry, the Azerbaijani delegation at the consultations was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov, and the Romanian delegation - by State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Julian Fota.

During the political consultations, it was emphasized that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

At the meeting, the current state of bilateral relations which have reached the level of strategic partnership was discussed, the importance of using the existing potential to expand cooperation in various areas, including energy, logistics, transport, communications, agriculture and others was stressed.

It was noted that further development of bilateral trade and economic ties meets the interests of both Azerbaijan and Romania.

Khalafov spoke about the new political realities which emerged in the region after the 2020 second Karabakh war, restoration and construction work in the Azerbaijani territories liberated from occupation.

It was stressed that Azerbaijan has put forward a peace agenda and is taking appropriate steps to establish peace in the region and normalize relations with Armenia.

Besides, it was noted that in order to stop promotion of the peace agenda and hinder the implementation of trilateral agreements [between Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders following the second Karabakh war], in recent times the Armenian side has consistently violated the ceasefire and, as a result, committed an armed provocation on the border of the two countries on September 12, which led to grave consequences.

Fota stressed that Romania attaches great importance to cooperation with Azerbaijan and further expansion of ties. According to him, Romania shows great interest in the development of economic relations, especially in the energy sector.

He pointed out that in the current international crisis, Azerbaijan is an important country for Europe, an important bridge between Europe and Asia in the fields of energy, logistics, communications and trade.

The parties noted the commitment of the two countries to the principles of territorial integrity, inviolability and sovereignty of borders.

During the meeting, an exchange of views took place on issues of regional and international security of mutual interest.

Besides, the parties noted the importance of the mechanism of political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and its significance for the development of bilateral relations.
Through collaborative processes, we can achieve workable solutions to some of the most challenging issues involving our natural resources that balance the clear need for ecological health, adhere to multiple-use principles and achieve economic vitality. Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) plays a key part in preventing forest fires and is a prime example of what can be achieved when agencies work together to implement a shared vision of healthy, productive lands. The Senate-passed Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) extended GNA to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve federal lands in Idaho.

Congress generally enacts WRDA legislation every two years to support the Army Corps of Engineers water resource development programs and projects. The House of Representatives passed its version of WRDA on June 8, 2022, by a vote of 384-37, before the Senate passed the bill with my support by a vote of 93-1 on July 29, 2022. The recent WRDA legislation would authorize the Corps to carry out water resources development projects and revise civil works policies and programs of the Corps.

Very importantly, WRDA contained language fellow U.S. Senator for Idaho Jim Risch, Governor Brad Little and I backed to establish a Good Neighbor Authority pilot project in Idaho to reduce fire risk around Corps projects. Specifically, the legislation authorizes the Corps to carry out a pilot program to enter into GNA agreements with the Governor of Idaho to carry out forest, rangeland and watershed restoration services on federal land.

Congressionally authorized as a pilot program in the early 2000s, GNA has since been expanded by Congress to enable the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to work with states, counties and Tribes to conduct certain projects on federal lands to achieve land management objectives. Enactment of WRDA will enable the Corps to also use Good Neighbor Authority to create partnerships to improve the health of federal lands in Idaho is a productive step that will build on GNA successes in our great state.

For example, a GNA program coordinated by the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests and Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) was recognized with the 2017 Regional Forester Awards. Through the program, forest management has supported fuels reduction and watershed restoration.

Statewide, the IDL reported the 2018 Agreement for Shared Stewardship between the state of Idaho and Regions 1 and 4 of the U.S. Forest Service formalized interagency efforts to prioritize and expedite landscape level treatments focused on fuels reduction and improved forest, rangeland, and watershed conditions. The IDL detailed results of the partnerships that have enabled the treatment of 17,119 acres through 30 timber sales on four national forests in Idaho from 2016 to 2020. GNA was also used to treat 52,406 acres through 16 botany, heritage, wildlife, hydrology, soils, fisheries and forest stand exams related projects on four national forests in Idaho during the same time period.

WRDA supports and advances critical water infrastructure projects across the nation and right here in Idaho that include channel maintenance to improve navigation capability at the Port of Lewiston and a study to improve domestic flood control capability in the Northwest. This reauthorization of WRDA will help facilitate commerce, promote project efficiencies and better ensure effective responses to current and future needs.
In late August, the government of California gave its residents two additional, and interrelated, reasons to consider moving elsewhere.

First, the states Air Resources Board announced plans to phase out all sales of gas-powered vehicles in California by 2035. A few days later, state officials instructed Californians not to lower their thermostats below 78 degrees and not to charge their electric vehicles during the peak hours of 4-9 p.m. Otherwise, they said, Californians may experience blackouts.

Here in North Carolina, our electrical system is much more reliable. Its one reason why some disaffected California families and businesses may well find their way here. If some public officials and utility executives in our state get their way, however, the flow of energy refugees may reverse itself in the not-too-distant future.

Under the terms of a 2021 law enacted by large, bipartisan majorities in the General Assembly, North Carolina is required to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions significantly over the next few decades, reaching complete carbon neutrality by 2050. The law attracted its broad legislative support because it also includes strict criteria for reaching this goal by the least cost path while maintaining the adequacy and reliability of the existing grid.

The states primary electricity supplier, Duke Energy, has now filed its plan to achieve the laws goals, which include a reduction from the 2005 emissions baseline of 70% by 2032. All four of Dukes proposed power portfolios, however, rely so heavily on intermittent sources such as solar and wind that the reliability of our grid will be imperiled.

According to an analysis published this summer by my colleagues at the John Locke Foundation, North Carolinians would reach a point by 2032 in which our electricity needs in peak months would exceed the total output of dispatchable baseload generation. In other words, well be relying on solar, wind, batteries and various conservation tactics to keep the lights on and critical machines, appliances and HVAC systems running. Thats too risky. By 2050, the Locke study concluded, North Carolinians could face the very real prospect of rolling blackouts during summer months  in other words, the California scenario.

In a filing to the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the Locke analysts proposed a better solution: making greater use of nuclear power to provide both clean and reliable electricity to our growing states households and businesses. Although this plan would require delaying the 2032 goal a bit (a tweak the law does allow) it would fully achieve the 2050 goal, including a phase-out of coal and natural gas.

It would also be less expensive than any of the Duke plans, which require the construction of extra production capacity to kick in when the sun doesnt shine and the wind doesnt blow. Nuclear plants run continuously, their fuel is domestically sourced and plentiful, and they last up to 80 years vs. 20 years for the average wind farm and 25 years for the average solar plant.

Our conversation about North Carolinas energy future is occurring within a broader national and international context in which policymakers who used to be skeptical about nuclear power are coming around to its many benefits. Leaders of energy-hungry countries in Europe and Asia, for example, are realizing that overreliance on natural gas from Russia or rare-earth metals from China poses a threat to their national security and economic vitality.

And in California itself, Gov. Gavin Newsome has proposed extending the life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant through 2035. Although he used to think otherwise, Newsome now believes the state cant wiggle its way through the next decade if Diablo Canyon, which generates 9% of Californias electricity, closes as scheduled in 2025.

Better late than never. But North Carolina can do better than that. Our carbon-dioxide emissions from electricity generation are already down 40% since the beginning of the century, largely due to natural gas replacing coal. Now lets enact a sound energy strategy today that will pay dividends for many decades to come.
Morocco has been elected lately member of the Executive Committee of the Community of Democracies (CoD), a global intergovernmental coalition of countries adhering to democratic values and principles set forth in the Warsaw Declaration.

The election of the North African Kingdom, for a two-year mandate starting this September, is an international recognition of Moroccos commitment to the promotion and protection of democratic values and freedoms.

It is also recognition of the countrys bold reforms and initiatives launched to consolidate democracy and the universal values of equality, pluralism and moderation, says a press release issued by the Moroccan foreign Affairs Department.

Besides Morocco, the CoD Executive Committee includes the United States, Canada, Poland, the Republic of Korea and Romania. Set up in 2000, the Community of Democracies, which brings together governments, civil society and the private sector, seeks to support democratic rules, expand political participation, advance democratic freedoms and strengthen democratic norms and institutions around the world.

The signatories of the Warsaw Declaration recognize the universality of democratic values, express adherence to the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human rights.
Several NGOs and diplomats taking part in the 51st session of the Human Rights Council currently unfolding in Geneva have pilloried Algeria for the massive human rights violations committed on its territory. They denounced the extremely worrying situation of human rights in the country, the massive violations of the rights of the populations sequestered in the Tindouf camps and the refusal of the Algerian regime to assume its legal responsibilities and put an end to heinous crimes committed on its soil, despite the findings and repeated calls from the mechanisms of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In this context, the head of the American delegation, Ambassador Bathsheba Nell Crocker, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, reiterated Washingtons concerns over the serious human rights violations committed against civilians and pro-democracy activists in Algeria.

She also denounced the widespread use of new laws to prosecute and crackdown on activists, protesters and journalists, restricting unduly freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly and association and arresting militants.

The US diplomat also hailed as courageous the civil society activists, human rights defenders, media workers and others who dare to tell the truth to the power and advocate respect for human rights.

Speaking on behalf of IL CENACOLO NGO, El Fadel Brika recounted his own experience, as a victim of the atrocities of the Polisario separatists, and detailed the kidnappings, arbitrary detentions and the worst types of psychological and physical torture practiced in secret prisons managed by the Polisario militia on Algerian soil.

He also drew the attention of the Human Rights Council to the systematic violations committed by the Polisario separatists and the Algerian forces against the sequestered populations in the Tindouf camps, where they resort to the most horrible means to punish any voice that opposes them or denounces their serious abuses and the embezzlement of humanitarian aid. Mr. Brika spoke of extrajudicial execution, noting that the latest such execution was the burning alive of the two young Sahrawis, Maha Ould Hamdi Ould Souilem and Alien Idrissi.

Mr. Brika informed the Council of the killing in November 2021, by the Algerian army, in a hole on the outskirts of the so-called Dakhla camp, of three young Sahrawis, Lakbir Ould Sidi Ahmed Al Markhi, Obeidat Ould El Bilal and Flea Ould Baraka.

Taking the floor on behalf of the Geneva-based NGO Promotion du Developpement Economique et Social, Ms. Aicha Duihi focused her address on the growing tensions in the Tindouf camps in southwestern Algeria, where, she said, the deteriorating living conditions and the explosive situation in the Tindouf camps are fueling mounting tensions and protests which are suppressed with use of unnecessary excessive military force. These unprecedented events have also been repeatedly mentioned by the UN Secretary-General of the United Nations since his report S/2019/282.

She denounced the violations of the rights of the sequestered in the Tindouf camps, through the maintenance of the state of emergency under the pretext of fight against terrorism; repression of all forms of opposition; reprisals, violence, threats, discrimination, pressure and arrests of human rights defenders and activists; and selective discrimination against freedom of movement. She also decried the Algerian authorities refusal to allow a census of the sequestered populations or to grant them international protection, as well as the relentless diversion of humanitarian aid destined to the Sahrawi refugees who live on food assistance.

The corrupt and feckless polisario leaders and militiamen continue their abuses in total impunity, she deplored

During the same session, the representative of the Unitary Network for the Development of Mauritania recalled the communication of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of migrants challenging Algerian authorities on the extrajudicial executions of two Sahrawis by the Algerian security forces in a mining site south of Auinat Balakraa, in a bid to urge the Office of the High Commissioner to open an investigation into this horrific crime and to apply basic international standards to protect the populations of the Tindouf camps.

The representative of the NGO The National Movement of Young Patriots, for his part, castigated the persistence of impunity in the Tindouf camps, which serves as a security for the Polisario leaders and encourages them to persist in their repression against the populations of the camps, deprived of any recourse mechanism, and denied any access to justice, despite repeated calls from the UN human rights system, including the Human Rights Committee.
Raila Odinga, leader of the Azimio La Umoja Coalition and main challenger of William Ruto in the latest Kenyan presidential election, denied reports alleging that he had attacked the Kenyan presidents decision to withdraw recognition of the so-called SADR.

The reports that I attacked Rutos decision to review Kenyas policy on the polisario are erroneous, wrote the former Kenyan Prime Minister on his official twitter account.

Odinga, who won 48.85% of the votes in the latest presidential election, added that he never mentioned polisario, stressing that he knows the importance of relations between Kenya and Morocco, which he described as beneficial.

The announcement of Kenyas withdrawal of the recognition of the self-proclaimed SADR was made last Wednesday in Nairobi by new Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto after he received a congratulation message from King Mohammed VI on his inauguration as new Head of State of the East African country.

Kenya is currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council expected to vote end of October on a resolution on the Sahara. This English-speaking African country was one of the most important supporters of the Polisario.

So, Nairobis decision to withdraw its recognition of a phantom entity is serious diplomatic setback and a slap in the face of the separatists and the ruling Algerian junta which arms, shelters and funds the secessionist militias, while Morocco continues to gain a growing international support for its territorial integrity and sovereignty over its entire Sahara territory.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  North Carolina's hospitals and hospital systems on Friday unveiled an offer that could shake up stalled negotiations to pass legislation that would expand Medicaid to cover hundreds of thousands of low-income adults in the state.

The North Carolina Healthcare Association said the offer sent to Republican legislative leaders and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper also contained reforms to some state laws that require regulatory approval before certain medical buildings can be constructed or services offered in a region.

Senate leader Phil Berger this summer accused the association of refusing to compromise on certificate of need rules. Changes to these rules were contained in the Senate version of an expansion measure approved in June. Berger said they were needed to increase the supply of medical services that would be needed to treat the growing Medicaid population.

Cooper, a big expansion proponent, told reporters earlier this week that it would make sense for hospitals to negotiate with Berger on those rules, which hospitals contend help community facilities that disproportionately serve the uninsured or underinsured remain open.

Our board of trustees has made the difficult decision to propose certificate of need law reforms, board chair Dr. Roxie Wells said in a news release. CON law changes could threaten the survival of community hospitals if they are not implemented carefully. We are putting a lot of trust in legislative leaders to do this correctly.

The House passed its own expansion bill during the final week of the General Assembly's primary work session this year that contained none of the medical supply-side proposals that the Senate wanted. House Speaker Tim Moore has said Republicans in his chamber would prefer to handle those provisions separately from expansion.

Moore's office was still reviewing the offer late Friday, Chief of Staff Neal Inman said. Berger spokesperson Lauren Horsch said the same thing, adding: We appreciate the NCHAs willingness to come to the table with a proposal. There was no immediate response late Friday from Cooper's office.

The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene Tuesday for what's expected to be a three-day administrative session with no recorded floor votes. They are next scheduled to return to Raleigh in October.

North Carolina is one of a dozen states that have yet to accept the federal governments offer to cover people who make too much to be insured by traditional Medicaid but too little to receive subsidized private insurance. The federal government would pay 90% of the medical costs of expansion.

The association said its proposal would have hospitals paying a majority of the state's share to cover another 600,000 people at a cost of over $550 million annually. The state's hospitals also would participate in a federally funded program that would enhance their Medicaid reimbursement rates for providing care, providing new revenues.

The proposal would do away with certificate of need laws for psychiatric inpatient beds and beds to treat people with chemical dependency. It also, within five years, would scale back regulations for operating rooms within ambulatory surgical centers, which the association says would result in a loss of revenue for them.

Each day the General Assembly waits is a day that harms 600,000 North Carolinians, association president and CEO Steve Lawler said. We hope that any legislation crafted will be done in a thoughtful way that protects health care facilities that take care of people and improve community health.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  Republican Gov. Jim Justice on Friday signed into law a ban on abortions at all stages of pregnancy, making West Virginia the second state to enact a law prohibiting the procedure since the U.S. Supreme Court's June ruling overturning its constitutional protection.

The bill will go into effect immediately, except for the criminal penalties, which will go into effect in 90 days, he said. Justice described the legislation on Twitter as a bill that protects life.

I said from the beginning that if WV legislators brought me a bill that protected life and included reasonable and logical exceptions I would sign it, and thats what I did today, he said.

The ban has exemptions for medical emergencies and for rape and incest victims until eight weeks of pregnancy for adults and 14 weeks for those under the age of 18. Victims must report their assault to law enforcement 48 hours before the procedure. Minors can report to the police or a doctor, who then must tell police.

The bill requires abortions to be performed by a physician at a hospital  a provision that at least two Republican lawmakers have said was intended to shut down abortions at the Womens Health Center, which has provided the procedure since 1976 and was the state's sole abortion clinic. Providers who perform illegal abortions can face up to 10 years in prison.

Shortly after lawmakers passed the bill Tuesday, Womens Health Center of West Virginia Executive Director Katie Quinonez said the clinics lawyer advised them to suspend abortions immediately. Dozens of West Virginia women have already had to rebook canceled appointments at out-of-state clinics in places like Pennsylvania and Virginia, she said.

The Women's Health Center has been providing them with resources to book appointments out-of-state and funding to help cover travel and the procedure, Quinonez said.

After Justice announced he had signed the ban, the ACLU of West Virginia released a statement on Twitter calling the ban a forced-birth bill" and saying the governor has snubbed the vast majority of West Virginians and sided with extremists.

This law is anything but pro-life. It places lifesaving healthcare out of reach for tens of thousands," the tweet said. Our work continues.

Indiana's abortion ban  signed by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb in August  started being enforced Thursday.

Indiana and West Virginia now join more than a dozen states with abortion bans, though most were approved before that Supreme Court ruling and took effect once the court threw out the constitutional right to end a pregnancy.

On Tuesday, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina introduced a bill that would ban abortion nationwide after the 15th week of pregnancy, with rare exceptions, intensifying the ongoing debate inside and outside the GOP, though the proposal has almost no chance of becoming law in the Democratic-held Congress.
NEW YORK (AP)  A mother charged with drowning her three children at New York's Coney Island beach was arraigned on murder charges Friday, authorities said.

Erin Merdy, 30, was charged with first and second-degree murder in the deaths of her children Zachary Merdy, 7, Liliana Stephens-Merdy, 4, and Oliver Bondarev, 3 months, a spokesperson for the Brooklyn district attorney's office said.

Merdy was arraigned remotely from the hospital where she was sent for a psychiatric examination. Her attorney from Brooklyn Defender Services said he had no comment.

Officers searched the Coney Island shoreline early Monday after a relative called 911. According to the criminal complaint, Merdy had told the relative that she had hurt her children and that they are gone.

Police found Merdy on the boardwalk, wet and barefoot. The children were later found unresponsive at the water's edge. They were pronounced dead at a hospital. The city medical examiner's office ruled their deaths homicides by drowning.

Evidence against Merdy includes video that shows her walking toward the ocean with the children just before 1 a.m. Monday, according to the complaint.
As pandemic-fueled financial losses continues to rattle the health-care industry, state officials have started nudging elderly Montanans toward aging at home. While encouraging aging-in-place is a step, the state will need to make significant investments in home-based senior and long-term care to meet the imminent swell in demand.

The historically low Medicaid reimbursement rate has fallen drastically short of the actual cost of care, causing a number of health facilities to operate at a financial loss. Senior and long-term care (SLTC) services have traditionally been underfunded, but a recent provider rate study revealed just how much.

Not including nursing homes, the SLTC sector needs $35.9 million in order to bridge the gap between the cost of care and the reimbursement rate, according to the provider rate report.

Montanas direct care workforce has not been immune to the health care worker shortage, and is short hundreds of caregivers, according to previous reporting by The Gazette. And in rural Eastern Montana, the shortages and recruitment challenges are amplified.

Direct care workers provide the in-home services people need in order to age safely in place and includes housekeeping, help with personal care, health care services, transportation, help with errands and more.

Traditionally, these positions have not paid well, the benefits are limited, the career ladder is shaky, employee support is inadequate, transportation between clients creates a barrier and the work is physically demanding. As a result, workers arent staying in direct care jobs, said Lisa Sheppard CEO of Missoula Aging Services.

Due to severe underfunding, agencies are unable to offer a competitive wage, with many employers in the industry saying theyre losing employees to Walmart, fast food restaurants and other retail jobs.

To attract and retain well-trained workers, its going to take commitment from the state to make the direct care career path appealing, say advocates, and unfortunately it will come with a big price tag.

Wage increases and benefits are the biggest factors, according to Sheppard who says theres no way around it.

Its hard for people to hear. Its another big price tag, Sheppard said, but it comes down to what were willing to do to help other Montanans.

On top of it all, Montana is leading the West in the silver wave and the need for senior services will only increase over the next 30 years. From 2001 to 2017, the number of Montana residents over 60 years old increased 26.3%, according to data from the 2019 state plan for aging. The fastest growing age group in the state includes those 85 and older, which will increase 57% by 2030.

With a severe funding shortage and a vulnerable population that will keep growing, theres no obvious short-term solution, but to gauge the breadth of the crisis, state officials took a first step by including senior and long-term care services in the provider rate study.

The rate study came to fruition after nursing homes and other aging services pleaded with the governors office and the Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to provide additional relief funds to tide them over until the Medicaid rate could be addressed in the 2023 legislative session.

A separate rate study for nursing homes is still being compiled. Guidehouse staff, contracted by DPHHS to carry out the study, will release the report in October.

'A dire picture'

Historical rate inequities have developed in a number of different health care sectors, but SLTC service rates lag behind provider costs much more significantly than in other programs, according to the Guidehouse report.

Compensation for personal assistant services make up the most substantial portion of overall spending in direct care costs, and when combined with homemaker services, the two make up 40% of expenditures.

Currently, homemaker reimbursement rates come to $4.35 for every 15 billable minutes, but the benchmark recommendation set by Guidehouse to identify adequate direct care wages, comes to $7.61, meaning there is a $3.26 loss per client every quarter of an hour.

A visit from a personal assistant employed by an agency is reimbursed $5.51 for every 15-minutes, but the benchmark is set at $8.92, accounting for a $3.41 loss for the unit of time or $13.64 an hour.

Self-directed personal assistants, assistants in which the client directs, pays and manages the worker themselves, would need a 60.1% rate increase to meet the benchmark.

A self-directed overnight personal assistant loses $2.86 every 15 minutes due to the anemic Medicaid rate.

Every visit from a home health aide accrues a $5.69 loss, specialty trained attendants lose $2.72 during 15-minutes of work, licensed practical nurses lose $6.17 in the same unit of time, and registered nurses lose $9.60. Nearly every wage under the SLTC division, including supervising positions, are severely underfunded.

If it sounds like a dire picture, thats because it is, Sheppard said.

And with the recent closures of rural nursing homes, Sheppard is worried for the elderly in the state, saying that families are already doing everything they can.

Were in a time when we need to think about what caregiving will be like. So far, its not a good plan for getting out of a crisis, Sheppard said.

The SLTC division would need a 39.1% bump in funding, or $35.9 million, in order to close the gap created by the Medicaid rate. With a growing senior population, the state will also need to invest in expansion.

Future demand

There are about 432,000 Montanans who are age 50 or older, a number that increases about 1.34% every year, according to August 2022 data from AARP. Of the population 50 years old and older, those between 50 and 64 make up about 25% of the population, those 65 to 75 year-olds make up 39% and those 75 and older account for 35%.

The number of Montanans over age 50 is expected to reach 42% by 2050. Their contributions will account for an estimated $84 billion in the states gross domestic product, 48% of the projected GDP.

Along with an aging population, an AARP survey found that 85% of Montanans hope to age in their homes. Currently, the state does not have the direct care workforce needed to meet the demand, said Mike Batista, director of government affairs for Montana AARP.

There are lots of benefits to in-home care, but we need funding to reflect desire. Right now were pretty short of what we need, Batista said.

Nearly two-thirds of Montanans are retired, but about 78% of Montana AARP members are concerned about having Medicare benefits available to them in the future and 63% are worried about covering medical expenses in their old age.

Ultimately, home-based services are cheaper than paying for institutionalized skilled nursing, and with adequate in-home care, the elderly are less likely to need a nursing home. But most people find themselves in limbo between not qualifying for Medicaid and not being able to afford the cost of home-based services, which comes to about $35,000 a year.

The Medicaid match distributed by the federal government does not apply to assisted living or home health services. Instead these services fall under Medicaid waiver programs that are funded by the state.

Under a Medicaid waiver, the state can provide home and community-based attendant services for those who are eligible for Montana Medicaid. In order for a couple over the age of 65 to be eligible for Montana Medicaid their annual income must be less than $18,310.

Those who are eligible for the Big Sky Waiver Program, which covers assisted living, are required to meet nursing facility level of care, be eligible for Medicaid long-term care coverage and have a slot for service, according to Jon Ebelt, director of communications at DPHHS.

There are a total of 2,502 individuals in Montana who receive a Medicaid waiver, accounting for $50,504,207, fully consuming the waiver fund. Waivers are capped by slots and the number served, Ebelt said. It would be up to the Legislature to expand waiver services.

DPHHS funding

The SLTC programs are currently funded by a combination of tobacco initiative funds, general funds and the Medicaid match. Through the Older Americans Act, some federal program dollars come in for meals, in-home support, health programs and caregiver support. Those federal dollars are then matched with state general funds and local county funds, Ebelt said.

The provider rate study was the first step toward assessing the current direct care model. The data analysis that follows should shed more light on the effectiveness of current wage enhancement programs and the alignment of services across the division.

The DPHHS also plans to re-initialize the Money Follows the Person (MFP) program under which the state received $9.4 million in 2014 to transition Medicaid recipients out of the nursing homes back into the community with in-home services.

MFP is a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid grant that supports accessing housing, home goods and in-home services.

The new state health department director, Charlie Brereton, took up his new role in August, and so far, has been receptive to the concerns from those in aging services, said Batista with AARP.

Weve done the same thing for a long time (in Montana). If more people receive quality homebased services  they can avoid long term, institutionalized care, Batista said. I think the transition is doable.
Butte police reports

Child endangerment

At around 2:30 a.m. Friday, a trooper with the Montana Highway Patrol stopped Jacob Riley Leverton, 23, of Butte near the intersection of Mercury and Dakota streets.

Leverton was arrested for the felony offense of child endangerment (driving under the influence) and the misdemeanor offenses of criminal contempt, obstructing a peace officer, possessing marijuana in the pass area, unlawful possession of alcohol, driving under the influence (first offense), failure to wear a seat belt and driving without a valid drivers license.

Aggravated DUI

Wyatt Patrick Kingston, 26, of Butte was arrested at 1:30 a.m. Friday for misdemeanor aggravated driving under the influence (first offense).

An officer witnessed Kingston driving a truck at a high rate of speed on Wyoming Street without any headlights. The truck was stopped near Alaska and Woolman streets and the driver appeared to be intoxicated. A Breathalyzer test taken at the jail reportedly showed Kingston to be more than twice over the legal limit.

Suspicious men

 A call came in just after midnight Friday of a suspicious man in the parking lot near Millers Boots, 301 S. Arizona St. The suspicious man turned out to be Shane Edward Neeman, 48, of Butte, who had two misdemeanor warrants out for his arrest  one with the Montana Highway Patrol; the other out of Butte City Court. He was taken to jail.

 On Wednesday night, a call came in about a suspicious man in the 900 block of South Arizona Street. The suspicious man turned out to be Cory Joe Speelman, 38, of Anaconda, who had misdemeanor warrants out for his arrest for criminal contempt and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to jail.

Bicyclist caught

At about 11:25 p.m. Thursday, a man was on his bicycle on Utah and Third and was stopped because the bike had no reflectors or lights.

The bicyclist turned out to be Ralph Louis Lapham, 50, of Butte, who had felony warrants out for his arrest for probation violation, along with two counts of revocation of sentence.

Once at the jail, Lapham allegedly had in his possession a pipe, possible methamphetamines and a case of burglary tools, including lock picks.

House search

At about 8 p.m. Thursday, officers arrived at a residence in the 3800 block of South Wyoming Street to assist Adult Probation & Parole on a search.

Following the search, Beth Anne Hartford, 40, of Butte was arrested for the felony offenses of possession of dangerous drugs (three counts), revocation of sentence (two counts), probation violation, and the misdemeanor offense of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Duo detained

Two Butte men, Leo Edward Stevens Jr., 56, and Sam Stephenson IV, 56, were both arrested around 6:15 p.m. Thursday by a trooper with the Montana Highway Patrol near the intersection of Texas Avenue and Locust Street.

Stevens was arrested on warrants for the felony offenses of possession with intent to sell and probation violation.

Stephenson was arrested on a warrant for the felony offense of possession of dangerous drugs and a misdemeanor MHP warrant.

Unattended suitcase

Early Thursday afternoon, a call came in about a man yelling and threatening people at the Bus Transfer Station, 1324 Harrison Ave. He left before officers arrived.

While at the bus station, a suitcase was found unattended at the station. Officers took the suitcase to see if they could identify its owner. Inside was five large bags of suspected marijuana, along with 75 to 100 suspected fentanyl pills.

The owner was Bradley Bander, 32, unknown address, who was allegedly the man causing a disturbance at the bus station. He was later found in the restroom of a nearby Town Pump. Officers reportedly knocked on the door, but Bander reportedly would not come out and kicked the door from the inside. He then allegedly threatened to harm himself, so officers opened the door and took him into custody.

He was arrested on two felony counts of possession with intent to sell.

Numerous offenses

Late Tuesday night, Vanessa Marie Whitford, 44, of Butte was driving near the intersection of Platinum and Colorado without any headlights. When a cop got close to the car, the officer noticed that Whitfords front-seat passenger was a 2-year-toddler without a seat belt.

Whitford initially gave a fictitious name to the officer and then switched it up and gave a different name. Another officer arrived on the scene and recognized Whitford and knew she had warrants out for her arrest stemming from a July incident.

She was booked into the jail just after 1 a.m. Wednesday for a felony out-of-jurisdiction warrant and a felony warrant for criminal endangerment. She was also arrested for the misdemeanor offenses of resisting arrest, obstructing a peace officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The toddler was released into the care of a relative.

Arrest warrants

Claude Brooks Vail, 51, of Butte was arrested around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday in the 200 block of South Arizona Street on warrants for felony possession of dangerous drugs and misdemeanor criminal trespass to a vehicle.

Woman groped

It is alleged that Willie Liegeois, 38, of Butte stopped a woman he knew on the street Tuesday afternoon and groped her.

He was arrested for misdemeanor sexual assault.

Booked into jail

Alexis Jade Williams, 18, of Butte was booked into the jail just after midnight Thursday for misdemeanor partner or family member assault.

It is alleged that Williams punched another woman and pulled her hair at a residence in the 900 block of South Washington Street.

Dangerous drugs

While investigating a disturbance in the 900 block of California Street late Wednesday night, Daniel Robert Woodbury, 32, of Butte was arrested on warrants for felony theft and two counts of misdemeanor criminal contempt.

During the booking process, Woodbury reportedly was in possession of dangerous drugs, too.

MHP arrest

A trooper with the Montana Highway Patrol arrested Johnathan Bradley Horner, 34, of Butte around 4 p.m. Wednesday on a felony out-of-jurisdiction warrant.

Billings to Butte

Robert Todd Kelsey-Campbell, 43, of Butte was picked up at the Yellowstone County Jail in Billings and brought to Butte where he was booked on warrants for felony burglary and four misdemeanor counts of theft.

More reports:

 A trailer hitch was stolen from a vehicle parked at Butte High School.

 Tools were stolen from a truck parked on Blue Bird Trail.

 Some items were taken from a camp trailer parked near OKeefe Drilling.

 Two women were fighting near the intersection of Grand and Harrison. When officers arrived, the dueling duo decided to go their separate ways.

 Someone living in the 700 block of South Main Street claimed to have heard three gunshots, one after the other. Officers arrived and talked to neighbors, but no one else heard or seen anything.

 Two batteries were stolen from a construction site on Bluebird Trail.

 A license plate was stolen from a car parked in the 3300 block of Kossuth Street.

 The catalytic converter on a Toyota pickup was taken while parked in the 3700 block of Harrison Avenue.

 A man causing a disturbance at the Copper King Saloon, 1000 S. Montana St., refused to leave the premises. When the cops got there, he quickly decided to move it along.

 Several people were hanging out at Father Sheehan Park at about 2:30 a.m. Friday. Officers arrived and told them to leave and they quickly complied.
By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

Armenia is far from fulfilling its international obligations, Azerbaijan's Permanent Representative to the UN Yashar Aliyev said.

He made the remarks at a meeting of the UN Security Council dedicated to the escalation that occurred on the state border between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"We categorically reject the accusations made by the representative of Armenia. These accusations, which are completely delusional, distorted and deceitful, show how far Armenia is from fulfilling its international obligations and promoting peace, stability and cooperation in our region," he stated.

He emphasized the irony of Armenia, the country that carried out aggression against Azerbaijan, held its sovereign territories under occupation for about 30 years, carried out large-scale ethnic cleansing, and committed other heinous crimes during the war, is now willingly speaking about the norms and principles that it constantly violates, and appeals with the hope of unlimited immunity to the UN Security Council, whose resolutions it has refused to comply with since the early 1990s.

Further, he added that Azerbaijan is firmly committed to restoring the liberated territories and ensuring stability and development in the region.

"Azerbaijan stands for the opening of regional transport communications and the prosperity of the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan's position is based on international law and accepted practices," he said.

Aliyev stressed that Armenia's attempts to evade the implementation of the reached agreements make it a violator of international obligations.

He noted that the current escalation of the situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border is not the only incident, but just another Armenian provocation over the past few months.

Further, Aliyev added that Armenia continues to plant mines on the territory of Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, Deputy Secretary General for Europe, Central Asia and America Miroslav Zhenka stated that the UN is concerned about threatening tensions that have arisen in the South Caucasus between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and calls on the parties to take serious steps to de-escalate.

According to him, UN teams in both countries are in contact with governments, and if conditions allow, the organization is ready to help meet emerging humanitarian needs.

"This is the biggest and most serious conflict since 2020. This fact proves that the process of normalizing relations between the two countries is facing obstacles. The latest escalation highlights the need for the parties to move forward in the ongoing process of delimitation and demarcation in the framework of mutual recognition of territorial integrity and sovereignty. We call on the parties to use this important mechanism to reduce tension on the border. The clashes once again urge for the constructive participation of actors in this region and beyond for a peaceful solution," the official highlighted.

Noting the mediation of the EU and Russia, Zhenka added that the UN fully supports these international efforts. He stressed that their activities can create conditions leading the parties to dialogue to achieve long-term peace.

To recap, units of the Armenian armed forces carried out large-scale provocations along the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border in the Dashkasan, Kalbajar, and Lachin directions during the night of September 13. At night, Armenian sabotage groups mined land and supply roads linking the positions of the Azerbaijani army units in different directions, taking advantage of the area's steep topography and existing ravine gaps.

The clashes between the sides ensued as a result of the urgent efforts made by the Azerbaijani armed forces to quell these activities. As a result, 77 armed forces personnel were killed, the ministry detailed.

The Azerbaijan military units stationed in these areas took decisive retaliatory measures to suppress the provocations of the Armenian armed forces and military threats to Azerbaijan's territory and sovereignty, as well as to ensure the safety of military personnel, including civilian workers involved in infrastructure construction in Kalbajar and Lachin districts, the ministry emphasized.
WAPELLO  A purchase agreement remains unsigned, but Wapello Mayor Shawn Maine reported Thursday that negotiations were close enough that he was willing to announce that a DG Market grocery store could be built in the community within eight months.

In his report to the City Council during its regular meeting, Maine said the purchase agreement negotiations involved the Wapello Sale Barn site just off Highway 61 in the north end of the city.

Its getting close, Maine said about the final steps that could lead to a grocery store in the community for the first time since November 2018, when the Jack and Jill Store closed its doors.

Maine said the proposed store would be a combination of a grocery store and the more traditional Dollar General store. A traditional store is already located in Wapello, just across the highway from the proposed site of the new market. He indicated the traditional store would apparently be closed once the new combination market opened.

Maine told the council members he would keep them updated as more information became available.

Hammer resigns

Council member Tony Hammer announced he was resigning from the council, effective at the conclusion of the council meeting.

Hammer, one of two Ward 2 council representatives, said he had moved into Ward 3 and could no longer legally serve on the council.

The council will now need to decide whether to fill the vacancy by appointment or special election.

Trick-or-Treat plans

The council also agreed to table a decision on setting Trick-or-Treat Night after acknowledging past decisions had been criticized. The issue this year centered on whether to set the date for Saturday, Oct. 29, or the traditional Halloween night of Oct. 31.

Early on in the discussion, the council agreed Sunday, Oct. 30, was not an option.

Hammer said people who had talked to him favored the traditional date, but council member Jason Marshall said the local residents who talked to him supported the Saturday date.

The decision to table action will allow more public input, officials agreed.

Odessa Subdivision utilities

The council also informally agreed not to assist with the installation of gas and electrical utilities along South 5th Street in the Odessa Subdivision.

Mike Hodges, president of the Wapello Development Corporation (WDC), which established the subdivision in 2008, met with the council at its Sept. 1 meeting. At that meeting, Hodges explained the services had not been completely installed along the street and asked the City Council for assistance.

City officials explained Thursday the subdivision agreement spelled out the WDC was responsible for the utilities and agreed the city should not assist.

Other action

The council approved a Rural Housing Readiness Action Plan for the city and agreed to purchase a new mower from Morning Sun Implement for $13,180.

A more expensive $254,802 purchase of a new ambulance from Klockes Lifeline Emergency Vehicles, Des Moines, was also approved by the council.

However, Maine said he was hopeful that cost might be covered by the county board of supervisors through the countys share of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds.

Maine said the purchase would be raised with the supervisors at a Sept. 20 meeting.

The city is also facing a potentially high repair cost to replaster portions of the swimming pool but will delay action until officials can meet with an engineer.

Local building owner Dean Jensen met to update the council on repairs being made to 308/310 and 312 Van Buren; and 327 N. 2nd.
All eight of Queen Elizabeth IIs grandchildren have stood in silent vigil beside her coffin, capping another huge day in which thousands came to pay their respects to the monarch. Many mourners had huddled in line amid waits that stretched up to 16 hours, enduring Londons coldest night in months. Honoring their patience, King Charles III and Prince William made an unannounced visit Saturday to greet the waiting crowds. William and the queen's seven other grandchildren stood vigil beside her coffin later at Parliament's Westminster Hall. London police say the queen's funeral on Monday at Westminster Abbey will be the largest single policing event the force has ever handled, surpassing even the 2012 Summer Olympics.
The Justice Department has asked a federal appeals court to lift a judges order that temporarily barred it from reviewing a batch of classified documents seized during an FBI search of former President Donald Trumps Florida home last month. The department made the request Friday with the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Atlanta. It says the judges hold is impeding the governments efforts to protect the nations security and interfering with its investigation into the presence of top-secret information at Mar-a-Lago. It says the hold needs to be lifted immediately so work can resume.
Officials say a 3-year-old boy who was pulled from Lake Michigan in Chicago after allegedly being pushed into the water has died. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office reported that Josiah Brown died Sunday morning at a hospital where he had been since last Monday. The boy was at Chicago's Navy Pier when his aunt, Victoria Moreno, allegedly pushed him into the lake and then stood by and did nothing as he sank to the bottom. The boy was pulled by divers about 30 minutes later and was rushed to a hospital. Moreno was charged with attempted murder. Prosecutors have not said if the charges against her will be upgraded.
Globally, it is widely acknowledged that obesity-related conditions and their complications add hugely to healthcare costs and productivity losses. In turn this adds a large burden on individuals, their families and on governments.

One estimate suggests that of the total health expenditure on the continent, 9% is attributed to dealing with people who are overweight and obese.

We conducted research to calculate the cost of obesity to South Africas health system.

Our aim was to estimate the direct healthcare costs associated with the treatment of weight-related conditions based on public-sector tariffs.

Based on our calculations overweight and obesity are costing South Africas health system R33 billion (US$1.9bn) a year. This represents 15.38% of government health expenditure and is equivalent to 0.67% of GDP.

Annual per person cost of overweight and obesity is R2,769.

Among the most expensive conditions to manage were diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Our analysis shows that overweight and obesity impose a huge financial burden on the public healthcare system in South Africa.

It suggests an urgent need for preventive, population-level interventions to reduce overweight and obesity rates.

The reduction will lower the incidence, prevalence, and healthcare spending on noncommunicable diseases.

Quantifying the financial costs of overweight and obesity also gives national policy-makers a sense of the scale of the cost to the state, those of managing their diseases, and the costs to the community.

Scale of the problem

Half of all adults in South Africa are overweight (23%) or obese (27%). And the World Obesity Federation anticipates an additional 10% increase (37%) in obesity among adults by 2030.

Overweight and obesity hugely increase the risk of noncommunicable diseases.

This burden contributes to the countrys high prevalence of diabetes, or example. An estimated 11% of people older than 15 had diabetes in 2021. This is much higher than Nigerias prevalence of 4%.

Around 12 million people suffer from weight-related diseases for which they receive treatment in the public sector. These include diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and some cancers.

This does not include the numerous undiagnosed people with diabetes and hypertension who are not on treatment. Nor does it include people being treated in the private sector.

These non-communicable diseases cause life-altering illness, disabilities, and premature death.

What we found

Our research calculated the cost of obesity starting at age 15. In doing our calculations we looked at the following: cancers , cardiovascular diseases , diabetes , musculoskeletal disorders , respiratory diseases and digestive diseases.

We costed each in detail and used the prevalence of those diseases to measure the cost to the system, taking account of healthcare use patterns.

In South Africa, the biggest share of the R33-billion (US$1.9 billion) annual cost comes from treating diabetes (R19.86-billion). Cardiovascular disease (ZAR 8,87-billion) had the second biggest share.

These costs are, in turn, mainly driven by the cost of medication and hospitalisation. Diabetes and hypertension-related conditions are among South Africas top-ten causes of death.

Digestive diseases, such as gallstones and diseases of the gallbladder, contribute the least (R395-million).

Diabetes (95%) and arthritis (58%) are the diseases that are mostly caused by overweight and obesity.

Overall, 53% of total healthcare costs of managing and treating these diseases in the public sector was attributable to the overweight and obesity problem.

South Africa shares this dubious distinction with other high- and middle-income countries such as Brazil, South Korea, Thailand and Colombia.

Our results are similar to the World Obesity Federations estimate of R36 billion.

We also warn that the R33-billion is an underestimation of the economic cost. We used public-sector tariffs, which we calculated as 60% of private sector costs.

We also excluded costs such as clinical screening and the treatment of comorbidities, such as amputations as well as potential costs for the undiagnosed.

And our findings dont include the indirect costs of productivity losses resulting from absenteeism. We also didnt consider premature death as a result of overweight- and obesity-related diseases.

Next steps

Putting a health problem in monetary terms may create a sense of urgency to find ways to reduce future expenditure on the direct costs of healthcare, and to reduce future losses to the state from the consequences of illness and premature death, including the knock-on effects of worsening poverty as a result.

This is particularly problem in a setting such as South Africa, which already has a drastically under-resourced public-health system, shockingly high unemployment, and both under- and over-nutrition crises that are aggravated by obesogenic environments and poverty-driven food choices.

Until now, no detailed country-specific information on the economic cost of overweight and obesity in sub-Saharan Africa has existed.

Based on our research, South Africas burden is even higher than the African or global averages: 15.38%of overall government health budget, which equates to 0.67% of GDP.

Unless rapid steps are taken to decrease obesity and overweight, the health system will buckle under this strain, and the planned National Health Insurance scheme will not succeed in producing equity in health services.

The opportunity costs of overweight and obesity  and the diseases they often bring with them  are both personal and national.

It is difficult to quantify the personal disability in monetary terms  the benefits of vastly improved quality of life are priceless.

Micheal Boachie, Senior Researcher, University of the Witwatersrand.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Now read: Why South African medical aids got so expensive
A 2017 state law led schools across California to have their faucets tested for lead in a program to reduce lead in school drinking water.

A new bill that proposes to remove lead from schools and state buildings, awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom's signature, now faces opposition from school groups.

Public employee unions and organizations representing school districts, school boards and school business officers are pitted against each other on legislation spelling out how to protect students and school adults from lead in water.

Newsom must pick a side: Senate Bill 1144 easily passed through the Legislature.

Authored by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, on behalf of the California State Pipe Trades Council, the bill would require school districts to write a water efficiency and quality report determining lead levels in every building and replace or install filters on every fixture with high levels of lead. Districts could have to replace lead pipes in buildings  if the state dedicates funding to do so.

Lead is a highly toxic metal that can harm the health and cognitive development of children when ingested or inhaled, even at extremely low levels. An EdSource series four years ago revealed the significant risk for lead exposure in many schools that tested for it.

By default, the bill would adopt the current, outdated standard for unsafe concentration of lead in water. Set more than a decade ago by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is 15 parts per billion. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and many advocates for children's health say anything over 5 parts per billion is hazardous for children's health. President Joe Biden's EPA administrator has said he favors lowering the threshold, and it could happen by 2024.

The level of lead contamination to require action was not brought up in the negotiations on SB 1144, and children's health groups were not involved, according to those familiar with the discussions. The author and sponsor of the bill did agree to push back the deadline for compliance, phasing it in over four years, starting in 2027.

But that and other changes narrowing the bill's scope didn't placate the opposition, whose Aug. 16 letter said the bill would create an expensive unfunded mandate potentially costing hundreds of millions of dollars and a costly, complicated new program that "failed to identify a persistent problem in schools" it would solve.

The letter doesn't say so, but several coalition members said the pipe fitters union had a self-interest in backing the bill. Troy Flint, vice president of communications for the school boards association, said the focus of the bill is to create "revenue and employment opportunities for trade unions that will do the work."

Among those signing the opposition letter were the Association of California School Administrators, California Association of School Business Officials, California School Boards Association, Los Angeles Unified and the Riverside County Office of Education.

Supporters of the bill include the California Federation of Teachers, the California Teachers Association, the California Water Association and the State Building and Construction Trades Council.

To an extent, the bill would pick up where a 2017 state law, Assembly Bill 746, left off. That legislation required local water companies to test lead levels in every school. In cases where levels exceeded 15 parts per billion, districts had to close off fixtures, take mitigation efforts like regular flushing of faucets or replace them. The deadline was July 2019.

But, unlike a few states that require periodic testing, that was only a one-time requirement, and some districts were exempted. In large schools, where only spot-testing was required, some lead-laden outlets may have been missed. In violation of the law, some districts failed to notify parents their schools had unsafe lead levels.

An EdSource analysis of test results for 3,700 schools that had tested for lead as of the summer of 2018 found that 4% -- 150 schools -- recorded a lead level over 15 parts per billion. But at least one outlet in 897 schools tested between 5 and 15 ppb, requiring no action. That's significant because scientists and physicians have criticized the federal 15 ppb standard as too high.

The maximum allowable concentration of lead in commercially sold bottled water is 5 ppb. The American Academy of Physicians, saying that any amount of lead is dangerous for children, says the limit should be no more than 1 ppb. The 5 ppb standard was brought up in negotiations over AB 746, but the Brown administration raised concerns about higher costs.

State and districts can choose a lower standard

States have the ability to lower the safe level standard, and districts can act on their own. Oakland, Long Beach and Los Angeles are among districts that have adopted the 5 ppb as the target for fixing and replacing outlets in their schools. Berkeley Unified adopted a 1 ppb limit in schools.

"We know there is no safe lead level. Schools ought to work to remove that source of lead for these kids," Dr. Jennifer Lowry, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on Environmental Health, told EdSource in 2018.

Children Now, which advocates for children on issues of health and education, didn't take a position on SB 1144 but does support "regulation and guidelines backed by the scientific community and pediatricians, who know that no amount of lead exposure is safe for growing kids," said Vince Stewart, the organization's vice president for policy and programs.

Whether the gauge is 5 parts or 15 ppb, there is no reliable estimate of how much work is needed to reach safe levels in districts and charter schools.

The state Legislature appropriated about $17 million to help qualifying districts with testing and fixture replacement in 2018 and 2019. But that was clearly not enough. In placing a $13 billion school construction bond on the March 2020 ballot, legislative leaders and Newsom designated $150 million to test and fix water fountains and fixtures with high lead levels, to be distributed to the lowest-income districts.

Districts requiring more extensive removal efforts, such as replacing a contaminated water line, could seek supplemental funding of up to 10% of the value of a school renovation project, with the state paying 60% of the cost. Ian Padilla, who represents the Coalition for Adequate School Housing, which lobbies for facilities funding, said the group had sought $500 million for lead abatement in the bond.

Interest wanes with bond's defeat

But in March 2020, voters defeated the bond, which unfortunately for advocates had the bad luck of being designated Proposition 13 on the ballot. Padilla said with Covid, primarily an airborne contagion, soon consuming attention, the priority for facilities spending shifted from lead in water to HVAC systems and air filters.

Newsom proposed committing $1.8 billion in deferred school building maintenance in the 2022-23 budget, but it was cut in final negotiations.

The current bill includes no funding for testing and the work it could require, although about $15 billion of Biden's $350 billion infrastructure funding, passed in December, is dedicated to lead pipe removal in homes and schools.

In a letter supporting SB 1144, Tiffany Mok, legislative representative for the California Federation of Teachers, said schools in California are "especially afflicted" by poor water quality. It "is amounting to a public health crisis, and we cannot sit back while our children consume unsafe water," she wrote.

School organizations, however, said they object to the pipe fitter union's approach to fixing the lead problem. The union didn't consult with them in drafting the bill and ignored a model that had worked. Under the previous law, the burden of testing was put on water agencies. That took advantage of those agencies' expertise in identifying potential problems and provided oversight separate from schools.

"Overall, I saw the bill as a huge success, but more work is necessary," said Eric Bakke, a former legislative advocate for the California School Boards Association, who was involved in both the drafting of the previous law and the defeated Proposition 13.

Under the current bill, if lead is found at higher levels at the faucet than coming into a school, districts could be required to search for and remove lead pipes. This could require costly construction work overseen by undefined qualified personnel.

The bill says that invasive techniques would not be required. But in a letter urging Newsom to veto the bill, Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto Carvalho wrote his district is unaware of how this can be done without tearing down walls and sampling the pipe, potentially releasing asbestos and harmful chemicals.

The author of the 2017 law requiring water providers to test water in schools was Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzales, D-San Diego. In January, she resigned from the Assembly to become the top executive at the California Labor Federation, the organization representing organized labor.

"I was not involved with this bill," she wrote in an email this week. "I support all bills that have the support of our affiliated unions within their jurisdiction."

The lobbyist for the California State Pipe Trades Council did not respond to requests for comment.

The bill would also apply to all state buildings. It includes long sections requiring testing and mitigation for the water-borne bacteria causing Legionnaire's disease, of which there have been no known outbreaks reported in schools. The scaled-back final version would apply only to buildings of at least 10 stories with water towers -- all but excluding schools but not some state buildings.

Newsom has until the end of September to decide to sign, veto or let SB 1144 become law without his signature.
The city of Napa Planning Commission on Thursday opted to approve a new Dish Wireless telecommunications facility set to go on top of a building at 846 Jackson St., making it the fourth Dish Wireless installation approved by the city so far, one part of a larger effort to set up a new wireless network for the carrier in Napa.

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Commissioners voted 3-1 to approve a use permit for the project  with Commissioner Beverly Shotwell opposing and Commission Chair Gordon Huether absent  but all expressed reservations, as they have at several past meetings, about the negative impact radio frequency emissions could have on health, despite the installation in question meeting Federal Communications Commission emission standards. Several public commenters also expressed opposition to the project for similar, health-related reasons.

As such, the commissioners also tacked on a few conditions of approval: that the applicant submit baseline RF measurements following the start of operations; that RF measurements will be subsequently taken by the applicant and submitted to the city each year; that a physical safety barrier be installed surrounding the roof-mounted equipment; and that informational warning signage near the equipment be in both English and Spanish.

California education board overturns vetoes, approves Mayacamas school charter for Napa County The California State Board of Education decided Thursday to overturn previous NVUSD and NCOE vetoes of the Mayacamas Charter Middle School, on a 6-5 vote.

Notably, local governments are prohibited by federal law from denying wireless projects out a belief theyre unsafe. Sabrina Wolfson, deputy city attorney, said during the meeting that while she couldnt predict what the applicant would do if the commission denied the project based on RF, such an action would potentially open up the city to a legal challenge.

Commissioner Bob Massaro said his gut wanted to deny the project, but he didnt want to bring a legal action against the city from Dish, which he said Dish would probably win. Commissioner Paul Kelley also voiced his frustration with not being allowed to make decisions based on possible health impacts. Shotwell, who cast the sole vote against the project, said she didnt think she was getting clear-cut information in terms of the actual safety of these antennas being placed on this particular building, and so didnt feel comfortable voting to approve.

The commissioners previously voted to delay making a decision on the item because they hadnt been given time to review the radio frequency report prior to the meeting, and because the applicant  Martinez-based The CBR Group, working on behalf of Dish  hadnt brought along someone to answer technical questions.

Napa Valley College ransomware attack caused possible data breach About 8,000 people with connections to NVC recently received letters informing them their personal information may have been accessed while the school responded to a June cyberattack.

This time around, the applicant brought along Jerrold Bushberg, longtime UC Davis School of Medicine professor and senior vice president of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, to answer questions.

Bushberg noted that the current RF standards used by the Federal Communications Commission, set in 1996, are very close to the standards used by the vast majority of countries and governments throughout the world. He also referred to a recent lawsuit  Environmental Health Trust, et al., v. FCC and United States of America  which resulted in an order from the court to have the FCC review and update its 1996 guidelines. But he noted that should the FCC make significant revisions to its guidelines, carriers would, by default, need to comply with the new rules, likely within a certain timeframe.

Currently, he said, most countries establish RF regulations using a baseline no adverse effect threshold, the point at which no observed negative health effects happen with exposure. Some have established RF thresholds based on whether theres any biological change at all, which he said would generally be much more stringent.

Napa City Council to weigh Foster Road zoning as general plan process nears end In reviewing the draft general plan Tuesday, the Napa City Council will ponder a Planning Commission recommendation to rezone the Foster Road area to a greenbelt, which could trigger legal action.

If I eat a tuna sandwich and you take a blood sample from before and after I ate the sandwich, you would notice a whole number of biological indices that changed because of the oxidative metabolism of ingesting food, Bushberg said. But these changes are well within our, what we refer to as a homeostatic mechanism, our ability to deal with, to compensate for. So to set the threshold at nothing can change, then youre really establishing a threshold that has very little to do with health and safety.

Bushberg added that the former Soviet Union established such biological emission standards, but in his personal experience measuring RF exposures there, the USSR was clearly not enforcing those standards.

From a scientific point of view, almost all toxicology is based on an established adverse health effect, from which the safety factors are applied, Bushberg said. If you apply a test to any biological change, any number of things can cause it. Going outside on a sunny day produces a dozen or more biological changes in our body that our fully within our capacity to compensate for.
Napa Countys look at rodent bait stations in the airport industrial area found violations that didnt warrant penalties and no proof that poisons are harming wildlife, though officials said this is a legitimate concern.

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Changes are happening following the citizen-requested investigation. The county, which does 250 to 300 pesticide-use field inspections annually, announced it will do more to ensure already-placed rodent bait stations comply with state laws.

In addition, the county will increase outreach and education with pest control companies. That will include looking at best practices and promoting non-chemical rodent control methods.

This investigation provided us the opportunity to look at this particular issue in a different way, county Agricultural Commissioner Tracy Cleveland said.

Resident Yvonne Baginski and the Napa Sierra Club early this year asked the county to investigate the matter. Baginski had noticed small, metal bait stations by the dozens around warehouses in the south county industrial area near a creek and wetlands.

St. Helena Public Cemetery bats found dead in possible poisoning Hundreds of endangered bats that lent gothic character to the St. Helena Public Cemetery and played a vital role in its ecosystem are dead after possibly being poisoned.

She fears that hawks and other wildlife could die after eating rodents poisoned by the bait stations.

The county Agricultural Commissioners office inspected 380 bait stations on 388 acres in the airport industrial area and found about 100 had such issues as being improperly marked. It found 60 abandoned and empty stations. It required businesses to correct the problems.

Inspectors found no evidence of wildlife being killed by eating poisoned rodents. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has not reported any recent non-target wildlife poisonings from Napa County, the recently-released investigation report said.

The investigation didnt link poisoned bait stations to any hawk population declines. Given such factors as habitat loss and drought, a study by a state or federal agency would likely be needed to prove any correlation, the report said.

Baginski said these findings dont mean secondary poisonings arent happening. To prove a poisoning case, a carcass must be autopsied by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Most people who find a carcass dont report it. Also, birds fly distances from where they might have been poisoned, she said.

Sierra Club expresses concern over use of poison bait stations to control rodents in Napa County Responding to these concerns, the Agricultural Commissioners office has initiated their own internal investigation, but at this point, dont have much official information to report.

She reported a dead hawk on Orchard Avenue north of the city of Napa to Fish and Wildlife, Baginski said.

I have no idea whether they went out, or if they did and the hawk was gone or whatever, she said. How would we ever know how it died?

Businesses involving food are required by federal laws to control pests at their facilities. The most common chemical control method used is rodenticide-treated bait and the practice will probably continue for the foreseeable future, the county Agricultural Commissioners office report said.

California in the Ecosystems Protection Act of 2020 restricted the use of certain rodenticides linked to harming mountain lions, owls and other wildlife. These "second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides are largely prohibited, though they can be used in certain settings involving food.

The county found two locations using these poisons and both fell under the exemption. Most pest control companies no longer use these poisons, the county report said.

Napa Flood Control: Protecting the beavers on Tulocay Creek The beaver colony on Tulocay Creek, just off busy Soscol Avenue, has friends in high places.

Still, accidental wildlife poisoning risk is a legitimate concern, the county investigation report said.

A Senate analysis for the Ecosystems Protection Act of 2020 said the same thing. A statewide ban on certain poisons would be expected to reduce wildlife exposures, it said.

However, the importance of appropriate tools for vector control (including rodents) should not be dismissed, especially in urban settings where conditions may support rodent proliferations and associated disease outbreak, state Senate bill analysis said.

The Napa Sierra Club appreciates the county agreeing to do more rodenticide-use inspections and take appropriate compliance/enforcement actions, the group said in a statement to the Napa Valley Register.

The (report) on the investigation showed that we were right to have been concerned about the way traps are distributed, labeled and maintained, the Sierra Club said in an email.

These traps remain legal if used in ways that meet state laws. But Baginski said filing a complaint with the county Agricultural Commissioners office has had an effect.

I think it raised the consciousness, Baginski said. No one had ever brought any of this to their attention.

She said an alternative to using bait stations for rats is snap traps.

Baginski likes to walk on a path along Sheehy Creek in the airport industrial area. She sees such wildlife as herons, beavers and wild turkeys. She also sees the warehouses and the bait stations.

The problem is these bait stations are being put in wildlife areas, Baginski said. These are traditional wildlife areas.
Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to debate a Republican  but the one he seems most eager to take on is about 2,500 miles away.

Newsom on Friday evening challenged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to a debate after the two exchanged insults over the Republicans decision to send a group of migrants to Marthas Vineyard in Massachusetts.

After the Florida governor paid to fly dozens of Texas migrants to the affluent East Coast vacation spot, Newsom told The Sacramento Bee the move was disgraceful and repugnant. Newsom also called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate DeSantiss action.

All I can say is, I think his hair gel is interfering with his brain function, said DeSantis when asked about Newsoms comments at a Friday press conference.

Newsom then called for the debate in response to a tweet from journalist Dan Rather, suggesting CNN organize the event.

Hey @GovRonDeSantis, clearly youre struggling, distracted, and busy playing politics with peoples lives. Since you have only one overriding need  attention  lets take this up & debate. Ill bring my hair gel. You bring your hairspray. Name the time before Election Day. @CNN, Newsom said in a tweet.

The Bee has reached out to DeSantis aides for comment on Newsoms proposal.

The California governor seems more eager to debate DeSantis than State Sen. Brian Dahle, his Republican gubernatorial opponent. Dahle told KCRA 3 on Friday the two are scheduling a debate for late October.

During a Friday bill signing, Newsom confirmed plans for a debate, but he wouldnt say much else.

I said we would debate, Ill leave it at that, he said.
By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

Turkish Human Rights and Equality Commissioner Seref Malkoc expressed condolences over the death of Azerbaijani servicemen while preventing military provocations of Armenia, Azernews reports.

He made the remarks during a phone call to Azerbaijani Ombudswoman Sabina Aliyeva.

The ombudsman honored the memory of the martyrs and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.

To recap, units of the Armenian armed forces carried out large-scale provocations along the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border in the Dashkasan, Kalbajar, and Lachin directions during the night of September 13. At night, Armenian sabotage groups mined land and supply roads linking the positions of the Azerbaijani army units in different directions, taking advantage of the area's steep topography and existing ravine gaps.

The clashes between the sides ensued as a result of the urgent efforts made by the Azerbaijani armed forces to quell these activities. As a result, 71 armed forces personnel were killed, the ministry detailed.

The Azerbaijan military units stationed in these areas took decisive retaliatory measures to suppress the provocations of the Armenian armed forces and military threats to Azerbaijan's territory and sovereignty, as well as to ensure the safety of military personnel, including civilian workers involved in infrastructure construction in Kalbajar and Lachin districts, the ministry emphasized.
FORESTHILL  A weekend weather system could hamper firefighters' efforts in Northern California to battle the week-old blaze thats become the largest in the state so far this year.

The system is forecasted to bring colder temperatures and precipitation  from 1/4 inch (0.6 centimeters) to more than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of rainfall over several days  to the Mosquito Fire about 110 miles (177 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco.

But stronger winds are also expected to arrive in the area beginning Saturday, and the winds could throw burning embers and create spot fires despite the rain.

Thats a bit of a mixed blessing here, fire behavior analyst Jonathan Pangburn said Thursday.

The forecast came as firefighters again prevented flames from entering a mountain town and reported major progress Thursday, just two days after the fire roared back to life and burned structures near Foresthill. Crews on the ground built up containment lines while water-dropping helicopters knocked down hotspots.

Conditions on the ground Thursday were looking a whole heck of a lot better, according to fire spokesman Scott McLean.

It's looking really good on the west end where we had that dramatic increase of fire earlier this week, McLean said. Flames raced up a drainage ditch into a neighborhood, but firefighters saved all the homes.

Scientists say climate change has made the West warmer and drier over the last three decades and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. In the last five years, California has experienced the largest and most destructive fires in its history.

Evacuation orders remained for some 11,000 residents because of the unpredictable nature of the winds, McLean said, which typically blow in the direction of several canyons and could rapidly spread flames if gusts pick up.

The Mosquito Fire was 20% contained after destroying at least 70 homes and other buildings. Total containment of the fire is expected to occur around Oct. 15.

The 109-square-mile (282-square-kilometer) blaze on Wednesday surpassed the size of the previous largest conflagration in 2022  the McKinney Fire  although this season has seen a fraction of last years wildfire activity so far.

In Southern California, dogs aided the hunt for a person missing in a heavily damaged area of the San Bernardino Mountains where thunderstorms unleashed rocks, trees and earth that washed away cars, buried homes and affected 3,000 residents in two remote communities. Nearly 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rain fell Monday at Yucaipa Ridge between Oak Glen, home to apple orchards that are a fall tourist destination, and Forest Falls, once a summer getaway for cabin owners that has become a bedroom community.

This entire area is blanketed with up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) of mud, debris, large boulders, said Jim Topelski, a San Bernardino County fire chief.

The mudslide damage in Oak Glen and Forest Falls served as a powerful warning to residents of the lingering damage wildfires can cause months or even years after flames are extinguished and the smoke clears.

An intense amount of rain even over a short period of time can have catastrophic effects on hillsides where fire has stripped vegetation that once held the ground intact.

Also in Southern California, firefighters were close to completely surrounding a deadly wildfire that erupted Sept. 5 and initially spread very quickly.

The Fairview Fire was burning about 75 miles (121 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles. The 44-square-mile (114-square-kilometer) blaze was 94% contained Friday. Two people were killed trying to flee the fire, which destroyed at least 35 homes and other structures in Riverside County.
German power producer RWE to buy clean energy company for $6.8 billion

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Bloomberg: OPEC+ group to consider cutting oil production by more than 1 million barrels per day

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Secretary of Armenian Security Council to go on working visit to Brussels

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Pope appeals to Vladimir Putin to 'stop this spiral of violence and death'

Crown Prince of Kuwait accepts resignation of government after parliamentary elections in country

Armenian FM meets with EU Special Representative Toivo Klaar in Geneva

Former Ombudsman: Armenia must immediately apply to International Criminal Court

Address by Alen Simonyan to National Minorities: You have been and continue to be members of our extended family

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If Russia cannot do anything at this moment, then let it tell us, pretend why it doesn't say. Speaker Alen Simonyan of the National Assembly of Armenia stated this on the air of the state-funded Public Television, and responding to the program host's remark that the press secretary of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated that the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan continue even in this situation.

"And why is this situation? And who is the guarantor of not being in this situation?" asked Simonyan, to which the program host replied that there is a war in Ukraine, and therefore Russia is not in a good state and cannot resist.

"Then tell us, tell us about it. Why don't you tell about it? Say, 'You know what, we can't do anything now.' But pretending, or leaving us [Armenia] in this situation... I'm sorry, but we don't have that resource. We are a small country of three million people, and for us every meter...It is Russia which has very large territories, and for us every meter has the highest cost in blood and history. Yes, the negotiations on the peace agreement [between Armenia and Azerbaijan] are ongoing, they are being discussed, and I have great hope that we will be able to implement that peace agreement in the near future," said the Armenian parliament speaker.

Regarding the remark that Russia does not assist Armenia because it does not like the incumbent Armenian authorities, Simonyan said that if the price of security is their leaving from power, then let Russia talk openly about it.

"Let them say openly, we will leave right now. In general, it is not a matter to discuss. It is something fake, made up. Yes, we are in power that need not receive approval from Brussels, Moscow, Washington. Our approval is the Armenian people, from Meghri to the last point. Yes, our people elected us, and our authorities get the approval from our people. Its not a matter of liking or disliking. There are interests," he said.

"Did the 2020 Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] war have anything to do with the events taking place in Syria? Yes, it did. Did the Artsakh war have anything to do with the future military operations in Ukraine? Yes, it did. And it is the different pieces of a puzzle. There can't be a second opinion; let's not deceive ourselves that it likes one and doesn't like the other," said Simonyan.
By Trend

French Lagazetteaz.fr online newspaper published an article about the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) refusing to send military aid to Armenia, Trend reports.

On September 12-14, the Azerbaijani Army dealt a crushing blow to the Armenian armed forces following the unique military operation against large-scale provocations of Yerevan.

"All military facilities of the Armenian armed forces in the Lachin, Kalbajar, and Zangilan directions have been destroyed. It will take at least 4-5 years for Yerevan to restore its military installations. The significant financial losses of Yerevan have constituted another blow for the Armenian leadership," the article emphasized.

"Neither Armenia's ally under the military partnership agreement, Russia, nor the CSTO military bloc, of which it is a member, have come to the country's aid. The CSTO member states have openly refused to provide military assistance to the country. This proves once again that these countries respect military and political decisions of Azerbaijan," the article noted.

Furthermore, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan declined to attend the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand, thereby losing the chance to participate in the political discussions with the influential leaders of the region concerning the future of the South Caucasus, and particularly the Azerbaijan-Armenia relations.
Armenia has submitted a petition to the International Court of Justice. Hasmik Samvelyan, the press secretary of Armenia's representation at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), told Armenian News-NEWS.am about this.

"We have already sent the petition; we will publicize the content on Monday. The basis for petitioning to the International Court of Justice is the committing of war crimes by Azerbaijan," said Samvelyan.

At 12:05am on Tuesday, the Azerbaijani armed forces started to fire intensively, from artillery and large-caliber firearms, in the direction of the Armenian combat positions along the border; they used UAVs as well. The adversary attacked both military and civilian objects, and carried out positional advancement in some directions.

During the National Assembly-Government question-and-answer session on Wednesday, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that, as of that moment, Azerbaijanis had occupied 10 square kilometers in Armenia.

As of Friday, the Armenian side has 135 confirmed casualties.
The war in Ukraine is having far-reaching consequences. Russia's dwindling influence is leading to flare-ups of violence in former Soviet nations, including the world's first official Christian country Armenia, CBN News noted in an article.

Just after midnight on Sept. 13, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack on its neighbor, Armenia. It's the latest battle in a long-running conflict between Muslim majority Azerbaijan, and Armenia, a country that claims to be the world's first Christian nation. But the attacks on Sunday have more to do with money than with religion.

It was the worst attack since 2020, when Azeri forces pushed into the Armenian exclave of Artsakh, taking lands that had been populated by Armenians since the time of Noah. CBN News was there two years ago to witness how the Azeri military puts little stock in the value of civilian lives when it attacks.

So you see this car right here was hit by cluster munitions. All of these little holes are from the thousands of projectiles thrown out by these things. They are definitely not meant for civilian areas. They are meant for troops in the open, said CBN News Contributing Correspondent Chuck Holton.

The most recent attack looks to be no different.

Maria Titizian, the editor of the EVN Report, headquartered in Yerevan, said. The Armenian side has 49 soldiers killed in action. We have several civilians wounded. The attacks were not only against Armenian military positions but there were there were attacks against Armenian civilian towns and villages. Several homes have been damaged, including municipal buildings. So there was an attack against military and civilian infrastructure.

The current conflict is different, however, because the Azeris aren't attacking a remote exclave, but Armenia proper. And the objectives have everything to do with the current war in Ukraine.

So right now what's taking place is extremely concerning because this is not, they're not attacking Nagorno Karabach [(Nagorno-Karabakh, or Artsakh)]. They are attacking the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia escalating this situation, this theater of hostilities to an all-time high. And it's a very dangerous situation at the moment, Titizian noted.

Jacob Pursley, a missionary to Armenia, told CBN News it's all about oil.

And the reason they want that is that is the connector between Azerbaijan and the autonomous country of Nakhichevan to Turkey, and that will allow them to have a pipeline of oil, he said.

Indeed, western leaders have been meeting with Azerbaijan's president recently to discuss ways to get more of the country's oil to make up for the shortfalls from Russia this winter, and that may have emboldened the Azeris to make this move now.

I think this is about money, Pursley said. I think this is about taking those lands right now because that's where the majority of the attacks are happening.

The U.S. government has so far refrained from condemning the attacks, instead calling on both parties to return to the negotiating table.

We've seen the outbreak of hostilities again, something that is in no one's interest, said U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. It's not in the interest of the people of Azerbaijan. It's not in the interest of the people of Armenia, and it's not in the interest of the larger region.

Armenia relies on Russian peacekeepers to uphold a ceasefire brokered in 2020, but with the distraction of the war in Ukraine, Russia may be unable to keep a lid on the hostilities. That runs the risk of pulling Iran into the conflict, which moved troops to the border on Monday, saying it would not stand for any change in Armenia's territorial borders.

Azerbaijan is desperate to find a path for its oil to the west, but the many Christians in Armenia see a deeper issue with the current conflict, CBN News added, in particular.
The CSTO Secretariat is seriously concerned and worried about the clasheswith the use of heavy weaponson the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border on September 14-16, as a result of which there are casualties and wounded, as well as destruction of civil infrastructure on both sides. This is noted in a CSTO statement released Saturday.

"We welcome the ceasefire and the started negotiations between the border services of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. We are confident that mutually acceptable ways will be found to solve this difficult border problem, reduce tension, and prevent the escalation of the conflict. We consider the use of force unacceptable. Only political and diplomatic methods should be used to settle disputes.

The CSTO Secretariat is closely monitoring the situation, and hopes that the ceasefire established now will be long-term and stable. The conflict must be resolved solely at the negotiating table in a peaceful way; it is no longer possible to allow people to die," the CSTO statement also reads.

Large-scale clashes on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan began on Friday morning. The parties accused each other of shelling. Later, the border guard service of Kyrgyzstan announced that the heads of the special services of the two countries agreed on a ceasefire. In the evening, however, the Kyrgyz border guard service announced the violation of the ceasefire by the Tajik military.

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are CSTO membersjust like Armenia.
By Trend

Four citizens of Sri Lanka were detained on September 15 at 08:50 (GMT+4) on the territory of Horadiz border detachment of Azerbaijani State Border Service near Birinji Shahsevan village of Azerbaijans Beylagan district during attempt to cross the state border with Iran, Trend reports via the service.

According to the service, the detained citizens - previously arrived in Azerbaijans Baku from Doha and Dubai.

Through the territory of Iran, the border violators intended to get to Turkiye, and from there - to one of the European countries.

Operational and investigative measures are ongoing to identify and close the channel of illegal migration, added the service.
There are disturbing reports of crimes and violence targeting civilians during the latest fighting. Klaar, the European Union (EU) Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, wrote this on Twitter Saturdayand with respect to Azerbaijans latest military aggression against Armenia.

Cases from the past also need to addressed, but can in no way be a justification. All allegations of human rights abuses & war crimes need to be investigated & perpetrators brought to justice, Klaar added.

Also, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus informed that he is back in Brussels after urgent meetings in Baku, Yerevan, and also Vienna.

Difficult and sometimes emotional exchanges. Lots of challenges remain but hope that ceasefire will hold. Need to return to negotiations, Klaar added.

The EU remains engaged at the highest level and our aim continues to be to help Armenia and Azerbaijan achieve a comprehensive and sustainable agreement that will ensure a stable, secure and prosperous South Caucasus, concluded the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus.

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan on Thursday received Toivo Klaar and briefed him on the situation as a result of the pre-planned large-scale aggression of the Azerbaijani military against the sovereign territory of Armenia, and the steps taken by Armenia toward stopping this aggression.
As of now, we have two confirmed casualties among civilians; the investigation is ongoing in that regard. Argishti Kyaramyan, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, told this Saturday to several reporters in Gegharkunik Provinceand with respect to Azerbaijans latest military aggression against Armenia.

"One was killed as a result of [the Azerbaijanis] directly targeting a road. Yes, we also have a case where an ambulance was targeted," he added.

According to him, criminal cases have been opened into the act of aggression and committing a number of significant international humanitarian violations by the military and political leadership of Azerbaijan; criminal cases have been opened under the article on looting, too.

As per Kyaramyan, the criminal case was opened on the very day of the aforesaid military aggression on Tuesday, and since that day, the Investigative Committee has been conducting the work.

He informed that there was no military infrastructure or military personnel in the damaged civil infrastructures or in the areas between them.

"It is obvious that Azerbaijan directly targeted the civilian population and civilian infrastructures," Kyaramyan said.

When asked what their next courses of action will be after the completion of the investigation, the chairman of the Investigative Committee responded: "Actually, targeting civilian infrastructures is very important to clearly specify that we can raise these matters in international instances. Our colleagues are working in that direction, we will provide the evidence we have collected also to the competent state structures working in those instances. We are working very intensively and promptly, we have already provided a part of them, new information is constantly being provided.

Also, our colleagues have petitioned regarding the identified [Armenian] detainees, and there are already decisions by the European Court [of Human Rights] to apply an interim measure [against Azerbaijan]."
The participants of the rallies in Stepanakert made a statement, which was published by Artsakhpress.

"We, the residents of the NKR, participants of the people's rally in the Revival Square of Stepanakert, the capital of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, declare that we will defend the sovereignty and statehood of the NKR.

We declared our independence 31 years ago and exercised our right to self-determination in full compliance with the international law and the legislation of the USSR. These decisions are stipulated by the "Declaration of NKR Independence" and the results of the nationwide referendum. Azerbaijan continues to carry out the genocide of the Armenian people, initiated by Turkey more than a hundred years ago.

The policy of genocide against Armenians in Karabakh was carried out by Azerbaijan during the Soviet regime, and in all subsequent years after the collapse of the USSR. It continues today, as evidenced, for example, by the events of recent days, when there was an armed invasion into the territory of the Republic of Armenia, which was accompanied by crimes against humanity, mockery over the bodies of those killed, beheadings of captives and other inhumane manifestations of Armenophobia.

Azerbaijan, not hiding its intention of destroying Armenians and Armenian statehood, carries out the Armenian Genocide, involving other regional and international forces in its criminal activity. Only the people of Nagorno Karabakh have the right to decide their destiny.

After the collapse of the USSR, Armenia was a guarantor of NKR's security and acted as a mediator in the negotiations for the settlement of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh. But the Armenian leadership has no right to sign any document that would change the current status of NKR. Any such document is not legitimate and has no legal force.

Recognize the independence of NKR, do not participate in the Genocide of Armenians carried out by Azerbaijan and its allies," the statement of the rally participants reads.
If the adversary has already attacked, it is necessary to completely transfer the country from a peaceful position to a military one, the former chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Norat Ter-Grigoryants, told NEWS.am.

He pointed out the need for mobilization deployment of troops and repulse enemy attacks.

Otherwise, Azerbaijan will gradually, step by step, slow seepage tactics tomorrow be in Yerevan, on the Northern Avenue. A few days ago, when they just started shooting, I said that we should turn to Russia and the CSTO. And Lavrov said that they are concerned. These diplomatic words do not bring any benefit. If you consider Armenia an ally, then provide it with weapons, missiles, and so on, said Ter-Grigoryants.

According to him, the CSTO should be disbanded. If they had done what I suggested after the 44-day war of 2020 and what they wanted to do, they would have prevented a lot of things.

On September 13, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces began intensive shelling of Armenian positions from artillery and large-caliber small arms in the direction of Goris, Sotk and Jermuk. The enemy also used UAVs. Later, Azerbaijan used artillery in other directions as well. According to official figures, the number of victims from the Armenian side is 135 people.

As a result of the aggression of the enemy, civilians also suffered. According to the latest data, at least 7,600 people left their homes. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a government meeting on September 16 that, despite the tense situation, it is not advisable to introduce martial law. Pashinyan again, as during the 44-day war, referred to the volunteers.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on approving the "List of state bodies (institutions) carrying out audiovisual terrestrial broadcasting" and "List of state bodies (institutions) which can be founders of a print media entity", Trend reports.

According to the decree, the list of state bodies (structures) carrying out audiovisual terrestrial broadcasting includes:

1. "Azerbaijani Television and Radio Broadcasting" CJSC - TV broadcaster of "AzTV" channel.

2. "Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting" CJSC - TV broadcaster of "Idman TV" channel.

3. "Azerbaijani Television and Radio Broadcasting" CJSC - TV broadcaster of "Madaniyyat TV" channel.

4. "Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting" CJSC - radio broadcaster of "Azerbaijan Radio" station.

5. "Innovation Center" LLC under the State Agency for Public Services and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan - radio broadcaster of "ASAN Radio" station.

6. Center for Intelligent Transport Management LLC under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan - radio broadcaster of "Avto FM" station.

The list of state bodies (structures) which can be founders of a print media entity includes:
Armenia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Nairi Petrosyan said that the international community should under no circumstances give a license to Azerbaijan to conduct a campaign of ethnic cleansing.

Speaking at the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council on September 16, Nairi Petrosyan said: "We feel the terrible consequences of Azerbaijani disregard of its international obligations and the behavior stemming from them. The most recent example is 2022. The military aggression undertaken by Azerbaijan on September 13th was directed against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia".

According to Nairi Petrosyan, Azerbaijan's constant attempts at ethnic cleansing either through open military aggression or by depriving Armenians of their fundamental rights violate numerous norms of international law.

"Azerbaijan has a lot of homework to do, which is not limited solely to international humanitarian law," he said.

Nairi Petrosyan also recalled that back in 2007, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination demanded from Azerbaijan to stop discriminatory treatment of ethnic Armenians.

"However, Azerbaijan ignored this demand and continued its policy of ethnic cleansing," Petrosyan noted, recalling this just a month ago, in 2022.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent information about the completion of the military operation on the border with Armenia, RIA Novosti reports.

Erdogan made this statement upon his return from Samarkand.

At the same time, he repeated his assertion that the "operation" was launched in response to the provocations" of Armenia.

Since the operation has already been completed, there is no point in discussing it now. According to the information I received from Mr. Ilham, our Azerbaijani brothers have now moved to a safe position, he said.

For Yerevan, it is important "to give up provocations against Baku and act in accordance with the obligations that were given earlier, for the sake of peace and cooperation," Erdogan said.

"We wish that the normalization processes in our region will be successfully completed, and regional peace and stability will be ensured for a long time," the Turkish president says.
There is no electricity in Sotk village of Armenia for the fifth day already.

On the night of September 13, not only electricity cables were damaged, but also the gas pipeline. The rehabilitation works of the cables have started, the repair of the gas pipeline has not started yet.

Sotk is the most damaged settlement in Gegharkunik province as a result of the military aggression initiated by the Azerbaijani side. Many houses here have been partially destroyed, they are now uninhabitable. The residents of these houses temporarily live in the houses of their acquaintances and friends in other villages. Women and children were evacuated due to military situation, few returned to the village after the ceasefire.

In Sotk, the school, kindergarten, and shops are still closed. The school building was damaged as a result of shelling.

Although the shelling of the village has stopped for three days, the residents are still in uncertainty, they only go to the village in the morning, feed the cattle, and leave in the evening.

Today, our film crew was in Sotk, talked with the residents, as well as with the deputy head of the enlarged community of Vardenis, Karen Mkrtchyan.

The photo report from Sotk is here.
Lapid's office said he will also meet with the Greek prime minister while in New York

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will meet during the UN General Assembly in New York, Reuters reported, citing Lapid's press office.

Lapid's office said he will also meet with the Greek prime minister while in New York.

The meeting marks another milestone for the countries as they work to rebuild long-broken ties, the media noted.

Both governments expelled ambassadors in 2018 and have frequently exchanged barbs over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Last month, Turkey and Israel announced they would reappoint ambassadors.

In March, Israel's president, whose post is largely ceremonial, visited Turkey at Erdogan's invitation, the highest-ranking Israeli visit since 2008. Two months later, Turkey's foreign minister visited Israel, and the regional powers said they hoped to expand economic ties.
By Trend

The European Union (EU) remains committed to supporting the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar said on Twitter, Trend reports.

The EU remains engaged at the highest level and our aim continues to be to help Armenia and Azerbaijan achieve a comprehensive and sustainable agreement that will ensure a stable, secure and prosperous South Caucasus, Klaar noted.
Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education awarded major federal grant for work on Advanced Air Mobility

Media Contact: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405.744.5540 | mack.burke_iv@okstate.edu

President Shrum praises transformative partnership as OSU continues to cement itself as Oklahomas aerospace leader

Oklahoma State Universitys Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE) has received two federal grants to expand its reach and impact in the development of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).

The OSU grants are awarded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration as part of a $38.2 million award to the Tulsa Regional Advanced Mobility (TRAM) Corridor to create a hub for research, development and production in the burgeoning field of advanced mobility  the next intersection point between the aerospace industry and intelligence.

The funding will be used to create the LaunchPad Center of Advanced Air Mobility at the Helmerich Research Center on the OSU-Tulsa campus and support ongoing research activities at OSU, such as the NASA University Leadership Initiative led by OSU and the recent agreement between the state governments of Oklahoma and Arkansas to develop Advanced Mobility pilot programs across the border. The new center will focus on research and development of drone technology and urban air mobility  aka urban air taxis. The funding also will be used in the related development of flight test capabilities, and OSU researchers will work with the Osage Nation and its SkyWay36 Droneport northwest of downtown Tulsa.

Quality partnerships open the door to new possibilities, OSU President Kayse Shrum said. Oklahoma State University has seen incredible success in other Tulsa-area partnerships, and were delighted to be a key stakeholder in this coalition. OSU is the states leader in aerospace and aviation, with specialized infrastructure dedicated to the research and design of unmanned systems.

As a land-grant university, were committed to using research to address societys most pressing problems, empowering Oklahomas workforce and providing access to a quality education. This partnership will improve life for Oklahomans in tangible ways. The benefits will expand beyond our borders and will have an influence on the nation and more importantly, the future.

OSU will join a number of partners, including the Osage Nation, Tulsa Innovation Labs (TIL), Tulsa Ports, Osage LLC, Partner Tulsa and the Tulsa Regional Chamber, under the umbrella of The Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG) to create the technology corridor.

This is a game changer for Oklahoma and OSU, said Dr. Jamey Jacob, Unmanned Systems Research Institute director. While Oklahoma is already a leader in Advanced Air Mobility, this grant will provide new capabilities, expanding OSUs role in AAM and attracting new companies and projects to the state. This award, the first for OSUs new Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, exemplifies and cements OSUs leadership position in aerospace and aviation at the state and national levels.

These grants are part of the federal Build Back Better - American Rescue Plan designed to boost economic recovery from the pandemic and rebuild American communities.

Oklahoma has a proud and longstanding history in aviation, aerial mobility technology and manufacturing, which has allowed northeast Oklahoma to harness the regions innovative capabilities and lead in the development of next-generation unmanned aerial systems, said Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03). The Economic Development Administrations $39 million award is a welcome and exciting investment that will cement Oklahoma as a hub of transformational aerial mobility research and development.

I commend the work of INCOG, Oklahoma State University, the Osage Nation, the City of Tulsa and all other regional stakeholders who have forged a pioneering vision for the future of unmanned aerial technologies and manufacturing in Oklahoma. By investing in this critical industry  and our local and state economies  we will continue to increase Americas technological competitiveness across the globe.

Jennifer Hankins, head of partnerships with Tulsa Innovation Labs, said the new agreement is an important step towards realizing our vision and transforming Tulsa into an inclusive, thriving city of the future.
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Cheetahs reintroduced to India after 70 year absence

Cheetahs reintroduced to India after 70 year absence

Eight Namibian cheetahs arrived in India Saturday, decades after their local extinction, in an ambitious project to reintroduce the big cats that has divided experts on its chances for success.



Officials say the project is the world's first intercontinental relocation of cheetahs, the planet's fastest land animal.



The five females and three males were flown from a game park north of the Namibian capital Windhoek aboard a chartered Boeing 747 dubbed "Cat plane" for an 11-hour flight.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the release at Kuno National Park, a wildlife sanctuary 320 kilometres south of New Delhi selected for its abundant prey and grasslands.



Each of the animals, aged between two and five and a half, have been fitted with a satellite collar to monitor their movements.



They will initially be kept in a quarantine enclosure for about a month before being released in the open forest areas of the park.



Critics have warned the creatures may struggle to adapt to the Indian habitat.



India was once home to the Asiatic cheetah but it was declared extinct there by 1952.



The critically endangered subspecies, which once roamed across the Middle East, Central Asia and India, are now only found, in very small numbers, in Iran.



Efforts to reintroduce the animals to India gathered pace in 2020 when the Supreme Court ruled that African cheetahs, a different subspecies, could be settled in India at a "carefully chosen location" on an experimental basis.



They are a donation from the government of Namibia, one of a tiny handful of countries in Africa where the magnificent creature survives in the wild.



Negotiations are ongoing for similar translocation from South Africa, with vets suggesting 12 cats could be moved.



Cheetahs became extinct in India primarily because of habitat loss and hunting for their distinctive spotted coats.



An Indian prince, the Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo, is widely believed to have killed the last three recorded cheetahs in India in the late 1940s.



One of the oldest of the big cat species, with ancestors dating back about 8.5 million years, cheetahs once roamed widely throughout Asia and Africa in great numbers, said CCF.



But today only around 7,000 remain, primarily in the African savannas.



The cheetah is listed globally as "vulnerable" on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.



In North Africa and Asia it is "critically endangered".



Their survival is threatened primarily by dwindling natural habitat and loss of prey due to human hunting, the development of land for other purposes and climate change. (AFP)
No major incidents on Kyrgyz-Tajik border

Volunteers carry humanitarian aid for evacuees in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. Photo: AFP

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan reported no major combat incidents on Saturday, indicating that a ceasefire they agreed after intense fighting on Friday remained in effect despite accusations of sporadic shelling by both sides.



The two former Soviet republics clashed over a border dispute this week, accusing each other of using tanks, mortars, rocket artillery and assault drones to attack outposts and nearby settlements, leaving at least 54 dead.



Central Asian border issues largely stem from the Soviet era when Moscow tried to divide the region between groups whose settlements were often located amidst those of other ethnicities.



Kyrgyzstan, which said 24 of its citizens had been killed and about 137,000 evacuated from the conflict area, accused Tajik forces of shelling its border outposts on several occasions on Saturday.



Tajikistan has not given any official casualty numbers, but security sources said 30 people have been killed this week, including 15 who were in a mosque that Tajikistan says was struck by a Kyrgyz drone.



The administration of Tajikistan's northern Sughd province - where the clashes erupted - said tensions were easing in the border area.



"As a result of meetings between Tajik and Kyrgyz delegations the situation on the border is stabilising, people are returning to normal life," it said in a statement.



Both countries host Russian military bases and are members of several Russia-led military and economic blocs.



Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon and his Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Japarov were attending a meeting of a Russia- and China-led regional body this week when the border violence erupted.



On Saturday, Japarov said in an address to the nation that Kyrgyzstan would not give up any land in the disputed area.



"We will not stop even for a minute our efforts to settle the Kyrgyz-Tajik dispute as quickly as possible," he said. (Reuters)
This is the sixth weekly fall in the country's forex reserves. The forex reserves had dropped by $7.941 billion during the week ended September 2.

India's forex reserves have dropped by almost $80 billion since this escalation of the Russia-Ukraine tensions into war earlier this year.

As per the Reserve Bank of India's weekly statistical supplement, foreign currency assets, which are the biggest component of the forex reserves, dipped by $2.519 billion to $489.598 billion during the week ended September 9. The foreign currency assets had declined by $6.527 billion in the previous week.

Expressed in US dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-dollar currencies like Euro, UK's Pound Sterling and Japanese Yen held in the foreign exchange reserves.

The value of gold reserves rose by $340 million to $38.644 billion during the week ended September 9. The value of gold reserves had declined by $1.339 billion in the previous week.

The value of India's Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund declined by $63 million to $17.719 billion during the week under review, the RBI data showed.

India's reserve position in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) increased by $8 million to $4.910 billion during the week ended September 9, as per the RBI Weekly Statistical Supplement. (ANI)
Madurai/Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 17 (ANI/PNN): Ray Architects, a well-known name in artistic space design and consultation based in Tamil Nadu, has announced plans for pan-India expansion to serve commercial and residential interior design, architecture, and construction design. Ray Architects, founded in 2009 by Rengarajan Srinivasan in Coimbatore and Madurai, Tamil Nadu, is into the design of luxury projects exceeding Rs 2 crore per unit with customised handcrafted unique works. Over 1,000 luxury homes in India and around the world have had their artistic spaces designed and consulted by the company. Ray Architects' founder, Rengarajan Srinivasan, stated, "Ray Architects was founded in 2009 as an artistic space-designing studio in India." We made it a point that every space we design begins with a sketch on our designers' desks, is customised to the client's vision, delivered with virtual reality (VR) walkthrough experience even before it is brought to life." Rengarajan, who has lived in the United States for over eight years and visited 25 countries, decided to launch Ray Architects from the streets of Lisbon, Portugal. "We emphasise customization to add personality and vibrancy to the space." We have our own artistic studio where we make every element of the space from scratch, such as the chandelier, rugs, sofa, and chairs. "We will be opening design cum offices across India very soon," Rengarajan said. Website: https://rayarchitects.com/ Rengarajan Srinivasan LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rengarajan-srinivasan-4ab924202/ This story has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content in this article. (ANI/PNN)
According to The Hollywood Reporter, helmed by the 'Limitless' and 'Divergent' maker Niel Burger and written by Olen Steinhauer, the film will star the 'Bridgerton' actor in the lead role.

The makers of 'Inheritance' has reportedly wrapped filming across destinations including India, Korea and Egypt and will see Dynevor plunged into a world of secrecy and crime following her estranged father's reappearance, as per The Hollywood Reporter.

Pheobe Dynevor recently arrived in India and had also uploaded a picture on her Instagram story from the Taj Mahal.

She had earlier put a video for an auto-rickshaw ride and a picture of what looks like the Humanyun's Tomb complex.

Meanwhile, the actor will be also seen in the thriller 'Fair Play' opposite Alden Ehrenreich and is set to produce and star in 'The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne', the futuristic thriller directed by James Bobin.

Apart from that, will also appear in 'Bank of Dave', alongside Joel Fry and Rory Kinnear, while previous credits include Amazon Prime series 'Ten Percent' (2022) and Sky Original feature The 'Colour Room' (2021), as per The Hollywood Reporter. (ANI)
Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan is known for his amazing dance moves and hard-hitting action sequences. During the 'Alcoholia' song launch event, on Saturday, he revealed that the doctors had restricted him from doing action or dance films before the release of his first film 'Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai' in 2000. Hrithik is currently busy promoting his upcoming action thriller film 'Vikram Vedha', which is a very special film for the 'War' actor, as it's the 25th film of his career. During a recent song launch event, Hrithik talked about his journey and said, "Before the release of Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai my doctors had told me that my health condition is not so good that I can do action films and dance films. I took this diagnosis as a challenge and focused on my health and fitness. I learnt how to do my work to the best of my abilities and I'm just happy to be here standing in front of you'll today. It is nothing short of a miracle for me that in my 25th film, I'm still doing action and I'm still dancing and I'm still being able to say my dialogues. I think the 21-year-old me, would be very proud of this me, today." He further added, "Thank you to my audience, it wouldn't have been possible without your love & support. And nothing would be possible without the (Vikram Vedha) team, I'm blessed to be working with directors that I trust, Ganesh Hegde, Vishal-Shekhar .. this song would not be what it is if it wasn't for this team. And I've had this opportunity to work with some of the best actors, I just consider myself very fortunate." Makers of the upcoming action thriller 'Vikram Vedha' on Saturday unveiled the first song of the film 'Alcoholia'. Taking to Instagram, Hrithik Roshan shared a glimpse of the song which he captioned, "#VedhaKaRuab hua rangeela .. #Alcoholia Song out now." https://www.instagram.com/p/CinFPFMNFtb/ In the music video, the 'Krrish' actor could be seen dancing with his gang at a local bar in a rustic look. Helmed by director duo Pushkar and Gayatri, the film also stars Saif Ali Khan and Radhika Apte in the lead roles and is slated to hit the theatres on September 30, 2022. The song gives a glimpse of Vedha's 'Mad' dance, as he is seen letting loose and dancing to the song that has a desi vibe. 'Alcoholia' is sung by Vishal-Shekhar, Snigdhajit Bhowmik, and Ananya Chakraborty. The music is given by the hit duo Vishal-Shekhar while the lyrics are written by Manoj Muntashir. (ANI)
Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here has performed an en bloc kidney transplant surgery on a five-year-old boy, who became the youngest organ recipient in India. "The boy was suffering from chronic kidney failure for around one-and-a-half years and was continuously on haemodialysis. On every alternate day, the boy had to come for dialysis, which was not only costly but also not feasible for him at his age," Manjunath Maruti Pol, additional professor in the department of surgery, AIIMS, told IANS. Talking to IANS, Manjunath said the boy became the youngest organ recipient in India for en bloc kidney transplant. The child was suffering from chronic glomerulonephritis which caused kidney failure. The transplant was performed on August 25, he said. En bloc kidney transplant occurs when the two moieties (kidneys), from the same small pediatric donor, along with the aorta and inferior vena cava (IVC) for graft revascularization are transplanted into a single recipient, he explained. "The family members of a 16-month-old boy donated the kidneys after he suffered brain death. Rishant was also the youngest donor at AIIMS. His parents donated his kidneys, liver, and both corneas to save the lives of two children suffering from end-stage liver and kidney disease," said Deepak Gupta from the department of neurosurgery. Very few cases of organ donation after brain death by such young children (<2 years of age) have been reported from India, Gupta told IANS. The surgical team comprised Manjunath Maruti Pol, Sandeep Aggarwal, Seenu and Sunil Chumber. --IANS avr/arm ( 268 Words) 2022-09-16-23:22:03 (IANS)
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, discussions between the two leaders, apart from centering around issues pertaining to bilateral cooperation, also focussed on energy security, global food security and availability of fertilisers in the context of the challenges emanating from the current geo-political situation.

The meeting between Modi and Putin assumes significance in the context of Russian crude forming a significant 13 per cent share of India's overall oil import basket, amid increased supplies from there.

Meanwhile, the statement further said that the leaders appreciated the sustained momentum in bilateral ties, including contacts at various levels.

"President Putin expressed appreciation for Prime Minister's video-message at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok earlier this month," the statement said.

In the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Prime Minister Modi reiterated his call for an early cessation of hostilities and the need for dialogue and diplomacy.

This was the first meeting of both leaders this year, which marks the 75th anniversary year of establishment of diplomatic relations. They agreed to remain in touch, the statement said.

--IANS ans/vd

( 218 Words)

2022-09-16-20:32:03 (IANS)
By Trend

In the context of a visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Armenia, Youtube channel VMedia wondered why she, as a high-ranking American politician and a well-known human rights advocate, has never tried to fix her support to Azerbaijan, when 20% of the countrys territory remained occupied by the Armenian Armed Forces for thirty years, Trend reports.

"And now Politico claims that Pelosi will travel to Armenia  in a show of support for the country, which has been locked in a deadly fight with Azerbaijan.

We would like to suggest Mrs Pelosi remain committed to her image of unbiased and zealous guardian of human rights during her visit to Yerevan, and finally ask the Armenians the following question: How come Azerbaijani cities and villages located on a territory equal to the size of modern Lebanon have been razed to the ground, with the cultural, spiritual, religious and historical heritage of this Azerbaijani region shamelessly destroyed or seriously damaged during the thirty years of occupation?", says in video material.




The Delhi Police has told the High Court that Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair's 2018 tweet against a particular religious community was "highly provocative and done deliberately" which is more than sufficient to incite feelings of hatred among people. The police also told the court that the seized computer devices of Zubair are under analysis with the Forensic Science Laboratory in the national capital. The police submitted that the journalist can move the lower court to get them back on completion of the analysis. "...during police custody remand, one laptop, two invoices and one hard disk have been recovered from the residence of accused Mohd. Zubair on the basis of disclosure statement which are admissible under Section 27 of Indian Evidence Act, which are to be looked upon at the time of trial..," the police said in its affidavit. The police also said "Mohd. Zubair had remained non cooperative during the investigation. He also disclosed that he has asked his family to dispose off his equipment including his mobile phone and laptop in case he is arrested/apprehended by police." Zubair was charged under the Indian Penal Code's Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) for one of his objectionable tweets. "Transmission and publication of such posts have been deliberately done by Mohammed Zubair through electronic media to insult the religious feelings of a particular community with the intent to provoke breach of peace," read the FIR. As per the FIR, Zubair had used a screengrab of an old Hindi movie which showed an image of a hotel, with its board reading 'Hanuman hotel' instead of 'Honeymoon hotel'. In his tweet, Zubair had written, "BEFORE 2014: Honeymoon Hotel. After 2014: Hanuman Hotel". --IANS jw/bg ( 331 Words) 2022-09-16-20:58:02 (IANS)
The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a plea by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury seeking a direction for a probe into the sale of 47 per cent stake in Metro Dairy Ltd by the West Bengal government. A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and Krishna Murari observed that the procedure, which was adopted by the state government, was correct and transparent. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing the Congress leader, submitted that the state government did not follow the regulations in connection with the sale of assets and pointed out that the government took a wrong decision. To this, the top court said: "They took a right decision. In the share market, it happens as the prices go up on a day and come down on another day. Auctioning is the prudent decision." Singh submitted the procedure required setting up a committee that would recommend disinvestment and the ways for going for it. However, the bench was not convinced with his arguments. After hearing arguments, the top court declined to interfere with the findings of the Calcutta High Court and dismissed the plea. The Calcutta High Court had, on June 13, dismissed the plea by Chowdhury asking for probing the stake sale. Chowdhury had alleged the state government sold its stake in Metro Dairy at a very low price. He alleged that the state government did not follow a transparent process. --IANS ss/vd ( 252 Words) 2022-09-16-22:36:03 (IANS)
The city of Varanasi has been nominated as the first-ever SCO tourism and cultural capital during 2022-2023 at the 22nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the SCO summit, which is the first in-person meeting of the regional group in two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. "The nomination of Varanasi as the first ever SCO tourism and cultural capital will promote tourism, cultural and humanitarian exchanges between India and the SCO member countries. It also underlines India's ancient civilisational links with the member states of SCO, especially the Central Asian republics," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. Under the framework of this major cultural outreach programme, a number of events will be hosted in Varanasi during 2022-23, for which guests will be invited from the SCO member states. These events are expected to attract Indologists, scholars, authors, musicians, artists, photo journalists, travel bloggers apart from the invited guests. The regulations for nominating SCO tourism and cultural capital were adopted at the Dushanbe SCO Summit in 2021 with an objective to promote cooperation between the SCO member states in the field of culture and tourism. --IANS avr/arm ( 221 Words) 2022-09-16-22:44:05 (IANS)
Amid the ongoing row over the celebration of Hyderabad Liberation Day, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday said that the word 'liberation' is wrong as Hyderabad would always remain an "integral" part of India. "The word liberation is wrong. Hyderabad was and will remain an integral part of India. It should be celebrated as Integration Day," he said. Earlier also AIMIM chief had written letters to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Telangana Chief Minister KCR, seeking a title change for the Hyderabad Liberation Day to National Integration Day. "On behalf of AIMIM, I have written two letters to HM Amit Shah and Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao - the phrase 'National Integration Day' may be more apt than mere liberation," Owaisi had said. His remarks came in wake of the Centre's decision to celebrate 75 years of the region's liberation and proposal for 'Hyderabad Liberation Day' in Telangana on September 17. "The celebrations will be organized throughout the year under the auspices of the Central Department of Culture to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the state of Hyderabad. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be the Chief Guest present at the inaugural program to be held on September 17 at Hyderabad Parade Grounds," Union Minister Kishan Reddy said earlier. Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will kick off Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations on Saturday and distribute equipment to Divyangs in a 'Sewa karyakram' organised in Hyderabad on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday. For his day-long visit to Hyderabad, the Home Minister will leave from the national capital this evening and arrive at Hyderabad Airport by 9:30 pm. On Saturday, the Minister will attend Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations at 8 am at Parade Ground, Hyderabad. In 1948, the first Home Minister of India Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel unfurled the Tricolour after Hyderabad merged with the Indian Union. Now, 75 years later, Home Minister Amit Shah will hoist the national flag and kick off Hyderabad Liberation celebrations as we shed the vestiges of our colonial past and baggage. The erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad, which was under the Nizam's rule, was annexed into the Union of India following a military action codenamed 'Operation Polo', which culminated on September 17, 1948. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing spate between Assam and Tamil Nadu in the elephant custody case, the Gauhati high court on Friday while hearing a petition filed by the Assam government directed the Tamil Nadu government to allow the Assam team to inspect Srivilliputhur temple elephant Joymala. Earlier this week, the Assam government filed a petition in Guwahati High Court seeking the custody of Joyamala, a temple elephant that the state had given to Tamil Nadu on lease. The court directed the Tamil Nadu chief secretary, additional chief secretary, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), and the DGP to permit the team from Assam to visit the temple where Joymala is kept and also directed to provide adequate security to the team. "The court issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government to provide arrangements for the team of Assam who is staying in Chennai to inspect the health condition of Joymala and other eight elephants," Advocate General of Assam Devajit Lon Saikia told ANI. The development came a day after the Tamil Nadu government refused to return the elephants it had taken from Assam. Tamil Nadu additional advocate general J Ravindran told a bench of justices M Duraiswamy and Sunder Mohan of Madras high court that the state government has no plans of sending back Joymala to Assam. Notably, the Assam government moved to the Gauhati High Court following the reports of torture on elephants and sought the direction to bring back the elephants, especially temple elephant Joymala which the state had given to Tamil Nadu on lease. This controversy started after the animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) released a video, claiming that Joymala was being subjected to cruelty at a temple in Tamil Nadu. However, the Tamil Nadu government dined these accusations. The Ministry of Environment and Forest endorsed Tamil Nadu's claim that Joymala is doing well."Several disturbing videos of Joyamala are being circulated on social media recently, but these videos are old. The latest inspection report issued on the matter shows that the elephant is doing well now and is in healthy condition. The present team taking good care of Joymala," the Ministry tweeted. Meanwhile, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest of the Assam state MK Yadava said that Tamil Nadu, in a letter, admitted that Joymala was tortured but her health is now fine.Assam claims it had leased nine elephants, including Joymala, to Tamil Nadu. (ANI)
The Uttar Pradesh government will launch 'Mission Niramayah' to revamp nursing and paramedical training, said the officials. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday issued directives for improving the quality of education in nursing colleges of the state. "Nursing and paramedical staff are the backbones of the health and medical system. In the Covid-19 era, we all have seen and understood their massive importance. There are immense opportunities for a better career in this field. It is necessary to make significant adjustments to nursing and paramedical training in light of future needs. In such a case, prepare to launch "Mission Niramayah" by treating this significant task as a campaign," Yogi said in a meeting with the Medical Education Department's officers. CM further directed to ensure the requirements before giving Nursing and Paramedical Institution recognition and added, "Only when there are sufficient teachers and the institute has infrastructure that meets the required standards may recognition be awarded. Institutions that do not meet standards should not be acknowledged at all. While verifying the Aadhaar of the teachers serving in all the nursing or paramedical institutions of the state, their details should be provided on the portal." He asked the official for a fair admission test in the institutes. "CCTV surveillance should be used to watch the exams and the invigilators would be from another institute. Work in this direction has to be done with a better strategy," CM further said. "Many institutes of the state are doing good work including some private sector institutions. Such best practices should be implemented in other institutions as well. For this, a mentor-mentee model should be adopted. We must work systematically toward better employment in addition to improved training. In order to decide on this policy, reputable private sector hospitals should be consulted. For young people pursuing nursing training, practical experience is crucial," he added. Yogi encouraged the youth for career prospects in the Nursing and Paramedical sectors. "It would be better to take the cooperation of secondary schools for this. The Department of Medical Education and Secondary Education should work in coordination in this regard," he said. (ANI)
Mevani, along with other Dalit rights groups had held a protest in 2016 regarding the change of name of the law building of Gujarat University. They demanded the building be named after Dr BR Ambedkar.

However, Appellate Sessions Court has stayed the sentence till October 17 to enable them to file appeals and granted bail to the accused. The court granted bail to all 19 persons.

Notably, Jignesh Mevani is currently out on bail granted by the Assam court. He was arrested in connection with his purported tweets against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mevani was arrested by an Assam police team from Palanpur town in Gujarat over a couple of his tweets.

In May this year, a Gujarat court sentenced Mevani to three months in jail in a 2017 case for taking out a rally without permission.

Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani, Reshma Patel, Kaushik Parmar of National Dalit Adhikar Manch, Kaushik Parmar, Subodh Parmar including 10 others were sentenced to three months imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1000.

Mevani and his associates led an 'Azadi Kooch' from Mehsana to Dhanera of the neighbouring Banaskantha district in 2017. In 2017, the Mehsana police registered an unlawful assembly case against Mevani and others under Section 143 of the Indian Penal Code.

The Assam state Congress unit had protested the arrest of the Gujarat legislator. Elected as an independent MLA, Mevani extended his support to Congress in September 2019. (ANI)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said that the menace of stray dogs cannot be solved by killing the dogs and added that to overcome the issue a scientific solution must be sought. "Stray dog problem cannot be solved by killing the dogs. To overcome this problem, the scientific solution implemented by the government needs the support of the general public. We need to work together to solve this crisis," CM Vijayan said. "The government is implementing planned solutions for it. It is important to remember that beating, poisoning and tying up dogs on the streets will not solve this problem. Indulging in such acts is unacceptable. Similarly, people should take care to protect domestic dogs and not leave them on the streets," he added. CM also highlighted that there have been 21 deaths due to rabies in the state so far this year out of which 15 did not receive anti-rabies vaccine (IDRV) and immunoglobulin (ERIG), one was partially vaccinated and five were fully vaccinated. He stressed that the registration of pet dogs will be made mandatory in the state and applications related to the registration of pet dogs in the gram panchayat area can be submitted through ILGMS portal. "Panchayat will provide registration certificate within three days after completion of vaccination. A metal token/collar is required to be fitted to registered dogs at the owner's responsibility. Rabies vaccination for stray dogs will start on September 20. This measure will be accomplished by identifying areas where 10 or more dog bite incidents have occurred in a month as hotspots." The intensive vaccination drive has been officially decided on the issue of stray dogs from September 20 but the CM said that the vaccination drive has already started in most of the local government bodies in the state. "A field-level investigation has been completed to ascertain the cause of all 21 deaths and an expert committee was appointed to investigate all the deaths in detail, he noted while speaking on the prevalent issue." According to Kerala Medical Services Corporation, there has been a 57 pc increase in the use of the anti-rabies vaccine in 2021-2022 as compared to 2016-2017 and the use of rabies Immunoglobulin has increased by 109 pc during this period, he said. The Kerala Chief Minister also spoke briefly over quality control of anti-rabies vaccines which is done by the central government. "Kerala Medical Services Corporation distributes only vaccines certified by central testing laboratories. The anti-rabies vaccine is available at Government Medical Colleges, District Hospitals, General Hospitals, Taluk Hospitals, Community Health Centres, selected Family Health Centers and Primary Health Centres and it is provided completely free of cost." Rabies eradication projects are jointly implemented by the local self-government bodies and the Animal Welfare Department and September is being observed as Rabies prevention month. Since April this year, 2,00,000 domestic dogs have been vaccinated against rabies. Apart from this, 1.2 lakh rabies vaccinations were given to people who had animal bites. Six lakh doses of vaccine have been handed over to all veterinary hospitals. Another four lakh vaccines have been requested from the districts. The process of distributing them has been started. According to the High Court's interim judgment, there has been an order restraining the local self-government bodies from implementing the Kudumbashree Mukhanthiram project and this matter is under the consideration of the High Court. From 2017 to 2021, Kudumbashree has sterilized 79,426 dogs. The scheme will be implemented by using the infrastructure of hospitals under the Department of Animal Welfare and appointing veterinary doctors, dog catchers and attendants on a contract basis. Dumping of meat waste for use by street dogs is strictly prohibited. For this purpose, All the local self-governing bodies will convene a meeting with the owners of hotels, wedding halls, restaurants, eateries, meat traders and businessmen's associations and give curfew instructions on dumping meat waste on roadsides. Animal shelters will be started at a regional level under the supervision of local self-government bodies to rehabilitate stray dogs. For this, the funds of the three-tier panchayats will be coordinated and utilized. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and wished for his good health and long life. The President further wished that the nation-building campaign being carried out by PM Modi with incomparable hard work, dedication and creativity, continues to progress under his leadership. "Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday. I wish that the nation-building campaign being carried out by you with incomparable hard work, dedication and creativity, continues to progress under your leadership. I wish that God bless you with good health and long life," Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted. Prime Minister Modi, who turned 72nd on Saturday, has a packed schedule for the day as various events have been planned - from releasing cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National park to delivering important speeches at four events. At the same time, BJP is also set with plans to make PM Modi's birthday historic. While the party aims to create a record of maximum COVID-19 vaccine inoculations, it will also embark on 21-day "Seva and Samarpan" campaign. Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda will inaugurate an exhibition on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's life and leadership at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Similar exhibitions will also be held in other states also. The announcements were made by party general secretary and MP Arun Singh who informed that the party would hold celebrations starting tomorrow till October 2. He said that the party will dedicate the Prime Minister's birthday to the welfare of the poor in the form of a 'Seva Pakhwada'. "The celebration will be in three categories. First, Sewa, in which health camps, blood donation camps, vaccinations centres etc. Our workers will be on booths in these camps to help people in getting done their booster dose and health checkups," he said. "PM Modi's vision of TB-free India by 2025 will also be included in this. Our leaders and workers will adopt a patient for a year and keep a routine check on their health and need," Singh added. The party will also carry out a cleanliness drive on the occasion along with planting trees. "Cleanliness drive will be carried out. PM Modi always focuses on cleanliness therefore there will be many cleanliness drives will be taken. Also, we will plant 10 lakh peepal trees at our booths as peepal tree is a great source of oxygen," he said. Moreover, a large number of people send their wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday using the NaMo App from where wishes can be sent to PM Modi by recording a video message or a photo that can be directly uploaded on the app. NaMo App has added some special modules this year including a chance to include the entire family in one greeting and 'Gift of Seva' which allows users to choose an area where they would like to take a pledge. The users will also be able to pick moments from PM Modi's life that they most connect with from the virtual exhibition hosted on NaMo App and create a short video which can be shared on social media using the app. NaMo app also brings to its users a specially created module where they can make micro-donations ranging from Rs 05 to Rs 100 for an initiative of their choosing. Narendra Modi App, popularly known as the NaMo App, is a comprehensive repository of information and achievements in the context of India and the Prime Minister and makes for a one-stop solution to receive every update delivered directly to people through the smart device. Each year, special modules are created that connect the people with each other and also, the Prime Minister. The innovation this year is the NaMo app users will also get a chance to include their entire family in one greeting before they send it to the PM. A personalised e-card can be shared with every family member where they can add their message before finally uploading it to be sent to PM Modi. Family at home, the one at worker's booth, professional office family, class in school or neighbourhood, there can be a personalised e-card for every family. Every year, a virtual exhibition on PM Modi's life is hosted on the NaMo App that features the challenges he faced, the innovative ideas he used to overcome them and how he was instrumental to growth - first in Gujarat as the CM and then for India as the Prime Minister. This year, using advanced technology, people will be able to pick the moments from PM Modi's life that they most connect with and create a short video. This personalised video that every user may create will then be available to share on every social media platform - all using the same NaMo App. This year a new module is being launched for NaMo App users including BJP workers on the occasion of Prime Minister Modi's birthday, called 'Gift of Seva'. Users will be able to choose and pick an area where they would like to lend a hand and take a pledge. Every pledge and every "seva" will be recorded using the NaMo App's interactive and user-friendly interface which will go a long way in inspiring and motivating others to join the effort and strengthen New India's resolve for progress and development. Users may pick one or more of the pledges such as TB Mukt Bharat, 'LiFE: Pro-Planet People', Blood Donation, Leading Digital India, Swachh Bharat, Vocal for Local to BecomeAatmanirbhar, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat and Catch the Rain. NaMo App also brings to its users a specially created module where they can make micro-donations ranging from Rs. 05 to Rs. 1,00 for an initiative of their choosing. Through the module, even those who may not get a chance to gift a Seva to the country physically on PM Modi's Birthday can do so remotely. BJP workers and people can choose from several areas where they can make a micro-donation to strengthen the efforts being made in that direction. These include Swachh Bharat Mission, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Kisan Seva. (ANI)
The Modi government has been contributing immensely to conserving and protecting the wildlife of the country. Interestingly the coverage of protected areas which was 4.90 per cent of the country's geographical area in 2014 has now increased to 5.03 per cent. According to official sources, Protected Areas in the country increase from 740 with an area of 1,61,081.62 sq km in 2014 to the present 981 with an area of 1,71,921 sq km, said an official source. Forest and tree coverage has also increased by 16,000 square kms in the last four years. India is among the few countries in the world where forest cover is consistently increasing. There has also been an increase in the number of community reserves. From just 43 in 2014 their numbers are more than 100 in 2019, informed an official source. India is home to 52 Tiger Reserves covering approximately 75,000 sq km area in 18 states with about 75 per cent population of the wild tigers at the global level. India achieved the goal of doubling tiger numbers in 2018, four years in advance of the targeted year 2022. The tiger population in India has increased from 2,226 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2018, the official source said. The budgetary allocation for tiger conservation has increased from Rs 185 crore in 2014 to Rs 300 crore in 2022. Meanwhile, the population of Asiatic Lions has shown a steady increase with a population of 674 individuals with an increased rate of 28.87 per cent (one of the highest growth rates so far) from the 523 lions in 2015, said the source. India in 2020 had 12,852 leopards compared to the previous estimate of 7,910 conducted in 2014 as an over 60 per cent increase in population has been recorded, the source added. (ANI)
Hong Kong: Jab encouragement pilot scheme set

Various government departments today rolled out a pilot scheme in Tsz Hong and Tsz Man estates in Wong Tai Sin to encourage the elderly to receive COVID-19 vaccination.

Selecting Wong Tai Sin as the trial run district, the Civil Service Bureau, Home Affairs Department and Housing Department worked with a district group and the property management sector to launch the scheme by visiting more than 1,400 households of people aged 70 or above in the two housing estates for two consecutive days.

In addition to convincing the elderly to take a coronavirus jab, the departments will also make arrangements for them to participate in vaccination events in the district or via the Home Vaccination Service for those in need.

Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung and Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak attended the pilot scheme's launch ceremony and paid visits to the elderly residents.

Noting that the Government has been contacting unvaccinated seniors through different channels, Mrs Yeung said the pilot scheme is the fifth channel of reaching out to individuals in need of vaccination.

By doing our best, taking one step further and overcoming all challenges, we hope to convince the elderly and remind members of the public who have not received the suitable doses of a vaccine in a timely manner to get the recommend doses on time as soon as possible.

Miss Mak added that district offices have organised more COVID-19 vaccination activities across the city since August, with around 40 events jointly held with district units so far.

Depending on the pilot scheme's response, the Government will consider extending it to additional major public housing estates in Wong Tai Sin or in other districts.

Meanwhile, Mrs Yeung attended a COVID-19 vaccination event in Sham Shui Po and appealed to the public to receive a suitable number of vaccine doses on time for self-protection.

It is anticipated that around 540 people aged six months or above will receive vaccination through the event.

This story has been published on: 2022-09-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
By Trend

Turkiye and the United States held a third meeting of the Turkiye-U.S. Strategic Mechanism Dialogue on Sept. 15 in Washington chaired by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, while U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland also participated in the dialogue, Trend reports citing Daily News.

Building on their steadfast partnership and previous discussions under the framework of the Turkiye-U.S. Strategic Mechanism, the two reaffirmed their strong cooperation as partners and NATO Allies and engaged in substantive dialogue on strategic global and regional issues and areas of bilateral cooperation, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

They reviewed the extensive, security, economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties that underpin the bilateral relationship between Turkiye and the United States, said the statement.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promote peace and stability and to further deepen and strengthen the enduring Turkiye-U.S. defense partnership, said the ministry.

They welcomed the recent growth in their bilateral trade relations and reconfirmed their mutual determination to advance their economic cooperation in every possible field, Ankara said, noting that Turkiye and the United States stand together in support of global public health as well as food and energy security. The delegations also reaffirmed their mutual efforts to work to promote energy supply, access, efficiency and independence.

Both sides discussed political developments in the region and consulted on the importance of strengthening Transatlantic relations and underscored the need to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, said the statement.
President Droupadi Murmu, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman and other BJP leaders on Saturday greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 72nd birthday. Extending her wishes, President Droupadi Murmu said she hoped the nation-building campaign being carried out by PM Modi would continue to progress under his leadership. "Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday. I wish that the nation-building campaign being carried out by you with incomparable hard work, dedication and creativity, continues to progress under your leadership. I wish that God bless you with good health and long life," Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted. Vice-President J P Dhankar greeted PM Modi and said his transformative vision and inspirational leadership had elevated "Bharat" to newer heights of glory. "Warm birthday greetings to Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi Ji. His transformative vision and inspirational leadership have elevated Bharat to newer heights of glory. May he be blessed with good health, happiness and many more years in the service of our nation," Dhankar tweeted. Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah extended his birthday wish to PM Modi by calling him the "most beloved leader", and lauded his efforts in making impossible tasks possible with his "India-first thinking and determination" for the welfare of the poor. The Minister expressed his sentiments for the PM as he turned 72. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has started various programmes under "Seva Pakhwada" across the country from September 17 to October 2 to mark his birthday. In a series of tweets in Hindi, the Home Minister said, "Happy birthday to the most beloved leader of the country and the inspiration of all of us, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. I pray to God for his good health and long life." "The life of Narendra Modi ji, the creator of a safe, strong and self-reliant new India, symbolises service and dedication. For the first time after independence, Modi ji has instilled a sense of hope and faith in crores of poor by giving them their rights. Today, every section of the country is standing with Modi ji like a rock," he added. Calling PM Modi, the "conductor of Indian culture", the Minister said he has worked to take the country forward in every field by connecting it to its original roots. "New India has emerged as a world power under the vision and leadership of Modi ji. Modi ji has made his mark as a global leader, who is respected by the whole world," he said further. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said PM Modi has given a new dimension to Indian politics. He said, "Hearty congratulations and best wishes to the illustrious Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on his birthday. He has given unprecedented strength to progress and good governance in the country under his leadership and has given new heights to India's prestige and self-respect all over the world. May God keep them healthy and live long. He praised PM Modi's governance and leadership in his birthday wishes to him. "Modi ji has given a new dimension to politics in the country and has given full importance to the welfare of the poor along with development. Connecting with the people, communicating with the people and having a strong hold on the pulse of the country connects them to the mind and people of India. May they take India's honour and respect to new heights, this is the best wish," Singh added. BJP national president JP Nadda called PM Modi the "world`s most popular leader", adding that the Prime Minister`s leadership has "given a new direction to the destiny and future of India". "Happy Birthday to the most popular leader of the world, our Prime Minister, Hon'ble Shri @narendramodi ji. Your leadership has given a new direction to the destiny and future of India. You have shaped the new Indian consciousness through 'Panch Prana' on the holy occasion of the nectar of independence," said Nadd. He further said, "Our cultural heritage has got global status. Every BJP worker is determined for their eternal continuity. I pray to God that we always get your leadership. May you be successful, may you live long." Union Minister Piyush Goyal wished PM Modi who dedicated himself in the service of Maa Bharati and building a new India. "Happy Birthday to the world's most popular leader PM Narendra Modi ji who dedicated himself in the service of Maa Bharati and building a new India. The work done by you in the upliftment of the country is inspiring for us. I pray for your healthy and long life," said Goyal. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "Hearty birthday greetings to the successful Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, the architect of 'Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat', constantly engaged in the worship of the nation for 'Antyodaya'! May the Supreme Worshiper of Lord Shri Ram Maa Bharati grant long life and good health to the respected Prime Minister." Former Punjab Chief Minister who joined BJP yesterday extended warm birthday greetings to Prime Minister and wished him long and healthy life in the service of the nation. Lok Sabha Speaker om Birla prayed for the good health of the Prime Minister in his birthday wish to him. "Happy Birthday to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. Praying to God for your healthy and long life. Under your able leadership, the country is moving towards becoming a developed nation by setting new steps. The countrymen are also committed to the accomplishment of this resolve with renewed confidence," said Birla. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari wished PM Modi and said, "May you be healthy and live long and under your leadership, fear, hunger and corruption from the country should be completely eradicated and we should again get the position of Vishwa Guru." PM Modi was born on September 17, 1950, in Gujarat's Vadnagar, a small and nondescript town in the Mehsana district of North Gujarat. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also planned a two-week long programme to mark PM Narendra Modi's birthday. The party will embark on 21-day "Seva and Samarpan" campaign. BJP national president JP Nadda will inaugurate an exhibition on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's life and leadership at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Similar exhibitions will also be held in other states also. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after releasing cheetahs into Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park on Saturday, expressed his gratitude to the African nation of Namibia saying that it would have not been possible without their help. PM Modi while addressing and congratulating the Indian citizens said, "Cheetahs have come back to our land after decades. On this historic day, I want to congratulate all Indians and also thank the government of Namibia. This could not have been possible without their help". Eight cheetahs have been brought under an MoU signed earlier this year with the Namibian government in order to revive the already extinct cat species. "Decades ago, the age-old link of biodiversity was broken and had become extinct, today we have a chance to reconnect it. Along with these cheetahs, the nature-loving consciousness of India has also awakened with full force," said PM Modi. "It is unfortunate that we declared cheetahs extinct from the country in 1952, but for decades no meaningful effort was made to rehabilitate them. Today, as we celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the government has started rehabilitating cheetahs with new energy," he added. Moreover, cheetahs will help in the restoration of open forest and grassland ecosystems in India and will help conserve biodiversity and enhance the ecosystem services like water security, carbon sequestration and soil moisture conservation. "Nature and environment, animals and birds, for India are not just about sustainability and security. For us, it is also the basis of our sensibility and spirituality. Today, India of the 21st century is giving a message to the world that economy and ecology are not conflicting fields," said PM Modi. While advising the tourists and people who were planning to arrange a visit to Kuno National park in order to watch newly-relocated cheetahs, PM Modi asked them to wait for a few months so that these new members of the national park may have their own time to settle down with the unfamiliar environment. "People will have to show patience and wait for a few months to see these cheetahs in Kuno National Park. These cheetahs have come as guests, unaware of this area. For them to be able to make Kuno National Park their home, we'll have to give these cheetahs a few months' time. Following international guidelines, India is trying its best to settle these cheetahs. We must not let our efforts fail," he requested the nation. PM Modi released three cheetahs from enclosure number one and after that about 70 meters away, from the second enclosure he released another cheetah. The cheetah was declared extinct from India in 1952 but today 8 cheetahs (5 females and 3 males) were brought from the African nation of Namibia as part of 'Project Cheetah' and the government's efforts to revitalise and diversify the country's wildlife and habitat. The eight cheetahs were brought in a cargo aircraft in Gwalior as part of an intercontinental cheetah translocation project. Later, the Indian Air Force choppers carried the cheetahs to Kuno National Park from Gwalior Air Force Station. All the cheetahs have been tagged with radio collars to be monitored through satellite. Apart from this, there is a dedicated monitoring team behind each cheetah who will be monitoring their location for 24 hours. (ANI)
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday launched the world's largest blood donation drive on the occasion of the 72nd birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 'Mega Blood Donation Drive' has been organized by Akhil Bharatiya Terapanth Yuva Parishad Ahmedabad. On the occasion, CM Patel congratulated all the leaders and youth of the society for organizing a blood donation drive on PM's birthday and said, "Such a big event for blood donation has been organised for the first time. PM Modi has always given priority to the works of service." He further added that PM Modi has always made efforts to bring the government schemes to reach the common people of the country. CM Patel further stated that through this type of public welfare planning, awareness is spread in society. He also appealed for a maximum number of youth and society members to join the campaign. At the launch event, Mukesh Guglia, Adviser of Mega Blood Donation Drive said, "Our target is to get more than 1,50,000 units of blood donation by organizing around 2,000 Blood Donation Camps by the Indian nationals who have been travelling at home and abroad. The organization has also collected more than one lakh units of blood in the past in 2012 and 2014 and have thus registered its name in the Guinness Book of World Records." Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya participated in a blood donation camp organised at Safdarjung Hospital in the national capital as a part of the nationwide Raktdaan Amrit Mahotsav on PM's birthday and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw took part in the 'Swachhata Pakhwada' at Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station. PM Modi is celebrating his 72nd birthday today. At the same time, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also set with plans to make PM Modi's birthday historic. The party will embark on 21-day "Seva and Samarpan" campaign. BJP national president JP Nadda will inaugurate an exhibition on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's life and leadership at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Similar exhibitions will also be held in other states also. BJP general secretary and MP Arun Singh said that the party will dedicate the Prime Minister's birthday to the welfare of the poor in the form of a 'Seva Pakhwada'. "The celebration will be in three categories. First, Sewa, in which health camps, blood donation camps, vaccinations centres etc. Our workers will be on booths in these camps to help people in getting done their booster dose and health checkups," he said. "PM Modi's vision of TB-free India by 2025 will also be included in this. Our leaders and workers will adopt a patient for a year and keep a routine check on their health and need," Singh added.The party will also carry out a cleanliness drive on the occasion along with planting trees. (ANI)
The Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday arrested two persons on the charges of alleged physical assault of a girl who later died in Bheera police station area of Lakhimpur Kheri. The victim later succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment in the Bhiju CHC. The arrested persons have been identified as Salimuddin and Aasip, who hailed from the same village as the victim and allegedly assaulted her while she was sitting at the entrance of her house in Musepur, an official statement read. As per the police, they have arrested the accused persons under sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and section 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) was later added to it. Superintendent of Police, Sanjeev Suman informed that Outpost Incharge Sunil has been suspended from the force after he was accused by the victim's family of negligence. The police had claimed that earlier a complaint of assault was given on behalf of the victim, on the basis of which the case has been registered under the relevant sections, it said quoting a video with the recorded statement of the victim and her family. The victim was, however, undergoing treatment at the Community Health Centre of Bijua where she succumbed to her injuries on Friday. IPC Section 304 was extended in the matter after the victim's death. The victim's family has also made allegations of rape against the accused persons. The SP has however assured the necessary probe into the matter under the supervision of the Additional Superintendent of Police. More details are awaited. The aforesaid incident, which took place on September 12, came to light days after two Dalit girls were found hanging from a tree in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri on Wednesday (September 14). (ANI)
Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur presided over a meeting in Mandi on September 17 to review the preparedness for Prime Minister Modi's visit to the state. The PM's visit is scheduled for September 24 at Mandi. Jai Ram Thakur directed the officers to ensure foolproof arrangements to make the event a success. Chief Minister directed the State Public Works Department and NHAI authorities to ensure proper maintenance of roads leading to the Mandi town besides making elaborate arrangements for adequate parking for the buses and other vehicles in and around Mandi town. He said, "smooth and uninterrupted flow of vehicular traffic must be ensured so that no inconvenience is caused to the general public". CM Thakur asked the authorities to ensure maintenance of the road adjoining Kangnidhar to Mandi. Jai Ram Thakur also directed the officers of Jal Shakti Vibhag to ensure an uninterrupted water supply in the town. The CM directed the Municipal Corporation authorities to launch a special cleanliness campaign in the town, both before and after the rally. MLA Jawahar Thakur, officers of PWD, Jal Shakti Vibhag, Municipal Corporation, NHAI, Health, and other departments attended the meeting. Prime Minister Modi will visit Mandi to address the youth of Himachal Pradesh ahead of the state Assembly election. Speaking to ANI, Thakur said, "The tenure of our government in Himachal Pradesh is going to be completed for 5 years. I am happy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited Himachal Pradesh 7 times so far and 3 of his programs are being scheduled before the model code of conduct. Now on the 24th of this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming again to the Paddal ground of Mandi." The event is being organised with the help of Yuva Morcha and an extravagant event is being planned for the youth of Himachal Pradesh. Thakur said, "PM Narendra Modi will come, address and guide us and under his leadership, we will fight again in elections with new energy and certainly, we will win in the coming assembly elections". (ANI)
In a bid to familiarise the nation's youth with the village culture, the Uttar Pradesh government led by Yogi Adityanath has launched a phase-wise campaign to boost rural tourism on September 17. In the first phase of the campaign 18 districts have been selected where rural tourism will be promoted. From each of these districts, the government will pick two villages to boost tourism. "Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of villages in the country and has enormous potential in the agricultural tourism sector", said Mukesh Meshram, the principal secretary of the Department of Tourism. The campaign will be the start of a process of promoting the rich historical and cultural heritage of the villages in the state. "In addition to encouraging better agricultural practices, cow husbandry, craftsmanship, handloom, handicrafts, unique pure foods, biological and agricultural diversity, etc., we are beginning the process of promoting our rich historical, religious, and cultural heritage in the villages", Meshram remarked. The advisory organisations for 18 districts across the state have already been selected in the first phase, according to the principal secretary. "On behalf of these institutions, a survey will be conducted to identify two villages in each district where tourism will be promoted. A plan will also be chalked out to educate the younger generation about villages and their unique specialties in order to promote rural tourism," he said. The representatives of the chosen institutions will contact the district magistrates of the selected districts and also speak with other stakeholders involved in tourism-related activities about issues pertaining to rural tourism. "After the discussion, an action plan will be prepared on behalf of the chosen institutions by conducting a survey based on the primary issues. The Tourism department will continue to work to give agriculture tourism a fresh focus in the coming years", the official said. Earlier in the day, praising the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yogi said that for eight years the PM has spent working to advance Uttar Pradesh's development have been quite motivating, the CM remarked, "When we look at India's current development trajectory, we can see how 'Avinashi Kashi' (Kashi-The eternal city) marked the beginning of this trajectory". The CM went on to say, "Under the supervision of the PM for the past eight years, the dream of great men about the sort of India they envisaged at the time of Independence, is being realised," noting that the Prime Minister represents UP in the parliament as a well-liked MP of Kashi. (ANI)
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on September 15 wrote a letter to Prime Minister Modi regarding the Visa issue of those whose parents stay in Pakistan and Bangladesh. In the letter, he highlighted the typical case of parents of individuals who were born in Bangladesh erstwhile East Pakistan. He addressed the issue of one of the citizens who is currently stranded in New Zealand and his Visa application has been referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) by Indian Embassy. Chowdhury claims that the person got Indian Citizenship in the year 1964 on humanitarian grounds and an Indian passport in the year 1978 after that in the year 2017 he had surrenderedhis Citizenship and Indian Passport to become a citizen of New Zealand. The individual is believed to be suffering from Hernia. "The individual is having a medical emergency and needs to travel to his home country for treatment for which his journey is scheduled for September 23", read the letter. The letter further stated that the parents of many Indians particularly from Punjab and West Bengal were born in undivided India which now falls in Pakistan and Bangladesh. "For no fault of them if a visa is delayed it becomes very difficult for them to travel back to their motherland," wrote Chowdhury in the letter. In the letter addressed to Prime Minister Chowdhury wrote, "I would like to draw your attention to have a sympathetic view in clearing their visa request". The letter was also sent to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a two-day visit to Bihar, said BJP state president Sanjay Jaiswal on Saturday. The visit is slated for September 23 and 24 where the veteran minister is expected to address a huge public gathering. BJP state president Sanjay Jaiswal said that Amit Shah will meet the office bearers of Araria, Kishanganj, Purnia, and Katihar on September 24. "The finalization of this program was done when Amit Shah had earlier come on July 31 to Bihar and it is the first public meeting that Amit Shah will address after the breakdown of the government in Bihar," said Jaiswal. He further clarified the allegations of the newly formed state government and said," The centre helps Bihar the most, the largest state is Maharashtra, to which the fund of Rs. 51,000 crores is given, while Rs. 82,000 crores are allotted to Bihar. A total of Rs 31,000 crores is already given more. Despite this, false allegations are being made by the Bihar government in this way." He also dismissed the allegations of the Nitish Kumar-led government and said, "Apart from that, the centre has given Bihar about one lakh crore in speed power. The centre is constantly ready for the development of Bihar and is also giving help to the Bihar government." He also stressed that the central government has been helping the state continuously and listed Shah's meeting details. "Shah will address the huge public meeting from Purnia in Bihar. Meetings have been held in Jagdishpur, Bhojpur, Arrah commissionerate, Patna, and now will be held in Purnia. Meetings will also be conducted by BJP in Bhagalpur, and Champaran. Our programs will continue in all commissionerates," he added. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vinod Tawde will embark on his maiden visit to Bihar on September 18 since his appointment as a general secretary incharge of the state where he will hold a core group meeting of the party in the capital city of Patna. Tawde will also be present at a book launch in the city. Speaking to ANI about the developments, BJP state president Sanjay Jaiswal said, "We are looking forward to seeing Vinod Tawde in our midst and look to seek his guidance for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections and 2025 state assembly polls". The BJP Bihar unit has hit the ground from the word go since Nitish Kumar parted ways with the NDA. "We are a party that works all the time and days of the year. We are committed to the cause of the people," Jaiswal said. Sharpening his attack against deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, Jaiswal, a member of Parliament from Bettiah said, "Ours is a party which is committed to the cause of the people unlike RJD and a leadership who consider politics to be like a picnic." Top leaders of the BJP have already visited the state covering all assembly constituencies to see feedback on the ground about where the parties are headed and also bring to the knowledge of the people that it was a "power-hungry" Nitish Kumar who ditched the mandate of the people. Notably, Kumar had parted ways with the NDA last month and rejoined the Mahagathbandhan.It was in 2020 when the BJP-JDU won the election in alliance with each other in Bihar and Nitish Kumar was made the chief minister despite BJP being the single largest party. (ANI)
A special court on Saturday granted a four-day remand to the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to interrogate Amanatullah Khan, AAP MLA from Okhla, in a case related to the alleged misappropriation of Delhi Waqf Board funds during his tenure as chairman. Special CBI Judge Vikas Dhull granted the remand after hearing the submission of counsels for ACB and AAP MLA. Amanatullah Khan was arrested on Friday. He was produced in court on Saturday. His bail will be heard after the expiry of the remand. ACB sought a 14-day remand to interrogate Amanatullah Khan in order to unearth the conspiracy in the matter and to arrest other accused. Additional public prosecutors Atul Srivastava and Manish Rawat submitted that the case is of misappropriation of Waqf fund during the tenure of the accused as chairman. The prosecutor argued that the accused appointed on the board his relatives and near and dear in violation of rules and regulations. The prosecutor also produced in court a diary to show there was evidence related to violations of norms against the accused. It was also alleged that there were entries in the diary, some mentioning amounts to the tune of crores of rupees, to indicate there was wrong-doing. It was also mentioned that four teams were constituted and led by ACP Rajender went to investigate the matter. However, the ACP was also manhandled and beaten by the people. Three FIRs have been lodged in this regard. The prosecutor also referred to a statement of one Hamid Ali from whom rupees 12 Lakh cash, one country-made pistol and cartridges were recovered. the prosecution claimed that Ali said he is in the property business and was looking after the finances of Amanatullah. The prosecution also produced some documents of a property in the New Friends Colony worth 14 crores. Sale documents of properties at Telangana, Uttarakhand and other many places were also produced in the court. It was also alleged that the AAP MLA was also an accused in former Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash assault case. In response to a query by the court, the prosecutor said there were 15 properties and there was misappropriation of rent. The accused has not disclosed this amount, they claimed. The court asked who was the complainant in this case. This case was registered on the complaint of Hafiz Irashad Qureshi, the prosecutor replied. While opposing the remand application the senior advocate Rahul Mehra for AAP MLA submitted there were no documents and material to establish the allegations levelled by the prosecution. He said that it is alleged the funds of widows are misused. Absolutely no documents to relate to how the find was misappropriated. It is a fishing and roving inquiry to extract admission, he said. Mehra further argued that there is umbrella protection for members of the board who are working in the good faith and something is done out of the provisions and scope of this Waqf Act. He argued that there are irregularities in relation to appointments, that can not be called illegality. Where is the illegality in the appointment of the employees' board may appoint according to its need? The senior advocate argued that the accused is not to prove that he is innocent. They (the prosecution) have to prove that he is guilty. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar will be visiting the US from September 18 to 28, during which he will be participating in the 77th UN General Assembly session. During his visit to New York from September 18 to 24, he will be leading the Indian delegation for the High Level Week at the UNGA session, with the theme "A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges", the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. In keeping with India's strong commitment to reformed multilateralism, he will also host a Ministerial meeting of the G4 (India, Brazil, Japan, Germany) as well as participating at the High Level Meeting of the L.69 Group on "Reinvigorating Multilateralism and Achieving Comprehensive Reform of the UN Security Council", it said. The L.69 Group consists of developing countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America, Caribbean and Small Island Developing States, focused on reforms of the UN Security Council. His address in the General Assembly is scheduled in the forenoon of September 24. During the visit, he will also be meeting Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the 77th PGA Csaba Korosi. Jaishankar is also expected to address special event "India@75: Showcasing India UN Partnership in Action" on September 24, which would highlight India's development journey and its contributions to South-South Cooperation. The event is also expected to be addressed by the President of the 77th UNGA, along with Foreign Ministers of several member states, and the UNDP Administrator. During the visit, he would also be participating in plurilateral meetings of the Quad, IBSA, BRICS, India - Presidency Pro Tempore CELAC, India-CARICOM and other trilateral formats, such as India-France-Australia, India-France-UAE and India-Indonesia-Australia. He will also have bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of the G20 and UNSC member states, amongst others. Upon completion of the 77th UNGA related engagements, Jaishanka will visit Washington DC from September 25-28 for bilateral meetings with US interlocutors. His programme includes inter alia, discussions with his counterpart Antony Blinken, senior members of the US administration, US business leaders, a round-table focused on S&T and interaction with the Indian Diaspora. --IANS avr/vd ( 365 Words) 2022-09-17-19:06:01 (IANS)
By Trend

Some of the photos and videos published on social networks have no relation to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, Trend reports citing the ministry.

"The Ministry of Defense is a state structure performing the relevant duties in connection with the assigned combat missions, the protection of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country. We declare that the ministry always treats martyrs and members of their families with special sensitivity, the statement said.

We believe that holding inappropriate discussions on social media in connection with martyrs is unacceptable and undermines the image of our victorious army. May Allah rest the souls of all our martyrs!" noted the ministry.

On September 15, brother of martyr Sabuhi Ahmadov, Sanan Ahmadov, said that his brother allegedly 'gave a bribe' in the amount of 6,000 manat ($3,530) to get into the "commando" unit. According to the Ministry of Defense, a meeting was organized with Sanan Ahmadov. It was noted that, on behalf of the Minister of Defense, an investigation into this issue is underway.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand on Friday. Uzbekistan is the current chair of SCO 2022 whereas India will be the next chair of the SCO. Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev welcomed PM Modi to the Congress Centre in Samarkand for the 22nd SCO Summit. Putin congratulated India for assuming the presidency the following year. Apart from the Russian President, Chinese President Xi Jinping also congratulated India for the SCO Presidency in 2023 during the meeting of the expanded circle of the Heads of SCO. "I congratulate India for hosting the SCO next year," Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a statement during the summit. Notably, this is the first in-person SCO Summit after the Covid pandemic hit the world. The last in-person SCO Heads of State Summit was held in Bishkek in June 2019. The SCO currently comprises eight Member States (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), four Observer States interested in acceding to full membership (Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia) and six "Dialogue Partners" (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey). The Shanghai Five, formed in 1996, became the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2001 with the inclusion of Uzbekistan. With India and Pakistan entering the grouping in 2017 and the decision to admit Tehran as a full member in 2021, SCO became one of the largest multilateral organisations, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of the global GDP and 40 per cent of the world's population. SCO has potential in various new sectors, wherein all the member-states could find converging interests. India has already pushed hard for cooperation in Startups and Innovation, Science and Technology and Traditional Medicine. From the time of its full membership, India made sincere efforts to encourage peace, prosperity, and stability of the whole Eurasian region in general and SCO member countries in particular. (ANI)
Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will visit India from September 17 to 21, in his first official visit to India after holding office. Wong will be participating in the inaugural India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) in New Delhi on 17 September 2022, together with the country's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, and Minister for Transport and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S Iswaran, said Singapore's Prime Minister's Office in a statement. The ISMR is a new ministerial platform between Singapore and India which seeks to deepen existing cooperation and identify opportunities for mutually-beneficial collaboration in new and emerging areas. Deputy Prime Minister Wong will also meet senior Indian leaders and personalities. Deputy Prime Minister Wong will travel to Gujarat on September 18, 2022, where he will meet Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel and visit Gujarat International Finance City. Deputy Prime Minister Wong will be accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance. India and Singapore have a close bilateral relationship based on the convergence of economic and political interests. The process of economic reforms in India since the early 1990s created a strong basis for cooperation with Singapore, opening up possibilities for a significant presence in each other's economies. For India, Singapore has played an important role in reconnecting us to the countries of South East Asia since the inception of our Look East Policy in the early 1990s. As pluralistic societies, the two countries share a similar concern about the challenges posed by terrorism and fundamentalism and have, therefore, found it mutually beneficial to evolve a broad framework of security cooperation. (ANI)
The rapid growth of ISIS and the Al-Qaeda network in Afghanistan has put not only Afghanistan but also the region and the rest of the world in grave danger, John Bolton, a former adviser to the US National Security Council said in an interview with Voice of America, local media reported. Speaking at the VOA interview, Bolton said that the ever-rising influx of international terrorists in Afghanistan should worry everyone in the world and added that US intelligence findings show ISIS and al-Qaeda terrorist groups are restructuring in Afghanistan, reported Khaama Press. Moreover, the former official also slammed the Taliban for its nexus with international terrorist groups. He highlighted that the Taliban since its takeover of Kabul last August has failed to comply with the provisions of the Doha Agreement to battle terrorism. "The Taliban have proven once again that their words are not worth the paper they are printed on. They have created a worldwide danger, not only in Afghanistan," Bolton said in the VOA interview. In the backdrop of the US drone strike killing al-Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, the former top official said that the Taliban has not fulfilled its commitments made under the Doha Agreement, especially with the stay of Zawahiri in Afghanistan, reported Khaama Press. In the months after the Taliban seized national control, the Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K) has managed to expand its reach to nearly all of Afghanistan's provinces. This was stated by the U.N. mission in Afghanistan in November, reported Washington Post. ISIS-K has also stepped up the tempo of its attacks, carrying out suicide bombings, ambushes and assassinations. ISIS-K began operating in Afghanistan in 2015. It was started by Pakistani national Hafiz Saeed Khan, who had pledged allegiance to then-Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2014. Originally consisting mostly of Pakistani militants and based largely in the eastern Afghan province of Nangahar, it drew some recruits from the Taliban and other extremist groups.The Islamic State follows a version of Salafism, an ultraconservative movement in Sunni Islam. In Afghanistan, the Hazaras, a Shiite minority group, have been frequent targets of ISIS-K attacks. ISIS-K is led by Sanaullah Ghafari, also known as Shahab al-Muhajir, who is reported to be in eastern Afghanistan, according to the United Nations. The Taliban has a history of close ties with Al-Qaeda, a rival to the Islamic State. Though Taliban leaders pledged in a 2020 agreement with the United States to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a haven for terrorist groups, the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a US drone strike in Kabul last month seemed to indicate ongoing ties between the groups, reported The Washington Post. Before the Taliban takeover, the United Nations estimated that ISIS-K had some 1,500 to 2,200 fighters in Konar and Nangahar provinces, along with smaller cells in other parts of the country. Islamic State leaders, who think the Taliban is not sufficiently extreme, denounced its victory last year. Late last year, the core Islamic State group gave USD 5,00,000 in new funding to ISIS-K, according to the UN monitoring team. A Taliban intelligence official acknowledged in the fall that his group's fight to overthrow the US-backed Afghan government allowed many Islamic State prisoners to escape. (ANI)
Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry along with Pan Sorasak, Minister of Commerce, Cambodia co-chaired the 19th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers' meeting held on 16th September 2022 in Siem Reap City, Cambodia. The Economic Ministers or their representatives from all the 10 ASEAN countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam attended the meeting, a press release by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said. The Ministers noted that trade and economic relations between ASEAN and India are starting to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the two-way trade between ASEAN and India reached USD 91.5 billion in 2021 increasing by 39.2 per cent year-on-year. The Ministers also took note of the recommendations made by ASEAN India Business Council (AIBC) to enhance the ASEAN India economic partnership and the activities undertaken by AIBC in 2022. They reaffirmed their commitment to take collective actions to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic and work towards a sustainable post-COVID-19 recovery. The Ministers welcomed ASEAN and India to forge collective actions in securing a robust supply chain connectivity to maintain the flow of essential goods and services through the launching of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Upgrade Negotiations, mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination, vaccines production, public health surveillance, and medical technologies in moving forward with the post-pandemic recovery responses and facing future health crises. Anupriya Patel briefed the meeting about the progress made by India in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic with its current focus on vaccinating all eligible citizens and the major milestone of administration of 2 billion vaccine doses including booster doses achieved in July 2022, 18 months after the vaccination scheme started in January 2021. She also shared information on the steps taken by India in liberalising and simplifying its FDI policy resulting in the ever-increasing volumes of FDI inflows, setting new records. She invited ASEAN countries to invest in India and be partners in its success. The Ministers welcomed the successful outcomes of the Twelfth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference held on 12-17 June 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland and reiterated their support for a rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable, and transparent multilateral trading system, as embodied in the WTO. In a significant development, the Ministers endorsed the Scope of the Review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to make it more user-friendly, simple, and trade facilitative for businesses, as well as responsive to the current global and regional challenges including supply chain disruptions. The Ministers also activated the AITIGA Joint Committee to undertake the review of AITIGA expeditiously. Anupriya Patel reiterated India's commitment to supporting a strong, unified and prosperous ASEAN and also to equitable and sustainable trade which balances the aspirations of both the partners. (ANI)
All heads of state visiting London for Queen Elizabeth's funeral have been invited to attend the lying-in-state in Westminster Hall ahead of Monday's state funeral, and to sign a book of condolences at Lancaster House. However, opening a fresh diplomatic rift with Beijing, a Chinese government delegation has been refused permission by the House of Commons authorities to attend the queen's lying-in-state in Westminster Hall, London, Politico reported citing a senior parliamentary figure familiar with the matter. House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle fired new diplomatic salvos when he told his colleagues that he declined a request for Chinese officials to be allowed to access Westminster Hall, where the late queen will lie in state until her funeral on Monday. Hoyle's office said it did not comment on security matters, reported Politico. It must be noted that Westminster Hall forms part of the Palace of Westminster, over which the Commons and Lords speakers have authority. This key development comes at a time when the UK government has toughened its stance on China. The newly appointed UK Prime Minister Liz Truss during the Tory leadership debates indicated that she will be more hawkish towards Beijing than her predecessor Boris Johnson. Truss also raised her voice for the formal recognization of the Uyghur genocide and rejig its long-term foreign and defense strategy -- with stronger language on China, reported Politico. The UK attitude towards China was also highly visible when the then foreign secretary, Truss, in August, summoned the Chinese ambassador over Beijing's aggression towards Taiwan and said there had been "increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from Beijing in recent months, which threaten peace and stability in the region." In a similar instance to the barring of the Chinese delegation from Westminster Hall, last year, the Commons and Lords speakers banned the Chinese ambassador, Zheng Zeguang, from entering parliament after Beijing imposed sanctions on a number of British politicians who have been critical of its treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. The invitations to the queen's funeral were drafted by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office last week. Chinese President Xi Jinping received an official invite as China's head of state, though is not expected to attend in person. Helena Kennedy, a Labour peer who is among the politicians sanctioned by Beijing, said: "I feel very strongly that Chinese government officials should be barred from participating in this occasion where the nation of Britain is celebrating the life of our queen," she said. "They are attacking our parliamentary and constitutional system through members of our legislature." (ANI)
Sunni Muslim groups, the Deobandi Tehereek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the rival Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) that represents the Barelvis, are fomenting sectarian violence across Pakistan. A just-published study by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) on September 5 said that this could grow with the current political acrimony and economic stress which threatens the vast region around Pakistan, reported Islam Khabar. Titled "A New Era of Sectarian Violence in Pakistan Asia Report" it predicts that the TLP, recognized by the Election Commission of Pakistan as a political party despite its record of violence, could consolidate its political clout and threaten the mainstream political discourse during the elections, as of now due in the summer of 2023. The report reinforces the conclusion reached by security experts earlier that the TTP, TLP, and other militant groups have become affiliates of the Islamic State Province of Khorasan (ISPK) that have grown out of the tribal belt that straddles Afghanistan and Pakistan to other provinces. "These two groups are very different and responsible for some of the country's worst inter-communal bloodshed. Sectarian militancy thus extends across the spectrum of Sunni Islamist groups. Muslim minorities, particularly Shias, are deeply vulnerable. Vigilantism is a danger as hardliners mobilise around allegations of blasphemy to gain political clout," said the report. Sectarian violence is rising and spreading across Pakistan, feeding domestic terrorism and hatred in the region around and the report holds all state institutions responsible for the competitive activities of the Sunni Muslim groups, reported Islam Khabar. Of the two, the TTP, responsible for 83,000 deaths since 2008, has been defying the Pakistani state and operating with impunity from the Afghan territory with tacit help from the Taliban, the new rulers and ideological comrades. "The rise of a local Islamic State franchise and the growing influence of a hardline and violent protest movement known as "Labaik" that draws support mostly from Pakistan's Barelvi majority, open a new chapter in the country's sectarian violence, which until recently was driven largely by Deobandi groups," the report says. While the Pakistan government is struggling to tame the TTP, it has been mollycoddling the TLP, also using it to fight the 'nationalist' groups who demand justice and jobs. The study seriously faults the Pakistani counter-terrorism approach as mostly reactive, when it should be proactive, because all institutions, from the politicians and the army to the police and the judiciary, are compromised, reported Islam Khabar. "Pakistan's counter-terrorism approach has achieved short-term successes but neglected long-term strategies to deny civic space to violent sectarian outfits. Government policy has often amplified rather than tamped down sectarian rhetoric. Several senior serving and retired counter-terrorism, intelligence and regular law enforcement officials rightly contend that, in the past, the state has prematurely declared victory over such groups," added the report. Moreover, the ICG study names mainstream political parties that have covert links with and support from the sectarian bodies whose storm-troopers are used to settle rival political scores and spread fear and mayhem, especially during elections. From time to time, public forums and even the floors of National and provincial assemblies, are used to spew venom against religious and ethnic minorities, reported Islam Khabar. (ANI)
China on Friday (local time) once again put a hold on a proposal moved at the United Nations by the US and co-supported by India to designate Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist, Sajid Mir as a "global terrorist." He is India's most wanted terrorist and was involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The US moved the proposal and co-designated by India to blacklist Mir under the 1267 Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council as a global terrorist. It is the third time that China has blocked an India-US proposal in recent months after Abdul Rehman Makki, LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) leader as well as Abdul Rauf Azhar, the brother of Jaish-e Mohammed (JEM) chief Masood Azhar was protected by Beijing. Abdul Rehman Makki is a LeT Deputy Commander and brother-in-law of Hafiz Saeed, founder of the LeT. The UN Committee has also declared JuD, the political branch of the LeT, a terrorist front group. Resolution 1267 provides for sanctions against individuals and entities that support or finance the acts or activities of ISIL, Al-Qaida, associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities. Sajid Mir is a top Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) Commander and is in charge of the "India Setup" of LeT. Sajid Mir is one of the masterminds of the Mumbai Terror Attack (November 26, 2008). He was responsible for the largest ever overseas LeT terror attack resulting in the death of nationals of several countries including India and Western countries. During the attack, 175 people were killed (18 Police personnel, 122 people, 26 Foreigners and 9 terrorists) and 291 were injured ( 25 Police personnel, 243 people, 22 foreigners and one terrorist Ajmal Kasab). Mir was LeT Project Manager for the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He, through satellite phone, instructed the terrorists involved in the attacks for executing hostages during the operation. He is also actively involved in the launching of LeT operatives into India. He looked after the security of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi (LeT Operations Chief), responsible for anti-India terror operations. Sajid Mir was involved in overseas recruitment/training activities for LeT and travelled to UAE, Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Saudi Arabia in Connection with operational work. In 2003 a LeT module controlled by him was busted in Australia. Sajid Mir reportedly underwent plastic surgery in 2008. Two Interpol notices RCN A-6269/10-2010 and A-2032/2-2019 are issued against him. India has listed him as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A], 1967, as amended in 2019 in October 2020. Pakistan arrested Sajid Mir in 2022 and sentenced him in May 2022 to 15 years on terrorist financing charges related to a charity set up by LeT founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. Mir was indicted in the US District Court, Northern District of Illinois on April 21, 2011, and was charged with conspiracy to injure the property of a foreign government; providing material support to terrorists; killing a citizen outside of the US, aiding and abetting; and the bombing of places of public use. An arrest warrant was issued on April 22, 2011. Then Mir was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in August 2012. US Department of States in November 2018 announced a reward of upto USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mir. Federal Bureau of Investigation, in March 2019, included Mir in its most wanted terrorist list. (ANI)
"At least 13 dead, 10 missing and 10 rescued from various parts of Achham District in far West Nepal, due to landslides," said Deputy Chief District Officer Dipesh Rijal.

In the wake of the calamity, Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand has ordered the deployment of helicopters for search and rescue operations.

Nepal has been hit with incessant rainfall which have resulted in floods and landslides.

At least two people were killed and 11 were missing last Saturday in the flood and landslide in the Bangabagad area of Darchula district of Nepal.

The incessant rainfall resulted in flooding of the Lasku and Mahakali Rivers, which swept away houses and two bridges.

Nepal has been recording many casualties attributed to flooding and landslide disasters during the monsoon season annually. (ANI)
During the visit, he will hold bilateral talks with Minister of Defence and Defence Production, General Mohamed Zaki, read the Defence Ministry press release.

The two Ministers will review the bilateral defence ties, explore new initiatives to intensify military-to-military engagements and focus on deepening cooperation

An MoU to provide further impetus to enhanced defence cooperation between India and Egypt will also be signed, added the release.

The defence minister will also call on the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

Earlier in July, India and Egypt targeted to increase annual bilateral trade to USD 12 billion in the next five years from USD 7.26 billion.

Senior officials of the two countries agreed to boost bilateral trade during the meeting held in Cairo from 25-26 July 2022.

Egypt is one of the largest investment destinations for India in the region with an existing Indian investment of USD 3.15 billion. Indian companies continue to execute several projects in Egypt.

Moreover, to bolster defence cooperation between the two countries, a team of the Indian Air Force arrived in Egypt on June 22 to participate in a bilateral 'Tactical Leadership Programme' with the Egyptian Air Force.

Earlier in November, last year, Chief of Air Staff Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari went to Egypt for his five-day visit to attend the Air Power Symposium and Defence Exposition (EDEX) in Cairo.

This event was scheduled from November 28 to December 2.

The year 2022 is of particular significance since it marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Egypt.

Egypt and India also enjoy cordial defence relations. There was close cooperation between the Air Forces, with efforts at jointly developing a fighter aircraft in the 1960s. IAF pilots had also trained Egyptian pilots from the 1960s until 1984. In the recent past, since 2015, there have been several high-level exchanges of visits by defence delegations. (ANI)
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on Friday (local time) will depart for the UK to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The latter breathed her last on September 9. In the morning, the President and the First Lady will leave the White House and reach Joint Base Andrews to depart for London. The departure from the South Lawn will be open press, read a White House press release. The President and the First Lady will pay respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday. Both of them will sign the Official Condolence Book for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the venue. They will also attend a Reception hosted by His Majesty King Charles III. Biden and Jill will attend the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19 and depart for the US on the same day, said the release. All heads of state visiting London for Queen Elizabeth's funeral have been invited to attend the lying-in-state in Westminster Hall ahead of Monday's state funeral and to sign a book of condolences at Lancaster House. However, opening a fresh diplomatic rift with Beijing, a Chinese government delegation has been refused permission by the House of Commons authorities to attend the queen's lying-in-state in Westminster Hall, London, Politico reported citing a senior parliamentary figure familiar with the matter. People of the UK will relive the glorious life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II at her state funeral on Monday. For the funeral, many guests from political heads of countries to distinct royal family members and dignitaries from across the globe will fly to the UK. Although the official guest list hasn't been released yet, New York Post has shared the names of a few countries that didn't make the cut. They are - Russia, Belarus, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria and Venezuela. According to the online publication, Russian President Vladimir Putin wished King Charles III on his accession recently, however, the country was still snubbed by the UK as they reportedly didn't get an invite for the funeral. It's also interesting to note here that North Korea, Iran, and Nicaragua were sent invites however those were only sent out to their ambassadorial representatives and not the head of state. Another news that recently made rounds was that former US President Donald Trump would also be in attendance however, the UK government, according to New York Post, has squashed the rumour saying that only the sitting US President and his wife will be attending. New York Post further reports that 750,000 people will be present at the funeral. More than USD 7 million (around INR 59 crores) will be shelled to beef up the security for the Queen's funeral on September 19. According to New York Post, protecting Queen Elizabeth's funeral will be the most expensive single-day operation in UK history, costing over USD 7.5 million. To secure the unprecedented number of foreign leaders, who are expected at the funeral on Monday, the British Mi5 and Mi6 intelligence agencies, London's Metropolitan Police, and the Secret Service will work together. "This is the biggest policing operation that the United Kingdom policing has ever undertaken," New York Post quoted Simon Morgan, a former Royal security officer, as saying. (ANI)
By Trend

A form of a security agreement for the protection of monuments in Azerbaijans Shusha city has been approved, Trend reports via the Cabinet of Ministers.

According to the explanatory note to Resolution No. 352 of the Cabinet of Ministers, this decision was made in order to ensure the implementation of subparagraph 2.1.5 of Decree No. 1374 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 22, 2021 "On application of Law No. 338-VIG of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated May 31, 2021 "About cultural capital of Azerbaijan - Shusha city".

The document has defined the terms of the security agreement concluded with individuals and legal entities owning, using and leasing the monuments in the city of Shusha, and the measures which will be taken in case of non-compliance with the terms of the agreement.
India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) is being held in Delhi to boost economic cooperation between the two countries. The Foreign Ministers, Finance Ministers, and Trade Ministers of the two countries are participating in the meeting. Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is also present at the meeting. Earlier, India on Saturday hosted a high-level Singaporean ministerial delegation to boost cooperation between the two countries. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Foreign Min Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and Minister for Transport and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S Iswaran. Notably, India is hosting the maiden India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR), a new ministerial platform between the two countries to boost economic cooperation. Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is on India's visit from September 17 to 21, in his first official visit to India after holding office. Wong will be participating in the inaugural India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) in New Delhi on 17 September 2022, together with the country's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, and Minister for Transport and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S Iswaran, said Singapore's Prime Minister's Office in a statement. The ISMR is a new ministerial platform between Singapore and India which seeks to deepen existing cooperation and identify opportunities for mutually-beneficial collaboration in new and emerging areas. Deputy Prime Minister Wong will also meet senior Indian leaders and personalities. Deputy Prime Minister Wong will travel to Gujarat on September 18, 2022, where he will meet Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel and visit Gujarat International Finance City. Deputy Prime Minister Wong will be accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance. India and Singapore have a close bilateral relationship based on the convergence of economic and political interests. The economic reforms in India since the early 1990s created a strong basis for cooperation with Singapore, opening up possibilities for a significant presence in each other's economies. For India, Singapore has played an important role in reconnecting us to the countries of South East Asia since the inception of our Look East Policy in the early 1990s. As pluralistic societies, the two countries share a similar concern about the challenges posed by terrorism and fundamentalism. Therefore, they have found it mutually beneficial to evolve a broad framework of security cooperation. (ANI)
World Health Organization Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh on Saturday called for addressing unsafe medication practices and medication errors on the occasion of World Patient Safety Day. "Throughout the COVID-19 response we have continued to conduct training on adverse event reporting and follow up and have also carried out sanitization training on the new global patient safety action plan," said WHO Regional Director. She advocated and supported countries of the region to take up a systems approach to promote safe medication practices with a focus on several key areas. These critical areas included - ensuring policy-makers can establish patient safety, incident reporting and learning systems, while at the same time, monitoring and evaluating impact; empowering health care leaders and facility managers to develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) for safe medication use, while also increasing health workers training; enabling health workers to stay updated on safe medication practices, including through key resources such as the 'five-moments of medication safety tool' and encouraging both health professionals and patients to be aware of and act on WHO's - know, check, and ask protocol. "Today, on World Patient Safety Day, let us continue to accelerate towards our region and world in which no one is harmed in healthcare and bear every patient receives safe and respectful care - every time, everywhere," said Singh. September 17 is one of the World Health Organization's (WHO) global public health days called World Patient Safety Day. It was established in 2019 by the 72nd World Health Assembly through the adoption of resolution WHA 72.6 - 'Global Action on Patient Safety.' Every year, World Patient Safety Day is observed under a specific theme. This year, the theme of World Patient Safety Day 2022 is 'Medication Safety' along with the slogan 'Medication Without Harm' with a call to action to 'Know, Check & Ask'. Medication errors and unsafe practices can lead to severe patient harm, disabilities, and deaths. The day brings together patients, families, caregivers, communities, health workers, healthcare leaders, and policy-makers to show their commitment to patient safety. Empower and encourage patients, caregivers and family members to avoid medication errors, ensure safe use of medicines, and prevent patient harm. Advocate immediate action to promote drug safety and raise global awareness about the significant burden of medication errors and unsafe medication practices. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will pay a three-day visit to Egypt starting Sunday to further extend defence cooperation between the two countries. Taking to Twitter, Rajnath said that he is looking forward to holding discussions with his counterpart General Mohamed Ahmed Zaki. "Tomorrow, 18th September, I would be in Cairo, on a three-day visit to Egypt. Looking forward to holding discussions with my counterpart, General Mohamed Ahmed Zaki to further strengthen defence cooperation between both the countries," Rajnath tweeted. According to an official statement, during the visit, the two counterparts will review the bilateral defence ties, explore new initiatives to intensify military-to-military engagements and focus on deepening cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries. An MoU to provide further impetus to enhanced defence cooperation between India and Egypt will also be signed, as per Defence Ministry statement. "The Raksha Mantri will also call on President of Egypt Mr Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. The visit by Shri Rajnath Singh aims to further consolidate defence cooperation and the special friendship between India and Egypt," it added. Egypt is one of the largest investment destinations for India in the region with an existing Indian investment of USD 3.15 billion. Indian companies continue to execute several projects in Egypt. Moreover, to bolster defence cooperation between the two countries, a team of the Indian Air Force arrived in Egypt on June 22 to participate in a bilateral 'Tactical Leadership Programme' with the Egyptian Air Force. Earlier in November, last year, Chief of Air Staff Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari went to Egypt for his five-day visit to attend the Air Power Symposium and Defence Exposition (EDEX) in Cairo. This event was scheduled from November 28 to December 2. The year 2022 is of particular significance since it marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Egypt. Egypt and India also enjoy cordial defence relations. There was close cooperation between the Air Forces, with efforts at jointly developing a fighter aircraft in the 1960s. IAF pilots had also trained Egyptian pilots from the 1960s until 1984. In the recent past, since 2015, there have been several high-level exchanges of visits by defence delegations. (ANI)
President Droupadi Murmu left for London on Saturday to attend the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and offer condolences on behalf of India. US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will also attend the funeral. All heads of state visiting London for Queen Elizabeth's funeral have been invited to attend the lying-in-state in Westminster Hall ahead of Monday's state funeral and to sign a book of condolences at Lancaster House. However, opening a fresh diplomatic rift with Beijing, a Chinese government delegation has been refused permission by the House of Commons authorities to attend the queen's lying-in-state in Westminster Hall, London, Politico reported citing a senior parliamentary figure familiar with the matter. People of the UK will relive the glorious life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II at her state funeral on Monday. For the funeral, many guests from political heads of countries to distinct royal family members and dignitaries from across the globe will fly to the UK. Although the official guest list hasn't been released yet, New York Post has shared the names of a few countries that didn't make the cut. They are - Russia, Belarus, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria and Venezuela. According to the online publication, Russian President Vladimir Putin wished King Charles III on his accession recently, however, the country was still snubbed by the UK as they reportedly didn't get an invite for the funeral. It's also interesting to note here that North Korea, Iran, and Nicaragua were sent invites however those were only sent out to their ambassadorial representatives and not the head of state. Another news that recently made rounds was that former US President Donald Trump would also be in attendance however, the UK government, according to New York Post, has squashed the rumour saying that only the sitting US President and his wife will be attending. New York Post further reports that 750,000 people will be present at the funeral.More than USD 7 million (around INR 59 crores) will be shelled to beef up the security for the Queen's funeral on September 19. According to New York Post, protecting Queen Elizabeth's funeral will be the most expensive single-day operation in UK history, costing over USD 7.5 million.To secure the unprecedented number of foreign leaders, who are expected at the funeral on Monday, the British Mi5 and Mi6 intelligence agencies, London's Metropolitan Police, and the Secret Service will work together. "This is the biggest policing operation that the United Kingdom policing has ever undertaken," New York Post quoted Simon Morgan, a former Royal security officer, as saying. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday took part in a Ministerial Roundtable with their Singapore counterparts here and discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in emerging and futuristic areas. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a tweet that both sides deliberated upon several issues including financial sector operations, fintech, regulatory cooperation and investment opportunities. This was maiden meeting of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR), a new ministerial platform between the two countries to boost economic cooperation. The ISMR seeks to deepen existing cooperation and identify opportunities for mutually-beneficial collaboration in new and emerging areas. Singapore delegation at the ISMR was led by the country's Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also Minister for Finance. "During the meeting, the leaders emphasised ways of enhancing co-operation between India and Singapore in emerging and futuristic areas. Both sides deliberated upon wide range of issues which inter alia included Financial Sector Operations, Fintech, Regulatory Cooperation, Investment Opportunities and Current Economic Arrangements," Sitharaman said in tweets. Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong and Transport and Trade relations Minister S Iswaran were part of the Singapore delegation. Jaishankar said there was a freewheeling discussion on the possibilities and prospects of our ties in the coming decade. "An open and freewheeling discussion on the possibilities and prospects of our ties in the coming decade. Considerable food for thought. Look forward to our next session. "Delighted to participate in the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable along with FM @nsitharaman & CIM @PiyushGoyal.. Our Singapore counterparts were @LawrenceWongST, @VivianBala, , Trade & Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong and Transport & Trade relations Minister S. Iswaran," he said in tweets. "Joined by Industry leaders from India and Singapore who were holding a Business Roundtable in parallel. Appreciated their insights and ideas. Refreshing our relationship is truly a shared enterprise," he added. Lawrence Wong is in India from September 17 to 21, his first official visit to India after holding office. He will travel to Gujarat on September 18, 2022, where he will meet Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel and visit Gujarat International Finance City. He will be accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance. India and Singapore have a close bilateral relationship based on the convergence of economic and political interests. The economic reforms in India since the early 1990s created a strong basis for cooperation with Singapore, opening up possibilities for a significant presence in each other's economies. (ANI)
Leading an Indian delegation for the High-Level Week at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay his official visit to the United States of America starting from Sunday. Jaishankar will be in the US on September 18-28. The theme of the 77th UNGA is "A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges", according to an official statement on Saturday. In keeping with India's strong commitment to reformed multilateralism, Jaishankar will be hosting a Ministerial meeting of the G4 (India, Brazil, Japan, Germany), as well as participating at the High-Level Meeting of the L.69 Group on "Reinvigorating Multilateralism and Achieving Comprehensive Reform of the UN Security Council", the MEA statement read. The L.69 Group consists of developing countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Small Island Developing States, focused on reforms of the UN Security Council. On September 24, the External Affairs Minister would be addressing a special event "India@75: Showcasing India UN Partnership in Action" to commemorate and showcase Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, which would highlight India's development journey and its contributions to South-South Cooperation. The event is expected to be addressed by the President of the 77th UNGA, along with Foreign Ministers of several member states, and the UNDP Administrator. During the visit, Jaishankar would also be participating in plurilateral meetings of the Quad, IBSA, BRICS, India - Presidency Pro Tempore CELAC, India-CARICOM and other trilateral formats, such as India-France-Australia, India-France-UAE and India-Indonesia-Australia. He will also have bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers of the G20 and UNSC member states, amongst others. In the forenoon of September 24, the Minister's address at the High-Level Session of the 77th United Nations General Assembly is scheduled, as per MEA. Apart from it, Jaishankar will also be meeting with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the President of the 77th session General Assembly Csaba Korosi. Upon completion of the 77th UNGA-related engagements, EAM will visit Washington DC from September 25-28 for bilateral meetings with US interlocutors. His program includes inter alia, discussions with his counterpart Secretary of State Antony Blinken, senior members of the US Administration, US business leaders, a round-table focused on S&T and interaction with the Indian Diaspora. Jaishankar's visit would enable a high-level review of the multifaceted bilateral agenda and strengthen cooperation on regional and global issues to further consolidate the India-US strategic partnership. (ANI)
One person was killed and at least 13 others, including a woman, were injured on Friday after a hand-grenade exploded close to an auto-rickshaw on Sabzal road, on the outskirts of Quetta. According to the police sources, some unknown motorcyclists hurled a hand grenade, apparently targeting a nearby security checkpoint on Sabzal road, but it landed close to the auto-rickshaw passing through the area, reported Dawn. Police and personnel of other law-enforcement agencies rushed to the blast scene and shifted the injured to a civil hospital. Civil Hospital spokesman Dr Wasim Baig said that the body and the injured were brought to the hospital and at least three of the injured are in serious condition. Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to arrest the attackers, reported Dawn. In another such incident in Kohat, Some unknown men hurled a grenade at a police station at the old toll plaza of Kohat Friendship Tunnel late on Thursday night. However, the grenade could not explode. According to the police, the grenade was hurled from a van, but luckily it did not explode. They said the vehicle sped away towards Peshawar, reported Dawn. The police said that an operation was launched in the area to arrest the terrorists. The Counter-Terrorism Department has registered an FIR and started investigations. Recently, on Thursday, at least three policemen were injured in a hand grenade blast that occurred near Bilitang police station of Kohat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Unidentified people attacked the police station with a hand grenade device, which exploded killing three policemen. Pakistan has been witnessing several instances of lawlessnesses in recent days. The country is facing crises on several fronts including an economic slump and floods in large parts. Compounding this is the regular occurrence of violence. Earlier, on Tuesday, at least five people, including a peace committee member, two police officials, and his security guards, were killed in a blast in Swat's Bara Bandai area. A roadside bomb attack targeted a vehicle of the peace committee member, Idrees Khan, who was an ex-Village Defence Council (Aman Committee) Chairman of Kabal Tehsil, Swat, local media reported. Last week, at least, seven people, including a woman and a minor girl, were injured when unidentified motorcyclists hurled a grenade at a roundabout at Quetta's Khuram-i-Dad Chowk. Police said that three of them were severely injured. Earlier, a Pakistani constable was killed after an unidentified person, whom officials termed 'militants' hurled a hand grenade at the Khanmai police station in Charsadda. A similar incident took place on August 28 when at least two persons were injured in a grenade attack in Pakistan's Balochistan province. The attack occurred at the Khuzdar's Khand link road where two persons were seriously injured when unknown attackers hurled a hand grenade at a car, Dawn reported citing police officials. On August 8, unidentified gunmen killed two people and injured four others in firing in the Pashtunabad area. Not only local civilians, but police officials were also the target of the terror organization. On August 7, three people, including a policeman were injured in a remote-controlled blast that occurred in Quetta's Hazar Ganji area on Sunday, media reports said. In recent months, several cases of bomb attacks have been reported in Pakistan. (ANI)
Ren Kai, vice president of Sino IC Capital Ltd., was detained by Chinese authorities on Thursday morning, Nikkei Asia citing Chinese media Caixin sources reported.

Sino IC is the sole manager of China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund, known as the "Big Fund," a state-backed semiconductor investment fund and a key player in the country's quest for self-sufficiency in chipmaking.

Nikkei Asia reported that since July, seven current and former executives of the fund and its management firm have been put under graft probes, along with several others at companies the fund invested in.

Fifty-year-old Ren worked for 19 years at China Development Bank and was in charge of reviewing loans and investments in equipment and electronics projects.

During his tenure at the bank, he led a team that reviewed and granted more than 30 billion yuan ($4.3 billion) of loans to the integrated circuit industry, Nikkie Asia reported.

In July, Chinese authorities opened an investigation against a senior government minister responsible for handling the world's second-largest economy's semiconductor and digital technology sectors.

China's anti-graft investigators started a probe against Xiao Yaqing after he was suspected of "violating" discipline and law.

"Xiao Yaqing, China's minister of industry and information technology, has been put under investigation for suspected violations of party discipline and laws," Xinhua news agency had reported citing an official statement read.

According to the statement, Xiao is being probed by the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission. (ANI)
The majority members of the Impeachment Recommendation Committee have recommended impeaching Nepal's suspended Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana. The 11 membered impeachment panel formed by the lower house on Saturday completed its investigation and submitted it to House Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota. The submitted report has been endorsed by six members while the remaining five have differed citing reasons. Those differing from the report are from opposition CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist) and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP). Opposition CPN-UML has put forth an eight-point difference in the impeachment panel's report claiming the report of the panel could not be accepted as it resembled the intent of the alliance. Impeachment panel Chairman Ram Bahadur Bista is entrusted with the task of making the final decision to impeach Rana. His vote decides whether Rana gets impeached or not. However, Chair Bista has not taken any decision as of yet. It has been said that the new parliament that will be formed after the November 20 election will take a decision on Rana's suspension. Bista said the committee will decide that the impeachment proceedings will be continued by the next parliament and continue the suspension, citing an example of India dating back three decades. On February 1, as many as 98 MPs registered a general indictment against Rana, saying that he was against the power coalition. In March, the impeachment was tabled in the Parliament and an 11-member recommendation committee was formed. (ANI)
China's oppression of Tibet is not hidden from anyone and the communist nation is now carrying out mass DNA testing to create a biological database of people to monitor them. A recent report by Human Rights Watch mentioned that there is an arbitrary collection of DNA from residents in several towns and villages throughout Tibet and the so-called Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) in particular, reported Tibet Press. These developments clearly indicate that China, now having confidence in its technological surveillance is moving into the next phase of its repressive and authoritative policy which is of Bio-Security. The CCP has implemented Bio-security as an agency to control the population, specifically those in the occupied regions of Tibet, East Turkistan and Southern Mongolia being targeted. Earlier, China used biological means to sterilize thousands of Uyghur Muslims, which has shown horrific results. And the recent mass DNA collection drive occurring in Tibet where Human Rights Watch identified drives in 14 distinct localities across 7 prefectural-level areas indicate how wide this project is under the current regime. Notably, with the 20th National People's Congress just around the corner, one can conclude that Beijing especially President Xi Jinping wants to have a smooth meeting that will eventually see him elected as the president for an unprecedented 3rd term, reported Tibet Press. As a result, it is quite clear that the ultimate goal of the recent revealed mass DNA collection drive without the consent of Tibetans, is to keep the Tibetans busy and engaged so that they, along with the millions of Chinese who continue to be unhappy and resent the communist government in its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic with its zero-covid policy would not come together and form a united entity protesting against the regime. Tibet under Chinese occupation has been repressed since 1949 when the People's Republic of China (PRC) was established. Yet even with the naked eye, one can witness how since the 7th Tibet Work Forum, which was held from August 29-30, 2020 - the level of repression and oppression has drastically increased and is at an unprecedented rate currently, reported Tibet Press. However, the collection of genetic material is not new to China as its ministry of public security runs the world's largest forensic DNA database, which probably contains more than 100m profiles. This activity involves gathering samples from criminal suspects or victims of crime, similar to what western countries do. But since 2017 Beijing under the leadership of Xi Jinping has transformed the functioning of this activity and launched a campaign to collect DNA from 10 per cent of all Chinese men with the sole purpose to trace a man's male relative. This move was decried by several activists as they saw it as a means through which perceived troublemakers would be punished and threatened by involving his parents and family. Such an intention and ploy were a functioning modus operandi by Beijing, especially in the occupied regions. For Tibetans, it was common knowledge that if you have family and links in Tibet you must be apolitical even if you are personally far away from the direct clutches of Beijing's authoritarian rule. The reason is that your family members were immediately questioned, threatened and even sentenced due to your actions that occurs far beyond the jurisdiction of Beijing, reported Tibet Press. In 2018, a former Tibetan political prisoner, Tenzin Woeser who crossed the Himalayas and sought refuge was subject to mental torture personally and saw physical violence acted upon his mother in Tibet by the Chinese authorities. For more than a fortnight his mother was forcefully held in detention and demanded that her son returns to Tibet. This is just one of many incidents whereby not only Tibetans but those under the current Chinese Communist Party (CCP) come across in their day-to-day life, reported Tibet Press. Whether it is Tibet, East Turkistan (Xinjiang) or South Mongolia, there have been several reports related to China's coercion and frequent announcements about new laws and regulations to control the masses. Such blatant actions including such Bio-Security measures which totally disregard the core of humanity that all humans possess, call for united actions against China. (ANI)
By Trend

Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov signed a decree on the rules for the acceptance, accounting and delivery of humanitarian cargo to the destination, as well as its storage, protection and distribution in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

According to the rules, humanitarian cargo means goods imported by foreign states and governments, foreign state bodies (institutions), international and humanitarian organizations, individuals and legal entities (donors) for the purpose of assistance and charity.

Humanitarian assistance should be carried out in compliance with international treaties and the legislation of Azerbaijan in this area, taking into account national interests, with the consent of the state.

Besides, according to the rules, weapons and military equipment cant be considered humanitarian aid.
Ever since Tibet reported the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, China has enforced strict measures, including its so-called "Zero Covid policy" to contain the spread of the virus, but several viral videos and posts from Tibetans show the reality of China's oppressive measures. Infected patients quarantined alongside those who tested negative, no food for hours, despite repeated requests, lines of buses, loaded with people, waiting late into the night to drop them off at makeshift isolation centres, these are the scenes described by residents of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, who have been locked down for one month as officials try to contain a coronavirus outbreak, reported the Washington Post. Lockdowns, including of entire cities, have become almost commonplace in China, which remains bent on eliminating the coronavirus even as the rest of the world tries to live with it. But the recent calls for help out of Tibet, as well as Xinjiang -- two border regions where the Chinese government has put in place highly repressive controls -- speak to how desperate conditions have become there, where many residents are usually intimidated into keeping quiet, reported the Washington Post. As more and more stories of suffering have emerged online -- and efforts to suppress them have ramped up -- some have warned that the measures are going too far. Yet the incentive for the authorities to hold fast and silence discontent is also stronger than usual. It is known that on October 16, President Xi Jinping of China is set to hold a third term in office, making him one of the modern greats of the dragon country. Amid this, it is crucial for the Chinese Communist Party to ensure that the effort to achieve "zero Covid," which Xi has declared a personal priority, appears smooth and successful. The result is a vicious cycle. The authorities enact ever-harsher quarantine and censorship rules. Those, in turn, create more hardships and dissatisfaction, reported the Washington Post. Restrictions are tightening across China. Last week, the central government announced that the entire country, even areas without cases, would need to mandate regular testing of all residents through October. Tens of millions of people have been locked down in recent weeks. The capital, Beijing, is on high alert after several dozen cases have been detected in recent days. In recent days, as the controls have shown no sign of easing, residents have mounted an online campaign to draw attention to their plight. Some have tagged state media outlets in hopes of attracting official coverage. Others have attached unrelated trending hashtags, such as one about an actor accused of hiring prostitutes. "The social media posts you see from people in Lhasa are all about suffering, but that's the real Lhasa. Lhasa's public announcements, I feel they're all fake," said a food delivery worker in the city. The Chinese government has promoted positive videos of officials encouraging frontline workers and promising ample supplies of food and medicine. But the food delivery worker said he was quarantined with five family members in an unfinished apartment building, even though he had not tested positive. Since he was waiting to be released, the officials had sent another man to join their family in quarantine, because they were all of the Hui ethnic minority, and the man who joined later had tested positive, he said. The lockdowns in Tibet and Xinjiang, though, stand out for having dragged on for more than a month, reported the Washington Post. Lhasa -- home to nearly 900,000 people, about 70 per cent of them ethnically Tibetan -- began ordering certain areas to close after discovering a handful of infections on August 8, with restrictions soon spreading citywide. Yining, a city in the northwestern part of Xinjiang, has also been under restrictions since early August. The director of Tibet Action Institute, Lhadon Tethong said that she had been stunned by what she called a flood of Tibetan voices this week, compared with a trickle of information before. "They're these direct cries for help coming from inside in a way that we just don't see anymore," she said. "So we know they're at the breaking point." Several of the videos have been deleted. In a video of the woman asking to go home -- no longer available online -- she emphasized that she was not protesting. This week, local officials in Shandong Province announced that they had detained a man for sharing a live stream by China's state broadcaster in his neighbourhood's group chat and urging people to "go and ask for help" in the comments, reported the Washington Post. The Chinese authorities are still relying on more coercive tactics. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared that the end of the pandemic was "in sight" -- a declaration that quickly aroused a flurry of posts on Chinese social media expressing hope, and weariness at the extended controls. By Thursday, Weibo had banned the hashtag "W.H.O. says the end of Covid is in sight." China's stringent measures under its so-called 'Zero Covid policy' has put the lives of Tibetan people in grave danger amid the recent COVID-19 outbreak that has made the lives of Tibetans unbearable, thus leaving the state in a hassle. The human rights issue in Tibet has gotten much worse over the years and the Chinese government has never backed down from strengthening its torturous hold on the Tibetans. Surveillance of the Tibetans in Tibet by the communist party has been extreme and any suspicious act is dealt with unlawful arrests, detentions and false convictions. While the world is being shown a country like China handling the outbreak in a harmonious way, but the reality apparently is far from that. The measures being taken are too severe and not in the interest of the public at all. (ANI)
A series of protests erupted in western Iran on Saturday over the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, following her detention by Iran's morality police where the women protestors took their hijabs off to protest the mandatory veiling, media reports said. In multiple videos that are going viral on social media showed protesters were seen shouting anti-government slogans after gathering in Saqqez, the hometown of Mahsa Amini as they mourned the 22-year-old who died in a hospital. A huge crowd of people have gathered at the cemetery, chanting "Death to Dictator" slogan, according to videos received by Iran International. In Saqqez city the women protestors took their hijabs off to protest the mandatory veiling, media reports said. Masih Alinejad, an Iranian journalist and activist on her social media account shared the alleged visuals of the protests and wrote, "Women of Iran-Saghez removed their headscarves in protest against the murder of Mahsa Amini 22 Yr old woman by hijab police and chanting: death to dictator! Removing hijab is a punishable crime in Iran. We call on women and men around the world to show solidarity." "This is the real Iran, Security forces in Iran's Saqqez opened fire at peaceful protesters following the burial of #Mahsa_Amini. Several protesters have been injured. First Hijab police killed a 22 Yr old girl and now using guns and tear gas against grieving people," she added in another tweet. In dismay over the turn of events, the journalist slammed Iran's 'Morality Police' and compared their behaviour with the story of the novel "The Handmaid's Tale" written by Margaret Atwood. She said that the perpetuated events are not fiction for the Iranian women but are a reality. She registered a strong protest against Iran's 'Morality Police' and continued, "Iranian women! Take off your forced hijab, burn the most visible symbol of oppression. Let's not forget that Masah Amini was killed by hijab police and now we are all Mahsa. We all protest against compulsory hijab and the Islamic Republic. We want freedom." As per her statements on social media the protests have been spreaded to Iran's Sananda city as well where they joined the people of Tehran and Saghez to protest against the "killing of Mahsa Amini by hijab police." People are frustrated and they want to be heard, she remorse over the death of the 22-year-old. "Islamic Republic beats, jails, tortures and KILLS us when we demand our basic rights in Iran," she wrote. The journalist stressed that the people of Iran do not need "thoughts and prayers" and demands action. She called on the UN and women everywhere to show solidarity and sisterhood with Iranians. According to the journalist, the 22-year-old Masah Amini was forced to wear the hijab and was beaten up by morality police because of wearing "bad hijab". "Iranian women are outraged. Forced hijab is the main pillar of religious dictatorship." A controversy was also erupted on social media as Amini died after slipping into a coma following her detention by Iran's morality police, a dedicated unit that enforces strict dress codes for women, such as wearing the compulsory headscarf, media reports said. As per Al Jazeera, Mahsa Amini, 22, was on a visit to Tehran with her family when she was detained by the specialist police unit. After a while, she suffered a heart attack and was immediately taken to hospital with the cooperation of the emergency services. "Unfortunately, she died and her body was transferred to the medical examiner's office," state television said on Friday, reported Al Jazeera. The announcement came a day after Tehran police confirmed Amini had been detained with other women for "instruction" about the rules.Human rights activists who have spoken to the family said the police grabbed Amini and forced her inside a police vehicle, CNN reported quoting IranWire. Her brother, Kiarash, intervened however the police told him that they are taking his sister to the police station for one hour of "re-education." Her brother waited outside the police station for her to be released however an ambulance pulled up and took his sister to the hospital. "The woman was sent to a Greater Tehran police precinct for guidance and education when suddenly, in the presence of other people, she had a heart attack," the police said, reported CNN quoting state media. Questioning the version of events given by police, the Mahsa's family said that she was normal with no pre-existing heart conditions. Human rights organisation Amnesty International said, "The circumstances leading to the suspicious death in custody of 22-year-old young woman Mahsa Amini, which include allegations of torture and other ill-treatment in custody, must be criminally investigated.""The so-called 'morality police' in Tehran arbitrarily arrested her three days before her death while enforcing the country's abusive, degrading and discriminatory forced veiling laws. All agents and officials responsible must face justice," it added. Following the incident that sparked a fury on social media, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi ordered the interior minister to open an inquiry into the case. Several lawmakers said they would raise the case in parliament, while the judiciary said it would form a special task force to investigate, reported Al Jazeera. Amini's death comes amid growing controversy both inside and outside Iran over the conduct of the morality police, known formally as the Gasht-e Ershad (Guidance Patrol). The mandatory dress code, which applies to all nationalities and religions, not just Iranian Muslims, requires women to conceal their hair and neck with a headscarf, reported Al Jazeera.Over the decades, women have increasingly pushed back, particularly in the big cities, wearing their headscarves far back on their heads to reveal their hair. (ANI)
Zambia which is known as a country under "debt distress" from China has finally received a USD 1.3 billion financial loan from the International Monetary Fund, media reports said. Zambia's finance minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, was able to receive a USD 1.3 billion loan from the IMF with a grace period of five and a half years and a final maturity of ten years, reported Financial Post. This comes at a time when China is already responsible for almost 30 pc of Zambia's debt when compared to non-Chinese private creditors. Terming it a great offer, Financial Post said that the IMF agreement means a lot to the other low-and middle-income nations who are under the trap of China's debt-diplomacy. Looking at the IMF deal closely, it is understood that Zambia would prioritize recurrent expenses over investments in public infrastructure, which are traditionally funded by Chinese stakeholders, reported Financial Post. Zambia has specifically stated that it will completely cancel 12 planned projects, half of which were expected to be funded by China EXIM Bank, along with one by ICBC for a university and another by Jiangxi Corporation for a dual highway from the capital. Additionally, the government cancelled 20 of the unpaid loan sums, some of which were for brand-new projects and others for ongoing ones. Such cancellations are not unusual for Zambia, but the majority of these loans come from Chinese partners. Ten of the cancelled loans are from China EXIM Bank; together with three other Chinese loans from ICBC (USD 303 million) and one from Jiangxi Bank (USD 157 million), these loans will save Zambia USD 1.1 billion over the next few years. The remaining six undistributed loan sums, totaling USD 483 million, are primarily from commercial lenders. While some of these cancellations may have been initiated by Chinese lenders themselves, especially those in arrears, Zambia seems to have escaped the clutches of the Chinese. Dealing with the devil can never be beneficial in the long term. China plays out a ploy when it comes to giving loans to the African nations because what Beijing actually seeks is the resources. In these loans, repayment is not made with cash but in terms of giving first access to China for its rare earth metals. The other thing to comprehend about the Zambia-IMF agreement is that China will probably take a backseat as a development partner, which is connected to the first, as The IMF's agreement permits the continuation of 62 concessional loan projects from 12 different lenders, the majority of which are managed by international institutions and once again include ongoing expenses as opposed to infrastructure-focused initiatives. (ANI)
US President Joe Biden has warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin against the use of chemical or tactical nuclear weapons in the ongoing war with Ukraine that has stretched to more than six months now. "Don't. Don't. Don't. You will change the face of war unlike anything since World War II," Biden said. Biden gave an interview to CBS News anchor Scott Pelley at the White House which will be aired on Sunday. Biden's reaction came soon after Pelley asked what the consequences would be if Putin crossed the line. Biden said: "You think I would tell you if I knew exactly what it would be? Of course, I'm not gonna tell you. It'll be consequential. They'll become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been. And depending on the extent of what they do will determine what response would occur." Biden and Pelley discussed a host of issues beyond the war in Ukraine, including the economy and the upcoming midterm elections. The Biden administration has announced another $600 million in military aid to help the Ukrainian army maintain momentum against Russia. In the interview for this Sunday's '60 Minutes', Pelley spoke to Biden about Ukraine's recent battlefield success - and the dangers that could arise. "As Ukraine succeeds on the battlefield, Vladimir Putin is becoming embarrassed being pushed into a corner," Pelley told Biden. "And I wonder, Mr President, what you would say to him if he is considering using chemical or tactical nuclear weapons." "Don't. Don't. Don't. You will change the face of war unlike anything since World War II," Biden replied. Biden also told Pelley about his efforts to avert a national railroad strike. On Thursday, the President had announced that a tentative deal has been reached between the railroads and rail workers' unions after 20 hours of negotiations in the US Department of Labour. "We brought business and labour together," the President told Pelley. "One of the things that happens in negotiations, particularly if they've been elongated like these have, is people say and do things where the pride gets engaged as well. And it's awful hard to back off of some of these things. So, what we did was just say, 'Look, let's take a look. Let's take a look at what's happening'. "You have a good deal being made for labour. Their income is going to go up 24 per cent over the next five years. They've worked out the healthcare piece, they worked out days off. They both sat down, in my view, and they were in the office today saying, 'Well, we finally figured it out. This is fair on both sides.' And it took that time to focus. "The alternative was just not thinkable. If, in fact, they'd gone on a strike, the supply chains in this country would've come to a screeching halt. We would've seen a real economic crisis," Biden said. The interview is Biden's first sit-down with '60 Minutes' since being elected President. --IANS ash/arm ( 515 Words) 2022-09-17-20:58:03 (IANS)
President Droupadi Murmu arrived at Gatwick Airport in London to attend Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral at London's Westminster Abbey on Saturday. The President is on an official tour to the United Kingdom from September 17 to 19 to attend the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday and offer condolences on behalf of the Government of India. The presidential aircraft carrying Murmu and her entourage members, including foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra landed at London's Gatwick Airport at 20:50 IST from where she left for the hotel where she will be staying during this tour. On her arrival at the airport, the president was received by the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom. According to official reports, on Sunday, she will attend the Lying-in-State of the Queen's coffin at the Palace of Westminster and sign a condolence book on behalf of the Indian government at Lancaster House near Buckingham Palace. Later in the day, she will attend a reception hosted by King Charles III for the overseas leaders at Buckingham Palace in London before the funeral service on Monday at 11 am local time. The next day, she will attend the state funeral service at West Gate of Westminster Abbey. And in the afternoon, she will attend the reception hosted by James Cleverly, UK's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. Queen Elizabeth II, 96, the former head of state of the UK and Head of the Commonwealth of Nations passed away on September 8. She will be laid to rest will full state honours at Westminster Abbey on September 19. One-day state mourning was observed across India on September 11 as a mark of respect to UK's Queen Elizabeth II who passed away on September 8. (ANI)
In recent years, China has stepped up its aggressive posture toward the United States and its regional allies and amid this, a top US general has warned of Beijing's expanding nuclear arsenal and added that it does not reflect minimal deterrence. The US Air Force General Anthony Cotton made these remarks as he appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Speaking to the lawmakers reviewing his nomination to lead U.S. Strategic Command, the general said that the military's assessment of China's nuclear mettle had changed dramatically since 2018," reported Washington Post. Earlier, Beijing was judged as requiring "minimal nuclear deterrence" and the Pentagon's nuclear posture review had assessed China's ambitions as being focused on "regional hegemony," the general said, the Washington Post report noted. It is worth noting that the top general is US Joe Biden's nominee to take over the US military's nuclear arsenal and the missile-defense operations. On Thursday, the general warned that China's rise as a nuclear power poses historical threats and challenges requiring a reevaluation of current policies. "We have seen the incredible expansiveness of what they're doing with their nuclear force -- which does not, in my opinion, reflect minimal deterrence. They have a bona fide triad now," Cotton said explaining that the Chinese military has nuclear-capable forces that operate on land, and in the air and sea. One of the other interesting points that the general added is that the US approach toward Russia will not work for China in order to address the nuclear threat posed. He added that Russia's nuclear aims are familiar to the United States and date back decades to the Cold War. Beijing and Moscow, the general said, "act differently, from a doctrine's perspective," reported The Washington Post. Historically, Beijing did not possess the arsenal of the two major Cold War superpowers, nor were its nuclear ambitions regarded in Washington as the same as Moscow's intensity. "We need to seriously consider that we are entering a new, trilateral nuclear competition era," the committee chairman, Rhode Island Democratic Senator Jack Reed told Cotton. "You will be responsible for continuing to ensure that the United States and its allies can deter not one, but two near-peer nuclear adversaries, something your predecessors did not face." (ANI)
Even after a plethora of bilateral discussions, the trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been unable to reach its full potential due to absurd policy changes and tariff hikes by the Pakistani government on imports, media reports said. For Instance, the new export policy by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) insisted on payments in US dollars from Afghan buyers which created problems for several months. Against this policy, Torkham Custom Clearing Agents Association, Khyber Chamber of Commerce, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commercial Exporters and Exporters, and Cargo Transport Association boycotted the clearance of commercial goods bound for Afghanistan for several days, reported Financial Post. Registering their protests against the payment system in place, Pakistani traders and transporters argued that no formal banking was operational in Afghanistan after the Taliban came to power in 2021. The flustered traders demanded the Pakistani government allow imports from Afghanistan in the Pakistani Rupee (PKR). However, for a long time Pakistan government remained reluctant on the issue. Sadly, by the time the Pakistani government allowed payment in PKR the traders has already faced major losses in the trade volume, the Financial Post report said. Moreover, in another distorting move, Pakistan recently raised the tariffs on the import of fruits from Afghanistan. Afghan farmers blame Pakistan for increasing customs tariffs on fresh fruit every year. In September 2022, hundreds of trucks and containers loaded with fresh and dry fruits were reported to be returning to Kabul from the Torkham border due to the tariff issue. Some Importers quoted in Pakistani media revealed that the arrival of fresh and dry fruits from Afghanistan had declined by 70 per cent since the imposition of 49 per cent regulatory duty on them. The rise in the tariffs by the Pakistani authorities was not clear keeping in mind that the country is already facing food shortages due to devastating floods. Haji Jabir, an office-bearer of the Khyber Chamber of Commerce, points out that the imposition of regulatory duty was in contravention of the repeated official pledges about an increase in the country's trade with Afghanistan. According to some experts, Pakistan is belligerent when it comes to trade and other areas of bilateral cooperation as a manifestation of the country's legacy dispute with Afghanistan on the Durand line, reported the media portal. After the regime change in Aug 2021, the Taliban administration has complained of many misadventures by the Pakistani forces on the disputed border. The latest of such incidents was reported in September 2022 by the Taliban regime who strongly objected to firing by Pak forces on Afghan nationals in the Burmal district of Patika province along the Durand Line. In its communication to the Pak mission in Kabul, Afghanistan termed the incident as a violation of its sovereignty and responsible for building up tension on the border. (ANI)
Terming the relations between India and Iran as "friendly and cordial", Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said the Chabahar-Central Asia transit route can help both nations strengthen the grounds for cooperation. "Using the existing capacities in the oil and gas industry, transportation and especially the Chabahar-Central Asia transit route, as well as cooperation in regional and international issues that the two countries are concerned about and have common positions can provide a suitable ground for improving the level of relations and expanding grounds for cooperation between the two countries," read a press release by the Iranian Ministry. Raisi had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi where he described the development of the interactions with the country as one of the priorities of Iran's foreign policy. "Indian independent figures, like Mr Gandhi, who have stood against arrogance are always respected by the Iranian nation," he said, referring to historical, cultural and civilisational common grounds between the two countries. Referring to Iran's progress in various scientific and industrial fields, Raisi emphasised, "Cruel sanctions could not interrupt the progress of the Iranian nation". In the sideline meeting, PM Modi pointed out the key role and importance of Chabahar Port in the transportation of goods in the region. "The development of this port will contribute to the economic development of the countries in the region," he said. The Prime Minister of India also mentioned the common positions of the two countries regarding the developments in Afghanistan and called for the continuation of Tehran-Delhi international and regional cooperation in this field. (ANI)
Daniel Craig in "Glass Onion: A 'Knives Out' Mystery." Netflix

There are big-name actors like Viola Davis in "The Woman King" and Brad Pitt in "Babylon."

Plus marquee directors like Steven Spielberg ("The Fabelmans") and Rian Johnson ("Glass Onion").

Here are the movies with award-season buzz you shouldn't miss this fall.

"The Woman King" (In theaters now)

Viola Davis in "The Woman King." Ilze Kitchoff/Sony

This real-life historical epic follows Viola Davis as the leader of the Agojie, an all-female warrior team who were charged with protecting the West African kingdom of Dahomey back in the 1800s.

Director Gina Prince-Bythewood ("The Old Guard") gives the movie a "Braveheart"-meets-"Black Panther" vibe that will make it an Oscar contender.

"Blonde" (In select theaters on September 16 and Netflix on September 28)

Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe in "Blonde." Netflix

There have been many movies that have depicted the life of Marilyn Monroe, but few are like this one that thrusts us headfirst into how her fame completely crippled her.

Ana de Armas delivers a breathtaking performance that will likely lead to at least an Oscar nomination.

"TAR" (October 7)

Cate Blanchett as Lydia Tar in "Tar." Focus Features

In this look at the life of renowned conductor and composer Lydia Tar, we once more see the greatness of Cate Blanchett, who delivers an amazing performance.

And we also see that having not made a movie since 2006's "Little Children" hasn't affected director Todd Field's talents to create a powerful story.

"Triangle of Sadness" (October 7)

Woody Harrelson in "Triangle of Sadness." Neon

For the latest dark comedy from acclaimed director Ruben Ostlund ("Force Majeure," "The Square") he places us on a luxury cruise where nothing is what it seems.

This marks the English-language debut for the director, who will be gunning for best director and screenplay Oscar nominations.

"Armageddon Time" (October 28)

(L-R) Banks Repeta and Anthony Hopkins in "Armageddon Time." Focus Features

For the latest movie from James Gray ("We Own the Night," "Lost City of Z," "Ad Astra") the director takes memories from his childhood growing up in Queens in the 1980s to tell the story of a family in search of the American dream.

Gray collected an all-star cast including Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong, and Anthony Hopkins.

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"The Fabelmans" (Select theaters November 11 and a wide release November 23)

(L-R) Paul Dano, Mateo Zoryna Francis-Deford, and Michelle Williams in "The Fabelmans." Universal

Like Gray, Steven Spielberg also took elements of his own childhood to create his latest movie, which follows the life of a young aspiring filmmaker.

Expect best-picture hype and likely nominations for a cast made up of Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, and Judd Hirsch.

"The Son" (November 11)

Hugh Jackman in "The Son." Sony Pictures Classics

In this prequel to the 2020 movie "The Father," which earned Anthony Hopkins an Oscar win, Hugh Jackman plays a dad who struggles to find a balance between his family and work.

Expect Oscar hype for writer-director Florian Zeller (he won the best adapted screenplay Oscar for "The Father"), Jackman, and costars Laura Dern and Vanessa Kirby.

"The Inspection" (November 18)

Jeremy Pope in "The Inspection." A24

Based on true events, Jeremy Pope plays a gay Marine who becomes a target of awful hazing during boot camp on Parris Island.

Expect attention through award season for Pope, writer-director Elegance Bratton, and Gabrielle Union who plays a homophobic mother.

"She Said" (November 18)

Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan in "She Said." Universal

Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan play the New York Times reporters who exposed Harvey Weinstein's years of sexual abuse and launched the #MeToo movement.

Expect the actresses to find Oscar buzz.

"White Noise" (Select theaters November 25 and on Netflix December 30)

Noah Baumbach's "White Noise." Netflix

Marking the first time Noah Baumbach makes a movie that isn't from an original idea, this adaptation of the Don DeLillo book follows Adam Driver as a father who must deal with a train accident that has caused chemical waste to spew all over his town.

Along with Oscar-favorites Baumbach and Driver in the mix, Greta Gerwig and Don Cheadle also star.

"Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" (Select theaters in November and on Netflix on December 23)

Daniel Craig in "Glass Onion." Netflix

Rian Johnson teams with Daniel Craig for another whodunit. With buzz building that it's even better than the first "Knives Out" movie, we are in for something special that could lead to Oscar glory.

The impressive cast includes Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista.

"Women Talking" (December 2)

Sarah Polley's "Women Talking." MGM

This one's got Oscar bait written all over it. Based on the novel by Miriam Toews, Sarah Polley writes and directs this powerful movie that follows women isolated in a religious community.

It stars Rooney Mara, Clarie Foy, Frances McDormand, and Jessie Buckley.

"Empire of Light" (December 9)

Olivia Colman in "Empire of Light." Searchlight Pictures

This Sam Mendes-directed romance movie set during the 1980s on the English coast stars Olivia Colman, and Colin Firth. Plus, the movie's music is by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross and its cinematographer is Roger Deakins.

Need we say more?

"The Whale" (December 9)

Brendan Fraser in "The Whale. A24

Brendan Fraser has quickly become the best actor Oscar frontrunner thanks to the reception he's been receiving for playing a 600-pound man who, through guilt and loss, tries to reconnect with his teenage daughter, played by Sadie Sink.

"Babylon" (December 25)

Margot Robbie in "Babylon." Paramount

Director Damien Chazelle ("La La Land," "First Man") chronicles 1920s Hollywood as we follow a Mexican American actor (Diego Calva) who attempts to start a career.

Chazelle has compiled a cast that will make Oscar voters go nuts: Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Jean Smart, Katherine Waterston, and Tobey Maguire.

Read the original article on Insider
Ismael and Jamee looked after Kira's fish for four months, Southwest said. Southwest Airlines

Two Southwest employees cared for a passenger's pet fish for nearly 4 months when it couldn't fly.

Customer service agent Ismael and fiancee Jamee looked after Kira's fish Theo over the summer.

Kira was reunited with Theo this week after returning to college in Tampa, Southwest said.

Two Southwest Airlines employees looked after a passenger's fish for four months when it was not allowed on her flight, the airline said.

In a Twitter thread on Thursday, the airline said a passenger called Kira was unable to bring her pet fish Theo on a flight in May after finishing her freshman year at college.

To ensure Kira did not miss her flight but could also save her pet, a customer service agent named Ismael offered to look after the fish for her. Text message exchanges show Ismael saying he bought a bigger bowl for Theo over the summer.

Ismael cared for the Beta fish with his fiance Jamee, who is also a Southwest employee, for nearly four months before meeting up with Kira in Tampa as she was about to start her sophomore year of college.

Text messages appear to show Kira shared a gift card with the couple to thank them for their efforts.

Kira was reunited with Theo this month before starting her sophomore year of college, per Southwest. Southwest Airlines.

Insider contacted Southwest for more information.

The story is a rare bright moment in what has been a summer of flight chaos with many passengers suffering cancellations, diversions, crew time-outs, as well as lost luggage, pets and even children.

While Kira was blocked from travelling with her fish prior to the flight, other passengers have unfortunately lost track of pets that were permitted to take to the skies.

In July, Air Canada sent passenger Abbas Zoeb's cats from Toronto to San Francisco without him when he encountered visa issues. The airline initially suggested he travel to San Francisco to collect them before sending them back 15 hours later.

The actions of Ismael and Jamee highlight the steps some staff have taken amid the unprecedented chaos. In August another Southwest customer service agent told Insider recent struggles had been challenging, with police having to step in to control an angry passenger on one occasion.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Trend

The procedure for monitoring historical and cultural monuments located on the territory of Azerbaijans Shusha city has been determined, Trend reports via the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.

Will be updated




A screenshot of bodycam footage released by his family's lawyers shows Christian Glass making a heart sign with his hands at the officers who would later shoot and kill him. Rathod | Mohamedbhai LLC

Christian Glass was killed by a sheriff's deputy after calling for help because his car was stuck, his family's attorney said.

His family's lawyers have released body cam footage and are seeking charges against the officers involved.

Colorado State Patrol indicated the man had committed "no crime" and the incident is being investigated by county officials.

The family of a 22-year-old Colorado man is seeking charges against the officers who shot and killed him on June 11 after he called 911 asking for help because his car was stuck.

Bodycam footage recently released by the family's lawyer revealed seven officers responded when Christian Glass called first responders after he'd had a minor car crash in Clear Creek County, Colorado.

"I'm stuck in a dangerous place and I will be killed," Glass can be heard saying in a rambling phone call to emergency services that was released by his family's lawyers, where he repeatedly tells the operator he loves her, discusses draining the negativity out of people with crystals, and fixates on "skinwalkers" watching him from outside his vehicle.

"I need immediate assistance, please," he begged. "I'm going through a lot right now."

The amateur geologist had two small knives and a hammer in his vehicle, which he disclosed to both the 911 operator and officers as they arrived at the scene, offering repeatedly to throw them outside the vehicle to make officers feel safe.

"I'm not dangerous, I will keep my hands completely visible," he told the 911 operator. "I understand this is a dodgy situation for you guys as well."

When law enforcement arrived, body camera footage revealed Glass did keep his hands visible for almost the entirety of his interactions with Clear Creek County Sheriff deputies and Colorado State Patrol officers. He even made heart signs with his hands in gestures of peace toward the officers but refused to exit his car, saying he was "terrified," for nearly 70 minutes.

Glass Final Video from on Vimeo.

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Officers in the video are seen joking at each other and talking peacefully with the 22-year-old, with an officer at one time approaching the vehicle and saying he isn't scared of Glass' behavior.

"We're not going to shoot you," an officer can be heard saying.

Despite this, and the fact that a Colorado State Patrol officer can be heard on the radio saying Glass had committed no crime and the patrol should move on, officers on the scene decided to breach the car window and remove him.

One officer stood on the hood of the surrounded car while a second broke the passenger side window, at which point Glass grabbed his small rock knife and appears to both brandish it toward officers and possibly cut himself. Officers fired "less-lethal" bean bag rounds and shot Glass with a taser, shouting commands at him while he screamed but the 22-year-old did not attempt to exit the vehicle or engage with any of the officers around him.

Ultimately, an officer identified as Clear Creek County Sheriff Deputy Andrew Buen shot Glass five times and killed him. An attorney for the Glass family, Siddhartha Rathod, told Insider Buen was the first to arrive at the scene and repeatedly escalated the encounter.

"Christian was clearly in crisis, but what that crisis was, we'll never know," Rathod told Insider. "Was it that he was alone in the dark and scared, or having a medical or mental health crisis? We don't know."

Glass had a history of minor depression and took medication for ADHD, Rathod said. He also smoked marijuana  which is legal in the state of Colorado  but had no significant mental illness or history of psychosis.

"What we do know is that when someone calls 911, whether they're scared or having a mental health crisis, this isn't what we expect of our law enforcement. This isn't how they should respond," Rathod told Insider.

The Clear Creek County Sheriff's Department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

The County Commissioner's office released a statement Friday initiating an investigation into the department's handling of the matter, calling the incident "deeply troubling."

The Glass family is seeking charges against Buen and other officers at the scene who may have violated policy and failed to help their son while he was in crisis. They were motivated to come forward, Rathod said, after a Clear County Sheriff's Department statement miscategorized the events of that night and made Christian's death seem like his own fault.

"There was failure after failure after failure," Rathod told Insider. "The police created the situation in which they ended up shooting and killing Christian."

Read the original article on Insider
Four children are in the hospital after an apartment fire in Butler County Saturday.

Fire crews responded to the 5000 block of Aster Park Drive in West Chester Township for reports of a fire around 12:20 p.m., according to our news partners at WCPO.

When they arrived on scene crews found smoke coming from the door and windows of the apartment.

Four children were brought outside and received life support measures, according to West Chester Fire Chief Rick Prinz.

>> My boyfriend has been shot; 911 call details moments following shooting in Miamisburg

One of the four wasnt breathing and didnt have a pulse. The other three were having a very difficult time breathing.

A 5-month-old and 5-year-old were taken to West Chester Hospital, and the 5-year-old was on a ventilator, Prinz told WCPO.

An 8-year-old and a 1-year-old were taken to Cincinnati Childrens Hospitals Liberty campus, where the 8-year-old was on a ventilator and the 1-year-old was receiving CPR, Prinz said.

Just after 2 p.m., West Chester Fire said all four children, while in critical condition, have pulses sand are breathing.

Prinz didnt specify if any adults were home at the time of the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.




Around 50 more migrants got off a bus outside Vice President Kamala Harris' residence in Washington, D.C., Saturday.

Six more buses also arrived in New York City, as Texas continued to pressure sanctuary cities amid a surge of migrants crossing the southern border. The six buses were from El Paso, Port Authority officials told Fox News.

The D.C. bus carried people mostly from Venezuela, including a one-month-old baby. Aid workers quickly whisked the migrants away to a local shelter.

The transports come as the immigration issue has again rocketed to the forefront of national attention after planes carrying migrants arrived in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS AGAIN IGNORES MIGRANT QUESTION, HUSBAND CALLS BUSSING SHAMEFUL

Harris has been tasked with dealing with the "root causes" of migration to the U.S.-Mexico border, which she said on Sunday was "secure."

BORDER AGENTS BLAST KAMALA HARRIS' BORDER CLAIM, SAY IT'S FAR FROM SECURE

That statement received heavy pushback from Border Patrol agents, who say it is "far from secure."

Two buses first arrived Thursday at the Naval Observatory in Washington, where Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff live.

Harris accused Republican governors of a "dereliction of duty" in a Vice News interview, and Emhoff called the arrivals "shameful" and a "political stunt."

When asked by Vice what the "solution" to the migrant crisis is, Harris mentioned nothing about border security. Instead, she blamed former President Donald Trump, saying his administration "decimated" the immigration system. "So we have been spending in the last 18 months an incredible amount of time and work and resources to reconstruct that system," she said.

Harris indicated that a bill providing a pathway to citizenship for those in the country illegally would also be part of the solution, as well as billions to help migrants stay in their home countries.

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Meanwhile in Massachusetts, the migrants sent to Martha's Vineyard by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis were bussed Friday to Joint Base Cape Cod where Gov. Charlie Baker has set up a shelter.

MIGRANTS BUSSED FROM MARTHA'S VINEYARD TO US MILITARY BASE, US ATTORNEY SEEKS DOJ INPUT ON RESPONSE

The arrivals have drawn sharp reaction from the White House. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre accused Republican governors of treating the migrants "like chattel."

Others have said the transports have exposed hypocrisy on behalf of Democrats who support sanctuary city policies.
MILWAUKEE  Aaron Judge has played in every Yankee game since the beginning of last month  and the slugger who is chasing history isnt likely to sit anytime soon. Its not the chase for 61 that has the Bomber pushing, its winning the American League East and clinching their best playoff position.

I feel like physically hes in a really good spot, manager Aaron Boone said Friday afternoon before the Bombers opened a three-game interleague series against the Brewers at American Family Field. I hope we get to a point where I can give him a day. Having three off days and eight days is part of the equation, though and very beneficial, I think at this point.

There were those couple of days where I was able to get you know, all DH for like three games in there, including the doubleheader, but I feel like hes doing really well, physically really, as good as hes been at any time at this point in the season, Boone continued. So its something Ill continue to be mindful of and watch. Like I said, hopefully we get to a point from a victory standpoint that I can give him a day.

Right now its pedal down.

The Yankees went into Friday nights game with a magic number of 13 to win the division and seven to clinch a playoff spot. Judge went into Friday nights game with a major league-leading 57 home runs, four shy of the American League record of 61 set by Roger Maris in 1961.

Already, Judge is making this a special season. His 57 homers are already the fourth most by a Yankee in a single season, trailing only Maris 61 and Babe Ruths 60 in 1927 and 59 in 1921. He is just the 12th player in the history of the big leagues to hit at least 57 homers and just the third in the majors over the last 20 years to hit 57 in a single season.

But its just kind of come to be expected anymore by those around him.

I think Ive ceased being amazed, Boone said. So its a remarkable season for a remarkable player. But anything that he does I dont think its amazing to me anymore.

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Thats because everyone, including those here in Milwaukee are expecting history. Before the Yankees came into town, the Brewers grounds crew were reminded multiple times, including in a memo, that Judge is on the precipice of history and that if he were to hit No. 61 or 62 at American Family Field that ball would be an important part of the story.

The memo told staff that the Yankees experienced security staff would be in charge of tracking down the ball.

Judge is on pace to hit 65 homers, which would smash the American League record and bring him tantalizingly close to more recent and tainted history.

With his 57 homers, Judge is the first Yankee and just the fourth major leaguer to hit at least 57 homers in the clubs first 143 games, joining Barry Bonds (60 in 2001), Mark McGwire (60 in 1998) and Sammy Sosa (59 in 1999 and 58 in 1998). Bonds had 63 through 144 games.

And like Bonds, who Judge has said he considers the record holder with his 73 home runs even though it was tainted by the suspicion of PED use, the Yankees slugger is finding it harder and harder to get pitches to hit. He has been walked intentionally 16 times this season, just one of five Yankees to reach that mark in a single season, joining Mickey Mantle (23 in 1957 and 18 in 1964), Don Mattingly (18 in 1989), Bernie Williams (17 in 1999) and Robinson Cano (16 in 2013).

So Friday night, he was back at the top of the lineup, where Boone hoped the Brewers would have to pitch to him.

I mean, hes leading off the game. I think theyre gonna pitch to him, Boone said. Yeah. I mean, Im sure theres a situation where a base is open and [Judge] can beat him, Im sure a lot of teams are gonna walk him in those spots.

I am trying to get him in a position where, yeah, they gotta go after him a little bit more, Boone added. Thats part of it.
DALLAS  J.R. Chester got pregnant the summer before her senior year of high school. A bright student with good grades, she gave birth, graduated, and was pregnant again when she arrived at college that fall.

She was a teen mom  like her mother, her grandmother, and her great-grandmother. Her school did not teach sexual health education, and preventing pregnancy was a foreign concept. Her sons are now teenagers.

If you dont know your options, you dont have any, said Chester, now a program director for Healthy Futures of Texas, a nonprofit sexual health advocacy and education organization. Everyone was pregnant. And it just felt like: When it happens, it happens.

While teen pregnancies have declined in the state and across the country in recent decades, Texas continues to have one of the highest state rates of teens giving birth at 22.4 births per 1,000 girls and women ages 15-19  the lowest, in Massachusetts, is 6.1. Along with Alabama, Texas has the nations highest rate of repeat teen pregnancies. This fall, school districts across Texas are marking a shift to what educators call an abstinence-plus curriculum  the first time the state has revised its standards for sexual health education in more than 20 years.

Although districts may choose their own curriculum and teach more than the state requires, the states minimum health standards now go beyond focusing on abstinence to stop pregnancies and include teaching middle schoolers about contraceptives and giving additional information about preventing sexually transmitted infections, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) that has been linked to several cancers.

Previously, a 2017 report showed 58% of Texas school districts offered abstinence-only sexual health education, while only 17% offered curriculums that expanded beyond that. A quarter of schools offered no sex ed.

Research shows that sex education programs that teach about contraception are effective at increasing contraceptive use and even delaying sexual activity among young people. Abstinence-focused education programs, on the other hand, have not been shown to be particularly effective at curbing sexual activity among teens.

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Whether Texas teens receive any sex ed at all, though, depends on whether their parents sign them up. While parents previously had to opt out of sex ed portions of their kids health classes, they now have to opt in for their children to receive those lessons. That means parents must sign and return a permission slip  a change some fear could lead to kids missing out not so much due to parental objections but because of lost forms and language barriers.

These changes in sex education come as the state ratchets down abortion access following the Supreme Court decision in June overturning Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed a constitutional right to abortion. Texas has one of the nations most restrictive abortion laws. The question of how schools educate young people about their sexual health and development has taken on new urgency now that many state governments have enacted abortion bans.

Demonstrators march while holding signs during an abortion-rights rally (Sergio Flores / Getty Images file)

Health advocates say many women may have no choice but to carry a pregnancy to term and that has created a new class of haves and have-nots: those who have the knowledge, resources, and agency to protect themselves from getting pregnant, and those who do not.

Texas is big and diverse enough to need education policies that can be adapted for remote border towns and sprawling metropolitan areas  both of which have high rates of unintended teen pregnancy.

In 2019, the Texas Board of Education began rewriting the health education standards that had been in place since the 1990s. It kept in place the standards stating that there are risks associated with sexual activity and that abstinence from sexual activity is the only 100% effective method to avoid risks.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research organization, 39 states, plus the District of Columbia, mandate that sex ed classes provide information about abstinence, with 29 of them requiring that it must be stressed. Just 20 states and D.C. require that the classes provide information about contraception.

High rates of teen pregnancy

Under Texas law, sex ed must still present abstinence as the preferred choice. When schools teach about condoms and other forms of contraception, they must provide what Texas calls human use reality rates  or, as it is described in medical literature, typical use  that detail the effectiveness of those methods outside laboratory settings.

The changes taking effect this year primarily address if and when a Texas student learns about certain sexual health subjects. Under the states previous standards, Texas schools could teach about birth control methods beyond abstinence, but only in high school health classes, which are optional. Now, information about contraceptives, as well as more about STIs, is taught in middle school health classes, which are required.

In May, the Dallas Independent School District, one of the nations largest, approved lesson materials to meet the states new requirements. But school officials here wanted to do more given the scope of the problem. Advocates say Dallas County has the highest rate of repeat teen pregnancies in the nation.

The district curriculum goes beyond the state minimum and includes gender identity and extra information about contraceptives, as well as a contract with Healthy Futures of Texas to teach an optional after-school program for high school students.

The previous curriculum was very scientific and very dry, said Dustin Marshall, a member of the school districts board of trustees, and left out basic information about contraceptives, like how to put on a condom.

One of the primary ways to reduce teen pregnancy and relieve generational poverty from teen pregnancy is to teach contraception, he said. Not to just assume that if you teach abstinence, every kid will obey. Thats a little too head-in-the-sand, from my perspective.

Some critics say the states standards, while an improvement, are inadequate when it comes to consent and LGBTQ+ issues, including gender identity. The state board does require that schools teach about healthy relationships and setting personal boundaries for sexual activity.

Under Texas law, parents have the ultimate say over not only whether their child receives sexual health education, but also what is covered in those lessons.

For nearly 30 years, school districts have been required to create and appoint school health advisory councils, tasked with reviewing and recommending health curriculums, including on sexual health. Most members must be parents and not district employees, so the content of sex ed classes can still vary widely by district.

Jen Biundo, senior director of policy and research at Healthy Futures of Texas, described a study she helped conduct asking parents and teenagers who they would prefer to teach teens about sex. While parents and teens ranked them differently, she said their choices were the same: schools, doctors, and parents. Health advocates point out that not all parents can or do educate their children about sex  and that many teens live in unstable situations like foster care.

Biundo said that when they asked teens where they learn about sex, the top answers were my friends and the internet.

Indeed, some parents, especially those who were teen mothers themselves, may not know about birth control or how to access it. Where are the parents supposed to get the knowledge from? Chester said. Because they came through the same school system that didnt teach sex ed, and all of a sudden theyre supposed to know what to teach their kids.

We are trying to end that generational curse of being uneducated, she said.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A key accrediting agency has withdrawn from CDA Technical Institute, this time its the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training.

I know of no school that has that type of accreditation that would be in a good place if they lost it, said Phil Newsum, executive director of the Association of Diving Contractors International.

In a letter to the CDA campus director, ACCET supported its decision by saying CDA repeatedly failed to comply with its standards, specifically that CDA didnt notify them about student diver deaths and failed to demonstrate stability, which requires responsible financial management. It mentions a bank that discontinued private loans and the VAs withdrawal.

Newsum is the executive director of the Association of Diving Contractors International, which also cut ties with CDA.

To lose that accreditation means youd be severely limited in ability to access government funds on behalf of students to be able to pay for the tuition, he said.

This is at least the fourth organization to cut ties with the school, the campus director for CDA told Action News Jax in an email the school appealed the ruling, adding CDAs owner has and will continue to add additional capital into the organization as needed until additional funding sources can be secured to assist students with paying for the cost of the education.

When asked about not notifying ACCET of two student deaths, we were told, The 2 student fatalities were tragic and devastating, however, the events did not impair the institutions ability to continuously operate or fulfill its obligation to our students. ACCET requires schools it accredits to notify them of what they describe as catastrophic events that hinder operations within 10 days of it happening.

Action News Jax also reached out to the Florida Department of Education and asked what comes next for CDA. The department acknowledged our email, but we are still waiting for more information.

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An Altamonte Springs school resource officer who is facing child pornography charges made his first appearance in front of a Lake County judge on Saturday.

Steven Selph, 39, of Sorrento, was arrested by agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Lake County Sheriffs Office on 10 counts of possession of sexual performance of a child.

Selph hired a private attorney, who was not present at Saturdays first appearance.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

State prosecutors requested Selph receive no bond.

On Saturday, a Lake County judge found probable cause for Selphs arrest and set his bond at $50,000 per charge.

The judge set conditions for Selphs bond that included no contact for any persons under 18 years old and no internet access.

Read: The end is near: Pat Sajak hints at Wheel of Fortune retirement after 40 years

Selphs next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 10 at 8:30 a.m.

Selph, a school resource officer at Spring Lake Elementary School in Altamonte Springs, shared photos and videos of underage children while chatting on a popular messaging app, agents said.

Investigators said between May and September 2022, Selph sent several texts where he talked about wanting to have sex with children.

Read: Another wet weekend hits Central Florida, TS Fiona bears down on Puerto Rico

According to an arrest affidavit, Selph sent several texts while he was on duty at the school and even sent several photos of himself while in uniform.

In a statement announcing Selphs arrest and subsequent firing, Altamonte Springs police said the department was cooperating fully in the investigation.

We will continue cooperating with all of our law enforcement partners to pursue aggressively anyone, no matter what position they hold, who is responsible for this type of behavior, the statement said.

Read: Firefighters recover body of student who went missing after lightning strike near Lake Fairview

It goes on to express the shocking nature of the charges.

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That anyone could view images of this kind shocks the conscience and is abhorrent to all of us, particularly from a person placed in a position of trust, the statement read.

On Friday afternoon, the Seminole County School District issued a statement to parents about the arrest:

Good afternoon, Spring Lake families.

Today we were notified by Altamonte Springs Police Department that our Spring Lake Elementary School Resource Officer (SRO) is under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for possible allegations of child pornography. The officer has been relieved of his duty, and our school is currently being supported by a newly assigned Altamonte Springs Police Department SRO. At this time, it is not believed that any of our Spring Lake Elementary students are involved in this matter.

We will continue to work with law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of our students, staff, and school community. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, we will provide updates as authorized by FDLE. Thank you for your shared commitment to the safety and education of our students at Spring Lake Elementary.

Read: Mar-a-Lago search: DOJ asks appeals court to lift a judges hold from reviewing documents

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An Idaho man who protested outside a former Central District Health board members home was sentenced to roughly six months in jail Thursday.

Robert Jones was convicted by a six-person jury of misdemeanor disturbing the peace, according to online court records. The 42-year-old is a member of Ammon Bundys Peoples Rights Movement, and he protested by banging pots outside the home of Diana Lachiondo in 2020, according to a YouTube video posted by Bundy.

Lachiondo was an Ada County commissioner and member of the Central District Health board at the time.

You just convicted a peaceful family man  for doing nothing, Bundy said in a video, and then you allowed this judge to have power over him because you couldnt see through what is really happening here, that this is free speech being censored.

In December 2020, during a surge of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, the Central District Health Board of Health met to vote on an order to mandate masks in public and private spaces throughout the district. The Boise-based health districts meeting was quickly postponed as protesters gathered outside health district headquarters and multiple board members homes.

At Lachiondos house, Jones was among a group of people  some of them armed  who yelled, fired air horns, banged pots, played sound clips of the violent movie Scarface, and accused her of tyranny and cowering inside, according to a Facebook post she made following the protest. Lachiondo wasnt home, but her two sons were, along with her mother, who was out taking their dog for a walk.

Fourth District Magistrate Judge Susan Clark sentenced Jones to 180 days in jail  the maximum allowed  but he was given credit for time served: four days. He was booked into the Ada County Jail, online jail records showed.

Idahos statute on disturbing the peace reads, in part, that a person who maliciously and willfully disturbs the peace or quiet of any neighborhood, family or person, by loud or unusual noise, or by tumultuous or offensive conduct ... or uses any vulgar, profane or indecent language within the presence or hearing of children, in a loud and boisterous manner, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

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Bundy accused officials of political retaliation since Jones is a member of his network and was instrumental in assisting Bundy during its recent involvement in a child welfare case. That case and protests led by Bundy resulted in St. Lukes suing the independent gubernatorial candidate  a lawsuit Bundy has refused to respond to.

Bundys many run-ins with Idaho law enforcement and the legal system the past few years have included trespassing charges and convictions, as well as a contempt finding that led to jail time.

This judge, Susan Clark, is a terrible, wicked person, Bundy said in his video. Bundy said people should come and take care of Clark, but said his organization doesnt have the ability to bring justice to her.

Another protester, Susan Lang, was sentenced to seven days in August after she was convicted of disturbing the peace outside the home of Lachiondo.
IRYNA BALACHUK  SATURDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2022, 16:27

Ivan Fedorov, Mayor of temporarily occupied Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, reported that at about 16:00 on 17 September, there were five explosions in the village of Bohatyr near the district centre where the occupiers base was located.

Source: Fedorov on Telegram

Quote from the Mayor of Melitopol: "Just in: there have been five explosions in the area of Molochnyi Estuary in the village of Bohatyr, where the occupiers had redeployed some of their military equipment and personnel."

Details: Fedorov recalled that explosions had occurred in the village of Radyvonivka on the morning of 17 September.

He added that he was collecting information about the occupiers losses.

Background:

Previously, Fedorov reported that a Russian military base had burned down near Molochnyi Estuary on the night of 16-17 September.

Later, the media reported that partisans had blown up a railway line in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, on 17 September. The occupiers had been using this railway line to deliver petrol and fuel for military vehicles from Crimea.

Journalists fight on their own frontline.

Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron.
Investopia, the global investment platform launched by the UAE, has announced a new strategic partnership with SALT, a premier global thought leadership forum, that will see the duo collaborate for a joint event to be held next year in Abu Dhabi.

As strategic partners, SALT and Investopia will jointly organise an invitation-only conference featuring the worlds leading investors, entrepreneurs and policy experts. It will mark Investopias second annual conference and SALTs second Middle East edition, following the success of the 2019 event.

A key entity, Investopia has been designed to drive global investments, generate growth, accelerate innovation, and contribute to the prosperity of future generations.

Its mandate is to position the UAE as the leading catalyst for advancing Future & Now Economies and understanding Future Investment Trends, said a statement from the group.

Investopia is supported by a number of local and global partners including Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Crypto.com, BlackRock, Deloitte Middle East, Accenture Middle East, and Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah).

The agreement was signed by CEO Mohamed Naser Al Zaabi and Chairman of SALT Anthony Scaramucci in the presence of Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Chairman of Investopia, and Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of ADDED at a ceremony held at SALT New York 2022.

On the tieup, Al Marri said: "Investopias main objective is to create a global ecosystem for investment. Through this partnership, the duo will collaborate to bring together investors and business leaders from all over the world to discuss trends shaping the future of investment and identify investment opportunities in sectors that will define the economy in years to come."

Investopias first annual conference, which took place in March in Dubai during Expo 2020, successfully initiated strategic business dialogues across 12 vital economic sectors, such as education, renewable energy, supply chain, logistics, space, agri-tech, and healthcare.

"We are thrilled to bring SALT back to the UAE, which is an important crossroads of capital and epicenter of innovation, remarked Scaramucci.

"The debut editions of both Investopia and SALT Middle East were transformational events, and we cant wait to collaborate to host what will be one of the premier gatherings on the global calendar," he stated.

Al Shorafa said the gathering will be hosted in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED).

"Against the backdrop of a continuously evolving global market, convening with international peers to tackle current trade and investment headwinds, assessing economic indicators and exchanging expertise and perspectives is of vital importance if we are to stay ahead and pre-empt for shifts in market trajectories," he stated.

"This is the basis behind creating Investopia, to be able to engage the views and case studies of various international jurisdictions and operations, and why we are seeking partners like SALT," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Republican governors of some Southern US states have recently sent migrants to other states.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said his state, Florida, helped send 50 migrants from Texas to Massachusetts.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described the moves as "crimes against humanity" and "trafficking."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York slammed "far-right politicians" for shipping migrants from the southern US border to states farther away.

"It's appalling that far-right politicians seem to have decided that fall before an election is their regularly scheduled time to commit crimes against humanity on refugees," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.

"Don't normalize this. Lying to & trafficking people for TV and clicks isn't politics as usual. It's abuse."

On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida took credit for sending two planes  said to be carrying about 50 migrants  from Texas to the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard. At least some of the migrants have said they were misled about where they were being taken.

"Yes, Florida can confirm the two planes with illegal immigrants that arrived in Martha's Vineyard today were part of the state's relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations," Taryn Fenske, the communications director for DeSantis, told Fox News Digital.

DeSantis has said the migrants were planning on traveling to Florida and he instead wanted other states to share what he calls the "costs" of migration  though the migrants appeared to be met with a warm welcome on Martha's Vineyard.

In recent weeks, other Republican officials have sent migrants to cities including New York and Washington, DC.

In a tweet, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas said two buses from his state arrived at the Naval Observatory in Washington on Friday night.

"VP Harris claims our border is "secure" & denies the crisis," Abbott tweeted. "We're sending migrants to her backyard to call on the Biden Administration to do its job & secure the border."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A leader of a polygamous sect in Colorado City, the town once controlled by Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, remains jailed in northern Arizona after a raid on his home and an earlier arrest while transporting three girls in a wooden trailer.

A federal judge kept Samuel Bateman in custody, labeling him a flight risk and a danger to the community.

Details on the allegations against Bateman still remain spotty. Federal authorities arrested him on suspicion of two counts of destruction of records and one count of tampering with an official proceeding. He also faces three charges of child abuse in Coconino County Superior Court.

U.S. District Judge Camille Bibles directed the U.S. Marshals Service to hold Bateman in Coconino County jail for the next 30 days. The order did not mention any bail.

In court, Bibles labeled Bateman a flight risk and a danger to the community. She declared his detention a "requirement, pending trial."

In her detention order, Bibles cited Batemans recent arrest after he was stopped while transporting three girls in a wooden trailer and his ties to a "foreign country."

Bateman had traveled internationally in the past three years, according to her comments.

The defendant has a group of followers willing to provide extensive material and other assistance on short notice," she wrote, defendant is an admitted pilot and 'survivalist,' which raise concerns about his ability to flee.

She noted in court records that Bateman had instructed followers to get passports for the young girls and women in his group. The reasons remain unclear.

Bateman could face a maximum of 60 years in prison if he's convicted in federal court on two counts of destruction of records and one count of tampering with an official proceeding.

For now, his federal trial was set for Nov. 8, although it's common for those dates to be pushed back. In Coconino Superior Court he's next due to appear on Oct. 17 for a pre-trial conference.

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He also faces three charges of child abuse in Coconino County Superior Court, after towing three girls inside a wooden trailer through Flagstaff, according to court records. He could face between 1 to 3  years in state prison for each count, if convicted.

Arizona Department of Public Safety Troopers arrested Bateman after pulling him over while driving his SUV in Flagstaff late last month. They found three girls stashed in the trailer he was towing. One trooper noticed small fingers poking out, court records show.

Troopers had received a report about a suspicious vehicle with women and young girls going into the trailer.

After his arrest, Bateman returned to his home in Colorado City on the Arizona-Utah state line, where residents say he describes himself as a prophet. That's also where the FBI re-arrested Bateman Tuesday and searched two of his homes.

It remains unclear what agents were looking for and what they found. FBI spokesperson Kevin Smith said the search warrant was filed under seal.

During the search, federal agents removed nine girls from Bateman's homes and state child welfare agents placed them into protective custody. Details remain elusive.

The FLDS is a radical offshoot of the mainstream The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which abandoned the practice of polygamy more than a century ago.

Colorado City and neighboring Hildale, Utah, make up Short Creek, the name locals use for the twin-city border community best known as an enclave for fundamentalist polygamous sects and a church long controlled by Warren Jeffs.

Jeffs is serving a life prison sentence in Texas after being convicted in 2011 of sexually assaulting the young girls he had taken as wives. He continues to maintain control of his followers through communications made from prison, according to media reports.

Warren Jeffs: Ex-teen bride wins $16 million case against FLDS

A former member of the FLDS, Bateman had split off from the main church and started his own small sect, calling himself a prophet and collecting a small following of fewer than 50 people, according to neighbors and others in the community.

As Jeffs influence has waned during his years in prison, several former FLDS members have broken off into smaller units, sometimes asserting that they were true prophets or rightful leaders of the church.

Court documents did not describe what relationship Bateman had with the girls who were taken into custody, and it was unclear where they were taken or whether they were with other family members.

Shirlee Draper, the director of operations for a Colorado City-based charity called Cherish Families, which supports people who came from the FLDS or similar groups, said she believed law enforcement had worked carefully to avoid splitting up families or keeping mothers from young children.

Reach crime reporter Miguel Torres at Miguel.Torres@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @TheMiguelTorres.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona FLDS polygamous sect leader held in jail could face 60 years
Two Arizona nurses and their driver were killed Monday while in the Colorado mountains for a getaway when their vehicle went off a cliff during an off-roading tour, according to reports.

Diana Robles, 28, and her aunt, Ofelia Figueroa-Perez, 60 were killed along with their driver Don Fehd, 72, when the 2022 Jeep Gladiator drifted off the edge of Ouray County Road 361, also known as Camp Bird Road, and landed 110 feet below, the Colorado State Patrol said.

The vehicle, owned by Colorado West Jeeps, fell and then rolled over a rocky embankment for 142 feet and threw Fehd before it landed on its top. The accident likely occurred between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. Monday, authorities said.

REWARD TO FIND NEVADA HORSE KILLERS DOUBLES TO $10K

All three died at the scene. Both women were nurses at the Yuma Regional Medical Center. Perez

"Our YRMC family is in shock and colleagues are deeply grieving the sudden loss," said Cathleen Wolff, YRMC Chaplain and Spiritual Care Manager said in a statement to Fox News. "Losing two beautiful caregivers is a tremendous loss. The pain we feel as an organization is immeasurable."

Both worked as a registered nurse in the Outpatient Surgery Department while Robles was assigned to the intensive care unit, the hospital said. Fox News has reached out to family members of the women and the Colorado State Patrol.

"We know they are in the merciful hands of our Lord as they themselves being nurses had healing hands in every life they touched," Diana Figueroa wrote on Facebook announcing both deaths.

Fehd worked at Colorado West Jeep Rentals and Tours and was known for his "quirky, genuine way" with passengers, the Ouray County Plaindealer reported.

The official cause of death for all three deceased is still pending. Ouray County Coroner Colleen Hollenbeck told Fox News autopsies could take up to four weeks to complete.

The deadly accident was the second to occur this month. On Sept. 5, an Arizona man was killed when his ATV flipped and rolled off Imogene Pass, according to the newspaper.
THREE FORKS, Mont.  It was 88 days on America's longest river. The grueling summer heat, fierce wind and dark storms coupled with pesky mosquitos lingered for three months, but the outcome was an adventure of art and encountering the unknown.

Artist Steve Snell first became interested in the Missouri River after moving to Kansas City nearly a decade ago.

Hes been exploring the river locally, both on short- and long-distance trips. But it was during a summer run in Nebraska when he met a kayaker on the Mighty Mo paddling to the Gulf of Mexico. The encounter planted a seed for the most ambitious adventure he would embark on seven years later.

On June 2, Snell packed his modified Kevlar canoe with a watertight briefcase filled with camera and art supplies. Dry bags would contain his camp gear, a small stove and clothes. He also stowed a months worth of food and a weeks worth of water.

Kansas City artist Scott Snell said 'Adventure Art on the Mighty Mo' will be a video series about art, adventure and life along the Missouri River told through the act of painting, storytelling, and paddling all 2,341 miles of it.

His family then drove him to Three Forks, Montana, where the Gallatin, Jefferson and Madison rivers join to become the Missouri River, to launch his canoe. Snell would now paddle 2,341 miles to the confluence with the Mississippi River in St. Louis.

Snell said leaving his wife and 2-year-old son was one of the hardest parts of the journey but living on the river brought a necessary life experience and a sense of gratitude.

"There was no guarantee that that would be available in the future. That my health would allow me to or that certain circumstances would align to allow me to be away for such a long time," he said. "I just felt grateful to be able to have that experience."

'IT WAS TERRIBLY TIPPY': NEBRASKA FARMER RECOUNTS SAILING DOWN RIVER IN 846-POUND PUMPKIN

His days revolved around the sunrise and sunset. A hot breakfast at camp would consist of oatmeal with some dried fruit and nuts to pack calories for the arduous day ahead. But not before a cup of hot instant coffee while creating a painting would he break camp and pack up his canoe to paddle until dusk or until the weather allowed.

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"If the weather were nice, Id prioritize paddling over everything and just put in as many miles as I could because I knew that eventually, my luck would run out," he said.

Snell would repeat this routine for the next 87 days.

Along the way, he would meet a network of strangers up and downriver, offering their generosity and support.

"They want to help you succeed, and they also want to be a part of it. And I think thats a big part of this journey," Snell said.

Most days on the river would consist of eight to 12 hours of paddling. Snell remembers walking into the Bridge City Marina outside Mobridge, South Dakota, after a tough week and a tough morning on Lake Oahe.

"I walked into the marina hoping that they sold snacks and then thought I would go to the nearby campground to set up my tent and wait out the hot, windy weather," he recalled.

The marina was empty except for a man sitting at a table. He stood up when Snell entered and asked if he was a paddler.

"When I said, yes, he immediately asked what I would like to eat," Snell said. "His elderly mother also soon showed up and asked if I had any laundry that needed done."

The marina owners also put him up for free in one of their rental cabins with air conditioning for the next two days while he waited out the weather. They also fed and shuttled him around town to the post office and grocery store.

MILES OF MEMORIES: SUN POWERS FAMILY'S NOMADIC ADVENTURES ACROSS AMERICA

"When I left a few days later, they sent me off with local beef jerky, banana bread and a frozen ribeye steak," he said. "I cooked it that night on a small cast iron stove that I had been carrying for the past two months and had yet to use. It was the best steak Ive ever had."

Snell said he didn't anticipate meeting these angels; they helped ease the isolation on the river.

Another critical aspect of Snell's adventure was the weather and living at the mercy of the great outdoors. Mother Nature also would hinder whether Snell could paddle or not.

"When the wind was blowing, you cant safely get on the water. And you need to listen to what your intuition, the river and the wind is telling you and stay onshore if thats the case," he said.

Scott Snell paints near Ft. Union, North Dakota, along the banks of the Missouri River as the sun begins to set.

Until now, Snell had never been more interested in what direction the wind was blowing, how fast the gusts would be or even the forecast.

"If you know two days out that theyre calling for 50-mph gusts, youre not going anywhere," he said. "I would try and be strategic in some cases and put in really long days to get out in front of certain systems or lay up in front of them so that I wasnt in a potentially dangerous or uncomfortable spot."

Without a reliable forecast and knowing when Wind Advisories post, Snell would have just been stranded on a rocky, barren shore with a tiny umbrella for shade.

His goal was to create a series of small watercolor paintings of the entire Missouri River, something he said was directly inspired by Swiss artist Karl Bodmer, who went up the Missouri River in the 1830s. Other artists like George Catlin, John James Audubon and Thomas Hart Benton add to a long history of artists going up the same river.

BRITTA MERWIN SHOWS THE HEALING POWER OF NATURE IN FOX WEATHER DOCUMENTARY

To this day, Bodmers watercolors remain an important image of what the Missouri River looked like before the Army Corps of Engineers and the modern development thats taken place for the last 200 years.

But Snell wanted to do something new  something he calls "adventure art." Aside from painting 88 pieces that he hopes to one day showcase along the various states that align and border the Missouri River, another part of his concept was to create a painting show.

Scott titles this piece "Windbound on Lake Oahe."

"Imagine Bob Ross in an adventure survival show," he said.

Snell would set up his video cameras at his campsite on each lake or a confluence with a particular river and film himself painting. He would then narrate what experiences he encountered.

And after months of expected editing, Snell hopes to premiere the show sometime in the spring. He also posted periodic river updates on his Instagram account throughout his journey.

"Itll be a painting show, but its not just a painting show. Its really about the river, the journey and the adventure," he added.

On Aug. 28, his wife and son greeted him along the river banks north of The Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis after completing his arduous three-month exploration.

Snell said that art and adventure have a lot in common regarding encountering an unknown. And while he feels he might have a particular concept, hes not sure what it will become but is very interested in finding out.

Snell was awarded a $15,000 grant through the Mid-America Arts Alliance funded through the National Endowment for the Arts. He also fundraised nearly $6,000 through a Kickstarter campaign to help pay for his gear, supplies and living expenses for three months. He even received a teaching sabbatical through the Kansas City Art Institute, where he works.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER ON TV

"I really appreciate the support that so many people have provided toward this endeavor," he said. "I feel that more than the money part, really. Just knowing that others believe in this project as well is incredibly motivating and supportive."

Snell said his work is very much informed by whatever the surrounding elements at the time were.

"Whether its mosquitoes or flies, wind or thunderstorms and rain, I just kept reminding myself out there that this is adventure art," he said. "It wasnt always the most optimal sit down and paint times, but that didnt stop me from painting."

Snell was often told how dangerous the Missouri River is but wouldnt let that scare him away.

"Its a wonderful resource that I always felt was underappreciated by so many people," he said. "Now that Im part of the whole thing, I love it even more."

And if others knew how wonderful life on the river was, Snell feels there would be many more people out experiencing the beauty it offers.

"You just have to get in a boat and check it out, and youll have it to yourself," he said. "And its pretty amazing."
The Ohio Attorney Generals Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) invites the families of missing loved ones to gather in Cincinnati today.

Families will gather for a public open house and vigil remembering Ohios missing persons, according to a press release.

The event will be from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Springdale Police Department on Lawnview Avenue in Cincinnati on September 17.

>>Pastor-led group seeks missing migrants in border desert

The public and officers are invited to join these families to show support to those who have missing loved ones.

This event aims to raise awareness about missing-and-unidentified-person cases in Ohio and provide resources.

Representatives from BCIs Missing Persons Unit, Ohio Crisis Response Team, Springdale Police Department, Hamilton County Coroners Office, UCanSpeakForMe, and other partner organizations will be attending the event.




South Africa is among many African nations to maintain a neutral stance on Russias war in Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden praised South Africa as a vital voice on the global stage as he hosted President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday at the White House for talks that touched on the two nations differences on Russias war in Ukraine and more.

In a brief appearance before the media at the start of their meeting, Biden made no direct mention that Ramaphosa is among African leaders who have maintained a neutral stance in the aftermath of Russias invasion of Ukraine. South Africa abstained from a United Nations vote condemning Russias actions and calling for a mediated settlement.

But the president seemed to offer a subtle recognition that the two countries have their differences.

We really need to make sure we fully understand one another, said Biden, who heaped praise on Ramaphosa for his countrys leadership on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of climate change and other issues.

President Joe Biden shakes hands with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Following the meeting, Ramaphosa told reporters that South Africas position on the conflict is respected and that both he and Biden agreed they would like this conflict to come to an end as soon as possible.

Ahead of the meeting, South Africas international relations minister, Naledi Pandor, said finding an endgame to the Ukraine war will be South Africas focus when it participates in the annual meeting of the U.N. General Assembly next week.

We would want a process of diplomacy to be initiated between the two parties and we believe the U.N. must lead, the U.N secretary-general in particular, Pandor said.

The White House meeting came on the heels of Secretary of State Antony Blinkens visit to South Africa last month, in which he said the Biden administration sees Africas 54 nations as equal partners in tackling global problems.

But the administration has been disappointed that South Africa and much of the continent have declined to follow the U.S. in condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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During the Blinken visit, Pandor accused the U.S. and other Western powers of focusing on the Ukraine conflict to the detriment of crises around the globe.

We should be equally concerned at what is happening to the people of Palestine, as we are with what is happening to the people of Ukraine, she said.

The Biden administration, meanwhile, has sought to underscore that Russias blockade of Ukraines Black Sea ports has led to scarcities in grain, cooking oil and fertilizer  resulting in a disproportionate impact on Africans. The White House said in a statement following the meeting that the leaders discussed the negative consequences the war has had on food security in Africa.

South Africas neutral position is largely because of the support the Soviet Union gave during the Cold War era to Ramaphosas African National Congress in its fight to end apartheid, South Africas regime of repression against the Black majority that ended in 1994. South Africa is seen as a leader of the several African countries that will not side against Russia.

Despite the differences on the war in Ukraine, the Biden administration recognizes the importance of strengthening relations in Africa as China has spent decades entrenching itself in the continents natural resources markets. Improving relations with South Africa  one of the continents biggest economies  is central to the U.S. effort.

John Stremlau, an international relations expert at the University of the Witwatersrand, said the talks underscore that the U.S. sees South Africa as having the potential to lead Africa in a constructive way on trade and other issues.

Earlier on Friday, Ramaphosa met with Vice President Kamala Harris for wide-ranging talks. The vice presidents office said in a statement that Harris and Ramaphosa discussed global health security, space cooperation, climate change, womens empowerment and other matters, as they met over breakfast at the vice presidents residence.

In a brief exchange with reporters before his meeting with Harris, Ramaphosa said he would like to see the relationship between the two countries strengthened.

South Africas ambitious efforts to transition from coal to cleaner energy were also discussed during the leaders talks. The U.S., Britain, France and Germany announced a plan last year to provid e $8.5 billion in loans and grants over five years to help South Africa phase out coal.

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White House officials say the meetings do not signal a breakthrough in negotiations with Russia for the release of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden met Friday with family members of WNBA star Brittney Griner and another American detained in Russia, Paul Whelan, the first face-to-face encounter that the president has had with the relatives.

In a statement after the meetings, which were held separately, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden stressed to the families his continued commitment to working through all available avenues to bring Brittney and Paul home safely.

He asked after the well-being of Elizabeth and Cherelle and their respective families during this painful time, Jean-Pierre said. The President appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Brittney and Paul from those who love them most, and acknowledged that every minute they are being held is a minute too long.

President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Still, administration officials have said the meetings were not an indication that negotiations with Russia for their release have reached a breakthrough.

Earlier Friday, John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said that Russia has not responded to what administration officials have called a substantial and serious offer to secure Griner and Whelans release.

The president is not going to let up, Kirby told reporters. Hes confident that this is going to remain in the forefront of his mind and his teams mind, and theyre going to continue to work as hard as they can.

Griner has been held in Russia since February on drug-related charges. She was sentenced last month to nine years in prison after pleading guilty and has appealed the punishment. Whelan is serving a 16-year sentence on espionage-related charges that he and his family say are false. The U.S. government regards both as wrongfully detained, placing their cases with the office of its top hostage negotiator.

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken took the unusual step of announcing two months ago that the administration had made a substantial proposal to Russia. Though he did not elaborate on the proposal, a person familiar with the matter has said the U.S. has offered to release convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

The administration carried out a prisoner swap last April, with Moscow releasing Marine veteran Trevor Reed in exchange for the U.S. releasing a Russian pilot, Konstantin Yaroshenko, convicted in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

Jake Sullivan, the presidents national security adviser, participated in both meetings. Biden sat down with Elizabeth Whelan, the sister of Paul Whelan. Then the president met with Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner, as well as the players agent, Lindsay Colas, according to the White House.

Cherelle Griner thanked Biden for the meeting in a statement late Friday.

It was an honor to speak with him directly about the Brittney we know and love, and to thank him for the Administrations efforts to secure her release. she said. Ive felt every minute of the grueling seven months without her. I look forward to the day my wife is back home.

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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden met with family members of WNBA star Brittney Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan on Friday where he reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing all available avenues to bring their loved ones home from Russia.

"The president appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Brittney and Paul from those who love them most, and acknowledged that every minute they are being held is a minute too long," the White House said Friday evening.

The meetings with Griners wife, Cherelle, and Whelans sister, Elizabeth, which took place separately, were the first in person between Biden and the family members, though they have spoken by phone.

Brittney Griner holds her wife Cherelle Watson's hand after defeating the Dallas Wings on August 10, 2020 in Palmetto, Fla. (Douglas P. DeFelice / Getty Images)

Griner was sentenced to nine years in jail by a Moscow court last month, and her defense team is appealing. Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport Feb. 17 after authorities said they found cannabis-infused vape cartridges in her luggage.

Whelan has been detained since 2018 and is serving a 16-year sentence.

Paul Whelan, a former US Marine accused of espionage and arrested in Russia, stands inside a defendants' cage during a hearing at a court in Moscow on January 22, 2019. (Mladen Antonov / AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. government has said both have been wrongfully detained.

Sadly, we dont have a result here to tell you about, but the president felt it was important to continue the dialogue with the family members, thats happening today, said John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, on Friday ahead of the meeting. We have stayed in touch with them throughout, we have kept them informed throughout, but the negotiations are still ongoing.

The White House has been in talks with Russian officials over the release of the two Americans, and Biden said last month that he was hopeful a deal could be made to release Griner. But since then, there have been few signs of progress from the administration.

Image: Brittney Griner leaves the courtroom before the court's final decision in Moscow on August 4, 2022. ( Krill Kudryavtsev / AFP via Getty Images)

NBC News reported in July that the U.S. had offered to exchange Griner and Whelan for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who has been serving a 25-year prison sentence. In August, after Griners sentencing, Russia said it was ready to discuss the possibility of a swap, but U.S. officials say the Russians have not come up with a serious counteroffer.

"They have not responded to our offer. We have made a serious offer to get Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan back home, the Russians have not responded to that offer, but that doesnt mean that they were not still in negotiations and were not still trying," said Kirby.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to not use tactical nuclear or chemical weapons in the wake of setbacks in Ukraine, in a CBS News interview to air on Sunday.

Ukraine's military drove back Russian forces in a lightning rout in the northeast of the country this week, putting Putin under pressure from nationalists at home to regain the initiative.

Putin has warned that Moscow would respond more forcefully if its troops were put under further pressure, raising concerns that he could at some point use unconventional means like small nuclear or chemical weapons

Asked by a "60 Minutes" reporter what he would say to Putin if he was considering using such weapons, Biden said: "Don't. Don't. Don't. It would change the face of war unlike anything since World War Two," in a clip of the interview released by CBS on Saturday.

Biden said the U.S. response would be "consequential," but declined to give detail. Russia "would become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been," Biden said. "Depending on the extent of what they do will determine what response would occur."

Russian government officials have dismissed Western suggestions that Moscow would use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine, but it remains a worry for some in the West.

In a speech announcing the invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, Putin gave a veiled but unmistakable warning that if the West intervened in what he has called a "special military operation" he could use nuclear weapons in response.

"No matter who tries to stand in our way or ... create threats for our country and our people, they must know that Russia will respond immediately, and the consequences will be such as you have never seen in your entire history," he said, according to a Kremlin translation.

Other choices for Putin could involve mobilizing Russia's reserves, who number around 2 million men, and pressuring Europe to strong-arm Ukraine into a truce with Russia, by freezing the region this winter by banning all energy exports.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Leslie Adler)
King Charles III became monarch upon the death of Queen Elizabeth on September 8.

At age 73, he was the longest-serving heir apparent in British history.

Charles was involved in a number of royal scandals before he became king.

The transcript of a phone call between Charles and Camilla from 1989 was leaked in 1992, revealing an affair between the pair.

Charles and Camilla photographed at a polo match in 1972. Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

As Insider previously reported, an intimate transcript of a 1989 phone call between the then-Prince of Wales and Camilla was released to the press in November 1992. At the time, Charles was still married to Princess Diana.

The phone call was reportedly sexual in nature, with Charles joking that he wished he could turn into a pair of "knickers" or a tampon so that he could "live inside" Camilla's pants.

Charles and Diana separated in 1992, but they wouldn't file for divorce until 1996.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles separated in 1992. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images, Jayne Fincher/Getty Images

Charles and Diana separated in 1992, and continued to carry out royal duties separately before officially filing for divorce in 1996.

In June 1994, Charles admitted to having an affair with Camilla during an interview with documentary filmmaker Jonathan Dimbleby, The New York Times reported. On the night the interview aired, Diana showed up to an event at the Serpentine Gallery in London wearing a black dress and plunging neckline that was later dubbed "The Revenge Dress."

Charles broke a major royal rule by marrying Camilla in 2005.

The then-Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall on their wedding day on April 9, 2005. Hugo Burnand/Pool/Getty Images

Charles and Camilla tied the knot in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall on April 9, 2005.

By marrying Camilla, who divorced her former husband Andrew Parker Bowles in 1995, Charles broke a major royal rule. It was once considered taboo for royals to marry a divorced person, according to History.com.

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Phillip, were not in attendance at the ceremony, however, they came to the reception at Windsor Castle, according to The Sun.

Charles was accused of getting involved with British politics in the early 2000s.

Prince Charles and Tony Blair photographed together in 2007. POOL/ Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images

Since Britain has a constitutional monarchy, the royal family remains politically neutral and does not typically get involved with policy-making decisions.

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However, Charles appeared to overstep boundaries with a series of policy demands in the form of letters to the then-UK prime minister Tony Blair, The Guardian reported. Some of the demands included a call for action to improve equipment for troops fighting in Iraq, as well as the availability of alternative herbal medicines in the UK, the publication reports.

The letters were nicknamed the "black spider memos" by the press due to the royal's scrawled handwriting.

A spokesperson for the then-prince defended the letters at the time, saying that he was expressing "concern about issues that he has raised in public," and that they were of public concern, according to The Guardian.

Prince Harry told Oprah Winfrey that he had a fractured relationship with Charles after his step back from royal life.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their interview with Oprah Winfrey. Harpo Productions/CBS/YouTube

Harry told Oprah Winfrey last year that his relationship with Charles struggled because of his and Meghan Markle's step back from royal duties in January 2020. He said that Charles stopped taking his calls amid conversations about his royal exit, and that he was financially cut off from the royal family.

However, the father and son appear to be showing a united front after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

In his first speech as king on Friday, Charles mentioned his "love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas." Harry also mentioned his support for Charles in an official statement that paid tribute to the Queen.

British police launched an investigation into Charles' charity after reports of a "cash for honors" scheme.

Prince Charles. Tim P. Whitby - WPA Pool/Getty Images

In February 2022, British police launched an investigation into Charles' charity, The Prince's Trust, over accusations a close aide, Michael Fawcett, offered a Saudi tycoon a knighthood in exchange for $2 million in donations.

A police-led investigation came after The Sunday Times' Gabriel Pogrund and Valentine Low reported in September 2021 that Fawcett temporarily stepped down from his role as the chief executive of The Prince's Foundation after it published a report accusing him of misconduct.

The publication reported that Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz paid tens of thousands of dollars "to fixers with links to the prince" who told him they could award him an honorary CBE  the highest-ranking Order of the British Empire award for those who are not British citizens.

A spokesperson for Charles told The Mirror last year: "The Prince of Wales had no knowledge of the alleged offer of honors or British citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities."

In July 2022 it was reported that Charles accepted $1.2 million from the family of Osama bin Laden.

King Charles III. Chris Jackson / Staff / Getty Images

The Sunday Times reported earlier this year that Charles accepted a $1.2 million donation from two of bin Laden's half-brothers following a meeting at Clarence House in 2013.

The money was donated to the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund (PWCF), which awards grants to UK-registered non-profit organizations, Insider previously reported, despite Charles' advisors reportedly pleading with him to return the money.

Clarence House told the BBC that PWCF confirmed that "thorough due diligence" had been conducted and that the decision to accept the money was down to the trustees.

"Any attempt to suggest otherwise is misleading and inaccurate," Clarence House told the outlet.

In September 2022, Charles faced backlash for guest-editing the UK's only Black newspaper.

Prince Charles guest-edited September's issue of The Voice. Chris Jackson/Getty Images, The Voice

Charles guest-edited The Voice's 40th-anniversary issue in September and subsequently received criticism from the publication's readers, Insider previously reported.

While the newspaper's editors initially publicly supported Charles, they later released a statement acknowledging the criticism and urging the monarchy to apologize for its role in the slave trade.

"We recognize the strong feelings some of our readers have over this edition and the divergence of views in the community," a spokesperson for The Voice said in a statement obtained by the Mail Online.

The statement continued that "an apology and reparations for enslavement of Africans remains a key demand from all institutions that were involved or gained from it."

Read the original article on Insider
Nala Robotics, a leading company in artificial intelligence technologies in the US, has signed a MoU with the Saudi Excellence Company to bring robotics services into the Saudi market.

The deal was inked on the sidelines of the Global Summit on Artificial Intelligence organized by the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA) at the King Abdulaziz International Center for Conferences in Riyadh.

Under the MoU, Nala Robotics will be providing robotics equipment and software necessary to operate them with AI to help Saudi food companies achieve more efficiency and speed in production and higher levels of quality.

The US company will also explore the possibility of establishing a training and development centre for AI and machine learning products in the kingdom to serve the Saudi and Arabian food markets.

Omar Mian, the head of AI Technology at Saudi Excellence Company, said this partnership will help the group serve international and new customers in the kingdom better.

"Our company is committed to helping the Saudi food sector achieve the goal of the Kingdoms Vision 2030 of adopting the latest artificial intelligence technologies given the importance of the Kingdoms location as a center for global trade connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is loving life at Rogers Centre, and is hoping to call it home for a long as possible. (Reuters)

Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. might be the most popular athlete in Toronto at the moment, and it sounds like the love is mutual.

In an interview with the Toronto Star's Gregor Chisholm on Friday, Guerrero Jr. admitted that he is comfortable with the idea of calling Toronto home for the rest of his very promising career.

Since I got to the big leagues, Ive always felt that way, the 23-year-old told Chisholm. Especially now when you start feeling the love from the fans and the city. Ive always said that I would love to play here my entire career. Im open for any conversation. Well see what happens.

In addition to the success on the field and a young, promising team around him, one of Guerrero Jr.'s favourite things about the city is the appreciation he feels from the Blue Jays' faithful.

Its the respect that the fans and people have for you, he said. I can walk down the street, they look at me, they know its me, they admire me. But sometimes for some reason you cannot take a picture or sign an autograph and they respect that. Some other cities, they kind of get upset. But here, I love that from the fans. I love the people here.

Since Guerrero Jr. broke into the majors in 2019, the league has seen a plethora of young stars get signed to huge, long-term deals, like Fernando Tatis Jr. (14 years, $340 million), Julio Rodriguez (12 years, $209 million) and Wander Franco (11 years, $182 million).

But the Montreal native told Chisholm that he pays little attention to other team's affairs, preferring to focus on his game and his own squad.

To be honest with you Im not thinking about that, what happens in other organizations, he said. I come here to work very hard every day and try to do my job. But of course, once you sign a long-term contract you feel secure, you feel great, and thats what you want.

These comments come only a day after Guerrero Jr. made it clear to MLB insider Hector Gomez that he feels "really happy" playing in Toronto and is open to signing a long-term contract with the Jays.

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Guerrero Jr. is hitting .277/.341/.482 with 28 home runs and 84 RBIs in 2022, falling short of the lofty standards that he set last season, when he finished as the runner-up in American League MVP voting behind Los Angeles Angels pitcher/slugger Shohei Ohtani.

More from Yahoo Sports
An overnight service interruption that happened has caused bacteria to appear in Sanfords water supply.

A precautionary boil water notice was issued Saturday, the City of Sanford said.

Read: Eye on the Tropics: TS Fiona to become hurricane, warning issued for Puerto Rico

The city said people living south of 25th Street and State Road 46, east of Old Lake Mary Road and east of Beardall Avenue, need to boil their water until further notice.

The affected area can be seen in the map.

Read: Amtrak working to restore canceled long-distance trains after railway labor agreement reached

Consumers are asked to boil water for at least one minute when bathing, brushing ones teeth or drinking. The city also suggests using bottled water.

Read: SpaceX plans for another Falcon 9 launch attempt, heres when you can look up

The notice will remain in effect until the problem is corrected and data shows that the water is safe to drink, the city said.

For any questions or a status report, residents are asked to call the City of Sanford Information Line at 407- 688- 5155.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.




(Reuters) - Ukraine continues offensive operations in the northeast of the country while Russian forces have established a defensive line between the Oskil River and the town of Svatove, British military intelligence said on Saturday.

"Russia likely sees maintaining control of this zone as important because it is transited by one of the few main resupply routes Russia still controls from the Belgorod region of Russia," the Defence Ministry said in a regular Twitter update https://bit.ly/3BJY1ZQ.

"Russia will likely attempt to conduct a stubborn defence of this area, but it is unclear whether Russia's front line forces have sufficient reserves or adequate morale to withstand another concerted Ukrainian assault," it said.

(Reporting by Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard)
Queen Elizabeth II's coffin, draped in the Royal Standard and bearing the Imperial State Crown. Max Mumby/Getty Images

Supermarkets, fast food chains, gas stations, and cinemas across Britain will close on Monday.

The UK government said some workers may not get paid if businesses do not open.

Lost wages could make the cost-of-living crisis even worse for some people.



British people who fail to stock up their fridges this weekend might find it difficult to find food on Monday as many supermarkets and fast food chains will not open to mark the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

The two biggest supermarket chains, Tesco and Sainsbury, will keep all their larger stores closed, with only the smaller convenience shops opening after 5pm. All Aldi and Lidl stores will not open on Monday, but Asda plans to reopen at 5pm.

Gas stations operated by the supermarket chains will also close, with some reopening after 5pm.

McDonalds, which has about 1,300 UK outlets, said in a Twitter post it would close all its UK stores on Monday until 5pm in honor of the Queen and to allow staff to "pay their respects."

KFC will also close many of its restaurants until after the funeral has taken place, it said on its website. "A small number of restaurants will remain open throughout the day, including some of those located in central London."

The bakery chain Greggs will also close its stores, as will company-operated Costa coffee shops.

Many pubs will be open, however, and some restaurants and cafes may also decide to keep trading.

Department stores Harrods, John Lewis, House of Fraser, and Selfridges announced in social media posts they will close their doors on Monday for the royal funeral.



Harrods, the luxury department store, announced on September 9 it would close its store in Knightsbridge, west London, to pay its respects and commemorate the life of Queen Elizabeth II.

Cinema chains including Cineworld, Odeon, and Showcase said on Twitter it would close and Vue Cinemas said it would only remain open to screen the funeral at some sites for free, but customers would not be able to purchase food or drinks.

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Other shops that have confirmed plans to close on Monday include furniture giant Ikea, home improvement chain B&Q, and clothing retailer Primark, along with dozens of other British retailers.

The British Retail Consortium has published a list of chains not opening on Monday here.



The retailers join a growing list of businesses in the UK that will halt operations on September 19 for the Queen's farewell after the government announced there would be a national holiday on Monday.



There is no statutory entitlement to time off, the government said in its statement, and that employers include the bank holiday in staff holiday time, meaning some businesses may choose not to pay staff if they close.



The British public is already grappling with a cost-of-living crisis including soaring energy bills and even a small cut to take-home pay could exacerbate the situation for struggling households.



Businesses that pause trading on Monday could be at risk of causing harm to the British economy, which is facing a looming recession at the end of this year, the Bank of England predicted in August.



The majority of stores are expected to reopen on Tuesday.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Texas has bused thousands of migrants to east coast cities over the past few months.

A contractor busing the migrants has been banned from speaking with New York City officials, the AP reported.

The lack of communication complicates non-profit groups efforts to meet and help those arriving.

A contractor hired by Texas to bus migrants signed an agreement that bans them from talking to New York officials, the Associated Press reported.

Manuel Castro, commissioner of the New York City Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, told the AP that complicates efforts to meet and provide resources for migrants being sent from Texas.

"It's a problem because we don't know when the buses are coming, how many buses are coming, if anyone on these buses has medical conditions that they will need help with, if they need a wheelchair,"Castro told the outlet. "We at least want to know that so that we can best help people as they arrive."

Volunteer groups rely in tips for help as they wait for hours in New York's Port Authority for buses from Texas to arrive.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been sending buses of migrants to democratic cities like Washington D.C. and New York to President Joe Biden's immigration policies.

Following in Abbott's footsteps, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took responsibility for flying 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard this week.

The AP reported that so far about 8,000 migrants were bused from Texas to Washington D.C. and another 2,200 were bused to New York City.

While some migrants told the AP they were grateful for the help they received to reach East Coast cities, the New York Times reported that the influx has meant that the volunteer and non-profit groups helping these migrants have been overwhelmed, and many migrants are ending up in homeless shelters.

In a statement to the AP, Abbott's office dismissed criticism of the lack of communication.

"Instead of complaining about fulfilling their sanctuary city promises, these Democrat hypocrites should call on President Biden to do his job and secure the border  something the president continues failing to do," spokeswoman Renae Eze said Thursday.

Story continues

Video: 46 migrants found dead in tractor trailer in June 2022

Read the original article on Business Insider
Number One Observatory Circle is the official residence of the US vice president. Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File/AP

A busload of migrants were dropped off near VP Harris' official residence on Saturday morning.

The migrants included women, men and children, according to reports, and were sent by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

It comes amid a bubbling war between Republicans and the Biden administration's border policies.

A busload of migrants sent from Texas arrived near Vice President Kamala Harris' official residence on Saturday morning as GOP Gov. Greg Abbott continues to clash with President Joe Biden on border policies.

The bus, which was reportedly made up of migrants from Venezuela and Nicaragua, was dropped outside the Naval Observatory in DC, according to NBC News' Gary Grumbach and Fox News Digital. Women, children, and men, and a 1-month-old baby were on board, the outlet reported.

It's the latest dig from GOP officials who have criticized the Biden administration for efforts at the Southern US border. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis chartered planes to pick up a group of migrants from San Antonio, Texas, to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts on Wednesday.

And Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who started transporting migrants in April, announced that he dropped off more than 100 migrants at Harris' Northwest DC home, saying: "The Biden-Harris Administration continues ignoring and denying the historic crisis at our southern border, which has endangered and overwhelmed Texas communities for almost two years."

During an interview with VICE, the vice president slammed DeSantis and Abbott's actions, and said that "they're playing games, adding that "these are political stunts with real human beings who are fleeing harm."

As Insider previously reported, the migrants dropped off at Harris' home were sent to a nearby church.

Read the original article on Insider
Johnnatan Zelaya Izaguirre, 39, of Redwood City targeted underage victims, including some of his students, on social media and groomed them, federal prosecutors said. (Jenny Kane / Associated Press)

A Northern California driving school owner faces federal charges after authorities accused him of soliciting teenage girls, including some of his students, to produce child pornography.

Johnnatan Zelaya Izaguirre, 39, of Redwood City faces two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the Northern District of California.

Zelaya, who owns and operates a driving school in San Mateo County, used social media to "entice and coerce" the girls to produce the pornographic material "for his personal use and for sale," prosecutors said Friday.

"The indictment alleges Zelaya offered to manage the minor victims sale of their sexually explicit content, offered monetary rewards for selling the victims content, and bought the victims sex toys to use in videos they were encouraged to create," prosecutors said.

Zelaya persuaded his victims to create child pornography in part by falsely claiming to be in law enforcement, prosecutors said. According to court documents, he graduated from a police academy in the Bay Area  though authorities did not specify which  but he did not join a police department.

Zelaya used social media to target the underage girls, who ranged from 14 to 17 years old, prosecutors said.

Court documents described how he groomed his victims by complimenting their appearances, developing sexualized friendships with them, offering to manage their explicit content posted online and extending "financial rewards" if they created the content.

"Zelaya allegedly provided a victim a list of the amounts of money she could earn by producing videos depending upon whether the content included nude vs. non-nude videos, videos of masturbation, or videos of 'toy play,'" prosecutors said. "On one occasion, Zelaya allegedly threatened to leak explicit content to everyone his victim knew if she stopped creating content for him."

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He was arrested Jan. 4 after communicating with an undercover police officer he thought was 17 years old, prosecutors said.

The undercover officer had posed as a driving student, and Zelaya had "highly sexualized conversations with instructions on how to masturbate, discussions of future interactions in which he would orally copulate and have sexual intercourse with her," prosecutors said.

He also asked the undercover officer to perform a photo shoot with him, prosecutors said. Zelaya's arrest came during a planned meet-up with the undercover officer.

Zelaya's attorney could not be reached for comment.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
STORY: Charles is scheduled on Saturday to meet the prime ministers of the 14 other countries where he is head of state, including Canada and Australia.

The state funeral on Monday will be attended by nearly 100 presidents and heads of government.

It is likely to be one of the biggest ceremonial events ever held in Britain and London's police force said it will be the biggest security operation it has ever undertaken.
"Pages of history" features excerpts from The News Journal archives including the Wilmington Morning News, The Morning News, the Every Evening and the Evening Journal.

Sept. 18, 1893, Evening Journal

All Washington alive with processions, music and singing; Capitol centennial celebrated

One hundred years ago today, with all the ceremonies which the period would allow, the corner stone of the Capitol building was laid by President George Washington, and today the citizens of the magnificent city that has grown about the site selected for the structure, together with the highest officials of the nation and the public men from all sections of the land, celebrated the centennial anniversary of the event with exercises so impressive in character as to fitly mark an epoch in the history of this splendid building.

Front page of the Evening Journal from Sept. 18, 1893.

First with a military and civic pageant, then with oratory and music, the event was commemorated. The participants were the representatives of all the branches of the government, including President Cleveland and his Cabinet and the members of both houses of Congress and the highest judicial officers of the country, together with thousands of the people themselves.

Fatalities in chaos of Oklahoma land rush

Sunday in the Cherokee Strip was anything but a day of rest. The boomers were busy hunting for food and water while their families guarded the land they had claimed.

Numerous encounters between boomers and sooners resulted in the loss of life. Many people perished in the rush and others fell victims to the prairie fires.

The governor of Oklahoma had issued an order forbidding all persons who enter the strip from carrying firearms.

Recent gun law news:Delaware House passes a bill to ban assault weapons amid mass shootings in America

Sept. 19, 1975, The Morning News

Patty Hearst, SLA trio nabbed in San Francisco

Newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst and her three fugitive companions were captured without a fight in San Francisco yesterday, ending one of the longest and most bizarre manhunts in American history.

Story continues

The sudden and unspectacular apprehension  by FBI agents and San Francisco police  provided a whimper ending to the violent history of the Symbionese Liberation Army.

Front page of The Morning News from Sept. 19, 1975.

Miss Hearst, the 21-year-old daughter of Randolph A. Hearst, president of the San Francisco Examiner, was held on a total of $500,000 bail on criminal charges in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Her attorney, Terence Hallinan, said her family would seek to provide the money.

Among the others arrested, William Harris and his wife, Emily, are avowed members of the SLA, the small terrorist band that claimed credit for the assassination of Marcus Foster, the black school superintendent in Oakland, Calif., and later kidnapped Miss Hearst from her Berkeley apartment Feb. 4, 1974.

The Hearst casecaught the nations fancy from the beginning. Miss Hearst, scion of a publishing fortune, had been takenfrom her Berkeley apartment in the dead of night. A nation of television viewers watched her parents ordeal, their pleas that she be set free  and later, after the bombshell of her claimed conversion to the terrorism of the SLA  their pleadings that she give herself up.

Miss Hearst, in one of many tape-recorded messages sent to a radio station, announced April 3, 1974  two months after her abduction  that she was renouncing her family.

Catch up on history:The News Journal archives, week of June 5

Sept. 20, 1881, Every Evening

President Garfield dead

President Garfield died at 10:35 last night, thus ending his long sufferings in the way that for some time it had been apparent alone could end them.

Mrs. Garfield bore the trying ordeal with great fortitude and exhibited unprecedented courage after her husband was shot more than two months ago.

Front page of the Every Evening from Sept. 20, 1881.

Soon after 9 oclock on the morning of Saturday, July 2, the President entered the station of the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad at Washington, in company with Secretary of State Blaine, being about to join his wife at Long Branch for an extended trip through the Northern States. The President was well advanced into the room when suddenly two pistol shots were heard and Mr. Garfield was seen to stagger. At the same moment the unknown assassinattempted to escape. Mr. Blaine rushed out to grapple with him but in an instant the miscreant was seized by half a dozen men, and soon after, amid the threats of the excited and bewildered crowd, conveyed to jail.

Meanwhile the wounded President sank upon the floor and several physicians were called. A hasty examination showed that one shot had taken effect, that entered upon the right side, striking the 11th rib, and burying itself.

The assassin gave his name as Charles J. Guiteau and boldly proclaimed the premeditated character of his deed. He left letters showing that he had hoped to end the President and bring into power Vice President Arthur as representing Senator Roscoe Conkling and the Stalwarts. For a moment, the public teamed with a menacing growl toward Mr. Conkling and his friends, but there was a feeling of relief as it became apparent that the assassin, if not insane, at least represented only himself.

After considerable variation in the Presidents condition, he grew much worse Aug. 25 and on the following day appeared to be dying. On Saturday of that week, however, he began to improve and the improvement seemed to continue until Monday, Sept. 5 when it was acknowledged that there were indications of malarial influences.

Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Capitol centennial, President Garfield dies: News Journal archives
A Cherokee County man is heading to prison for more than a decade before spending the rest of his life on probation, the Cherokee County District Attorneys Office says.

D.A. Shannon Wallace says that 23-year-old Lomack Deamonte Pridgen pleaded guilty to aggravated child molestation, aggravated sexual battery, and child molestation back in June. This week, he was sentenced to 12 years without the possibility of parole and a lifetime of probation.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Pridgen was arrested in September 2021 after the child told her parents about the abuse.

Wallace said that Pridgen and the victim knew one another.

TRENDING STORIES:

This sexual predator took advantage of an innocent little girl, subjecting her to his sick perversions when no one was around to stop him. It took real courage for her to tell her mother what happened and to stay strong throughout this process, Wallace said.

After being released from prison, Pridgen will be required to register as a sex offender.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Transguard Group, a joint venture between the Emirates Group and Al Hail Holding, and the UAEs leading provider of business support and outsourcing services, has appointed four new directors to the company board - Michael Doersam, Chief Financial Officer at the Emirates Group; Nidal Khatib, Chief Financial Officer at Al Hail Holding; Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates airline and Shahreyar Nawabi, General Counsel Emirates & Group Data Privacy Officer.

With this move, Transguard Group has signalled its commitment to future growth adding senior executives from both shareholders.

A industry veteran, Doersam brings over 30 years of experience from different roles in Europe and the UAE spanning the areas of finance strategy, financial reporting, treasury and insurance, FP&A, taxation, and global financial services.

Khatib too boasts nearly 30 years of experience in finance, accounting, cost control, systems, audit, tax, treasury & foreign exchange in companies engaged in retail, manufacturing, real estate, trading, operation, and other industries.

Kazim has around three decades of experience in the aviation industry spanning strategy, planning, commercial operations, market expansion and government relations, while Nawabi brings over 20 years of experience on legal, compliance and governance matters spanning a variety of industries and geographies in both private and government sectors.

These directors will work closely with Group Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum; Hamad Darwish, CEO of Al Hail Holding; and Mohammed Almazrouei, COO of Al Hail Holding; who continue in their roles as directors on the board.

Welcoming the appointments, Sheikh Ahmed said: "The new board directors' addition expands the depth and breadth of expertise to steer the business through a new phase of growth. The Group has gone through a period of rapid expansion, alongside record revenue and profit, in the years before Covid-19, which temporarily slowed down growth in 2020-21."

"With the UAEs excellent pandemic management strategies, business has rebounded strongly since 2021-22 and Transguard is expecting this upward trend to continue, aided by its solid reputation, as well as business and operational foundations," stated Sheikh Ahmed.

"Across business streams  from cash, security, aviation, hospitality, workforce outsourcing, last mile delivery, home maintenance and facilities management services  the group looks forward to executing its growth strategy with the support of its expanded board," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Six top Republican elected officials in Chesapeake announced theyre withdrawing their support for City Council candidate Amanda Newins after learning shes being sued and investigated for claims of elder abuse.

In a statement, the officials said they encourage others who are likeminded and equally disappointed by these revelations to do the same.

Listed as endorsing it were Sheriff Jim OSullivan, Commonwealths Attorney Matthew Hamel, Clerk of the Circuit Court Alan Krasnoff and City Council members Stephen Best, Don Carey, and Robert Ike.

The letter went on to say the group was hoping for a meaningful response from Ms. Newins and our local party chairman, Nicholas Proffitt, but their silence has been deafening. As elected officials who have spent years working to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Chesapeakes senior citizens, we cannot remain silent in the face of these allegations of persistent elder abuse.

Newins and her attorney, Alison Zizzo, couldnt immediately be reached for comment Friday.

Newins, 30, a lawyer and vice president of the Chesapeake Bar Association, was sued this week by a great aunt who claims Newins mistreated her and her late husband, and stole hundreds of thousands in property and cash from them. The claim seeks $540,000 in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages.

A Chesapeake police spokesman confirmed on Wednesday the department received a complaint about the allegations and was investigating them.

Newins is among 13 candidates running for one of five open seats on the City Council.

Alison Zizzo, an attorney who represents Newins, issued a statement earlier this week in which she called the lawsuit baseless and questioned the timing of it being filed so close to the election.

In an email to The Virginian-Pilot, Proffitt said the statement was not a surprise to him.

Steve Best, Don Carey, Matt Hamel, Robert Ike, and Alan Krasnoff have never endorsed either Amanda Newins or the Endorsed Republican Ticket, Proffitt wrote. Furthermore, they have been actively supporting one of Ms. Newins and our endorsed tickets non-Republican opponents, whose campaign representative is the lead attorney in this lawsuit against Ms. Newins.

Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com
The mayor of Chicago said it was time to send an Illinois Republican candidate for governor "back to the farm" during a rally on Friday.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoots comments about gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey came during a speech rallying supporters to go vote for Democrats in November.

ILLINOIS GOVERNOR, CHICAGO MAYOR BLASTED FOR HYPOCRISY AFTER SENDING MIGRANTS BUSSED FROM TEXAS TO SUBURBS

Mayor Lori Lightfoot introduces Jazmine Sullivan during 2022 Lollapalooza day one at Grant Park on July 28, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

"So make no mistake, Trump is on the ballot. His name is Darren Bailey. And we need to send him back to the farm," Lightfoot said. "Trump is on the ballot in every single one of the Republicans that you are going to face when you go into the voting pool. And you must remember that we are Illinois. We are a state that believes in people's rights and that we're going to treat everyone with dignity and respect."

Lightfoot had just finished blasting Republicans who "do nothing but hatred" as they "present a picture of our city and our state that is out of touch with reality because they live in a world that is different than the lives of the people of this city in the state every day."

Bailey, a third-generation farmer, touts his rural credentials on his campaign page.

Fox News Digital reached out to Bailey's campaign for comment.
Burial of the whole family in Izyum

The Russians are killing entire Ukrainian families, Yermak wrote.

Read also: Izyum 80% destroyed by Russian invaders, at least 1,000 civilians killed

Izyum, Olesya, 6 years old. Killed by Russian terrorists. Her parents are buried nearby.

On Sept. 16, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine published a photo of a newly-discovered mass grave in Izyum. Later that day, the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about more than 400 bodies found with signs of torture. The Ministry of Reintegration also suggested that the number of victims in Izyum could be higher than in Bucha, another formerly occupied town subjected to Russian atrocities.

Read also: Number of victims in Izyum may be many times higher than in Bucha, says commissioner

The head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, Oleg Synehubov, said that the bodies exhumed from the mass grave in Izym bore signs of violent death and torture.

More evidence of war crimes and atrocities by the Russian invading and occupation forces are expected to be uncovered as Ukrainian liberation efforts throughout the country continue.

Read also: Prosecutors say atrocities in Kharkiv Oblast could rival those seen in Kyiv suburbs

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Children play marbles on a hill top in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 4, 2022. DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images

Afghanistan has been under Taliban rule for about a year now.

Surrounded by the country's economic collapse and lack of resources, the children of Afghanistan are suffering.

A humanitarian aid director said that with forced labor, malnutrition, and education restrictions on the rise, the children are in need of support.

A year into the Taliban takeover, children in Afghanistan are in facing death, suffering, and an uncertain future.

With forced labor, malnutrition, and education restrictions dampening the population, Asuntha Charles, a humanitarian aid worker, told Insider that Afghan children are in urgent need of support. Since the Taliban takeover, the US and its international partners froze roughly $10 billion of the country's assets leaving the people who remain inside the country in dire need of outside aid.

"It's not the right moment for the international communities to stay away from Afghanistan, but to provide more and more support so that the future generation is not affected, but able to see life and hope," said Charles, who is from southern India.

Charles has been working with World Vision for about two years and has lived in Afghanistan for roughly 20 years. The Christian-based organization focuses on aiding children facing poverty and justice.

Since the Taliban regained control in August of last year, economic collapse, drought, and the aftermath of a substantial earthquake have devasted the region and the people who live there.

"One thing gives me real worry is about the future of both girls and boys in this country. Because the future generation is really losing lot of opportunities because of so many factors," Charles told Insider.

A study by an NGO called Save the Children found that an estimated one million children had been forced into child labor by February.

"It's really going to have not only physical but psychological impact on the children who are in this country now," Charles added.

It's not uncommon for children in the Taliban-controlled region to work to survive.

Story continues

After school, some children, boys mostly, are forced to sell items to make money for food or search for litter to burn for warmth.

Girls have been barred from receiving an education beyond primary school, a dramatic regression in women's rights that had been made in the region over the last 20 years.

And outside of education, the lives of Afghanistan's youth are at stake.

Hundreds of children have died while playing outside as a result of explosive weapons that remained from the war.

And, by February, roughly 5 million children were close to starvation, according to The Guardian. And, as of August, about 90% of households in the country don't have enough food to survive, CBS News reported.

Some parents have faced the impossible decision of selling their children into marriage or at the bazaar in order to feed the rest of the family.

"That's why we really want to continue to advocate that this is not the right moment to forget the people of Afghanistan and especially the children, and the global has to stand by them, and that's very, very crucial," Charles told Insider.

She acknowledged the numerous humanitarian issues going on across the globe, but said she doesn't want the world to forget about Afghanistan.

"There are so many crises globally, so people tend to also associate with different conflicts," Charles continued, "So, that type of frustration exists among people, that they are forgotten."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Sep. 17PLATTSBURGH  The City Common Council passed two resolutions Thursday that will look at a possible demolition of the Crete Memorial Civic Center.

The resolutions plan to study the demolition and oversee it if and when it does happen, councilor Caitlin Bopp (D-Ward 5) said during the council meeting. For a demolition to officially occur, another, separate vote will be needed down the road.

TWO OPPPOSED

Councilors Jaime Canales (Ward 1), Michael Kelly (D-Ward 2), and Bopp, along with mayor Chris Rosenquest, all voted in favor of the resolutions. Councilors Jennifer Tallon (D-Ward 4) and Jeff Moore (D-Ward 6) voted against them.

Elizabeth Gibbs (D-Ward 3), a strong advocate against demolishing the Crete, was absent from the meeting.

Moore said he believes the Crete is salvageable and wanted to include more input from the public before making any final decision on its future.

"It really is up to the people to see what they want to do with this. and I'm not saying we should or shouldn't, I'm just saying it's doable," he said.

"The idea that we may replace this facility, or add a better facility, is pretty much fantasy in my estimation. If we can't maintain a building that was given to us for free...I see no path to spending $18 million to $20 million on a new facility. There's no one that is going to pony up that money, so this would be the end of having a civic center here in the city.

"I would like to hear from those thousands of people and see how they feel about sticking with this center or not. To me, I think we're rushing into this a little hastily, but that's just my opinion. I'm not trying to represent anyone else's opinion."

'WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN'

Tallon shared similar thoughts, saying she doesn't feel comfortable moving forward with demolishing the building when they have no plans for a true successor to fill the void.

"When I got elected, this was probably one of the issues that I was probably dreading the most. and here it is, this is basically judgment day of the Crete Center and this is a building that I grew up with, this is a building my brother played hockey at back in the '80s," she said.

Story continues

"I have a lot of sentimental attachments to this building. I also know that it has a lot of problems and it has got to the point where it is now and it's so unfortunate, because it's a place where kids are looking to do winter sports and we don't have a plan for that afterwards if this building goes away."

MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS

Bopp, the only councilor to speak out in support of demolishing the Crete at Thursday's meeting, recognized that this is a divided issue with no right answer.

Voting for the best interest of the city in terms of community needs, financial health and future prospects, she said, is what it comes down to. Bopp also referenced the needed maintenance work and low number of city residents who use the facility's programs as a reason for supporting demolition.

"As far as what I would say today, and there is obviously multiple solutions to this problem, all the solutions come with costly benefits and here on the council, we have to assess a number of factors to make our choice," Bopp said.

"The roof is in bad condition, there is black mold, it was poorly built as a multi-use space to begin with, it's lacking good treatment for sound, which can't be added to this building in a way that would be effective, it didn't serve its original purpose well and its current purpose is serving in a limited way."

Email: cnewton@pressrepublican.com

Twitter: CarlySNewton
NextShark

Letters exchanged between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and former U.S. President Donald Trump between April 2018 and August 2019 have recently been published. I am ready to work with your excellency with all my heart and devotion, Kim said in a letter dated April 1, 2018, nearly six weeks before he first met Trump at the Singapore Summit. On the same day, Trump responded that he was happy to meet Kim to drastically improve relations between their respective governments.
A group of residents who showed concerns about books in a Colorado library last month have sparked a ban they did not foresee this week: a ban on book bans.

The Wellington town board voted 5-2 to pass a resolution that barred the board from restricting access to materials at the Wellington Public Library on Tuesday, The Coloradoan reported.

The move followed an August town board meeting where residents, led by town board member Jon Gaiters wife, Christine Gaiter, referred to books  what she called pornographic materials  she said werent suitable for kids.

Gaiters list of 19 books included The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, according to the newspaper.

Gaiter told the board on Tuesday that she wanted restrictions on children accessing the books, not a book ban, but some residents said in August that they did want a ban.

A majority of residents packed a board room to support the resolution that would ban book bans on Tuesday, according to The Coloradoan.

Not to be rude, but you cant tell me what I can and cant read, Sienna Zadina, a young resident, told the board.

The librarys action against book bans comes as the number of attempted bans and restrictions this year have already approached the total challenges to books in 2021, the American Library Association said on Friday.

Conservative criticism toward libraries and schools have proliferated and have led to funding cuts and harassment of librarians in the last two years, The Associated Press reported.

Deborah Caldwell-Stone, who serves as director of ALAs Office for Intellectual Freedom, said she hasnt seen anything like the number of attempted book bans this year.

It used to be a parent had learned about a given book and had an issue with it, Caldwell-Stone said. Now we see campaigns where organizations are compiling lists of books, without necessarily reading or even looking at them.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
Councilman Kevin de Leon inside a unit during the October 2021 opening of a tiny-home village in Highland Park. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

When I asked L.A. City Councilman Kevin de Leon how things were going at the Eagle Rock tiny-home village that opened in March, he had good news and bad.

Many encampments have disappeared, and those who had lived in tents are now in safe, clean quarters, with access to food and bathrooms. The councilman pulled out his camera to show me the before photos of people living in squalor, taking shelter under highway overpasses and fending off rodents.

But the tiny-home record is mixed so far, and De Leon told a story to illustrate his point. He said he was on his way to meet a friend for dinner in the neighborhood recently when he saw a storm of police activity at a gas station at Colorado and Eagle Rock boulevards.

We have a gentleman whos having a psychotic breakdown, and he has a blow torch, De Leon recalls being told by an officer at the scene.

De Leon said the troubled young man appeared to be threatening to blow up his mothers vehicle and the gas station.

A psych team was there, trying to engage him, said De Leon, but that didnt work. So police fired less-lethal ammo and apprehended the man for a psychiatric commitment.

When De Leon heard the mans name, he thought, I know him.

The man had been a resident at the tiny-home village. Getting people in the door is hard enough, De Leon said. But redirecting the lives of people with severe challenges is complicated by a lack of desperately needed services.

My staff and I, along with salt-of-the-earth social workers, are doing our jobs by getting people off the streets and putting a roof over their head, De Leon said. We need the county to do what theyre charged to do and provide the mental-health services and drug-treatment services our unhoused neighbors are crying out for.

I had reached out to De Leon because its been almost six months of operation for the village in Eagle Rock and almost one year for the one in nearby Highland Park. And in the mayoral race, Rep. Karen Bass and Rick Caruso both have more tiny homes in their packages of homelessness fixes.

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Caruso, as part of a nearly $1-billion plan that sounds ambitious at best and impossible at worst, says hell house 30,000 people in his first year. And 15,000 of them would be temporarily moved into tiny homes on 300 government parcels.

Even if he could pull off such a gargantuan task and figure out how to pay for it, a close look at the villages in Eagle Rock and Highland Park makes clear that getting someone in the front door is only half the battle.

I've requested the specifics and am waiting on a response from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, but this much is known:

Some residents have been kicked out for rules violations. Some have chosen to leave. Some have received addiction and mental-health counseling, while others have not. Some have been moved into permanent housing or have taken up with family members, but many are still waiting in a long line for housing, and many of them dont yet have the government vouchers needed for a permanent placement.

To end homelessness for tiny-home residents and all of our unhoused neighbors, our community needs hundreds of thousands of affordable homes, said Emily Andrade, director of interim housing for LAHSA.

Daniel, kicked out of the Highland Park tiny-home village, wishes they'd take him back. (Steve Lopez / Los Angeles Times)

Andrade said more mental-health and addiction-treatment resources are also needed.

I would agree. But whats hard to fathom, De Leon told me more than once, is that with a county mental-health budget that runs about $3 billion, the streets are home to so many severely addled souls.

You give me $3 billion, and Ill have them off the streets, he said.

One problem, other than the obvious failures of massive bureaucracies, is a long history of lousy coordination and outright feuding between city and county agencies. There was bickering this year after the city agreed but the county balked at settling a federal lawsuit over the handling of homelessness.

The county finally agreed several days ago to step up services for interim and permanent housing in the city, but the numbers are not likely to turn things around. For example, the additional substance-abuse and mental-health beds promised by the county is 300. At first glance, I wondered if a zero or two had been accidentally omitted.

There are quite a few folks who dont belong in tiny homes or Project Roomkey because theyre so severely mentally ill, said De Leon. They belong in a bed with the county  and the 300 beds agreed to is simply not enough.

Jane Demian, homelessness liaison for the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, told me she knows the man who was apprehended at the gas station.

He has a history of schizophrenia, and hes been on the streets a long time, and rather than connect him with mental-health services  which might not be available right now  they put him into a tiny home, Demian said. He did not do well because he needs a higher level of care, and this is what happens.

And yet Demian told me shes cautiously optimistic that the tiny-home villages will serve a valuable purpose for their residents and the community. As for the latter, she said, people are happy to see fewer encampments, but some who live near the villages have complained about drug use and other activity.

Demian regularly visits tiny home residents and said the majority of them are happy theyre in there, although some would like more contact with their case manager and more services.

Outside the tiny-home village in Highland Park, I met a guy who wished he could get through the gates.

I liked it in there, said Daniel, who told me hed been kicked out for an altercation while defending his friend Candy.

Daniel told me he works as a security guard when he can, and to be close to Candy he sleeps in a friends car near the village. Both said they were among the first residents in November and expected to be moved into permanent housing by now. But the line is long, and theyre nowhere near the front of it.

Gary says he was kicked out of a tiny home in Eagle Rock and is living on the streets again. (Steve Lopez / Los Angeles Times)

On the street near the Eagle Rock village, Gary told me hed been kicked out for an altercation and is back living on the street. Yesenia is still a resident and said she likes it in the village but wants more help with her mental illness.

Ron, who in March moved out of a motor home and into an Eagle Rock tiny home, seemed grateful for his humble abode.

Some troublemakers have been kicked out, but everybody whos still here has an advocate to help them, and they pretty much help us with everything, said Ron, who told me that at 65, he couldnt afford rent anywhere on the slim wages he makes in various odd jobs.

Ron said one much-needed improvement is more mental-health services for some of his neighbors, and he thought hed have been lined up with permanent housing by now. But he doesnt even have a housing voucher yet.

I asked if he knew when that might happen.

Hopefully soon, he said.

steve.lopez@latimes.com

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)  Blake Corum matched a school record with five touchdowns, helping No. 4 Michigan beat Connecticut 59-0 Saturday for its third straight rout to open the season.

Corum is not ready to celebrate.

I dont know how good we are," he acknowledged. We look good. I feel like were going to be great, but I cant tell yet.

I can tell from the look of things, the sky is the limit for this offense.

Corum started the scoring barrage with a 20-yard run on the games opening drive and had three 1-yard scores before halftime. His 11-yard touchdown late in the third quarter tied the single-game school record set by Ron Johnson in 1968 and equaled by Hassan Haskins in last years win over Ohio State.

The Wolverines (3-0) led 38-0 at halftime before coasting in the second half of a game that looked a lot like their first two tune-ups, when they beat Colorado State 51-7 and Hawaii 56-10.

Is Michigan prepared to begin defending its Big Ten championship?

Well find out, right?" coach Jim Harbaugh said.

J.J. McCarthy was 15 of 18 for 214 yards, a week after Harbaugh said he had won the quarterback competition.

My mind isnt racing anymore," the sophomore said. Everythings just slowing down. Thats something that has changed from last year to this year."

Big Ten championship-winning quarterback Cade McNamara entered late in the first half and was roughed up. He was sacked on the first snap and didn't play in the second half due to a leg injury.

Hes probably going to be out for a few weeks," Harbaugh said.

Without the senior available in the lopsided game, Harbaugh gave several reserve quarterbacks a chance to play.

The Huskies (1-3) had just 64 yards of offense in the first half, had a punt blocked and gave up a punt return for a touchdown over the opening 30 minutes.

Tough loss, a really good team, a team that is a contender for a national championship and they served it up pretty good to us," first-year coach Jim Mora said. The thing I was proud of is the attitude and the effort of our young men. They kept fighting. This is not the situation where you want to play a lot of young guys, but we got to play a ton of young guys and were going forward with them.

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Connecticut freshman Zion Turner was 4 of 16 for 17 yards and had 42 yards rushing. The Huskies finished with just 110 yards of offense, going 2 for 14 on third down and earning just six first downs.

Weve got to continue to work hard and believe we can make progress regardless of the score," Mora said.

THAT'S SPECIAL

In the second quarter, Michigan special teams ace Caden Kolesar blocked a punt to set up one of Corum's touchdowns.

(Kolesar) ran around the edge, he took the perfect amount of steps and the exact right angle," Harbaugh said.

Several minutes later, A.J. Henning returned a punt 61 yards for a score.

Its very rare to get a block and a return for a touchdown," Harbaugh said.

THE TAKEAWAY

UConn: Mora is trying to turn around an independent program that won only one game over two years and had just 10 victories during the six seasons prior to his arrival.

Michigan: Harbaugh's team has not been tested, but it has not played down to inferior competition before starting Big Ten play.

Were always competing with ourselves no matter who were playing, McCarthy said.

INJURY REPORT

UConn: RB Nate Carter left with a shoulder injury after he had six carries for 21 yards.

Michigan: LT Karsen Barnhart, who started the opener, RB Donovan Edwards and LB Nikhai Hill-Green did not play due to undisclosed injuries.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The Wolverines likely will be ranked No. 4 for the second straight week in the AP Top 25.

UP NEXT

UConn: Plays at North Carolina State on Saturday night.

Michigan: In its fourth straight home game, faces Maryland in the Big Ten opener for both teams on Saturday.

___

Follow Larry Lage at https://twitter.com/larrylage.

___

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the APs college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25.
Cryptocurrency miners are flocking to Idaho for its cheap power. State authorities say the additional energy demand is placing a burden on the entire electrical grid.

In fact, Idaho Power asked the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to create a new customer class for large-scale crypto miners, said Jordan Rodriguez, a spokesperson for Idaho Power.

The new classification was approved in June, according to a PUC spokesperson, but a Puerto Rican crypto mining company called GeoBitmine requested reconsideration. The PUC is now taking comments on that petition.

These customers have the potential for significant energy demand, which could require Idaho Power to build additional infrastructure, Rodriguez said by phone.

GeoBitmine said in its argument for reconsideration that the new customer class is discriminatory and would halt its plans to develop a crypto-mining operation at an idled J. R. Simplot Co. potato processing plant in Aberdeen that would use waste heat to power year-round greenhouse farming. A University of Idaho Research and Extension Center planned to use the operation for seed research.

Both the crypto mining and indoor farming would use a consistent electric load of 6 megawatts, the petition said. But GeoBitmine argues the rates and terms of service that would apply under the new classification make it impossible to proceed with the joint venture because of potential power interruptions.

The loss of electricity during the hottest part of the day in the hottest months of the year will be catastrophic for indoor food production, potato storage and seed research facilities, the company said.

Crypto mining company calls classification discriminatory

It also said the classification would force ratepayers to suffer provisions that are not imposed on any other customer class in Idaho Powers system.

It is black-letter utility law that the commission may not approve, and utilities may not charge, rates that treat customers preferentially or to disadvantage some customers to the benefit of other, similarly situated, customers, GeoBitmine said in its petition.

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Rodriguez said increased demand stemming from crypto-mining operations could require new substations, lines, transmission resources and power plants. Costs for these assets are paid by all customers through rates over time.

Adding new infrastructure could increase electricity rates for everyone. If the crypto miners were to pack up and leave the state, the remaining costs would be left behind, and the rest of Idaho Powers customers would foot the bill.

And with the volatility of the crypto industry, its unclear how long these miners will stick around.

What we dont want is to have a bunch of speculative load come online in a short amount of time that would potentially require us to go out and build new resources or purchase a bunch of energy in order to meet demand, Rodriguez said.

The new classification for industrial crypto miners would apply to operations drawing less than 20 MW. According to Rodriguez, 20 MW is enough to power about 15,000 homes. Anything larger falls into an existing classification with commission oversight.

The PUC separates customers into classes based on the way they use power, including residential users, small businesses, larger commercial businesses, irrigators and farmers.

Crypto miners run powerful computers executing complex mathematical equations, often at all hours, to mine, or create, digital currencies.

Electricity a big cost for crypto miners

Mike Louis, engineering program manager for the PUC, said electricity is a major cost for any crypto-mining operation.

There is an incentive for them to chase the lowest-cost electricity, Louis told the Idaho Statesman by phone. And because they dont have other infrastructure holding them to this location, typical of other customers, it places them in a class where there is a need to protect against stranded assets.

To date, most crypto miners in the state are hobbyists, operating out of their basements or garages, according to Rodriguez. Those people would not be affected by the new customer class.

Its unlikely for a residential person to do enough mining to make these big impacts that could force us to build additional infrastructure, Rodriguez said.

At the moment, Idaho Power doesnt have any customers who would fall into the new customer class. While it has some customers crypto-mining under residential or small general-service schedules, he said, Idaho Power cannot tell how many. But the utility says it has received interest from customers proposing approximately 2,000 MW of potential cryptocurrency mining operations.

The utility says it has some of the lowest energy prices in the country, about 30% lower than the national average, with variations depending on customer class.

Idaho also has a minimal risk of natural disasters, which can disrupt data centers or other large buildings filled with servers, computers and other equipment.

Its viewed as a low-risk location to carry out these operations, Rodriguez said. Its also a relatively low-cost energy location as compared to operating in California.

Idaho Power is already experiencing an increase in demand thanks to substantial population growth over the last decade or so. Excessive heat and fire activity also puts a strain on the grid.

Idaho Power would shut off crypto mining during peak demand

One of two key parts of the utilitys request to the PUC is the ability to shut off crypto-mining operations during times of peak energy demand to avoid any shutoffs for Idaho Powers remaining customer base. Heat waves are the best example of a time when its system is running near capacity, Rodriguez said.

Its something were keeping a close eye on, he said.

The second key part is the authority to charge crypto miners a marginal rate for any extra electricity Idaho Power must buy or generate for them. Marginal rates are normally higher than base rates.

A report released Sept. 8, commissioned by the Biden administration, detailed the carbon footprint of digital assets. The report warned that crypto-related electricity usage could harm efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.S. hosts about a third of global crypto operations, according to the report. They consume an estimated 0.9% to 1.7% of the countrys electricity usage.

Some crypto-asset technologies currently require a considerable amount of electricity for asset generation, ownership and exchange, the report said. Depending on the energy intensity of the technology used, crypto-assets could hinder broader efforts to achieve net-zero carbon pollution consistent with U.S. climate commitments and goals.

Heat and wildfires put strain on Idaho Power grid. Heres how customers can help

Worried about energy use during heat waves? Idaho Power explains rising demand
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced the discovery of new sites for gold and copper ore deposits in the Madinah region, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The Saudi Geological Survey, represented by the Survey and Mineral Exploration Centre, said the discoveries of gold ore were within the boundaries of Aba Al Raha, the shield of Umm Al Barrak Hejaz, in the Madinah region, while copper was found at four sites in the Al Madiq area within the Wadi Al Faraa region in Madinah.

These discoveries represent promising potentials for special copper deposits, from the mineral chalcocite (Cu2S), which is scattered, as well as some secondary copper carbonate minerals.

These are added to the list of discoveries during 2022, which will accelerate the pace of mining investment in the kingdom and thus supporting the Kingdoms Vision 2030 and the national economy, stated the SPA report.

These discoveries in various locations in Saudi Arabia will contribute to the development of the national economy, with the influx of local and international investors to make investments in the thriving mining sector, it added.
A federal appeals court upheld Texas social media law (pdf), setting the stage for an eventual Supreme Court ruling on the matter.

In September 2021, Texas passed a law that prohibits the largest social media companies, such as Facebook and Twitter, from removing users or their posts based on political viewpoints (pdf) while also allowing Texans to sue the companies for perceived violations.

Read more

Legal scholars have widely lambasted the Texas law as a violation of the companies speech rights under the First Amendment. The First Amendment protects peopleand, yes, companiesfrom US government censorship. The government should not be able to force Twitter, for one, to carry speech it doesnt want to carry nor should it be able to punish Twitter for making editorial decisions. And since Twitter is not the government, its content moderation decisions cannot violate the First Amendment.

The Texas law was challenged by NetChoice, an internet trade association. A federal district court judge in Austin blocked the law in December 2021 on First Amendment grounds, but Texas appealed the case to one of the most conservative courts in the US, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals . While the case was being litigated in the appeals court the US Supreme Court stayed the law in a 5-4 decision in May pending the Fifth Circuits ruling.

The Fifth Circuits ruling

On behalf of a three-judge panel, Andrew Oldham, a judge appointed by Donald Trump, wrote that the court rejects the idea that corporations have a freewheeling First Amendment right to censor what people say.



The Platforms are not newspapers, Oldham wrote. Their censorship is not speech.

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The law applies selectively to social media platforms with more than 50 million users such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

We are disappointed that the Fifth Circuits split decision undermines First Amendment protections and creates a circuit split with the unanimous decision of the Eleventh Circuit, said Carl Szabo, NetChoice vice president and general counsel. We remain convinced that when the U.S. Supreme Court hears one of our cases, it will uphold the First Amendment rights of websites, platforms, and apps. In May, the Eleventh Circuit blocked a similar Florida law.

What the Fifth Circuit ruling means for Twitter and free speech

In a statement, Adam Kovacevich, the CEO of Chamber of Progress, a trade group which submitted a brief supporting NetChoice said the Texas law would mean more hate speech, harassment, and misinformation on these websites. Not only is that dangerous, he added, but it throws out years of legal precedent affirming that online platforms have a First Amendment right to decide what appears on their sites.

Attorney Ken White tweeted that the opinion was the most angrily incoherent First Amendment decision I think Ive ever read.

An appeal of the ruling takes it to the Supreme Court, which would have final say on the matter. The case will go to [the Supreme Court] on the merits, University of Texas law professor Steve Vladeck told Quartz. Even though SCOTUS already signaled how its likely to rule.
The United States faces two distinct challenges, the movement by Republicans who refuse to accept defeat in an election and a growing disconnect between political power and public opinion. (Matt Chase/The New York Times)

The United States has experienced deep political turmoil several times before over the past century. The Great Depression caused Americans to doubt the countrys economic system. World War II and the Cold War presented threats from global totalitarian movements. The 1960s and 70s were marred by assassinations, riots, a losing war and a disgraced president.

These earlier periods were each more alarming in some ways than anything that has happened in the United States recently. Yet during each of those previous times of tumult, the basic dynamics of American democracy held firm. Candidates who won the most votes were able to take power and attempt to address the countrys problems.

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The current period is different. As a result, the United States today finds itself in a situation with little historical precedent. American democracy is facing two distinct threats, which together represent the most serious challenge to the countrys governing ideals in decades.

The first threat is acute: a growing movement inside one of the countrys two major parties  the Republican Party  to refuse to accept defeat in an election.

The violent Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Congress, meant to prevent the certification of President Joe Bidens election, was the clearest manifestation of this movement, but it has continued since then. Hundreds of elected Republican officials around the country falsely claim that the 2020 election was rigged. Some of them are running for statewide offices that would oversee future elections, potentially putting them in position to overturn an election in 2024 or beyond.

There is the possibility, for the first time in American history, that a legitimately elected president will not be able to take office, said Yascha Mounk, a political scientist at Johns Hopkins University who studies democracy.

The second threat to democracy is chronic but also growing: The power to set government policy is becoming increasingly disconnected from public opinion.

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The run of recent Supreme Court decisions  both sweeping and, according to polls, unpopular  highlights this disconnect. Although the Democratic Party has won the popular vote in seven of the past eight presidential elections, a Supreme Court dominated by Republican appointees seems poised to shape American politics for years, if not decades. And the court is only one of the means through which policy outcomes are becoming less closely tied to the popular will.

Two of the past four presidents have taken office despite losing the popular vote. Senators representing a majority of Americans are often unable to pass bills, partly because of the increasing use of the filibuster. Even the House, intended as the branch of the government that most reflects the popular will, does not always do so because of the way districts are drawn.

We are far and away the most countermajoritarian democracy in the world, said Steven Levitsky, a professor of government at Harvard University and a co-author of the book How Democracies Die, with Daniel Ziblatt.

The causes of the twin threats to democracy are complex and debated among scholars.

The chronic threats to democracy generally spring from enduring features of American government, some written into the Constitution. But they did not conflict with majority opinion to the same degree in past decades. One reason is that more populous states, whose residents receive less power because of the Senate and the Electoral College, have grown so much larger than small states.

The acute threats to democracy  and the rise of authoritarian sentiment, or at least the acceptance of it, among many voters  have different causes. They partly reflect frustration over nearly a half-century of slow-growing living standards for the American working class and middle class. They also reflect cultural fears, especially among white people, that the United States is being transformed into a new country, more racially diverse and less religious, with rapidly changing attitudes toward gender, language and more.

The economic frustrations and cultural fears have combined to create a chasm in American political life between prosperous, diverse major metropolitan areas and more traditional, religious and economically struggling smaller cities and rural areas. The first category is increasingly liberal and Democratic, the second increasingly conservative and Republican.

The political contest between the two can feel existential to people in both camps, with disagreements over nearly every prominent issue. When were voting, were not just voting for a set of policies but for what we think makes us Americans and who we are as a people, said Lilliana Mason, a political scientist and the author of Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity. If our party loses the election, then all of these parts of us feel like losers.

These sharp disagreements have led many Americans to doubt the countrys system of government. In a recent poll by Quinnipiac University, 69% of Democrats and 69% of Republicans said that democracy was in danger of collapse. Of course, the two sides have very different opinions about the nature of the threat.

Many Democrats share the concerns of historians and scholars who study democracy, pointing to the possibility of overturned election results and the deterioration of majority rule. Equality and democracy are under assault, Biden said in a speech this month in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. We do ourselves no favor to pretend otherwise.

Many Republicans have defended their increasingly aggressive tactics by saying they are trying to protect American values. In some cases, these claims rely on falsehoods  about election fraud, Bidens supposed socialism, Barack Obamas birthplace and more.

In others, they are rooted in anxiety over real developments, including illegal immigration and cancel culture. Some on the left now consider widely held opinions among conservative and moderate Americans  on abortion, policing, affirmative action, COVID-19 and other subjects  to be so objectionable that they cannot be debated. In the view of many conservatives and some experts, this intolerance is stifling open debate at the heart of the American political system.

The divergent sense of crisis on left and right can itself weaken democracy, and it has been exacerbated by technology.

Conspiracy theories and outright lies have a long American history, dating to the personal attacks that were a staple of the partisan press during the 18th century. In the mid-20th century, tens of thousands of Americans joined the John Birch Society, a far-right group that claimed Dwight Eisenhower was a secret communist.

Today, however, falsehoods can spread much more easily, through social media and a fractured news environment. In the 1950s, no major television network spread the lies about Eisenhower. In recent years, the countrys most watched cable channel, Fox News, regularly promoted falsehoods about election results, Obamas birthplace and other subjects.

These same forces  digital media, cultural change and economic stagnation in affluent countries  help explain why democracy is also struggling in other parts of the world. Only two decades ago, at the turn of the 21st century, democracy was the triumphant form of government around the world, with autocracy in retreat in the former Soviet empire, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, South Africa, South Korea and elsewhere. Today, the global trend is moving in the other direction.

In the late 1990s, 72 countries were democratizing, and only three were growing more authoritarian, according to data from V-Dem, a Swedish institute that monitors democracy. Last year, only 15 countries grew more democratic, while 33 slid toward authoritarianism.

Some experts remain hopeful that the growing attention in the United States to democracys problems can help avert a constitutional crisis here. Already, Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election failed, partly because of the refusal of many Republican officials to participate, and both federal and state prosecutors are investigating his actions. And while the chronic decline of majority rule will not change anytime soon, it is also part of a larger historical struggle to create a more inclusive American democracy.

Still, many experts point out that it still not clear how the country will escape a larger crisis, such as an overturned election, at some point in the coming decade. This is not politics as usual, said Carol Anderson, a professor at Emory University and the author of the book, One Person, No Vote, about voter suppression. Be afraid.

The Will of the Majority

The founders did not design the United States to be a pure democracy.

They distrusted the classical notion of direct democracy, in which a community came together to vote on each important issue, and believed it would be impractical for a large country. They did not consider many residents of the new country to be citizens who deserved a voice in political affairs, including Natives, enslaved Africans and women. The founders also wanted to constrain the national government from being too powerful, as they believed was the case in Britain. And they had the practical problem of needing to persuade 13 states to forfeit some of their power to a new federal government.

Instead of a direct democracy, the founders created a republic, with elected representatives to make decisions, and a multilayered government in which different branches checked one another. The Constitution also created the Senate, where every state had an equal say regardless of population.

Pointing to this history, some Republican politicians and conservative activists have argued that the founders were comfortable with minority rule. Of course were not a democracy, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has written.

But the historical evidence suggests that the founders believed that majority will  defined as the prevailing view of enfranchised citizens  should generally dictate national policy, as George Thomas of Claremont McKenna College and other constitutional scholars have explained.

In the Federalist Papers, James Madison equated a coalition of a majority of the whole society with justice and the general good. Alexander Hamilton made similar points, describing representative democracy as happy, regular and durable. It was a radical idea at the time.

For most of American history, the idea has prevailed. Even with the existence of the Senate, the Electoral College and the Supreme Court, political power has reflected the views of people who had the right to vote. To say were a republic not a democracy ignores the past 250 years of history, Ziblatt, a political scientist at Harvard University, said.

Before 2000, only three candidates won the presidency while losing the popular vote (John Quincy Adams, Rutherford Hayes and Benjamin Harrison), and each served only a single term. During the same period, parties that won repeated elections were able to govern, including the Democratic-Republican Party of Thomas Jeffersons time, the New Deal Democrats and the Reagan Republicans.

The situation has changed in the 21st century. The Democratic Party is in the midst of a historic winning streak. In seven of the past eight presidential elections, stretching back to Bill Clintons 1992 victory, the Democratic nominee has won the popular vote. Over more than two centuries of American democracy, no party has previously fared so well over such an extended period.

Yet the current period is hardly a dominant Democratic age.

What changed? One crucial factor is that, in the past, the parts of the country granted outsize power by the Constitution  less populated states, which tend to be more rural  voted in broadly similar ways as large states and urban areas.

This similarity meant that the small-state bonus in the Senate and Electoral College had only a limited effect on national results. Both Democrats and Republicans benefited and suffered from the Constitutions undemocratic features.

Democrats sometimes won small states like Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming in the mid-20th century. And California was long a swing state: Between the Great Depression and 2000, Democratic and Republican presidential candidates won it an equal number of times. That the Constitution conferred advantages on residents of small states and disadvantages on Californians did not reliably boost either party.

In recent decades, Americans have increasingly sorted themselves along ideological lines. Liberals have flocked to large metropolitan areas, which are heavily concentrated in big states like California, while residents of smaller cities and more rural areas have become more conservative.

This combination  the Constitutions structure and the countrys geographic sorting  has created a disconnect between public opinion and election outcomes. It has affected every branch of the federal government: the presidency, Congress and even the Supreme Court.

In the past, the system was still anti-democratic, but it didnt have a partisan effect, Levitsky said. Now its undemocratic and has a partisan effect. It tilts the playing field toward the Republican Party. Thats new in the 21st century.

In presidential elections, the small-state bias is important, but it is not even the main issue. A subtler factor  the winner-take-all nature of the Electoral College in most states  is. Candidates have never received extra credit for winning state-level landslides. But this feature did not used to matter very much, because landslides were rare in larger states, meaning that relatively few votes were wasted, as political scientists say.

Today, Democrats dominate a handful of large states, wasting many votes. In 2020, Biden won California by 29 percentage points; New York by 23 points; and Illinois by 17 points. Four years earlier, Hillary Rodham Clintons margins were similar.

This shift means that millions of voters in large metropolitan areas have moved away from the Republican Party without having any impact on presidential outcomes. Thats a central reason that both George W. Bush and Trump were able to win the presidency while losing the popular vote.

Were in a very different world today than when the system was designed, said Mindy Romero, director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the University of Southern California. The dynamic of being pushed aside is more obvious and I think more frustrating.

Republicans sometimes point out that the system prevents a few highly populated states from dominating the countrys politics, which is true. But the flip is also true: The Constitution gives special privileges to the residents of small states. In presidential elections, many voters in large states have become irrelevant in a way that has no historical antecedent.

The Curse of Geographic Sorting

The countrys changing population patterns may have had an even bigger effect on Congress  especially the Senate  and the Supreme Court than the presidency.

The sorting of liberals into large metropolitan areas and conservatives into more rural areas is only one reason. Another is that large states have grown much more quickly than small states. In 1790, the largest state (Virginia) had about 13 times as many residents as the smallest (Delaware). Today, California has 68 times as many residents as Wyoming, 53 times as many as Alaska and at least 20 times as many as another 11 states.

Together, these trends mean that the Senate has a heavily pro-Republican bias that will last for the foreseeable future.

The Senate today is split 50-50 between the two parties. But the 50 Democratic senators effectively represent 186 million Americans, while the 50 Republican senators effectively represent 145 million. To win Senate control, Democrats need to win substantially more than half of the nationwide votes in Senate elections.

This situation has led to racial inequality in political representation. The residents of small states, granted extra influence by the Constitution, are disproportionately white, while large states are home to many more Asian American, Black and Latino voters.

In addition, two parts of the country that are disproportionately Black or Latino  Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico  have no Senate representation. Washington has more residents than Vermont or Wyoming, and Puerto Rico has more residents than 20 states. As a result, the Senate gives a political voice to white Americans that is greater than their numbers.

The House of Representatives has a more equitable system for allocating political power. It divides the country into 435 districts, each with a broadly similar number of people (currently about 760,000). Still, House districts have two features that can cause the chambers makeup not to reflect national opinion, and both of them have become more significant in recent years.

The first is well known: gerrymandering. State legislatures often draw district boundaries and in recent years have become more aggressive about drawing them in partisan ways. In Illinois, for example, the Democrats who control the state government have packed Republican voters into a small number of House districts, allowing most other districts to lean Democratic. In Wisconsin, Republicans have done the opposite.

Because Republicans have been more forceful about gerrymandering than Democrats, the current House map slightly favors Republicans, likely by a few seats. At the state level, Republicans have been even bolder. Gerrymandering has helped them dominate the state legislatures in Michigan, North Carolina and Ohio, even though the states are closely divided.

Still, gerrymandering is not the only reason that House membership has become less reflective of national opinion in recent years. It may not even be the biggest reason, according to Jonathan A. Rodden, a political scientist at Stanford University. Geographic sorting is.

Without a doubt, gerrymandering makes things worse for the Democrats, Rodden has written, but their underlying problem can be summed up with the old real estate maxim: location, location, location. The increasing concentration of Democratic voters into large metro areas means that even a neutral system would have a hard time distributing these tightly packed Democratic voters across districts in a way that would allow the party to win more elections.

Instead, Democrats now win many House elections in urban areas by landslides, wasting many votes. In 2020, only 21 Republican House candidates won their elections by at least 50 percentage points; 47 Democrats did.

Looking at where many of these elections occurred helps make Roddens point. The landslide winners included Rep. Diana DeGette in Denver; Rep. Jerry Nadler in New York City; Rep. Jesus Garcia in Chicago; Rep. Donald Payne Jr. in northern New Jersey; and Rep. Barbara Lee in Oakland, California. None of those districts are in states where Republicans have controlled the legislative boundaries, which means that they were not the result of Republican gerrymandering.

Again and again, geographic sorting has helped cause a growing disconnect between public opinion and election results, and this disconnect has shaped the Supreme Court as well. The courts membership at any given time is dictated by the outcomes of presidential and Senate elections over the previous few decades. And if elections reflected popular opinion, Democratic appointees would dominate the court.

Every current justice has been appointed during one of the past nine presidential terms, and a Democrat has won the popular vote in seven of those nine and the presidency in five of the nine. Yet the court is now dominated by a conservative, six-member majority.

There are multiple reasons (including Ruth Bader Ginsburgs decision not to retire in 2014 when a Democratic president and Senate could have replaced her). But the increasingly undemocratic nature of both the Electoral College and Senate play crucial roles.

Trump was able to appoint three justices despite losing the popular vote. (Bush is a more complex case, having made his court appointments after he won reelection and the popular vote in 2004.) Similarly, if Senate seats were based on population, none of Trumps nominees  Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett  would likely have been confirmed, said Michael J. Klarman, a law professor at Harvard. Senate Republicans also would not have been able to block Obama from filling a court seat during his final year in office.

Even Justice Clarence Thomas 1991 confirmation relied on the Senates structure: The 52 senators who voted to confirm him represented a minority of Americans.

The current courts approach has magnified the disconnect between public opinion and government policy, because Republican-appointed justices have overruled Congress on some major issues. The list includes bills on voting rights and campaign finance that earlier Congresses passed along bipartisan lines. This term, the court issued rulings on abortion, climate policy and gun laws that seemed to be inconsistent with majority opinion, based on polls.

The Republican justices wouldnt say this and may not believe it, Klarman said, but everything theyve done translates into a direct advantage for the Republican Party.

In response to the voting rights decision, in 2013, Republican legislators in several states have passed laws making it more difficult to vote, especially in heavily Democratic areas. They have done so citing the need to protect election security, even though there has been no widespread fraud in recent years.

For now, the electoral effect of these decisions remains uncertain. Some analysts point out that the restrictions have not yet been onerous enough to hold down turnout. In the 2020 presidential election, the percentage of eligible Americans who voted reached the highest level in at least a century.

Other experts remain concerned that the new laws could ultimately swing a close election in a swing state. When you have one side gearing up to say, How do we stop the enemy from voting? that is dangerous to a democracy, Anderson, the Emory professor, said.

An upcoming Supreme Court case may also allow state legislatures to impose even more voting restrictions. The court has agreed to hear a case in which Republican legislators in North Carolina argue that the Constitution gives them, and not state courts, the authority to oversee federal elections.

In recent years, state courts played an important role in constraining both Republican and Democratic legislators who tried to draw gerrymandered districts that strongly benefited one party. If the Supreme Court sides with the North Carolina legislature, gerrymandering might increase, as might laws establishing new barriers to voting.

Amplifying the Election Lies

If the only challenges to democracy involved these chronic, long-developing forces, many experts would be less concerned than they are. American democracy has always been flawed, after all.

But the slow-building ways in which majority rule is being undermined are happening at the same time that the country faces an immediate threat that has little precedent. A growing number of Republican officials are questioning a basic premise of democracy: that the losers of an election are willing to accept defeat.

The roots of the modern election-denier movement stretch back to 2008. When Obama was running for president and after he won, some of his critics falsely claimed that his victory was illegitimate because he was born in Kenya rather than Hawaii. This movement became known as birtherism, and Trump was among its proponents. By making the claims on Fox News and elsewhere, he helped transform himself from a reality television star into a political figure.

When he ran for president himself in 2016, Trump made false claims about election fraud central to his campaign. In the Republican primaries, he accused his closest competitor for the nomination, Sen. Ted Cruz, of cheating. In the general election against Hillary Clinton, Trump said he would accept the outcome only if he won. In 2020, after Biden won, the election lies became Trumps dominant political message.

His embrace of these lies was starkly different from the approach of past leaders from both parties. In the 1960s, Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater ultimately isolated the conspiracists of the John Birch Society. In 2000, Al Gore urged his supporters to accept George W. Bushs razor-thin victory, much as Richard Nixon had encouraged his supporters to do so after he narrowly lost to John F. Kennedy in 1960. In 2008, when a Republican voter at a rally described Obama as an Arab, Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee and Obamas opponent, corrected her.

Trumps promotion of the falsehoods, by contrast, turned them into a central part of the Republican Partys message. About two-thirds of Republican voters say that Biden did not win the 2020 election legitimately, according to polls. Among Republican candidates running for statewide office this year, 47% have refused to accept the 2020 result, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.

Most Republican politicians who have confronted Trump, on the other hand, have since lost their jobs or soon will. Of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach him for his role in the Jan. 6 attack, for example, eight have since decided to retire or lost Republican primaries, including Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming.

By any indication, the Republican Party  upper-level, midlevel and grassroots  is a party that can only be described as not committed to democracy, Levitsky said. He added that he was significantly more concerned about American democracy than when his and Ziblatts book, How Democracies Die, came out in 2018.

Juan Jose Linz, a political scientist who died in 2013, coined the term semi-loyal actors to describe political officials who typically do not initiate attacks on democratic rules or institutions but who also do not attempt to stop these attacks. Through their complicity, these semi-loyal actors can cause a party and a country to slide toward authoritarianism.

Thats what happened in Europe in the 1930s and in Latin America in the 1960s and 70s. More recently, it has happened in Hungary. Now there are similar signs in the United States.

Often, even Republicans who cast themselves as different from Trump include winking references to his conspiracy theories in their campaigns, saying that they, too, believe election integrity is a major problem. Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, for example, have both recently campaigned on behalf of election deniers.

In Congress, Republican leaders have largely stopped criticizing the violent attack on the Capitol. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House leader, has gone so far as to signal his support for colleagues  like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.  who have used violent imagery in public comments. Greene, before being elected to Congress, said that she supported the idea of executing prominent Democrats.

When mainstream parties tolerate these guys, make excuses for them, protect them, thats when democracy gets in trouble, Levitsky said. There have always been Marjorie Taylor Greenes. What I pay closer attention to is the behavior of the Kevin McCarthys.

The partys growing acceptance of election lies raises the question of what would happen if Trump or another future presidential nominee tried to replay his 2016 attempt to overturn the result.

In 11 states this year, the Republican nominee for secretary of state, a position that typically oversees election administration, qualifies as an election denier, according to States United Action, a research group. In 15 states, the nominee for governor is a denier, and in 10 states, the attorney general nominee is.

The growth of the election-denier movement has created a possibility that would have seemed unthinkable not so long ago. It remains unclear whether the loser of the next presidential election will concede or will instead try to overturn the outcome.

There Is a Crisis Coming

There are still many scenarios in which the United States will avoid a democratic crisis.

In 2024, Biden could win reelection by a wide margin  or a Republican other than Trump could win by a wide margin. Trump might then fade from the political scene, and his successors might choose not to embrace election falsehoods. The era of Republican election denial could prove to be brief.

It is also possible that Trump or another Republican nominee will try to reverse a close defeat in 2024 but will fail, as happened in 2020. Then, Brad Raffensperger, Georgias Republican secretary of state, rebuffed Trump after he directed him to find 11,780 votes, and the Supreme Court refused to intervene as well. More broadly, Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, recently said that the United States had very little voter fraud.

If a Republican were again to try to overturn the election and to fail, the movement might also begin to fade. But many democracy experts worry that these scenarios may be wishful thinking.

Trumps most likely successors as party leader also make or tolerate false claims about election fraud. The movement is bigger than one person and arguably always has been; some of the efforts to make voting more onerous, which are generally justified with false suggestions of widespread voter fraud, predated Trumps 2016 candidacy.

To believe that Republicans will not overturn a close presidential loss in coming years seems to depend on ignoring the public positions of many Republican politicians. The scenarios by which we dont have a major democracy crisis by the end of the decade seem rather narrow, Mounk of Johns Hopkins said.

And Levitsky said, Its not clear how the crisis is going to manifest itself, but there is a crisis coming. He added, We should be very worried.

The most promising strategy for avoiding an overturned election, many scholars say, involves a broad ideological coalition that isolates election deniers. But it remains unclear how many Republican politicians would be willing to join such a coalition.

It is also unclear whether Democratic politicians and voters are interested in making the compromises that would help them attract more voters. Many Democrats have instead embraced a purer version of liberalism in recent years, especially on social issues. This shift to the left has not prevented the party from winning the popular vote in presidential elections, but it has hurt Democrats outside of major metropolitan areas and, by extension, in the Electoral College and congressional elections.

If Democrats did control both the White House and Congress  and by more than a single vote, as they now do in the Senate  they have signaled that they would attempt to pass legislation to address both the chronic and acute threats to democracy.

The House last year passed a bill to protect voting rights and restrict gerrymandering. It died in the Senate partly because it included measures that even some moderate Democrats believed went too far, such as restrictions on voter identification laws, which many other democracies around the world have.

The House also passed a bill to grant statehood to Washington, D.C., which would reduce the Senates current bias against metropolitan areas and Black Americans. The United States is currently in its longest stretch without having admitted a new state.

Democracy experts have also pointed to other possible solutions to the growing disconnect between public opinion and government policy. Among them is an expansion of the number of members in the House of Representatives, which the Constitution allows Congress to do  and which it regularly did until the early 20th century. A larger House would create smaller districts, which in turn could reduce the share of uncompetitive districts.

Other scholars favor proposals to limit the Supreme Courts authority, which the Constitution also allows and which previous presidents and Congresses have done.

In the short term, these proposals would generally help the Democratic Party, because the current threats to majority rule have mostly benefited the Republican Party. In the long term, however, the partisan effects of such changes are less clear.

The history of new states makes this point: In the 1950s, Republicans initially supported making Hawaii a state because it seemed to lean Republican, while Democrats said that Alaska had to be included, too, also for partisan reasons. Today, Hawaii is a strongly Democratic state, and Alaska is a strongly Republican one. Either way, the fact that both are states has made the country more democratic.

Over the sweep of history, the American government has tended to become more democratic, through womens suffrage, civil rights laws, the direct election of senators and more. The exceptions, like the post-Reconstruction period, when Black Southerners lost rights, have been rare. The current period is so striking partly because it is one of those exceptions.

The point is not that American democracy is worse than it was in the past, Mounk said. Throughout American history, the exclusion of minority groups, and African Americans in particular, was much worse than it is now.

But the nature of the threat is very different than in the past, he said.

The makeup of the federal government reflects public opinion less closely than it once did. And the chance of a true constitutional crisis  in which the rightful winner of an election cannot take office  has risen substantially. That combination shows that American democracy has never faced a threat quite like the current one.

 2022 The New York Times Company
LONDON (Reuters) - Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie issued a tribute to their "dearest grannie" on Saturday, saying how much they missed the late Queen Elizabeth and had thought she would be around forever.

"We've not been able to put much into words since you left us all," said the two princesses, the daughters of Prince Andrew, the queen's second son and Duke of York.

"There have been tears and laughter, silences and chatter, hugs and loneliness, and a collective loss for you, our beloved queen and our beloved grannie."

Beatrice, 34, and Eugenie, 32, will join their cousins later on Saturday for a vigil by the coffin of Elizabeth at Westminster Hall where the body of the late monarch is now lying in state.

Eugenie was seen wiping away tears when she appeared in the days immediately after her grandmother's death when members of the family read tributes outside Balmoral Castle where Elizabeth died on Sept. 8 aged 96.

"We, like many, thought you'd be here forever. And we all miss you terribly," the sisters said in a statement.

"You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world. You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever. For now dear grannie, all we want to say is thank you."

The two royals concluded their message by saying the tributes that had flooded in from across the world as it mourned her would have made their grandmother smile.

"We're so happy you're back with grandpa," they said, a reference to Elizabeth's late husband Prince Philip, who died last year.

"Goodbye dear grannie, it has been the honour of our lives to have been your granddaughters and we're so very proud of you. We know that dear Uncle Charles, the king, will continue to lead in your example as he too has dedicated his life to service."

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Helen Popper)
Florida governor Ron DeSantis blamed Gavin Newsoms hair gel for interfering with his brain function after the California governor requested that the Department of Justice conduct an investigation into states allegedly kidnapping illegal immigrants and flying them to other states.

So the governor of California sent a letter to the Department of Justice saying, You need to prosecute Texas and Florida governors. And all I can say is, I think his hair gel is interfering with his brain function, DeSantis said Friday at a news conference in Florida.

DeSantis sent two planes carrying 50 illegal migrants to Marthas Vineyard on Wednesday, and on Thursday, Texas governor Greg Abbott sent buses full of illegal migrants to stand outside Vice President Kamala Harriss home in Washington, D.C.

Newsom responded to DeSantiss and Abbotts actions on Thursday by requesting that the DOJ look into kidnapping charges.

What @GovRonDeSantis and @GregAbbott_TX are doing isnt clever, its cruel. Im formally requesting the DOJ begin an immediate investigation into these inhumane efforts to use kids as political pawns. pic.twitter.com/x2sBa06nSw  Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 15, 2022

Newsom said in his letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland that several illegal immigrants who were transported to Marthas Vineyard agreed to fly there on false representations that they would be transported to Boston and would receive expedited access to work authorization.

He also invited DeSantis to debate, claiming the Florida governor only has the need for attention.

Hey [Ron DeSantis] clearly youre struggling, distracted, and busy playing politics with peoples lives. Since you have only one overriding need  attention lets take this up & debate. Ill bring my hair gel. You bring your hairspray. Name the time before Election Day, Newsom tweeted.

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Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker said on Friday that he deployed up to 125 National Guard members in response to the illegal immigrants being sent to the posh vacation destination, and the immigrants were transported away on buses.

More from National Review
More antisemitic flyers are being found on lawns around Gainesville this weekend.

It's the second time in as many months that residents have reported finding bags weighed down by corn kernels with antisemitic and anti-immigrant messaging.

City Commissioner-elect Bryan Eastman said he found one on his lawn in the Oakview neighborhood.

"It's disgusting, and has no place in Gainesville," he wrote on Twitter.

This morning we woke up to find this on our lawn. It was anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant propaganda that was littered across our neighborhood of Oakview late last night. Its disgusting, and has no place in Gainesville. GPD is investigating now to find whoever spread this hate: pic.twitter.com/nLzzINOJtm  Bryan Eastman (@FlaBryan) September 17, 2022

Antisemitic flyers in Gainesville: Gainesville is the latest city around the state to have antisemitic flyers show up at homes

DeSantis flies migrants to Martha's Vineyard: Florida taxpayers paid $615,000 for DeSantis to fly Texas migrants to island

The paper Eastman saw pointed to some members within the Biden administration being Jewish.

"Every single aspect of the Biden administration is Jewish," the flyer said.

There were several variations found around town, taking aim at news media and Disney among others. "Every aspect of Disney child grooming is Jewish," one flyer said.

Gainesville residents are reporting finding antisemitic flyers in their yards Saturday, Sept. 7, 2022.

City Commissioner Harvey Ward also found a different version in his Brywood neighborhood. The flyer appeared to connect dating and pornography sites to some founders or company leaders who are Jewish.

"Every reasonable person condemns this detestable, apparently coordinated action," Ward said. "But on a more insidious level I worry that the coarseness of political conversation in our community and across our nation makes this sort of thing less horrifying than it should be."

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Also in Brywood, resident Roan McNab said he saw several around his home. He called the Gainesville Police Department. In an email to The Gainesville Sun, he suggested police check security cameras.

Last month, residents in the Rosemont neighborhood also called GPD and the FBI's Jacksonville office after receiving similar messaging. One vehicle was picked up by a Ring camera, but GPD would not release the footage, citing its ongoing investigation.

"I am aware that even racists have 1st amendment rights," McNab wrote, "but this kind of behavior is reprehensible, and it is important that a light be cast on this and that it be denounced."

Reports related to antisemitism in Florida have increased in recent years, the Anti-Defamation League has said. It received 190 reports in 2021, up from 127 in 2020 and 91 in 2019.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Antisemitic 'Let's Go Brandon' flyers found on Gainesville lawns
The recovered batteries included both AA and AAA varieties. (Photo: Irish Medical Journal)

The recovered batteries included both AA and AAA varieties. (Photo: Irish Medical Journal)

The terms emergency and AAA typically connote a roadside incident. Certain doctors in Dublin, however, are unlikely to ever associate those terms with anything but a recent surgery  during which they found dozens of batteries in a 66-year-old womans colon and stomach.

A report of the incident, published Thursday in the Irish Medical Journal, detailed the patients arrival at St. Vincents University Hospital, where an X-ray revealed the foreign objects in her body. Miraculously, none were obstructing her gastrointestinal tract, according to Live Science.

Doctors initially decided to wait in hopes that she would pass the batteries out of her body naturally. Though she released five AA batteries in the first week, subsequent X-rays showed that most were still stuck inside  and the woman began experiencing abdominal pain.

After realizing that her distended stomach was hanging above the pubic bone due to the weight of the batteries, surgeons cut into her abdomen and successfully removed 46 of them.

The total number of batteries ingested by the woman was 55. (Photo: Irish Medical Journal)

The total number of batteries ingested by the woman was 55. (Photo: Irish Medical Journal)

Unfortunately for all involved, four additional batteries remained trapped in the colon. As described in the report, doctors milked them into her rectum to remove them from her anus. This brought the total amount of batteries she ingested  both AA and AAA  to a whopping 55.

To the best of our knowledge, this case represents the highest reported number of batteries ingested at a single point in time, the journal article said.

While the incident certainly inspired curious bafflement, the report reminded readers that the ingestion of batteries is a serious, albeit unusual, method of self-harm. Its authors noted that the act can cause severe issues, including mucosal injury, perforation, [and] obstruction.

The potential of cylindrical batteries to result in acute surgical emergencies should not be underestimated, the report stated.

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If youre struggling with an eating disorder, call the National Eating Disorder Association hotline at 1-800-931-2237.

If you or someone you know needs help, dial 988 or call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also get support via text by visiting suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
The special master appointed by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon is directing lawyers for both the Department of Justice and former President Trump to appear in a New York federal courthouse on Sept. 20.

Former veteran chief federal judge Raymond Dearie called both parties to appear at the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse on Sept. 20 at 2:00 p.m. for a "preliminary conference."

Lawyers for both parties are being invited to submit a "proposed agenda items" for discussion by Sept. 19.

Dearie was appointed by Cannon, a Trump appointee, who declined a request by the Department of Justice to lift the temporary prohibition of the department's usage of around 100 classified records which were taken from Mar-a-Lago during the Federal Bureau of Investigation's search on Aug. 8.

NEW YORK JUDGE RAYMOND DEARIE APPOINTED AS SPECIAL MASTER IN TRUMP MAR-A-LAGO CASE

Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters at a rally to support local candidates on Sept. 3, 2022 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The former veteran chief federal judge will review and separate documents that are covered by claims of privilege.

The Justice Department's investigation, which is being delayed by the special master process, is reviewing documents recovered by the FBI during its search of Trump's Florida property.

Dearie was nominated by former President Ronald Reagan in 1986.

Fox News' Louis Casiano and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
El Paso county commissioners on Thursday weighed options for creating a "migrant support services center" while city emergency managers opened a busing hub, as dozens of migrants remained in homeless conditions Downtown.

The U.S. Border Patrol released 1,166 migrants to the street over eight days through Wednesday  a pace of "provisional," or street, releases not seen in El Paso in years. Both the county and city are wrestling with how to prevent an increase in lawful migration through the region from turning into a humanitarian crisis on El Paso streets.

Many of the migrants are arriving from Venezuela. Unlike previous groups, many Venezuelans lack strong family connections in the U.S. or sponsors able to help them financially. The country's economy has collapsed and their currency is all but worthless.

"We have peaks (in migration) that are really difficult sometimes and anomalies, and this anomaly is among the hardest," County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said during an emergency commission meeting Thursday.

Migrants wake up in the early morning after having slept in El PasoOs streets on Sept. 15, 2022. Some migrants are awaiting help from family members in order to contniue their journey inside the U.S. after having petition for asylum and have been released by Customs and Border Protection.

Venezuelan and Nicaraguan families woke up Thursday in the vicinity of the Greyhound bus station. Several said authorities prevented them from pitching the tents that El Pasoans had donated days earlier. There were children, too, sleeping on blankets, but some families had moved to hotels.

While many are moving on quickly to their destinations, others are struggling to contact their sponsors or make travel arrangements and are living in the elements.

The county faces funding challenges as commissioners determine where to house a support services center and how the county would run it, with the goal of stemming a humanitarian crisis. The commissioners are considering new leases, as well as county-owned facilities in the Coliseum area.

There are few ways to fund crisis prevention with federal funding, county Chief Administrator Betsy Keller said; the Federal Emergency Management Agency will typically reimburse a locality months after money is spent on an emergency.

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Keller said her team is working to secure special "advance" FEMA funding to set up a services center that could help recently released migrants get oriented, contact family members and secure travel arrangements to their destinations. Separately, if the county wanted to create a full-blown migrant shelter, the price tag could reach $16 million annually, which would require advance federal funding.

County commissioners are expected to vote Monday on which options they'll pursue.

A woman plays with dogs after U.S. Border Patrol agents lined up migrants before moving them to a secure area underneath the Paisano overpass in El Paso on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022.

Meanwhile, the city has focused its assistance on transportation.

In a guest column published Thursday in the El Paso Times, Deputy City Manager Mario D'Agostino said the Office of Emergency Management has opened a new "Migrant Welcome Center."

"The citys Migrant Welcome Center assists in processing paperwork and providing travel arrangements," D'Agostino said. "The center, which is not a shelter, does help coordinate shelter and travel while providing food, clothing, medical attention, and access to free phone and internet service."

"Migrant families are kept together and are fed and housed at emergency shelter hotels, providing privacy and space for family units," he said. "Hospitality sites offer food and shelter for people traveling alone, ensuring the migrants are safe and cared for while in El Paso."

Migrants receive donations from residents of El Paso on Sept. 15, 2022. Some migrants are awaiting help from family members in order to contniue their journey inside the U.S. after having requested asylum and having been released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The city didn't immediately respond to a request for additional information about the center on Thursday.

The El Paso Times has learned that OEM is accepting 300 migrants per day directly from the Border Patrol at a warehouse-type building in the Northeast, according to two sources with knowledge of the setup who were not authorized to discuss it with the news media. Logistically, the center's services aren't available to those migrants who are being released Downtown.

City-chartered buses are departing from the welcome center site adjacent to a COVID-19 testing center. A security officer stationed at the gate said media wasn't allowed to enter; a sign in the parking lot read "shelter drop off area."

HAPPENING NOW-a unified command meeting is in motion to discuss the increase in migrants in downtown El Paso. Building our alliance with community stakeholders and law enforcement leaders is critical. We will continue to inform on the current influx and how this will be managed. pic.twitter.com/M3E8FYJ70H  Gloria I. Chavez (@USBPChiefEPT) September 14, 2022

In 2018, during the Trump administration, the Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement dropped off hundreds of migrant families on El Paso streets during the Christmas season, without coordinating with local government and NGO leaders. Many residents responded as they have this time around, with food, water, blankets and other support.

Apart from that period, the Border Patrol's El Paso Sector has historically worked hand-in-glove with the nonprofit Annunciation House to release migrants to its network of shelters, rather than to the street.

The Annunciation House network continues to host migrants, but the number of people arriving has outstripped the capacity of the volunteer-run shelter network to host people, especially after Annunciation House closed its largest shelter in El Paso, Casa del Refugiado, in July.

The migrants arriving in El Paso "present unique circumstances," said Border Patrol El Paso Sector spokesman Carlos Rivera.

"In El Paso, CBP is encountering a significant number of Cuban and Venezuelan migrants who have fled the repressive, authoritarian regimes in those countries," he said.

Lauren Villagran can be reached at lvillagran@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @laurenvillagran.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: El Paso County, city deal with humanitarian crisis as migration swells
Border authorities continued to release migrants near the Greyhound bus station in downtown El Paso Wednesday, as the number of Venezuelans and others arriving outpaced the ability of area shelters to temporarily house them.

City residents have donated water bottles, foil-wrapped burritos, clothes, cereal boxes, coolers, blankets and other necessities to the migrants  many of whom are only waiting for a sponsor to purchase a ticket out of town, or for the Border Patrol to release another loved one from custody.

A U.S. Border Patrol spokesman in El Paso said the agency has released about 1,000 people in the past week directly to the street but also is working with area shelters that can provide assistance to those with lawful claims, as well as with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain some of the migrants. Those released to the street have been granted provisional status while they await the next step in their immigration proceedings.

Venezuelans have been fleeing political oppression and severe economic hardship in their country for years, but the exodus has intensified in 2022.

In the first 10 months of fiscal 2022, CBP encountered or apprehended more than 130,000 Venezuelan nationals, up from more than 50,000 Venezuelans encountered or apprehended in fiscal 2021. The majority are turning themselves in to Border Patrol; some are asking for asylum in the U.S.

Venezuelans crossed the Texas border in the Del Rio area in large numbers for months, but their migration pattern has recently shifted to El Paso, where Border Patrol says agents have processed an average of 660 Venezuelans per day.

Here are a few things to know about Venezuelan migration:

Why are people fleeing Venezuela?

Rich with crude oil, Venezuela was once one of the wealthiest countries in Latin America and a magnet for migrants from the region and beyond. It was also a country of deep social and economic inequality, and those conditions helped usher in socialist President Hugo Chavez.

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Before his death in 2013, Chavez spent more than a decade redistributing Venezuela's oil wealth with myriad social programs, according to the Migration Policy Institute. But he also destabilized the economy by nationalizing private companies. His successor, Nicolas Maduro, continued on his predecessor's authoritarian path and disastrous economic policies.

On Wednesday, 38-year-old Venezuelan Joselin Cuicas said she left after inflation got so high that the bolivares she earned as a preschool teacher didn't amount to more than $20 per month. She could barely afford food; she and her daughter were down to one meal a day, she said.

Years ago, "there was gasoline; you could have whatever car you wanted, whatever clothes you wanted, " she said, sitting on a pile of blankets by the Greyhound station. "We had our little house. Now it's worth nothing. The car is worth nothing."

More:Venezuelan migration overwhelming area shelters; families sleeping on El Paso streets

The U.S. granted Venezuelans "temporary protected status," or TPS, because of factors that prevented their safe return to their country, including, "severe economic and political crises ongoing within Venezuela, which have an impact across sectors, including limited access to food, basic services and adequate health care, and the deterioration of the rule of law and protection of human rights."

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas extended TPS in July for Venezuelan migrants present in the U.S. before March 9, 2021. TPS isn't available to those who have crossed the border since.

Why aren't other countries helping?

Actually, they are. More than 6 million Venezuelans have left Venezuela in the past decade.

This graphic shows the number of Venezuelans taken in by other countries in Latin America  especially Colombia and Peru.

More than 1.8 million Venezuelans were living in Colombia at the end of last year, while another 1.3 million were living in Peru.

Some Venezuelan migrants in El Paso told the El Paso Times they faced discrimination in Colombia and Peru and returned to Venezuela only to be labeled "traitors to the homeland" for having left in the first place.

The U.S. also is helping other countries help Venezuelans. During a June Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, the U.S. pledged $314 million of the State Departments Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration for humanitarian and development assistance for refugees and vulnerable migrants across the hemisphere, including humanitarian aid for Venezuelans in 17 countries in the region.

A Catholic nun arrives at the Annunciation House's Casa del Refugiado on Aug. 1, 2022. The shelter was preparing to close its doors in early August 2022.

Is the Title 42 policy still in effect?

The pandemic-era rule that allows border authorities to quickly expel migrants to their countries of origin remains in effect. Still, not all migrants can be subjected to Title 42 expulsion.

The U.S. ended its diplomatic relationship with Venezuela in 2019, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement can't easily return migrants on government flights to Venezuela. Immigrant advocates say some Venezuelans might have strong claims to seek asylum, given the political turbulence in their home country.

Men, women and children crossed the Rio Grande on Wednesday near the border south of El Paso's Chihuahuita neighborhood and presented themselves to Border Patrol agents.

The Border Patrol had established a sort of field processing center in the vicinity. There were portable bathrooms lined up against the border wall, floodlights to allow agents to continue processing people through the night and buses outfitted with computers and Wi-Fi to run background checks in the field.

Anyone with a criminal record was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which also had a bus waiting to take those who would be detained to an immigration detention center.

The Biden administration has tried to end the Title 42 expulsion rule, which was instituted in March 2020 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of the Trump administration's response to COVID-19. But courts have blocked the administration from lifting it.

More:El Paso officials trying to avert humanitarian crisis after migrants dropped Downtown

Why wasn't El Paso prepared for Venezuelan migrants?

El Paso has long relied on the nonprofit Annunciation House to temporarily care for migrants released by the U.S. Border Patrol to pursue lawful immigration status. In July, Annunciation House closed the largest single migrant shelter in the region with space to host roughly 1,500 people.

Although Annunciation House maintains two smaller shelters in El Paso and also organizes a network of church-based shelters in the city and Southern New Mexico, when migrant arrivals top 1,000 per day and daily releases reach the hundreds, the network is unable to accommodate everyone.

The city and county both provide aid to Annunciation House and migrants directly but historically have been reluctant to provide shelter. That might be changing, as the county explores opening a migrant hospitality site.

Venezuelan migrants were sat down in rows by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as hundreds were being held in an area underneath the Loop 375 overpass on the embankment of the Rio Grande on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.

Why are Venezuelan migrants on El Paso streets?

The U.S. Border Patrol's Central Processing Center in El Paso is overcrowded. Designed to hold no more than 1,700 people, including an annex to the original facility, the center has been overcrowded with hundreds more people than its capacity.

Once migrants are processed for provisional release, Border Patrol and ICE typically try to release them to the Annunciation House shelter network. If the network can't accommodate people, the agencies will drop migrants off on the street "near community shelters, homeless shelters and bus stations," according to a Border Patrol statement.

Many migrants move on quickly from El Paso to their destinations in the U.S., thanks to resources and sponsors who pay for their travel arrangements.

Venezuelans are coming with next to nothing; their national currency is all but worthless. And with a much smaller diaspora in the U.S. than other nationalities, Venezuelans don't have an extensive network in the U.S. on which to rely.

This story has been updated.

Lauren Villagran can be reached at lvillagran@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @laurenvillagran.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 5 things to know about Venezuelan migrants, border crisis in El Paso
6thStreet.com, a leading fashion e-commerce destination, has opened the GCC regions first phygital store dedicated to fashion; an innovative tech-led space where online shopping converges with a physical store.

Located in Dubai Hills Mall, the 6thStreet.com store is the future of retail, offering customers an integrated omnichannel experience with the benefits of both online and in-store shopping. It is owned by Apparel Group, the Dubai-headquartered global fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate.

At the launch, Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Teleworking Applications, said: 6thStreet.coms first physical store is a testament to the UAEs leadership in future technologies and a reflection of the countrys status as a global shopping and tourism hub. Packed with pathbreaking artificial intelligence applications, its part of a new generation of smart retail brands boosting traditional industries and simultaneously strengthening the nations digital economy.

Dharmin Ved, Founder and CEO, 6thStreet.com said: After a year-long learning journey, our smarter retail concept is ready to welcome shoppers. We have invested in digital transformation not only to drive top-line growth, but also to streamline efficiencies across the value chain. The 6thStreet.com store offers tangible proof of how AI and Machine Learning can be leveraged to create an exciting new store format as well as to create new opportunities for the retail sector, delivering speed, cost and sustainability benefits. The nurturing ecosystem created by the UAE government allows ambition and innovation to thrive, so it is only fitting that we launched our first phygital store in Dubai.

Customers at the 6thStreet.com store can use tablets to browse, pick and add items, just like they would while shopping online on the app. They can be trialed at the station or in an assigned fitting room, where an interactive screen allows customers to exchange sizes, request assistance and select purchases. Customers can touch and feel products, and enjoy the social aspect of shopping, without facing the challenges of long shipping times, limited inventories in store or waiting in check-out lines.

Located on the ground floor of Dubai Hills Mall, the 7535-sq ft store is fitted with 38 tablets and seven fitting rooms. Customers are assisted through the unique shopping experience by 10 fashion advisors on the floor.

The phygital store holds seven times the inventory of a regular store, with almost every brand the 6thStreet.com app has available in the UAE such as Birkenstock, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Crocs, Levis, Skechers, Adidas, Nike, Dune London, Aldo, Toms and more.

6thStreet.com will continue to push boundaries when it comes to delivering never-before experiences for our customers. We foresee the phygital store as one that will be embraced by the UAEs tech-savvy residents, concluded Dharmin Ved. -TradeArabia News Service
MMA Junkie

The horror! Dr. Priscilla Chan had one of the best errrr only seats in the house at UFC Fight Night 211  and things got a little intense.
Composer Stanley Walden, inside his home in Palm Springs, Calif., on August 1, 2022.

Editor's note: This is the first story in a new monthly series titled "Encores" showcasing local seniors who happen to be acclaimed artists of various mediums.

When you're a world-renowned composer  preparing to celebrate your 90th birthday and a career that has spanned from the 1950s to the 2020s  what do you do for an encore? If you're Stanley Walden, you create new works as your music is honored across two continents.

Early inspiration in 'Fantasia'

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, there was little in Walden's life that was close to the world of music or concerts. Then, in his teens, he saw the Walt Disney film "Fantasia."

"I've run into a lot of other people  artists, painters, writers  who were deeply impressed by that film," he said. "The part that got to me was the creation of the world with the dinosaurs and everything and the music. That's the Stravinsky 'Rite of Spring. That is what made me believe that this is what I wanted to do."

That belief has translated into Walden's music for the theater (musicals, operas, ballets) in America and Europe and the concert stage (Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland and Louisville Orchestras). He has also created chamber music for musical greats including mezzo-soprano Jan DeGaetani, soprano Reri Grist and cellist Joel Krosnick.

Composer Stanley Walden, inside his home in Palm Springs, Calif., on August 1, 2022.

Legendary influences

From the early days of his career, Walden studied, performed with and supported legendary artists in music, theater and dance.

He studied modern dance with Merce Cunningham. He was a pianist/accompanist for dancers, choreographers and directors including Martha Graham, Jerome Robbins, Jose Limon and Daniel Nagrin.

He cites composers Igor Stravinsky and Arnold Schoenberg as important influences as well as his composing partners Jacques Levy and George Tabori.

His military service included performances as solo clarinet with the 7th Army Symphony Orchestra in Europe. He went on to perform as a clarinetist with the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, Contemporary Chamber Ensemble and more.

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During his extensive career, he has received acclaim as a conductor, author, actor (on stage and in film), director and educator. He served on the faculty of The Julliard School at Lincoln Center (Music for Dance); was a guest teacher at Yale University and the Eastman School of Music; and, with his late wife, Barbara, founded the musical/show department at the Berlin Universitat der Kunste (Berlin University of the Arts).

Composer Stanley Walden, inside his home in Palm Springs, Calif., on August 1, 2022.

'The music tells me where it wants to go'

The key to Walden's success was belief. "I knew this is what I wanted," he said. "And I let myself be open to anything."

That led to extraordinary range of music from commissions for classical pieces to writing the scores for Broadway musicals including "Oh! Calcutta!" for which he earned a Grammy Award nomination.

"It was all a challenge," he said. "Whether it was a Broadway show or a symphony orchestra or a piece of chamber music, each one got my full attention."

Walden said it's all about the tools you use.

"I get this germ and then I take this germ apart. And I see what's made of it: the distance between the notes may be the way it wants to go  many different things," he said. "And then I start following it."

He added, "A writer or a playwright starts a play, creates the characters, and then just listens. The character will speak and you write it down. That's how you write. And that's how I write. The music is telling me where it wants to go."

The parents of two sons, Walden and his wife, Barbara, lived in New York and Berlin before moving to Palm Springs permanently in 2007. Barbara Walden died in 2012.

Two years later, Walden met his current partner, Rhonda Rockwell.

"Rhonda says that I go out and find my teachers and find my things," Walden said. "I never went to graduate school. I only have a bachelor's degree. I ended up as a full professor in the Berlin conservatory."

Composer Stanley Walden, inside his home in Palm Springs, Calif., on August 1, 2022.

A singular, elegant and eclectic voice

This fall, Walden's work will be celebrated in the months leading up to his 90th birthday on Dec. 2. Tributes will take place in the United States and Germany: New York City (September), Baltimore (October), Leipzig (November) and Berlin (December).

The New York City concert on Sept. 23 will be part of Bargemusic's "Here and Now" series. "Composer Stanley Walden at 90" will feature soprano Jamie Jordan and pianists Gilbert Kalish and Daniel Schlosberg. The concert will include a world premiere: "Dance of the Macabre Mice."

Jamie Jordan describes Walden's work as elegant and distinctive.

"He has this singular voice," she said. "It can be very serious and nostalgic and tender in one piece. And then, in the next piece, very dark and stormy or resigned."

"I think he's a very unusual, original voice on the American compositional scene," Daniel Schlosberg said. "He has a very unusual background in terms of composing in a modernist way and then delving into the Berlin theater scene for decades and being able to write in such a wide range of styles. He's an eclectic personality with an eclectic musical biography."

Despite Stanley Walden's prolific career, Schlosberg observed that Walden is "in some quarters, kind of a hidden treasure."

Schlosberg added, "We're still discovering his music [and] how amazing it is  how prolific he is  at this stage of his career."

Composer Stanley Walden holds a photograph of himself taken during an acting performance inside his home in Palm Springs, Calif., on August 1, 2022.

When asked what he would like people to know about his music and career, Stanley Walden said he has never thought in those terms.

"I'd like them to feel that it was honestly composed and that it was not paying obedience to any particular system or society," he said. "This is my personal statement and, of course, it won't please everybody. You can't. And I respect that."

Stanley Walden's autobiography, "Telling Time: Reflections on a Life in Music," is dedicated to Rockwell.

In her introduction to the book, Rockwell writes: "Stan has that most indispensable attribute of super-achievers: he doesn't see obstacles to his dreams, to his ideas ... With Stanley Walden, anything is possible."

More info: Stanley Walden

To learn more about the extensive career of Stanley Walden through his autobiography, chronography, audio recordings, video and more, visit stanleywalden.com.

Barbara Kerr is a freelance communication specialist with a passion for writing about people, the arts and special events. Inducted into the Dayton (Ohio) Area Broadcasters Hall of Fame, she is a past chair of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) College of Fellows.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Encores: The singular life and voice of composer Stanley Walden
The Dolmen of Guadalperal, also known as "Spanish Stonehenge" is seen above the water level at the Valdecanas reservoir, on July 28, 2022. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images

Receding water levels due to drought in Europe are unearthing old sites and artifacts.

In August, 47% of Europe was in drought warning conditions, according to the Global Drought Observatory.

Droughts are becoming more frequent and severe in many parts of the world, according to climate reports.

An intense ongoing drought is shrinking, lakes, streams, and reservoirs across Europe. One unexpected side effect: It's revealing long-submerged traces of the past.

Since early 2022, Europe has experienced an extended period of unusually high temperatures and severe lack of rainfall. By August, 47% of the continent was in drought warning conditions, which are marked by a lack of soil moisture and negative effects on vegetation, according to the Global Drought Observatory. Andrea Toreti, a senior researcher at the European Commission's Joint Research Center, told Sky News in August that the drought could be Europe's worst in 500 years.

A growing body of research, including the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, suggests droughts like the one sweeping Europe are becoming more intense as climate change pushes temperatures to new extremes.

From megalithic monuments to ancient bridges, sites and artifacts continue to be unearthed by the 2022 drought in Europe.

A prehistoric 'Spanish Stonehenge' reemerges in a reservoir in Spain

The Dolmen of Guadalperal, which is normally underwater, in Spain's Valdecanas reservoir during a drought, on July 28, 2022. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images

In late July, receding water levels in Spain's Valdecanas reservoir dropped to 28% percent of its capacity, revealing the Dolmen of Guadalperal, dubbed "Spanish Stonehenge," Reuters reported.

"It's a surprise, it's a rare opportunity to be able to access it," Enrique Cedillo, an archaeologist from Madrid's Complutense University, told Reuters. Cedillo wants to study the resurfaced monument before it is once again underwater.

The Dolmen of Guadalperal is made of dozens of megalithic stones is believed to date to 5000 BC. It was discovered by a German archaeologist in 1926 and is normally underwater thanks to the creation of the reservoir in 1963. Since then, it has only become fully visible four times.

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"All my life, people had told me about the dolmen," Angel Castano, president of local cultural association Raices de Peraleda, told Atlas Obscura in 2019, when the monument last emerged due to low water levels. "I had seen parts of it peeking out from the water before, but this is the first time I've seen it in full. It's spectacular because you can appreciate the entire complex for the first time in decades."

Extreme drought conditions unearthed hunger stones etched with warnings

A view of the "hunger stone," which dates back to 1616, revealed by low water levels in the Elbe River, between the Czech Republic and Germany, in 2018. REUTERS

In August, The Miami Herald reported that centuries-old boulders, known as "hunger stones," reappeared as rivers in Europe ran dry due to drought conditions.

One such stone reemerged on the banks of the Elbe River, which begins in the Czech Republic and flows through Germany. The boulder dates back to 1616 and is etched with a warning in German: "Wenn du mich seehst, dann weine"  "If you see me, weep," according to a translation from 2013 study.

In the study, a team of Czech researchers wrote that these boulders were "chiselled with the years of hardship," adding, "the basic inscriptions warn of the consequences of drought."

"It expressed that drought had brought a bad harvest, lack of food, high prices and hunger for poor people," researchers wrote. "Before 1900, the following droughts are commemorated on the stone: 1417, 1616, 1707, 1746, 1790, 1800, 1811, 1830, 1842, 1868, 1892, and 1893."

WWII-era shipwreck and bombs found in Italy's shrinking Po River

A WWII-era barge that reemerged in Italy's Po River, seen on July 27, 2022. Nicola Marfisi/AGF/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Italy's Po River  the country's largest  is facing its worst drought in 70 years. In June, receding water levels due to the intense drought resurfaced a sunken shipwreck of a World War II-era barge. The 160-foot barge, known as the Zibello, transported wood during the World War II, and sank in 1943, reported CBS News.

Unexploded bombs from WWII are seen on dry banks in Italy's Po River, on August 4, 2022. Nicola Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images

In late July, fishermen stumbled on a previously submerged 1,000-pound bomb from World War II along the drought-stricken Italian river, according to Reuters.

"The bomb was found by fishermen on the bank of the River Po due to a decrease in water levels caused by drought," a local official told Reuters. Roughly 3,000 people living nearby were evacuated so the bomb could be safely removed by military experts.

Ancient imperial bridge revealed in Italy's Tiber River

The ruins of an ancient Roman bridge emerged from the river bed of the Tiber River, in Rome, on August 22, 2022. AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia

Severe drought in August also unearthed a bridge reportedly built during Roman Emperor Nero's rule in the first century. The bridge is usually submerged under the waters of Italy's Tiber River.

According to Anthony Majanlahti, a historian, the bridge is believed to have had four piers originally, but two were dismantled in the 19th century. One of the bridge's piers can often been seen during the driest parts of the year. This year, however, two are visible, according to The Associated Press.

"Because the water level of the river is so low now due to widespread drought across Italy, we're able to see a lot more of the piers of the bridge that we usually could," Majanlahti told The Associated Press.

Once-flooded Spanish village is unearthed

Overview of the ancient village of Aceredo that had been submerged in Spain, on February 10, 2022. REUTERS/Miguel Vidal

This spring, a once-submerged village reemerged in Spain after a drought drained a dam on the Spanish-Portuguese border. The village of Aceredo in Spain's northwestern Galicia region was flooded in 1992 to create the Alto Lindoso reservoir, and the recently unveiled ruins are attracting tourists wanting to see the ancient village after decades underwater.

But some locals say it's a concerning sign of what's to come in a warming world.

"It's as if I'm watching a movie. I have a feeling of sadness," Maximino Perez Romero, a 65-year-old from the area, told Reuters. "My feeling is that this is what will happen over the years due to drought and all that, with climate change."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A 26-year-old Everett man pleaded guilty Friday to possession of a stolen firearm after stealing a high-powered rifle from a Seattle Police Department vehicle during the George Floyd protests in downtown Seattle on May 30, 2020, U.S. Attorney Nick Brown announced.

Surveillance images showed Jacob D. Little taking the gun from an SPD vehicle parked outside the downtown Seattle Nordstrom store.

Using surveillance images, photos from the protests and tips from the public, Seattle police were able to link Little to the stolen gun.

During the investigation, law enforcement officials learned that Little had been negotiating the sale of the rifle. According to messages obtained by officials, Little said he had removed the sling, suppressor and red dot, or optical sight, from the gun. Each of those accessories were on the rifle when it was stolen.

Little is set to be sentenced Jan. 6, 2023. Prosecutors and the defense will recommend a sentence of 16 months in prison under the terms of the plea agreement.

Little is also facing charges connected to an unrelated shooting on Aug. 30, 2020. In that case, Little is accused of firing multiple shots when fights broke out at a car show in the parking lot of the Renton Uwajimaya grocery store.

Little was seen firing a gun into the air and a crowd of people, according to court documents. In January 2021, Little was charged was second-degree murder and assault.

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Thanks to the one-two wallop of an extended pandemic-induced shopping spree and the hobbled supply chain, its been hard to get a car for a while nowluxury brands very much included. And while top-tier marques are subject to the same inventory woes as any other sector, with a dearth of everything from wiring harnesses to microchips choking manufacturing flow to a trickle, the most elite automakers face a longer-term problem: How to keep VIP customers happy amid an explosion of global wealth, with the number of potential buyers growing exponentially even as production numbers barely budge. It has become such an issue that some marques cant even take orders, with models at production capacity for years to come.

Artificial scarcity has always been a tightrope to walk in the car world, and careful allocation is precisely how Ferrari, Bugatti, Lamborghini and others keep their models exclusive even as those vehicles become attainable for an increasingly large pool of buyers. But the sheer force of demand has grown to the point where cracks are starting to show, with more collectors wondering why they were left off RSVP lists for invite-only releases and others complaining of arrivistes receiving unearned favoritism.

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Bugatti W16 Mistral

One collector based in the American South, with a warehouse of modern Italian, German and British rolling stock, recalls the bad aftertaste left when Ford unveiled its second-generation GT supercar in 2016, initially announcing a run of just 1,000 vehicles over four years. Ford decided to make social-media influencers the main customers for the early cars, ignoring true enthusiasts like owners of the 2005 Ford GT, he says. And while automakers have long been understandably opaque about their selection processes, qualified customers know when theyve been passed over: Ultimately, a brand should treat its top customers in a way that honors them for their loyalty and money spent.

Recently, a few marques have been more willing to pull back the curtain on their decision-making, if only a little. Bugatti made clear that its new $5 million Mistral roadster would be available only to current Chiron ownersthough, with 500 Chiron examples in the world against the Mistrals announced 99-vehicle cap, that hardly sorted the list. Which VIPs got the tap and which just missed the cut was the subject of tough client discussions, according to Cedric Davy, COO for Bugatti of the Americas. Ultimately, he says, Bugatti settled on a very simple solution: The fairest thing was to just add up the MSRP of the cars ordered by each customer.

Ferrari is at least willing to acknowledge that there is a system in place, even if it wont share details. We give a weight to the relation we have with our clients and then we have a way to calculate, and to give a certain priority whenever we come out with a new product, says Enrico Galliera, chief marketing and commercial officer for Ferrari S.p.A. But we are quite structured in that perspectivewe dont want to have subjective elements of evaluation.

Still, that same Southern collector thinks the Italian brand makes its preferences known even without annunciating them. Its a simple system, he says. You bought almost every model that came out over a span of years, you probably race in the Challenge series, you attend the annual events and you dont flip the cars. If you have the means and are loyal to the brand, you may be rewarded.

The highly sought-after Ford GT

But while some manufacturers decide at the corporate level who gets what, others leave it to the dealers to play Santa, and the results can be extortionary. While many (if not all) elite marques officially discourage selling new vehicles above MSRP, greedy dealerships abound, with some requiring customers to pay a sizable premium for the chance to acquire a particularly sought-after car. One California collector with a hangar full of desirable modern Porsches claims, of the latest 992 Sport Classic, that the majority of [Porsche] dealers got only one allocation, or none at alland those that did ultimately conducted a silent auction among their most well-heeled customers to see who would pay an exorbitant amount, with $200,000 above asking price not unusual. This type of cold bidding war leaves a very bad feeling about the dealerships, to be sure, he says, but it also bleeds to the manufacturer as well. Its not a good situation for anybody.

The lose-lose nature of this overheated moment is a recurring sentiment. Bruce Canepa, of Canepa Motorsports, is the North American distributor for Gordon Murray Automotives debut $3 million T.50 supercar, which sold out its limited production run almost immediately after being unveiled in 2020. We anticipated there were 100 customers for the T.50, but the reality was that more than 200 people wanted one within the first week it was announced, he says, calling it a no-win situation for both sides.

In todays world, there are enthusiasts who are willing and able to buy every special and exotic car made, Canepa says. Carmakers are faced with either building so many cars that theyre not exclusive enough to be ultimately collectible, or not building enough so that would-be clients are left empty-handed. Too much of a good thing, it seems, never leaves quite enough.

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GAFFNEY, S.C. (AP)  Nicholas Skylar Lucas gunfire typically hit the bullet-riddled rusty trash can or fallen satellite dish in his backyard, much to some residents discontent.

But on Saturday, Aug. 27, bullets from the intoxicated 30-year-old mans .45-caliber handgun fatally struck Kesha Luwan Lucille Tate, his 42-year-old neighbor and parent to nine children, according to local authorities.

Lucas now faces a murder charge after crime scene technicians said they disproved his initial claim that the shots ricocheted off the dish. The pristine bullet could not have deflected off the target before reaching Tates chest, officials determined. The only way she could have been struck, according to the local sheriff's office, is if the shooter turned in her direction and intentionally fired.

Over the past two weeks, Tate's family has navigated the sudden reality of life without the mother, niece and sister they say held them together. They are seeking legal changes without the woman they described as their strongest fighter. And they don't want to see Tate join the long list of forgotten gun violence victims.

Songbird Lane lies nearly 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) north of downtown Gaffney, a 12,700-person upstate city whose status as South Carolina's peach capital is marked by a 135-foot (41 meter) water tower resembling the pitted fruit. Farm fields line parts of the drive into town. Most trailers sit on property whose boundaries lack fencing. By neighbors accounts, Songbird Lane was a quiet country street where the mobile homes residents mostly kept to themselves.

At the bond hearing, Lucas said the shooting was a complete accident." He denied intentionally killing Tate.

Im really confused about this whole situation," Lucas said. Ive done all kinds of yard work for this lady and everything.

Tate's own children described a grislier scene inside the trailer.

Their mother had been cooking dinner that summer evening while Lucas and his friends were shooting at targets in his backyard, according to family members who heard her children's account. Standing at her backdoor, less than 50 feet (15 meters) from the fallen satellite dish, Tate asked her neighbor to stop firing his gun.

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Tate pulled back the curtain a few minutes later when Lucas began shooting again.

"When she looked out the window she yelled, said Terry Manning, her brother-in-law, who relayed the children's account to The Associated Press. She'd been shot.

One week later, children's bicycles remained in the front yard. Window panes on the back door were shattered. Manning and Denise Tate, Kesha's sister, cleaned stains off the wall but said they could not rid the carpet of blood.

If that man got to know my sister he would've never killed her," Denise said. "She would've gave him a place to stay, foot to eat, clothes, all of that. Anything he needed, even for his family, she would've helped.

Beyond seeking a guilty charge, the family said gun laws need to change. South Carolina had the country's ninth highest firearm mortality rate in 2020, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They are pushing for a Kesha Tate Target Law that would make it illegal to shoot a firearm in a residential neighborhood.

Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller said his office received no reports of Lucas firing his weapon at that property over the past year. Even if neighbors had complained about the regular gun shots, Mueller said no ordinance exists outlining Lucas' behavior as illegal. The local sheriffs office has been collecting court records from other jurisdictions to determine whether he could legally own a firearm.

Court records show Lucas had previously been convicted in North Carolina of assault and theft. South Carolina state law bars handgun ownership for anyone convicted in any state of burglary, robbery or assault with intent to commit any offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one year," among other such crimes of violence.

The family is also seeking therapy for themselves and the children, who are taking a break from school. Kesha's 4-year-old daughter cant comprehend the tragedy, but Denise said she knows she hasnt seen her mother lately.

Interviews with family, friends and acquaintances revealed a woman committed to her community. She would give you the shirt off her back, said neighbor Latosha McFadden. She was a social butterfly who would make sure you have a good time, said Manning. She could make anyone laugh, said Beverly Wray.

Wray  Kesha's aunt who was known as her mother  recalled her own most recent birthday in February. Kesha bought her a dress, told her to put on her heels and took her out to eat, where she'd planned a surprise party. That's how she is, Wray said.

For Denise, she was the familys concrete.

Denise recalled trips as a pre-teen with her sister to Brannon's Seafood, which had the best peach cobbler in the world. After school, Kesha would buy each of them a slice.

She always made sure I was taken care of. Even as an adult she was always there. She was my backbone, Denise said. So I gotta keep it together and stay strong for these kids and her grandson.

The family all echoed that sentiment: Kesha's commitment to them must be passed forward in caring for her nine surviving children, several of whom have lost their fathers.

Family members emphasized that they want to raise the children between themselves. They don't want them separated in the foster care system. Traleekia Tate, Kesha's oldest daughter, organized a GoFundMe that has raised more than $11,000. Growing up, she said her mother instilled in her that the family would always take care of each other.

I miss her," she said. "I just feel like she built me for this.

___

James Pollard 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.
Macquarie Telecom Group Limited (ASX:MAQ) shareholders have seen the share price descend 16% over the month. But that does not change the realty that the stock's performance has been terrific, over five years. In fact, during that period, the share price climbed 312%. Impressive! So we don't think the recent decline in the share price means its story is a sad one. Of course what matters most is whether the business can improve itself sustainably, thus justifying a higher price. Unfortunately not all shareholders will have held it for the long term, so spare a thought for those caught in the 20% decline over the last twelve months.

While this past week has detracted from the company's five-year return, let's look at the recent trends of the underlying business and see if the gains have been in alignment.

View our latest analysis for Macquarie Telecom Group

To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

Macquarie Telecom Group's earnings per share are down 10% per year, despite strong share price performance over five years.

Essentially, it doesn't seem likely that investors are focused on EPS. Because earnings per share don't seem to match up with the share price, we'll take a look at other metrics instead.

In contrast revenue growth of 6.6% per year is probably viewed as evidence that Macquarie Telecom Group is growing, a real positive. It's quite possible that management are prioritizing revenue growth over EPS growth at the moment.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

If you are thinking of buying or selling Macquarie Telecom Group stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet.

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What About The Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

We'd be remiss not to mention the difference between Macquarie Telecom Group's total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Dividends have been really beneficial for Macquarie Telecom Group shareholders, and that cash payout contributed to why its TSR of 329%, over the last 5 years, is better than the share price return.

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that Macquarie Telecom Group shareholders are down 20% for the year. Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 3.1%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 34% per year over half a decade. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Macquarie Telecom Group (1 makes us a bit uncomfortable) that you should be aware of.

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on AU exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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A former White House aide told the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) sought a pardon from former President Trump over the Department of Justices (DOJ) investigation into sex trafficking allegations against him, The Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the testimony.

Former Trump aide Johnny McEntee said Gaetz told him he had asked former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows for a preemptive pardon, the Post reported. McEntee told the committee that he understood the pardon to be in connection with the DOJ probe.

The Justice Department is investigating allegations that Gaetz paid for sex, paid for women to travel across state lines to have sex and had a sexual relationship with a minor. Gaetz denies the allegations.

The committee previously showed McEntee saying in a videotaped deposition that Gaetz told him he asked Meadows for a pardon during a June hearing.

It also presented testimony from other former Trump aides naming Gaetz as one of several Republican lawmakers who sought pardons from Trump. Gaetz and Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) advocated for a blanket pardon for lawmakers who participated in a December 2020 meeting where efforts to overturn the election were discussed, former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified. When asked by the committee if Gaetz was seeking a pardon, Eric Herschmann, a former Trump White House attorney, responded in a taped deposition that he believed so and that Gaetzs pardon request was for any and all things.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a member of the committee, also presented an email from Brooks in which the Alabama congressman requested presidential pardons for himself, Gaetz, and lawmakers who objected to the Electoral College vote for Arizona and Pennsylvania.

However, McEntees testimony as reported by the Post is the first to indicate that Gaetz sought a pardon in connection with the Justice Departments investigation into the sex trafficking allegations, though there has been speculation.

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The New York Times reported in April 2021 that Gaetz had sought a blanket pardon from Trump in the last weeks of his presidency, noting this came as the congressman was being investigated by the DOJ for allegedly violating sex trafficking laws. Trump denied the allegations that Gaetz had directly asked for a blanket pardon.

Congressman Matt Gaetz discussed pardons for many other people publicly and privately at the end of President Donald Trumps first term, a spokesperson for Gaetz said in a statement. As for himself, President Trump addressed this malicious rumor more than a year ago stating, Congressman Matt Gaetz has never asked me for a pardon. Rep. Gaetz continues to stand by President Trumps statement.

The Jan. 6 committee and Trumps team did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
NEW YORK  Attorney General Merrick Garland addressed the urgent need to overcome the intense polarization in America in an impassioned and at times emotional speech on Saturday.

Garland delivered his remarks after administering the oath of allegiance to 200 new U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony on Ellis Island in New York.

We must not allow the fractures between us to fracture our democracy, Garland said. We are all in this together. We are all Americans.

In the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, Garland choked back tears as he reflected on his own familys immigration story, and the religious persecution that led some of his relatives to seek refuge on Ellis Island early in the 20th century.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland delivers a statement at the U.S. Department of Justice on Aug. 11 in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

He shared the story of his grandmother, one of five children born to a Jewish family in what is now Belarus, who fled religious persecution during World War II. Only three of them made it to the United States, however, including his grandmother. The other two, he said, were killed in the Holocaust.

If not for America, there is little doubt that the same would have happened to my grandmother, Garland said, his voice quivering. But this country took her in. And under the protection of our laws, she was able to live without fear of persecution.

That protection, he continued, is what distinguishes America from so many other countries.

This message, and the welcoming scene at Ellis Island, stood in stark contrast to those seen this week on Marthas Vineyard, and outside Vice President Kamala Harriss residence in Washington, D.C., where migrants (many of them Venezuelan asylum-seekers) found themselves in the middle of a bitter political fight between the Biden administration and Republican governors of Southern border states, who blame what they see as lax immigration policies for the record number of migrants apprehended along the Mexican border this year.

A naturalization ceremony at Ellis Island in New York on Sept. 17. (Reuters/Eduardo Munoz)

The Biden administration also faced criticism from immigration advocates this week, following reports that it is looking to expand its use of Title 42, a Trump-era policy that uses the pandemic as justification to immediately turn away migrants apprehended at the border, even if they may have legitimate claims of asylum.

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Many experts have cited the policy, which the Biden administration has publicly sought to repeal, as a key contributor to the record number of border apprehensions, which include many repeat crossers.

Garlands remarks also come amid an ongoing court battle between the Department of Justice and former President Donald Trump over classified documents that FBI agents seized from Trumps Florida estate last month. The Justice Department, and Garland himself, have been accused by the former president and his allies of playing politics in its ongoing criminal investigation into the possible mishandling of sensitive government documents that were taken from the White House after Trump left office last year.

In recent rulings granting Trump's request to appoint a special master, the federal judge overseeing the case has suggested that it requires different treatment because it involves a former president.

"As a function of Plaintiff's former position as President of the United States, the stigma associated with the subject seizure is in a league of its own," said a Sept. 5 decision from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee. "A future indictment, based to any degree on property that ought to be returned, would result in reputational harm of a decidedly different order of magnitude."

A mother and child in Martha's Vineyard, Mass., on Sept. 15 stand outside the St. Andrew's Parrish House, where migrants were given lunch with food donated by the community. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Cannon also noted in a Sept. 15 ruling that the "principles of equity require the Court to consider the specific context at issue, and that consideration is inherently impacted by the position formerly held by Plaintiff."

Garland, who typically refrains from engaging in politics, did not address either debate, but instead talked about the importance of the rule of law in upholding democracy.

The rule of law means that the law treats each of us alike, he said. There is not one rule for friends, another for foes; one rule for the powerful, another for the powerless; one rule for the rich, another for the poor; or different rules, depending upon ones race or ethnicity or country of origin.

Saturday was the 235th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787, and the Ellis Island event kicked off a week of special naturalization ceremonies around the country orchestrated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to celebrate the connection between the Constitution and citizenship.

Attorney General Merrick Garland swore in 200 new United States citizens at the Ellis Island naturalization ceremony on Saturday. (Credit: Caitlin Dickson/Yahoo News)

Ahead of the ceremony, America the Beautiful played over speakers as citizenship candidates and their loved ones filtered into the Great Hall, where 12 million immigrants before them were once processed upon arriving in the United States. The 200 new citizens sworn in Saturday came from 57 different countries, including Albania, China, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Japan, Lebanon, Moldova, Nepal, Pakistan and Venezuela.

Among them were Joyce Ramdan, who moved to the U.S. from Guyana in 1996. She said she finally decided to join her children and grandchildren in becoming a citizen earlier this year, so that she could have more security and freedom to travel. Ramdan told Yahoo News she was excited and happy to be a citizen, so that I can vote.

People attend a naturalization ceremony at Ellis Island on Saturday. (Reuters/Eduardo Munoz)

Voting was also the reason why Nick Parker, a native of the United Kingdom, decided to become a citizen after 13 years in the United States. Parker told Yahoo News hed driven down with his wife and two daughters to the city from Westchester, N.Y., for the ceremony, and by the time theyd arrived at Ellis Island, it had already been a long morning with a lot of time spent waiting in line.

When asked if he was excited to hear the attorney general speak, Parkers face lit up with surprise.

Oh, I didnt know! I had no idea, he said, adding, We havent really been told a lot.

Thats why theres so many people, he said, taking in the long lines of people around him with a new appreciation. Well, thats super cool.
South Africa: President Ramaphosa meets with the Congressional Black Caucus

President Cyril Ramaphosa has met with the Congressional Black Caucus and anti-apartheid veterans during his visit to the United States.

The meeting formed part of the Presidents official working visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden.

We are extremely grateful that our friends in Congressional Black Caucus and the anti-apartheid veterans have accepted this invitation to meet with us. This meeting brings together the peoples of South Africa and the United States, who were united in the fight against apartheid in South Africa and racial segregation in the US, said President Ramaphosa.

The President who arrived in the US on Thursday, expressed gratitude to the anti-apartheid activists for the significant role they played and continue to play in advocating for the recognition of the sovereign equality of nations.

The voice of the Congressional Black Caucus is as relevant now as it was at the height of the fight against apartheid, putting pressure on countries in conflict to respect international human rights conventions.



The people of Western Sahara and Palestine depend on such support in their fight for self-determination. After our experience of apartheid, we know that self-determination can only be achieved with the support and solidarity of the people of the world, said the President.

He said South Africa remembers that the 1986 Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act was a critical contribution towards the end of apartheid.

He added that the country remains seized with the persistent challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.



We therefore appreciate the continued efforts of our friends in the United States to overcome the debilitating effects of apartheid and colonialism. As they have done with such great effect in the past, members of the Congressional Black Caucus can use their influence to promote policies that advance Africas development agenda.

He said the caucus should hold the US government to account for its implementation of the US Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa, which acknowledges the role of the African continent in global affairs and seeks a partnership among equals.



He expressed concern at the possible implications for the African continent if the Countering Malign Russian Activities Bill were to become US law.



The law could have the unintended consequence of punishing the continent for efforts to advance development and growth. Both the US and Russia are strategic partners for South Africa. As a sovereign country that pursues an independent foreign policy, the Bill seems to punish those who hold independent views.

He told the gathering that in the wake of the devastating social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa is working hard to rebuild its economy.



We have held four South Africa Investment Conferences to mobilise investments that would stimulate economic growth, create jobs and assist with skills training and capacity building, especially for the youth.



We are undertaking far-reaching structural reforms to make our economy more competitive. We are improving the ease of doing business by doing away with red tape and streamlining investment support. We call on the members of the Congressional Black Caucus and anti-apartheid veterans to encourage investment in South Africa and Africa more broadly.

Growth and development

In addition, the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is vital to ensure that progress made over many years to strengthen trade and investment ties between the US and the continent is not lost.

He called on the leaders to help change the narrative about Africa, which seeks to portray the continent as riven by conflict and which gives a false impression that Africa has nothing to offer the rest of the world.



On the contrary, we know that Africa has huge potential for growth and development. The African Continental Free Trade Area will place the economies of Africa on a new trajectory of development and production, he said.

In his address, he said the continents united response to the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that Africa has the will and the means to work together to overcome the greatest challenges.



It is important that Africa should be allowed the space to choose its own partners and should never again find itself as a battleground for influence among the global powers. Instead, we seek to partner with countries from across the world in pursuit of Africas interests.



This includes partnerships on issues such as Africa's just energy transition in accordance with global equity and national circumstances and enabled through international support.



It includes partnerships to develop Africas human capital through education, and innovation.

This is vital to ensuring the continents future stability, security and prosperity. For us, this meeting is an important opportunity to reaffirm the ties of friendship and solidarity that have been forged over decades of common struggle for justice, said President Ramaphosa. SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-09-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A man has been taken into custody after he shot at passing cars Saturday and barricaded himself in a home, according to the Georgetown County Sheriffs Office.

Christopher McLeod, 24, also allegedly fired his rifle at objects in the house, the Saturday news release stated.

No one was injured, officials said.

It is not clear if any other people were inside the house at the time.

Georgetown Police Department requested assistance Saturday morning from the County Sheriffs Office SWAT team. They helped remove McLeod from the Shade Street residence, according to the release.

The team established a perimeter and attempted to get McLeod to safely exit the house before using less-than-lethal means to enter the home.
A Georgia man assaulted another person with a machete at a Waffle House before stealing a motorcycle and leading police on a chase through two counties this week, authorities said.

Zackery Miller, 22, struck a man in the head with a machete in the parking lot of a Waffle House in Dawsonville, Georgia, shortly before 10 p.m. Monday evening, according to Dawson County Sheriff Jeff Johnson.

The victim of the assault did not suffer any injuries, WSB-TV reported.

ATLANTA PUPPIES STOLEN FROM ANIMAL SHELTER, EMPLOYEES SAY THREE DOGS WERE TAKEN

After hitting the man, Miller allegedly stole a motorcycle and led deputies on a high-speed chase through Dawson and Hall counties.

The chase ended after Miller crashed the motorcycle near a church in Hall County.

Deputies searched Miller after the crash and allegedly discovered crushed pills they believe to be alprazolam, as well as three baggies of methamphetamine that contained suspected fentanyl.

Miller sustained injuries in the crash and was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center before he was taken to the Dawson County Detention Center. He is being held without bond.

GEORGIA RAPE SUSPECT BUSTED THANKS TO LOCATION SHARING APP, ALLIGATOR SIGN

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He faces charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, possession of tools for the commission of a crime, fleeing and eluding a police officer and DUI of drugs.

The crash is being investigated by Georgia State Patrol.
A Georgia pair has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a long list of charges for allegedly using stolen identities and fake companies to steal state unemployment benefits.

Federal prosecutors allege that Wayne Lowe and Shanita Daniel stole more than $1,500,000 in unemployment benefit payments from the Georgia Department of Labor.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Daniel and Lowe allegedly set up multiple fake companies.

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler says his office paid out unemployment for the fake companies because the employees were real employees with real social security numbers, all from stolen identities.

This was a very sophisticated attack, Butler said.

The sham companies even correctly filed their quarterly taxes.

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Youre taking advantage of money meant to help the public, and youre abusing that. To me, thats one of the lowest forms of criminal activity out there, Butler told Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Justin Gray.

According to the indictment, the conspirators fraudulently provided to GaDOL the names of company employees using the names and Social Security numbers of persons who had no knowledge of the scheme.

In addition to filing fraudulent claims for benefits in Georgia, Daniel and Lowe allegedly used some of the same stolen identities to submit fraudulent claims for benefits in California.

The defendants share one trait in common  greed, said Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. Their desire for money, power and material items, drove them to perpetrate crimes against our unemployment insurance system and prey upon many individuals within our community, he continued in the statement.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
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The National Archives has still not recovered all the presidential records that should have been turned over at the end of the Trump administration, according to a new letter to Congress from the acting archivist. "We do know that we do not have custody of everything we should," Debra Steidel Wall, acting archivist of the United States, said in her letter to Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., suggesting that former officials had still not turned over electronic messages of official business done on personal accounts. Wall's letter was a response to a Sept. 13 request from Maloney seeking an "urgent review" of "whether presidential records remain unaccounted for and potentially in the possession of the former president."
New Hampshire Republican US Senate nominee Don Bolduc gestures as he is introduced during a debate on September 7, 2022, in Henniker, New Hampshire. AP Photo/Mary Schwalm

Republican congressional nominee Don Bolduc hasn't filed a mandatory personal financial disclosure for 2022.

Bolduc won New Hampshire's Republican primary on Tuesday and faces Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan.

Bolduc's disclosure from 2021 indicated he held no individual stocks and had no debt.

Don Bolduc, an Army veteran and one-time election denier who is also New Hampshire's Republican Senate nominee, is flouting a federal conflict-of-interest and transparency law by failing to submit details about his own finances in 2022, an Insider review of congressional financial filings indicates.

Bolduc, who won in New Hampshire's GOP Senate primary on September 13, will face off against Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan in November. Bolduc, who last submitted a candidate financial disclosure in 2021, has yet to file one for the 2022 calendar year, meaning voters cannot review details about Bolduc's most up-to-date income, investments, employment, and debts.

Bolduc should have submitted his latest disclosure by May 15, according to guidance from the US Senate Select Committee on Ethics. A congressional candidate could face an investigation or fine if they fail to file a statement, though officials rarely pursue such investigations.

Bolduc's campaign did not respond to Insider's requests for comment.

What Bolduc's 2021 disclosure reveals

Bolduc's amended candidate disclosure from 2021 shows that, at the time, Bolduc had no apparent liabilities and debts. The Republican nominee and his spouse reported investments in several mutual funds, but no investments in any individual stocks or bonds.

The disclosure notes that Bolduc made $65,000 in 2021 from his employment with New England College as an associate professor. He also reported being a board member or advisor in several nonprofit organizations.

Former election denier

Prior to winning the Republican nomination for US Senate in New Hampshire, Bolduc vociferously told supporters that he believed the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent.

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"I signed a letter with 120 other generals and admirals saying that Donald Trump won the election and, damn it, I stand by my letter," Bolduc said at a debate. "I'm not switching horses, baby."

On Thursday, two days after securing the GOP nomination, Bolduc switched his tune in an appearance on Fox News.

"I've done a lot of research on this and I've spent the past couple of weeks talking to Granite Staters all over the state from every party, and I have come to the conclusion  and I want to be definitive on this  the election was not stolen," he said on television adding that, "elections have consequences, and, unfortunately, President Biden is the legitimate president of this country."

A halted push to ban congressional stock trading

Insider's "Conflicted Congress" project has found 72 members of Congress in violation of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 with late or missing financial disclosures.

"Conflicted Congress" also found numerous examples of conflicts of interest, where lawmakers' official duties intersected with the personal investments. A report this week from the New York Times counted 97 members of Congress who either personally, or through family members, "bought or sold financial assets over a three-year span in industries that could be affected by their legislative committee work."

Following the initial publication of "Conflicted Congress" in December, lawmakers began to debate in earnest whether to ban themselves and their spouses from buying, selling, or holding individual stocks. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi originally opposed the idea, but later acquiesced after members of Congress from both sides of the aisle sharply criticized her stance.

Members of a House Democratic group working on a draft of the proposed ban initially suggested that a vote on the bill would occur in September. That may yet happen in the House, but Insider reported Thursday that the Senate does not plan to take up a stock-trade ban bill until November at the earliest.

"I'm looking forward to getting this across the finish line, but it's not going to happen before the election," Rep. Jeff Merkley told Insider's Bryan Metzger on Thursday.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Three South Florida men face possible life prison sentences after being accused by federal agents of holding Cuban migrants hostage in a Hialeah stash house in exchange for $15,000 from their loved ones.

The men even threatened to leave the migrants in the middle of the ocean if family or friends didnt come through with the ransom, according to the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the Hialeah Police Department.

A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted Didier Perez Perez, Lester Leyniel Soca Diaz and Yoandy Alonso on several felony charges, including conspiracy to harbor and transport migrants for profit and hostage taking. The latter charge has a maximum penalty of life behind bars.

A judge ordered all three men held in federal detention until their trials.

The migrants were brought by smugglers to the Florida Keys on a speedboat in August. Two of the victims told agents there were about 15 people on the boat.

A friend of one of the victims called the police on Sept. 2, a day after that person was contacted by the men and told the victim would be held captive until the ransom was paid, according to a Sept. 6 FBI complaint filed in federal court.

The friend was told to meet one of the hostage takers at a gas station in Miami-Dade County. There the person was met by a man driving a Slingshot car who was wearing sunglasses and an American flag face mask, according to the complaint.

The man drove the friend to a vacant parking lot, where a white Chevrolet Impala was parked. Inside the car were the victim and two other hostage takers, the complaint states.

The friend told agents there was a firearm in the front seat of the car. The hostage takers said that if the money wasnt paid the next day, they would either leave the victim in the middle of the ocean or return him to Cuba.

After the friend contacted the police, agents had the person make a recorded phone call in which the person offered $5,000 and a gold chain worth $2,000 in lieu of the total $15,000 ransom. The hostage taker agreed, and said they could make the exchange at a Hialeah parking lot.

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That afternoon, the friend and an undercover officer went to the parking lot where the victim, Soca Diaz and Perez Perez were sitting in a Chevy Suburban SUV. The friend opened the door, and one of the men said to get the money, and he would release the victim.

Police and agents then rushed the car, arrested Soca Diaz and Perez Perez and rescued the victim, according to the complaint.

Meanwhile, other agents were staking out the house in Hialeah where the victim reported being held. They saw four people, who turned out to be Cuban migrants, being loaded into a van.

As the van backed out of the driveway and began to head away from the house, cops pulled it over and arrested the driver, Yoandy Alonso, according to the complaint.

The case unfolded as South Florida is experiencing its highest influx of Cuban maritime migration in nearly a decade. Many of the people are coming on makeshift rafts and fishing boats, but many others are being smuggled into the country.

Federal agents arrested two Bradenton men earlier this week on smuggling charges after stopping them at sea off Key Largo transporting 17 people from Cuba.

This is also not the first time in recent months that smugglers have been holding migrants hostage in stash houses for ransom. In August, Homeland Security Investigations agents pulled over a windowless van and found five people from Cuba inside.

The van had just left a stash house in Opa-locka, agents said. Like in this case, the migrants were brought by go-fast boat to the Florida Keys before being taken to the mainland and held for $15,000.

Lawyers representing Soca Diaz did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Michael Mirer, attorney for Perez Perez and Frank Schwartz, attorney for Alonso, declined to comment.
According to the lawsuit, the realtor, Josie Lin, told the family that she reserved authority over who could buy property at the Grand West Condominiums.

The Ra-Amari family had found the perfect condominium building  newly developed in a predominantly-Asian area west of Houston, Texas flourishing with development  but was repeatedly denied the option to purchase units, which they allege in a federal lawsuit was because of their race.

As reported by the Houston Chronicle, James Ra-Amari, his wife Misty Ra-Amari and Mistys sister, Rosemary Afful, who are Black, claim in a lawsuit filed Friday that a real estate agent refused to sell units to the three property investors, telling them we wont be able to get along with each other well, as is heard in an audio recording posted on social media.

According to the lawsuit, the realtor, Josie Lin, told the family that she reserved authority over who could buy property at the Grand West Condominiums in Katy, Texas and was personal friends with all of the owners.

A lawsuit filed in New Orleans on behalf of a woman who alleges that her 14-year-old son was brutalized by police has been greenlighted to move forward by an area judge. (Photo: AdobeStock)

It doesnt have me feeling different about the area as regards to the potential it has to grow, James told the outlet. But it does have me feeling different about transferring my resources to a place that does not seem to want us.

The lawsuit names two real estate brokerages, RE/MAX and EXP Realty, as well as Lin, as defendants. Reached for comment, RE/MAX told the Chronicle that Lin had not worked for the company since December 2021, months before the alleged incident.

Per the report, Lin was surprised to learn of the lawsuit when contacted by the Chronicle, but did not respond to emailed copies of the filing. EXP Realty did not immediately respond to the outlets request.

James, Misty and Rosemary became interested in buying three units at the Grand West after James saw an open house flyer for the building while eating lunch at his usual spot: Jia Kitchen in the Katy Asian Town area, a short drive from where he and Misty live with their four children, per the outlet.

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The filing documents include a flyer billing the Grand West as an option for Chinese and Asian communities in Houston seeking a safe and simple Asian life.

The condos mentioned in the story are not pictured. (Adobe Stock)

James, an investor in other Houston-area properties, along with Misty and Rosemary wanted to purchase one unit to occupy and two to rent. The group was going to pay the asking price in cash, but allege in the lawsuit that they were told on Aug. 20 by Lin: I do not negotiate.

Per the report, the family alleges that despite never declaring any intent to use a loan to purchase the units, Lin told them that Fannie Mae lending [a government-sponsored mortgage finance company] would not be approved

According to the lawsuit, Lin additionally reasoned that she only wanted to sell units to owners aged 55 and older  but when the trio asked if that was the reason for the denials, Lin responded, No, Im not going to sell to you because I have a gut feeling that I would not get along with you.

James told the Chronicle he developed a dark feeling during the exchange, and no longer eats at Jia Kitchen, but intends to challenge the denial as fiercely as possible with Misty and Rosemary to set and example for he and Mistys children.

Theyre looking at their mother and father and thinking, Whatre you going to do about it? James said. No matter how uncomfortable we feel, we arent going to go down without a fight.

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The post Houston-area family files lawsuit after being denied apartment appeared first on TheGrio.
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary's government will submit new laws to parliament next week to end a stand-off with the European Commission and unlock access to EU funds, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff said on Saturday.

Gergely Gulyas said the government would ask parliament to approve the legislation via a fast-track process, with the new laws scheduled to take effect in November.

(Reporting by Gergely Szakacs and Krisztina Than; Editing by Pravin Char)
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, bedridden with illness after he underwent emergency gastrointestinal surgery, reportedly made a public appearance Saturday after he cancelled all meetings.

Khamenei spoke to students in Tehran in person after two weeks of resting due to his deteriorating health. Khamenei, who normally speaks while sitting, addressed the crowd standing, ABC News reported. Irans Tasnim news agency said on Friday that Khamenei was supposed to attend a religious ceremony with university students, according to the Times of Israel.

The Iranian regime has not released any official updates on the leaders condition.

The 83-year-old dictator experienced severe stomach pains and high fever last week, according to the New York Times, which cited four sources familiar with the situation. He was operated on for bowel obstruction at a temporary clinic set up at his house. His office called off public appearances to give him time to recover. Khamenei was treated for and survived prostate cancer in 2014.

One source told the Times that Khamenei was being supervised routinely by a team of doctors. He was in critical condition last week but has improved, the source said.

While the authoritarians health appears to have stabilized for the time being, members of the Iranian government have not paused diplomatic and business activities. For example, Irans President Ebrahim Raisi traveled to Uzbekistan on Friday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. He met with Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday. Raisi is also expected to speak before the UN General Assembly in New York City on Wednesday.

Khameneis medical problems come as President Biden works to strike a new nuclear deal with Iran. Washington and Tehran are reportedly inching closer to an agreement with the European Unions mediation. The deal negotiated as of mid August could grant up to $275 billion in financial benefits to Iran during its first year in effect and $1 trillion by 2030, according to a study conducted by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

More from National Review
TEHARN, Iran (AP)  Iranian police fired tear gas on Saturday to disperse a protest rally in the country's west following the funeral ceremony for a young woman who died while in police custody in Tehran earlier this week, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The police have said that 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained on Tuesday after Iran's so-called morality police" found fault with her headscarf, or hijab, had died of a heart attack. The police have also released closed circuit footage from the police station, which they say shows the moment Amini collapsed. A relative has said she had no history of heart disease.

According to the Fars report, after Amini's funeral in the city of Saqez, about 460 kilometers (280 miles) west of the capital, Tehran, some protesters gathered in front of the governors building, chanting slogans. The report did not elaborate.

After police showed up and fired tear gas, the protesters dispersed. There was no immediate information about any injuries.

Videos posted on social media Saturday purported to show protesters in Saqez chanting anti-government slogans but The Associated Press could not authenticate the videos or confirm the location in the footage.

Amini's death triggered an outcry against the morality police from celebrities and prominent figures on social media. Iran's judiciary launched an investigation into her death.

The headscarf has been compulsory for women in Iran since after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and members of the morality police enforce the strict dress code. The force has been criticized in recent years over its treatment of people, especially young women, and videos uploaded on social media have shown officers forcing women into police vehicles.

Since 2017, after dozens of women publicly took off their headscarves in a wave of protests, authorities have adopted tougher measures.

However, the reformist Etemad Melli political party urged Iran's parliament to cancel the law on the mandatory hijab and suggested President Ebrahim Raisi do away with the morality police.

Story continues

The Kasra hospital in Tehran, where police took Amini after she collapsed and slipped into a coma, said she was brought in without vital signs.

Oscar-winning Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, who rarely reacts publicly to events in Iran, expressed sorrow and called Amini's death in custody a crime.

Iranian hard-liners have called for harsh punishment and even lashes of women who disobey the hijab law, arguing that allowing women to show their hair leads to moral decay and the disintegration of families. The judiciary has in recent years urged people to inform on women who do not wear the hijab.
The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol is eyeing a laundry list of tasks as it seeks to pull together a legislative package to prevent future insurrections.

The committee for months has touted the legislative purpose to its investigation  a key detail as various subpoena recipients have sought to skirt compliance with the panel.

But with the panel staring down a tight end-of-the-year deadline to complete its work, time is dwindling to introduce a package that could range from electoral reforms to enhanced criminal penalties.

We have some minor factual loose ends to wrap up, but then really what we need to do is to make our sweeping legislative recommendations about what needs to be done to fortify America against coups and insurrections and political violence in the future, said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).

We want to strengthen and fortify the electoral system and the right to vote. We want to do what we can to secure the situation of election workers and keep them safe from violence. We want to solidify the states in their determination that private armed militias not operate in the name of the state. You know, we dont have any kind of federal law or policy about private armed militias, Raskin added, saying the last point was a personal interest of his.

Vice Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) alluded to the wide range of legislative options as far back as October when the House was considering a contempt of Congress vote against onetime Trump strategist Stephen Bannon.

She cited Trumps dereliction of duty in watching the riot unfold while doing little if anything to stop it, saying, We are evaluating whether our criminal laws should be enhanced to apply more consequences to this type of behavior.

She also pointed to Trumps call to pressure Georgias secretary of state to find more votes, saying the panel was contemplating enhanced penalties for such actions in general.

Cheney also floated that legislation could address Trumps alleged pressure campaign at the Department of Justice.

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Trumps attempt to reverse President Bidens victory has also prompted the most publicly discussed efforts to reform the Electoral Count Act.

Senate lawmakers introduced legislation that would reform the Electoral Count Act in July. A companion bill was introduced in the House this week by two lawmakers who do not serve on the Jan. 6 committee.

The bill seeks to clarify the role the vice president plays in certifying the results, specifically stating that it is purely ceremonial. The legislation also would raise the bar to successfully challenge a states Electoral College result, from just one House member and one senator from a state to 20 percent of a states congressional delegation.

It also directly targets Trumps fake elector scheme by largely leaving each states governor in charge of submitting electoral certificates to end the risk of any competing electors.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) has her own Electoral Reform Act bill in the works  one she said would go beyond the measures outlined in the Senate legislation.

While she says work on it is being buttoned up, its not clear when it will drop  though its scheduled to go to the House floor next week.

Lawmakers have been more secretive about what legislative measures they might consider beyond reforming the Electoral Count Act.

Youve got to wait on the recommendations and the findings, Chair Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said in response to a question from The Hill.

But they have offered some hints.

Quinta Jurecic, a fellow at the Brooking Institution and a senior editor at Lawfare, said shes seen ties between Cheneys comments on the floor over a year ago and the structure of the hearings.

Theyre definitely really looking at the sort of the criminal law aspect and this question of whether or not Trump personally could be held accountable which I think is consistent with the hearings so far where you saw they were really leaning in on Trumps personal, moral and potentially legal culpability for the insurrection, she said.

Claire Finkelstein, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania specializing in ethics, said there are already laws on the books that could be used to cover some of Trumps behavior.

A call to [Georgia Secretary of State Brad] Raffensperger and anything like that is already illegal. So the idea that we should strengthen laws against interfering with elections on the part of a sitting president  we have all the laws we need. Or, for example, putting executive branch employees under political pressure to support his political campaign. That is a criminal violation of the Hatch Act, she said.

The Hatch Act, which bars coercing federal employees into political activity, has a little-known criminal provision, but it carries just a possible three-year prison sentence.

But the committee could also look at placing more specific limitations of the office of the presidency or clarifying that its occupant is subject to certain criminal penalties.

There is very much an ongoing discussion about whether or not the presidency as a whole really sort of needs to be rethought in wake of the experience with Trump  that he sort of showed how much a bad faith executive can get away with, Jurecic said.

Finkelstein would like to see the panel specifically counter various memos from the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel setting a policy that a sitting president cannot be indicted.

That policy  which is grounded in nothing in the Constitution, and dictated by nothing in existing law, and in fact, in our view, contradicts existing law  is policy only. Its not itself law, she said.

Any such legislation could face a difficult path forward in Congress, but the multiple bipartisan efforts to change the Electoral College Act suggest the more modest reforms stand the best chance for passage.

But Raskin has said he would see such limited action as a failure.

Donald Trump didnt set out to overthrow the Electoral Count Act, he set out to overthrow the election. And the election is far broader than just the Electoral Count Act, he said.

We need to develop a comprehensive approach to guaranteeing voting rights and solidifying the electoral apparatus against coups and insurrections, political violence and electoral sabotage in the future, he added.

If all we did was to say that the vice president does not have the authority to nullify Electoral College votes, then we will not have lived up to this moment, Raskin said.

Mychael Schnell contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
via Fox News

A Fox News segment Friday about violent crime in cities devolved to the point where The Five co-host Jeanine Pirro claimed that New York Mayor Eric Adams was being a pussy on the issue.

The heated panel discussion began by calling attention to a recent tweet by rapper Ice-T advising against wearing much jewelry in Los Angeles because it is just a dangerous place. After several clips aired of armed robberies, Pirro criticized liberal city leaders for the violence.

They came in with this concept of social justice and they ruined it for all of us, she claimed. When the first order of governmentand I know this is a boreis the protection of its citizens, and they dont do it, they need to be voted out of office.

Im going to go after him again: Mayor Eric Adams. Hes a failure, she continued, then addressing the Democrat directly. You talk the talk. You dont walk the walk.

Pirro then claimed Adams doesnt call out Gov. Kathy Hochul. You dont call out the legislature and say change the bail laws, she said. (In fact, it has been reported that Adams has recently been pressuring Hochul on the issue of bail reform by urging stricter changes, something which has also bristled lawmakers in Albany.)

Co-host Geraldo Rivera, a frequent target of and purveyor of criticism on The Five, took issue with Pirros take.

I disagree with that about Mayor Adams, he chimed in. I not only like him, I respect his attempts to reign in violent crime, Rivera replied. Pirro then demanded specifics, shouting, What the hell has he said about Hochul?

All that Rivera could say was that Adams tried to get bail reform, at which point Pirro blurted out: No, hes a pussy!

When he came back to talk about that meeting, this is what he said. He said, I dont want to talk to you about this. He didnt want to talk to us about it because he didnt do anything, Pirro claimed, though which meeting she was referring to is unclear.

In New York, the number of shootings and murders is slightly lower than last year at this time, but other violent crimes are up approximately 35 percent, according to data from the NYPD.

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Chevy Chase was Irwin M. "Fletch" Fletcher in the 1980s, but now Jon Hamm has stepped into the role in Confess, Fletch, with a different kind of comedy and a more modern take on the story by Gregory Mcdonald, collaborating with director/writer Greg Mottola (Adventureland, Keeping Up with the Joneses).

There was an original writer involved, before Jon even came to me, he turned in a draft that was a very funny, great version of Fletch for Chevy Chase, but not really what Jon and I had been talking about, Mottola told Yahoo Canada. So that's when I took over and took more things out of the book, and characters out of the book, and changed the direction of it.

Jon Hamm as Irwin M. 'Fletch' Fletcher in "Confess, Fletch (Robert Clark)

When we first see the title character in Confess, Fletch (the second novel in Mcdonalds series), hes just returned to the U.S. from Italy and finds a dead body as he arrives at his rented townhouse, making him a person of interest to the police.

Fletch, an investigative reporter, has been hired by Italian Angela (Lorenza Izzo) to find her fathers stolen, high-value art. Things escalate when Angela, who quickly becomes romantically involved with Fletch, finds out her father has been kidnapped and a missing painting is being requested as ransom. Essentially, Fletch is working on his own investigation while the police are investigating him, as well.

The film also marks a reunion for Hamm with fellow Mad Men star Jon Slattery, who plays a pessimistic newspaper editor.

John Slattery and Jon Hamm in "Confess, Fletch" (Robert Clark)

Hamms performance is incredibly endearing, and Confess, Fletch really succeeds in differentiating itself from its 1980s movie connection.

I love the original Fletch movie, I love detective movies, Mottola said. I saw the difference between the tone of the books and the Chevy Chase movie so I thought, there is another way to do this.

The daunting thing is that this character is associated only with one actor and it's a very distinctive performance,...a lot of the stuff that Chevy brought to it is not in the book. I thought, well, there's a risk involved in taking on something that people know so well, but I really liked it. I love Jon and the idea of putting Jon in the centre of something like this was really appealing to me Maybe we'll lean into it a different way, play up the genre of detective stories.

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WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 07: (L-R) Greg Mottola and Jon Hamm speak onstage during a special screening of Miramax's "Confess, Fletch" at The West Hollywood EDITION on September 07, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Paramount Worldwide)

If the pressure of following the '80s movie wasnt enough, through his personal relationship with Hamm, famed author Neil Gaiman (The Sandman, Stardust, American Gods), gave notes on the script for Confess, Fletch.

[Jon and I] did work super closely on it and he read all the drafts, we talked about stuff, we would go through all the scenes very carefully, we brought in friends who were funny and smart to read it, and give us notes, Mottola explained.

Neil [Gaiman] happens to love the Fletch bookswe'd let Neil read a draft of it and he was very encouraging, he also gave me some really specific notes that were great, that I used. That's another advantage of working with Jon, a lot of people like him so you reap the benefits of that.

Jon Hamm in "Confess, Fletch" (Robert Clark)

Introducing Fletch to 'influencers'

Another area where Greg Mottola really enhanced the story is adding cultural touchstones that are relevant today.

One of the things I really loved in the Gregory McDonald Fletch novels is there's always some kind of social commentary that he's making, Mottola said. Some of that stuff is very, very funny, but doesn't really feel as relevant to this moment in time.

I tried to find equivalents to that. I have a pet peeve about certain kinds of influencers who are peddling this image of self-actualization, that is all about beauty and living your best life, and dressing gorgeously and eating the right foods, but it requires you to be super rich. So I thought, yeah [that] type of person would bug Fletch and he'd mess with them.

In this particular scene, Fletch meets a home decor influencer, played by Lucy Punch, who is a suspect in the art theft. Her goal as an influencer, as she explains to Fletch, is to "surround [people] with beautiful things." The film doesn't just show Fletch annoyed by this person, but Fletch actually pretends he totally agree with her.

Fletch could have come in there and just sort of lead her into saying dumb things, but I thought, wouldn't it be funny if he goes in there and acts even more shallow and awful than she is? Mottola explained. That's a little bit of satire that I'm trying to sneak in there, or commentary about this moment in time.

Speaking about the possibility of doing more Fletch films, the director said he would love to, but hoping theres enough investment to really develop the story.

I would love to do another one, it'd be great if we had a little more time, a little more money and go a little bit further in development, keep building on this, Mottola said. Maybe make a slightly bolder movie next time, [if we] have the money to do that, we'll see.
AMMAN, Jordan (AP)  Jordanian officials Saturday said they halted rescue efforts at the ruins of a collapsed four-story building after pulling out the 14th and what is believed to be final victim of the disaster.

It wasn't clear what caused the collapse Tuesday of the building in Amman, Jordan's capital. Authorities have arrested the building's owner and two maintenance workers.

At least 10 people were injured, and an infant was rescued from the rubble earlier this week.

Officials said that after recovering the remains of a missing woman from the rubble on Saturday, there were no more reports of missing people. Rescuers will remain at the site until the debris is cleared.

The building was located in Jabal al-Weibdeh, an older district of the Jordanian capital that is popular among wealthier residents and expatriates but also includes some poorer areas.

Jordan is a close Western ally that has long been seen as a bastion of stability in the volatile Middle East.
Sep. 16State District Judge T. Glenn Ellington on Friday dismissed a petition that sought to remove the Republican candidate for attorney general from the November ballot.

Former Bernalillo County Commissioner James Collie filed the petition Sept. 7, arguing Jeremy Gay of Gallup is ineligible to run for attorney general because he hasn't lived in the state long enough.

Ellington tossed the case, in large part because of its timing so close to the election.

"The court finds that the petitioner ... has filed this extraordinary writ at a time that provides a severe disadvantage, both to the party of interest  Mr. Gay  to be able to respond, but more importantly in its motion to the secretary of state to be able to efficiently and, in a coordinated manner, fulfill her obligations to run the upcoming general election," Ellington said.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details.
The Daily Beast

Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/GettyAs Hurricane Ian ravaged south Florida on Thursday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) stood outside the U.S. Capitol at a press conference and made a vow to the victims.Well do anything in our power to help them, McCarthy said, responding to a question from a reporter about the impacts of the hurricane, and Gov. Ron DeSantis ability to help his state recover.As the GOP leader said this, he was flanked by dozens of members of
WASHINGTON  The Department of Justice is asking a federal appeals court to temporarily block a Trump-appointed judges ruling that prevents it from accessing hundreds of pages of classified records seized amid the thousands of pages of government documents taken from the former presidents Mar-a-Lago home.

The district court has entered an unprecedented order enjoining the Executive Branchs use of its own highly classified records in a criminal investigation with direct implications for national security, the Justice Department wrote in its motion Friday.

The Justice Department had previously argued that any delay in its investigation into Donald Trump's handling and retention of government records, including classified records, could result in irreparable harm to the government and the public.

Image: Mar-a-Lago (Joe Raedle / Getty Images file)

On Thursday night, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon denied its request to allow the FBI to continue to use the hundreds of pages of classified records seized from Mar-a-Lago on Aug. 8. She simultaneously appointed senior U.S. District Judge Raymond J. Dearie as a special master, and  in an unprecedented move  gave him authority to make decisions on questions of executive privilege after a request from Trump's team.

The Justice Department on Friday argued that any considerations of claims for return of property or attorney-client and executive privilege were categorically inapplicable to the records bearing classification markings.

Plaintiff has no claim for the return of those records, which belong to the government and were seized in a court-authorized search, the Justice Department wrote.

Although Trump previously suggested he had declassified or designated documents seized from his home as "personal," the Justice Department said he "has never represented that he in fact took either of those steps  much less supported such a representation with competent evidence. The court erred in granting extraordinary relief based on unsubstantiated possibilities."

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The Justice Department also argued that its request for a limited stay wouldnt disrupt the special masters review of other materials and irreparably harms the government by enjoining critical steps of an ongoing criminal investigation and needlessly compelling disclosure of highly sensitive records, including to Plaintiffs counsel.

"The records here are not merely relevant evidence; they are the very objects of the offense," the Justice Department wrote, later adding that the injunction "prohibits the government from accessing the seized records to evaluate whether charges are appropriate."

Dearie issued an order Friday summoning the parties to the federal district courthouse in Brooklyn, where he is based, for a preliminary conference Tuesday.

Cannon previously blocked the government from using the documents seized from Mar-a-Lago for "investigative purposes." The government had asked her to lift her restrictions on a subset of the documents  the hundreds of pages bearing classification markings  because, the Justice Department argued, they "are government property over which the Executive Branch has control and in which Plaintiff has no cognizable property interest." More broadly, the department argued that a special master is unnecessary and would significantly harm important governmental interests, including national security interests.

Dearie was one of two special master candidates proposed by Trump, and the only Trump suggestion that the Justice Department deemed acceptable. Trump's team rejected both of the department's candidates, but would not publicly say why they opposed those two former judges.

The Justice Department signaled last week, ahead of Cannons order appointing the special master Thursday night, that it would appeal the judges ruling broadly.

The Justice Department's investigation grew out of a lengthy back-and-forth with the National Archives and Records Administration over boxes of government records that Trump held on to after he left office, even though the records were supposed to be turned over, under the Presidential Records Act. The National Archives called in the FBI after it found hundreds of pages of classified government records mixed in with some of the records Trump returned in January.

In response to a grand jury subpoena in May, Trump's team turned over some additional classified records and certified in a signed document in June that a "diligent search" turned up no further classified records at Mar-a-Lago. But there were more.

Given the consequences the search could have for the Justice Department, the FBI and the country, Attorney General Merrick Garland "personally approved" the decision to execute the search warrant, which was based on a finding of probable cause that there would be classified national defense information and presidential records at the premises.

Indeed, that's what the Justice Department says was found. More than 11,000 government records were seized during the search, according to a detailed property list, as well as more than a hundred classified documents amounting to hundreds of pages.

The judge who signed off on the search reiterated after it was completed that there was "probable cause that evidence of multiple federal crimes would be found" at Mar-a-Lago, and stood by his decision. The FBI was authorized to seize "evidence of knowing alteration, destruction, or concealment of any government and/or Presidential Records, or any documents with classification markings," and the Justice Department said records were "likely concealed and removed" in the months leading up to the search.

The Mar-a-Lago investigation is still in its early stages, and former Justice Department officials agree that deciding whether to charge a former president is an incredibly high-stakes and complex decision. Trump is also at the center of a massive investigation in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and efforts to block the peaceful transfer of power.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Though recently divorced, Kardashian and West are co-parents to four children. TheStewartofNY/Getty Images

Kanye West talked about co-parenting with Kim Kardashian on Alo Yoga's "Mind Full" podcast.

Kardashian and West share four children: North, 9, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 3.

West shared that he gives Kim "advice," but she still has to raise their kids "80 percent of the time."

Rapper Kanye West talked about co-parenting with Kim Kardashian on Alo Yoga's "Mind Full" podcast. On Friday's episode, the musician discussed his family dynamic with Alo co-founder Danny Harris.

In a lengthy response on West's new private school, the rapper began talking about his children as "future leaders" and revealed that Kardashian does most of the parenting in their relationship.

"Your home is your original church. So, even to this day, I'll still give Kim advice on things that can help, because that's gonna go to the kids. She's still gotta basically 80 percent of the time raise those children."

The former couple began dating in 2012 and were married in 2014. West and Kardashian have four children together, North, 9, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, Psalm, 3. Kardashian filed for divorce from West in February 2021, after almost seven years of marriage.

Representatives for Kardashian and West did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

According to E! News, Kardashian requested joint legal and physical custody of their four children after filing for divorce in February 2021. West also requested joint custody of their children in his official response in April 2021. In March 2021, courts declared Kardashian legally single.

Kim Kardashian with North, Chicago, and Saint West. Gotham/Getty Images

West has been through five attorneys throughout their legal battle, and his latest attorney stepped down in August, according to Billboard. Samantha Spector, West's last attorney exited the case due to "an irreconcilable breakdown" between her and the rapper, via the outlet.

West and Kardashians' financial and custody trial is set for December, according to Rolling Stone.

Since the divorce, West has been vocal about staying in his children's lives and being a present father. He previously called out the Skims founder for her parenting decisions in interviews and on social media.

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In March, West took to Instagram to call himself the "priest of his home," and claim that he was not allowed to see his children. In response Kardashian responded via Instagram comment, "Please stop with this narrative, you were just here this morning picking up the kids for school."

Earlier this year, West went on an Instagram rant claiming that his daughter was being posted on TikTok against his will. Kardashian responded via Instagram story, "Divorce is difficult enough on our children and Kanye's obsession with trying to control and manipulate our situation so negatively and publicly is only causing further pain for all."

Kardashian admitted co-parenting with the rapper was "hard," but she has decided to "take the high road" in their ongoing relationship.

Read the original article on Insider
The Kherson-based VTV+ TV channel is cooperating with the Russian occupation authorities

Read also: Russians flee across Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast on stolen motorboats, says Ukrainian intelligence

There is a local broadcaster in Kherson, the VTV+ company, she said.

Read also: Russia attacks Kherson in false flag, U.S. Senate introduced Russian terrorism bill, and Hungary no longer a democracy

At first we thought that they were acting under duress, but we already realized that they were cooperating with Russia. They are using a Russian satellite and bringing collaborators on the air to give them the opportunity to speak on behalf of Ukrainians.

Herasimyuk said that the National Council is holding field events and recording the work of the media in the occupied territories.

Read also: UN finally reaches liberated villages of Kherson Oblast, distributes 35,000 food kits

The most common information tactic of the Russians is to intimidate the local population from the occupied territories, including Crimea, Herasimyuk said.

In particular, propagandists are spreading messages that upon their return, the Ukrainian authorities will judge people who were under occupation, create filtration camps, and separate families.

Read also: Explosions hit occupied Kherson administration building

Earlier, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian militarys Operational Command South said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had established fire control almost over the entire territory of Kherson Oblast.

On Sept. 12, OC South reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had liberated 13 settlements since the beginning of active operations, bringing more than 500 square kilometers under Ukrainian control.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
STORY: The state funeral on Monday (September 19), to be attended by nearly 100 presidents and heads of government, including those from the United States, France, Australia, Japan, Jamaica and Canada, is likely to be one of the biggest ceremonial events ever held in Britain.

Later on Saturday, King Charles will meet the prime ministers of the 14 other countries where he is head of state.

London's police force has said it will be the biggest security operation it has ever undertaken.
Russias leadership has begun to realize the impossibility of annexing occupied Ukrainian territory

Read also: Xi Jinping skips dinner with Putin, citing COVID-19 policy

Allegedly, Russian dictator Vladimir Putins inner circle does not understand what to do next, since its impossible to hold even fake referendums on joining Russia, in conditions when the Russian army either withdraws from previously captured areas or is on the defensive, Meduza journalists write.

Read also: World must finally understand that Putin is no different from Hitler  Danilov

Sergei Kiriyenko, the Kremlin official seemingly in charge of the occupied territories, is said to be frustrated by this turn of events.

According to one of the Meduzas sources, pseudo-referendums were "an understandable goal", but now contracts with political experts who prepared the sham referendums in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia oblasts are "suspended until spring."

Read also: Putin seeks to avoid blame for Kharkiv defeat and step-up recruitment, ISW report says

Meduzas sources close to the Kremlin note that this happened not only due to the situation at the front, but also to the uncertainty of the Kremlins position on the resumption of negotiations with Ukraine, which were interrupted back in March, the article says.

According to journalists, some members of Russia's Security Council called on Putin to return to negotiations, but their proposals have so far been ignored. At the same time, according to another source, Putins mind has begun to change on the subject of negotiations following Ukraines liberation of Kharkiv Oblast.

Read also: Putin can only be negotiated with on battlefield, Ukrainian FM says

Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said earlier that Russia has repeatedly offered to resume negotiations, but in today's realities, it no longer can dictate any conditions for doing so.

There were public and non-public attempts from various groups of Russian officials, she explained.

Read also: What Russia and Putin's power are built on  NV interview with UK writer Peter Pomerantsev

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Ukraine has never retreated from negotiations. But given the severity of the crimes that Russia has committed on our soil and continues to commit every month, the leverage for negotiations is different from those in February.

At the same time, presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak stressed that for the time being negotiation is not on the agenda, since Moscow is now unable to negotiate.

Read also: Putin claims Russia has lost nothing in war against Ukraine

The Kremlin also understands they shouldn't expect negotiations in the near future, Meduza claims.

Negotiations are unnecessary for Ukraine - they have a victory, said one of the publications sources.

Read also: British MoD names Russias most critical shortages in manning its war against Ukraine

Russia now has a weak negotiating position as its goals have not been achieved. The territory of the DPR has not been taken, and such conditions are unacceptable for Putin, since he would like to maintain control at least over the previously occupied territories of Donbas, and doesnt want to discuss Crimea at all.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
MOSCOW (AP)  The security chiefs of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan sat down for talks Saturday to stop fighting on the border between the two countries that so far has killed at least 24 people and wounded over 100.

The Kyrgyz border service announced the new round of talks as the two ex-Soviet nations traded blame for shelling that resumed Saturday morning after what appeared to be a brief respite overnight.

The fighting, which started Wednesday for no obvious or publicly announced reason, intensified on Friday. Kyrgyzstans Health Ministry said early Saturday that the bodies of 24 people killed in the clashes were delivered to hospitals in the Batken region that borders Tajikistan.

Kyrgyz hospitals and clinics also treated 103 people wounded in the shelling, the ministry said. It wasn't immediately clear whether there were any casualties on Tajikistan's side.

Tajik authorities, however, accused Kyrgyz forces of destroying a mosque and targeting civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings. Tajikistan's security officials also charged that Kyrgyzstan was amassing troops and military equipment near the border in preparation for provocations."

It wasnt immediately clear what prompted the fighting on the tense border between the two former Soviet Central Asian neighbors. An attempt to establish a cease-fire on Friday afternoon quickly failed and artillery shelling resumed later in the day.

Kyrgyzstans Emergencies Ministry said 136,000 people were evacuated from the area engulfed by the fighting.

The border guard chiefs of the two countries met around midnight and agreed to create a joint monitoring group to help end the hostilities.

In 2021, a dispute over water rights and the installation of surveillance cameras by Tajikistan led to clashes near the border that killed at least 55 people.

The presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Sadyr Zhaparov and Emomali Rakhmon, met Friday at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Uzbekistan. According to a statement on Zhaparovs website, the two leaders discussed the border situation and agreed to task the relevant authorities with pulling back troops and stopping the fighting.

Zhaparov said Saturday in an online statement that the issue of disputed borders has always been accompanied with conflicts and casualties.

But, we will not give anyone a single meter of our land, which we inherited from our ancestors, Zhaparov said. We will firmly defend national interests."
Seated next to attorney Gloria Allred in November 2021, script supervisor Mamie Mitchell, left, gets emotional when describing the events on the day of the fatal shooting on the set of the movie "Rust." (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Mamie Mitchell, the script supervisor on the movie "Rust," won't be able to bring the bulk of her complaint against the film's producers over a deadly shooting on the set, a judge ruled Friday.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael E. Whitaker decided two of three claims that Mitchell filed against the producers  assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress  could not proceed, according to court filings.

The decision upholds a similar decision made in July. Mitchell filed a second amended complaint in August. The producers still face a lesser claim of negligence, for which no punitive damages can be sought.

The litigation is being closely watched as one of several civil cases being brought against the producers of the western, where Alec Baldwin accidentally discharged a prop gun that fatally wounded cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.

Baldwin and the producers also have been sued by gaffer Serge Svetnoy and by the Hutchins family in New Mexico.

In his ruling Friday, Whitaker said that Mitchell had to prove that the defendants  Rust Movie Productions, Thomasville Pictures, Ryan Smith and Langley Cheney  knew Baldwin was going to point and fire the loaded weapon toward her, and provided him either substantial assistance or encouragement to do so.

The plaintiffs allegations fail to establish that the producers "knew Baldwin would aim and fire the loaded weapon towards Plaintiff such that they would be jointly liable for his intentional conduct. In fact, Plaintiffs allegations would show the opposite to be true: the only person who knew Baldwin was going to fire the weapon was Baldwin."

Baldwin is also facing claims of assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence in the complaint by Mitchell. A hearing on those claims will be held in November.

"We look forward to being able to proceed with our lawsuit against Alec Baldwin as it relates to intentional causes of action that we've alleged against him specifically," Carlos Hernandez, attorney for Mitchell at law firm Carpenter & Zuckerman, said in a statement.

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The actor and his representatives have previously denied that he acted recklessly, or that he had any knowledge the prop gun was loaded with live ammunition. They've also noted that the responsibility to check the gun rested with the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed.

The Courts ruling has no bearing on Mr. Baldwins separate motion to dismiss the case," Luke Nikas, attorney for Baldwin and partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, said in a statement. "We expect to prevail in this case and look forward to having our day in Court.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Sep. 16CONCORD  Legislators will investigate how the New Hampshire Board of Medicine stacks up against other states for transparency regarding doctor misbehavior in what a committee chairman said would be a "deep dive."

The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee unanimously agreed Friday to set up a subcommittee to "investigate the transparency and the reporting by New Hampshire Board of Medicine" to "compare and contrast our approaches to other states' standards" and to develop a report with recommendations for legislation.

The move comes after the Boston Globe recently reported on Yvon Baribeau, a now-retired heart surgeon at Catholic Medical Center whose cases were connected to at least 20 malpractice settlements in New Hampshire.

"There were no references on the New Hampshire Board of Medicine to this particular individual, but there was extensive reference on the Massachusetts board, and yet we are talking about events that are allegedly taking place in New Hampshire," said chairman Mark Pearson, R-Hampstead.

"Why would Massachusetts have more information than our own state is the trigger here," Pearson said.

According to a Union Leader review, the New Hampshire Board of Medicine reported no malpractice payments made by Baribeau.

The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine, however, listed the dates of 20 payments made in connection with New Hampshire cases dating back to 1999. All but three took place in 2020 or 2021.

CMC this week announced that the Manchester hospital would hire an outside firm "to conduct a thorough, independent review of our clinical oversight and accountability, peer review, and reporting processes to make sure they are the best in the country."

During Friday's hearing, Pearson said there is a separate ongoing legislative review of the state's Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC).

Douglas Osterhoudt, an attorney for OPLC, told the committee that there are 54 professional licensing boards and that legislators are looking at "sort of the structure of everything on the whole."

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Pearson said his subcommittee would take "a deep dive" focused solely on this state's board of medicine.

A reporter's call to the New Hampshire Board of Medicine on Friday was referred to Osterhoudt, who said outside the meeting room that he was not authorized to comment.

Rep. Jeffrey Salloway, D-Lee, said he was carefully avoiding using the doctor cited in the Boston Globe story and wanted to look at the broader issues.

"In order to do this, we require a thoroughly professional subcommittee that is willing to sit through the testimony of the public and the testimony of the professionals then can sort through whether there is a legislative solution required," Salloway said.

Pearson said the subcommittee will focus more broadly.

"It's just compare and contrast and it could well be that there are statutes or laws in New Hampshire that are preventing them from doing this," Pearson said. "This could be an overreaction to the days when too much was disclosed."

CMC spokesperson Lauren Collins-Cline said CMC officials "look forward to a process like this affirming and strengthening best practices and policies. In that spirit, CMC is also having an external review of our systems and processes."

Steve Ahnen, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, said professional licensing boards play a very important role in the state.

Asked in an interview whether New Hampshire should be as transparent as other states, Ahnen said, "There's always a difficult balance relative to patient privacy, one that we certainly all look at very, very cautiously here in New Hampshire. That will be part of the conversation as to where that should fall, and again we'll certainly be part of this conversation."
A fragile power grid in Puerto Rico in the path of Hurricane Fiona has created an island-wide crisis, as the territory's electrical system went completely out of service due to Fiona, Governor Pedro Pierluisi announced.

On Sunday afternoon, a transmission grid knocked out 1.4-million tracked residents of the island, according to PowerOutage.US. Outages were at over 500,000 residents Sunday morning before the territory-wide blackout. Internet outages across the island also spiked as the power went out.

LUMA Energy, the private company that handles the transmission and distribution of electricity in Puerto Rico, stated that full power restoration could take days "due to the magnitude and scope of the blackout," but that the company has the necessary resources to respond to Fiona's effects on the grid.

"The damages that we are seeing are catastrophic," Pierluisi said on Sunday, according to The Associated Press.

Faced with a crisis, Pierluisi received a sign of the island's perilous situation during a press conference on Saturday.

While in the middle of an update about Fiona's impact, the lights unexpectedly went out in the room where Pierluisi's briefing was held. The lights went back on after a brief blackout period, but the electricity mishap was more evidence of a fragile power grid on the island.

Pierluisi and his constituents have been worried about massive power outages for years after the island's power grid was wrecked by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Fiona's path coincides with the 5-year mark since Maria left much of the island in ruins.

As Puerto Ricos governor was briefing the island ahead of Fionas impact the lights went out. The governor has already said LUMA Energy - the private company in charge of transmission & distribution of electricity on the island - is on probation with him. pic.twitter.com/YVEnPPcnZp  David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 17, 2022

Pierluisi stated that LUMA Energy is "on probation" with the governor.

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The lights unexpectedly went out as Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi briefed reporters ahead of Fiona on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022.

A hurricane warning was put into effect for Puerto Rico on Saturday morning, and AccuWeather forecasters warned that strong winds and heavy rains could bring life-threatening conditions to the island. In addition to the high winds that helped lead to widespread power outages, destructive flooding was ongoing as heavy rain fell over the same areas for hours on end.

12 to 24 inches of rain have already fallen over widespread areas on the island, according to the most recent observations. However, localized areas have had confirmed reports of over 24 inches of rain, with more still yet to come.

In total, 24 inches (610 mm) of rainfall is expected in certain areas, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 32 inches (810 mm) not out of the question in spots that receive the heaviest rainfall. Fiona has been rated a 3 for the Caribbean on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes.

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Local authorities in Puerto Rico opened shelters in advance of Fiona, according to The Associated Press, and transferred hundreds of endangered parrots to the shelter. Public beaches, casinos, theaters and museums were closed as residents were urged to remain indoors. Pierluisi stated that $550 million in emergency funds were available for the storm's aftermath, and enough food has been made available to feed 200,000 people three times a day for 20 days.

On Sunday morning, United States President Joseph Biden approved an emergency declaration in Puerto Rico, ordering federal assistance to supplement the response efforts. The action authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate disaster relief efforts on the island.

Elsewhere in Puerto Rico, city hall in Old San Juan on the northern coast of the island was closed down and protected by storm shutters and workers outfitted windows and doors of businesses with storm shutters in preparation of Fiona's arrival. In Loaiza, also on the northern coast of Puerto Rico, and east of San Juan, news photos showed residents boarding up the windows of their homes.

Dr. Gloria Amador, head of a nonprofit health organization in central Puerto Rico, stressed the serious nature of the situation to the AP.

"It's time to activate your emergency plan and contact and help your relatives, especially elderly adults who live alone," Amador told the AP.

Reuters reported Saturday that Fiona was blamed for at least one fatality in the French Caribbean archipelago of Guadeloupe, which is a part of the Leeward Islands. Video footage that surfaced on social media Saturday showed raging floodwaters in city streets there as Fiona pulled away.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app.AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Ting Shen - Pool/Getty Images

Sen. Lindsey Graham said Donald Trump could "kill 50 on our side and it wouldn't matter."

Graham's remarks were recorded in an upcoming book from two journalists, slated for release later this month.

Trump in January 2016 said he could shoot somebody on Fifth Avenue and "wouldn't lose any voters."

Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters that former President Donald Trump could get away with killing Republicans if he wanted to.

"Trump could kill 50 on our side and it wouldn't matter," Graham told journalists Susan Glasser and Peter Baker, whose new book, "The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021," details the exchange. The Independent obtained an advance copy of the book.

Graham's comments are similar to ones Trump made years ago while on the campaign trail. In January 2016 at a campaign rally, Trump said he'd get away with shooting someone right in the middle of New York City.

"They say I have the most loyal people. Did you ever see that?" Trump told his supporters in Sioux Center, Iowa. "Where I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody. And I wouldn't lose any voters, OK? It's like incredible."

Years later, his lawyers defended that remark, saying in a court hearing that he could not be investigated or criminally prosecuted if he did in fact shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue.

At the time, Judge Denny Chin pressed Trump lawyer William Consovoy on the limits of presidential immunity, referencing Trump's remarks about shooting someone.

"Nothing can be done, that's your position?" Chin asked Consovoy, Insider's Sonam Sheth reported.

"That is correct, that is correct," Consovoy replied.

Glasser and Baker's book is slated to come out later this month.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Associated Press

Russell M. Nelson, the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, told members of the faith on Saturday that abuse was a grievous sin that shouldn't be tolerated and would bring down the wrath of God on perpetrators. Let me be perfectly clear: Any kind of abuse of women, children or anyone is an abomination to the Lord, Nelson, who members of the faith believe is a prophet, said in Salt Lake City at a church conference. The AP's investigation found the hotline the church uses for abuse reporting can be misused by its leaders to divert accusations away from law enforcement and toward church attorneys.
A man broke into a Morro Bay home and attacked his ex-girlfriends new boyfriend, punching the man in the face and holding a knife to his throat, according to the Morro Bay Police Department.

Jordan Christopher Graham, 41, entered the residence in the 1000 block of Quintana Road at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said in a news release Friday.

Once in the residence, Graham attacked his former girlfriends new partner  punching the man in the face and demanding money, the release said, resulting in an altercation between the two men.

During the altercation, Graham grabbed a large kitchen knife and held it to the victims throat threatening to kill him, police said in the release. The victim was able to slip out of Grahams hold, but during his escape Graham cut him with the knife, causing a 9-inch laceration on his face which required medical attention.

Graham then left the residence in his vehicle, police said.

Police arrived on the scene after Graham escaped, and the agency issued a warrant for his arrest, the release said.

On Thursday, law enforcement officers found Graham driving in Templeton and arrested him, according to the news release.

Graham was arrested on suspicion of assault causing great bodily injury, making criminal threats, robbery and burglary.

As of 4:30 p.m. Friday, Graham did not appear to be in San Luis Obispo County Jail custody, according to jail records.

The Morro Bay Police Department collaborated with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Offices Gang Task Force to locate and arrest Graham, the release said.
A 19-year-old man was charged Friday for allegedly exposing himself and pushing into two women from behind as they were waiting to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state, U.K. authorities said.

The incident occurred Wednesday in London after one of the women noticed Adio Adeshine jumping the line outside the Houses of Parliament, Sky News reported. She realized that he was getting closer to her before feeling something touching her back and then turned to see that he had allegedly exposed himself.

She later saw Adeshine engaging in similar behavior around another woman before police were called and the man tried to flee into the River Thames, the outlet said.

Adeshine was remanded into custody and charged with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order, according to a statement from Londons Metropolitan Police.

As those present in the queue will have seen, officers were on hand to immediately respond and arrest the man, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said in the statement.

Stewards and police officers in London are present throughout the route to help and support those who are queuing to pay their respects to Her Majesty the Queen. There has been very little crime or other incidents where officers have had to intervene.

Cundy said that by Friday morning, 34 people had been arrested for a range of offences amid the throngs of people waiting to view Elizabeth, who died Sept. 8, PA Media reported.

Watching the crowds was the largest single policing event that the Met Police department has ever undertaken, according to Cundy. More than 10,000 officers are expected to be on duty each day, PA reported.

By Friday, mourners were waiting up to 24 hours to view the queen.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Wilfredo Lee/AP

Billionaire Mark Cuban said Gen Z understands the importance of mental health.

That's why he thinks they will go down as the greatest generation, he told Adam Grant's podcast.

Cuban said Baby Boomers will be regarded as the most "disappointing" generation.

Billionaire Mark Cuban said Gen Z would go down as the "greatest generation" because they take into consideration all factors including the impact on their mental health when making decisions.

"I think that's beautiful and it's very analogous to when I was getting started and technology was just happening or the internet was just happening," the Dallas Mavericks owner told the "Re:Thinking with Adam Grant" podcast.

"Boomers are gonna go down in history as the most disappointing generation ever, from sex, drugs, and rock and roll to what we have today."

The billionaire also said that "zoomers"  those born between 1995 and 2010  like his children valued maintaining "mental health equilibrium".

He added: "I think organizations will have to understand that more and more and more as we go forward. Not only for how you treat your employees, but what your customers expect as well."

Cuban previously told Justin Kan's "The Quest" podcast that zoomers valued digital goods more than any other generation anyone else.

Gen Z has also embraced a new way of working, called "quiet quitting," or putting in the minimum amount of effort in a job to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Gen Xers might have called it "slacking off" or "coasting," while millennials might have said it was "having boundaries."

Listen to the full episode below.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The idyllic island playground of the rich and famous, Marthas Vineyard, has washed its hands in just 44 hours of what local leaders called a "humanitarian crisis" caused by the arrival of 50 migrants flown in from Florida.

The duty of caring for the mostly Venezuelan nationals now falls on the beleaguered backs of the Massachusetts National Guard on the mainland.

The migrants were shipped by bus and ferry to Cape Cod on Friday morning.

MIGRANTS BUSSED FROM MARTHA'S VINEYARD TO US MILITARY BASE, US ATTORNEY SEEKS DOJ INPUT ON RESPONSE

About 55.5% of the homes on Marthas Vineyard are vacation homes  the highest rate in the entire nation, according to a 2019 report by the National Association of Realtors.

One local resident even urged former President Barack Obama to offer up his $12 million Vineyard vacation manse for shelter, according to the New York Post.

But none of those vacation homeowners apparently stepped up to offer shelter to the unexpected visitors.

A Venezuelan migrant is led onto a bus at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, in Edgartown, Massachusetts, on the island of Martha's Vineyard. A group of migrants was flown to the island from Texas earlier this week  and were then transferred to a Cape Cod military base. Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

"Operations ended here at 11 a.m." an officer at the Dukes County Sheriffs Office told Fox News Digital on Friday.

Dukes County includes all six municipalities on Marthas Vineyard.

The Marthas Vineyard migrants were taken by bus on Friday morning and put on an 11 a.m. ferry to the Massachusetts mainland, an official at the administrative office of Dukes County confirmed.

They were transferred to Joint Base Cape Cod, a former Air Force base known locally as Otis Air Base.

Martha's Vineyard residents line up in front of St. Andrew's Parish House on Sept. 15, 2022, to donate food to recently arrived migrants. Two planes of migrants from Venezuela arrived suddenly Wednesday night on Martha's Vineyard. The migrants are now in Cape Cod. Photo by Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Plans call for Gov. Charlie Baker to "activate up to 125 members of the Massachusetts National Guard as part of this relief effort," according to a statement from the governor.

"The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is coordinating efforts among state and local officials to ensure access to food, shelter and essential services for these men, women and children," the statement said.

The migrants arrived at Marthas Vineyard arrived around 3 p.m. Wednesday, sent from Florida by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

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It was part of his effort to force hard-left states far from the border, such as Massachusetts, to share in the burden of dealing with the torrent of migrants who flood border states by the tens of thousands each month.

St. Andrews Church in Edgartown, a former whaling port of stately white churches and now one of the most expensive communities in America, provided care and shelter for the migrants for the past two nights.

On Sept. 15, 2022, students from the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School AP Spanish class helped deliver food to St Andrew's Episcopal Church. Two planes of migrants arrived suddenly on Wednesday night on Martha's Vineyard. The students served as translators for the migrants. Photo by Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Image

"Vineyard community rallies relief effort for stranded migrants," boasted the front-page headline Friday of venerable local newspaper Vineyard Gazette.

"Im proud to be a part of this church," the congregations musician, Charles Rus, told Fox News Digital.

But the problem of caring for the 50 migrants was quickly shipped off island.

Marthas Vineyard is a largely white, wealthy and isolated enclave that has little experience with immigrants, other than summer help.

Foreign-born nannies, typically young women, often find summer work in America caring for the children of the island elite.

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Only 0.5% of the year-round residents of the island were born outside the United States, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. Nationally, about 14% of U.S. residents are foreign born.

Paul Stantel, a tourist from Wisconsin who has been visiting Edgartown, said there is plenty of blame to go around for the crisis.

"Im ashamed of our politicians that I feel are using this as a pawn to prove their point. Were taking on people that deserve help, need help, then were using them this way," said Stantel as he sat in the shade on a sunny, fall-like day wearing a Green Bay Packers ball cap.

"It all begins in Washington when we have two parties who cant compromise."
Investigators exhume the bodies at a mass grave site that could contain over 400 bodies in Izium, Ukraine, on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. (Nicole Tung/The New York Times)

IZIUM, Ukraine  Hundreds of graves had been cut into the sandy soil of a pine forest, isolated and unexamined. A chilly wind blew through the tree branches. Police officers spoke in hushed tones. And newly dug up bodies lay all about on the forest floor.

Just a week after Russian forces fled northeastern Ukraine in a frantic retreat, and days after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy raised the flag over the newly reclaimed city of Izium, Ukrainian investigators on Friday began a painstaking task: documenting the toll on the city of six months under Russian occupation.

They have already found several burial sites. The one in the pine forest, the largest of those, could hold the remains of more than 400 people who died during almost six months of Russian occupation, Ukrainian officials said.

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The identities of many of those buried at that site and the causes of death remain unknown. Nor is it clear how many were civilians and how many were soldiers. But the scale of the gravesite underscored the depth of Ukrainian losses since Russia invaded, an estimated tens of thousands of people around the country. And it recalled the broad evidence of atrocities by Russian soldiers in towns like Bucha, near the capital of Kyiv, investigators said.

In Izium, as in dozens of other towns, villages and cities retaken in Ukraines northern counteroffensive, residents lived and died for months under the authority of Russian troops. Should Ukraines military be able to reclaim more places where Russians were forced into a hasty retreat, more such graves are expected.

Local officials estimate that as many as 1,000 people died in Izium during the occupation, many from a lack of medicine and medical care. The city had a prewar population of some 40,000, although only an estimated 10,000 residents remained during the fighting.

The large burial site in Izium consisted of around 445 individual graves and one mass grave where soldiers appeared to have been buried, officials said. Some had died when a Russian airstrike leveled an apartment building in March, according to residents. Here are my neighbors and friends, said Serhiy Shtanko, 33.

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The individual graves were next to an older cemetery but not on its grounds. Crosses from rough-hewed boards with only a number written on them stood over most of them. The mass grave was marked with a cross saying Seventeen Ukrainian army soldiers.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian parliaments commissioner for human rights, said they had been heaped into a bunch and buried.

Some individual graves bore names and birth and death dates. Flowers had been laid near the burial locations of some of the people whose identities had been determined.

Among the bodies already exhumed Friday were members of one family  a mother, father, daughter and two grandparents  killed in Russian bombardments in the spring, Ukrainian officials said.

Others had died more recently and bore signs of strangulation, said Sergei Bolvinov, the lead investigator for the Kharkiv regional police force.

Russian forces took control of Izium in late March, turning the key railway hub into a military stronghold and staging ground for its assault on eastern Ukraine. They fled last weekend as Ukrainian forces routed the Russians across the northeast and reclaimed thousands of square miles.

Officials invited journalists to witness the exhumation process Friday, to call attention to what they claimed was evidence of more atrocities by Russian soldiers. The whole world should see this place, Lubinets said. For us, it shows the Russians made a crime, and not only a crime, but genocide of the Ukrainian population. In this place we see women and children.

Raisa Derevianko, 65, a retiree who lived across the street from the gravesite, said that the Russians would bring the dead to the forest nearly every night.

We didnt see whom they burying, she said. After the Ukrainian army pushed the Russian forces out, she walked into the forest and found the mass grave. One huge hole was stinking, she said.

Multiple Russian military units and a disorderly mix of mercenaries and military police units rotated through towns and villages during the occupation. Some were more brutal than others, said Ihor Levchenko, a resident of Balakliya, a town northwest of Izium.

Bodies were lying on the streets in the first days after the Russian invasion but were soon cleared. I only saw bodies at the beginning, he said.

The head of the National Police, Ihor Klymenko, said that law enforcement agencies have opened 204 criminal proceedings over the past week related to war crimes that they say were committed by Russian forces. Speaking at a news conference Friday, he said investigators are examining 10 locations in the Kharkiv region where Russians are suspected of torturing Ukrainians.

The investigations hark back to the days in the spring after Russian troops retreated from the area around Kyiv, when journalists and human rights groups uncovered significant evidence of atrocities by Russian forces, including witness testimony, satellite imagery and photos and videos. The Kremlin has denied that its troops committed brutal acts against civilians.

In the northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukrainians fear, Russian troops would have had months to cover up any crimes. The expansiveness of the territory alone poses a significant challenge to Ukrainian prosecutors, who are trying to treat hundreds of villages and towns spread across thousands of square miles as a crime scene.

Beyond that, the task of identifying the dead is difficult, time-consuming and grim. In Bucha, forensics experts have been working since spring but have yet to identify all those killed.

Investigators in Izium wore blue hospital gowns over their uniforms, latex gloves and face masks against the reek. Soldiers assisting them dug with shovels until they reached a body, then gingerly moved away sand around the edges.

Two or three soldiers and police would then climb into the grave to pull the bodies from the dirt.

At one point, they grunted and heaved a desiccated corpse, dressed in a winter jacket and pants, to the surface.

A police investigator unzipped the jacket and searched the pockets for items possibly useful in identifying the victim, finding eye drops, a crumpled piece of paper and a cigarette lighter.

The whole world should see this, Zelenskyy wrote in a Telegram post Friday alongside images of investigators working at the site. He said that among the bodies were children, corpses bearing signs of torture, victims of missile attacks and Ukrainian soldiers.

Russia leaves only death and suffering, Zelenskyy added. Murderers. Torturers. Deprived of everything human. You wont run away. You wont hide. Retribution will be justly dreadful.

An Izium resident named Pavlo, who asked to be identified only by his first name for fear of reprisals, said scores of people died during the initial Russian siege, which destroyed many buildings.

He and other volunteers searched the rubble, he said in a phone interview, finding hundreds of bodies for day after day.

We were putting them in the car, driving to the bank of the river, walking with stretchers over a self-made wooden bridge and then continuing toward the cemetery, Pavlo said.

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When the City of Columbia conducts a project related to streets, bridges, sidewalks, parking infrastructure or the city's bus system, the public works director is tasked with overseeing all aspects of the process.

Nearly a year ago, Dave Nichols retired from the position, and the city instituted a search for a new director.

The city recently settled on three finalists for the position.

The trio met with the public Thursday evening.

Shane Creech

Shane Creech currently works for Columbia Public Works and has served as interim director since Nichols' retirement last October.

Creech wants the department to have better public communication if he is chosen as the department's new director, he said.

Shane Creech, interim Columbia Public Works director, is interviewed Thursday during a meet-and-greet event for finalists vying to become the city's new public works director. The event was held at The Hub, Regional Economic Development Inc.'s entrepreneurial center.

"We need to do a better job of educating the public," he said. "That is everything from the kid the maintenance guys see who come to look at the big trucks, to the citizens we impact with projects or don't understand our (winter plowing schedule)."

Improving public communication also could lead to better recruitment and retention for positions within the department, Creech said.

He wants to see the department adopt a software program other than Microsoft Excel for planning and weighting priorities for projects.

"If we could have some (other) software that would help us with that, we could do a better job of educating people," he said. "It gives you that pie chart, that information that is more easily digestible."

Creech aims to have more preplanning for where roads could go before a business or residential development comes into an area of the city. This could aid the city when it returns to residents with its renewal request of the Capital Improvement Sales Tax in 2025.

"We need to have data-driven reasons why we are doing the roads we are. Education, technology and planning for the future," Creech said.

Creech has 22 years' experience in civil engineering, with 18 of those years in the public sector. He worked for a private engineering consultant firm in Kansas City before transitioning into public service as an engineer at the City of Overland Park, Kansas.

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He returned to Columbia as the manager of design and construction at Boone County Public Works, before joining the city in 2008. He has a bachelor's degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Missouri, and is a registered professional engineer in Missouri and Kansas.

Eric Stevens

Columbia has an opportunity to take its Public Works Department to the next level, Eric Stevens said about what drew him to applying for the position.

Stevens currently lives in the Houston metro area, but has lived all over the country in his work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over his 25 years of experience. He has provided administrative and engineering support services to a variety of municipal governments in both public and private consulting.

Stevens is in the preretirement phase of his career, he said, but that doesn't mean he would only be in the job for one to two years. He has at least 15 more years before retirement, he said, adding he is looking for a place to be back closer to his extended family in Macon.

Eric Stevens, finalist for Columbia Public Works director, chats with the public Thursday during a meet-and-greet event at The Hub, Regional Economic Development Inc.'s entrepreneurial center.

"That has been one of the things on the list, coming back to Missouri," Stevens said. "This looked like it was a good opportunity. It's a great opportunity to bring my skill set."

Stevens holds a master's degree in civil and environmental engineering and a juris doctorate. He is a licensed professional engineer and a certified project management professional.

Having both an engineering and law degree taught Stevens a lot, he said. Engineering has a single solution, whereas with the law there can be a myriad of solutions, he said.

"It has really helped me expand and be inclusive in my decision-making process and also be flexible enough to look at things from other perspectives," he said. "... I want to maintain continuity with what we have (in Columbia) to build trust and then move into identifying ways to make (changes)."

This includes identifying alternate funding sources, such as grants, for major projects.

Martin Gugel

Martin Gugel has worked in Springfield the past seven years as its assistant public works director and has been employed by that city for 15 years.

He is already familiar with the Columbia area, having observed its changes and growth, he said.

Martin Gugel, finalist for Columbia Public Works director, chats with the public Thursday during a meet-and-greet event at The Hub, Regional Economic Development Inc.'s entrepreneurial center.

"Looking at the city's strategic plan and all the information on the projects they have planned, it is really exciting," Gugel said about his interest in the job.

If selected, Gugel plans on having deeper conversations with staff to learn about what projects are happening before anything would change with operations.

"The idea is not to come in and do initial widespread changes, but use my experience and tailor it to what fits Columbia," he said.

Gugel has experience in transportation engineering, traffic engineering, stormwater engineering and construction inspection as aspects of project development.

Gugel received his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the Missouri University of Science & Technology. He is registered as a professional engineer in Missouri and is certified as a professional traffic operations engineer.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Please consider subscribing to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia Public Works director candidates meet community members
Former President Trump won a significant victory over investigators Thursday. If it stands, it will slow to a crawl the probe into how sensitive documents at Mar-a-Lago were handled.

Unless an appeal filed by the government on Friday succeeds, major action in the probe now seems all but certain to be postponed past the midterm elections  by which time Trump might plausibly declare himself a 2024 presidential candidate.

In that scenario, he can be expected to argue with even more gusto that he is being victimized for political reasons by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI. At a recent rally in Pennsylvania, Trump labeled the two organizations vicious monsters.

The win for Trump came when Judge Aileen Cannon announced Thursday that she would appoint Raymond Dearie, a semi-retired judge proposed by Trumps legal team, as a so-called special master in the case that first burst into public view with the Aug. 8 FBI raid on the former presidents Florida club.

Cannon, herself a Trump appointee, favored the former president in other important ways, too.

The typical role of a special master is to evaluate documents seized in a law enforcement raid to see if any might be privileged attorney-client communications  or private and without evidentiary worth.

Cannon held that Dearie could evaluate all the documents seized, including those marked classified, for this purpose. Around 11,000 documents were taken in the raid, with about 100 bearing classified markings.

The government has argued  including in its Friday appeal  that, even if Cannon insists on going ahead with the appointment of a special master, documents with classified markings should be exempt from the process.

In essence, the government asserts that such documents cannot, by their nature, be Trumps personal property and are self-evidently germane to the investigation.

But the Court does not find it appropriate to accept the Governments conclusion on these important and disputed issues without further review by a neutral third party in an expedited and orderly fashion, Cannon wrote.

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Moving forward, there are two other crucial aspects to Cannons latest decision.

First, she has given the special master until Nov. 30 to complete his work, clogging some lines of investigation for at least six weeks.

Second, Cannon held fast to a controversial view.

She asserts that it is possible to pause the use of the seized documents in a criminal probe, pending Dearies review, while at the same time proceeding with a separate process that would evaluate whether national security interests might be threatened.

Media reports have suggested that at least one seized document refers to a foreign nations nuclear capabilities. Several were categorized as TS/SCI, an abbreviation that stands for Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information.

Cannon took an undisguised jab at investigators in her Thursday decision, noting that the main national security jeopardy in the case so far emanates from the unwarranted disclosures [in] leaks to the media after the underlying seizure.

The government had argued that the two strands being probed  national security implications and possible criminality  cannot be separated.

If the DOJ does not prevail in its appeal, legal experts say investigators face significant problems.

Investigators cannot for now use the content of any of the seized documents in interviews with potential witnesses. In practical terms, that would seriously neuter the probe.

How does one investigate issues relating to those documents from an intel standpoint if you still cant share the contents? said Mark Zaid, a D.C.-based attorney who specializes in cases related to national security.

The first question, lets say to a member of staff at Mar-a-Lago, might be, Where did you see the classified document? And they say, Which one? And the answer is, We cant tell you. The FBI runs out of steam within two questions.

Zaid noted, however, that this does not necessarily remove all legal jeopardy faced by Trump or those close to him.

Previous filings have shown that one of the potential crimes being investigated is obstruction.

A case could be made that such a crime had taken place, without reference to the actual contents of the documents.

The chronology of events leading up and including the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago suggests that Trump and the people around him were subpoenaed to produce all documents bearing classified markings and said they had done so, when in fact they had not.

That could be seen as evidence of a crime, regardless of the specifics of what the documents contain.

In the real world, however, the DOJ might be reluctant to indict a former president at that stage when it might otherwise wait for the special masters review to conclude.

Meanwhile, some legal observers are pushing back hard against Cannons decision.

Judge Cannon wasnt simply leaning in Trumps direction but falling at his feet, said Harry Litman, a former U.S. Attorney and Deputy Assistant Attorney General.

Dearie has directed counsel for the respective sides to appear in a federal courthouse in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Tuesday for a preliminary conference.

Complicating matters further, Cannon has permitted Dearie to evaluate the documents for whether Trump might justifiably exert executive privilege  not merely attorney-client privilege  over any of them.

The nuances of the legal arguments dont disguise the underlying realities.

A Trump-appointed judge has placed a significant speed-bump in the way of the investigation.

The obstacle may be cleared on appeal.

If it is not, prosecutors face a frustratingly slow road ahead.

The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
If youre someone who considers themself a foodie (and I totally am), chances are there was a moment in the last few years when you had The Awakening. It may have been when the waiter was describing the veal marrow with beat foam served with baby lettuces from New Zealand. It may have been when you were eating the red snapper that was cooked halfway through, like a rare steak, and you thought, I love sushi, I love cooked fish, but Im not sure this is really the best of both worlds. It may have been when you saw the bill.

Whatever the trigger, that was the moment you looked up from your plate and realized that high-end foodie culture has become a serious annoyance. Its gotten too fussy, too pricey, too full of itself, too not filling (of yourself), too avant-garde and conceptual, too tied to The Salvation of the Planet, too much of an ordeal. Did I mention too pricey? It used to be that if you wanted to ridicule culinary mania, you mocked someone like Guy Fieri. But he has risen from the ashes of infamy to a kind of born-again respectability (and yes, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives was always a great show). Now, if you want to ridicule culinary mania, the most natural targets are restaurants like The French Laundry in Napa Valley or Bros in Southern Italy, places where the 12-course tasting menu can inspire you to think, as one blogger put it, that there was nothing even close to an actual meal served.

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Thats the foodie culture The Menu takes on and skewers, slicing and dicing it with a hilariously shocking thriller zest. Most of it is set inside the metallic contours of an exalted designer restaurant, a temple of haute cuisine called Hawthorne, thats special enough to be located on its own island  Hawthorne Island, a 12-acre farm-to-table destination where the wealthy, the famous, and the pretentious pay $1,250 a head to sample the ever-changing tasting menu assembled by Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). Hes a dour guru of cuisine whos at once a self-inflated artist, a drill sergeant to his army of cooks (who labor just beyond the diners in an open kitchen), and an aggro foodie cult leader, introducing each course with a thunderous hand clap and a monologue that explains its significance. Do not eat, he says to the diners. Taste. But the exhortation to taste without eating is a chefs form of narcissism. Hes such a legend in his own mind that hes forgotten what food is for.

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The Menu is a black comedy, but one played close to the bone. And it is a thriller, because after a while whats being served to the diners segues from pretentious to dangerous. Even the danger becomes a form of snobbery: This is how much the food matters. Yet the tasty joke of The Menu is that the food doesnt matter at all. The food is an abstraction, an idea, all generated to fulfill some beyond-the-beyond notion of perfection that has little to do with sustenance or pleasure and everything to do with the vanity of those who are creating the food and those who are consuming it.

The latter, in this case, are an ensemble of diner victims as brimming with theatrical flaws as the characters in a Knives Out movie. Thats why the knives are out for them. Theyre getting what they deserve just for coming to this restaurant, for buying into the dream that this is the meal theyve earned, because thats how cool and prosperous and elite they are.

Tyler (Nichols Hoult), a devoted foodie geek, already knows hes going to love everything thats served. He had brought along a date, Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy), who is not nearly as into it  in fact, she turns into the audiences cynically levelheaded, ordinary-person representative who sees through all the puffery on display. Lillian (Janet McTeer), a food critic, prides herself on writing the kinds of reviews that close restaurants, so we know shes going to get her just deserts. Theres also a trio of tech bros (Arturo Castro, Rob Yang, and Mark St. Cyr) who, between the three of them, incarnate every flavor of obnoxious. And theres a well-liked but fading movie star, played by John Leguizamo, along with his assistant (Aimee Carrero), whos using the dinner as a pretext to part ways with him.

The Menu is divided into courses, with each dish, and its ingredients, listed on screen, and for a while the movie is content to satirize the food. The first dish features foam (a tipoff that its not going to melt in your mouth so much as evaporate before you can enjoy it). And thats the down-to-earth dish. Each succeeding one represents more and more of a deconstruction of food as we know it. Chef Slowik is a mad scientist of gastronomy who has reduced the very essence of cooking to a glorified lab experiment. The diners are his guinea pigs, which may be why he harbors a barely disguised contempt for them. As it turns out, the menu he has masterminded is meticulously arranged for all of them to get their just deserts, as if this were the Michelin Star version of Saw.

The director, Mark Mylod, is a British veteran of television whos got wicked chops (he directed 13 episodes of Succession) and shows them off here. His staging is sharp, elegant, ice-cold in the best way. And the script, by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy (veterans of Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and the Onion TV series), never stops humming with observation, even as it veers into an over-the-top realm, sauced with blood, that turns the movie into a squirmfest version of theater of the absurd.

All the actors are fun, but the two lead actors (sorry, I cant resist) are so good theyre delicious. Ralph Fiennes plays the art chef from hell as a high fascist of snobbery, as if his mission  to make food thats to be savored but is somehow too great to eat  were exalting him and tormenting him at the same time. And Anya Taylor-Joy, as the customer whos got his number, cuts through it all with a sparkle that grows more and more contemptuous, as she puts together the big picture of whats going on: that the decadent aristocratic superiority of it all is the whole point. The grand finale is bitingly funny, as Chef Slowik deconstructs the ultimate junk food  the smore, a fucking monstrosity that will cleanse everything with its fire. The Menu says that the trouble with what high-end cuisine has evolved to is that its grown too far apart from the low end, leaving nothing in between. No matter how divine the food is, you wind up starving.

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merrill lynch vs charles schwab

Opening an investment account can be a daunting task. Researching fee structures, account types and product features take time and can be perplexing. Plus, with so many companies offering investment services, it can be tough to know if youre making a wise decision. Fortunately, this guide breaks down two major investment companies: Merrill Lynch and Charles Schwab. If youre hoping for help in automating your investments, you may want to work with a financial advisor instead.

Overview of Merrill Lynch vs. Charles Schwab

Merrill Lynch and Charles Schwab are giant financial companies offering clients investment services. Each has different features and advantages, so your financial circumstances will determine which ones services are best for you.

Schwab, also known as Charles Schwab, unites a range of financial services under one roof. It has no trade or account minimums for its investment funds. Plus, Schwab clients can invest in actively and passively managed funds. In addition, investors can use a hi-tech robo-advisor tool to automate their investments.

Schwab recently acquired TD Ameritrade, enhancing its services for clients wanting to trade international currencies. By 2023, it will fully assimilate TD Ameritrades functions into its platform. Schwab currently manages about $8 trillion in customer assets.

Merrill Lynch is an investing service operating under Bank of Americas ownership. It offers three investment services: Merrill Edge Self-Directed, Merrill Guided Investing and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Each service has incrementally higher fees and investment minimums and more sophisticated investing tools. It currently manages about $2.75 trillion in assets.

Merrill Lynch vs. Charles Schwab: Fees

One of the ways major brokerage platforms compete is by lowering fees. Merrill Lynch and Schwab are no exception. Here is a breakdown of the major fees for both investment platforms so that you can compare the aspect of the tool you want to use the most.

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Charles Schwab Fees

Schwab takes no commissions for online stock, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and option transactions. Plus, it charges nothing for trading mutual funds or bonds. However, it charges $0.65 per options contract and $2.25 per futures contract. Broker-assisted trades cost $25 and contacting customer service is free.

In addition, investors with less cash can purchase partial shares of stock indexes for $5 apiece. Investors transferring assets out of their accounts will pay $15 to $25. Schwabs robo-advisor accounts have a $5,000 minimum with no fees. Investors with $25,000 can open an Intelligent Portfolio Premium account for $300 plus a $30 monthly advisory fee. This account blends robo-advising and certified financial planner services.

Schwabs margin rates range from 10.575% for loans under $25,000 to 8.825% for loans of $250,000 to $499,999. Merrill Lynch does not publicize specific margin rates, requiring customers to inquire about current rates. They base your margin rate on your debt load, the base lending rate and your assets with Merrill Lynch and Bank of America.

Merrill Lynch Fees

Merrill Edge Self-Directed is Merrill Lynchs basic investing account. It charges no commissions for online stock, ETFs and options trades. No minimum is necessary to get started. Options trades have a $0.65 contract fee and asset sales incur fees of $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of assets. Typically, broker-assisted trades cost $19.95 to $39.95, depending on the asset type. Various fees apply to clients holding ETFs. Contacting customer service is free.

Merrill Guided Investing is for investors able to meet a higher minimum requirement. Guided Investing clients can open an account if they have $1,000 to invest. They will experience annual fees of 0.45% of assets managed plus the fees mentioned above. Investors with $20,000 can access a Guided Investing account with personal financial advisory services and will pay fees of 0.85% of assets managed plus the fees mentioned above.

Lastly, Merrill Lynch offers their Wealth Management account for clients with $250,000 or more. Wealth Management customers can access a group of advisors to create a thorough financial plan. Because the assets managed are so substantial, fees vary based on client needs.

Merrill Lynch vs. Charles Schwab: Services and Features

merrill lynch vs charles schwab

Both companies offer a range of services, including individual and joint brokerage accounts, 401(k)s, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), 529 college saving plans and custodial accounts. Additionally, both companies offer banking services, as Bank of America owns and operates Merrill Lynch, while Schwab banking in its suite of products.

Charles Schwab Services and Features

Clients looking for a robo-advisor can use Schwabs Intelligent Portfolios, which provide automated investing services and tax-loss harvesting. Also, if you have at least $25,000 to invest, you can access the Intelligent Portfolio Premium service to receive help from a certified financial planner.

For client education, Schwab has a daily Q&A stream Monday through Friday for all investing topics. The company aims to present first-rate research to its customers. It has a library of free financial education resources as well. Plus, clients can speak with an investment professional 24 hours a day, every day of the year via phone.

Merrill Lynch Services and Features

Merrill Lynch has human financial advisors that directly interact with clients for a fee. While they dont offer robo-advised investment accounts, they offer hybrid accounts that blend automated investing tools and oversight from investment professionals. However, these features dont apply to the Merrill Edge Self-Directed account, a no-frills investment tool that places control in the clients hands.

Merrill Guided Investing clients may receive fee reductions for Bank of America Preferred Rewards bank accounts. In addition, theyll receive guidance for financial planning and investment strategy.

Merrill Lynch customers cannot trade cryptocurrency or access the foreign currencies marketplace. Additionally, its customers cant access fractional shares.

All Merrill Lynch customers can access investment education videos and resources for free. Their resources cater to all knowledge levels and cover expansive topics. Finally, Merrill Lynchs customer service is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Merrill Lynch vs. Schwab: Online and Mobile Experience

Both companies apps have favorable ratings, but customer feedback contains numerous complaints. Schwab sometimes can overwhelm the average user with data. However, it offers an intuitive interface on mobile and desktop. That said, active traders will probably like the Schwab Street Smart desktop version because the mobile version lacks certain features. Schwab Mobile has a 4.8-star rating on the Apple store and 3.7 stars on Google Play. On the other hand, Schwabs Street Smart mobile app has 1.5 stars on the Apple store and 2.2 stars on Google Play.

Merrill Lynch has two mobile apps as well: the Merrill Edge app for Edge clients and MyMerrill for Guided Investing and Wealth Management members. Edge app users praise its ease of use and availability of investment research. It holds a 4.6-star rating on the Apple store and 4 stars on Google Play.

MyMerrill users give similar feedback and emphasize its streamlined nature, especially for Bank of America customers. The app has a 4.7-star rating on the Apple Store and 4 stars on Google Play.

Who Should Use Which Investment Platform?

Merrill Lynch and Schwab both offer low-fee, accessible investment options for investors. As a result, novice investors prioritizing inexpensive investing could be satisfied opening an account with either company.

However, the companies diverge from that point. Investors who want to use a robo-advisor are more likely to go with Schwab, as Merrill Lynch does not offer a pure robo-advisor option. Additionally, investors who want to dive deep into the data may prefer Schwab, which provides additional investing tools and analysis through its Street Smart platform.

On the other hand, wealthier investors who prefer white-glove treatment may be drawn to Merrill Lynchs services. Its Guided Investing and Wealth Management products provide a dedicated financial advisor who can help you create a financial plan and invest accordingly.

The Bottom Line

merrill lynch vs charles schwab

Merrill Lynch and Schwab are significant players in the individual investing market. Both firms offer robust services, from bank accounts and IRAs to college funds, and charge minimal fees. In addition, their mobile apps are generally easy to use. Investing with either company will help you make gains without suffering large fees. That said, investors with more money may receive more individualized services from Merrill Lynch, while investors who want to use market research or robo-advisors might prefer Schwab.

Investing Tips

Want financial advice without being tied to an enormous company? An independent financial advisor can provide guidance and help with investing. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesnt have to be hard. SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Investing for retirement is essential. However, you have numerous options for investment accounts. If youre not sure about retirement accounts, use this guide to determine which type of retirement account you should open.

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About 50 migrants were flown to Martha's Vineyard on Wednesday, dropped off at the airport with no notice.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has taken credit for the move, saying he wanted to relocate the migrants to liberal-leaning areas amid an effort to pressure President Joe Biden on issues at the U.S. Mexico border and federal immigration policy.

The migrants, largely from Venezuela, were picked up in Texas after crossing the border. They were given shelter in a church on the Vineyard and have since voluntarily moved to Joint Base Cape Cod.

Here's the latest:

Bourne school leaders say they are prepared for migrant students from Joint Base Cape Cod

Bourne Public Schools Superintendent Kerri Anne Quinlan-Zhou said Monday that the district's administrative team has been in contact with representatives from Joint Base Cape Cod regarding the migrant children.

"While no final decisions have been made regarding the status of the children, the Bourne Public Schools are ready, willing and able to provide a public school education to these children should the need arise," Quinlan-Zhou said in an email.

Bourne schools: Ready to welcome children of migrants staying on Joint Base Cape Cod

Bourne Public Schools Superintendent Kerri Anne Quinlan-Zhou

After they were unexpectedly dropped off on Martha's Vineyard on Sept. 14, the 50 or so migrants  mostly from Venezuela  were given the opportunity to move to the base, which is better equipped to house them and help with the next steps in the immigration process, according to state officials.

It is unknown how many children there are among the group.

Since the housing on the base is within the borders of Bourne, the town's school system provides education to families living there. And there is also precedent for schooling displaced children on the base.

"We educate children of military families each year in our school buildings, and have also taken in refugee students in the past including, as an example, students displaced from Hurricane Katrina," Quinlan-Zhou said. "These students are educated in our school buildings as members of our school community."

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The school system's relationship with Joint Base Cape Cod "is extremely positive, and we are familiar with the process of collaborating with families residing there," Quinlan-Zhou said.

During the 2021-2022 school year, the school system enrolled 111 students from the base compared with 179 students during the 2017-2018 school year.

The school system is prepared to assist children whose first language is not English, Quinlan-Zhou said.

How to help: Want to make a donation for migrants on Cape Cod military base?

Waquoit Congregational Church provides translators as next steps are fleshed out

Waquoit Congregational Church members have been at Joint Base Cape Cod since Friday when the 50 migrants who arrived on Martha's Vineyard unexpectedly last Wednesday were brought to the base for longer-term accommodations.

The church, in Falmouth, has brought 10 or 12 Spanish-speaking members of the community to help with translation for the people housed at the base, many of whom don't speak English, the Rev. Nell Fields of Waquoit Congregational said.

The Rev. Nell Fields is pastor of the Waquoit Congregational Church in Falmouth. The church is bringing Spanish-speaking community members to Joint Base Cape Cod to help migrants communicate their needs and their stories, Fields said.

"We want our guests to know we welcome them," Fields said in a phone interview with the Times.

Alongside translating for the professionals working with the migrants, volunteers from the church have been helping address other basic needs. On Friday, some of the men housed at the base said they were looking for a basketball hoop  by Saturday, Fields was able to get one for them.

"Our translators have been translating for the professionals working with the guests, including lawyers and medical professionals, but we also want to help with basic needs. We want to hear from them, to hear their stories," she said.

'We are here to help': Cape groups ready to support Mass. agencies assisting migrants

The situation is still new for everyone at the base, migrants and volunteers alike, Fields said. It is unclear what the next steps are specifically for the 50 men, women and children there, but the main focus has been on providing legal assistance and allowing the migrants to rest.

"We make the road by walking, were doing these next steps day by day," she said. "The big thing is start them on the legal journey. They all want to work, but they need the right permits to do that, so the legal professionals have been working at that."

A migrant family makes their way on Friday to a bus that would transport them from St. Andrews church in Edgartown, Massassachusetts to Vineyard Haven, on their way to a military base on nearby Cape Cod.

Fields said they have been speaking with the migrants about next steps for housing as well, identifying if they have relatives in the area they can stay with.

"Its all so new for us, but in Falmouth, we want these guests to know they are welcome," she said. "They're well-cared for, too, I cannot say enough about how wonderful the state has been, and the vendors they've contracted for these people, and just the general response has been great."

Attorneys for migrants call for criminal investigation

A Boston-based legal organization for some of the migrants who arrived unexpectedly on Marthas Vineyard Wednesday is calling for authorities to probe the matter, saying its clients were induced to board airplanes and cross state lines under false pretenses.

On Saturday, Lawyers for Civil Rights, which is representing about 30 of the approximately 50 South American migrants, sent letters to Attorney General Maura Healey and U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins calling for a criminal investigation.

Individuals, working in concert with the Florida governor, made numerous false promises to our clients, including of work opportunities, schooling for their children, and immigration assistance, in order to induce them to travel, wrote Lawyers for Civil Rights.

The migrants only learned they were being flown to Marthas Vineyard rather than Boston, as many had been told, when the flight was mid-air, according to Lawyers for Civil Rights. They were targeted based on race and national origin in order to make the political point they wanted, wrote the legal group.

At the El Paso border: Rep. Henry Cuellar calls for more resources for migrants: 'We need solutions and not theater'

The tactics used to get them on two chartered plans to Martha's Vineyard thwarted their clients ability to comply with federal immigration obligations, such as attending hearings and check-ins, and deprived them of liberty, said the group.

They preyed on the vulnerability of our clients  many of whom had suffered deep trauma in their home countries and on their journeys to the United States  and exploited this vulnerability to win trust through false promises, wrote Lawyers for Civil Rights.

The League of United Latin American Citizens has issued a 'wanted' poster, and a reward, for information leading to the identification and arrest of a woman who migrants brought to Martha's Vineyard said lured them there with false promises.

Civil rights group offers reward for Perla. Migrants say she offered false promises of jobs, housing

Before boarding chartered planes that brought them to Martha's Vineyard on Wednesday, migrants from South America  mostly from Venezuela  said they were approached in San Antonio, Texas, by a woman named "Perla," who said they'd be given jobs and housing when they arrived.

Now, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the country's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization, is looking for her, and any others who are working with her.

DOJ contacted: Massachusetts seeks human trafficking probe targeting Florida Gov. DeSantis over migrants

The organization on Saturday afternoon issued a nationwide plea, and a $5,000 reward, for information leading to the identification and arrest of the woman.

"LULAC is taking this action of offering a $5,000 reward to help stop the deliberate and possible illegal actions of deceiving people by enticement," LULAC National President Domingo Garcia said in a statement,

According to Garcia, many of the migrants who found themselves on Martha's Vineyard on Sept. 15 told him and other LULAC representatives who traveled to the island on Friday that the woman had enticed them with promises of free housing and three months of work if they took the flight. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has taken credit for the transfer.

Garcia said Perla  described as being "light-complected" with blonde hair, and accompanied by a man in a white truck  approached the migrants in San Antonio, Texas, near the Migrant Resource Center.

LULAC representatives are at work this weekend canvassing San Antonio in search of the woman, and putting up "wanted" posters in areas where she has been reported working.

LULAC is instructing anyone with information to call 214-941-8300 or to email domingo@dgley.com.

Massachusetts politicians asking for investigations

On Sunday, state Rep. Dylan Fernandes, D-Woods Hole, tweeted that "we are requesting that the Department of Justice open an investigation to hold DeSantis & others accountable for these inhumane acts."

Four days earlier, two charter planes holding about 50 migrants, many from Venezuela, landed on Martha's Vineyard without a place to stay or immediate connections to anyone on the island.

Venezuelan migrants: They share their stories before leaving Martha's Vineyard. What they said

After news of the planes arriving on Martha's Vineyard broke, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' communications director said, "States like Massachusetts, New York and California will better facilitate the care of these individuals who they have invited into our country by incentivizing illegal immigration through their designation as sanctuary states...'"

We are requesting that the Department of Justice open an investigation to hold DeSantis & others accountable for these inhumane acts. Not only is it morally criminal, there are legal implications around fraud, kidnapping, deprivation of liberty, and human trafficking.  Dylan Fernandes (@RepDylan) September 18, 2022

On Friday, the state offered migrants who wanted to leave Martha's Vineyard transportation to the military base. The base is home to five military agencies and at least 2,000 residents, according to the base website.

"Not only is it morally criminal, there are legal implications around fraud, kidnapping, deprivation of liberty, and human trafficking," Fernandes said in his Tweet Sunday.

In another tweet, he said he had spoken with U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins and is "grateful to hear she is pushing for a response from the DOJ."

On Friday, U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Massachusetts, called for a federal investigation into the funds Florida used to pay for the migrants' unexpected transfer.

More: Can Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket prepare for more migrants? Here's what officials say

In a letter to U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Inspector General, he and members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation urged the office to review whether Florida improperly used interest earned on federal COVID-19 relief funds to relocate the migrants, saying it "effectively (used) COVID-19 relief to score political points by exploiting vulnerable immigrants."

According to reports, Florida has used federal funds intended to help communities recover from the coronavirus pandemic for an inhumane program to transport newly arrived immigrants, the lawmakers wrote. We believe this program misuses federal COVID-19 relief funds and violates federal law.

Florida's legislature approved $12 million to fund shipping migrants out of Florida.

The letter asks that the office investigate Florida and take "all necessary action," including potentially rescinding any misused funds.

Video released of housing for migrants at Cape Cod base

The Baker-Polito administration released on Sunday a video and photographs of interior views of housing available at Joint Base Cape Cod for migrants staying there, but the administration offered no media access on Sunday to the base.

Organizers have created specific housing areas for families who will remain as a unit, women, and any person with specific needs including medical care. Dedicated space will allow for safety, security, and privacy, according to the release.

Joint Base Cape Cod is set up dormitory-style to help keep migrant families together, women and anybody with specific needs, including medical care, according to a press release on Sunday from Gov. Charlie Baker's office.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is coordinating efforts among state and local officials to provide food, shelter, and essential services for the men, women, and children. Gov. Charlie Baker activated 125 members of the Massachusetts National Guard to help.

The agency will continue to work with state agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide people and families with access to services including clothing and hygiene kits, food and drink, healthcare, bilingual staff and Interpreter services, and more, according to the release.

All immediate needs are being met through existing resources provided by state partners and the voluntary organizations. Unsolicited volunteers and donations cannot be accepted at Joint Base Cape Cod, according to the release. People and organizations looking to support emergency relief efforts should send an email to the Massachusetts Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters at MAVOAD@gmail.com, according to the release.

Cape Cod organizations mobilizing to help migrants

Cape Cod and other organizations in the region are joining forces to help the 50 migrants, including four families, who are now being housed at Joint Base Cape Cod after unexpectedly finding themselves on Marthas Vineyard.

Alisa Magnotta, chief executive officer of the Housing Assistance Corporation in Hyannis, said her staff will work with Father Bills & MainSpring in Brockton to help figure out next steps regarding shelter assistance and permanent housing options.

Punish sanctuary states, derail asylum: Legal questions swirl around DeSantis' migrant relocation effort

Her organization will collect money to relocate people and to find housing as well as funds for everyday essentials, she said. The agency is also searching for drivers who are fluent and native Spanish-speaking volunteers.

Community members can sign up to help at hac@capecod.org.

"They have nothing so we are working hard to start putting resources together," she said.

Permanent housing options can be developed once the state evaluates individual family needs, said John Yazwinski, chief executive officer and president of Father Bills. Migrants may have family in Massachusetts or other parts of the U.S., he said.

Father Bills is a nonprofit that offers programs that provide emergency and permanent housing and help people obtain skills, jobs, housing, and services.

Yazwinski recalled helping displaced people temporarily at the base during Hurricane Katrina and the Haitian earthquakes and sending them to other areas where they felt supported.

"Right now we are trying to listen to them and understand what they need," he said. "Just because they are from another country doesn't mean they don't have connections to people either in Massachusetts or in other parts of the country."

Julian Cyr: Elected officials not expected to visit Joint Base Cape Cod this weekend

"The most important thing is that these folks get the attention and care that they need from the professionals who are setting this up," Massachusetts State Senator Julian Cyr said in a Saturday interview with the Times. "Im not traveling to the base today and dont plan to do so over the weekend."

There was an agreement that all of the electors would stay away, honestly, Cyr said.

What officials say: Can Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket prepare for more migrants?

"We are just really making sure to deploy a whole host of resources regarding medical care, legal services, social services, volunteers from several Cape churches and nonprofits that are providing food," he said.

The plan is to give the migrants "some space to receive these services of care and legal services and at a later date we will go back to the base at some point," Cyr said.

Everyones exhausted, he said.

Martha's Vineyard GoFundMe fundraiser for migrants closes

A GoFundMe fundraising campaign on Marthas Vineyard closed on Friday after raising $43,191 to help about 50 migrants who landed Wednesday at the Vineyard airport with nowhere to stay and no connections or support on the island. The verified, certified charity GoFundMe fundraiser entitled Urgent plea to help Martha's Vineyard migrants was organized on behalf of the Marthas Vineyard Community Foundation, according to a GoFundMe press release.

Organizer Sarah Goulet disabled the fundraiser, which had 465 donors, when the migrants left the island on Friday, according to the site. Thank you to everyone who donated. All funds raised went directly to the MV Community Foundation, to distribute to the organizations with the most need, the fundraiser stated on the site.

The mission of the foundation is to put charitable contributions to work for the people of Marthas Vineyard by making grants that address community priorities.

The Vineyard foundation is talking with a similar foundation on Cape Cod and intends to work collaboratively to see that money raised would go to Cape and Island organizations that have or are helping the migrants, Martha's Vineyard Community Foundation Executive Director Emily Bramhall said Saturday in a phone interview with the Times.

More information will likely come on Monday, Bramhall said.

Mass. Attorney General Healey issues statement about Venezuelan migrants

On Friday afternoon Attorney General Maura Healey issued a statement on an estimated 50 migrants arrival by plane on Wednesday on Martha's Vineyard: I am proud of how our state has responded to this situation. Our office is joining with the Governor, federal, state, and community leaders to offer services and help those who have arrived here find a safe place to stay while determining next steps. This is yet another example of why we need comprehensive federal immigration reform in this country.

The people: Venezuelan migrants share their stories before leaving Martha's Vineyard. What they said

The attorney general's office is focused on helping the migrant families who arrived in Massachusetts and supporting the local community, according to a spokesperson. The office has been in regular communication with partners to provide assistance and resources in any way the office can. The office continues to gather information about what happened.

On Saturday, Healey, the Democratic nominee for governor, intended to be in Springfield and South Boston, according to a published schedule.

Moved to Joint Base Cape Cod, a five-agency military base with at least 2,000 residents

The approximately 50 migrants who were flown to Martha's Vineyard have been moved to Joint Base Cape Cod, as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis promises to fly or bus more undocumented immigrants north.

Since Wednesday, Massachusetts town, county and state officials have been trying to figure out how to house, feed, and transition a group of mostly Venezuelans who were flown from Texas to Massachusetts. DeSantis use money from the Florida state budget to pay for the flights.

The reaction: Massachusetts, Florida and Texas politicians react to migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard

The Venezuelan migrants arrived on the island with paperwork that listed mandatory court dates in places as far away as Tacoma, Washington, some scheduled as early as Monday, according to Rachel Self, an immigration attorney who lives on Marthas Vineyard and met with some of the migrants. Federal agents had listed their addresses as homeless shelters across the country, she said.

Were working on some longer-term housing solutions, as well, said state Rep. Dylan Fernandes, D-Wood Hole, shortly after the bus departed for the base, migrants waving through the darkly-tinted windows.

This is what good government actually looks like and this is what compassionate government actually looks like, he said. I couldnt be prouder of the people of Marthas Vineyard and Cape Cod for their incredible work here, and I couldnt be prouder to be from the state of Massachusetts to have a state team that pulled this together so quickly.

Recapping what we knew Friday: Migrants move from Martha's Vineyard plus did DeSantis hint flight to donors

Increasing numbers of Venezuelans are crossing the southern border

A majority of Venezuelans who have arrived at the Texas border in recent months crossed through Border Patrols Del Rio Sector  the same area that a year ago became the site of a large migrant encampment on the banks of the Rio Grande, according to the El Paso Times.

In the first 10 months of fiscal 2022, CBP encountered or apprehended more than 130,000 Venezuelan nationals, up from more than 50,000 Venezuelans encountered or apprehended in fiscal 2021.

A Cape Cod resident shares her story: Venezuelans migrating to the U.S. and now to Martha's Vineyard: 'Out of desperation'

A view from Texas: El Paso struggles to keep up with Venezuelan migrants: 5 key things to know

What is Gov. Ron DeSantis saying

Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed Friday to continue his relocation program for migrants who cross the southern United States border into Texas.

Speaking in an aircraft hangar at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, DeSantis defended the $12 million relocation program that ensued with Florida chartering a plane to fly 48 migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on Wednesday. On Friday, the governor basked in laughter and applause from about 200 supporters in attendance.

"So the governor of California (Gavin Newsom) sent a letter to the Department of Justice saying, 'You need to prosecute Texas and Florida governors,' and all I can say is I think his hair gel is interfering with his brain cells," DeSantis said.

A political move: Why is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sending migrants to Martha's Vineyard?

What we know about the flights

DeSantis, who's asking voters for a second term, has faced sharp criticism in recent days, including from his Democratic rival, Charlie Crist, who has said the Martha's Vineyard flight "is a clear indicator he'll cross any and all moral boundaries to reach his personal political goals."

Crist, on Twitter Friday, said he filed a public records request seeking documents related to the flights and said he is "demanding that the DeSantis Administration explain why and how he trafficked human beings as a political stunt."

During the news conference, DeSantis addressed questions about whether transporting migrants from Texas to Massachusetts met the intent of lawmakers when they included the $12 million in funding last spring.

The budget item states the money is to be used "to facilitate the transport of unauthorized aliens out of Florida."

Read more on what Florida governor says: Gov. Ron DeSantis relishes left's response to Florida-funded flights to Martha's Vineyard

"'We've done stuff in the Panhandle, but what we've found is we haven't seen any major movements of people into Florida, like big caravans. He said "it's hard" for Florida to identify migrants when they arrive in cars, two or three at a time, so going to Texas to divert them is justified, he said.

What the group will find waiting at Cape Cod military base

At Joint Base Cape Cod, the migrants will find respite in dormitory-style accommodations. Emergency management officials said there will be spaces both for singles and families, and that families will be kept together.

Besides having a place to sleep, they will be provided with clothing and toiletries kits, and food. They will have access to legal and health care services, as well as mental health and crises counseling services. Interpreters will be on hand to assist with communication.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is working with various organizations to provide these services.

Immigrant vs Migrant: Here's the difference in the meaning of the words

"Immigrants generally are people who move to a different country with the intention of settling there," according to the Associated Press Stylebook. "This term, rather than migrants, is most commonly used for people established in the U.S., which usually is their final destination. It also is used when another specific country is the final destination."

"Migrants generally are people who are on the move, sometimes for economic reasons, either within one country or across borders," according to the Stylebook. "The term migrant also may be used for those whose reason for leaving their home country is not clear, or to cover people who may also be refugees or asylum-seekers."

Lisa BelCastro and Rachel Self became the spokespeople on the island

Lisa BelCastro lives on Marthas Vineyard with her family, and is the winter shelter coordinator for Harbor Homes Marthas Vineyard. Harbor Homes offers homeless prevention programs and services for low-income residents.

Rachel Self is an immigration and criminal defense lawyer based in Boston. Self is a legal analyst for the Fox News Channel and CNN, according to her website.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Live updates on migrants who are now at Joint Base Cape Cod
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves seen on June 30, 2020. Rogelio V. Solis/Pool via REUTERS

More than 150,000 people in Jackson  Mississippi's largest city and capital  went without clean running water for weeks.

Speaking in Hattiesburg on Friday, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said it was "a great day to not be in Jackson."

Jackson lifted its boil-water notice, which had been in place since July, on Thursday.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves called it "a great day to not be in Jackson" on Friday, referring to the state's capital, which has been deprived of clean running water for weeks.

Reeves made the remarks while attending a groundbreaking ceremony in Hattiesburg, roughly 90 miles southeast of Jackson, according to local reports.

"It is a great day to be in Hattiesburg. It's also, as always, a great day to not be in Jackson," he said, according to local television station 16 WAPT News. "I feel like I should take off my emergency manager director hat and leave it in the car and take off my public works director hat and leave it in the car."

Jackson is the state's largest city, home to more than 150,000 residents, the majority of whom are Black. The city lost access to clean running water after severe flooding in late August damaged its main water treatment facility.

The crisis has highlighted the devastation that happens and will continue to happen when issues like climate change, poor infrastructure, and systemic racism intersect.

Jackson had a boil-water notice in place since July, as residents turned on their taps to see brown water and waited in hourslong lines for bottled water. The city lifted the notice on Thursday.

"We've significantly increased the quantity of water produced," Reeves said at a press conference announcing the update on Thursday, according to The Mississippi Free Press. "We've restored water pressure to the city. We've installed an emergency rental pump. We've fixed and reinstalled broken parts on site, and we've monitored and tested water quality."

Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba later tweeted, "This is progress as we continue to work towards a consistent and reliable system."

Story continues

Video: Why recycled steel creates so much pollution

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Minnesota Medical Associations PAC endorsed Gov. Tim Walz (D) in his campaign for reelection, in an unconventional move for the organization.

In his four years leading Minnesota, Gov. Walz has demonstrated alignment with our core values of respect, honesty, and support for science and public health, MEDPAC Chairman Will Nicholson said in a press release on Tuesday.

The endorsement represents a unique move for the PAC, which does not typically endorse candidates in state races, according to the Minnesota Medical Association.

The ongoing global pandemic and other critical healthcare issues are at stake this year and that compelled the organization to support a candidate who would best advocate for the health of Minnesotans, Nicholson added.

Nicholson cited Walzs policies on COVID-19, reproductive health care and gun control in the PACs endorsement of the governor.

The PAC endorsed Walz over Republican nominee and fellow doctor Scott Jensen.

Jensen has said he is not vaccinated against COVID-19 and previously compared COVID-19 restrictions to those instituted during the rise of the Nazis in Germany, according to MPR News.

He also previously asserted that he supports an abortion ban in Minnesota without exceptions for rape and incest unless the mothers life is in danger. However, he has since backtracked on that stance, saying he supports exceptions for victims of rape and incest as well, according to CNN.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Montgomery police are investigating the death of a man found shot near Shorter.

A Montgomery man was found dead near Shorter on Wednesday, and the Montgomery Police Department is investigating the death as a homicide.

The police department said Anthony Matthews, Jr., 27, was found dead before 2 p.m. Wednesday. A preliminary autopsy and review of evidence found that Matthews had been shot in Montgomery.

The circumstances of the shooting were not immediately clear Saturday morning. The Montgomery Police Department said it was investigating Matthews' death as a homicide but did not provide further comment.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Montgomery Police investigating death of local man as homicide
Electric Boat is hiring welders as fast as the submarine manufacturer can find them. Highland Park Market is looking for entry-level supermarket workers. And during blistering heat spells this summer, broken air conditioners went without repairs for lack of technicians.

In Connecticut and across the U.S., employers in nearly all industries are scrambling to find workers who quit during the pandemic, retired or are stymied by a lack of transportation and day care.

Everyone is out hiring, said Cathy White, director of talent acquisition at Electric Boat. Competition is fierce for skilled labor.

The subsidiary of General Dynamics Corp. faces U.S. Navy deadlines to manufacture two nuclear submarines a year, in addition to the start of production of its next-generation Columbia class, setting a pace only imagined a few years ago.

Electric Boat, with shipyards in Groton and Quonset Point, Rhode Island, expects to hire 500 welders this year at starting pay of nearly $22 an hour, White said. Hiring managers use various strategies such as walk-in Wednesday sessions at the companys employment office; job fairs; outreach to high schools, technical schools and colleges; and appearances at events such as Military Appreciation Day in New London in August, a summer boat festival in Hartford and the Travelers Championship in June.

Timothy Devanney, one of the owners of Highland Park Market, which operates three supermarkets in Farmington, Glastonbury and Manchester, said hiring is a constant battle.

Ten applicants will respond to one job posting and managers will reach four. Two will come to the interview and one will be hired. Its a 50-50 shot if the successful job-seeker shows up for work, he said.

Highland Park Market, which closed two hours earlier, at 7 p.m., during the pandemic, has kept the reduced hours due the labor shortage, Devanney said.

Stop & Shop, which said its hiring for all departments, shifts and jobs, scheduled a hiring fair in August to fill more than 400 permanent, part-time e-commerce and store jobs, including positions in the bakery, deli, grocery, seafood and produce departments. The supermarket chain hired 185 part-time workers for its Connecticut stores as a result of the job fair. Openings remain for overnight shifts, cashiers, porters, baggers and home shoppers.

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Police departments, too, are grappling with shortages brought on by retirements and difficulty finding candidates, said John Ventura, chief of the Wallingford Police Department. People are not going into law enforcement. Its not an attractive landing pad for people, he said.

Employment opportunities that once drew 500 to 1,000 prospective candidates now attract fewer than a dozen, Ventura said.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday 113,000 job openings in Connecticut in July, forcing employers to figure out how to find workers or get around shortages by offering more overtime and cutting hours of operation. Nationally, 11.2 million open jobs in July increased from 11 million in June.

The number of job openings is 41% higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic when available jobs in Connecticut didnt exceed 80,000, said Patrick Flaherty, director of research at the state Department of Labor.

The state Department of Labor reported 77,800 unemployed workers in August, or 35,200 fewer than the number of job postings. In comparison, in pre-pandemic 2019 68,700 jobless workers outnumbered 65,000 open jobs.

This is both a Connecticut issue and a national issue, Flaherty said. Unfortunately, some people in the labor force before the pandemic have not returned. Some died. Some were sick with COVID.

Economist Donald Klepper-Smith cautioned against reading too much into the job openings data published by federal officials. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on significant changes to the economy, he said: shortages of labor and supplies, high inflation after years of price stability and an abrupt change in work as employees operate from their homes.

People try to explain in simple terms, there are more jobs than people, he said. Theres a lot of extrapolation with that. Its a squishy number.

The sectors with the greatest number of of open jobs are health care and social assistance, retail, manufacturing and finance and insurance, according to Connecticuts Help Wanted Online Data Series.

Worker shortages are so acute in the heating, ventilating and air conditioning business that employers have a very hard time taking on new customers, said Stillman Jordan, government affairs chairman of the Connecticut Heating and Cooling Contractors Association.

At peak demand during this summers heat waves, air conditioning repair workers couldnt be found, he said.

Rob Friedland, chief executive officer of Columbia Manufacturing Inc., which makes turbine engine components, said welders and inspectors with aviation experience are the hardest workers to find.

Hes pretty much abandoned hope of finding experienced welders and instead hires young workers who are trained at the manufacturer in Columbia after completing their schooling, he said.

Friedland said a shortage of welders, who are in demand in numerous industries such as construction and manufacturing, will get worse as commercial aviation rebounds from its low point during the pandemic when airline fleets were grounded

Were all going to be looking for people, he said. Im not expecting it to get better anytime soon.

Chris DiPentima, president of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, said the worker shortage tracks the states stagnant population that has been largely unchanged since the recession of 2008-2009.

More housing is needed, particularly close to public transportation, and can be encouraged with incentives for builders to renovate blighted housing, he said.

DiPentima also cited Connecticuts cost of living, taking aim at the states gift tax he said comes into play with business successions. Connecticut is the only state that imposes the tax, according to the Tax Foundation, a tax policy research group.

No uniform explanation applies for worker shortages. Flaherty said for every worker missing from the labor force theres probably a reason and a strategy.

Jordan blamed the shortage of heating and cooling repair workers on an emphasis of college over trade schools and restrictive state policies in Connecticut, disputed by organized labor, that limit the number of apprentices that can be hired.

Local police shortages are the result of abundant opportunities at other agencies, Ventura said. A study by the International Association of Chiefs of Police said recruitment troubles are due to multiple social, political, and economic forces that include an increasing emphasis by employees on work-life balance and public perception of police following high-profile police shootings.

Conglomerates are feeling the impact of worker shortages that are magnified because of the size of the businesses. CEO Greg Hayes said Raytheon Technologies Corp., the parent company of jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney and two military and intelligence units, began the year with 174,000 employees. The Arlington, Virginia-based company has hired more than 23,000 workers this year, about half of whom are engineers, he said Wednesday at an industry analysts conference.

About 15,000 employees have left the company and after hiring, 13,000 jobs remain open, he said.

That is the challenge that we all have is: Where are all those workers going to come from? Hayes said.

Stephen Singer can be reached at ssinger@courant.com.
NEW CONCORD  Muskingum University continues to be a top performer among Ohio universities in the U.S. News & World Report 2023 rankings for the Regional Midwest.

The university ranked second among Ohio universities in best value schools and second among Ohio universities in top performers in social mobility. This is the second year Muskingum has ranked second among Ohio universities in both categories.

Muskingum University is continuing to provide access to an affordable education, President Susan S. Hasseler said. The rankings acknowledge the work we are doing and the excellent education we provide to our students.

To determine which colleges and universities offer the best value for students, U.S. News & World Report factors academic quality and cost after accounting for total expenses and financial aid. According to the organizations only schools ranked in or near the top half of their categories are included, because U.S. News considers the most significant values to be among colleges that are above average academically.

At Muskingum University, 98% of the undergraduate population receives financial aid, which is made possible through support received from alumni and friends of the university in addition to state and federal funds. With that financial aid, the cost to attend Muskingum is comparable to that of Ohios four-year public institutions.

Students with economic challenges are less likely than others to finish college. The top performers in social mobility rankings are given to schools that focus on students who are from low-income backgrounds, by enrolling and graduating students who received federal Pell Grants. Social mobility considers graduation rates for students who received federal Pell Grants, financial aid that is typically reserved for those with annual household family incomes below $50,000. Close to half of Muskingums undergraduate students are eligible for Pell Grants.

Muskingum is providing a quality education for students who may not have otherwise been able to attend a private university, Hasseler said. At Muskingum, we educate the whole person for the whole world and are committed to ensuring all students have the opportunity for this kind of education.

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The U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings are in its 38th year. The latest edition assesses 1,500 U.S. bachelors degree-granting institutions on 17 measures of academic quality.

Information submitted by Muskingum University.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Muskingum University is top performer among Ohio universities
Associated Press

Thousands of people in hundreds of cars took over northern Nevada parking lots and intersections Friday night and into Saturday, performing stunts in souped-up vehicles and leading to crashes and arrests, police said. Police beefed up nighttime staffing after social media posts urged people from San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, to come to the sideshow in Reno, Police Lt. Michael Browett said. The disturbances started late Friday as several hundred cars and their occupants met in the parking lot of a still-open Walmart store.
Parwati Sunar, 27, sings the national anthem of Nepal during assembly at Jeevan Jyoti secondary school in Punarbas (Reuters)

A Nepali mother of two, Parwati Sunar finds herself attending the same school as her son after returning to an education system she fled at the age of 15, when she eloped with a man seven years her senior.

I enjoy learning and am proud to attend with classmates who are like my own children, Sunar told Reuters from her village of Punarbas on the southwestern edge of the Himalayan nation, where she studies in the seventh grade.

About 50 per cent of women are literate in the country of 29 million, and the 27-year-old Sunar said she hoped to become literate enough to be able to keep household accounts.

Parwati and her son Resham, 11, leave school to walk home (Reuters)

Parwati in the classroom at Jeevan Jyoti secondary school (Reuters)

I think I should not have left my school, she said, explaining the desire to catch up on the lessons she missed, having had her first child at 16.

I feel good to go to school with mum, said her son, Resham, 11, who is a grade behind his mother, spends lunch breaks with her and rides pillion as she bicycles to computer classes they attend at an institute nearby.

We chat as we walk to school and we learn from our conversation, he said, adding that his mother hoped he could become a doctor.

As a student, Sunar was below average, but a keen learner, said Bharat Basnet, the principal of the village school, Jeevan Jyoti.

Parwat sits by Resham as they share a meal on their lunch break (Reuters)

Reshams lesson is taken outdoors because the fan in the classroom is broken (Reuters)

Her day begins at dawn in a tin-roofed, two-room structure of bare bricks shared with sons Resham and Arjun and her mother-in-law, with their goats penned into one area. Their home lacks a toilet, so the family use a nearby plot of public land instead.

They belong to the Dalit community, formerly known as untouchables, on the lowest rungs of the Hindu caste system, but Sunar said the family faced no ill-treatment over this.

After a simple meal of rice and lentils, Sunar puts on the school uniform of light-blue blouse and skirt with a striped tie before taking the 20-minute walk with her son to the school, also a tin-roofed structure, surrounded by trees.

Parwati sits on the porch of her two room, tin-roofed house in Punarbas late one evening (Reuters)

Arjun, 7, passes a sickle to his elder brother Resham, who is climbing a tree to cut branches to feed their goats (Reuters)

It was fun to be in the same class with Sunar, said Bijay BK, one of her classmates, aged 14.

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Didi is pleasant, he said, using the Nepali term for an elder sister. I help her in studies and she helps me too.

Sunars efforts could inspire village women thirsty to learn beyond their domestic horizons in Nepal, where they still face discrimination and child marriage is widespread, though illegal.

Parwati works in a field outside her house in Punarbas (Reuters)

Parwati hangs foliage for her goats inside her house (Reuters)

She is doing a good job, said one of her neighbours, Shruti Sunar, who is in the schools 10th grade, though not a relative. I think others should follow her and go to school.

Enrolment of girls in basic education, or grades 1 to 8, is 94.4 per cent, official data shows, but Krishna Thapa, president of the Federation of Community Schools, said that nearly half dropped out for reasons ranging from lack of textbooks to poverty.

Schools lack infrastructure, such as toilets for girls, Thapa added. Most girls drop out during their period because there are no toilets.

Parwati and Resham set off on their walk to school (Reuters)

Parwati and her sons, Resham and Arjun, pose outside their house in Punarbas (Reuters)

But Sunar, who gave up a job as a housemaid in neighbouring India to return to her studies, said she was determined to finish the 12th grade.

This is the thinking now, she added. What lies ahead, I dont know.

Photography by Navesh Chitrakar

Reuters
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian mining giant Nornickel plans to increase the equity holdings of employees and other individuals to collectively comprise 25% of the company, up from 10% now, its largest shareholder Vladimir Potanin told RBC TV.

Nornickel, the world's top palladium and refined nickel producer, was one of the biggest prizes in the post-Soviet carve-up of Russian industry in 1990s, and it currently employs 72,000 people.

"When Norilsk Nickel (Nornickel) was privatised about 25% of shares were owned by employees," Potanin said in an interview broadcast on Saturday. "I would like to recover this historical justice and make sure that 25% of Nornickel's shares are returned to the people, including employees."

Potanin said the change would be included in a 10-year programme called "Digital Investor" that would begin in 2023, and would involve digital financial assets and lock-up periods. He did not give further details about the plan or how the equity holdings would be increased.

Potanin's holding, Interros, owns 36% of Nornickel.

Aluminium producer Rusal, which owns 26% of the company, did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.

Potanin in July floated the idea of a $60 billion merger of Nornickel with Rusal as a means of mitigating possible sanctions risks, but on Saturday said the idea had been postponed.

"I think the idea is still interesting, still alive, but we will have to put it off until later, when our colleagues are ready for talks on this," Potanin said.

He also said a 10-year shareholder agreement protecting Nornickel's dividend payouts was on track to expire at the end of 2022.

The deal ended a conflict between Interros and Rusal in 2012. There are no talks to renew the deal, sources told Reuters earlier this month.

Potanin also said Nornickel was preparing to reorient itself more towards Asian markets, to guard against any change in the West's sanctions policy or clients trying to "twist our arms".

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Nornickel has not been directly targeted by the Western sanctions imposed on Moscow since it sent thousands of troops to Ukraine on Feb. 24.

"Some of our partners are trying to revise the terms of existing contracts in their favour, trying to reduce the volume of purchases for the upcoming period, imposing on themselves a kind of self-sanctions, moving away from goods of Russian origin as much as possible," the Potanin said.

In the first seven months of this year, Europe accounted for the usual 50% of Nornickel's sales and the United States about 20%, he added.

(Reporting by Polina Devitt, Anastasia Lyrchikova and Alexander MarrowEditing by Pravin Char and Helen Popper)
STANISLAV POHORILOV  FRIDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2022, 19:55

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a press conference following his visit to Uzbekistan [for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit - ed.], said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has no desire to meet with him, and noted that he had not seen any proposals on security guarantees for Ukraine.

Source: Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti

Quote from Putin: "The first condition (for the meeting to take place) is that they (Ukraine) agree. But they refuse! Zelensky has announced this! He said publicly  I don't know where, but publicly  that he is not ready and does not want to talk to Russia."

Details: At the same time, Putin mentioned the Turkish president, who believes that such a meeting can yield a positive result.

The Russian president also said that he is not familiar with the proposals on security guarantees for Ukraine. "To be honest, I am not familiar with what they are proposing this time [for the draft security guarantees for Ukraine - ed.]," he said.

Putin says that Russia allegedly negotiated security guarantees in the form of the draft Istanbul agreement [discussed in March 2022]. And he claims this was why Russia "pulled out" its troops from Kyiv, in order to "create the conditions for concluding this agreement."

Background:

After the liberation of settlements in Kharkiv Oblast by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow is not opposed to negotiations with Ukraine.

The Head of the Presidents Office, Andrii Yermak, and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen presented recommendations on the Kyiv Security Compact for strategic partnership between Ukraine and the guarantor states.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Become our patron, support our work!
Sep. 17A 23-year-old Oahu man is facing up to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to an October crime spree where he robbed three Oahu banks and tried to rob the Taco Bell in Kapolei, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii.

Micah Roman-Santos, 23, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth J. Mansfield's court to two counts of bank robbery, one count of armed bank robbery, and one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery. The Hobbs Act, enacted in 1946 to combat racketeering in labor management disputes, prohibits actual or attempted robbery or extortion affecting interstate or foreign commerce "in any way or degree, " according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Roman-Santos, who has a tattoo on his neck that reads "Murder " and has more than a dozen prior arrests at the state level since he turned 18, faces significant jail time, according to court records.

The investigation was run by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Honolulu Police Department. Roman-Santos was arrested by Honolulu police officers on Oct. 14.

The bank robbery and Hobbs Act robbery provide for a maximum sentence of 20 years, a fine of up to $250, 000, and three years of federal probation. The charge of armed bank robbery could result in a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, a fine of up to $250, 000, and five years of federal probation.

Roman-Santos' sentencing is set for Jan. 25 before U.S. District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi.

Authorities say that in the first week of October, Roman-Santos robbed banks in Pearlridge Center, Waianae and Kapolei.
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  SATURDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2022, 18:30

The Russians are preparing retreat routes in Kherson Oblast; in particular, near the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP), they have sunk nine wagons for the construction of a crossing.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 18:00 on 17 September

Quote: "Due to the successful actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to disable all crossings across the Dnipro on the Kherson front, the occupiers are preparing their retreat routes.

Thus, they have sunk 9 wagons near the Kakhovka HPP for the construction of a further crossing."

Details: The General Staff also confirmed the killing of over 180 occupiers in Kherson on 10 September. The Armed Forces of Ukraine hit the building of "Alkoservis" LLC (Limited liability company), where the personnel and military equipment of the Russian occupying forces were located.

"For five days, units of the Russian National Guard and the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation dismantled the rubble and recovered bodies of the dead, trying to hide the losses," the report said.

In addition, according to the General Staff, in Kherson Oblast, the occupation authorities continue to force local entrepreneurs to keep accounts in Russian rubles. They further conduct weekly inspections and threaten to "nationalise", that is, take away the business in the event of refusal to cooperate with the occupiers.

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Ocean County has agreed to pay half the local cost of the latest federal beach replenishment project, bringing welcome relief to barrier island towns that are struggling to pay their portion of the bill.

"They were very gracious and very helpful," Bay Head Mayor William Curtis said following a Sept. 13 meeting that included barrier island mayors, Jack Kelly, director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, fellow Commissioner Gary Quinn and county Administrator Michael J. Fiure. "I couldn't thank them more."

Bay Head's local share of the beach work is expected to be $1.4 million, a hefty amount for a small town with a $6 million budget. Neighboring Mantoloking's bill is almost $1.3 million. Toms River has the highest estimated bill, at $2 million.

The total bill for Ocean County municipalities is expected to be about close to $8 million.

More:COVID testing remains broken. These secret systems hide the fix

Other barrier island towns have lower estimated costs that Toms River, Mantoloking and Bay Head, as their shorelines have fared better since the last replenishment project was completed about three years ago. But for smaller towns, even several hundred thousand dollars could be a budget breaker.

A Toms River police officer looks over the beach where severe erosion has been a problem. A portion of the beach has a 4-5a drop-off where recently replenished sand has washed away.Ortley Beach, NJFriday, January 28, 2022

Barrier island mayors have been seeking help to pay their portion of the beach repair work, which is expected to start in the winter or spring next year. In July, the mayors who belong to the barrier island group signed a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy, penned by Toms River Mayor Maurice B. "Mo" Hill Jr., asking the state to pay the entire local share, to help lower the burden for local municipalities.

"We are very thankful," that the county agreed to pay half of the towns' share of the beach work, Hill said at Wednesday evening's Toms River council meeting.

During an agenda meeting of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday, County Comptroller Julie N. Tarrant said that the total cost of the beach replenishment project is expected to be $60 million.

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The towns match is about $8 million, she said.

Were going to be half of that, said Commission Director Jack Kelly.

That means that the county government will appropriate $4 million for the project, Tarrant clarified.

And I think all the towns were very pleased with the help, she said.

They made it very clear to us that they wanted to thank all of the commissioners for their help on this and how grateful they were to the board and to our staff, Kelly said.

Hill has said that while Toms River has been planning to absorb the beach repair cost in its budget, the state has the money to give even more help o Shore towns. New Jersey's tax revenues have soared, and are about $7 billion more than the governor projected in March, state finance officials said earlier this year.

"Everyone uses our beaches," Hill said of the township's public beach in Ortley. "People come from all over the state to use the beach." Therefore, the state should pay the entire local share of the replenishment, he said, noting that tourists visiting the Jersey Shore spend billions of dollars each year.

More:Towns across NJ are suing Murphy over affordable housing. Here's why

Hill said he is grateful for the county's help, but still hopes to secure some state funds to further assist barrier island towns. Hill recently discussed the issue with state Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen-Passaic.

"It was a nice conversation. I think he's sympathetic," Hill said. He said he plans to reach out to Sarlo again.

A crew repairs the dunes at Coolidge Avenue in the Ortley Beach section of Toms River Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The Township has again had to hire a company to repair the storm-damaged beachfront at Ortley Beach.

Of course, almost all beach towns in New Jersey charge a fee to purchase beach badges to sit on the sand. That money is required to be used to fund beach operations, and not be included in a town's general fund.

After discussions with the other mayors, in particular Mantoloking's Lance White, Curtis said he and Bay Head Administrator Frank J. Pannucci Jr. revised the letter and sent it to the Ocean County Commissioners, seeking the county's assistance. "Within 24 hours they got back to us," Curtis said, and the Sept. 13 meeting was arranged.

About $30 million in funding from the bipartisan infrastructure bill has been set aside to pay for the Army Corps' first major beach repair project in northern Ocean County since the corps finished a nearly $129 million beach expansion and dune-building program in the area in 2019.

A crew repairs the dunes at Coolidge Avenue in the Ortley Beach section of Toms River Tuesday, June 14, 2022. The Township has again had to hire a company to repair the storm-damaged beachfront at Ortley Beach.

As part of that project, the corps agreed to return to the area to make repairs for 50 years on a regular basis, and on an emergent basis after severe storms.

The $30 million in funding represents only about 50% of the estimated cost of the repair work. The state and local municipalities are responsible for the remainder of the cost. In the past, New Jersey has paid 75% of the cost, with municipalities paying the remaining 25%.

The state paid the entire local share of the massive beach project that was completed in 2019, shoring up areas that suffered some of the most severe damage after 2012's superstorm Sandy.

Seaside Heights raised beach badge prices in 2021 and 2022 in order to create a fund to help pay the borough's share of the costs for future beach replenishment projects. Borough Administrator Chris Vaz said last year that the state had indicated it was unlikely to pay the local share of beach building projects in the future.

Since the Army Corps' Manasquan to Barnegat inlets project was completed three years ago, severe beach erosion has occurred in Bay Head, Ortley Beach and parts of Mantoloking.

The Bay Head coastline is shown looking south from Bridge Avenue Tuesday, January 5, 2022.

A strong nor'easter in late January and early February damaged the dune line in Ortley and Bay Head, along with a portion of Mantoloking. Ortley Beach, where an inlet existed until the early 19th century, has also suffered storm damage during nor'easters on Memorial Day weekend in 2021 and again during the first weekend of May this year.

Steve Rochette, a spokesman for the Army Corps' Philadelphia District, said the corps plans to advertise the northern Ocean project this fall. Work will begin in winter or spring 2023, with the timing "depending on bids, dredging equipment availability and other factors."

The work is expected to take about nine months to complete once started, Rochette said. The exact cost of the project will not be known until bids are received, he said.

Though many local residents strongly supported the beach replenishment project after Sandy, there were those who were critical of the plans. Beachfront property owners fought the state's use of eminent domain to seize easements on their land that would give the Army Corps access for the dune project.

Officials from the Army Corps of Engineers and the DEP meet with local mayors, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, and U.S. Rep. Andy Kim to tour storm damage from the Jan. 31-Feb. 3 nor'easter. The governor and NJDEP have asked the Army Corps to come in and help shore up beaches badly damaged from the storm, including Ortley Beach, Mantoloking, and Bay Head. Mantoloking mayor E. Laurence "Lance" White III and U.S. Rep Andy Kim survey the damage in Mantoloking. Mantoloking, NJFriday, February, 12, 2021

Dozens of Bay Head oceanfront homeowners sought to opt out of the dune project, saying they had paid more than $7 million to build and maintain a rock revetment that had protected their properties from the worst of Sandy's surge. Part of the reason the property owners opposed the project was their skepticism about who would pay for future dune repairs.

They lost their court fight.

Oceanfront property owners in Mantoloking, Berkeley and Point Pleasant Beach were also unsuccessful in their fight against eminent domain.

Curtis noted that many Bay Head oceanfront property owners resisted the beach replenishment, believing a rock revetment that had been installed, maintained and paid for by beachfront homeowners was a better protection against storms.

A severe nor'easter in early 2021 ate into the bottom of the dunes in Bay Head, leaving drops of over 10 feet from the top of the dune to the beach, and forcing the borough to do emergency maintenance on the dunes and beach so that the area could be used in the summer.

Beach replenishment remains controversial: a new coalition of 21 organizations has argued that beach replenishment is a waste of time, interferes with coastal ecology and mostly benefits wealthy oceanfront property owners. The coalition's long-term goal is to stop beach replenishment and pivot toward buyouts and relocations of existing homeowners and preserving what little open space is left.

Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns. Contact her: @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com.

Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com.

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This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Ocean County NJ to pay Jersey Shore beach repair bills
An off-duty police officer is being hailed a hero after he saved a mom and a bleeding baby from a car wreck on Interstate 30 in Little Rock.

According to NBC News affiliate 11Alive, Madison Cawthon, who works for the Pine Bluff Police Department in Arkansas, was making his way to North Little Rock at around 9 a.m when he noticed an unusual traffic jam. Usually traffic on the interstate can be credited to traffic, he told 11Alive, but this time seemed different.

"I saw people get out of their vehicles [and] I thought this isn't normal," he told 11Alive.

After leaving his car to investigate, Cawson learned that there was a "black vehicle turned on its side" and someone saying, "there is a baby inside," so he immediately sprung into action.

Cawson climbed on top of the vehicle, opened the car door and got the mother and child out safely.

However, he noticed that the baby appeared injured.

"He was bleeding [and] leaking blood from his head," Cawson said. "There was blood coming from his face."

Once the mother and child were safely out of the car, Cawson took it upon himself to handle the congested traffic on the highway.

While directing folks on the interstate, he said he held the baby in his arms and told drivers where to go.

No one else was available, he said.

The mom has since thanked Cawson for being her "guardian angel," and due to him being at the right place at the right time, Cawson believes there's a reason he happened upon the car wreck on that very day.

"What's the chances of an [off-duty] police officer being in a spot where a police officer couldn't get to at that very moment," he said.

"It wasn't anything that I'm taking credit for," Cawson added. "I wasn't even supposed to be there at the moment, but clearly I was supposed to be there."

11Alive later got in contact with the mother and she said her child is "recovering well" after suffering a "minor injury."

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
An Ohio police chief personally thanked four good Samaritans who swooped in and helped an officer who was being attacked by a man during a traffic stop.

The suspect, David Koubeck, 64, was pulled over for speeding by Officer Stacee Wright, 30, along Lost Nation Road in Willoughby in suburban Cleveland.

Wright pulled Koubeck over for speeding on September 10. The suspect was going 57 mph in a 35 mph zone, Wright is heard telling him in the dashcam footage.

The shocking video shows Koubeck ignoring Wright's request for his license as he exits his 2009 black Chevrolet Malibu. Koubeck insists that he needed to go to the back of the car to get his driver's license. Wright is seen contacting the Willoughby Police Department for back-up.

Wright demands that Koubeck sit on the curb; however he yells, 'I'm not sitting! I'm not sitting!'

CHICAGO MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING OF TODDLER IN BROAD DAYLIGHT HAS EXTENSIVE TRACK RECORD

After the suspect further declined multiple orders from Wright to put his hands behind his back or on the vehicle, a "physical struggle" ensued.

Koubeck appears to overtake Wright in the struggle, until, four good Samaritans appear to aid Wright and subdue Koubeck.

"You don't do that to a woman. Do you understand me?" one person yells at Koubeck.

INDIANA POLICE SEARCH FOR TEENS WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE PUPPIES FROM PET STORE

The good Samaritans leave once a backup officer appears who aids Wright in taking Koubeck into custody.

Koubeck has been charged with assault on an officer, resisting arrest, speeding and failure to wear a seatbelt. He will appear in court on September 22.

Later Willoughby Police Chief Jim Schultz wrote a personal note to the four good Samaritans who had assisted Wright, thanking them for their quick intervention.

"I am so proud of our community and the tremendous support we receive on a day-to-day basis," Schultz said in a Facebook post. "Saturday was another awesome example. I greatly appreciate it!! Thank you!"

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Willoughby Police Department has not released the names of the good Samaritans who stopped to aid the officer, but confirm they have identified three out of the four.
The Orlando rowing community held a vigil Saturday morning to honor and support those impacted by the tragic lightning strike.

Many of those rowers visit the lake every day.

Tears, hugs and words of comfort were spoken over lit candles at a vigil held to honor the eighth grader killed during a lightning storm Thursday.

Read: Firefighters recover body of student who went missing after lightning strike near Lake Fairview

Orlando Fire crews said lightning stuck on or near a rowboat with five middle school boys on board.

Only four rowers made it out of the water, which led to a search to find the fifth rower.

Crews discovered the boys body nearly 24 hours later.

Read: Divers search for missing child after lightning strike near Orlando rowing club

When we race, we support each other by cheering for each other, whether were against each other, or in separate races, said Beth Schumacher, a Warrior on Water spokesperson.

The vigil supported those who were impacted by the lightning strike.

She said that everyone in the rowing community is family, and when one person is hurting, everyone empathizes with them.

Investigators are working to determine what exactly happened before the boat capsized.

The community has vowed to take extra precautions.

Read: 1 child injured, another missing after lightning strike near rowing practice on Lake Fairview

The tragedy also serves as a reminder to those in attendance at the vigil to not take any moment with loved ones for granted.

The idea that you just dont know what life holds is really heart-wrenching. So youre going to hold your kids a little tighter. Youre going to stay a little closer to your team members and youre going to appreciate life, Schumacher said.

As of Friday, the fifth boy was in critical condition and the community offered thoughts and prayers for his wellbeing.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
An image shows a Glock 17. @Smarterlam/ Wikimedia Commons

A Texas girls' softball league offered guns as top prizes in a fundraising raffle, per reports.

One parent told KPRC-TV that she was "shocked" by the choice of raffle prizes.

The league defended its decision but has reportedly now switched the prize to a $1,400 gun store voucher.

Powerful guns were offered as prizes in a fundraising raffle for a girls' softball league in Texas, leaving parents outraged, The Times of London reported.

The annual, end-of-season fundraising raffle for the South Montgomery County Girls Softball League has, in the past, included prizes of free registration for the league, priority parking, and items donated by local businesses, The Times reported.

But, this year, buying a $25 ticket offered players the chance to win a Smith & Wesson 15T II semi-automatic rifle or a Glock 17 pistol, the newspaper said.

One parent whose children play in the league told local media that she had filed a complaint about the raffle to the league's board. The league said it had received three complaints from parents regarding the raffle, per the Houston NBC News affiliate station KPRC-TV.

"I was shocked," said Jessica England, who has three daughters, during an interview with KPRC-TV. "It's really upsetting to me."

England told KPRC-TV that the prizes were inappropriate choices for a family-friendly fundraiser. "They wouldn't raffle off a liquor and tobacco basket, they wouldn't raffle off a gift card to a [cannabis] dispensary," she said. "Those are not appropriate for children's activities, and I don't think this is either."

The prizes also failed to consider the community's feelings surrounding the Uvalde mass shooting, which happened in May and took place at an elementary school in Texas, where the league is based, England said. "Not even four months ago, 19 children and two teachers were gunned down using a semi-automatic assault rifle just like the one being raffled here," she told KPRC-TV.

In a statement to KPRC-TV, the league initially defended its decision. "The gun raffle is a legal and common practice," they said.

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"All winners will need to pass a background check before receiving any prize," it continued. "If winners don't pass the background check, they are deemed ineligible. SMGSL strives to be responsive to the needs of our membership."

However, according to KPRC-TV, the league has responded to the outrage by swapping the prize. Instead of the guns, the raffle winner will receive a $1,400 gift card to Springs Gun and Ammo, a local gun store, the local news station reported.

The South Montgomery County Girls Softball League did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
Owners, managers and instructors at Savannah and Richmond Hill-based Scooba Shack have pled guilty in federal court to submitting false claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through scuba classes targeting military veterans education benefits. Employees with the St. Marys-based Divers Den were also part of the scheme.

In total, the five defendants defrauded more than $4 million from VA education benefits, which helps pay college tuition, career counseling and training to U.S. military veterans and service members.

The scope of the fraud uncovered in this investigation is stunning, particularly when you consider the scheme siphoned funds intended for providing legitimate education assistance to former service members, said Georgia Southern District Court U.S. Attorney David Estes.

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The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General uncovered the fraud, which is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

As described in court documents, the five defendants worked in various capacities with the businesses and caused false submissions to be made to the VA. The false submissions misstated the businesses compliance with VA regulations, dates of students attendance, and hours of instructions, among other information. Some of the defendants also participated in creating fictitious scholarship programs to provide the appearance that a required percentage of non-VA students participated in those classes.

According to court filings, on or about May 5, 2018, Scooba Shack applied to the VA for approval to provide certain courses of study to veterans through the Post-9/11 GI Bill, a VA education benefit program that paid for tuition, housing, and other costs for veterans who met certain eligibility requirements.

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On or about July 23, 2018, Scooba Shack received VA approval to provide eight classes. Scooba Shack billed the VA between approximately $2,488 and $20,511 per veteran student enrollee for each course.

The owners of the Scooba Shack, Robert Lanoue, 63, and Judith Lanoue, 59, both Savannah residents, pled guilty to false, fictitious, and fraudulent Claims. That charge carries a statutory penalty of up to five years in prison and significant financial penalties, followed by up to three years of supervised release. As part of their plea agreement, the two will forfeit $270,893.75 from their bank account, funds that will apply toward restitution of more than $3.2 million in losses to the VA.

The store manager, instructor and school certifying official of Scooba Shack, David Anderegg, 42, a Richmond Hill resident, also pled guilty.

In January 2019, the Lanoues set up the Rick Brooks Memorial Scholarship. The intent of the scholarship was to pay for non-VA funded students enrolled in Scooba Shacks VA-approved classes. But the scholarship did not pay any funds. That meant non-VA funded students were allowed to attend classes for free or at discounted rates, which is in direct violation of the 85-15 rule.

The 85-15 Rule, according to the VA website, prohibits paying VA benefits to students when more than 85% of the students enrolled are supported by VA tuition, fees, or other charges. From January 2019 through December 2021, Scooba Shack submitted claims to the VA for tuition payments totaling more than $3 million.

Kenneth Meers, a resident of Altamonte Springs, Florida, pled guilty to preparing and submitting false petitions. Meers was a school certifying official and course director at Scooba Shack from about May 2018 to April 2021, until he became a consultant at Divers Den around May 2020 and an instructor from about June 2021 to February 2022. He also directed other defendants to create the fake scholarships used to mask the percentage of students receiving VA education benefits. As part of his plea agreement, Meers agrees that the cost to the VA of the scheme exceeded $3.5 million.

Theresa Whitlock, 55, a St. Marys resident who operated Diver's Den, pled guilty to making a false statement. That charge carries a statutory penalty of up to five years in prison. Whitlock submitted claims to the VA for tuition payments totaling more than $1.1 million. As part of restitution, Whitlock agreed to forfeit $64,260.30 seized from Divers Dens bank accounts.

Drew Favakeh is the public safety reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at AFavakeh@savannahnow.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah-based Scooba Shack owners plead guilty to defrauding veterans
Editors note: Daily coverage of the Parkland trial is being provided to all readers as a public service.

The sudden end of the defense case in the Parkland mass shooting trial this week drew criticism of and from the presiding judge, temporarily overshadowing the biggest question at issue  was enough evidence presented to convince a jury to spare the defendants life?

Its impossible to say for sure  juries are notoriously unpredictable. But at least one expert, and some trial observers, say they would not be surprised if the jury in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas mass shooting case were to show mercy toward confessed gunman Nikolas Cruz.

I would much rather be the defense than the prosecution at this point, said Nova Southeastern University law professor Bob Jarvis. The state has to convince 12 jurors to sentence Cruz to death, he explained. The defense needs only one to say no. With one vote in his favor, Cruz would be sentenced to life in prison.

Jarvis predicted the defense would actually prevail. The overwhelming evidence of guilt and premeditation, the heinous atrocious and cruel acts that resulted in 17 deaths, and the mental anguish suffered by wounded students who knew they were living through their last moments may well be offset by the recognition that the shooter suffered from mental health disorders that were long recognized but never adequately addressed.

The defense called 26 witnesses over 11 days to present its case, focusing on Cruzs biological mothers alcohol and drug abuse while she was pregnant with him, and following it up with his adoptive mothers repeated, inadequate and ultimately failed efforts to help deal with his increasingly violent outbursts.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder was identified as the most likely cause of his lifelong struggle with mental illness, according to defense experts.

This jury has three or four people who have experience with mental health issues, Jarvis said. He had a bad break right from the start. I will be stunned if this jury decides to bring back a death-penalty verdict.

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Support for that view comes from more than just the typical anti-death penalty advocates who would never choose execution over life in prison.

Fort Lauderdale jeweler Brian Keno, who describes himself as a conservative death-penalty supporter who boasts of his support for the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, said he could not imagine sentencing Cruz to death after hearing the defense case.

I dont know if mercy is the right word, Keno said. Its not like a Ted Bundy situation where he did this over and over again at different times and different places. The kid had serious mental health issues. He never had a chance. It should never have gotten to the point where he got the gun in the first place.

I couldnt pull the switch, Keno said.

Any juror who holds out on the death penalty would have to do so 17 times, once for each victim. And while the pressure to accept death for at least one will be high, Jarvis suggested holding out would get easier with each vote.

Defense lawyers originally seemed to indicate they would call nearly 80 witnesses, so few were expecting the defense team to rest after the 26th. Prosecutors will begin presenting a rebuttal case on Sept. 27.

Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer raised eyebrows with a blistering criticism of the defense team. Experts said they could sympathize with the judges frustration, though they could not defend her outburst.

Were going to be talking about this in law school for years to come, said Jarvis, who criticized Scherer for letting her emotions get the best of her. Scherer is expected to rule Monday on a motion to have her step aside from the case.

In a typical case, prosecutors and defense lawyers telegraph the broad strokes of their plans, including how long they expect their case to take and how many witnesses they are going to call. But that courtesy cannot be taken for granted, and the Parkland mass shooting trial has never been a typical case.

When youre handling a case of this nature, with 22 individuals on the jury, you want to know whats coming. You always want to be prepared, said retired Broward Judge Paul Backman, who handled numerous death-penalty cases. Lawyers like to know which witnesses will be called so they can be prepared that day for that witness.

Defense lawyers in the Cruz case had accused a prosecutor a week earlier of contacting and trying to intimidate a witness, though they did not file a formal complaint with Scherer. The episode led defense lawyers to be less open about which witnesses they intended to call next, culminating in the decision to rest their case without any advance word.

Backman called it bad form that appeared designed to provoke the judge into a response that could be the basis of an appeal.

But, Backman added, a death-penalty trial is ultimately adversarial, and the defense is not required to make the job easy for the prosecution or the judge.

They have no obligation at all, he said.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4457 or on Twitter @rolmeda
The Daily Beast

Pierre Suu/Getty ImagesModel Bella Hadid got dressed at Paris Fashion Week quite literallyshe closed Parisian ready-to-wear brand Copernis show by having a white evening gown sprayed onto her. She walked on stage Friday night, covering her breasts with one hand and wearing nothing but a thong, while a team of technicians sprayed a self-hardening fabric from a can onto her bare body. Once they had built the dress on her, she strutted down the runway, showing off her new custom-made outfit.The s
Sep. 17----Peace Lutheran Church, 1728 Centre Ave., Reading, will hold its last worship service on Sept. 25 at 10:30 a.m. The church first opened its doors 137 years ago as a chapel in Riverside. The church bell, one of three that were donated by a family from Trinity Lutheran in Reading, will ring 10 times as a final call to Peace Lutheran. Peace is one of three chapels built by Trinity in 1885. The others are Faith Lutheran of Mount Penn and Hope Lutheran of Reading. There will be a piano prelude by Bonnie Levan. Organist and choir director Beth Luckenbill will lead the anthem, "Call to Peace." A farewell luncheon will follow.

Bethany Lutheran Church, 336 Franklin St., West Reading, will celebrate its 125th anniversary with a program Sunday afternoon at West Reading Playground. There will be children's crafts at noon at the pavilion; "The Amazing Magi" the Rev. Mike Reist, from 1-1:45 p.m. at the pavilion; and Jeff "Elvis" Krick on the field from 2-4. Bring lawn chairs. A food truck will be available.

Bausman United Church of Christ, 1064 Penn Ave., Wyomissing, will hold its Oktoberfest next Saturday from noon-7 p.m., rain or shine. Live music, food, games, beer and prizes. For additional information, visit www.bausmanucc.org or call the church office at 610-375-9790.

Christ Lutheran Church, 222 Niantic Road, Barto, will worship outdoors on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Diane Houck will be the guest keyboardist. The church picnic will follow at the home of Butch and Roxanne Fox. Bring a lawn chair and a side dish or dessert to share.

The United Church of Christ in Robesonia will worship at 301 W. Penn Ave. at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday by YouTube, in person, by Facebook and by telephone. Refreshments will follow. Confirmation class begins Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Bible Study is available for everyone on Tuesday mornings at 9 on Zoom and on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 by Zoom on in-person in Miller Hall at the church. Details are available at 1zion.org and sprucc.org.

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St John's Gernant's Church (A Federated Congregation), 13 Gernant's Church Road, Ontelaunee Township, will worship Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the Memorial Hall, 12 Gernant's Church Road, which is handicap accessible. Worship will be Harvest Home. Bring a food donation for Bethany Children's Home in Heidelberg Township. Piano solo by Fern Kulp ("Have Thine Own Way.") Musician for the service will be Fern Kulp. There will be a fundraising gift baskets/gift cards/meat trays bingo on Sept. 25 at 12:30 p.m. For more information, call the church Tuesday or Friday (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) at 610 926-2384.

Trinity Lutheran Church, 1749 S. Main St., Bechtelsville, will hold a basket party next Saturday. Doors open at 9 a.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door. Refreshments will be available to purchase.

St. John's Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown, will hold worship on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Livestreamed worship continues on YouTube (St. John's ELC Boyertown). Children's Sunday school is at 9:30. Register at stjohnsboyertown.org. Free drive-through, take-out meal every Saturday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. No registration necessary.

Schwarzwald Lutheran Church, 250 Church Lane Road, Exeter Township, will hold in-person worship in the sanctuary on Sunday at 10:30 a.m., with Holy Communion.

Schwarzwald United Church of Christ, 75 Church Lane Road, Exeter Township, will be holding an in-person and Zoom service on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. It will also be available on YouTube. The annual church picnic will follow. Bring a covered dish. For more information, visit www.schwarzwalducc-pa.org.

St. John's Lutheran Church, 4125 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring, PA will hold in-person worship Sunday at 9 a.m., with Holy Communion and special music. Masks are optional. The service also will be livestreamed on Facebook.

Zion's Lutheran Church, 354 Zions Church Road, Perry Township, will hold a family bike ride today. The group will meet at the church at 9 a.m. and travel to the Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail. A time of fellowship will take place after the ride. Worship will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, with Holy Communion, in person, on Facebook Live and on the church website, https://zionslutheran.org. Sunday school for all ages begins at 9:15.

Christ Episcopal Church, 435 Court St., Reading, will hold three worship services, each including Holy Eucharist: at 8, a said service (no music); at 9, a service for families with young children; and at 10, a service with music. Masks are optional. Parking is available at the Abe Lincoln Hotel parking garage and the M &T Bank lot, both off of Washington St. Parking is also available beside the church on Court Street for those with disabilities or who need assistance. An elevator is available. To join the livestream, go to rdgchristchurch.org. On Thursday at 11 a.m., a Morning Prayer service from the Book of Common Prayer will be held at the Red Bridge recreational area, 2141 Tulpehocken Road, Spring Township, weather permitting.

Bern Reformed United Church of Christ, 3196 Bernville Road, Bern Township, offers live worship at 9:30 a.m. You also can participate from your vehicle in the parking lot by means of an FM 87.9 transmission or on Facebook.

Kissinger's Church, 715 Berkshire Blvd., Wyomissing, will hold an Hour of Prayer on Wednesday at 4 p.m. The public is invited to attend to submit prayer requests and to pray for others.

St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 5 W. Arch St., Fleetwood, will have two worship services in the sanctuary, at 9 and 10:30 a.m. The 9 a.m. service also will be available on Facebook and YouTube; links can be found at www.stpaulsfleetwood.org. Music at 9 will be "Morning Has Broken" with the Bell Choir and at 10:30 "Anthem of Gratitude" with the Chancel Choir. Worship Leaders will be Bob Ames at 9 and Jill Haley at 10:30.

Maidencreek Church, 261 Main St., Maidencreek Township, will hold a hybrid worship service on Sunday at 9 a.m., with a baptism. Music includes SaraAnn Harbonic, piano; Maidencreek Youth, vocal; two Senior Choir selections; and Kimberly Ayrton, organ. The in-person service is livestreamed to Facebook and YouTube. Links can be found at www.maidencreekchurch.org.
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP)  A U.S. congressional delegation headed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi arrived Saturday in Armenia, where a cease-fire has held for three days after an outburst of fighting with neighboring Azerbaijan that killed more than 200 troops from both sides.

The U.S. Embassy said the visit will include a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

On Friday, Pelosi told reporters in Berlin that the trip is all about human rights and the respecting the dignity and worth of every person.

Other members of the U.S. delegation include Rep. Frank Pallone, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and congresswomen Jackie Speier and Anna Eshoo.

A cease-fire took effect on Wednesday evening following two days of heavy fighting that marked the largest outbreak of hostilities in nearly two years.

Armenia and Azerbaijan traded blame for the shelling, with Armenian authorities accusing Baku of unprovoked aggression and Azerbaijani officials saying their country was responding to Armenian attacks.

Pashinyan said at least 135 Armenian troops were killed in the fighting. Azerbaijans Defense Ministry said Friday it had lost 77.

The two ex-Soviet countries have been locked in a decades-old conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan but has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a separatist war there ended in 1994.

During a six-week war in 2020, Azerbaijan reclaimed broad swaths of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent territories held by Armenian forces. More than 6,700 people died in the fighting, which ended with a Russia-brokered peace agreement. Moscow deployed about 2,000 troops to the region to serve as peacekeepers.
Doug Mastriano, the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor, was reportedly registered to vote in New Jersey until last year, opening himself up to the kind of carpetbagger accusations that have dogged Dr. Mehmet Oz.

The underdog GOP candidate grew up in the Garden State and voted in Jersey for 28 years until 2010, the New Jersey Globe reported.

Mastriano, who claims the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump, remained registered and eligible to vote in New Jersey until notifying authorities that he was no longer living there in 2021.

In the meantime, the staunch Trump supporter moved to Pennsylvania where he won a state Senate seat in 2018.

There is no indication that Mastriano, who attended the Jan. 6 rally but says he didnt storm the Capitol, voted or even tried to vote in both states at the same time.

But the revelation comes as a reminder of Mastrianos roots in New Jersey, a less-than-welcome biographical detail for a wannabe Keystone State governor.

Oz, a fellow Republican running for U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania, is also a longtime New Jersey resident. He moved to Pennsylvania to run for the seat left open by the retiring Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa.

The TV doctors opponent, Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, has relentlessly needled Oz about his Garden State roots, claiming he doesnt know how to pump his own gas because self-service is banned in New Jersey.

Fetterman also recruited Jersey celebs like Snooki from Jersey Shore and rocker Steve Van Zandt to make mock pleas for Oz to abandon his campaign and come home.

Mastriano may not face similarly fierce attacks because he was serving in the military for most of the years he was registered to vote in New Jersey.

The election denier won a crowded GOP primary. But he faces an uphill fight in the general election against Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

Polls show Shapiro leading by about 10% over Mastriano, who has virtually no cash in his campaign war chest.

Fetterman is also leading Oz but by a somewhat smaller margin.

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Phoenix police released edited footage on Friday that captured the moments leading up to when a man died while in their custody on Sept. 3.

Sgt. Melissa Soliz, a department spokesperson, explains in the "critical incident briefing" that police received calls about a man acting erratically near 27th and Van Buren avenues. Soliz said callers reported that the man tried to enter homes, struck his head against walls and was falling over.

Soliz shared portions of several 911 call recordings where callers reported the man was trying to break into their respective residences and speculated that he could be on drugs.

Responding officers found the man, later identified as Enrique Cantu III, hunched over outside a residence. Body-camera footage shows an officer asking Cantu what was going on before Cantu gets up and bumps into one of them. Two officers force Cantu to the ground and place him in handcuffs.

One officer can be heard saying, "Relax, man ... trying to help you out," as Cantu makes incoherent noises. The officers try to get Cantu onto his feet and later situate him so he is lying on his side and called the Fire Department to evaluate him.

Phoenix respond to calls of a man acting, later identified as Enrique Cantu III, acting erratically and trying to enter homes in a Phoenix neighborhood on Sept. 3, 2022. Cantu later died after suffering what appeared to be a medical incident.

Responding firefighters begin evaluating Cantu, who seems to spasm occasionally, but later have the police officers remove his handcuffs after noticing that his condition had deteriorated significantly. A firefighter can be seen giving Cantu chest compressions before he was taken to a hospital where he later died.

Soliz said the Maricopa County Medical Examiner will determine Cantu's cause of death.

Soliz said the in-custody death triggered a criminal and administrative investigation to determine whether the officers followed department policy and the law as is protocol.

Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or perry.vandell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @PerryVandell.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix police release edited footage of in-custody death
WARSAW, Poland  Polands Ministry of National Defence has signed two contracts to buy 48 FA-50 light attack aircraft from South Korea, with the first 12 jets to be delivered next year and a further 36 aircraft in the years 2025 to 2028.

Polish President Andrzej Duda, who was present at the official signing ceremony on Sept. 16, said the implementation of the program to introduce the FA-50 aircraft to the Polish military will allow us to fully resign from using the [Soviet-designed] MiG-29 and Su-22 aircraft, as quoted in a statement released by his office.

We assume that, in general, for the coming decades, and above all years, this is not the end of our purchases for the Polish fighter jet forces, he said.

A spokesperson for the Armament Agency of the Polish ministry, Lt. Col. Krzysztof Patek, wrote on Twitter that the two FA-50 contracts are worth a total of $3 billion.

Poland is also an F-35 customer. In January 2020, the government ordered 32 F-35A Lightning II jets under a contract worth some $4.6 billion, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2024.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mariusz Baszczak signed the FA-50 contracts on behalf of the Polish government. In a statement, he said that the aircrafts manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will provide Poland with a training and logistics package to accompany the jets. In addition to this, KAI is to cooperate with Polish state-run defense giant PGZ to set up a service center for the aircraft, he said.

The latest purchases strengthen Polands position as the largest customer for South Korean weapons in Europe. On Aug. 26, Baszczak signed two contracts worth a total of $5.8 billion under which 180 K2 tanks are to be delivered to Poland from 2022 to 2025, and 212 howitzers are to be supplied between 2022 and 2026.
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Police clashed with right-wing protesters on Saturday as several thousand people joined an LGBTQ march in Serbia to mark the end of EuroPride week, an event staged in a different European city each year.

Police clashed with two right-wing groups trying to disrupt the march, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said, adding that 10 police officers were slightly injured, five police cars damaged and 64 protesters arrested.

"I am very proud that we managed to avoid more serious incidents," Brnabic, who herself is Serbia's first gay prime minister, told reporters.

Following protests by nationalists and religious groups, the government had banned the march last week. But faced with calls by European Union officials and human rights activists, it allowed a shortened route for the march.

Those participating walked several hundred metres to the Tsmajdan stadium where a concert took place.

The United States' ambassador to Serbia, Christopher Hill, and the European parliament's special rapporteur for Serbia, Vladimir Bilcik, joined the march.

Previous Serbian governments have banned Pride parades, drawing criticism from human rights groups and others. Some Pride marches in the early 2000s met with fierce opposition and were marred by violence.

But recent Pride marches in Serbia have passed off peacefully, a change cited by EuroPride organisers as one reason Belgrade was chosen as this year's host. Copenhagen was the host in 2021.

Serbia is a candidate to join the EU, but it must first meet demands to improve the rule of law and its record on human and minority rights.

(Reporting by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Christina Fincher)
Authorities are searching for a man accused of stealing an undisclosed amount of money from the Monroe Community Credit Union branch in Temperance on Friday night.

The incident occurred at approximately 5:40 p.m. According to a press release issued by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the white male suspect entered the branch located at 7408 Lewis Ave. in Temperance and allegedly demanded and received an undisclosed amount of money, then fled in a dark-colored Chrysler with obstructed plates.

The suspect is described as an older white male, standing approximately 5'6" to 5'8" tall with a hunched posture and slender build, gray hair and scruffy facial hair. He was wearing a dark gray shirt, light gray athletic pants, white athletic shoes and a red visor with "Rebel" on the front. He was also carrying a red and white striped bag.

Deputies Brian Rachuba, Lance Shields and Danny Greenwood, along with Detectives Robert Blair and Joshua Motylinski are investigating. Anyone with information on the identity of the robber is asked to contact the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau at 734-240-7530.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Police seeking man accused of robbing Temperance credit union
Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -United Airlines said on Friday it will suspend service in late October to New York's John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK). Earlier this month, United had threatened to take the action if the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) did not grant the air carrier additional flights. United has been flying just twice daily to San Francisco and Los Angeles from JFK, the busiest New York-area airport, after resuming service in 2021.
President Biden met with the families of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan Friday, both of whom are detained in Russia. The meeting comes as the Biden administration works to free the former U.S. Marine and WNBA star. CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes explains the measures being taken to secure their releases.
Brittney Griner is still languishing in a Russian prison, but President Joe Biden hasnt forgotten her. He met today with her wife, Cherelle Griner, and let her know that he is working to gain the WNBA stars freedom.

Separate meetings in the Oval Office were held with Cherelle Griner and Elizabeth Whelan, sister of detained former US Marine Paul Whelan.

More from Deadline

Were going to continue to do everything that we can, working tirelessly every day, to make sure that we get them home, said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, speaking on the meeting substance.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan joined Biden at the meetings, the White House said.

Griner is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and now plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA. She was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison on drug charges on Aug. 4. Griner was convicted for having a small amount of medical cannabis in vape cartridges in her luggage. Cannabis is illegal in Russia for both medicinal and recreational purposes.

The US and Russia have been discussing a potential prisoner swap, but the talks have yet to bear fruit.

Whelan was sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in jail after being convicted of spying. He denied the charge.

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Click here to read the full article.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin mounted on the battlefield and in the halls of global power as Ukrainian troops pushed their counteroffensive Saturday to advance farther into Ukraine's partly recaptured northeast.

Western officials and analysts said Russian forces were apparently setting up a new defensive line in Ukraines northeast after the counteroffensive punched through the previous one, allowing Kyivs soldiers to recapture large swaths of land in the northeastern Kharkiv region that borders Russia.

Putin, at a high-level summit in Uzbekistan this week, vowed to press his attack on Ukraine despite the recent military setbacks but also faced concerns by India and China over the drawn-out conflict.

I know that todays era is not of war," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Russian leader in televised comments as they met Friday in Uzbekistan. We discussed this with you on the phone several times, that democracy and dialogue touch the entire world.

At the same summit a day earlier, Putin acknowledged China's unspecified questions and concerns about the war in Ukraine while thanking President Xi Jinping for Beijing's balanced position on the conflict.

The hurried retreat of Russian troops this month from parts of a northeast region they occupied early in the war, together with the rare public reservations expressed by key allies, underscored the challenges that Putin faces on all fronts. Both China and India have maintained strong ties with Russia and had sought to remain neutral on Ukraine.

Xi, in a statement, expressed support for Russias core interests but also wanted to work together to inject stability into world affairs. Modi said he wanted to discuss how we can move forward on the path of peace," adding that the biggest concerns facing the world are the problems of food security, fuel security and fertilizers.

"We must find some way out and you too must contribute to that, Modi stressed in a rare public rebuke.

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The comments cast a shadow over a summit that Putin had hoped would burnish his diplomatic status and show he was not so internationally isolated.

On the battlefield, Britain's Defense Ministry said the new front line likely was between the Oskil River and Svatove, 150 kilometers (90 miles) southeast of Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city.

After Russian troops retreated from the city of Izium, Ukrainian authorities discovered a mass grave site, one of the largest found so far.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that there were more than 440 graves at the location containing the bodies of hundreds of civilian adults and children, as well as soldiers, and that some had been tortured, shot or killed by artillery shelling. He cited evidence of atrocities, such as a body with a rope around its neck and broken arms.

Torture was a widespread practice in the occupied territory. Thats what the Nazis did. Thats what (the Russians) do, Zelenskyy said Saturday in his nightly video address. We will establish the identity of all those who tortured, who mocked, who brought this atrocity from Russia here to Ukrainian soil.

Ukrainian forces, in the meantime, were crossing the Oskil River in the Kharkiv region and have placed artillery there, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said Saturday. The river, which flows south from Russia into Ukraine, had been a natural break in the newly emerged front lines since Ukraine launched its counteroffensive about a week ago.

Russian forces are likely too weak to prevent further Ukrainian advances along the entire Oskil River, the institute said.

Videos circulating online indicated that Ukrainian forces were continuing to retake land in the country's embattled east, although their veracity could not be independently verified.

One showed a Ukrainian soldier walking past a damaged building and then pointing at a colleague hanging the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag over a mobile phone tower. The soldier identified the seized village as Dibrova, just northeast of the city of Sloviansk in Ukraines Donetsk region.

Another video showed two Ukrainian soldiers in what appeared to be a bell tower, with one saying they had retaken the village of Shchurove, also northeast of Sloviansk.

The Ukrainian military and Russia did not comment on the two villages.

Elsewhere, Russian forces continued pounding cities and villages with missile strikes and shelling.

A Russian missile attack early Saturday started a fire in Kharkiv's industrial area, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. Firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Syniehubov said remnants suggested the Russians fired S-300 surface-to-air missiles at the city. The S-300 is designed for striking missiles or aircraft in the sky, not targets on the ground. Analysts say Russias use of the missiles suggest they may be running out of some precision munitions.

Shelling of the nearby city of Chuhuiv later in the day killed an 11-year-old girl, Syniehubov reported.

In the southern Zaporizhzhia region, a large part of which is occupied by Russian forces, one person was wounded in shelling of the city of Orikhiv, the region's Ukrainian governor, Oleksandr Starukh, reported on Telegram. He said Russian troops also shelled two villages in the region, destroying several civilian facilities.

Explosions were also reported in Russian-occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia. Russian-installed official Vladimir Rogov said on Telegram that at least five blasts were heard in the city of Melitopol. The city's Ukrainian mayor, Ivan Fedorov, said they were in a village south of the city, where the Russian troops had relocated some military equipment.

Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region also came under Russian fire overnight, according to its governor, Valentyn Reznichenko. The enemy attacked six times and launched more than 90 deadly projectiles on peaceful cities and villages, he said.

Meanwhile, Ukraines atomic energy operator, Energoatom, said a convoy of 25 trucks had brought diesel and other critical supplies to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant  Europe's largest  which was shut down a week ago amid fears that nearby fighting could result in a radiation disaster.

The trucks were allowed through Russian checkpoints Friday to deliver spare parts for repairs of damaged power lines, chemicals for the operation of the plant and additional fuel for backup diesel generators, Energoatom said.

The six-reactor plant was captured by Russian forces in March but is operated by Ukrainian engineers. Its last reactor was switched off Sunday after repeated power failures due to shelling put crucial safety systems at risk.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported Saturday that one of the nuclear plants four main external power lines had been repaired.

The Russian military accused Ukraine of renewed artillery shelling of the power plant. Ukrainian authorities did not immediately address the claim.

In Russia, one person was killed and two others wounded Saturday by shelling, according to Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Russian border region of Belgorod. Gladkov blamed Ukraine. The claim could not be verified.

___

Karl Ritter in Kyiv contributed to this report.

___

Follow AP war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Editors note: This story contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault and abuse.

Federal prosecutors have revealed more about their case against Roger Golubski in the hopes of keeping him detained before trial, including the accounts of seven other women who brought allegations against the former Kansas City, Kansas, detective.

In a 25-page motion for pre-trial detention, prosecutors on Friday provided graphic details of the accusations from two women, one of whom was a minor at the time, that led to Golubskis arrest. They also included claims made by seven other unnamed victims, all women who say Golubski raped them or tried to while acting under the color of the law.

Detention is necessary because clear and convincing evidence establishes that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of other people or the community, federal prosecutors wrote.

Golubski, 69, was charged with six counts of depriving the civil rights of two women in the federal indictment unsealed Thursday. The former officer, who retired in 2010 as a captain, is accused of sexually abusing and kidnapping those two women from 1998 to 2002.

The former cop pleaded not guilty Thursday. His lawyer did not respond to an email seeking comment on the detention motion Friday.

Prosecutors provided more details about the alleged rapes of the two women, whose accounts are outlined in the indictment. One was a teenager when she was abused by Golubski, she said, and feared he could shoot her. The other woman, Ophelia Williams, who has gone public with her allegations, said Golubski told her she would never be found if she reported him.

The seven other victims, whose allegations have not led to charges, described encounters with Golubski that ranged from the 1980s until as recently as 2004. He allegedly cornered and threatened them all, sometimes displaying his police badge and gun.

One woman, identified as Other Victim 1 in court papers, alleges she met with Golubski in his office sometime in the mid-1980s as she sought help with a traffic ticket. She accepted an invitation to have lunch, she said, during which Golubski allegedly made sexually suggestive comments and offered to take her to a motel. Prosecutors allege the cop offered her money when she declined.

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She thought Golubski was driving her back to her house when he pulled into a cemetery instead and began fondling her, the woman told investigators. He then allegedly demanded she provide oral sex before reaching toward his holstered gun.

After allegedly raping her, Golubski drove her out of the cemetery, dropped her off miles away from her house and told her to remain silent about what occurred, prosecutors say.

They will believe me before they will ever (expletive) believe you, the then-officer allegedly said.

Another victim told investigators she was walking home with groceries in the mid-1980s when Golubski pulled up in his vehicle and offered her a ride. She refused at first, she said, but got in after Golubski flashed his badge.

He allegedly drove her to a cemetery as well, fondled her breasts and began masturbating as the woman tried to escape the car  only to find it was locked. Golubski then grabbed her by her neck and forced himself on her, according to court papers.

She was dropped off at her apartment, the woman recalled, and warned not to say anything.

The third victim was in her early 20s when she walked to a nearby park after having an argument with her boyfriend. She said Golubski drove up to her, identified himself as an officer and showed his badge. She felt safe getting into his car at first, prosecutors say.

She described being driven to a small field before Golubski demanded she perform oral sex. She feared being hurt or killed in the dark, secluded place and was raped by him as he told her not to fight, prosecutors allege.

The woman visited Truman Medical Center and a rape kit was used. When medical staff there called the police for her to file a report, she left terrified before they arrived. She recalled seeing Golubski again two months later, and told him she was keeping quiet. She feared for her safety and worried that Golubski would put a case on her brother, according to prosecutors.

In 1990, another woman reported meeting with Golubski as her husband was the target of a criminal investigation the detective was leading. She told prosecutors Golubski sexually assaulted and raped her periodically between the mid-1990s through 2004.

She said he threatened to take away her children if she ever told anyone.

The woman moved away and did not see him again until she was in the hospital more than 10 years later, prosecutors allege. She recalled Golubski visited her room and said: Long time no see, an event that terrified her enough to change hospitals.

Also in 1990, another alleged victim said she was 18 when Golubski visited her home as part of an investigation. She said he came back on several occasions to meet her there, until one day he brought her to a restaurant and put his hand on her thigh.

Golubski allegedly asked her if she had ever been with a white guy. She felt pressured to go out with him because he was a cop, the woman said, and he eventually pressured her for sex.

After (Other Victim 5) declined, those close to her began getting into trouble with police, prosecutors wrote in the motion.

During a visit to the police station two or three years later, the woman told investigators Golubski lifted her dress, held her thighs and aggressively attempted to perform oral sex on her. She said she pushed him away and resisted until Golubski eventually let her leave.

In 2004, a sixth alleged victim reported Golubksi visited her home while investigating a drive-by shooting. A few days later, as she was driving to work, Golubski allegedly pulled her over and told her he knew her sons were involved with criminal activity and threatened to arrest her unless she had sex with him.

She refused, she said, and was told by Golubski that he would take her sons down, according to prosecutors. She also alleged KCKPDs internal affairs office told her they could do nothing about her report because it was her word against his.

She described other instances where she was harassed, saying Golubski taunted her after arresting her brother a little more than a year later.

Also in 2004, prosecutors allege Golubski called a seventh victim after seeing her booking photograph and asked her to meet him at the city courthouse.

The woman said he escorted her into an empty office building, identified himself as the KCKPD homicide captain, and offered to help her out with a local prosecutor on a criminal case. He then tried to kiss her and started touching himself, she told investigators.

As she fought off his advances, she said, Golubski only stopped after a person knocked on the door.

He told (Other Victim 7) that if she told anyone, she would end up in the morgue, and he would cover it up, prosecutors wrote.

Legal arguments

Golubski, who retired from the police force in 2010 and has never been convicted of a crime, made his first court appearance Thursday,

Tom Lemon, Golubskis court-appointed defense attorney, advised the judge of concerns about Golubskis physical health, suggesting the court should take those factors into account while weighing the possibility of detaining him until trial.

Prosecutors, however, believe Golubski is more dangerous  not less  today.

While Golubskis charged crimes occurred decades ago, he has demonstrated a continued pattern of engaging in predatory behavior and implicit and explicit threats, prosecutors wrote, referencing the account of the woman who alleges Golubski visited her in the hospital years after assaulting her.

The defendants victims live in fear because he has used his position of power to terrorize and traumatize them, the prosecutions motion says, adding: He has spent decades lording his power over his victims and the community by demonstrating how unbound by legal limits he feels.

The detention hearing is scheduled for Monday afternoon at the federal courthouse in Topeka.
Insiders who bought AU$303k worth of Prospech Limited (ASX:PRS) stock in the last year have seen some of their losses recouped as the stock gained 13% last week. However, total losses seen by insiders are still AU$174k but in since the time of purchase.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

Check out our latest analysis for Prospech

Prospech Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Independent Non-Executive Director John Levings bought AU$303k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.08 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than AU$0.034 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when an insider has purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price. John Levings was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months.

The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

Prospech is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insider Ownership Of Prospech

I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Prospech insiders own about AU$1.2m worth of shares (which is 42% of the company). Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders.

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So What Does This Data Suggest About Prospech Insiders?

The fact that there have been no Prospech insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. It would be great to see more insider buying, but overall it seems like Prospech insiders are reasonably well aligned (owning significant chunk of the company's shares) and optimistic for the future. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 5 warning signs with Prospech and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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The Pennsylvania State Education Association hosted an event with local educators Friday in opposition to Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastrianos extreme proposed cuts to education funding.

Educators from Mifflin County and the State College Area School District spoke out against Mastriano and the education funding proposal that many fear would have a devastating impact to public schools. The event was one of ten held across the state by the PSEA in response to a March interview with WRTA Radio where Mastriano said he would look to cut school funding by $10,000 per student.

If that plan came to fruition, PSEA says public school districts across the state would see disastrous cuts. SCASD alone could see a $72.5 million reduction in funding, cutting over 600 staff positions and dramatically increasing class size, PSEA warned.

SCASD board president Amber Concepcion said that while any budget cuts would have to pass through legislation, Mastrianos comments show a lack of comprehension surrounding education funding.

These are public schools really for families, theyre the hub of the community, Concepcion said. I dont think he understands what it cost financially to run schools because you cant do that without people. And by far, the vast majority of every public school budget is employees and their salaries because its a people-centric business.

PSEA created an interactive online map to see how proposed funding cuts could effect each district.

SCASD board member Peter Buck also condemned any potential budget cuts.

We need children to work in the workforce of the future who are going to be able to think through and act on problems in an informed way, Buck said. And when you slash budgets, you make it that much harder for everybody to be able to face those problems in a realistic fashion.

State College Area school board member Peter Beck gathers Friday with Pennsylvania State Education Association members to voice concerns about gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastrianos proposed cuts to education funding.

SCASD teacher and president of the State College Area Education Association, Shai McGowan, described the potential loss of funding as heartbreaking.

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The outcome is unimaginable, McGowan said. As an educator in Pennsylvania, Ive just never had to think about something so awful.

Members of the PSEA are not the only educators speaking out against Mastriano. Recently 84 school board directors across Pennsylvania signed a letter condemning Mastrianos proposed cuts, with Buck and fellow SCASD board member Jackie Huff among them.

Mastrianos office did not respond to a request for comment.
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 2022 Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia on September 7, 2022 Sergey Bobylev/TASS Host Photo Agency/Handout via REUTERS

President Vladimir Putin is facing an increasing threat from Russian ultra-nationalist figures who are using their huge platforms on Telegram to demand a far more aggressive military mobilization in Ukraine.

For months, Putin appeared to have established broad support for the war, while successfully drowning out dissent. But following a series of military defeats, culminating in the devastating rout in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region, the president is facing pressure on multiple fronts.

Breaking with the official line, the ultra-nationalists have increasingly become a thorn in the side of Putin's administration, causing Putin's carefully assembled 'power vertical' to splinter from the inside.

Last week, Igor Girkin, a leading ultra-nationalist who led the pro-Russian separatists in 2014 trying to wrest the Donbass region from Kyiv's control in 2014, told his 581,000 subscribers on Telegram that Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu should be executed by firing squad and that Russia should launch strikes on Ukrainian power plants.

Several people, including Girkin, have called for tactical nuclear strikes to be used on various targets in order "to drive 20 million refugees to Europe." The tactic was encouraged again on Russia's state-run Channel One, the leading propaganda outlet, by Igor Korotchenko, a military expert and editor of Russia's National Defense magazine.

Others have accused the Kremlin of concealing "bad news" about how poorly the war has been going for Russia  a criticism that, until now, has largely been denied a hearing in the heavily muzzled Russian media. This week, Ukrainian officials said they have retaken more than 3,000 square miles of Russian-held territory since the start of September.

The State Duma usually rubber stamps whatever law Putin wants and is not noted for rocking the boat. So it surprised many commentators on Monday when Mikhail Sheremet, one of its members from the ruling United Russia party, said publicly that "full mobilization" in Ukraine was necessary for victory.

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Igor Girkin is seen in the city of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine on July 11, 2014. Dmitry LovetskyAP Photo

Attacks like that have meanwhile emboldened others from across the political spectrum to speak up in a way that seemed impossible just a few months ago. Earlier this week, liberal councilors in Moscow and St. Petersburg signed a petition demanding Putin's resignation.

Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has responded directly to the growing clamor and the nationalists' anger at Russia's retreat, saying that Russians as a whole continue to support the president.

"The people are consolidated around the decisions of the head of state," said Peskov. "As for other points of view, critical points of view, as long as they remain within the law, this is pluralism, but the line is very, very thin, one must be very careful here."

Since first winning the presidency in 2000, Putin has folded all of Russia's key institutions, from the media to the church and the courts, into a power vertical where the Kremlin's bureaucratic machine stands at the top. The idea was to smother any glimmer of democracy and the influence of the oligarchs by making sure all of the key decisions went through him.

Pressure from all sides

Putin's edifice of power has withstood pressure for over 20 years from protests inspired by liberals, ecologists, pensioners and Siberians but now it is facing its biggest threat.

As the nationalists' most prominent figurehead, Igor Girkin has been among the most searing in his criticism of Russia's military strategy. His comments have ranged from pessimistic, suggesting a belief that Russia could be defeated, and bravado, as he's sought to cajole Putin into taking more aggressive action.

Addressing his followers last week, Girkin said: "The war in Ukraine will continue until the complete defeat of Russia. We have already lost; the rest is just a matter of time.'

Then, on Wednesday, Girkin said that Kremlin officials were living "on the Planet of the Pink Ponies" and that Russia must commit to total war rather than entertain any illusions that the conflict could end with "peace on parity terms."

"Just do not stop at the objects on the Left Bank [of the Dnipro river]. Kyiv and Western Ukraine must be extinguished no less, and even more ruthlessly," he said.

Aleksandr Kots, a pro-Kremlin war journalist with 600,000 followers, used his Telegram channel on Wednesday to say that the Kremlin was hiding terrible news from the Russian public.

"We need to do something about the system where our leadership doesn't like to talk about bad news, and their subordinates don't want to upset their superiors," he said.

Girkin and Kots, as well as war bloggers such as Boris Rozhin and German Kulikovsky, are believed to be untouchable due to the krysha  protection  afforded them by figures in the senior echelons of the military and security services.

Ramzan Kadyrov, the tyrannical leader of the volatile Chechen republic, is the wild card in the deck.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, left, meets with Chechnya's leader Ramzan Kadyrov in Moscow on Feb. 3, 2022. Dmitry Astakhov, Sputnik, Government Pool Photo via AP

Speaking on his Telegram channel on Thursday, Kadyrov said: "There is no need to wait for the Kremlin to declare martial law. Each regional governor is quite capable of preparing, training and staffing at least 1,000 volunteers."

Chechnya has already prepared a law allowing the drafting of men born in 1995-2004, while Kadyrov has called on regional governors to carry out "self-mobilization."

Even the Communists are acting up after two decades of obsequious obedience. Their veteran leader Gennady Zyuganov is seemingly frustrated with toeing the official line 26 years after allegedly having the presidency stolen from him by Russia's first president Boris Yeltsin. ,

Speaking on Tuesday, Zyuganov said: "Most of all, we need maximum mobilization of our strength and resources" in order to win what he called a "war" against the US, Europe and NATO.

A day earlier, his Communist comrade Mikhail Matveev caused a stir when the suggested that governors and deputies sign up for the front as volunteers.

The Governor of Khabarovsk Mikhail Degtyarev, who had been attending the Eastern Economic Forum, complained to the Russian news outlet RIA Novosti that he would like to fight in Ukraine as a volunteer, but could not vacate his position. Degtyarev is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, a loyal Kremlin faction formerly led by the notorious ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovksy, who died in April.

Residents in his Far East region quickly created a petition "to help the Governor fulfil his dream and go fight in the Donbass." The petition has already been signed by tens of thousands of people, but Degtyarev has yet to resign.

'Harming the the future of Russia and its citizens'

Criticism of the war effort is also coming from the liberal side of the political spectrum although many of its senior leaders are either in exile or have already been rounded up.

Earlier this week, St. Petersburg councillor Ksenia Thorstrom shared a petition for Putin's resignation that had been signed by two dozen fellow liberal councillors in Moscow and St. Petersburg. "We, the municipal deputies of Russia, believe that President Vladimir Putin's actions harm the future of Russia and its citizens," it said.

Emergency workers move the body of a Ukrainian soldier during an exhumation in the recently retaken area of Izium, Ukraine, on Sept. 16, 2022. Ukrainian authorities had discovered a mass burial site that contained hundreds of graves. Evgeniy Maloletka/AP Photo

A week ago, representatives from St Petersburg's Smolninskoye region, went further and called on federal lawmakers to open a treason case Putin in order to remove him from office for launching the invasion of Ukraine.

Unlike the response to other political factions, the reaction by the authorities against the liberals has been swift. The Smolninskoye District Court ruled that the municipal council should be dissolved and subsequently charged the deputies with "discrediting" Russia's military.

Councilor Nikita Yuferev, who was fined and threatened with prison after attaching his name to the petition, tweeted: "Now the Governor of St. Petersburg will decide whether to disperse us to hell or not."

Yet the public discourse has changed dramatically since the war began seven months ago.

Back in April, Aleksei Gorinov, a municipal councilor from one of Moscow's districts, was jailed for seven years after he lightly criticized the invasion of Ukraine during a discussion about a children's drawing contest.

A fractured alliance

The Kremlin has had tricky relations with fringe ultra-nationalists who are typically difficult to control despite the authorities best efforts to infiltrate them. The National Bosheviks, a movement led by the writer and dissident Eduard Limonov, had to be confronted in 2001 for plotting to invade Kazakhstan in a bid to foment a rebellion there by ethnic Russians. Limonov, who was arrested, denied the charges.

Since 2014, nationalists like Girkin had been advocating for Russia to conquer more territory to create "Novorossiya"a notional territory that encompasses eight Ukrainian oblasts, including the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and much of eastern and southern Ukraine. Putin's decision to invade Ukraine, supposedly to protect Russian speakers in the eastern provinces and to encourage what he called an urgent "de-Nazification" of the country, realized one of the nationalists' top priorities.

Burned Russian tanks litter Vokzalna Street in Bucha, where a column of Russian military vehicles making their way toward Kyiv was destroyed by Ukrainian forces; Bucha, Ukraine, April 4, 2022. The bodies of more than 450 people killed during Russia's occupation of Bucha have been discovered. Erin Trieb for Insider

Nothing more demonstrated to the ultra-nationalists that Putin was wedded to their cause than when he convened a Security Council meeting in February, just days before the invasion, to rubber stamp recognition of the Donbass and Crimea as independent states.

Putin all but declared war on Ukraine by warning that Kyiv would bear responsibility for "ensuring bloodshed" if they did not stop the violence against ethnic Russians in the east of its country.

In extraordinary footage broadcast from a Kremlin marble hall, each member of the Security Council was compelled by Putin to say on the record whether they supported the controversial decision.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin squirmed uncomfortably and muttered that he did, while Sergey Naryshkin, head of Russia's fearsome foreign spy service, stammered nervously and got confused after being grilled by Putin.

The political theater and the subsequent invasion convinced the ultra-nationalists that Putin and the ruling elites were now firmly on their side.

The democratic stooge

The ways in which the debate in Russia has shifted in recent days and weeks can be seen on state-controlled television talk shows. Months ago, calling the Russian action in Ukraine a "war," rather than using Putin's phrase of "special military operation" could have landed a commentator in trouble. But these days, lawmakers make that point openly.

Panel discussions on stations like NTV and Rossiya-1 have long featured a token democratic stooge who is kicked from pillar to post for being a NATO apologist, or in the pocket of the US. However, panelists and hosts are now struggling or unable to silence that lone voice, who's now seen as the only one making any sense, in the face of Russia's overwhelming military setbacks.

In a clip that has gone viral, liberal Moscow municipal deputy Boris Nadezhdin appeared on a NTV talk show and declared that "it's absolutely impossible to defeat Ukraine using those resources and colonial war methods with which Russia is trying to fight."

Nadezhdin, a one-time ally of murdered opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, called for peace talks aimed at halting the war before being interrupted by Sergey Mironov, head of the pro-Kremlin Just Russia party. Mironov declared that there can be no negotiations with "Zelenksy's Nazi regime," and that the only option is that it's destroyed.

With that, the show suddenly erupted into a genuine debate, with another participant seemingly backing Nadezhdin by highlighting the military's failings.

Contrast that clip with an appearance made by Nadezhdin on the same show in April, when the other participants ganged up on him for brazenly suggesting that the Soviet Union had "occupied Czechoslovakia and Eastern Europe."

"We didn't occupy anyone, we freed them," one of the panelists corrects Nadezhdin.

By Thursday, leading propagandist Vladimir Solovyov was wondering aloud why Nadezhdin hadn't been thrown in jail. One of his guests on the Rossiya-1 channel bravely weighed in, suggesting there must be many people who think like Nadezhdin if he's free "to say it on a federal television station."

To this, Solovyov, who has been sanctioned and had his Italian villa seized, quipped that if Russia is democratic, it may be a sign that the Kremlin's control over the media  a key pillar in Putin's power vertical  is weakening.

A demonstrator holds a sign reading 'No war!' in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Feb. 24, 2022. Hundreds of people gathered in the center of Moscow on Thursday, protesting against Russia's attack on Ukraine. Many of the demonstrators were detained. Dmitri Lovetsky/AP Photo

It's not unheard of in Russia for radical hawks to use the media to test the waters for radical policies.

What's different about this moment is that a growing number of these figures are now off-leash  openly undermining Putin and warning that he will be replaced if he does not order more extreme action against Ukraine.

The widespread purging of liberals and journalists that occurred in the early days of the Ukraine war is relatively straightforward in Russia. But cracking down on ultra- nationalists is more dangerous and may have dire consequences  especially if Russia loses the war.

Meanwhile, as the Russian economy is slowly grinding towards Brezhnev-era zastoi (stagnation), ordinary Russians are fed up with rising grocery prices, being on unpaid leave from their jobs, and being blocked from traveling to the West.

"People are keeping their heads down and trying to block out the news," said Maxim, who declined to give his full name out of fear for his security.

"Some of my friends have lost their jobs, and everyone is tightening their belts. Any mobilization would be the tipping point because nobody here wants to fight this stupid war  apart from the raving nationalists."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Queen Elizabeth II, England's longest reigning monarch, died on Sept. 8 at age 96.

She is now lying in state at Westminster Hall, and her coffin will remain there until the morning of her funeral on Monday.

Ahead of the queen's funeral, female members of the royal family have been spotted wearing mourning veils as they attend various events in honor of the late queen.

A mourning veil is worn by someone who is grieving as a symbol of sorrow.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II: 10 FACTS AND STANDOUT MOMENTS FROM THE BRITISH MONARCH'S LIFE

Unlike other religious head coverings, which typically sit atop the head and cascade down the hair, mourning veils also cover the face of the wearer, the BBC pointed out.

Most mourning veils are made of a dark-colored lace or netting and are nearly transparent.

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, wore a mourning veil and a decorative brooch as she attended funeral events over the past week for Queen Elizabeth II. Getty Images

In the case of Queen Elizabeth II, it is tradition for bereaved family members of the royal family to wear a mourning veil to a state funeral, the BBC noted.

Mourning veils, however, are not just limited to royalty.

First lady Jacqueline Kennedy famously wore a mourning veil during President John F. Kennedys funeral and funeral procession in Washington, D.C., in November 1963.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II'S ICONIC FASHION REVEALED, FROM HER BRIGHTLY COLORED DRESSES TO HER SIGNATURE HANDBAG

While female religious head coverings are commonly associated with brides, vowed religious sisters and followers of Islam or Orthodox Judaism, there is a longstanding tradition of everyday Christian women covering their heads during worship, according to the Gospel Coalition, a faith website.

Mourning veils have unique symbolism and meaning dating back to the Bible's New Testament days, said Lily Wilson, owner of Veils by Lily in Kimmswick, Missouri.

Christian adherents to head coverings cite the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 11 as their reason for covering their heads, Wilson told Fox News Digital in a phone interview.

A very young John F. Kennedy Jr., age 3, salutes his father's coffin in an image millions of Americans remember to this day. Widow Jackie Kennedy wore a mourning veil to the 35th president's funeral Nov. 25, 1963, in Washington, D.C., as she clasped the hands of her two young children. Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

"In 1 Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul instructs the early church at Corinth that women should cover their heads when praying or prophesying," she said.

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"This instruction goes along with others meant to correct certain practices by the faithful during the early liturgy of the breaking of the bread, which was being carried out according to the command left by the Lord on the night before he died."

QUEEN ELIZABETH II'S FAVORITE DRINK WAS REPORTEDLY GIN AND DUBONNET: RECIPE

Christian veiling largely fell out of practice "around the 1960s" among Catholic and mainline Protestant denominations, Wilson explained.

However, it has started to make a comeback.

"In recent years, some Christian women have returned to the practice, especially in conservative Catholic parishes and certain Christian denominations," she said.

This includes the wearing of mourning veils at funerals.

"Customers who requested [mourning veils] appeared to be drawn to the privacy afforded by the lace that covered their faces," Wilson said.

"In years past, moreso than today, it was seen as undesirable to show emotion in public."

Mourning veils "served the dual purpose of giving privacy to the wearer in their mourning and covering the head according to the instructions of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11."

The Rev. Jeffrey Kirby, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Indian Land, South Carolina, said in an email interview with Fox News Digital that the Bible teaches that "a womens hair is her glory."

When a woman was in public during biblical times, "she veiled her hair as a sign of modesty and, if married, as a sign of love and respect to her husband," he said.

"Veils today can be worn, but they are not obligatory," he added. "Some women who wear veils insist on other women wearing them, but Saint Pauls counsel was limited to the Corinthians, perhaps because of a lack of morals [in Corinth].

"He did not ask for veils to be worn in other Christian communities. Today, when veils are ceremonially worn by women, it is a sign of esteem to the other person. When veils are worn at funerals, it is a traditional and uniquely feminine act of deference to the person who has died."

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For Wilson, veiling is "spiritually significant and enriching for our worship of God."

An evening dress from the 1890s worn by "historys most famous mourner," Queen Victoria, was made of black taffeta and accompanied by a veil, according to the BBC.

While the mourning veil was sometimes described as a sort of armor, Jessica Regan, assistant curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, told the BBC "mourning dress was also a form of public display, viewed by some women as an outer expression of inner feelings."
The Queen's eight grandchildren pay respect to dear 'granny at family vigil. (Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth IIs eight grandchildren took part in a vigil at Westminster Hall to pay their respects to their beloved granny on Saturday.

The former monarchs grandchildren  Prince William, 40, Prince Harry, 38, Princess Beatrice, 34, Princess Eugenie, 32, Zara Tindall, 41, Peter Philips, 44, Lady Louise Windsor, 18, and James, Viscount Severn, 14  stood in silence next to the coffin of their grandmother, the Queen, who died at Balmoral last week at the age of 96.

The eight cousins requested to commemorate the life and reign of the Queen at Westminster Hall, and had to get special permission from the King as it is the first time a monarch's grandchildren have ever mounted a vigil.

The cousins maintained their composure, despite the visibly emotional Vigil of the Princes as they stood guard for 15 minutes.

King Charles' two sons stood guard at the head and foot of the coffin, with William at the head, and Harry at the foot.

William, Prince of Wales stood at the head of the Queen's coffin as she lies in state in Westminster Hall. (Getty Images)

William was flanked by his older cousins, Zara Tindall and Peter Philips, Princess Annes children, whilst Prince Andrews daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie joined on either side of Prince Harry.

The Queens youngest grandchildren, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, stood either side of the coffin in the middle.

Their mother, a tearful Sophie, Countess of Wessex, watched on with their father Edward, Earl of Wessex from a raised platform to the side.

William, Prince of Wales, lead his cousins into Westminster Hall to pay their respects to their grandmother. (Getty Images)

Prince Edward joined his older siblings, King Charles, Andrew, Duke of York, and Anne, the Princess Royal to take part in their own vigil on Friday night

The Queens four children stood vigil around their mothers coffin, with their heads bowed, as members of the public filed slowly past them to pay their respects.

In an unexpected turn of events, the Duke of Sussex  who served in the army for 10 years  was able to wear his military uniform at the vigil for the first time since 2020 at the request of his father, the King.

The Queen's four children, including King Charles, stood vigil at her coffin on Friday night. (Getty Images)

William, Prince of Wales, lead his cousins out of the hall, whilst Harry, Duke of Sussex brought up the rear. (Getty Images)

Although he no longer holds a current military position, after he and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020, Harry wore the uniform of the Blues and Royals to honour his late grandmother and Commander-in-Chief.

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Harry has so far worn civilian clothing, occasionally with his military medals pinned to a lapel, since the death of the Queen.

William, Prince of Wales, also wore the Blues and Royals No.1 uniform of the Household Cavalry from his own time serving as a search and rescue pilot.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Lady Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall all wore black midi dresses and matching headbands to pay their respects to their grandmother.

William, Prince of Wales, and Harry, Duke of Sussex both wore their military uniform of the Blues and Royals. (Getty Images)

Harry, Duke of Sussex, wore his military uniform for the first time in two and a half years. (Getty Images)

The Queens youngest grandchild, James, Viscount Severn, faced one of the most important roles of his life so far.

His sister, Lady Louise Windsor, lost her grandmother the Queen just days after starting at St. Andrews University earlier this month. Both appeared very moved by the vigil.

It comes as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie released a joint statement earlier on Saturday to honour their dearest grannie.

We've not been able to put much into words since you left us all, the heartfelt letter reads. There have been tears and laughter, silences and chatter, hugs and loneliness, and a collective loss for you, our beloved Queen and our beloved Grannie.

We, like many, thought you'd be here forever. And we all miss you terribly, they add.

Princes William and Harry walking behind the Queen's coffin as she was transported to Westminster Hall. (Getty Images)

Earlier this week, William and Harry walked behind their father and grandmother in the procession carrying Her Majesty's coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where the Queen has been lying-in-state since Wednesday.

Speaking to some well-wishers as he viewed the flowers at the Queens Sandringham estate, William admitted that walking behind the Queens coffin at the London procession on Wednesday had brought back memories of walking behind his mothers coffin at her funeral 25 years ago when he was a teenager.

Watch: King Charles III and his siblings hold vigil as public pay respects to the Queen
All Quiet on the Western Front has a new full-color version, bringing the classic book to lifeand showing an even more devastating view of the harrowing realities of the Great War.

Erich Maria Remarque, a German veteran and journalist, wrote the 1928 book and was forced into exile in Switzerland for criticizing the war and the government.

"This German world bestseller is able to convey the inhuman terror of war, perhaps more impressively than any other literary work," Edward Berger, director of the new Netflix adaptation, said in a statement. "For me, creating its first German film adaptation is one of the most exciting challenges of all."

Find out all about the new movie and its previous adaptations, as well as why the novel was so incredibly groundbreaking and important.

Related: The 50 Best War Movies of All Time

Is there a movie for All Quiet on the Western Front?

Netflix will release All Quiet on the Western Front on its platform on Oct. 28, 2022. The film is based on a book, which had previously been adapted into a movie in 1930. A made-for-TV movie was also released in 1979.

How many movies have been made of All Quiet on the Western Front?

The 2022 Netflix release of All Quiet on the Western Front is is the third movie adaptation of the novel. The first version was released in 1930 and is regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. The second version was a made-for-TV movie that was released on CBS in 1979.

Is All Quiet on the Western Front anti-war?

All Quiet on the Western Front is fervently anti-war, both in its original novel form and new film adaptation.

Director Edward Berger told The Guardian that his version of the movie was designed to show war "from the point of view of a societal understanding which is very specifically German, that embraces the guilt that is also connected to the memory of the first world war ... Hopefully it helps to understand that nothing good can come from war. We all know it, but we seem to be forgetting it at every turn.

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Related: M*A*S*H* Trivia

What is the significance of the movie All Quiet on the Western Front?

A scene from Netflix's "All Quiet on the Western Front" (2022) Reiner Bajo/Netflix

The movie is based on the classic novel of the same name. The book is a famous anti-war story set during World War I. It tells the story of several German soldiers who deal with physical and emotional stress during their time on the front line of war and also when they return home (that is, if they were lucky enough to make it back). The movie and book are often included in school curriculums, but both were banned in Nazi Germany.

The 2022 version is in German, which director Edward Berger said was deliberate to give a "German perspective" on the war. In Germany, the memory of World War I was displaced by memories of German atrocities committed in World War II, he told The Guardian. For us [war] has a lot to do with shame, with feelings of guilt and pain. This is precisely what we wanted to convey.

Is All Quiet on the Western Front available on Netflix?

Felix Kammerer in a scene from Netflix's "All Quiet on the Western Front" (2022) Reiner Bajo/Netflix

The newest film, All Quiet on the Western Front (2022), is available exclusively on Netflix.

All Quiet on the Western Front (1979) is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video's FreeVee.

The 1930 version is available for rent on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV, Vudu, and YouTube.

Related: What Was Queen Elizabeth II's Job in World War II?

Who is in the All Quiet on the Western Front cast?

Daniel Bruhl stars as Matthias Erzberger, who is based on a real German citizen who spoke out against World War I after serving in the army.

Felix Kammerer plays Paul Baumer, a student who lies about his age to join the army. In the novel, Baumer narrates the story. The full cast includes:

Daniel Bruhl as Matthias Erzberger

Daniel Bruhl as Matthias Erzberger in Netflix's "All Quiet on the Western Front" (2022) Netflix

Felix Kammerer as Paul Baumer

Felix Kammerer as Paul Baumer in Netflix's "All Quiet on the Western Front" (2022) Reiner Bajo/Netflix

Aaron Hilmer as Albert Kropp

Aaron Hilmer as Albert Kropp in Netflix's "All Quiet on the Western Front" (2022) Reiner Bajo/Netflix

Edin Hasanovic as Tjaden Stackfleet

Edin Hasanovic as Tjaden Stackfleet in Netflix's "All Quiet on the Western Front" (2022) Reiner Bajo/Netflix

Devid Striesow as General Friedrichs

Devid Striesow as General Friedrichs in Netflix's "All Quiet on the Western Front" (2022) Reiner Bajo/Netflix

Albrecht Schuch as Stanislaus Katczinsky

Albrecht Schuch as Stanislaus Katczinsky stands in front of Felix Kammerer as Paul Baumer in Netflix's "All Quiet on the Western Front" (2022) Reiner Bajo/Netflix

Moritz Klaus as Frantz Muller

Adrian Grunewald as Ludwig Behm

Is there an All Quiet on the Western Front trailer?

Netflix released a trailer for All Quiet on the Western Front on Sept. 6, 2022. The film would then go on to premiere at the Toronto Annual Film Festival 2022. It will release on Netflix on Oct. 28, 2022.

How can I watch All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)?

All Quiet on the Western Front will release on Netflix on Oct. 28, 2022. Anyone with a Netflix account will be able to watch it. The film also premiered on Sept. 12, 2022, at the 47th annual Toronto International Film Festival.

Related: The Best Sun Tzu Quotes From The Art of War and More

How many movie versions of All Quiet on the Western Front are there?

So far, there have been three movie versions of All Quiet on the Western Front.

The first, released in 1930, is regarded as one of the greatest films ever made and was the first "talkie" movie to win Oscars (for Best Director and Outstanding Production). It was banned in Nazi Germany for its anti-German and anti-war messaging.

All Quiet on the Western Front (1979) was a TV movie that won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Made for Television, as well as an Emmy for Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or Special.

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) is the third film adaptation of the iconic book.

Where was All Quiet on the Western Front filmed?

A scene from Netflix's "All Quiet on the Western Front" (2022) Reiner Bajo/Netflix

Filming for the newest release of All Quiet on the Western Front occurred in March 2021 in Prague, Czech Republic. The story is mostly set at the frontlines of the German army during World War I. During the war, the western front ran from the North Sea to the Swiss frontier.

How accurate was All Quiet on the Western Front (1979)?

The novel All Quiet on the Western Front is a fictionalized account of the author's experiences during World War I. The 1979 movie is also fictionalized story, although it is often considered to be a fairly accurate depiction of soldiers' experiences during the war. It shows both the horrors of war and the terrible living conditions of life on the front.

Why did the students join the army in All Quiet on the Western Front?

Felix Kammerer as Paul Baumer with other students enlisting to fight in World War I in Netflix's "All Quiet on the Western Front" (2022) Reiner Bajo/Netflix

The students join the army after hearing patriotic speeches from their teacher, Kantorek. The speeches turned out to be propaganda and the boys' experiences in the army are terrible. One of the students, Paul Baumer, narrates the story.

Related: How to Help Military Families and Veterans

What does it mean when someone says "all quiet on the Western front?"

The title All Quiet on the Western Front is an ironic one that comes from a post-script in the book: It reveals that the protagonist Paul is killed in October 1918a month before Armistice Day. It is described as a day of such little fighting that the military sent out a two-line memo that read, "All quiet on the Western front."

In modern use, it's often meant to convey a lack of change or a general stagnationfor better or worse. The direct translation of the phrase from its original German is closer to "There was nothing new to report on the Western front."

Why was All Quiet on the Western Front book banned?

The book All Quiet on the Western Front was banned in Germany by Hitler's regime due to its anti-war themes. The book was also banned in Austria, Poland, Italy, France and Australia. Despite this, it grew in popularity and is now considered a modern classic.

Was All Quiet on the Western Front a true story?

While the historical events and setting of All Quiet on the Western Front were all too real, the actual story is a work of fiction.

Next, check out the 101 best movies on Netflix right now.
Members of the public file past the Queens coffin as it lies in state in Westminster (PA Wire)

There has been plenty of exceptional broadcasting after the death of the Queen, a much-planned-for event that, somehow, still feels bigger than anyone could have anticipated. The presenters have been heroes  solemnly narrating a shot of a gate for hours on end is quite a skill  and being able to watch King Charles IIIs proclamation ceremony, televised for the first time, was goosebump-worthy. But theres always a moment when it all starts to get a bit silly, and that moment has now arrived with the surreal livestream of the Queens lying-in-state. Her coffin is in Westminster Hall before her funeral on Monday, so that the public can pay respects; for five days, it will be filmed 24 hours a day. Anyone can tune in as people file past  some in rucksacks and raincoats, some in their best black hats  watery-eyed, bowing their heads before moving on. As I write, nearly 15,000 people are watching it on the BBCs website.

Joining the queue to see the Queen lying at rest is a major, physically gruelling commitment; the waiting time was 14 hours until it was closed on Friday for reaching capacity. In a practical sense, then, the livestream is there not just for the curious but those who cant manage the long wait. Some have said how much theyre enjoying it, finding it calming and peaceful. And there have been major technological advances since Britain last had a new monarch, so why not? That urge to get it all on film is understandable  were all a bit awed by the sheer history-ness of it all. But the livestream feels a bit like taking pictures on your phone that youll never look at again, when you should have just been savouring what was happening right in front of you.

The relentless filming of the event has stripped it of its strange power, blunted its magisterial edges and turned it into something strangely voyeuristic. I find it immensely moving that each person, for their own specific reason, has taken the decision to be there. But, as the camera zooms in on peoples faces as they walk past, the tone is strangely intrusive. It becomes a quirky spectacle, rather than the profound moment of respect and grief thats clearly present in the room. Everyones making the same joke: its like the retro Channel 4 Big Brother livestream. Its weird to see mourning turned into reality TV.

That its gravity has been lost in translation is also causing a lot of people to declare how very British it all is. Whats becoming clear is that very British is actually a codeword for eccentric. The livestream seems to epitomise that. One person wrote on Twitter: Saw there is a dedicated livestream for the Queen lying in state and I have to ask is Great Britain okay. Another: There is nothing more British than people queuing for 2.5miles to see the Queen, being able to track the queue online, then watching it on livestream. Of course, it looks fundamentally absurd to watch people patiently wait for their turn to do a sad bow. But to be there, part of this strange but dignified ritual, clearly feels very different.

The performatively twee idea of Britishness is looming large throughout this period of mourning. The queue has overtaken Paddington Bear as our new national symbol of soft stoicism. Everything feels anachronistic and yet somehow exactly as it should be. The royal parks have had to ask people to stop leaving marmalade sandwiches; the Ladbrokes over the road from me has filled its windows with tributes to the Queen. But being here  in the room, as it were  I find that eccentricity is endearing, reassuring even. Its when its severed from its real-life atmosphere that it looks overblown and caricature-like. And with that, theres always a looming danger of a slide into snobbery. How long until they become memes, asked one person on Twitter. I feel a tenderness towards those who wanted to make that trip; by zooming in, we never feel far from a general sense of why are you, a weird person, doing this weird thing?

Those in the long queue to see the Queens lying-in-state make their way past Tower Bridge (AP)

Besides, its obvious that the TV coverage will continue to be weird enough. You only have to turn on the TV to see the latest weird thing someone is saying or doing. I watched Sky News for five minutes this morning, and historian Anthony Seldon was, unrelatably, extolling the virtues of pilgrimages to Kay Burley. We all need pilgrimages in our lives, he declared. As a former headteacher, doing things that are physically difficult is really important. To have the endurance of an all-night vigil. Deprivation. These things are important.

Just before he spoke, we met eight-year-old Freddy from Salisbury, who had queued through the night with his family, wearing his Beavers uniform. Asked what it was like to finally see the Queen, he replied: It was good fun... before the truth set in: Exhausting. Um. Very tiring. The presenter, persevering, asked again. What was it like? Um. Sad? Freddy said, stopping to think, before adding with a shrug: Sad again. Im sure hell tell his grandkids about it, if he has them. But his bewilderment, almost affrontery, at being asked to discuss the experience and describe it on live TV seemed to sum it up. The livestream isnt the most British thing  Freddy is.

When it comes to TV coverage of a royal event, there is no such thing as saturation point. Be it a wedding, a birth, or  as now  a death, we are nationally reconciled to one fact: it will be endless. There is talking, talking, and more talking, sending broadcasters into a tail-spin of speculation and contributors reaching for platitudes. So much so that former BBC broadcaster Simon McCoy frequently went viral for his blunt exasperation at reporting on royal births. Plenty more to come, none of it news but that wont stop us, was how he infamously ended one live link from outside the Lindo Wing in 2013. Its ironic, given that a cherished anecdote about the Queen has her taking traumatised war surgeon David Nott to pet the corgis, before saying: There. Thats so much better than talking, isnt it?
Eighty-eight veterans received quilts in honor of their service on Thursday, the final day of the annual Wayne County Fair.

WOOSTER  Kathryn Gray left the stage with the help of her son as nearly 200 fellow veterans, their families and friends looked on at the Wayne County Fair Thursday afternoon.

Under the 99-year-old World War II veteran's arm was one of the many red, white and blue quilts sewn by members of the Tree City Quilters' Guild that were piled up on stage in the Coliseum building at the fairgrounds.

Bird flu meets Ashland fair:Ashland County Fair bans live poultry. Will consumers be hit next?

"It's really exciting, and it's a really nice thing to have," she said after receiving her quilt.

Gray is one of 88 veterans who received quilts in honor of their years of service on the final day of the annual fair. Those honored ranged in service from World War II to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and served in all branches of the military.

Veterans recognized for service

Red, white and blue quilts, made by members of the Tree City Quilters' Guild, were handed out at the Wayne County Fair Thursday, to 88 veterans of various wars who served in different branches of the military to honor them for their service.

While she never fought on the front lines, Gray is one of the many people who played behind-the-scene roles that made military campaigns possible.

As the Allied powers of the U.S. and United Kingdom planned the D-Day invasion of France, she was stationed stateside along the West Coast, said Doug Gray, her son who accompanied her to the event.

Kathryn Gray worked as a meteorologist analyzing weather patterns across the often storm-struck and choppy English Channel in preparation for the invasion, he said.

DeWine:Gov. Mike DeWine tours Wayne County Fair, touts agricultural features

"It's good to know people care and recognize the service of those who weren't on the front lines," he said.

Doug Gray is one of many family members who either supported their loved ones at the event or who accepted a quilt on their behalf.

Some accepted a quilt for their fathers or grandfathers who recently died, while others were there representing people who were unable to attend due to illness.

Telling their stories

World War II veteran Walter Slater receives his quilt during a Thursday ceremony at the Wayne County Fair.

Guest speaker and quilt recipient Tom Ballinger, a staff sergeant in the Army, told his 9/11 story to the crowd, at times choking back tears.

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Word of the first plane striking the World Trade Center came when he was stationed in Germany, he remembered. A colleague told him at their base because the only news they got was from a British news station. Then the second tower was struck.

"I had never been to New York City, so I didn't know what the towers were," he said.

The base was locked down for days as soldiers like Ballinger were handed ammunition in preparation for what they thought would come. But what came was quiet, he said.

Dreams to be a racer:Mansfield native learns to train horses at Wayne County Fair, aims to be a racer

On Oct. 9, he was on a plane back to the U.S. when the pilot told passengers to look out the window. He saw the former site of the World Trade Center.

"People were crying and praying the whole time that flight," he said.

In the following weeks, Ballinger trained for urban warfare before he was deployed to Iraq for the next 13 months.

Upon returning to the U.S., he came back to Wayne County where he became a police officer, he said.

Quilts for veterans enters another year

For those who organized the event, like Greg Long and Dan Lutz, the quilt donation was a resounding success as it concluded its second year.

In its first year, Honoring Our Patriots' Service donated 56 quilts, Lutz said. For 2023, nearly 25 people are already signed up.

"There are probably hundreds if not thousands of veterans in Wayne County," said Long, who encourages residents to register local veterans for the 2023 quilt event.

Steve Weaver, a U.S. Air Force veteran from 1971 to 1974 who served in Vietnam, was glad to be recognized for his service. It felt like another homecoming, he said.

He discovered HOPS in the last couple of months when, he said, they contacted him. That's when he told another veteran, his brother, about the event.

Both men received quilts.

"It's something I'm very proud of," he said about his service and the quilt.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Veterans receive quilts in honor of service at 2022 Wayne County Fair
WARWICK  One person described proposals for steep increases in electric and natural gas rates as unconscionable. Another likened the rate hikes to a sledgehammer. They and dozens of others warned state regulators on Friday that Rhode Islanders would suffer if the increases are approved.

I have to choose right now. Do I want my heat or do I want my health? said Ruth Diamond Madsen, who suffers from arthritis, asthma and pulmonary disease.

Madsen was homeless for years and now advocates for those seeking shelter. She worries that the spiraling costs of energy could send her back onto the streets.

If this happens, Ill be homeless, she told the three members of the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission.

More: Advocates call on utility to lower proposed electric rate hike

Over the course of three hours at a hearing in Warwick, 33 people commented in person on the proposals put forward by Rhode Island Energy, which, with a customer base of 780,000, is the states largest energy utility. All but two of the speakers urged the commission to reject the companys requests, which would see a nearly 50% increase in the typical monthly residential electric bill and a 15% bump in the annual natural gas bill.

Gov. Dan McKee

The people who came out to the commissions offices to speak included Gov. Dan McKee, who stopped short of opposing the requests but did repeat his call for steps to be taken to mitigate the increases. They include using $3.9 million from the states share of a regional cap-and-trade energy program to offset part of the bill impact for low-income customers and spreading the costs of the increases beyond the regular six-month rate period.

McKee questions whether war in Ukraine really to blame

McKee also urged regulators to take a closer look at Rhode Island Energys procurement practices as he questioned the utilitys rationale in blaming the war in Ukraine for high global energy prices that are driving the proposed rate hikes.

Story continues

Fifty-five percent of the procurement occurred prior to the invasion of Ukraine, he said referring to the electric proposal.

Rhode Island Energy has indeed put part of the blame for the increases on global demand for natural gas caused by European countries seeking alternatives to Russian supplies. The utility has also pointed to the impact of inflation as economies recover from COVID shutdowns.

Electric rates across the nation were already going up coming into this year as the economy started recovering from the pandemic.

More: Home heating costs will skyrocket in RI this winter. Here's how much your bill could go up

The average electric price nationwide last year rose at its fastest pace since 2008, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The surge came as the price of natural gas, a major fuel for electric generation, more than doubled. The trend is expected to continue this year across the country.

When would rate increases take effect in RI?

Customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and other nearby states have seen big increases already and are expecting to see further rate hikes this winter. Rhode Island ratepayers havent been hit yet because of the way Rhode Island Energy staggers contracts for supply.

But come Oct. 1, electric rates would more than double. The increase in natural gas rates would follow Nov. 1.

By law, Rhode Island Energy is forbidden to profit from energy sales. It has committed to using $50 million in bill credits promised by its parent corporation as part of an agreement with Attorney General Peter Neronhas office to ease the pain for ratepayers. Thats about $64 for every electric customer and another $64 for every gas customer. The company has also said it offers payment plans and other options for struggling customers.

We dont take any proposed bill increase for our customers lightly, said Rhode Island Energy representative Stephanie Briggs. We remain focused on balancing affordability for our customers with ensuring the safety and compliance of our electric and gas systems.

More: McKee proposes $4 million in relief to ease electric rate hike for low-income customers

Lawmaker calls on utility to absorb some of rising energy costs

But Rep. David Morales said the measures offered by Rhode Island Energy are inadequate.

That is why I call on Rhode Island Energy directly to absorb some of the costs of the increasing energy prices that we are seeing, the Providence Democrat said.

In a filing with the commission, the attorney generals office said customers should be able to choose to defer some of the energy costs. Neronhas office also expressed support for a proposal put forward by McKee to suspend a fixed $6 monthly customer charge.

Benny Grayson, who works with the George Wiley Center, a Pawtucket-based group that advocates for the poor, said that after a long, hot summer, people are already behind in their electric bills.

To take on a rate increase at this point could be very devastating to us, he said.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island residents speak out against proposed energy rate hikes
It is unclear whether Russian frontline forces have sufficient reserves or adequate morale to withstand another concerted assault in eastern parts of Ukraine, according to defence experts.

British defence intelligence analysts believe Moscow has established a defensive line between the Oskil River and the town of Svatove following a successful counter-offensive from the Ukrainians, forcing the Kremlin to concede swathes of territory.

The zone is viewed as important partly because it sits along the border of the Luhansk region, part of the Donbas, which Russia has sought to liberate as one of its key war aims.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 17 September 2022



Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/6uJ9hVTrLq



 #StandWithUkraine  pic.twitter.com/e6OKSzJF08  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) September 17, 2022

Any substantial loss of territory here would unambiguously undermine Vladimir Putins strategy for the conflict, the experts say.

In its latest update on the situation in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it is unclear whether Russias frontline forces have adequate reserves or morale to withstand another concerted Ukrainian assault in eastern parts of the country.

It comes as bodies have been unearthed at a mass burial site near the city of Izium, in the Kharkiv region, which was recently recaptured from Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the dead included both children and adults, civilians and military.

Tortured, shot, killed by shelling, Mr Zelensky said.

Even entire families are buried there: Mother, father and daughter.

Story continues

Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko said the recapture of Izium was a huge strategic gain, militarily speaking.

Ukraine is making confident advances in the north-east and the south-east of the country as well, she told Sky News.

We are making progress for our sake, but also for the sake of bringing back long-standing peace to the continent.

Asked what she thought Mr Putin might do next, she said: Nobody can be in the mind of that power-crazed leader.

Maria, 8, cries at the coffin of her father who was killed defending #Ukraine. No child - ever and anywhere - should know such pain and carry its burden for the rest of their life. This photo has been haunting me for days now  pic.twitter.com/DMqzb1zEIU  Lesia Vasylenko (@lesiavasylenko) September 17, 2022

She added: Whatever it is, we have to be prepared for it  we have to be prepared for it as Ukrainians, you have to be prepared for it in the UK.

And actually, people worldwide need to be prepared that something absolutely atrocious, another crazy move, can happen any time.

For that, Ukrainians need to have the weapons to protect themselves, the ammunition in the necessary amount to protect themselves.

And the West needs to be prepared to apply every sanction that there is in the book against Russia.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's defence ministry said on Saturday that its forces had launched strikes on Ukrainian positions in several parts of Ukraine, and accused Kyiv of carrying out shelling near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Russian forces conducted their strikes in the Kherson, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, according to the ministry, which added that Ukrainian forces had carried out an unsuccessful offensive near Pravdyne in Kherson.

Radiation levels at Zaporizhzhia, Europe's biggest nuclear power plant, remain normal, according to the ministry. It said two incidents of Ukrainian shelling were recorded near the plant on Saturday.

A spokesperson for Ukraine's foreign ministry denied that Ukrainian forces had carried out shelling near the facility in the south of the country.

Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of shelling the Zaporizhzhia plant. The U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency passed a resolution on Thursday demanding that Russia end its occupation of the facility.

Alexey Kulemzin, the mayor of the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, which is controlled by pro-Russian separatists, said on Telegram that four people had been killed by shelling in a central part of the city. Fragments of French-made Caesar howitzer shells were found, Kulemzin added.

The TASS news agency meanwhile cited local authorities in Russia's Belgorod region as saying that one person had been killed by Ukrainian shelling.

Reuters was not immediately able to verify battlefield reports.

In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have retaken territory previously held by Russian forces in the northeastern Kharkiv region. East and south of there, Russia has concentrated forces for months in Luhansk and Donetsk provinces, to expand territory held by Moscow-backed separatists since 2014.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Pravin Char)
ROMAN PETRENKO  SATURDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2022, 09:08

Another Russian military base burned down near Molochnyi Estuary in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on the night of 16 September.

Source: Ivan Fedorov, Mayor of Melitopol, on Telegram

Quote: "We witness the consequences of occupiers smoking in unauthorised locations in action. [This is a pun playing on the fact that Russian sources often underreport Ukrainian strikes and say that it is their soldiers smoking in unauthorised locations instead  ed.]

Today (17 September - ed.) at 04:00 the enemy were minus one military base in the Radyvonivka Reserve near Molochny Estuary.

They are smoking so powerfully that the smoke is still coming."

Previously: On 16 September, a powerful explosion rang out at an airfield in the Ukrainian city of Melitopol, temporarily occupied by the Russians.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
ROMAN PETRENKO  SATURDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2022, 14:59

The National Guard of the Russian Federation [also known as Rosgvardiya] have detained over fifty people suspected of "connections with Ukraines military and secret services", in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts within a week.

Source: Kremlin-sponsored news outlet Interfax, citing a report by Russias National Guard

Quote: "The Russian National Guard have detained 52 people suspected of aiding nationalist organisations, the Security Service of Ukraine and Ukraines Armed Forces, within a week."

Details: Additionally, Russias National Guards report that they allegedly discovered "two dead-drops with weapons and ammunition", which contained an ATGM (anti-tank guided missile), eight infantry flamethrowers, five anti-tank rocket launchers with five warheads to them and two anti-tank mines.

Background: Previously, the Russian military detained two employees of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant allegedly suspected of cooperation with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Become our patron, support our work!
IRYNA BALACHUK  SATURDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2022, 10:31

Russian invaders are building fortifications in Luhansk Oblast, transferring troops and equipment to the area of Svatove, and have turned off cable internet for the population.

Source: Serhii Haidai, Head of the Luhansk Oblast Military Administration on Telegram

Quote from Haidai: "After the mobile internet, cable internet is also being turned off in the territory of Luhansk Oblast. The population of the so-called "LPR" [self-proclaimed "Luhansk Peoples Republic"] is isolated from the outside world.

Russians continue to house personnel and military equipment in educational institutions in the temporarily occupied territories. Military equipment is stationed on the premises of the local agrarian lyceum [specialised secondary school - ed.] in the settlement of Khomivka, Luhansk Oblast, and Russian personnel are staying in the lyceums buildings."

Details: At the same time, Haidai noted that over the past week, life in the Luhansk Oblast has changed a lot.

The invaders no longer know when they will hold their sham "referendum" due to the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on different fronts. However, they are building fortifications and preparing to defend themselves.

The head of the Oblast Military Administration also noted that local partisans are slashing cars tires of the so-called "people's militia", and panic among the occupiers and collaborators after the death of the "prosecutor general of the so-called "DPR" [self-proclaimed "Donetsk Peoples Republic"] has increased.

Russians fired using tanks, mortars and artillery on such settlements:

on the Kramatorsk front - Kryva Luka, Pyskunivka, Raihorodok, Staryi Karavan, Mykolaivka, Dronivka, Rozdilne, Siversk, Verkhnokamianske, Sviatohirsk, Sosnove, Oleksandrivka, Yaremivka, Pryshyb, Tetianivka, Ozerne, Starodubivka, Bilohorivka, Spirne, Yarova, Donetske.

on the Bakhmut front - Bilohorivka, Rozdolivka, Vyimka, Odradivka, Soledar, Mykolaivka Druha, Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Yakovlivka, Vesela Dolyna, Vesele and Maiorsk, Niu-York, Zaitseve.

Story continues

Haidai added that on 16 September, units of Ukrainian defence forces had repelled Russian attacks, causing them losses in the areas of Bakhmut, Zaitseve, Avdiivka, Mykolaivka Druha and Novomykhailivka.

Over the past day [16 September], aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have launched an attack on occupiers. Nine areas with a concentration of Russian servicemen and military equipment, 3 strong points, a rear command point and 2 aid defence system positions were confirmed to be hit.

Journalists fight on their own frontline.

Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron.
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO  SATURDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2022, 16:11

Five people, including a child, have been injured as a result of Russian attacks on the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast.

Source: Pavlo Kyrylenko, Head of the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Facebook

Quote: "Five people have been injured as a result of todays attack on Kostiantynivka.

One of those injured is a child."

Details: Kyrylenko added that Kostiantynivka is quite far from the frontline, yet the Russians have been constantly firing on the city.

He called upon all civilians to evacuate from Donetsk Oblast, especially families with children, elderly people and people with disabilities.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Become our patron, support our work!
Arkansas Republican gubernatorial candidate Sarah Huckabee Sanders was released from the hospital on Saturday after undergoing a procedure to remove thyroid cancer.

Huckabee Sanders, who served for a time as former President Trumps White House press secretary, shared a picture of herself riding home from the hospital with her husband.

On our way home from the hospital  cancer free, she wrote. Words cannot express how much we appreciate the outpouring of love, prayers and support!

On our way home from the hospital  cancer free. Words cannot express how much we appreciate the outpouring of love, prayers and support! pic.twitter.com/LRPtoF11ty  Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) September 17, 2022

Judd Deere, Sanderss spokesman, also shared the news via Twitter on Saturday morning.

Following successful surgery on Friday to remove her thyroid and surrounding lymph nodes and in consultation with her physician, Sarah was discharged from an Arkansas hospitalcancer freetoday, Deere wrote in a statement.

Sarah is in great spirits and remains grateful for the exceptional care and service provided by the doctors and nurses, he added.

.@SarahHuckabee has been discharged from an Arkansas hospital this morning and will continue the rest of her recovery at home.



More from me on Sarah #arpx #breaking pic.twitter.com/o29UmTNLwD  Judd Deere (@JuddPDeere) September 17, 2022

Sanders released a statement on Friday announcing that she had undergone the surgery and that she is cancer-free.

Story continues

Today, I underwent a successful surgery to remove my thyroid and surrounding lymph nodes and by the grace of God I am now cancer-free, she wrote.

This experience has been a reminder that whatever battle you may be facing, dont lose heart. As governor, I will never quit fighting for the people of our great state, she added.

Sanders said she will soon return to the campaign trail leading up to the November gubernatorial election in Arkansas, where she will face Democrat Chris Jones.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Sarah Sanders Cancer Surgery (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, a Republican who is running for governor in Arkansas, was released from a hospital Saturday after undergoing surgery for thyroid cancer.

Following successful surgery on Friday to remove her thyroid and surrounding lymph nodes and in consultation with her physician, Sarah was discharged from an Arkansas hospitalcancer free, said Sanders spokesperson Judd Deere. She will spend the remaining portion of her recovery at home.

Deere told The Associated Press that Sanders, 40, plans to resume campaigning soon, but it was not known precisely when she would return.

Sanders said Friday when announcing the surgery that a biopsy earlier this month revealed she had thyroid cancer.

Dr. John R. Sims, a surgeon at CARTI Cancer Center in Little Rock who is one of Sanders' doctors, said Sanders cancer was a stage 1 papillary thyroid carcinoma, the most common type of thyroid cancer and said she has an excellent prognosis.

Sims said Sanders will need adjuvant treatment with radioactive iodine and long-term continuing care.

Sanders, who served as former President Donald Trumps spokeswoman until 2019, is running against Democratic nominee Chris Jones. She is the daughter of former Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Jones and his wife, Jerrilyn, on Friday issued a statement saying their family was thinking of Sanders and praying for her.

Sanders is heavily favored in the predominantly Republican state of Arkansas to win the office currently held by Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who is leaving office in January due to term limits.

Shes run primarily on national issues in the Arkansas race, promising to use the governors office to fight President Joe Biden and the radical left.
Sep. 17BEMIDJI  Fifth-grade student Gabriel Lindman from Schoolcraft Learning Community received an award from the North Country Vocational Cooperative Center to attend the 2022 National Youth Leadership Forum  Pathways to STEM conference in Minneapolis this past July.

"During the weeklong residential program held at the University of Minnesota, Gabe took part in many hands-on simulations and workshops centered on engineering, forensic science, medical careers and more," a release said.
Aero's Embraer ERJ-135 jet. Danielle Bauter

Aero is a luxury airline that operates in Europe and North America for $1,000 each way.

Danielle Bauter flew to Aspen on Aero and got to experience the amenities and tour the cockpit.

She learned about the pilots' safety features and enjoyed the concierge services.

With so many reports of flight chaos nowadays, I've been thinking about a stress-free travel experience I had with Aero last year.

The outside of an Aero Embraer ERJ-135 jet. Danielle Bauter

Aero is a luxury jet service catering to wealthy clientele.

An Aero jet. An Aero Embraer ERJ135 aircraft.

It charters flights to and from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Aspen, Sun Valley, and Los Cabos, Mexico, as well as between Nice and Ibiza and London and between Mykonos and Ibiza.

The Aero logo outside the terminal. Aero

One-way fares start at around $1,000. It launched in Europe in 2020 and in the US in February 2021. The company raised $65 million in series B funding in August and is valued at $300 million.

An Aero jet. Danielle Bauter

Source: Aero

For this trip, I flew from Los Angeles to Aspen.

The view from the plane in Aspen. Danielle Bauter

As I entered the terminal, I immediately noticed how it lacked the chaos of an airport, and I was greeted upon arrival.

Outside the Aero terminal. Aero

After collecting my information and checking my bag, an Aero employee handed me a sleek, clear boarding pass.

Aero's boarding pass. Danielle Bauter

Aero offers the luxury of arriving at a private terminal only 20 minutes before departure.

The Aero terminal. Aero

They also have a dedicated concierge team, who can book you a driver or make sure your favorite drink is on board.

The Aero terminal. Aero

I quickly became a fan of Amass hard seltzer.

Amass seltzer, one amenity provided by Aero. Danielle Bauter

Brent Hoffman, a pilot who's been at the company for a year, recently invited me on board the aircraft so that I could view the cockpit and learn more about its features.

Brent Hoffman in front of an Aero jet. Danielle Bauter

Hoffman flies to Aspen, Sun Valley, and Los Cabos, Mexico, from both Los Angeles and San Francisco.

An Aero engine. Aero

The plane I toured, the ERJ-135 jet, accommodates up to 16 passengers.

The stairs leading into the Aero jet. Danielle Bauter

It has hand-stitched Italian-leather seats and ample luggage storage.

The seats on Aero. Aero

The plane lacks overhead bins, but you can check two pieces of luggage weighing up to 50 pounds each and one small personal item that fits under the seat in front of you.

You can enjoy both a window and aisle seat simultaneously on Aero's flights. Danielle Bauter

On my flight to Aspen last year, I especially enjoyed the mood lighting and a custom sound system by Bongiovi Acoustic Labs, which turns interior panels into speakers and feels like an immersive experience.

Story continues

The inside of the cabin. Danielle Bauter

And the leg room was amazing, with 43" between my seat and the one in front of me.

Plenty of legroom. Danielle Bauter

Even the four-legged passengers seemed excited to be there, especially this little one.

A fellow passenger. Danielle Bauter

As I entered the plane, I got my first glimpse inside the cockpit, where all of the flight magic happens. Right outside the entrance is the flight attendant's seat.

The entrance to an Aero jet cockpit. Danielle Bauter

As I entered, I felt a bit overwhelmed at first, as there seemed to be so many different buttons, switches, lights, and screens that I wasn't sure where to look.

The view of the cockpit from the doorway. Danielle Bauter

I watched Hoffman climb into the cockpit and settle into his seat, a place where he clearly felt comfortable.

Hoffman preparing to explain the cockpit's features. Danielle Bauter

He explained that Aero operates Embraer ERJ-135 shuttles. Currently, there are three in the North American fleet and three in Europe, with plans to expand to 30 total jets.

Controls in the cockpit of an Aero jet. Danielle Bauter

Hoffman said the jets are in high demand because they have low operating costs.

An Aero jet. An Aero Embraer ERJ135 aircraft.

The first thing he reviewed was the preflight checklist, a series of tasks that must be performed before takeoff. Many are done with call and response between the captain and first officer.

The preflight checklist. Danielle Bauter

From my vantage point in the first officer's seat, I took in my set of screens, including the primary flight display, which makes altitude, airspeed, vertical speed, and other measurements, and the multifunction display, which displays the route, the weather radar, the traffic-collision-avoidance system, and a moving map.

My view of the PFD and MFD from the first officer's seat. Danielle Bauter

Above my head are the ice-protection and air-conditioning panels, which keep moisture from accumulating on aircraft surfaces and also keep the plane cool.

Controls in the cockpit. Danielle Bauter

I was also curious about the big yellow lever. Turns out, it prevents wind from causing unexpected movement of the control surfaces.

Danielle Bauter

I couldn't comprehend how someone could remember all these different bells and whistles, but Hoffman reassured me that not only do the pilots go through extensive training, they're also regularly monitored by the FAA and Aero's own in-house team.

Hoffman explains the features of the cockpit. Danielle Bauter

The cockpit voice recorder starts recording the moment the batteries are turned on before takeoff, and is a useful component in determining what happened in the case of a crash.

Cockpit voice recorder. Danielle Bauter

In case of fire, there's a protocol that must be followed, but pulling the red fire-extinguishing handle will essentially shut down the engine.

Aeros fire extinguishing handle. Danielle Bauter

There's also a good old-fashioned fire extinguisher if necessary.

Fire extinguisher and other safety equipment along the back wall. Danielle Bauter

Oxygen tanks are available for pilots in case of emergency.

Aeros oxygen tanks. Danielle Bauter

Hoffman also said the different screens in front of the pilot mirror each other, with one for each pilot. At the bottom is the flight management system, where pilots enter the flight plan and ensure the data is correct.

Aeros LED screens including the Flight Management System. Danielle Bauter

The rows of buttons above my head were circuit breakers, something that Hoffman said he doesn't mess with. If he notices anything that could potentially be missing, he'll instead call one of Aero's mechanics for assistance.

Aeros circuit breakers. Danielle Bauter

Once Hoffman explained the features to me, I felt even more confident about Aero's security procedures. It also made me long for an experience like the flight I took to Aspen. I can't wait to fly with them again.

Bauter in front of the plane. Danielle Bauter

Read the original article on Business Insider
Send Relief is sending Volunteers working across Jacksonville to help neighbors in need. Send Relief cares for the vulnerable, responds to global crises and connects the church with compassion ministry.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Through ministry centers across the U.S. and partners on the ground in dozens of countries, Send Relief offers training, mission experiences and opportunities to support projects around the world to help transform lives with lasting impact.

Hundreds of volunteers from churches across Jacksonville, with others coming from other areas of Florida and even from out of state, will serve the city through community projects as part of a national event called Send Relief Serve Tour, happening this Saturday Jacksonville from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

This event is one of seven stops on the 2022 multi-state service tour, which is being held in partnership with local churches, city leaders and schools that have identified tangible needs within their communities.

Serve Tour is designed to provide community support and service through a multitude of specific projects, including providing gift bags for every school principal in Duval County; serving meals to first responders; working on landscaping projects at multiple schools in disadvantaged areas of the city; packing food to help provide weekend meals for children in need; and hosting block parties for communities struggling financially and socially.

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Serve Tour Jacksonville is being mobilized by Send Relief, a faith-based relief organization that works across the U.S. and around the world to meet needs and change lives through compassionate outreach events like this one.

More information about Send Relief is available at sendrelief.org.





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Atlanta police are searching for a man they say broke into an Atlanta couples home and stole more than $150,000 of their property.

Surveillance video shows the shirtless man hop over the back fence to the home on Cedar Chase Drive. Video shows him proceed to look into the house from the back porch before kicking in the door.

Less than 15 minutes later, he is seen on a camera attached to the front door walking out with the couples property.

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The couple reported $150,000 of jewelry stolen, including an engagement ring, wedding band, diamond ring, diamond bracelet and diamond necklace. They say he also stole a green ESP LTD guitar, a black diaper bag, Amazon Kindle tablet, set of keys, Welchs fruit snacks and chips.

Police say the suspect also left some of his own belongings behind to replace the ones he stole.

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Officers found the suspects black backpack on the back patio where he entered the house. Inside the backpack, investigators found a pink iPad, a roll of toilet paper with blood on it and other items. It is unclear if the blood belongs to the suspect.

Detectives were unable to get any fingerprints from the house. They are still working to identify the suspect.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral will take place on Monday 19 September, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The Queen died on Thursday 8 September after 70 years on the throne. She was aged 96.

Royal protocol outlines that the nation enter into a state of mourning, but there are also several procedures in place surrounding funerals for members of the royal family.

Unlike Prince Philip, who had a royal ceremonial funeral, the Queen will have a state funeral, which is usually reserved for the sovereign.

But what exactly is a state funeral and who else has had one? Heres everything you need to know.

What is a state funeral?

A state funeral is usually reserved for monarchs and is a way of honouring the life of the sovereign.

It typically begins with the body of the deceased being carried on a gun carriage, which is drawn by sailors from the Royal Navy rather than horses, as part of a military procession, taking them from a private resting chapel to Westminster Hall in the House of Parliament.

This is typically followed by another procession to to Westminster Abbey or St Pauls Cathedral, depending on where the service is.

Heads of state are then given a 21-gun salute.

It is the responsibility of the Earl Marshal to deliver a state funeral with the support of the College of Arms.

Who is entitled to a state funeral?

The head of state is always entitled to a state funeral.

However, other people can be granted a state funeral with the monarchs approval and a vote in parliament, which needs to deem them an exceptionally distinguished person and then votes on money to fund it.

Who has had a state funeral in the UK?

In the UK, the most recent people to have had state funerals include Sir Winston Churchill (1965) and former prime ministers William Gladstone and Lord Palmerston, who were given state funerals when they died in 1898 and 1865, respectively.

The Duke of Wellington was given a state funeral in 1852 and Lord Nelson was given one in 1806 following his death in the battle of Trafalgar.

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Monarchs to have had state funerals include Queen Victoria (1901), King Edward VII (1910), King George V (1936) and King George VI (1952).

How does a state funeral differ from a royal ceremonial funeral?

There arent too many differences between the two types of funerals. For example, both include a gun carriage to bear the coffin and a service attended by domestic and foreign state representatives.

Additionally, both can include a lying in state, which is a tradition where the body of the deceased is placed in a state building to enable the public the chance to pay their respects.

Slight differences to the two funerals include the coffin being drawn by horses at a royal ceremonial funeral as opposed to sailors from the royal navy.

The main difference, though, is who organises the funeral. For example, ceremonial royal funerals are the responsibility of Lord Chamberlain - the most senior official of the Royal Household, while for state funerals it is the responsibility of Earl Marshal.

Those to have had royal ceremonial funerals include Princess Diana in 1997 and the Queens mother in 2002.

Where are members of the royal family buried?

Traditionally, members of the royal family are buried in St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Members of the royal family who are buried there include Queen Victoria, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I and the Queens mother.
Getty Images

Six states are on track to tax Biden's student loan debt forgiveness.

Nonpartisan think tank the Tax Foundation said some states are likely to end up blocking tax plans.

Borrowers could be left with an average bill of $500 for the student loan relief if it is taxed.

Six states are set to tax Biden's student loan debt forgiveness, but one expert says the number is likely to fall.

Historically, any sort of debt forgiveness or debt cancellation at the state or federal level has been considered taxable income. But under the American Rescue Plan act any student loan debt forgiveness between 2021 and 2025 will not attract federal tax.

The debt relief is still triggering some states' tax codes because not all conform to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) in the same way.

"Most states follow the federal tax code to a significant degree," Jared Walczak of nonpartisan think tank the Tax Foundation told Insider.

But while most do so with rolling conformity  where if a change is made to the Internal Revenue Code it is followed automatically  some have fixed-date conformity, he said.

This is where most of the state-by-state deviation on taxing student loan forgiveness stems from.

Walczak said that the only states that had actively made a decision about student debt and decoupled from the American Rescue Plan were Indiana and North Carolina. However, the Governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, has called for the tax to be waived.

Plans by states including Arkansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Wisconsin, and California to tax the loans were mainly due to legacy issues, Walczak said. He expected most to amend their tax codes rather than leave residents with an extra bill.

"It's a list that's only going to get smaller, not larger at this point," Walczak said.

"No state has taken any sort of action since the announcement of student debt cancellation to affirmatively tax it," he said. "Instead, we've had states largely trying to change the treatment to avoid taxing it. I've heard lawmakers in Arkansas, Mississippi, Minnesota, California, and Wisconsin, all talk about the possibility of amending the law."

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California, for example, is more likely to adopt a provision conforming directly to the treatment of student loan debt under the IRC than allow the relief to be taxed.

"California is an interesting state," said Walczak. "Officials are hanging on to the thin read that they don't know whether it's taxable or not."

Walczak said few believed tax could be avoided under California's existing regulations.

"So we've essentially seen legislative leaders say: 'well if that's true, we'll fix it'. We will go just pass a law that will change the treatment, and they almost certainly will," he added.

Any states that don't take steps to avoid the extra tax could saddle borrowers with an average tax bill of $500, Walczak estimated.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Hong Kong: New anti-drug publicity launched

The Government today launched its new anti-drug publicity campaign during a large-scale programme and introduced the anti-drug ambassadors.

Chief Executive John Lee delivered opening remarks for the programme via a recorded video.

He said young people are the future of society and pointed out that drug abuse and drug trafficking not only have a profound impact on youngsters' physical and mental well-being, but also ruin their prospects.

Mr Lee added that the Government spares no effort in its fight against drugs and law enforcement agencies have successfully tackled many drug-related cases.

In 2021, the number of cases detected by Police and Customs increased by 15%, along with a 150% increase in the amount of drugs seized, reflecting the departments' strict attitude towards drug offences.

The Chief Executive also reminded the public that cannabis is a drug, noting that more than half of the young drug abusers had used cannabis.

As such, the Government will control cannabidiol (CBD) as a drug through legislation. Products containing CBD are expected to be prohibited early next year so as to safeguard the health of everyone.

At the programme's opening ceremony, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki and Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung kicked off the Government's new anti-drug campaign.

Mr Chan led other officiating guests to announce the anti-drug slogan, "Let's Stand Firm. Knock Drugs Out!", and introduced the anti-drug ambassadors Beat Drugs Squad to the public.

The squad is formed by Agent Don't and Agent Hope and their names refer to "don't take drugs" and the hope of a positive life.

Additionally, the Narcotics Division's anti-drug publicity includes new TV and radio announcements in the public interest to be broadcast from tomorrow with the aim of reminding the public, especially young people, to stay away from drugs and encouraging drug abusers to seek help early.

A series of anti-drug advertisements will also be placed on public transportation networks, mobile applications, websites and social media platforms.

This story has been published on: 2022-09-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Steve Bannon is seen after been found guilty on contempt of Congress outside the E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse on Friday, July 22, 2022. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Steve Bannon championed DeSantis' move to send migrants to Martha's Vineyard.

In a post on GETTR, Bannon called the Florida governor a "national leader."

His comments come as GOP members are sending migrants to different states.

Right-wing commentator Steve Bannon touted Ron DeSantis as a "national leader" after the Florida governor's controversial move to help arrange a flight sending 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard.

"DeSantis' move has Democrats on back foot, seething with anger," Bannon wrote on GETTR, a conservative social media platform, on Friday.

"Governor DeSantis reinforces image as a national leader in forcing illegal immigration to the top of the news," the former Trump adviser added.

His comments come after DeSantis sent dozens of migrants by plane to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts earlier this week. The migrants, who were from Venezuela and Colombia, flew from San Antonio, Texas, to the Massachusetts island.

"Yes, Florida can confirm the two planes with illegal immigrants that arrived in Martha's Vineyard today were part of the state's relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations," Taryn Fenske, the communications director for DeSantis, told Fox News Digital.

The move was reportedly a jab at the Biden administration, who some GOP lawmakers believe is not addressing the issues at the border. Other top Republican officials, such as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, have sent busloads of migrants to other cities like Washington, D.C. Democratic lawmakers like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have publicly denounced the GOP actions.

"It's appalling that far-right politicians seem to have decided that fall before an election is their regularly scheduled time to commit crimes against humanity on refugees," AOC said on Friday. "Don't normalize this. Lying to & trafficking people for TV and clicks isn't politics as usual. It's abuse."

Read the original article on Insider
LANSING  New data from the Michigan Department of Education shows K-12 student attendance dropped below 89 percent in the 2021-22 school year.

After hitting 93 percent in the 2019-20 school year, statewide attendance at public schools was at 88.82 percent last school year.

In addition, the number of students considered chronically absent increased from previous years. Students are deemed chronically absent if they miss 10 percent or more of possible days during the scheduled school year.

For the 2021-22 year, just over 38 percent of students were chronically absent across the state. That number was around 20 percent over the previous four years.

The gap in attendance rates for economically disadvantaged students and non-economically disadvantaged students grew across the state as well.

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For those economically disadvantaged, the attendance rate was 86 percent, 6.1 percent lower than those that were not disadvantaged. The difference between those groups was 3.9 percent in 2019-20.

These data are consistent with what we have already known to be true during the past two years  students have received less instruction during the pandemic, stated State Superintendent Michael Rice. Students need more instructional time, especially vulnerable students such as those who are economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, and English learners.

Rice encourages parents and districts to focus on attendance to make the best use of the time that is available to them for student instruction.

Data from MiSchoolData.org shows how each public school district in the state fared.

Three Rivers had an attendance rate of 90.86 percent last year. The district had 34 percent of students deemed chronically absent. Chronically absent students had an attendance rate of 81.3 percent, while other students were at 95.2.

Mendons attendance rate was also 90.86 percent. A total of 34.3 percent of students were chronically absent and combined for an 81.8 percent attendance.

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At Bronson, students were in attendance 90.64 percent of the time. Around one-third, 33.7 percent, of the student body was chronically absent. Those chronically absent had an 81 percent attendance rate.

Sturgis had an 89.7 percent attendance rate during the 2021-22 school year.

Sturgis had an 89.7 percent attendance rate and 33.9 percent of students chronically absent. That chunk of students had a 77.2 percent attendance, compared to 95.5 for those not chronically absent.

At Centreville, students were in school 89.62 percent of the time and 41.5 percent of students were chronically absent. Those students came to school 81.9 percent of the time.

The attendance rate at White Pigeon was 89.57 percent, including 79.2 percent among chronically absent students, which totaled 37.9 percent of the district.

Colon had an 88.76 percent attendance rate with a chronically absent percentage of 41.5. Students that were chronically absent attended school 81 percent of the time.

Constantines attendance rate was 88.62 percent. A total of 35.3 percent of students were chronically absent and had an attendance rate of 76.3 percent.

Attendance at Burr Oak was 86.81 percent. More than half of students, 53.3 percent, percent were chronically absent. They had an attendance rate of 67.5 percent.

 Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Most Sturgis-area school attendance rates higher than state average
Andrew Harnik/AP/Shutterstock

Since President Joe Biden announced his plans to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt for qualifying Americans last month, people have been wondering: When can I apply?

See: 5 Shark Tank Fails That Cost Big Money

Find: Everythings Bigger in Texas  Including Taxes, Which Are Outpacing California

Americans still dont have precise information from the White House on exactly how and when applications will be made available, but do have a solid idea  and experts stress that once applications are made available, federal student loan borrowers should fill them out immediately.

These are the four dates/timeframes that should be highlighted on your calendar if youre pursuing student loan debt cancellation.

Early October

In September, the U.S. Department of Education said that applications for Bidens loan forgiveness plan would be ready in early October. A specific date will soon be announced, but for now, borrowers should sign up for updates on the Department of Educations website.

Nov. 15

Federal student loan borrowers should be ready to apply for forgiveness no later than Nov. 15, Mark Kantrowitz, a higher education expert, told CNBC. It will take roughly six weeks for your cancellation request to clear. If you apply no later than Nov. 15, you are more likely to get your debt eliminated before the pause on federal student loans ends on Dec. 31.

Dec. 31

This is an important date for student loan borrowers regardless, as its the day the pause on federal student loans expires. If you have outstanding debt after the amount forgiven, make sure that you have enough money set aside to begin resuming payments in January.

Discover: How Much Cash To Have Stashed at Home at All Times

More: 9 Bills You Should Never Put on Autopay

Get Your Paperwork in Order Now

Before embarking on the application process, make sure that you have all relevant documents in hand now. Borrowers should gather any and all student loan debt records available to support their request, and can learn more about eligibility requirements here.

Story continues

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Student Loan Forgiveness: Mark These 4 Dates On Your Calendar Now
By Michael Holden and Andrew MacAskill

LONDON/EDINBURGH (Reuters) - The day after his mother, Britain's longest serving monarch, died, King Charles and his wife Camilla surprised well-wishers gathered outside Buckingham Palace in London by getting out of their car to greet them.

The following day his two sons, princes William and Harry, staged their own walkabout https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/prince-harry-meghan-appear-with-prince-william-kate-2022-09-10/ near Windsor Castle, to the delight of crowds of mourners with whom they spent 40 minutes shaking hands and chatting.

Amid a meticulously choreographed programme guiding the succession, such moments of apparent spontaneity have stood out, and suggest lessons were learned after the royals drew scorn from the press and many ordinary Britons for perceived indifference when Princess Diana died in 1997.

That had been a rare misstep by Queen Elizabeth, a monarch widely admired for steadfast service to her country, and experts believe it marked a turning point in the royal family's relationship with the public.

While the queen remained largely reserved throughout her 70-year reign, her son Charles has shown his emotions more readily. In his heartfelt first address to the nation since becoming king, the 73-year-old paid tribute "to my darling mama https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britains-king-charles-makes-first-address-nation-2022-09-09/".

His children, including heir-to-the-throne Prince William https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britains-popular-prince-william-bears-royal-weight-his-shoulders-2022-09-16/, and their wives are more informal still in their interactions with people, reflecting younger generations' less deferential attitude towards the crown.

"The royalty is adapting to the changes in society," said Ishbel Orr, 66, who had been to see the queen lying at rest in Edinburgh before her coffin was flown to London ahead of her burial.

"Until Diana's death the royalty was stuck in their old habits. It was the jolt that they needed to be more approachable. You saw the way that Charles mixed with the crowd outside Buckingham Palace."

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Robert Lacey, royal biographer and the historical consultant on Netflix's hit TV drama "The Crown", said that what was once seen as his weakness may now be Charles' strength.

"Charles always has been a more emotional person, worn his heart on his sleeve, much more than his mother, and he's been criticised for it. Well now, heart on the sleeve, emotions of mourning and dedication, he's conveyed those very well."

GOOD START

Initial reaction to Charles' handling of the succession has been positive https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britons-back-new-king-charles-so-long-he-keeps-quiet-2022-09-13/. A YouGov poll published on Tuesday found that 63% of respondents thought Charles would do a good job as king, up sharply from earlier in 2022.

The survey was based on interviews with over 1,700 adults in Britain carried out on Sept. 11 and 12.

That however may reflect a honeymoon period as the nation mourns a deeply respected monarch.

Britain is at risk of a recession, while a scandal involving Charles' brother Andrew has not gone away. He denies any wrongdoing. Criticism of Buckingham Palace from Harry and Meghan, his son and daughter-in-law, after they gave up royal duties has also alienated some younger Britons.

Charles' accession to the throne has also led to renewed calls from politicians and activists in some former colonies, including in the Caribbean https://www.reuters.com/world/charles-succession-stirs-caribbean-calls-remove-monarch-head-state-2022-09-08/, to remove the monarch as their head of state.

For now, it is about winning hearts and minds closer to home.

A quarter of a century ago, angry Britons openly criticised the royals for remaining silent when the hugely popular Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris aged 36, a year after she divorced Charles in a public and acrimonious split.

The queen and her grandsons William and Harry, then aged 15 and 12 respectively, initially remained in Balmoral, Scotland, a decision some saw as evidence of an over-privileged family, funded by the taxpayer, that was aloof and uncaring.

For others, it was seen a natural move by a family looking to protect the young princes - and the queen herself said that in an address to the nation about Diana.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people poured into London ahead of Diana's funeral, leaving a sea of flowers outside her residence - a reaction that appeared to catch the queen off guard.

"People are shocked at the death of the queen, they are sombre, but there's not that kind of hysteria and real sadness that greeted the death of Diana," said Andrew Morton, whose book about Diana in 1992 first blew apart the myth of a fairytale marriage to Charles.

Eventually the queen did travel to London, greeted crowds outside Buckingham Palace and made the rare address to the nation on the eve of the funeral. As Diana's horse-drawn coffin passed her and her family, she bowed her head in respect.

The queen said in the televised address: "We have all been trying in our different ways to cope."

"My view is that when Diana died, the queen suddenly got into people's psyche as the sort of mother of the country," said Eamonn McCabe, who was picture editor at the Guardian newspaper from 1988 to 2001.

"It's a sad thing to say, but I think it took Diana's death to get the queen out there to represent everybody."

(Additional reporting by Kate Holton; Writing by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Alison Williams)
The transportation of undocumented immigrants from multiple southern border states to sanctuary cities and the Justice Departments (DOJ) appeal to access some of the materials it obtained from Mar-a-Lago last month will likely dominate this weeks Sunday talk show circuit.

Republican Govs. Ron DeSantis (Fla.), Greg Abbott (Texas) and Doug Ducey (Ariz.) have sent migrants to northern cities run by Democrats with more lax undocumented immigration policies in opposition to President Biden ending Title 42, a Trump-era policy that prevented migrants from seeking asylum amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abbott sent a bus of migrants from the southern border to Chicago at the end of last month and sent two buses of migrants to the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., the residence of Vice President Harris, earlier this week.

Ducey has sent 1,800 migrants to D.C. since May, the Associated Press reported.

DeSantis confirmed on Wednesday that he had two planes containing about 50 migrants in total fly them to Marthas Vineyard in Massachusetts. The flights originated in San Antonio but made several stops on the way, Massachusetts state Sen. Julian Cyr (D) told The Hill.

New York City has been one of the main locations that the governors have sent the migrants.

Mayor Eric Adams (D) said in remarks at the citys Asylum Seeker Resource Navigation Center on Thursday that the city has received more than 11,000 asylum-seekers in the past few months, an unprecedented amount. He said more than 8,000 are being housed in the citys shelter system.

We will continue to welcome asylum seekers with open arms and provide them the services they need, he said. And we are seeking to get additional resources.

Adams, who will appear on ABCs This Week and CNNs State of the Union, said he communicated with the White House on Tuesday to request the resources that the city needs and is working with federal, state and local lawmakers. He has previously called for federal assistance.

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This country was built on immigrants and by immigrants. And were going to honor the tradition, born here in New York City, he said. We are going to have open doors to them, not close the doors in their faces like were seeing in other parts of this country.

Adams has accused Abbott of using the migrants as political pawns to manufacture a crisis. An Abbott spokesperson told The Hill that Adams should call on Biden to take immediate action to secure the border.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) represents a congressional district along the southern border with Mexico that includes outskirts of San Antonio. Cuellar, who will appear on CBSs Face the Nation, is one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress and joined Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) last year in calling on the Biden administration to appoint a border czar to oversee the number of migrants coming across the border.

Face the Nation tweeted that Cuellar will discuss the migrant buses the GOP governors have sent and if it is a political move to spotlight a policy challenge.

Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) has joined a chorus of Democrats in slamming the moves by the three governors. Durbin led unsuccessful immigration reform negotiations with Republicans earlier this year.

Durbin said Abbotts action sending the migrants to Chicago without any coordination with local authorities was cruel and inhumane. He said the flood of migrants has strained Chicagos social welfare services, and officials have set up cots at the Salvation Army rescue center for them.

Durbin will appear on NBCs Meet the Press.

The latest development in the Mar-a-Lago saga will also likely be a subject of discussion. The DOJ filed an appeal on Friday to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, requesting that the court overturn a judges ruling that prevents federal investigators from reviewing the more than 100 classified documents it obtained from former President Trumps Palm Beach, Fla., property while a special master reviews the other materials.

Judge Aileen Cannon ruled in favor of Trumps request earlier this month for a special master to review if any of the materials are protected by attorney-client or executive privilege. The DOJ responded by asking Cannon to overturn the ruling regarding the classified documents it obtained and said it would appeal to a higher court if she did not do so.

Cannon denied the DOJs request and appointed a special master that both Trump and the DOJ agreed to on Thursday.

John Ratcliffe, the former director of national intelligence for Trump, has raised questions about the DOJ probe, telling CBS in an interview last month that nothing he saw in the partially redacted affidavit that the FBI used to obtain a search warrant of Mar-a-Lago justified what seemed like an extreme approach by federal investigators.

Ratcliffe will appear on Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Futures.

The DOJ has said that classified documents were likely concealed from Mar-a-Lago in an attempt to obstruct the investigation. Multiple news outlets reported Friday that a Trump attorney told the National Archives last year that the boxes Trump took from the White House only contained news clippings.

Graham, who will appear on Fox News Sunday, warned last month that there would be riots in the streets if Trump is indicted over his alleged mishandling of classified and sensitive documents. He later defended the comment after he received pushback, saying that he was trying to state the obvious.

Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this weeks Sunday talk shows:

ABCs This Week  New York City Mayor Eric Adams; Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova

NBCs Meet the Press  Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.); Joe ODea, Republican Senate nominee in Colorado

CBS Face the Nation  Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas); University of Chicago Professor Robert Pape

CNNs State of the Union  Adams; U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield; Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

Fox News Sunday  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.); White House economic adviser Jared Bernstein

Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Futures  John Ratcliffe, former director of national intelligence; Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas); Lee Zeldin, Republican nominee for governor of New York; Miranda Devine, New York Post columnist and Fox News contributor

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte, Will Smith and Janet Hubert, Bill Murray and Lucy Liu, and Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy are just a few of the pairings who didnt see eye to eye (Shutterstock, Sky)

Cruel!, Completely disgusting!, Candy ass!  these are just some of the barbs that Hollywood stars have unleashed upon each other over the years. But which actors said them? And about whom?

Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte might have been romantically entangled in I Love Trouble, but they also had a few tangles  and not the good kind  with each other off-set. And even though Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams went on to date in real life after The Notebook, it wasnt exactly love at first sight for those two, either.

A lot of this is ancient history. And the stars and their fans probably want to move on.

But before we bury the hatchet, why not stir the figurative pot a little more, with this long list of actors who have clashed on set

Dwayne The Rock Johnson and Vin Diesel

Candy ass and chicken s*** were the inventive insults that The Rock came up with in 2016 for his Fast & Furious co-star Vin Diesel.

During an interview with Rolling Stone, Dwayne Johnson explained that the pair have a fundamental difference in philosophies on how we approach moviemaking and collaborating.

Diesel later claimed that his difficulties with Johnson stemmed from him doling out unwelcome acting advice. My approach at the time was a lot of tough love to assist in getting [his] performance where it needed to be, Diesel told Mens Health.

Responding to the remark, Johnson said: I laughed and I laughed hard. I think everyone had a laugh at that. And Ill leave it at that. And that Ive wished them well. I wish them well on Fast 9. And I wish them the best of luck on Fast 10 and Fast 11 and the rest of the Fast & Furious movies they do that will be without me.

Last November, Diesel urged Johnson to make peace  so there could be hope for these two yet.

Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny

Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny in The X-Files (Rex Features)

The X-Files stars are good friends now, but they didnt always see eye to eye. Familiarity breeds contempt, Duchovny told Metro in 2008.

Its nothing to do with the other person. All that fades away and youre just left with the appreciation and love for the people youve worked with for so long. We used to argue about nothing. We couldnt stand the sight of each other.

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In 2015, Anderson admitted to The Guardian: I mean, yes, there were definitely periods when we hated each other.

Hate is too strong a word. We didnt talk for long periods of time. It was intense, and we were both pains in the arse for the other at various times.

Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron

In 2020, the Mad Max: Fury Road stars opened up about their infamous feud on the set of the 2015 film. Theron had admitted at the time that the pair f***in went at it while filming the post-apocalyptic drama.

Speaking to The New York Times, Hardy said: I think in hindsight, I was in over my head in many ways. The pressure on both of us was overwhelming at times. What she needed was a better, perhaps more experienced, partner in me. Thats something that cant be faked. Id like to think that now that Im older and uglier, I could rise to that occasion.

Theron added: In retrospect, I didnt have enough empathy to really, truly understand what he must have felt like to step into Mel Gibsons shoes. That is frightening! I think because of my own fear, we were putting up walls to protect ourselves instead of saying to each other, This is scary for you, and its scary for me, too. Lets be nice to each other. In a weird way, we were functioning like our characters: Everything was about survival.

In February 2022, the plot thickened when Theron claimed she was scared s***less of Hardy on set. She made the revelations in the book Blood, Sweat, and Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road, which details a heated encounter between the pair after Hardy showed up to set three hours late.

Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte

After starring opposite Nick Nolte in I Love Trouble, Julia Roberts didnt hold back in an interview with The New York Times in 1993. From the moment I met him we sort of gave each other a hard time, and naturally we get on each others nerves, she said.

While he can be completely charming and very nice, she added, hes also completely disgusting. Hes going to hate me for saying this, but he seems go out of his way to repel people. Hes a kick.

Roberts might have been being playful  its unclear  but Nolte took her comments seriously. Its not nice to call someone disgusting, he told the Los Angeles Times. But shes not a nice person. Everyone knows that.

Will Smith and Janet Hubert

In 2020, Will Smith admitted to making the set very difficult for his Fresh Prince of Bel Air co-star Janet Hubert.

During a one-off reunion on HBO Max, Hubert  who played the original Aunt Viv and left the series in 1993  reconciled with Smith after a 27-year-long feud, telling him she felt like he banished her.

Smith then acknowledged making things hard for Hubert, stating he felt like everything was a threat to him when he was on the show.

I can see now the level of pain and the level of struggle that it was just for you to show up every day, he said, to which Hubert responded: But you took all of that away from me  with your words. Words can kill. I lost everything. Reputation. Everything. And I understand you were able to move forward, but you know those words, calling a Black woman difficult in Hollywood, is the kiss of death.

Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer

Alex Pettyfer and Channing Tatum in Magic Mike (Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock)

While they played friends in Magic Mike, Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer were not so close in real life.

Channing Tatum does not like me. For many reasons. Many being my own fault, Pettyfer said in a 2015 interview on Bret Easton Elliss podcast.

According to Pettyfer, tensions began because he was very insecure as a human being during filming and decided to keep to himself on set. That gave me a bad rep because they said, Oh Alex thinks hes f***ing better than everybody else because he doesnt speak to anyone.

The acrimony allegedly only worsened when Pettyfer rented an apartment from a friend of Tatums and moved out before paying the four months of back rent that he owed.

Tatum never publicly responded to Pettyfers comments.

Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams

After filming The Notebook, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams dated for several years. But they didnt always get along. Director Nick Cassavetes told VH1 in 2014: Maybe Im not supposed to tell this story, but they were really not getting along one day on set. Really not.

Ryan came to me, and theres 150 people standing in this big scene, and he says, Nick come here. And hes doing a scene with Rachel and he says, Would you take her out of here and bring in another actress to read off camera with me? I said, What? He says, I cant. I cant do it with her. Im just not getting anything from this.

Cassavetes said that after allowing the two actors to have it out, the shoot was able to continue.

We went into a room with a producer; they started screaming and yelling at each other. I walked out, Cassavetes said. At that point I was smoking cigarettes. I smoked a cigarette and everybody came out like, All right, lets do this.

Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker

Sex and the City stars Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker have been engaged in a long-simmering feud.

On Piers Morgans Life Stories in 2017, Cattrall said that Parker could have been nicer about her refusal to take part in a third Sex and the City movie. She also added that the four stars of the show, which also included Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis, were never friends.

Cattrall went further in February 2018, following the death of her brother Chris. After Parker wrote a comment of condolence on Cattralls Instagram, Cattrall posted a photo of a message that read: I dont need your love or support at this tragic time @sarahjessicaparker.

Cattrall then accused Parker of exploiting our tragedy to restore [her] nice girl persona, adding: Your continuous reaching out is a painful reminder of how cruel you really were then and now.

Parker has consistently denied that she has ever fallen out with Cattrall.

Nicolette Sheridan and Teri Hatcher

The co-stars in 2005 (Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock)

Desperate Housewives actor Nicolette Sheridan once went so far as to call her co-star Teri Hatcher the meanest woman in the world, according to the shows writer Marc Cherry.

There is speculation that Sheridan wasnt the only star who didnt get on with Hatcher. In 2018, Huffman posted a tribute to the show online, complete with personalised messages to each of her former co-stars, with the exception of one person only: Hatcher.

That same year, Eva Longoria appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and claimed that the stars were all still very good friends, before correcting herself with, 99 per cent of us are.

After the finale aired, and amid widespread rumours about the feud, Hatcher said to TV Guide: I will never disclose the true and complicated journey of us all, but I wish everyone on the show well.

Sophia Loren and Marlon Brando

In Sophie Lorens 1963 memoir, Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: My Life, she recounted the experience of filming the romantic comedy A Countess from Hong Kong with Marlon Brando.

Recalling a time he allegedly groped her on set, she wrote: All of a sudden, he put his hands on me. I turned in all tranquillity and blew in his face, like a cat stroked the wrong way and said, Dont you ever dare to do that again. Never again!

She continued: As I pulverised him with my eyes, he seemed small, defenceless, almost a victim of his own notoriety. He never did it again, but it was very difficult working with him after that.

Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep

Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep in Kramer vs Kramer (Moviestore/Shutterstock)

Meryl Streep has said Dustin Hoffman overstepped the mark when he slapped her face on the set of the divorce drama Kramer vs Kramer.

Referring to the 1979 scene with Hoffman, Streep told The New York Times in 2018: This is tricky because when youre an actor, youre in a scene, you have to feel free. Im sure that I have inadvertently hurt people in physical scenes.

But theres a certain amount of forgiveness in that... But he just slapped me. And you see it in the movie. It was overstepping.

Hoffman has previously said he was getting a divorce while shooting the film.

Im sure I was acting out on her [Streep] throughout the movie, he told the Huffington Post. Stuff that I was feeling toward the wife that I was divorcing in real life.

William Shatner and George Takei

Despite being two of the four surviving cast members of the original Star Trek series, William Shatner and George Takei are still feuding.

George previously told The New York Times that William was not a team player on set. He said: The rest of the cast all understand what makes a scene work. Its everybody contributing to it. But Bill is a wonderful actor and he knows it, and he likes to have the camera on him all the time.

Last month, after Takei mocked Shatners trip to space, Shatner retaliated by telling Page Six: Theres a psychosis there There must be something else inside George that is festering, and it makes him unhappy that he takes it out on me Why would he go out of his way to denigrate me? Its sad, I feel nothing but pity for him.

Bill Murray and Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu and Bill Murray were not exactly the best of friends while filming the 2000 action comedy Charlies Angels.

Speaking on the Los Angeles Timess Asian Enough podcast last summer, Liu said that she wouldnt get into the specifics but there was a moment where she stood up to Murray while on set.

Liu said Murray hurled insults at her that kept going on and on. It was unjust and it was uncalled for, she said. Some of the language was inexcusable and unacceptable, and I was not going to just sit there and take it. So, yes, I stood up for myself, and I dont regret it.

Murray has not publicly commented on the fall-out, but reports have previously claimed that he loudly complained about Lius acting technique on set and that he even stopped a scene in progress and pointed to Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Liu, saying in order, I get why youre here, and youve got talent but what in the hell are you doing here? You cant act!
HAVANA (AP)  Mediation talks to restructure more than $9 billion in debt held by Puerto Ricos power company failed, officials announced Saturday, raising concerns about the future of the bankrupt government agency.

A federal control board that oversees Puerto Ricos finances said the impasse with bondholders means it would resume litigation against them in an attempt to restructure the debt, warning that any cost associated with debt repayment would be passed along to consumers.

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi said the mediation did not achieve the desired outcome: My administration cannot accept a deal that unduly strains the wallets of our hard-working families, or the resources businesses need to fuel our economy and create and maintain jobs on the island.

In a press conference on Saturday, Pierluisi said the power company will remain in a state of bankruptcy given pending litigations.

Creditors could not be immediately reached for comment.

Board member Justin Peterson criticized the board for abandoning mediation efforts as he advocated for bondholders to be paid and said that a deal to end bankruptcy and avoid expensive and lengthy litigation was clearly in reach.

It would have catalyzed much-needed private sector investment to rebuild and modernize Puerto Ricos grid and would have provided the citizens...with cleaner, more reliable and more affordable power, he said. Now, all of this could be delayed for years.

Puerto Ricos power grid remains frail after Hurricane Maria razed it in 2017, with outages reported daily. The grid was already crumbling before the storm hit as a result of aging infrastructure and a lack of maintenance.

The failed talks come after Gov. Pedro Pierluisi announced in early March that his administration was scrapping a proposed debt restructuring deal for the islands Electric Power Authority that was several years in the making because it wasnt feasible or in Puerto Ricos best interest.

The power companys debt is the largest of any government agency, and economists have said that restructuring it would help boost economic development on an island mired in a deep economic crisis.

It is one of two government agencies whose debt have yet to be restructured more than five years after Puerto Rico's government filed for the largest municipal bankruptcy in history. Puerto Ricos Highways and Transportation Authority still holds $5.8 billion in debt.
The author, at left, and her mom at the Lichterman Nature Center in Memphis, Tennessee, in 2017.

The author, at left, and her mom at the Lichterman Nature Center in Memphis, Tennessee, in 2017. "Neither of us knew I was pregnant at the time," she writes. "It was a few days before my positive pregnancy test." (Photo: Photo by Madison Yen)

When I was 8 years old, my mom, who was about 20 weeks pregnant, flew to Boston with my then-stepdad. She returned without a bump or a baby.

When she got home, she was devastated. So was I, because Id always wanted a little sister. Id been thrilled when my mothers belly started to grow, and people began congratulating her everywhere we went.

Shed remarried less than a year before that, and the transition of having a new man in the house had been tough for my younger brother and me. A new baby was something we could all rally around, so it was especially difficult for all of us when my mom started experiencing complications.

At the beginning of her second trimester, right after shed started telling people she was pregnant, she began bleeding and cramping. I spent a lot of afternoons at my cousins house while my mom attended doctor appointments. Shed return to pick me up, and Id find her whispering in the driveway with my aunt. One night after dinner, we had a family meeting where she told us that the baby had a heart problem and would need surgery right after it was born.

The bleeding continued, and there were more doctor appointments and late-afternoon pickups and whispered conversations. A few weeks later, my mom went to Boston. When she returned, a new word was added to my second-grade vocabulary: miscarriage. At the time, I was old enough to know the baby was gone, but too young to understand or remember any specifics.

Still, my moms miscarriage shaped my perception of pregnancy. I understood its fragility.

The author and her mom at Christmastime when the author was in elementary school. (Photo: Courtesy of Sarah Hunter Simanson)

The author and her mom at Christmastime when the author was in elementary school. (Photo: Courtesy of Sarah Hunter Simanson)

In the fall of 2017, just as the Memphis air was turning from humid to crisp, my mom and I went for one of our regular morning walks. She was between chemo treatments for the stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma she was battling, and I had just taken my first positive pregnancy test. I hadnt told her yet. My mom didnt even know my husband and I were trying. I was only about four weeks pregnant, and I was afraid of getting her hopes up at a time when she really needed things to believe in, so I decided to wait to share my news until my doctor detected a heartbeat at the six-week appointment and I had an ultrasound picture to show her.

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As we walked under the canopy of brown and burnt orange leaves, I asked her questions about when she was pregnant with me: How did you feel? What was it like? Did it hurt? This was something Id started doing about many different topics  I sought out information I wanted to know from her and asked questions while she was still around to answer them.

But that morning, my mom didnt have many answers about when she was pregnant with me. I dont remember, she told me. You forget the hard parts, so you can do it again.

We walked around a big curve in the road, and I thought about the poppy seed-sized embryo inside of me. My mom turned to look at me. I expected her to offer some insight about morning sickness or food cravings, but she changed the subject.

You know it had genetic abnormalities, too? she said out of nowhere. Actually, I didnt know this, because she never talked about the baby she lost. My body kept trying to abort it, but it couldnt. Thats why I kept hemorrhaging. Her voice was faraway as she mentally traveled back to that time.

Now, almost four years after my moms death and five years after that conversation, I still remember it vividly  the crunch of leaves under our feet, the exact bend of that road, the mild weather of the day. The moment was a glimpse into the experiences of my moms that I could never access  a reminder that shed die with so many untold stories.

One day last summer, as I watched my two kids playing under the bright pink blooms of the crepe myrtles in our backyard, I began bleeding. It was a very early miscarriage, nothing like what my mom had been through. But it still made me think of her and that conversation. I couldnt know the extent of her much-worse tragedy, but I, too, was experiencing a third pregnancy that would never be. My miscarriage  this third baby that would not be  made me feel connected to her.

It wasnt until last month, when Tennessees total abortion ban went into effect, that I finally understood my mom didnt have a miscarriage. Technically, legally, she had an abortion.

The author and her mom in November 2016.

The author and her mom in November 2016. "This was right after I got engaged, two days after doctors found a mass in her liver," she writes. (Photo: Courtesy of Sarah Hunter Simanson)

Tennessees ban is one of the strictest in the country. It does not include an exception for incest or rape, or for the life of the mother. Instead, the law offers the possibility of an affirmative defense, which allows the doctor, if charged with a Class C felony, to argue that an abortion was necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to prevent serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment to a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.

As I read the laws language and understood that women in Tennessee were no longer guaranteed equitable, potentially lifesaving health care, I thought back to my moms words: Thats why I kept hemorrhaging.

I had to know what happened in Boston. I was almost certain the pregnancy had put my moms life at risk and that shed had to get an abortion, but I needed corroboration. I called my great-aunt who lives in Boston, and she immediately answered the questions Id never known to ask.

Yes, it was an abortion, my great-aunt told me. It wasnt a viable pregnancy. It was endangering your moms life. It was an extremely difficult situation, and shed had to travel to Boston for the procedure because it wasnt legal in Tennessee.

My great-aunt didnt remember the specifics about why the pregnancy wasnt viable. I knew there was only one person whod been to those appointments with my mom and might know everything: my former stepdad.

It took me weeks to text him. We hadnt spoken since their acrimonious divorce, the year after I graduated from college. I wasnt even sure hed be receptive to these questions. The experience was so long ago, and it had been so painful.

But he was immediately responsive, and willing to share the details he remembered. He told me the fetus had a chromosomal abnormality, misshapen kidneys, a hole in the heart, and structures at the esophagus and rectum that prevented the processing of amniotic fluids. My moms health was also at risk because she kept bleeding. The neonatologist said they needed to make a decision.

The specialist referred them to an abortion clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma. When my mom called the clinic for more information, the receptionist warned her that patients were usually harassed when entering the facility. So my mom called her aunt in Boston, and she connected her to a doctor at a hospital there.

The author's mother holds the author's daughter a few minutes after she was born in August 2018.

The author's mother holds the author's daughter a few minutes after she was born in August 2018. "It is one of the few pictures I have of them together," the author writes. "My mom's health declined quickly, and she died four months later." (Photo: Photo by Madison Yen)

Even though the baby had chromosomal abnormalities and too many physiologic issues to correct, and even though my moms body kept trying to abort the baby naturally, it was still an unthinkable decision, my former stepdad said. They sought counsel from their Episcopal priest and diocesan bishop. They consulted another doctor in Memphis. Ultimately, the doctor in Boston reaffirmed that the fetus was not viable and wouldnt live if carried to term. Because of this, and because of the risk to my moms health, they decided to proceed with the abortion.

Ill never know what my mom experienced during that procedure. Though it was an abortion  and a choice she made  she still considered it a miscarriage, and went on to describe it that way to the few close friends with whom she discussed it. I know it was traumatic, and that is why my family never talked about it. Most importantly, I know it was a procedure my mom needed for her safety, and one that other women will need for their own.

Chrissy Teigen recently revealed that, like my mom, what she had claimed was a miscarriage was actually an abortion. I told the world we had a miscarriage, the world agreed we had a miscarriage, all the headlines said it was a miscarriage, the model said. And I became really frustrated that I didnt, in the first place, say what it was, and I felt silly that it had taken me over a year to actually understand that we had had an abortion.

There are so many reasons why someone may not admit that theyve had an abortion  from fear and grief to the nightmarish political climate and simply wanting to keep their medical decisions private  and all of them are valid. The bottom line is abortion needs to be safe, legal and accessible for anyone who wants or needs one.

Despite the deep trauma of her abortion, I know that my mom was profoundly grateful she could get one. It ensured shed live and allowed her to keep being my mom. While I did not know my moms story until recently, I know that if she were here today, she would be outraged by what has happened in this country  and whats still happening. I know shed want lawyers to challenge the abortion bans that various states have enacted. I know shed want Lindsey Graham to understand the devastating effect that a federal 15-week abortion ban would have on the health of women and people with uteruses. I know shed want voters to support candidates who champion abortion rights. And I believe shed be proud of me for speaking up now and telling her story in the hope that it might matter  that it might mean something and maybe even help do something.

Ultimately, shed want women to have access to the procedure that protected her life. And shed want them to have it regardless of where they are in their pregnancy, or which state they live in.

Sarah Hunter Simanson received her MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her writing has appeared in Salon, Romper and The Daily Memphian. She is currently working on her first novel.

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Kelly Fyffe-Marshall was part of last year's Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) with the short film Black Bodies, and this year, the spectacular Canadian filmmaker is back with her feature film debut, When Morning Comes.

The movie is told from the perspective of Jamal (Djamari Roberts), a young boy who lives in Jamaica. He was recently suspended from school and his mother Neesha (Shaquana Wilson) fears that he'll continue on this path, so she makes the decision to send her rambunctious son to live with her mother in Canada. But Jamal isn't happy about this upcoming change and leaves home, staying with his friend Deshane (Jarden Crooks), and he starts sharing his feelings about the upcoming move with people in his town, including the girl he has a crush on, father figures and other locals.

"It's kind of based off of the memories I've had in Jamaica while growing up," Fyffe-Marshall told Yahoo Canada.

"My immigration story, from England to Canada, I was that age, and so a lot of the internal feelings of the character are based on how I was feeling ... When I was younger, kids were more children, and so that was important for me, to show this real innocence, especially where he grows up. It's in the country, not having access to electronics, and the time period is 2001, so really speaking to what that innocence looks like from a childlike perspective."

Shooting in Jamaica, Fyffe-Marshall really captures the essence of the country, which she highlights is done, in part, by using the natural light on location. The filmmaker also strategically shot the film like the camera isn't in the room  it feels like you'e just part of the scene.

"It was important to show Jamaica outside of the stereotypes, the Jamaica that I knew growing up ... Jamaicans who watch TV, we always see really bad accents and the Jamaicans are portrayed sometimes very stereotypically, so it was important for me to make a film that showed to me what was the most authentic Jamaica," Fyffe-Marshall said.

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From left: Iva Golubovic, Kelly Fyffe-Marshall, Sasha Leigh Henry, Tamar Bird and Jordan Oram attend the "When Morning Comes" Premiere during the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on Sept. 12, 2022. (Photo by Unique Nicole/Getty Images)

Another interesting aspect of the story is the way that Fyffe-Marshall expands authentic portrayals of mothers, specifically by showing Neesha apologize to her son. There is one moment in particular where Jamal gets hurt, that's followed by his mother's apology, followed by her sharing with Jamal that his father wanted them to see Canada.

"We rarely see mothers apologize on television and on movies, and so for me, it was super important that that moment is an apology that a lot of us as children never got, because our parents weren't equipped to have those conversations and to apologize," Fyffe-Marshall said. "Then I think the moment after is really her opening up and being vulnerable to her son and letting him in to realizing that he is old enough, or mature enough, to really be involved in what she's feeling and what's going on for her, and therefore, because he's mature enough to have these conversations, that she has done a good job raising him."

While Toronto, in particular, has a reputation for being a city that's home to a lot of immigrant families, much of the focus is usually on what immigrants experience when they arrive, and less so on what they left behind.

"We feel like Canada is this utopia, but I think it's important to talk about the very specific moments before, where you're leaving behind all you've ever known," Fyffe-Marshall said. "For me, this was kind of my love letter to sacrifice, to the things that we all do and miss out on for what we think will be a better life, and have better opportunities.

"Immigrants aren't always treated the best, especially refugees, but we don't really think about the sacrifice it's taken for them to get somewhere for them just to have a better life, but also, just to continue to live, and I think it's important to have those conversations."
President Joe Biden speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 9, 2022. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Top aides to President Joe Biden are quietly planning his 2024 presidential campaign, NBC News reported.

The president has been reportedly eyeing a 2024 run following a string of victories in the midterms.

"He's running and we're building an infrastructure for him to run and win," DNC senior adviser Cedric Richmond said.

President Joe Biden's top aides have been quietly setting up infrastructure for a potential 2024 presidential campaign, NBC News reported Friday.

Last month, Bloomberg reported that Biden could be eyeing a 2024 run, emboldened by a recent string of legislative victories in the midterms, but he has yet to announce a formal campaign.

The president seeking a second term could tee him up for a rematch against former President Donald Trump, who has also floated a potential run but has yet to officially announce a campaign.

Nine people familiar with the preliminary campaign efforts told NBC News that Biden's prospective campaign would have a smaller staff and rely on resources from the Democratic National Committee.

"He's running and we're building an infrastructure for him to run and win," Cedric Richmond, a former White House adviser and current DNC senior adviser, told NBC News. "Right now, it's all an early investment in 2024 while we're helping 2022."

Several staffers who worked on Bidens' 2020 campaign followed the president to the White House, including Jen O'Malley Dillon, who joined the Biden administration as deputy White House chief of staff. But people familiar with the campaign planning told NBC News that O'Malley Dillon is expected to play a key role in Biden's 2024 bid.

Biden senior advisers Ron Klain, Steve Ricchetti, Anita Dunn, and Mike Donilon are also under consideration to be involved in the president's 2024 run, according to NBC News, though the announcement of any White House officials leaving to work on his campaign would likely come in February of next year.

According to the report, Biden and his staff are still weighing campaign themes,which could include lauding his in-office achievements as "promises made, promises kept."

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"The implicit contrast on 'promises kept' is clear and sharp," Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, told NBC News. "Former President Trump talked about fixing American infrastructure so often it became a running joke on late-night shows. President Biden actually got a bipartisan, strong infrastructure investment bill into law."

Representatives from the White House did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Melted cheese oozes out of a double cheeseburger from Harold's Prize Package on Friday afternoon as seen in an order with French fries.

The cheese seeps deliciously "all the way through the burger" in the cheeseburgers made by the Prize Package at 1420 S.E. 6th Ave., says Carrie Green.

The cheeseburger at The Pad, 1730 N.W. Topeka Blvd., uses shredded cheese, which "makes it so good," she adds.

The Burger Stand, 2833 S.W. 29th, makes Deborah Agnew's favorite cheeseburger in Topeka.

"For me its the quality of the beef, moisture and marriage between the bun and patty," she said. "It also depends on my mood as sometimes Im up for more of a greasy, smashed burger."

Agnew and Green responded after The Capital-Journal asked Friday on the Topeka Experience Facebook page for input on who makes Topeka's best cheeseburger.

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The newspaper did that to highlight National Cheeseburger Day, which is Sunday.

'Melty perfection'

Garrett Taylor, a cook at The Burger Stand, 2833 S.W. 29th St., tosses burger patties on the grill for customers custom burger orders on May 5, 2021.

On Thursday, The Capital-Journal announced its readers had chosen the Burger Stand as having this community's "Best Burger" in its 2022 Best of the Best awards.

The other two finalists were the Prize Package and The Pad.

"The Burger Stand outshines all based on quality of products, creativity and consistency," Karen K. Streeter said Friday on the Topeka Experience page.

Menu items at The Burger Stand, 2833 S.W. 29th St., include a variety of burger options, sides, hot dogs and drinks.

A Burger Stand burger is "cooked like you like it," Susan Christey said on that page. "Rare, medium rare, well done, etc."

Jensen Otte said he goes to Burger Stand when he wants a "fancy burger" but to Prize Package for a "classic, no-frills, grease-running-down-your-arm burger."

The Prize Package's double cheeseburger "just melts in your mouth," said Angie Mauk.

More: Here are the 5 historic Topeka buildings that will be featured during tour Oct. 16

"Get two double cheeseburgers and eat them on the trunk of your car, with a towel or plenty of napkins," said Bud Tyroler. "How they get that cheese to melty perfection is a trick I would love to know."

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Quality, texture, taste  and love

The Pad owner Troy Mentzer serves up a deluxe burger Friday afternoon with all the fixings.

Though the Best of Topeka list doesn't include Chuckburger Drive-Thru at 2318 S.E. 6th Ave., Aimee Copp-Hasty raved Friday about the taste of its double cheeseburger.

"Old-fashioned, grilled on a seasoned flat top, all the fixings and perfectly melted cheese," she said. "Delicious!"

Cyndi Desch Main spoke positively of the "shocker burger" made by Glazed Goose, 5630 S.W. 29th.

"Swiss and American cheese, fresh veggies, tomato, pickle, onion and lettuce," she said. "Its a smaller burger  perfect with a side or alone."

Heather Berry said Topeka's best burgers can be found at Bobo's Drive In, 2300 S.W. 10th Ave., and Cook's American Grill, 1936 S.W. Gage Boulevard.

Those burgers are made great by their "quality, taste and texture and the love that's put in the cooking and atmosphere," she said.

The Burger Bus, a school bus-themed Topeka food trailer, was identified as making some of the best burgers in town by several people on the Topeka Experience site.

More: The Flying Fools perform at the 2022 Kansas State Fair

"The absolute best burger in Topeka is from the Burger Bus," said Bill Reid. "Hands down. Fresh ingredients cooked with love."

Other great Topeka burgers

Multiple people on the Topeka Experience site also identified these restaurants as making great burgers:

 The Pennant, 915 S. Kansas Ave.

 Johnny's Topeka, 2821 S.W. Fairlawn Road.

 The Dugout, 1545 S.W. Fairlawn Road.

 Speck's Bar & Grill, 2105 S.W. Mission Ave.

 Larry's Shortstop, 3834 S.W. Topeka Blvd.

 Henry T's, 1521 S.W. 21st.

 Jeremiah Bullfrog's Bar and Grille, 2827 S.W. Wanamaker Road.

 The Shack Bar & Grill, 2842 S.E. 29th.

 Annie's Place, 4014 S.W. Gage Center Drive.

 Weller's Grill & Bar, 222 N.W. Independence Ave.

 Abigail's, 3701 S.W. Plaza Drive.

 Norsemen Brewing Co., 830 N. Kansas Ave.

 Skinny's, 4016 S.W. Huntoon.

 Sheridan's, 5937 S.W. 29th.

 Five Guys, 1191 S.W. Wanamaker Road.

 Culver's, 1035 S.W. Wanamaker Road.

 Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, 1050 S.W. Wanamaker Road and 2135 S.W. Gage Blvd.

Tim Hrenchir can be reached at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Here are some of the best Topeka restaurants to find cheeseburgers
With the possibility of getting millions of dollars in federal transportation funding, regional planners are proposing to reduce some traffic congestion through Farmington by building a new bridge across the Farmington River.

The job, which years ago was estimated at $50 million, would alleviate some of the worst backups in the towns Unionville section, particularly helping rush hour commuters from Canton, Burlington, New Hartford, western Bristol and parts of Litchfield County, planners said.

The benefit is regional. Its not just for the town of Farmington, Public Works Director Russell Arnold told the town council.

It will reduce traffic congestion in Unionville as well as Farmington center, and open up the Route 177 corridor, the Route 10 corridor as well as the Route 4 corridor.

Establishing a regional benefit is likely to be essential to securing federal aid for the project, and the Capitol Region Council of Governments wants to emphasize that point when a funding request is submitted through the state transportation department.

The Biden Administrations federal infrastructure bill will make more than $100 billion available nationally for road and bridge projects, but competition for the money is expected to be heavy.

CRCOGS proposal is to extend Monteith Drive by almost a fifth of a mile, linking Route 4 and New Britain Avenue directly in front of the town hall, high school and library complex. That would give motorists a way to cross the river without driving all the way west to Unionville or east toward the village center.

Farmington planners said a new bridge would make emergency response times faster, since police, EMTs and firefighters could get across the river to calls without going through either centeror Unionville.

In addition, the bridge and roadway would have 10-foot-wide sidewalks and bike lanes to make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to get around town.

And it would serve as a backup to the South Main Street bridge in Unionville, which was built in 1939 and is frequently a traffic bottleneck.

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Planners also acknowledged, however, that a Monteith Drive bridge wouldnt do much about the most notorious Farmington Avenue traffic jams, which occur in late afternoons for westbound traffic going into town from I-84. Backups begin around Route 10 and sometimes extend almost to the highway itself.

Rafeena Bacchus Lee asked Arnold if the new bridge could reduce weekend afternoon traffic jams coming off the highway.

Weve been talking about traffic in Farmington since I moved here, Lee said. If youre coming the other way, you could be there randomly on a Sunday afternoon and you cant get anywhere because all the traffic is at that pinch point.

Arnold replied It wont help that, but added It is going to improve during the weekdays during the peak hours. It will take some traffic off Route 4.

The idea isnt new, but the funding opportunities are. Six years ago, town planners suggested a bridge in that location because it would cross the river at its narrowest point.

The roadway would run about 1,000 feet, but the bridge itself would only be a couple of hundred feet long. That reduces costs and environmental impacts.

Therell be no construction in the waterway, which is a huge bonus, Arnold told the town.

Farmington will hold a public information session in November to go over details of the proposal and field residents questions. CRCOG just completed a $150,000 study of the bridge idea, and will present its findings.

Roger Krahn, a transportation planner and engineer with CRCOG, said the state transportation department will want to see public endorsement for any plan the town puts forward.

They like to see the public support and the local governmental support, Krahn said.
The House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot will likely not release its report about the attempted insurrection before the midterms, but at the same time chair Bennie Thompson says October wont be a quiet period and some information will be pushed out ahead of the election in the form of an interim report, Axios reported.

Meanwhile, a Florida judge has appointed Donald Trumps nominee as special master in the Justice Departments investigation into top secret papers seized by FBI agents from his Mar-a-Lago estate. Judge Raymond Dearie will now review materials seized during the raid of the former presidents estate after Mr Trump successfully demanded someone be appointed.

The Department of Justices request to resume its criminal investigation into the classified documents was also rejected with Judge Aileen Cannon saying she was not willing to accept the governments assertions that nearly 100 documents taken from Mr Trumps estate were classified.

Meanwhile, the former president has been lashing out on Truth Social attacking absolute loser Senator Mitch McConnell for being the Democrats lapdog, and posting a nasty photo fat-shaming former New Jersey governor Chris Christie.

Key points

Matt Gaetz wanted Trump to give him pre-emptive pardon over sex investigation, report says

18:16 , Gustaf Kilander

Matt Gaetz told a former White House staffer that he was hoping to get a pre-emptive pardon from then-President Donald Trump concerning an investigation into him by the Department of Justice, a report has said.

The allegation came in testimony given to the House Select Committee investigating the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, The Washington Post reported.

Story continues

People with knowledge of his testimony say Johnny McEntee told the panel that the Florida Republican told him during a short meeting that they are launching an investigation into him or that theres an investigation into him. Mr McEntee didnt specify who was investigating the congressman.

Read more:

Gaetz wanted Trump to give him pre-emptive pardon over sex investigation, report says

MAGA dating app sent cease and desist letter over name struggling to recruit women

18:15 , Gustaf Kilander

The MAGA dating app The Right Stuff has yet to be launched but its struggling to recruit women and has been sent a cease and desist letter over its name, The Daily Beast has reported.

The app, supported by billionaire Peter Thiel, is set to be launched later this month. It was co-founded by Johnny McEntee, Donald Trumps former body man. He was brought in by Ryann McEnany, the sister of former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.

The Daily Beast writes that Ryann McEnany has been assigned a particularly tough task: convincing attractive, conservative women to sign up.

Hi, Im working with John McEntees team on an exclusive conservative dating app called The Right Stuff thats expected to launch this summer! We would love to get you on our list for early access to the app, she has written in Instagram messages to possible users, according to The Daily Beast.

Jan 6 panel: Trumps pressure campaign spanned numerous contested states

17:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Trump's pressure campaign against state and local officials spanned numerous contested states. The danger this campaign posed to state officials and at state capitols around the nation, was an ominous precursor to the violence we saw on January 6th at the U.S. Capitol. pic.twitter.com/iSA5scEJT3  January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) September 17, 2022

Ted Cruz urges GOP governors to send half a million migrants to Washington, DC

16:45 , Gustaf Kilander

Ted Cruz says Republican governors should send 500,000 migrants to DC pic.twitter.com/K19t9JvAIU  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 17, 2022

DeSantis hammered by Florida newspapers for 'political stunt' flying Venezuelan to Martha's Vineyard

16:04 , Gustaf Kilander

Wow.



Ron DeSantis is getting decimated on the front pages of Florida papers for his disgusting attack on Venezuelan families and kids fleeing communist dictatorship. pic.twitter.com/IipWKpNWSp  Zac Petkanas (@Zac_Petkanas) September 16, 2022

Migrants sent to VPs residence from Texas for second time this week

15:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Minutes ago, a bus of migrants sent from Texas arrived outside the Naval Observatory in Washington DC. Were told theyre from Venezuela and Nicaragua. Men, women, children - even newborns. This is the second bus to arrive outside of the VPs residence this week. @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/P7dHGQ3CMJ  Gary Grumbach (@GaryGrumbach) September 17, 2022

Will the Jan 6 committee bring an October surprise for midterms?

15:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The House select committee investigating the riot on January 6 will likely not release its report about the attempted insurrection before the election, Axios reported. But that doesnt mean it could not make news before 8 November.

Chairman Bennie Thompson told reporters that he didnt want the committee to be perceived as a partisan committee ... weve been fairly free of those kind of complaints, and we would not want to interfere with the election.

At the same time, the chairman said that the time before 28 September, before the House leaves for campaign season, wont be a quiet period and the goal is to have  some information pushed out, obviously, before the November election, though the committee might have an interim report during that time.

Eric Garcia reports from Capitol Hill.

January 6 committee could bring October surprise for the midterms

Fox News poll: Trump was wrong over Mar-a-Lago papers

14:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A new Fox News poll shows a solid two-thirds majority of voters believe it was inappropriate for former president Donald Trump to have taken a stash of more than 11,000 documents belonging to the government at the end of his term in the White House.

The survey also found that just 26 per cent of US voters believe Mr Trumps actions were appropriate, compared with the 65 per cent who said it was not.

Andrew Feinberg looked at the survey.

Fox News own poll says Trump was wrong in Mar-a-Lago paper case

Just like Dr Oz... Doug Mastriano was registered to vote in New Jersey until last year

13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Doug Mastriano, the Republican nominee for governor in Pennsylvania, was registered to vote in neighbouring New Jersey until he launched his gubernatorial campaign last year, The New Jersey Globe reported.

Mr Mastriano, whom former president Donald Trump endorsed in the gubernatorial primary, reportedly was registered to vote in the state neighbouring Pennsylvania until 2021, when election officials changed his voter status to inactive.

Eric Garcia has the story.

Pennsylvania GOP candidate Mastriano was registered to vote in New Jersey until 2021

Trump tried twice to appoint loyalists as AG to fire Mueller, book reveals

12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump was so intent on firing the Department of Justice special counsel charged with investigating his 2016 campaigns potential ties with Russia that he offered the job of attorney general to two members of his cabinet on condition that they would carrying out his wish.

In their upcoming book The Divider: Trump in the White House 2017-2021, authors Peter Baker and Susan Glasser report how Mr Trump responded to then-White House counsel Don McGahns refusal to order the firing of ex-FBI Director Robert Mueller by asking members of his cabinet to relieve then-attorney general Jeff Sessions and promptly sack the widely-respected ex-prosecutor.

Andrew Feinberg has the story for The Independent from Washington, DC.

Trump asked two different cabinet members to fire Robert Mueller, book reveals

Trump amplifies and openly embraces QAnon conspiracy theories

12:00 , Oliver O'Connell

After winking at QAnon for years, Donald Trump is overtly embracing the baseless conspiracy theory, even as the number of frightening real-world events linked to it grows.

On Tuesday, using his Truth Social platform, the Republican former president reposted an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words The Storm is Coming. In QAnon lore, the storm refers to Trumps final victory, when supposedly he will regain power and his opponents will be tried, and potentially executed, on live television.

As Trump contemplates another run for the presidency and has become increasingly assertive in the Republican primary process during the midterm elections, his actions show that far from distancing himself from the political fringe, he is welcoming it.

Trump openly embraces, amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories

The FBI seizure of Mike Lindells phone  Everything we know so far

11:15 , Oliver O'Connell

MyPillow CEO and Trump ally Mike Lindell makes a lot of outrageous claims related to the 2020 election, but this one was serious.

On Tuesday, the millionaire businessman and prominent 2020 election denier said he had his phone seized by the FBI in Minnesota while driving through a fast-food pickup window, which the agency later confirmed.

Heres everything you need to know about what happened.

Everything we know about the FBI seizure of Mike Lindells phone at Hardees

Trump helped release drug prisoners but now he wants to execute them

10:15 , Oliver O'Connell

After helping release people convicted of drug crimes, Donald Trump now wants the death penalty for those same offences. Experts and the people given a reprieve by the former president warn The Independents Josh Marcus and Alex Woodward against the dangers of his rhetoric.

Donald Trump helped release drug prisoners. Now he wants to execute them

Lindsey Graham called Trump a lying motherf***er, book reveals

09:15 , Oliver O'Connell

South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham attempted to defend his defence of then-president Donald Trumps conduct during his first impeachment, describing him to a pair of veteran Washington reporters as a liar and using expletives.

In their upcoming book The Divider: Trump in the White House 2017-2021, authors Peter Baker and Susan Glasser recall how they met with Mr Graham outside a Washington DC steakhouse less than 48 hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced an impeachment inquiry into whether Mr Trump had extorted the president of Ukraine in a now-infamous July 2019 phone call. The Independent obtained a copy ahead of its 20 September publication date.

Andrew Feinberg reports on the South Carolina senators colourful choice of words.

Lindsey Graham called Trump a lying motherf***er during Ukraine impeachment

Nevadas GOP governor nominee says he would fight against national abortion ban

08:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Nevadas GOP governor nominee said Thursday he would fight against a national abortion ban if congress were to pass one.

Its the vote of the people within the state of Nevada, and I will support that, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, who is anti-abortion, said in a press gaggle next to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin after the two spent the day campaigning across the state. That is an issue that doesnt need to be in politics.

Nevada voters codified the right to abortion up to 24 weeks into law in a 1990 referendum vote.

GOP governor nominee says he'll fight US abortion ban

ICYMI: Judge picks Trumps nominee as special master in Mar-a-Lago probe

07:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A Florida Judge has appointed Donald Trumps nominee as special master in the FBI investigation into top secret papers seized by agents from his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Judge Raymond Dearie will now review materials seized during the raid of the former presidents estate in August after Mr Trump successfully demanded one be appointed.

The request was approved by US District Judge Aileen Cannon, who was appointed by Mr Trump, and Judge Dearie was a candidate that the Justice Department had said earlier this week that it could also accept.

Graeme Massie reports.

Judge appoints Trumps nominee as special master to oversee secret files

King Charles history with US presidents

06:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Hanging out with Richard Nixons daughter Tricia at a White House supper-dance. Swapping stories with Ronald Reagan about horseback riding. Bending the ears of Donald Trump and Joe Biden about climate change.

King Charles III, who became head of state following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, has made the acquaintance of 10 of the 14 U.S. presidents who have held office since he was born in 1948.

Charles' history with US presidents: He's met 10 of past 14

White House press secretary loses patience with Fox reporters repetitive question on migrants

04:15 , Oliver O'Connell

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday ended up in a testy exchange with Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich after the reporter asked a question that had already been covered in the days daily briefing.

Ms Jean-Pierre spent a significant portion of Fridays session discussing the Biden administrations response to Republican governors using buses and airplanes to send asylum-seekers to Democratic-led jurisdictions to punish state and local leaders for not supporting harsher border policies.

Andrew Feinberg reports on what happened next.

White House press secretary loses patience with repetitive question from Fox reporter

Fox News cuts migrant interview as reporter cant speak Spanish

03:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A Fox News reporter admitted he wasnt able to fully translate comments in Spanish as he interviewed a group of mostly Venezuelan migrants who were bused outside of vice-president Kamala Harriss residence in Washington, DC, by Texas governor Greg Abbott on Thursday.

Josh Marcus reports.

Fox News cuts off interviewing migrants on buses as reporter cant speak Spanish

Trump shares nasty body-shaming photo of Chris Christie

02:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump has continued using his custom-built Twitter knockoff Truth Social to bully his political detractors, this time taking aim at former Republican governor of New Jersey Chris Christie.

Mr Trumps account posted an image of a man leaning over a buffet counter with his back to the camera, along with a caption needling Mr Christie.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Trump shares nasty photo of Chris Christie for criticising him in interview

Concerns for midterms over breaches of voting machines

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Sensitive voting system passwords posted online. Copies of confidential voting software available for download. Ballot-counting machines inspected by people not supposed to have access.

The list of suspected security breaches at local election offices since the 2020 election keeps growing, with investigations underway in at least three states -- Colorado, Georgia and Michigan. The stakes appeared to rise this week when the existence of a federal probe came to light involving a prominent loyalist to former President Donald Trump who has been promoting voting machine conspiracy theories across the country.

While much remains unknown about the investigations, one of the most pressing questions is what it all could mean for security of voting machines with the midterm elections less than two months away.

Midterm elections 2022 - live: Will October surprise shake up the campaign?

CBS News: Some Jan 6 defendants arrested again since Capitol riot

Saturday 17 September 2022 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

CBS News reports:

A CBS News review of US Justice Department court filings shows a growing number of Jan 6 defendants have been arrested again, for subsequent crimes involving guns, drugs and domestic abuse. The new charges complicate their ability to secure lenient sentences in their cases related to the rioting on Jan 6, 2021, and they potentially jeopardize attempts by other Capitol riot defendants to secure pretrial releases in their cases.

The Justice Department has charged approximately 870 people with crimes in relation to the Capitol attack. A small percentage  several dozen  are being held in pre-trial detention. Thirty of the defendants are being detained in the Washington, DC, jail.

Trump invited to US service for Queen Elizabeth II

Saturday 17 September 2022 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump has been invited by the British government to a memorial service for Queen Elizabeth II in Washington DC, after being left out of the guest list for the funeral in London.

An invitation to the event describes it as a Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, reported The Telegraph.

Invitations to Mr Trump and other living ex-presidents, including Barrack Obama, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton and their spouses, were sent out on Thursday.

Sravasti Dasgupta reports.

Trump invited to US service for Queen Elizabeth II after being snubbed from funeral

It doesnt look that bad: Tucker Carlson backs DeSantiss Marthas Vineyard migrant planes

Friday 16 September 2022 23:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Foxs Tucker Carlson raged at liberals for what he perceived as their uneven and hypocritical reaction to migrants being flown into Marthas Vineyard by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

In a segment on his Thursday night program, the right-wing pundit specifically took filmmaker Ken Burns to task over comments the American documentarian had made earlier that day that compared the Florida governor to an authoritarian leader.

Johanna Chisholm has the story.

Tucker Carlson backs Marthas Vineyard migrant planes: It doesnt look that bad

Fox News poll: Trump was wrong in Mar-a-Lago paper case

Friday 16 September 2022 22:50 , Oliver O'Connell

A new Fox News poll shows a solid two-thirds majority of voters believe it was inappropriate for former president Donald Trump to have taken a stash of more than 11,000 documents belonging to the government at the end of his term in the White House.

The survey also found that just 26 per cent of US voters believe Mr Trumps actions were appropriate, compared with the 65 per cent who said it was not.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Fox News own poll says Trump was wrong in Mar-a-Lago paper case

Don Jr jokes about violence against migrants after DeSantis flight stunt

Friday 16 September 2022 22:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump Jr appeared to joke about violence against migrants arriving in the US, while he voiced his support for Gov Ron DeSantiss programme to send two flights of the recently arrived people to Marthas Vineyard this week.

The former presidents son, who is executive vice president at his fathers Trump Organization, took to multiple social media platforms on Thursday to tear down people who support more progressive border policies by sharing a series of memes that depict scenes where migrants were attacked by border officials on the US southern border.

Don Jr jokes about migrants in Instagram post as he backs Marthas Vineyard flights

Trump could face October Surprise from Jan 6 committee

Friday 16 September 2022 21:50 , Oliver O'Connell

The House select committee investigating the Capitol riot on January 6 will likely not release its report about the attempted insurrection before the election, Axios reported. But that doesnt mean it could not make news before 8 November.

Chairman Bennie Thompson told reporters that he didnt want the committee to be perceived as a partisan committee ... weve been fairly free of those kind of complaints, and we would not want to interfere with the election.

At the same time, the chairman said that the time before 28 September, before the House leaves for campaign season, wont be a quiet period and the goal is to have  some information pushed out, obviously, before the November election, though the committee might have an interim report during that time.

Eric Garcia has the latest.

January 6 committee could bring October surprise for the midterms

Sarah Huckabee Sanders reveals thyroid cancer operation

Friday 16 September 2022 21:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Trump press secretary and current Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Sarah Huckabee Sanders has revealed she underwent successful surgery to remove her thyroid and surrounding lymph nodes following a cancer diagnosis.

Kristi Noem rants about Newsoms abortion billboard campaign in her state

Friday 16 September 2022 21:20 , Oliver O'Connell

California Governor Gavin Newsom launched a multi-state billboard campaign in parts of the country where abortion is the most restricted, to play up his states progressive laws that protect a persons right to the procedure.

South Dakota Kristi Noem was not amused.

In South Dakota, we are a destination for FREEDOM and LIFE.



Now that youve run your billboards in SD, why dont you get to work cleaning up the human feces on the streets of your cities and turning the lights back on.



By the way, did you write this tweet in the dark? https://t.co/WiiFGIQ3Sv  Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) September 15, 2022

Johanna Chisholm has the full details.

Governors call out Newsoms abortion-rights billboard campaign in red states

Tomi Lahren evacuated as crowd of protesters pound on doors of speech

Friday 16 September 2022 21:05 , Oliver O'Connell

A speech from right-wing commentator Tomi Lahren at the University of New Mexico ended in chaos on Thursday night, as a large, fiery crowd of student protestors prompted state and campus police to shut down the event and evacuate guests.

Josh Marcus has the story.

Tomi Lahren evacuated as protesters pound doors at University of New Mexico speech

Trump has gone full QAnon in recent weeks

Friday 16 September 2022 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

In the summer of 2020, as an obscure conspiracy ideology called QAnon began growing in prominence, then-president Donald Trump said he hadnt really heard of the movement, but though its supporters were patriots and should be praised for backing his administration.

Ive heard these are people that love our country, he said at a White House press briefing that August. I dont really know anything about it, except that they do supposedly like me, he added.

The president didnt seem deterred when a reporter laid out just how outlandish the movements claims really were: that a cabal of Satan-worshiping paedophile Democrats controlled the deep state, and could only be vanquished by Mr Trump.

I havent heard that, but is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing?, he said, continuing, If I can help save the world from problems, Im willing to do it.

Two years later, the former president has gone full QAnon as he positions himself for a potential 2024 president run.

Josh Marcus reports for The Independent on what has changed.

Donald Trump has gone full QAnon in recent weeks

Literally human trafficking: Hillary Clinton slams DeSantis migrant flights

Friday 16 September 2022 20:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Hillary Clinton has branded the situation in Marthas Vineyard literally human trafficking after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unexpectedly flew a group of migrants to the Massachusetts island.

The former secretary of state appeared on MSNBCs Morning Joe on Friday morning where she agreed with host Joe Scarborough that the migrants were being taken advantage of by Republican lawmakers.

Rachel Sharp reports.

Hillary Clinton says sending migrants to Marthas Vineyard is human trafficking

John Fetterman is searching for votes in ruby red Trump country - will the strategy pay off?

Friday 16 September 2022 20:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Richard Hall reports for The Independent on how Pennsylvania Democratic candidate for the Senate is hoping to chip away at Trumps support in rural parts of the state.

John Fetterman is searching for votes in ruby red Trump country. Will it work?

Trump attacks Chris Christie with nasty body-shaming post

Friday 16 September 2022 19:56 , Oliver O'Connell

After calling Mitch McConnell an absolute loser this morning, the former president has climbed further into the gutter by taking aim at former New Jersey governor Chris Christie with a nasty body-shaming post on Truth Social.

Could House Jan 6 committee release interim report before midterms?

Friday 16 September 2022 19:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Axios reports that the January 6 committee is on a potential collision course with the midterm elections in November.

The panel investigating the attack on the US Capitol plans to hold at least one more hearing in late September and release early findings and recommendations before the 8 November election.

There is a virtual meeting today to set a schedule for upcoming hearings, keeping in mind that the committee has an expiration date of 31 December.

Committee members told Axios that the final report will likely come after the election, but there will be plenty of news before voters head to the ballot box.

Chairman Thompson told the outlet that the time between an expected 28 September hearing and the election wont be a quiet period.

He added that the goal is to have  some information pushed out, obviously, before the November election.

The panel may release its interim report in that window.

Some committee members say that whatever they do will be denounced as partisan, but that they have a job to do and thats too important to base on one date in November.

National Guard activated to assist with DeSantis migrants flown to Marthas Vineyard

Friday 16 September 2022 19:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced he plans to activate the National Guard, among the relief efforts his administration is supplying for the 50 migrants who were flown into Marthas Vineyard under Governor Ron DeSantiss controversial relocation program.

The island communities are not equipped to provide sustainable accommodation, and state officials developed a plan to deliver a comprehensive humanitarian response, said the governors office in a statement released Friday.

Johanna Chisholm reports.

National Guard activated to assist migrants flown to Marthas Vineyard by DeSantis

Only 26 per cent of voters say appropriate for Trump to take home government documents

Friday 16 September 2022 18:40 , Oliver O'Connell

A new Fox News poll shows a solid two-thirds majority of voters believe it was inappropriate for former president Donald Trump to have taken a stash of more than 11,000 documents belonging to the government at the end of his term in the White House.

The survey also found that just 26 per cent of US voters believe Mr Trumps actions were appropriate, compared with the 65 per cent who said it was not.

Andrew Feinberg takes a look at the latest data.

Two-thirds of voters say Trumps removal of documents inappropriate, poll finds

Book reveals Trump tried replacing AG with two cabinet members in order to fire Mueller

Friday 16 September 2022 18:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump was so intent on firing the Department of Justice special counsel charged with investigating his 2016 campaigns potential ties with Russia that he offered the job of attorney general to two members of his cabinet on condition that they would carrying out his wish.

In their upcoming book The Divider: Trump in the White House 2017-2021, authors Peter Baker and Susan Glasser report how Mr Trump responded to then-White House counsel Don McGahns refusal to order the firing of ex-FBI Director Robert Mueller by asking members of his cabinet to relieve then-attorney general Jeff Sessions and promptly sack the widely-respected ex-prosecutor.

Andrew Feinberg has the latest excerpt from the soon-to-be-released book.

Trump asked two different cabinet members to fire Robert Mueller, book reveals

Tucker Carlson claims liberal Ken Burns compared DeSantis treatment of migrants to Holocaust

Friday 16 September 2022 17:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Foxs Tucker Carlson raged at liberals for what he perceived as their uneven and hypocritical reaction to migrants being flown into Marthas Vineyard by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

In a segment on his Thursday night program, the right-wing pundit specifically took filmmaker Ken Burns to task over comments the American documentarian had made earlier that day that compared the Florida governor to an authoritarian leader.

Joanna Chisholm reports on Carlsons comments.

Tucker Carlson claims Ken Burns compared DeSantis treatment of migrants to Holocaust

Biden slams GOP governors migrant flights: Playing politics with human beings

Friday 16 September 2022 17:10 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden on Thursday slammed Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for using bus and plane-loads of migrants as a way to punish leaders of Democratic-led state and local governments.

Speaking at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institutes annual gala, Mr Biden hit out at the GOP governors less than a day after Mr Abbott sent two busloads of South and Central American asylum seekers to Washington and Mr DeSantis funded a planeload of migrants transportation from Texas to Massachusetts.

Andrew Feinberg reports on the presidents comments.

Biden slams GOP governors migrant flights: Playing politics with human beings

Marjorie Taylor Greene accused of kicking gun control activist

Friday 16 September 2022 16:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared to kick a young gun control activist outside the Capitol when the pro-gun Republican was confronted about mass shootings in the US.

Ms Greene also asked another activist questioning her about gun safety to move to another country.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports.

Marjorie Taylor Greene appears to kick gun control activist

Trump oversaw coordinated, multi-step effort to overturn an election'

Friday 16 September 2022 16:20 , Oliver O'Connell

House select committee chair Bennie Thompson: There can be no doubt that there was a coordinated, multi-step effort to overturn an election overseen and directed by Donald Trump... And so, there needs to be accountability. Accountability under the law. Accountability to the American people.

"There can be no doubt that there was a coordinated, multi-step effort to overturn an election overseen and directed by Donald Trump... And so, there needs to be accountability. Accountability under the law. Accountability to the American people."

-Chair @BennieGThompson  January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) September 16, 2022

Marthas Vineyard community galvanised to aid migrants sent as part of DeSantis stunt

Friday 16 September 2022 16:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida faced international condemnation and scrutiny as the latest GOP governor escalating the partys widely derided scheme of shipping vulnerable groups of migrants out of their states in cold protest of President Joe Biden.

But the arrival of 50 migrants on Marthas Vineyard  known as a summer getaway for wealthier Americans  has galvanised communities across the small island off the coast of Massachusetts, providing immediate shelter and relief for a group of people and families deceptively collected into planes out of Texas, more than 2,000 miles away, at taxpayers expense.

Alex Woodward reports on how a community came together to help the new arrivals.

The GOP sent migrants to Marthas Vineyard to stoke panic. It didnt work

Trump and his aides pushed for AT&T to sell CNN to Rupert Murdoch

Friday 16 September 2022 15:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump and his aides pushed for AT&T to sell CNN to Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch as the then-president was pushing to block the telecommunications companys merger with Time Warner in the early days of his presidency.

According to a pre-release copy of authors Peter Baker and Susan Glassers book The Divider which The Independent obtained ahead of its 20 September publication date, Mr Murdoch twice offered to buy CNN as a way to smooth the way for the merger by taking over an independent news outlet which Mr Trump viewed as an enemy.

Andrew Feinberg has the details.

Trump tried to get AT&T to sell CNN to Rupert Murdoch, book reveals

Trump helped release drug prisoners... now he wants to execute them

Friday 16 September 2022 15:26 , Oliver O'Connell

After helping release people convicted of drug crimes, Donald Trump now wants the death penalty for those same offences.

Experts and the people given a reprieve by the former president warn The Independents Josh Marcus and Alex Woodward against the dangers of his rhetoric.

Donald Trump helped release drug prisoners. Now he wants to execute them

Not just Dr Oz... Mastriano was registered to vote in New Jersey in 2021 despite running in Pennsylvania

Friday 16 September 2022 15:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Doug Mastriano, the Republican nominee for governor in Pennsylvania, was registered to vote in neighboring New Jersey until he kicked off his gubernatorial campaign last year, The New Jersey Globe reported.

Eric Garcia reports.

Pennsylvania GOP candidate Mastriano was registered to vote in New Jersey until 2021

Lindsey Graham called Trump a lying motherf***er during Ukraine impeachment, book reveals

Friday 16 September 2022 14:54 , Oliver O'Connell

South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham attempted to defend his defence of then-president Donald Trumps conduct during his first impeachment, describing him to a pair of veteran Washington reporters as a liar and using expletives.

In their upcoming book The Divider: Trump in the White House 2017-2021, authors Peter Baker and Susan Glasser recall how they met with Mr Graham outside a Washington DC steakhouse less than 48 hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced an impeachment inquiry into whether Mr Trump had extorted the president of Ukraine in a now-infamous July 2019 phone call. The Independent obtained a copy ahead of its 20 September publication date.

Andrew Feinberg has the story of what Mr Graham told the authors.

Lindsey Graham called Trump a lying motherf***er during Ukraine impeachment

QAnon embraced by Trump, analysis finds

Friday 16 September 2022 14:40 , Gino Spocchia

Rather than distancing himself from the fringes of his American conservatism, Donald Trump has appeared to embracing it post-presidency, according to an Associated Press report on Friday.

Analysis found that more than a third of the almost 75 accounts reTruthed by the former president on his Truth Social profile in the past month have promoted QAnon, the fringe conspiracy theory about a secret cabal of child abusers who conspired against Mr Trump while in office.

Through sharing the movements slogans, videos or imagery, the report suggested that Mr Trump was seeking support from some of his most loyal supporters  no matter the absurdity, or previous attempts at distancing himself from QAnon.

Trump openly embraces, amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories

New York could sue former president

Friday 16 September 2022 13:55 , Gino Spocchia

Donald Trump could soon be faced with a civil action lawsuit in New York over a fraud investigation into his real estate and licensing conglomerate, the Trump Organization, which ended with a disagreement over a settlement.

Citing three sources with knowledge of the matter, The New York Times reported on Thursday New York State Attorney General Letitia James had rejected an offer to settle the long-running fraud investigation  a strong indicator that Ms James intends to sue.

Andrew Feinberg has more:

New York attorney general may sue after rejecting Trump fraud probe settlement offer

Special master was what Trump lawyers were looking for'

Friday 16 September 2022 13:10 , Gino Spocchia

The judge appointed to review materials taken from Mar-a-Lago has been described as being exceptionally slow in his pace following the news of his appointment on Thursday.

Maggie Haberman, of The New York Times, tweeted that Judge Raymond Dearie was known for his steady hand and that lawyers for Mr Trump were looking for such a person to serve as special master in the Justice Departments case against hthe former president.

A NY operative reminds me a key fact about Dearie, whose courthouse I covered two decades ago: he is known as exceptionally slow in his pace. That is what the Trump team is we looking for, she wrote.

Judge Dearie has until 30 November to review the documents taken by FBI agents from Mar-a-Lago.

Judge appoints Trumps nominee as special master to oversee secret files

Trump calls McConnell a loser

Friday 16 September 2022 12:25 , Gino Spocchia

Taking to Truth Social again on Thursday night, Donald Trump issued a statement attacking Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell for giving the Democrats everything they want.

While it was unclear what exactly prompted the tirade against Mr McConnell, the senior Republican has faced criticism from some conservatives in recent weeks for allowing Democrats to agree and pass a $740bn bill on climate, health and taxes.

This week, Mr McConnell was also forced to politely put down senator Lindsey Grahams calls for a nationwide abortion ban after 15 weeks amid widespread unpopularity for the idea amongst American voters ahead of Novembers midterms.

Mr Trump wrote: The Republican Senate must do something about this absolute Loser, Mitch McConnell, who folds every time against the Democratsand hes only getting worse!

Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America pic.twitter.com/KRGmK8JP28  RSBN  (@RSBNetwork) September 16, 2022

Former president helps Melania sell baubles

Friday 16 September 2022 11:39 , Gino Spocchia

Taking a break from considering multiple investigations against him on Thursday, Donald Trump issued a rare flirtatious message to followers on Truth Social, his own social media network, who were told about Melania Trumps beautiful Christmas ornaments.

The former first lady received the ringing endorsement after she announced a new range of digital festive ornaments and corresponding decorations  some of the proceeds from which will go to charity.

Really beautiful (the ornaments, I mean!), wrote Mr Trump, along with a picture of his wife.

Trump makes flirty comment about Melanias Christmas baubles

Trump invited to Washington DC event honouring Queen

Friday 16 September 2022 10:45 , Gino Spocchia

Although not attending Queen Elizabeth IIs funeral with Joe Biden on Monday, Donald Trump has reportedly been invited to a memorial service in Washington DC next week to remember the late British monarch.

A British embassy invitation to the event a Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was sent to Mr Trump in recent days, according to The Telegraph.

Other living ex-presidents, including Barrack Obama, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton and their spouses, were also sent out on Thursday by the British embassy. The service will take place at Washingtons National Cathedral on Wednesday next week.

Sravasti Dasgupta reports:

Trump invited to US service for Queen Elizabeth II after being snubbed from funeral

Judge open to Trump privilege claims

Friday 16 September 2022 10:05 , Gino Spocchia

Writing in an order on Thursday, US District judge Aileen Cannon said she was open to the possibility that the former president could use executive privilege as a defense against some records seized by FBI agents from Mar-a-Lago last month, the Associated Press reported.

Although widely disputed by legal experts and the current US president, the Trump appointed judge also noted ongoing disagreements between Trump lawyers and Justice Department officials about the proper designation of the seized materials, which were marked classified.

While blocking a Justice Department request to continue reviewing the classified material, the judge appointed a special master at the request of Mr Trump to review the Mar-a-Lago material neutrally.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the former presidents lawyers made clear on Thursday that they were satisfied with the appointment. That decision is expected to be appealed.

Trump threatens big problems for US if hes indicted over Mar-a-Lago papers

Friday 16 September 2022 09:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump on Thursday hinted that his supporters could engage in a protracted campaign of violence if he were to be indicted for any crimes discovered in the myriad criminal investigations into his conduct.

Speaking on the conservative broadcaster Hugh Hewitts radio show, Mr Trump said an indictment would not deter him from running for president because he would have no prohibition against running.

But I think if it happened, I think youd have problems in this country the likes of which perhaps, weve never seen before. I dont think the people of the United States would stand for it, he added.

Asked what kinds of problems he was predicting if he were to be charged with a crime, Mr Trump added ominously: I think youd have big problems  big problems.

Andrew Feinberg reports on the former presidents threat to the stability of the US.

Trump threatens big problems for US if hes indicted in stolen documents scandal

New book says Trump offered West Bank to king of Jordan

Friday 16 September 2022 08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump once offered Jordans King Abdullah II control of the West Bank, which he characterised at the time as being a great deal, according to a forthcoming book on behind-the-scenes accounts of the Trump White House.

When Abdullah II received the message from Mr Trump, he reportedly told an American friend: I thought I was having a heart attack.

Understandable.

Trump offered the West Bank to Jordans king, according to a new book

Biden approval rating jumps up

Friday 16 September 2022 08:15 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Bidens approval ratings have improved from their lowest point this summer, according to a new poll.

The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll showed the presidents approval ratings increased to 45 per cent from 36 per cent in July.

Sravasti Dasgupta reports.

Biden approval rating jumps up to 45%

Trump wont pick Pence as running-mate in 2024 after former VPs political suicide

Friday 16 September 2022 07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump says in a new book that he will not pick his former vice president Mike Pence to serve as his running mate if he launches another White House bid in 2024.

Mr Trump made the remarks in The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021, written by Peter Baker of The New York Times and Susan Glasser of The New Yorker, The Guardian reported. Mr Baker and Ms Glasser interviewed Mr Trump in April and November of last year.

Eric Garcia reports.

Trump says he wont pick Pence as running-mate: Mike committed political suicide

John Fetterman is searching for votes in ruby red Trump country  can he find them?

Friday 16 September 2022 06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independents Richard Hall reports on how John Fetterman, a very different kind of Democrat, is hoping to chip away at Trumps support in rural Pennsylvania.

John Fetterman is searching for votes in ruby red Trump country. Will it work?

ICYMI | Melania told Trump he was blowing this in handling of Covid

Friday 16 September 2022 06:39 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Donald Trumps wife, Melania, was reportedly so disturbed by her husbands handling of the Covid-19 pandemic that she took to characterising his response as screwing up.

The news of one of the former presidents closest confidants, among others, expressing doubts in his ability to handle critical geopolitical issues comes from a forthcoming book from New York Times chief White House correspondent Peter Baker and New Yorker staff writer and CNN global affairs analyst Susan Glasser.

CNN obtained an early copy of the book.

In one of the books more damning passages, the pair of veteran reporters cite interviews with Trump insiders who were able to confirm that the one-term presidents partner was concerned with how his administration was responding to the pandemic.

Johanna Chisholm reports.

Melania told Trump he was blowing this in handling of Covid outbreak, book claims

New York AG may sue Trump after rejecting settlement offer in fraud probe

Friday 16 September 2022 06:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The state of New Yorks chief law enforcement officer may soon file a civil lawsuit against former president Donald Trump, his eponymous real estate and licensing conglomerate, and at least one of his adult children after the twice-impeached ex-presidents proposed settlement that would have ended a years-long probe into whether his companies defrauded state tax authorities was rejected.

Andrew Feinberg has the details.

New York attorney general may sue after rejecting Trump fraud probe settlement offer

Trump threatens big problems if hes indicted

Friday 16 September 2022 05:52 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Former president Donald Trump on Thursday hinted that his supporters could engage in a protracted campaign of violence if he were to be indicted for any crimes discovered in the criminal investigations into his conduct.

Speaking on the conservative broadcaster Hugh Hewitts radio show, Mr Trump said an indictment would not deter him from running for president because he would have no prohibition against running.

But I think if it happened, I think youd have problems in this country the likes of which perhaps, weve never seen before. I dont think the people of the United States would stand for it, he added.

Asked what kinds of problems he was predicting if he were to be charged with a crime, Mr Trump added ominously: I think youd have big problems  big problems.

I just dont think they [his supporters] would stand for it. They will not, he said. They will not sit still and stand for this ultimate of hoaxes.

Andrew Feinberg has more.

Trump threatens big problems for US if hes indicted in stolen documents scandal

Biden nominates US attorney for Florida Mar-a-Lago district

Friday 16 September 2022 05:15 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden has nominated a Miami litigator and longtime government lawyer to serve as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, the office currently involved in the Justice Departments investigation of classified records at former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate.

Markenzy Lapointe would replace Juan Antonio Tony Gonzalez, who has been a top prosecutor in Southern Florida involved in the investigation of the classified records and the debate over whether a judge should appoint a special master to review the documents taken by FBI in the search.

Biden nominates US attorney for Florida Mar-a-Lago district

Democrats push same-sex marriage vote until after midterms

Friday 16 September 2022 04:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Democrats are punting a vote to protect same-sex and interracial marriages until after the November midterm elections, pulling back just days after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to put the Senate on the record on the issue in the coming weeks.

Democrats punt same-sex marriage vote until after election

Trump claims absolute authority to declassify files

Friday 16 September 2022 03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has claimed he had the absolute right to declassify top secret documents that federal agents found at his Mar-a-Lago mansion.

The one-term president made the claim during an appearance on conservative radio host Hugh Hewitts show this week and insisted that he will not be prosecuted over it.

Graeme Massie listened to the interview.

Trump claims he had absolute authority to declassify files found at Mar-a-Lago

Mitt Romney defends GOP governors over sending migrants to Marthas Vineyard

Friday 16 September 2022 03:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican Senator Mitt Romney had no sympathy for Democratic leaders in cities and states around the country on Thursday after news broke of GOP governors stepping up efforts to bus groups of migrants to their jurisdictions.

The campaign, begun by Texass Greg Abbott and now joined by Floridas Ron DeSantis, aims to embarrass the Biden administration by taking the issue of immigration enforcement into state hands. Over the past several months, the governors have found groups of undocumented migrants and enticed them with various means to accept bus rides, a dozen or so at a time, out of state to destinations unknown.

John Bowden has the story.

Mitt Romney defends GOP governors busing migrants to Marthas Vineyard

Protesters heckle GOP senators over Lindsey Grahams proposed national abortion ban

Friday 16 September 2022 02:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Republican senators were heckled in downtown Washington DC Tuesday evening as they attended a gala hosted by an anti-abortion group celebrating the downfall of Roe vs Wade.

A handful of GOP lawmakers were guests of honour at an event hosted by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, an anti-abortion nonprofit organisation named after the famous (and staunchly reglious) womens rights activist. Among those who attended were both of South Carolinas US senators, Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham.

Roughly 100 protesters gathered outside the National Building Museum late in the afternoon and chanted slogans which included our bodies our choice, and pro-life is a lie, you dont care if people die.

John Bowden reports.

Protesters heckle GOP senators after Lindsey Graham unveils national abortion ban

Biden stresses necessity of calling out white supremacy at White House summit

Friday 16 September 2022 01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden on Thursday said Americans must speak openly about the dangers posed by white supremacy and not be complicit by refusing to talk about the threat it poses to the country.

Speaking at the White Houses first United We Stand summit, Mr Biden told an audience of civil society experts and civil rights activists that the internet has given racial and ethnic hatred too much room to breathe in recent years.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

We cant remain silent: Biden stresses necessity of calling out white supremacy

House passes bill to curb political interference in census

Friday 16 September 2022 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The House passed legislation on Thursday intended to make it harder for future presidents to interfere with the once-a-decade census that determines political power and federal funding, a move that comes in response to the Trumps administrations failed effort to make a citizenship question part of the 2020 headcount.

House OKs bill to curb political interference with census

Judge appoints Trumps nominee as special master in Mar-a-Lago secret papers probe

Friday 16 September 2022 00:34 , Graeme Massie

A Florida Judge has appointed Donald Trumps nominee as special master in the FBI investigation into top secret papers seized by agents from his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Judge Raymond Dearie will now review materials seized during the raid of the former presidents estate in August after Mr Trump successfully demanded one be appointed.

Judge appoints Trumps nominee as special master to oversee secret files

Roger Stone denies filming video for QAnon Queen of Canada

Friday 16 September 2022 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The self-proclaimed Queen of Canada, a QAnon adherent named Romana Didulo, is apparently trying to raise funds for her conspiracy-fuelled movement using what appeared to be a Cameo video made by Roger Stone.

However, Mr Stone says he has no idea what the group is talking about.

Graig Graziosi has the story.

Roger Stone denies filming video for QAnon Queen of Canada

Watch: How Oath Keepers responded to Trumps Jan 6 tweet

Thursday 15 September 2022 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The Select Committee has obtained a recording of communications over a walkie-talkie app among Oath Keepers who were inside the Capitol and others who were sharing intelligence from elsewhere.



Listen to how they reacted to President Trumps 2:38 tweet in real-time. pic.twitter.com/0ZzJ1E37w0  January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) September 15, 2022

White House expresses deep alarm at GOP governors migrant flights

Thursday 15 September 2022 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The White House on Thursday said Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis use of migrants to punish leaders of Democratic-led state and local governments is a deeply alarming stunt that placed innocent children in danger to score political points.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the two governors were disrupting the federal process for handling migrants and using the migrants as political pawns.

It is shameful, it is reckless, and just plain wrong, she said.

Andrew Feinberg reports about the administrations reaction.

White House calls GOP governors migrant flights deeply alarming

Trump rants about bad McConnell, Schumers favourite senator'

Thursday 15 September 2022 22:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump has take aim at Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in his latest diatribe on Truth Social.

He began: Mitch McConnell is giving the Democrats everything they want. He is their lapdog! He didnt stop trillions of dollars in spending by refusing to use the Debt Ceiling as a negotiating tool. He gave it up for nothing. Now he wants to give Manchin the thing he wanted in order to destroy America, and even the People of West Virginia.

Continuing, he said: How about his tax on coal? The Republican Senate must do something about this absolute Loser, Mitch McConnell, who folds every time against the Democratsand hes only getting worse!

Further, the former president wrote: Finally, some Republicans with great Courage! Rick Scott, Ted Cruz, and Mike Lee are working hard to stop Chuck Schumer and his favorite Senator Mitch McConnell from ramming through a disastrous Continuing Resolution that would do nothing to Stop Inflation, Grow our Economy, or Restore the American Dreamit would only put Big Government First and give Manchin his terrible deal.

In conclusion, he suggested: Instead, we need a LONG-TERM Continuing Resolution, so we can deal with the real Emergency at hand, the Radical Lefts destruction of America, and once again, put AMERICA First. McConnell is so bad!

Mark Meadows complies with DoJs Jan 6 subpoena

Thursday 15 September 2022 22:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has reportedly complied with a Justice Department subpoena tied to the investigation into the events surrounding the Jan 6 Capitol riot.

CNN broke the story and cited sources familiar with the matter. Per the unnamed sources, Mr Meadows turned over the same materials that he gave the House select committee probing the Capitol riot.

Mr Meadows compliance makes him the highest ranking member of former President Donald Trumps administration to comply with the Justice Department subpoenas.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Mark Meadows complies with DoJs Jan 6 subpoena, turns over texts and emails

Biden to talk economy, midterms, war in Ukraine on 60 Minutes

Thursday 15 September 2022 21:59 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden sits down with Scott Pelley to discuss the economy, midterm elections and the war in Ukraine, Sunday on the 55th season premiere of 60 Minutes. https://t.co/WxXZHpVqjY pic.twitter.com/OutjwfSP1T  60 Minutes (@60Minutes) September 15, 2022

Despite widespread criticism, DeSantis hails Marthas Vineyard stunt as innovative'

Thursday 15 September 2022 21:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis boasted about his innovative strategy of sending two planes full of Venezuelan migrants to Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts.

We are not a sanctuary state, and its better to be able to go to a sacntuary jurisdiction, Mr DeSantis said at an event. And yes, we will help facilitate that transport for you to be able to go to greener pastures.

Eric Garcia reports on the governors comments.

DeSantis boasts about Marthas Vineyard flight of migrants despite criticism

Tucker Carlson segment may have inspired DeSantis migrants to Marthas Vineyard stunt

Thursday 15 September 2022 21:20 , Oliver O'Connell

A segment by Fox News host Tucker Carlson may have inspired Floridas Republican Governor Ron DeSantis to send migrants to Marthas Vineyard.

Mr DeSantis sent around 50 migrants to the island off the coast of Massachusetts on Wednesday.

The move may have been inspired by a segment on Tucker Carlson Tonight from late July.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Tucker Carlson may have inspired DeSantis move to send migrants to Marthas Vineyard

Trump plugs Melanias Christmas ornaments with flirty comment on Truth Social

Thursday 15 September 2022 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump issued a rare flirtatious message to followers on Truth Social, his own social media network, who were told about Melania Trumps beautiful Christmas ornaments.

The former first lady received the ringing endorsement on Thursday, when the former president reTruthed a post by his wife who this week announced a new range of digital and real brass festive ornaments.

Really beautiful (the ornaments, I mean!), wrote Mr Trump.

Trump makes flirty comment about Melanias Christmas baubles

Swap Puerto Rico for Greenland? Trump once proposed it, new book claims

Thursday 15 September 2022 20:20 , Oliver O'Connell

When Donald Trump floated the controversial idea to buy Greenland in 2019, it was not because of conversations with administration officials, as he said at the time. It was the by-product of a suggestion posed by one of his billionaire friends, a new book reports.

Johanna Chisholm has the story.

Trump floated idea of swapping Puerto Rico for Greenland, new book claims

Thursday 15 September 2022 19:50 , Oliver O'Connell

"Donald Trump had access to more detailed and specific information showing that the election was not actually stolen than almost any other American. And he was told this over and over again... Trump cannot escape responsibility by being willfully blind."

-Vice Chair @RepLizCheney  January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) September 15, 2022

Boebert was not the first ...remember this moment?

Thursday 15 September 2022 19:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Rep Lauren Boebert is not the first lawmaker to mistakenly bring food into a speech.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was roundly mocked online in March for a video in which she confuses the name of the Nazi secret police with that of chilled tomato soup.

Marjorie Taylor Greene mocked for confusing Nazi secret police with cold tomato soup

Rep Boebert mocked for hilarious wonton killings' speech blunder

Thursday 15 September 2022 19:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Lauren Boebert has been mocked for warning of wonton killings during a reading of a Bible passage.

The GOP Representative was reading a passage from Romans that in The Message edition of the Bible refers to wanton killing.

But video of the event shows the lawmaker from Colorado getting the phrase mixed up with the Chinese dumpling.

Graeme Massie has the story.

Lauren Boebert mocked over wonton killings gaffe: Where you dumpling the bodies

Biden approval rating jumps up to 45%

Thursday 15 September 2022 18:50 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Bidens approval ratings have improved from their lowest point this summer, according to a new poll.

The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll showed the presidents approval ratings increased to 45 per cent from 36 per cent in July.

Sravasti Dasgupta reports.

Biden approval rating jumps up to 45%

Trump threatens big problems for US if hes indicted

Thursday 15 September 2022 18:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump on Thursday hinted that his supporters could engage in a protracted campaign of violence if he were to be indicted for any crimes discovered in the myriad criminal investigations into his conduct.

Speaking on the conservative broadcaster Hugh Hewitts radio show, Mr Trump said an indictment would not deter him from running for president because he would have no prohibition against running.

But I think if it happened, I think youd have problems in this country the likes of which perhaps, weve never seen before. I dont think the people of the United States would stand for it, he added.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Trump threatens big problems for US if hes indicted in stolen documents scandal

Fox Poll shows reaction to end of Roe v Wade

Thursday 15 September 2022 17:50 , Andrew Naughtie

The political implications for the end of Roe v Wade are becoming clear, and they dont look good for Republicans  a fact that is even showing up on Fox News:

GOP leaders have struggled to pivot the midterm campaign away from turning into a referendum on abortion rights, but their efforts were badly muddled this week when South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham introduced legislation that would ban abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy under federal law.

John Bowden writes:

Lindsey Graham gifts Democrats an anti-abortion bogeyman in final stretch of campaign

Trump wont run with Pence again'

Thursday 15 September 2022 17:20 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trump says in a new book that he will not pick his former vice president Mike Pence to serve as his running mate if he launches another White House bid in 2024.

Mr Trump made the remarks in The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021, written by Peter Baker of The New York Times and Susan Glasser of The New Yorker, The Guardian reported. Mr Baker and Ms Glasser interviewed Mr Trump in April and November of last year.

It would be totally inappropriate, the former president said. Mr Trumps main objection to his former vice president is that Mr Pence refused to overturn the 2020 presidential election results on 6 January 2021. Mike committed political suicide, Mr Trump told the authors.

Read more from Eric Garcia:

Trump says he wont pick Pence as running-mate: Mike committed political suicide

Schumer casts doubt on Democrats midterm chances

Thursday 15 September 2022 16:50 , Andrew Naughtie

Even after a run of special election victories and encouraging polls, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has issued a pessimistic prediction for House Democrats chances in the midterm elections.

In comments reported by Punchbowl News, Mr Schumer told Senate colleagues at a restaurant dinner that were the midterms to be held today, there would be a 60 per cent chance we hold the Senate, and a 40 per cent chance we hold the House.

The outlet cited numerous restaurant patrons as its sources, reporting that they overheard Mr Schumer as he loudly described how Nancy Pelosi is in trouble in her efforts to hold on to the majority in the lower chamber.

The majority leaders prediction of losing the House puts him at odds with Ms Pelosi, who has said in the last few days not just that she thinks the Democrats can hold the chamber but that they can in fact widen their ultra-narrow majority.

Read more:

Chuck Schumer predicts Democrats are unlikely to hold House majority in midterms

Trump insists (again) that Mar-a-Lago documents were declassified

Thursday 15 September 2022 16:18 , Andrew Naughtie

In an interview with right-wing radio host Hugh Hewitt this morning, Donald Trump was given a chance to riff on the Mar-a-Lago search and its aftermath.

Aside from boasting about his poll numbers and saying that the people are not going to stand for the search, he also fixated on John Durhams fading probe into the Russia invesitagtion, insisted that alternate slates of electors submitted to overturn presidential are common rather than illegal, confirmed he had not been asked to appear before a grand jury (it was not clear which one), and also insisted a president has the absolute right to declassify classified documents.

This is inaccurate, and is also not the only matter at issue in the Mar-a-Lago case.

He also said that were he indicted, he would have no prohibition on running for president  and warned of big problems thanks to the uproar that would result. Asked if he was inciting violence, he replied: Im just saying what my opinion is.

Former President Trump told me this AM that everything he took to Mar-A-Lago was declassified, and that he has done nothing wrong in connection with alternative slates of electors and cannot be indicted as a result. Audio and transcript will post soon.  Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) September 15, 2022

Where Trump got the idea to buy Greenland

Thursday 15 September 2022 15:50 , Andrew Naughtie

When Donald Trump floated the controversial idea to buy Greenland in 2019, it was not because of conversations with administration officials, as he said at the time. It was the by-product of a suggestion posed by one of his billionaire friends, a new book reports.

In August 2019, the former president compared the purchase of Greenland to a large real estate deal, stating that the notion had been planted in his head after ongoing conversations with members within his cabinet.

The concept came up and....strategically its interesting, he told a group of reporters on board Air Force One at the time. Later, a report from The Wall Street Journal would claim that the former real estate mogul became fixated on the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark after learning about its vast natural resources and geopolitical importance.

First we have to find out whether or not they have any interest, he said.

Johanna Chisholm has the story.

Trumps idea to buy Greenland came from a billionaire cosmetics friend, book claims

What has the 6 January committee obtained from the Secret Service?

Thursday 15 September 2022 15:20 , Andrew Naughtie

Bennie Thompson, chair of the House January 6 committee, has said the panel has obtained thousands of exhibits from Secret Service agents in relation to the panels investigation.

Mr Thompson told reporters on Wednesday that the materials obtained by his committee were a combination of different communications including text messages, radio traffic ... thousands of exhibits, as Axios reported.

The receipt of thousands of materials comes three months after the committee issued a subpoena for Secret Service communications from the day of the assault on the US Capitol and the day before.

It remains unclear what, if any, new information has been obtained by the panel, which has recently announced a second round of hearings for September.

Gino Spocchia reports.

Jan 6 committee has thousands of communications from Secret Service

The race that could decide whether Trump can steal the 2024 election

Thursday 15 September 2022 14:50 , Andrew Naughtie

Pennsylvanias gubernatorial race has gotten plenty of attention thanks to GOP candidate Doug Mastriano, an outright Christian nationalist who attended the 6 January rally that preceded the attack on the US Capitol.

Mr Mastriano, an election conspiracy theorist who currently trails in the polls, has previously said he would order a purge of the states voter rolls if elected  and given that Pennsylvanias secretary of state is appointed by the governor, not elected, he would have more leeway than most governors in the nation to reshape the way elections in his state are carried out.

Eric Garcia looks at what a Mastriano win could mean for the next election.

How Pennsylvania governors race could determine if Trump could steal a 2024 election

Georgia Senate contest marked by gender and race gaps

Thursday 15 September 2022 14:20 , Andrew Naughtie

As Republican Herschel Walker struggles in his challenge to incumbent Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, polling indicates that even as the contest features two Black men, the gendered and racial gaps in whom voters are supporting are extremely stark:

Mr Warnocks campaign has been hampered from the off by his history of domestic abuse, his steady stream of bizarre and rambling public statements, and his habit of repeating outright false claims  including lies about his professional and educational history.
Donald Trump leaves the courthouse after serving on jury duty in New York, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Trump put down a $3 million retainer for attorney Christopher M. Kise, a sum that The New York Times called "unusually high."

The retainer was reportedly paid for through his Save America PAC.

The competency of Trump's current legal team has been questioned by his advisors and others.

After having been rejected by several other attorneys, former President Donald Trump ended up paying an exceptionally large retainer for a well-known lawyer.

Christopher M. Kise, formerly the solicitor general of Florida, agreed to defend Trump with an "unusually high" $3 million retainer, The New York Times reported on Friday, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

The figure  paid for by Trump's Save America PAC, according to Politico  is significant because Trump is notorious for not paying bills, according to NBC News.

The former president reportedly struggled with finding a credible defense attorney recently, a problem he'd faced before.

As Trump continues to face legal peril, his advisors and former attorneys have pointed out that the quality of his legal team has taken a turn for the worst. Outside of Kise, Trump's previous legal team includes "a Florida insurance lawyer who's never had a federal case, a past general counsel for a parking-garage company, and a former host from a propagandistic cable outlet," MSNBC reported, citing The Washington Post.

Kise has appeared before the Supreme Court on four cases and has previously worked with Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis, CNN reported in August after Kise was confirmed to be a part of the legal team. He will take on BOTH Trump's classified documents case and the January 6th case.

Kise has been credited with helping DeSantis become governor in 2018 after publicizing that his opponent, Andrew Gillum, purchased tickets to see "Hamilton" from an undercover FBI agent, according to Law and Crime.

With Trump facing numerous legal battles, his legal team has also been at the center of controversy since the 2020 election and the January 6 insurrection.

Story continues

A former Trump attorney, Eric Herschmann, has called into question the competency of some attorneys on the team, The Times reported. Law enforcement officials have scrutinized two of Trump's lawyers, M. Evan Corcoran and Christina Bobb, after they claimed the former president didn't have access to classified documents, The Times reported.

The August FBI raid of Trump's Mar-a-Lago home uncovered that he was in possession of over a hundred classified documents, contrary to Corcoran and Bobb's assurances.

A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Former President Donald Trump, left, and Rupert Murdoch, right, in a composite image. Getty Images

Trump and his aides tried to push AT&T's CEO to sell CNN to Rupert Murdoch, a new book claims.

AT&T's CEO was "beyond pissed," and executives described "almost mob-style extortion," per the book.

Peter Baker and Susan Glasser's "The Divider," obtained by the Independent, is due to go on sale this week.

Former President Donald Trump and his aides repeatedly tried to persuade AT&T to sell CNN to Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch while also threatening to block the company's merger with Time Warner, CNN's parent company, according to a new book.

The revelation comes from a pre-release copy of Peter Baker and Susan Glasser's "The Divider," which the Independent obtained and reported.

The book said that Trump summoned Randall Stephenson, the chairman and CEO of AT&T until 2020, to his office in Trump Tower shortly after winning the election in 2016.

During this meeting, the book said that Trump complained about CNN's boss at the time, Jeff Zucker, claiming to have "got" him that role and calling him a "bad guy."

Stephenson, per the Independent's reporting, left the meeting with the feeling that Trump posed a threat to the AT&T and Time Warner merger.

In the weeks following this interaction, AT&T controversially donated to Trump's inaugural committee and paid Michael Cohen, Trump's lawyer at the time, for his services as a consultant. AT&T was seeking government approval for its acquisition of Time Warner during this period.

Stephenson later apologized to his employees for paying Cohen, referring to the decision in 2018 as a "bad mistake."

In May 2017, the book said that Murdoch, the billionaire media mogul and founder of Fox News, called Stephenson and asked: "How's the deal going?"

Per the Independent's reporting on the book, Murdoch offered to buy CNN from AT&T and remarked that it "would help get the deal done."

According to the book, Stephenson said he was not interested in selling CNN.

Three months later, Murdoch called again with another offer to buy CNN, per the book. It followed a White House dinner with Trump, Jared Kushner, and the former White House chief of Staff John Kelly, according to the Independent.

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Stephenson once again rejected the offer. According to an AT&T executive, per the book, Stephenson was "beyond pissed" by the calls and saw it as being part of an "outrageous abuse of power."

The book said that AT&T viewed the calls as "an implicit quid pro quo" in which Trump would not push the government to block the merger with Time Warner if AT&T divested CNN to the owner of a competitor that had covered him sympathetically, per the Independent.

The book said AT&T executives viewed the calls as "almost mob-style extortion," according to the Independent.

In November 2017, the Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit over the AT&T acquisition. Richard J. Leon, a senior judge of the US District Court in Washington, ultimately ruled in favor of AT&T, allowing the acquisition to go ahead. The companies completed their merger in June 2018.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Tucker Carlson cautioned that migrants could have caused a decline on the mostly white and largely elite Marthas Vineyard after they were flown there from Texas by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) this week.

The Fox News host, who spent his Thursday show unspooling a racist rant claiming that the nearly 50 men, women and children taken to the Massachusetts island on false pretenses could have had a goat barbecue there, adding Friday that the migrants could generally cause the quality of life to fall wherever they settle.

Carlson remarked that Vineyard residents, who scrambled to welcome and care for the unexpected visitors, should thank DeSantis for the political antic and claimed if government officials send you the blessed gift of diverse immigrants or refugees, you must accept.

DeSantis took credit for the migrants arrival on Wednesday, and the migrants reported that a woman in Texas deceiving them into boarding a flight they thought was going to Boston.

The migrants were transported to a Cape Cod military base on Friday, where up to 125 Massachusetts National Guard members were ready to assist them, according to Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R).

Carlson said on his show, It doesnt matter how disruptive these new people are. Its irrelevant how much they cost to support or how dramatically your quality of life may decline after they arrive.

It doesnt matter if the crime rate spikes, if your daughter is afraid to go outside, if the schools become unusable, the hospitals fall apart, Carlson said. It doesnt matter, you never complain. You take it like a man.

Carlson also disparaged Marthas Vineyard residents for serving cereal to the migrants.

You can watch a number of clips from Carlsons show below.

Tucker Carlson is enraged that Migrants at Martha's Vineyard are served Froot Loops.



There are no Froot Loops in the photo he references.



The migrants included children. Children love breakfast cereal. The church where the migrants were sent probably had a lot of cereal. pic.twitter.com/PBKqSNysie  Decoding Fox News (@DecodingFoxNews) September 17, 2022

Tucker Carlson,



"That's a really ugly thing to do, race is un-changing. So, why would you brood about it all the time? They are obsessed with it. They're obsessed with race. And that suggests to me there's something really ugly inside them."



Carlson has zero self-awareness. pic.twitter.com/wyUScaemGk  Decoding Fox News (@DecodingFoxNews) September 17, 2022

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia said on Saturday it is raising the price of cooking gas cylinders by 14% and fuel by 3% as part of a plan to reduce energy subsidies, a policy change wanted by the countrys international lenders.

The Energy Ministry said the cooking gas price will increase to 8.800 dinars from 7.750 dinars, in the first raise in 12 years.

The gasoline price will be raised on Tuesday to 2.400 dinars per litre from 2.330 dinars, a 3% increase, the ministry said in a statement.

The rise in fuel prices is the fourth this year. Tunisia expects its budget deficit will expand to 9.7% of gross domestic product in 2022, up from a previously expected 6.7%, due to the stronger dollar and a sharp increase in grain and energy prices.

The North Africa country, suffering from its worst financial crisis, is trying to agree on a new financing program with the International Monetary Fund.

The energy balance deficit doubled to 6 billion dinars in the first eight months of 2022 compared with 2.9 billion dinars last year, driven by the impact of the war in Ukraine.

(Reporting By Tareq Amara; Writing by Tareq Amara and Moaz Abd-Alaziz; Editing by David Gregorio and Leslie Adler)
ISTANBUL (Reuters) -President Tayyip Erdogan said he was targeting membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for NATO-member Turkey, broadcaster NTV and other media said on Saturday.

He was speaking to reporters after attending the SCO summit in Uzbekistan before heading to the United States.

"Our relations with these countries will be moved to a much different position with this step," Erdogan said.

"When asked if he meant membership of the SCO, he said, "Of course, that's the target".

Turkey is currently a dialogue partner of the SCO, whose members are China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Amid bilateral discussions at the summit, Erdogan had talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdogan said Turkey and Russia had reached a deal resolving a dispute over a nuclear power plant being built at Akkuyu in southern Turkey.

NTV reported Erdogan as saying that the Turkish contractor IC Ictas had been reinstated in the project, confirming comments by two sources to Reuters on Friday.

Last month, the Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom, which is running the project, terminated its contract with IC Ictas over what it called "numerous violations".

"God willing we will be able to finish and inaugurate the first (Akkuyu) unit in 2023," Erdogan added.

(Reporting by Daren Butler, Editing by Louise Heavens)
I must admit, it makes sense. We are less than sixty days away from the General Election  an election in which its still up in the air on which way it will lean.

So, I suppose this is the time to prick the hearts and minds with hypotheticals and fabrications. Its quite unfortunate.

Since January 2021 my only desire concerning this legislation is to ensure that you know the facts. I have conducted two town halls that were focused on the SAFE-T Act, and you can find them on my website.

I have attended any and every event that has asked me to speak on the legislation and had a consistent message at every turn: the facts.

I support this bill not because of slogans or because the wind is blowing in a certain direction. I support this legislation because it promotes community empowerment for all people  no matter of race, class, or religion.

More:State's Attorney: More than half of Winnebago County Jail to walk out door Jan. 1

I agree with how you feel. I do not want violent criminals on our streets either. I have a two-year-old daughter, and I will do anything and everything to protect her, so I get it.

But then Im reminded, violent criminals can get out of jail today, in the here and now, if they can pay their bail. Any person charged of the offenses that youve seen on the graphic on social media can be released from jail today, in the here and now, if they can pay their bail.

And on the other side of the coin, the person who is charged with shoplifting because they were trying to feedtheir family will remain in jail because they cannot pay their bail, which causes them to lose their home, their children, their job, their way of life.

And when that happens, the chances of becoming a repeat offender become even higher. This happens because though we are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Our current system says if you got money, go live your life until we can prove your guilt. If you do not have money then you can sit tight in jail for months until we can prove your guilt. Thats current law, and those are the concerning facts.

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That is why ending cash bail must happen. It creates a much more equitable justice system that determines whether you stay in jail, not based on how much money you have in your bank account, but whether you pose a danger to people or are a flight risk.

The bill reads: Decisions regarding release, conditions of release and detention prior trial should be individualized, andno single factor or standard should be used exclusively to make a condition or detention decision. Which says the judge must conduct a risk assessment for each case to determine whether they should be released, conditionally released, or held in detention prior to their trial.

The ultimate decision rests with the judge, not the size of ones purse.

That is why domestic violence survivor advocates support the Pre-Trial Fairness Act  because the judge would beable to detain the abuser and ensure the safety of survivors.

Now lets talk about Jan. 1.

Its been said that roughly 400 people will possibly be released from jail. Please pay attention to the word possibly.

Under the Pretrial Fairness Act, though all defendants shall be presumed eligible for pretrial release, it is up to the state to prove by clear and convincing evidence that violent offenders should not be released from jail.

State's attorneys have the ability to petition to deny pretrial release to any individual they can demonstrate poses a threat to an identifiable person. State's attorneys have the power to make sure those who pose a threat are not released pre-trial. The word possibly is entirely up to our state's attorney.

These are the facts. Come Jan. 1, the state can petition the courts to keep violent criminals in jail. It is a great responsibility, but for the sake of justice and fairness, I have faith in our state's attorney.

State Rep. Maurice A. West II, D-Rockford, represents the 67th District.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Your turn: No opinions, just facts on Illinois Pre-trial Fairness Act
Two kids, 3 and 10, became the latest child victims of gun violence Friday night during separate attacks on the citys West and South Sides.

They were at least the 13th and 14th children shot  some of whom were killed  in a month.

Around 11 p.m., the 3-year-old girl was a back seat passenger of a car in the 4200 block of West Cermak Road when a black car approached and someone from inside fired shots at the girls car, police said.

As gunfire shattered cars back window, bullet fragments hit the top of her head. She was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition, police said.

A little earlier in the night, the 10-year-old boy was walking on the sidewalk with his father and another man and child on the 1000 block of East 93rd Street around 8:37 p.m., police said, when a person in a red car fired shots at the group.

The boy was taken by his father to Comer Hospital with a gunshot wound to the left leg and was listed in good condition.

Just two days earlier, another 3-year-old  who was sleeping in his home  and an 8-year-old were shot in unrelated shootings. Both boys were taken to hospitals where the younger boy was treated for a wound to his elbow while the older boy suffered a graze wound to his leg.

August saw another rash of children shot  including 5-year-old Devin McGregor, who was killed in Rogers Park while near his father, who police said was the target.

The Aug. 20 shooting of a 6-year-old girl which happened while she attended an Englewood birthday party, came just days after seven children were shot in the city in less than 17 hours.

Police were investigating and reported two arrests following the shooting of a 12-year-old boy who was critically injured Tuesday in the 1800 block of West 21st Place about 10:30 p.m., police said. Two men were charged with attempted first-degree murder.
(Corrects to largely 2-1 ruling in second paragraph)

By Daniel Trotta

(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld a Texas law that bars large social media companies from banning or censoring users based on "viewpoint," a setback for technology industry groups that say the measure would turn platforms into bastions of dangerous content.

The largely 2-1 ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in New Orleans, sets up the potential for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on the law, which conservatives and right-wing commentators have said is necessary to prevent "Big Tech" from suppressing their views.

"Today we reject the idea that corporations have a freewheeling First Amendment right to censor what people say," Judge Andrew Oldham, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, wrote in the ruling.

The Texas law was passed by the state's Republican-led legislature and signed by its Republican governor.

The tech groups that challenged the law and were on the losing end of Friday's ruling include NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, which count Meta Platforms' Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet Inc's YouTube as members.

They have sought to preserve rights to regulate user content when they believe it may lead to violence, citing concerns that unregulated platforms will enable extremists such as Nazi supporters, terrorists and hostile foreign governments.

The association on Friday said it disagreed with forcing private companies to give equal treatment to all viewpoints. "'God Bless America' and 'Death to America' are both viewpoints, and it is unwise and unconstitutional for the state of Texas to compel a private business to treat those the same," it said in a statement.

Some conservatives have labeled the social media companies' practices abusive, pointing to Twitter's permanent suspension of Trump from the platform shortly after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of his supporters. Twitter had cited "the risk of further incitement of violence" as a reason.

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The Texas law forbids social media companies with at least 50 million monthly active users from acting to "censor" users based on "viewpoint," and allows either users or the Texas attorney general to sue to enforce the law.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Twitter hailed the ruling as "massive victory for the constitution and free speech."

Because the 5th Circuit ruling conflicts with part of a ruling by the 11th Circuit, the aggrieved parties have a stronger case for petitioning the Supreme Court to hear the matter.

In May, the 11th Circuit, based in Atlanta, found that most of a similar Florida law violates the companies' free speech rights and cannot be enforced.

(This story corrects to largely 2-1 ruling in second paragraph)

(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Leslie Adler)
The Biden administration has held off on a request from Ukraine to provide longer-range missiles over fears it could provoke a dangerous response from Russia, with senior Pentagon officials opposed to the idea, according to two military officials.

Defense officials who have advised against supplying Ukraine with the longer-range missiles, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMs), have voiced concerns that the missiles could be used against targets inside Russian territory and potentially set off a wider war with Russia, the officials told NBC News.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Thursday warned the United States against providing such a weapon to Ukraine, calling it a red line.

If Washington decides to supply longer-range missiles to Kyiv, then it will be crossing a red line, and will become a direct party to the conflict, Zakharova said.

Image: Damage from military strikes on Stakhanov, Lugansk People's Republic (Alexander Reka / TASS via ZUMA Press file)

The Biden administration on Thursday announced another major package of military assistance for Ukraine worth $600 million, including artillery rounds, mines and more High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). But the aid does not include the ATACMs, which have a longer range than the artillery and rocket systems delivered to Ukraine so far.

A number of lawmakers from both parties support Ukraines request for the missiles, which have a range of up to 300 kilometers, or about 185 miles. But the Biden administration said last month that Ukraine does not need the longer-range ATACMs, saying that other shorter-range rockets and missiles have proved effective against Russian forces.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden said that were not going to send to Ukraine rocket systems that strike into Russia, though he did not specify whether Washington had ruled out certain weapons.

Its not on the table at this time, a senior U.S. official said Friday when asked about the long-range missiles.

But the official said the dynamics of the battlefield can change and as their needs evolve, the types of assistance evolves.

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The official said Ukraine was able to hit Russian targets with the weapons it has at ranges of less than 100 miles, and added that "there really isnt much of a pressing need to be firing at a greater distance."

Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said senior leaders were in "regular contact with our Ukrainian partners to assess and support their requirements."

"As evidenced by their recent progress, they continue to employ the capabilities provided to them by the U.S. and international community to great effect on the battlefield," Ryder added. "We remain committed to supporting them in their fight to defend their nation."

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, the Biden administration has shifted its stance on which weapons it is ready to provide to Ukraines military as the war has unfolded, amid repeated appeals from Ukraine, Eastern European allies and U.S. lawmakers. The administration initially withheld approval for requests for Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, Howitzer artillery pieces, anti-ship missiles and HIMARS systems, but later gave the green light to the weapons shipments.

However, the administration has remained opposed to supplying fighter jets to Kyiv, saying other weapons would be more effective in the war and that warplanes could escalate tensions with Moscow.

Throughout the conflict, the White House has tried to strike a balance between showing resolve toward Russia without provoking a response that could draw in the United States or NATO as a direct party to the war.

Ukraine so far has chosen not to strike targets in Russian territory with the powerful artillery and rocket systems provided by the United States and other governments, and supporters of Ukraine say Kyiv has every incentive to stick to that approach or else risk losing Western military support.

Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a Democrat, praised the Biden administration for the support given to Ukraine so far but said he had been urging officials to provide ATACMs as well as long-range armed drones and even U.S. military advisers to help Ukrainian forces on the ground.

Theyre not going to ask for something they cant use. Theyre not going to ask for something theyre going to misuse. I dont share concerns about escalation, he said, adding that he believes the Ukrainians will use the weapons in an appropriate way.

Crow said the United States needs to put the Ukrainians in a position to win, not to be in a stalemate.

The war is constantly changing and evolving, Crow said. The targets are getting further out."

Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said now is the time to give Ukraine the most effective weapons possible as the country presses a counteroffensive in its east and south.

I cant help but imagine how much more successful Ukraines counteroffensive would be if President Biden was giving Ukraine all the long range weapons theyve asked for, including the ATACMs, Rogers said.

But Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, a Democrat, defended the Biden administration's decision.

"I want the Ukrainians to have ATACMS as well, but the Biden administration has solid rationale for not giving them these weapons at this moment and they briefed us on that this week," Moulton said.

"The broad criticism that the Biden administration could have acted more quickly in the past is fair, but theyre doing everything right. Theyre thinking this through."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address to the Ukrainian people on Friday that the countrys officials pitched to world leaders the idea of creating an ad hoc international tribunal to punish Russia for war crimes it has committed during its invasion of Ukraine.

Zelensky said the proposal was made during a meeting of a group working to advance Ukraine joining the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental association of democracies with market-based economies that work to stimulate economic growth.

This is an extremely important direction, which is important both in the context of European integration and in the context of the internal transformation of our state, Zelensky said.

He said ambassadors from the G-7, a forum of the worlds seven largest economies, and other partner states were present at the meeting.

Evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine have been recorded since Russias full-scale invasion of the country began in February.

Ukrainian officials found a mass burial site in the recaptured city of Izyum this week, and Zelensky said in his Friday address that torture chambers where civilians were abused were found in areas of the Kharkiv region that were liberated from Russian occupation.

The United Nations said on Friday that investigators already in Ukraine will examine the mass burial site in Izyum.

Mass burial sites were also found in the city of Bucha, north of the capital Kyiv, after Russian forces withdrew earlier this year.

Ukraine has been seeking to integrate itself further with the rest of Europe since the war started. The country applied to join the OECD in May and became an official candidate to join the European Union in June.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) --

Most Read from Bloomberg

Russian President Vladimir Putin said hes not in a hurry to end military operations in Ukraine and threatened to step up attacks on civilian targets. The leaders of China and India both expressed concern about the war to Putin. President Joe Biden warned Putin in a 60 Minutes interview against using nuclear or chemical weapons in Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed an upcoming visit by United Nations investigators to mass burial sites discovered in one of Ukraines newly-liberated eastern regions. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia had committed war crimes following the discovery of the graves and evidence of torture at the Izyum site.

Another Ukrainian wheat cargo has sailed for Ethiopia under a UN humanitarian program, as Putin renewed his threat to torpedo a safe-transit agreement reached in July for Ukraines Black Sea grain exports.

(See RSAN on the Bloomberg Terminal for the Russian Sanctions Dashboard.)

Key Developments

Biden Meets Griner, Whelan Families as Russia Sits on Swap Offer

Putin Threatens New Military Strikes on Ukraine Infrastructure

Zelenskiy Says Russia Responsible for Grave Site Found in Izyum

Russia Puts Rate Path in Doubt After Smallest Cut This Year

Modi Urges Peace in Ukraine, Joining Xi in Questioning Putin

Putins War Is Deepening a Tussle for Influence in Central Asia

On the Ground

Russias invasion is approaching the seven-month mark. Overnight, Moscows troops shelled the towns of Slavyansk and Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region, and Chuhuiv in the Kharkiv region. The Slavyanska thermal power plant was hit, causing equipment damage and a fire. Russias defense ministry reported more shelling near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant by Ukraine; Kyiv and Moscow have repeatedly blamed each other for shelling near the plant. Almost a dozen Russian ships are now maneuvering in the Black Sea near the coast of Crimea, including three surface-to-surface missile carriers equipped with Kalibr missiles and 4 large amphibious ships, Ukrainian operational command South said on Facebook.

Story continues

(All times CET)

Greenpeace Stops Russian Gas Cargo in Finland (6:35 p.m.)

Greenpeace said its activists prevented a tanker from unloading a Russian cargo an LNG terminal at Tornio, Finland. The group called on Prime Minister Sanna Marins government to halt Russian natural-gas imports immediately.

Activists in kayaks prevented the Coral Energice from docking, while climbers occupied loading cranes in the port. The current energy crisis in Europe is caused by Russias aggression, and it should be a turning point for Finland and all of Europe, Olli Tiainen, climate and energy campaigner at Greenpeace Nordic said in a statement. .

Ukraine Has Changed Warfare, NATO Official Says (5:19 p.m.)

NATO chiefs discussed how to sustain and increase allied support to Ukraine at a conference in Tallinn on Saturday, Admiral Rob Bauer, chair of the alliances military committee, told journalists.

The ammunition, equipment and training that allies and other nations are delivering are all making a real difference on the battlefield, Bauer said. With its successes on the ground and online, Ukraine has fundamentally changed modern warfare.

Earlier, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said Russias war had created a significant shift in NATOs mindset. Our focus must be scaling-up aid and weapons deliveries, she said.

Nuclear Plant Reconnected to Grid, IAEA Says (5:06 p.m.)

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is again receiving electricity directly from Ukraines national grid after repairs to one its of main external power lines damaged during the conflict, the UNs atomic agency said.

The plant, Europes largest, shut its last operating reactor on Sept. 11. It now has the electricity it needs for reactor cooling and other essential safety functions, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a post on its website.

The IAEA has had monitors at the site for the past two weeks, following a visit from a team lead by Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi. On Saturday Grossi described the situation at Zaporizhzhia as still precarious.

Biden Tells Putin, Dont. Dont. Dont Use Nuclear Weapons (2:52 p.m.)

Joe Biden said Vladimir Putin would face a consequential US response if the Russian president used nuclear or chemical weapons in the war in Ukraine.

Dont. Dont. Dont, Biden said in an excerpt from an interview with CBSs 60 Minutes when asked what he would say if Putin were considering using tactical nuclear weapons or chemical weapons in the almost seven-month-old conflict.

Biden Warns Putin Against Using Nuclear or Chemical Weapons

Russian Envoy Warns on Weapons; Poisoned Offer Seen Soon From Kremlin (12:24 p.m.)

Russias ambassador to Germany warned that delivering more armaments to Ukraine will merely lead to a longer war, as Western countries look for ways to boost Kyivs recent counteroffensive in the northeast.

Supplying weapons is a path to a dead end, Sergei Netshaev told Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. It will prolong the fighting. It will bring additional victims. His comment comes after Putin threatened new strikes on civilian targets.

The prospects of peace talks with Russia is being viewed skeptically by foreign policy experts in Berlin, the newspaper reported. Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael Roth told the paper, I wouldnt be surprised if the Kremlin soon makes a poisoned offer of negotiations to Ukraine to secure the occupied territories, given the dramatic losses of the past few days.

Ukrainian Wheat Cargo Headed for For Ethiopia (12:30 p.m.)

A vessel charted by the UNs World Food Program has departed Ukraine carrying 30,000 tons of wheat for Ethiopia, Ukraines infrastructure minister said on Twitter.

The shipment comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin threatens to curtail the safe-transit deal reached in July for exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, saying not enough cargoes are going to the worlds poor.

Millions of tons of grain and other foodstuffs have been exported under the deal so far, including to Africa. The availability of supplies from Ukraine has helped knock benchmark wheat prices down to pre-war levels, benefiting all buyers.

Read more: Putins Attack on Ukraine Grain Deal Belied by Shipping Data

Ukraine PM Says $1.5 Billion Grant Delivered (12:12 p.m.)

Kyiv has received a grant of $1.5 billion from the US, the final tranche of $4.5 billion from World Bank Trust Fund, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Twitter.

Scholz Pledges Weapons, Wants to Avoid Broader Conflict (10:17 a.m.)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged to keep supplying weapons to Ukraine, even while trying to avoid stoking a broader conflict between Moscow and Germanys NATO allies.

We have supported Ukraine, we will do that, we are doing it on a very large scale and also with very relevant weapons that we are providing, Scholz told the broadcaster Deutschlandfunk. At the same time, our goal remains that there should not be an escalation of the war.

Scholzs government has agreed to finance and deliver 18 Krauss-Maffei Wegmann RCH 155 artillery systems valued at 216 million euros ($216 million) in response to a request by Ukraine in July, Welt am Sonntag reported, citing Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Melnyk.

Zelenskiy Welcomes a UN Inquiry Into Izyum Graves (1:28 a.m.)

Zelenskiy welcomed a UN decision to send investigators to the Ukrainian town of Izyum after the discovery of hundreds of bodies there, including civilian adults and children. In his nightly video address on Friday he said that Ukraine would provide full access now that the town has been recaptured from Russian forces.

Earlier Friday, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva said some its personnel in Ukraine would be going to Izyum.

There is already clear evidence of torture, humiliating treatment of people, Zelenskiy said. Moreover, there is evidence that Russian soldiers, whose positions were not far from this place, shot at the buried just for fun.

Putin Sees No Hurry to End Campaign, Warns of Stepped-Up Efforts (6:20 p.m.)

Vladimir Putin said Russia was not in a hurry to end its military campaign against Ukraine, hours after telling Indias leader that Moscow would strive to end the conflict as soon as possible. Putin threatened to step up attacks on Ukraines civilian infrastructure, days after damaging a major dam in President Volodymyr Zelenskiys home town, causing widespread flooding.

Putin made televised remarks after a regional summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. He said Russia remains committed to the liberation of Donbas, the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The Russian army is occupying newer and newer territories, Putin said, adding that Moscow is not fighting with a full army in Ukraine.

Putin Threatens New Military Strikes on Ukraine Infrastructure

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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US President Joe Biden has warned Russia not to use chemical or tactical nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine.

Speaking during an interview with CBS News, Mr Biden said such action would "change the face of war unlike anything since World War Two".

He would not say what response the US would make to the use of such weapons.

Russian President Vladimir Putin put the country's nuclear forces on "special" alert following its invasion of Ukraine in February.

He told defence chiefs it was because of "aggressive statements" by the West.

Nuclear weapons have existed for almost 80 years and many countries see them as a deterrent that continues to guarantee their national security.

Russia is estimated to have around 5,977 nuclear warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists.

It, however, remains unlikely that it intends to use such weapons.

Tactical nuclear weapons are those which can be used at relatively short distances, as opposed to "strategic" nuclear weapons which can be launched over much longer distances and raise the spectre of all-out nuclear war.

Comparison of the estimated number of warheads held each of the nine nuclear-armed countries.

In an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley in the White House, President Biden was asked what he would say to President Putin if he was considering using weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine.

"Don't, don't, don't," was President Biden's response.

Mr Biden was then asked what the consequences would be for Mr Putin if such a line was crossed.

"You think I would tell you if I knew exactly what it would be? Of course, I'm not gonna tell you. It'll be consequential," Mr Biden responded.

"They'll become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been. And depending on the extent of what they do will determine what response would occur."

The war in Ukraine has not gone as well as the Kremlin had hoped.

In recent days, Ukraine says it has recaptured more than 8,000 sq km (3,088 sq miles) of territory in the north-eastern Kharkiv region.

Despite the apparent setback, President Putin has insisted that Ukraine's successful counter-offensive will not stop Russia's plans of continuing its operations in the east of the country.
OLHA HLUSHCHENKO  SATURDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2022, 07:03

Ukrainian forces have repelled Russian attacks and inflicted losses on Russian forces in the vicinity of Bakhmut, Zaitseve, Avdiivka, Mykolaivka Druha and Novomykhailivka.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 17 September

Details: Russian forces carried out four missile strikes, 24 airstrikes and 72 attacks using rocket artillery on targets across the territory of Ukraine over the course of 16 September.

Russian airstrikes, missile strikes and attacks using MLRS [multiple-launch rocket systems] damaged infrastructure in over 58 cities, towns and villages, including Kharkiv, Zolochiv, Druzhkivka, Siversk, Zakitne, Niu-York, Veselianka, Marinka, Krasnohorivka, Poltavka, Mali Shcherbaky, Myrne, Velyke Artakove, Kryvii Rih, Nikopol, Olhivske, Zaporizhzhia, Orikhiv, Myroliubivka, Ochakiv and Sukhyi Stavok.

There were no significant changes on the Volyn, Polissia and Siversk fronts.

On other fronts, the Russians continued to fire on military and civilian targets using tank guns and various types of artillery:

On the Kharkiv front, including attacks from Russian Federation territory: in the areas of Kudiivka, Hoptivka, Strilecha, Vilkhuvatka, Anyskyne, Synok, Kamianka, Prystin and Dvorichna;

On the Sloviansk front: areas in and around Horokhovatka and Bakhtyn;

On the Kramatorsk front: Kryva Luka, Pyskunivka, Raihorodok, Staryi Karavan, Mykolaivka, Dronivka, Rozdilne, Siversk, Verkhnokamianske, Sviatohirsk, Sosnove, Oleksandrivka and Yaremivka;

On the Bakhmut front: Bilohorivka, Rozdolivka, Vyimka, Odradivka, Soledar, Mykolaivka Druha, Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Yakovlivka, Vesela Dolyna, Vesele and Maiorsk;

Russian forces did not undertake active combat operations on the Avdiivka, Zaporizhzhia and Novopavlivka fronts , but Avdiivka, Vesele, Opytne, Netailove, Zelene Pole, Poltavka and Novopil came under Russian fire;

On the Pivdennyi Buh front, Russian forces fired on Ukrainian positions along the entire line of contact; in addition, they fired on over 26 towns and villages on this front.

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The Ukrainian defence forces [collective name for all Ukrainian military formations involved in the ongoing combat in this country] have successfully repelled Russian attacks and inflicted significant losses on Russian forces near Bakhmut, Zaitseve, Avdiivka, Mykolaivka Druha and Novomykhailivka.

In the course of 16 September, aircraft of the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out several airstrikes on Russian occupying forces, striking nine areas where Russian military personnel and equipment were amassed, as well as three strong points, one rear command post and two air defence system positions.

Meanwhile, Ukraine air defence units on different fronts destroyed one Russian Su-24 jet, three cruise missiles and an unmanned aerial vehicle [UAV].

Ukraines missile forces and artillery units fired on areas where Russian reserves were concentrated and on an unloading station. Russias total losses have yet to be confirmed.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
What animals help rescuers in The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS)

As Ukraine celebrates Emergency Service Worker Day on Sept. 17, NV is sharing the stories of several brave dogs, who help search-and-rescue operations, clear landmines, and sniff out turncoats and enemy agents.

Patron

A two-year-old Jack Russel Terrier, Patron works with explosive experts in Chernihiv Oblast. Finding unexploded ordnance is his specialty, and hes been doing his job since he was just six months old. He has become a veritable mascot of his minesweeping squad.

Patron works as one of our sappers around the clock, DSNS Civil Defense Chief and Patrons owner, Mykhailo Illiov, told Ukrainian TV.

Hes with us on every call, engaged with clearing explosives. He is instrumental in civilian safety training. Kids adore him, everyone wants to snap a photo. He has a knack for sniffing out explosives, and is getting better at it every day. Were making a well-rounded professional out of him

Patron got himself an Instagram account by March 20, and on May 8 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the good boy with the Order of Courage. Being the rascal that he is, Patron used to occasion to bark at Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, who attended the ceremony.

Patron patron_dsns / instagram

Read also: Sapper dog Patron gets a new job with animal protection organization

Master

Master is a seven-year-old Belgian Shepard, also serving as a sapper, in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Hes been at it for three years now. Landmines, bombs, artillery shells  Master can sniff it all out. DSNS personnel credit the dog with detecting over 100 explosive objects.

His full name is Master Davir Walmart Hoff  the name of the kennel we got him from, Masters handler Dmytro Panfilovskyi said.

Hes proficient in detecting gunpowder, plastic explosives, and TNT. Masters training is one big game  every find is rewarded with a toy or a treat.

Master will work with DSNS for two more years, before enjoying his well-earned retirement.

Master zv.zp.ua

Leia

Leias been with the K9 division of Ukraines National Guard for several years now, specializing in search-and-rescue. When the division was being evacuated at the very beginning of the war, Leia got scared and hid somewhere, separated from the other units. Eventually she picked up the trail of her handler Bohdan and reunited with the brigade several hundred kilometers away.

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Leia has a very keen, well-honed sense of smell, Bohdan said.

Starved and exhausted, she still managed to find me at our position. You can imagine what a pleasant surprise it was to see her alive!

Leia continues to serve with the National Guard, defending the country from the Russian invasion.

Leia National Guard of Ukraine / facebook

Kate

Kate the Belgian Shepard watched over the Kyiv subway. Together with her handler, deputy head of Kyiv Police K9 Center, Vitaliy Lytvyn, Kate sniffs out weapons and explosives across the capital and entertains people at Kyiv railway station.

We do regular sweeps for explosives in the city subway, said Lytvyn.

We inspect suspicious items and passenger bags. Once off-duty, we entertain kids and people coming through Kyiv. Its a kind of therapy, lightening the mood. Children fleeing combat zones can regain a sense of normality, if only for a moment.

Kate lb.ua

Archie

Archie the black Labrador Retriever serves in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, scouring potentially hazardous areas for explosives.

Archie is an expert on weapons and explosives, said Veronika Leshchenko, Archies handler.

He inspects cars at checkpoints and arriving trains and luggage at the train station. We also respond to calls about suspicious packages. The workload has doubled since the invasion.

Veronika and Archie are eager to see Ukrainian lands to be liberated, as there will be plenty of work for them there.

Archie lb.ua

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A mission team from the UNs human rights monitoring agency is planning to visit the site of a mass grave in Izyum

Read also: Number of victims in Izyum may be many times higher than in Bucha, says commissioner

The source said that the mission will leave for Izyum as soon as possible. After that, an investigative group, aimed at looking into possible war crimes, may also visit the region.

Read also: What liberated Izyum looks like now  NV photo report

On Sept. 15, reports of a mass grave in a forest belt in Izyum began to gain prominence in national headlines, with the head of the Kharkiv Region Police Investigation Department, Serhiy Bolvinov, saying that about 440 graves were found at that site.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that legal proceedings on the matter have already begun, and Ukrainian and international journalists will come to the town.

Read also: Putins revenge on Zelenskyy for visiting Izyum makes him look weak, says political expert

We want the world to know what is really happening and what the Russian occupation has led to, the president said.

Bucha, Mariupol, now, unfortunately, Izyum Russia leaves death everywhere.

Read also: Zelenskyy visits liberated Izyum near front line in Kharkiv Oblast

Izyum City Council deputy Maksym Strelnyk said earlier that during the Russian occupation in Izyum, Kharkiv Oblast, at least 1,000 civilians were killed, and more than 80% of the towns infrastructure was destroyed.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
United Way logo

Editor's note: The quote from Tabby Hahn in this story has been updated.

NEWARK  The United Way of Licking County may have to again reach its annual fundraising campaign goal without some of the major employers in western Licking County.

Deb Dingus, executive director of the United Way of Licking County, told the Licking County Commissioners last week that Amazon, Facebook, Google and Intel have not contributed a campaign since locating in the county. Intel is new to the county this year, but the others have been here through a few United Way campaigns.

Weve not seen anything come back from any of the large tech industries in this county, Dingus said. Weve not gotten one penny from Google. Not one penny from Facebook. Not one penny from Amazon. Not one penny from Intel.

And yet, we have a lot of tax abatements. And the size of needs are continuing to grow in the county.

United Way of Licking Countys stated mission is to improve lives by uniting the community, fighting for those who need a voice. United Way helps fund 23 programs, helping children, the poor, those battling addictions or mental health issues, senior citizens, and the homeless.

The campaign goal this year is $1.76 million, which Dingus said is similar to last year.

Weve got issues, Dingus said. Weve got growing pains. We had issues before the pandemic. We need the support of our elected officials to rally around these issues. And we need the support of our largest industries in this county to support these issues.

We have needs right now and the services were providing are here to support the good things governments are already doing across our county. But government cant do it all. Our businesses cant do it all. United Way has been here for 90 years helping to address the needs and the critical issues in the county.

The COVID pandemic made fundraising more difficult, as employees worked from home. United Way seeks to get employers and employees back into the habit of donating to the campaign, which officially launched last week with its annual Week of Caring.

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Intel spokeswoman Linda Qian said, "Intel places a high value on being an asset to our communities worldwide. As our presence in Ohio grows, the local community will feel the full weight of this commitment in many ways, including support for important local programs and the generous donation of time and expertise of our employees."

Intel recently sponsored the annual Licking County River Roundup and donates to United Way elsewhere, she said.

"As we continue to build, we are going to show up," Qian said. "United Way has never asked us for money in Licking County, so we are definitely surprised by that (comment)."

Amazon announced it was coming to Licking County in November 2015. The company states its a misconception to claim it does not contribute to local communities because it has not donated to one organization. Amazon states it has contributed to 48 Ohio organizations, many in Licking County, but many outside of the county.

Amazon spokesman Andre Woodson said, We are proud of our long-standing history in giving back to the Licking County community and reinforcing our commitment to having a lasting, positive impact. Since 2020, Amazons Etna fulfillment center has worked side-by-side with community partners to donate more than $3 million to local nonprofit organizations through our donations program, sponsorship initiatives, volunteerism activations, and other under-resourced charities.

Facebook announced it would build in New Albany in 2017 and had a groundbreaking ceremony in February 2020. Facebook has made grants available to the Johnstown-Monroe and Licking Heights school districts.

Licking County government, which has always supported United Way, also received some criticism, but from within. Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb said it's not acceptable that United Way has been unable to even find out who is the county's United Way campaign leader this year.

Im really concerned when we say were not sure whos even the Licking County government contact or whos running our campaign," Bubb said. "Somebody should be working on that. Seriously. Weve got 1,000 employees. There needs to be outreach. There needs to be stuff on our bulletin boards and website and that sort of thing.

Heath Mayor Mark Johns, the campaign's government division co-chairman along with Pataskala city administrator Tim Hickin, said, "Weve got a lot of needs in this community. Weve got good people and good agencies working to try to solve problems. But, in the end, if you dont have dollars, you cant solve problems. We need to focus on this, I think, and do what we can.

Tabby Hahn, financial advisor with Edward Jones in Heath, is the United Way's campaign chairwoman this year.

"I believe in supporting the United Way because they help our communities' most vulnerable population," Hahn said. "The United Way lifts up our entire community by addressing the most critical and difficult needs  behavioral health, children, youth and families, and poverty.

"They can only accomplish this with everyone's help. It's critical that we pay attention to the struggles that are happening in our own backyards."

Dingus said she hopes every company and every employee considers what contribution they can make.

Anything that you could do, or anybody could do, to encourage some general giving back to the United Way," Dingus said. "It's about letting every employee know that our county is growing and the size of issues weve got to address is growing, so we need everybody to say, I can help.

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8545

Twitter: @kmallett1958

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: United Way Licking County unable to secure donations largest companies
The US justice department wants to have its say on Apple's antitrust tussle with Epic Games, which is due to be heard on appeal next month -- a year after a Californian court ruled largely in favor of the iPhone maker.

On Friday, the appeals court granted the department the right to send a representative to the hearing scheduled for October 21, where both sides are expected to make their case again.

In 2021 a California judge ruled against Fortnite-maker Epic, which had accused Apple of acting like a monopoly in its shop for digital goods or services.

But the judge also barred Apple from prohibiting developers from including in their apps "external links or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms."

Apple can still mandate that its payment systems is used for in-app transactions.

Both sides are appealing.

Earlier this year the justice department asked for time at the appeal hearing to air concerns about the trial judge's interpretation of antitrust law at issue in the case.

"The district court committed several legal errors that could imperil effective antitrust enforcement, especially in the digital economy," justice department lawyers argued in their brief.

Justice officials have been investigating whether Apple and other tech giants are abusing their market clout with anti-competitive practices.

Attorneys for Apple, Epic and the justice department will all speak to the appeals court, which will also consider their written arguments.

gc/st
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela on Friday welcomed home a dozen flight crew members detained in Argentina since June after their plane was held for suspected terrorism ties, according to state television.

"We are celebrating (their) arrival," Venezuelan Transportation Minister Ramon Velasquez told Telesur from Maiquetia Airport, near the capital of Caracas, praising the crew as "an example of revolutionary struggle."

An Argentine judicial chamber on Tuesday authorized the departure of 12 of 19 crew members.

The Emtrasur cargo plane, sold to Venezuela by Iran's Mahan Air, arrived in Buenos Aires in early June, according to flight tracking data, with both Venezuelan and Iranian crew members.

Its arrival caused a diplomatic stir for Argentina. The country was accused of supporting Iran and Venezuela, which are both under U.S. sanctions. Argentina grounded the plane then seized it in August after a request from a U.S. court.

Of the 12 released crew members, 11 are Venezuelan and one Iranian. A further three Venezuelan and four Iranian crew are still not allowed to leave Argentina.

Velazquez said this was "illegal" detention.

The detentions sparked protests in Venezuela, with several marches in Caracas urging the crew's return.

Iran and Venezuela maintain close ties in sectors like oil and industry and signed a 20-year cooperation plan in June.

(Reporting by Mayela Armas; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
The City of Jacksonvilles Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Commission invites residents to join one of the worlds largest water protection efforts by contributing to the 2022 International Coastal Cleanup.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

On Saturday, Sept. 17, volunteers can visit various locations in the city to remove trash and debris from beaches, lakes and rivers; start and end times vary by location. Event leaders will be available at each site to register volunteers and provide materials, including bags and gloves. Advance registration is not required.

This event provides an opportunity for students to satisfy community service requirements. Participants must be over 18 or accompanied by an adult. Service hours certificates will be available from site captains.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Each year, hundreds of thousands of volunteers around the world participate in the event, keeping track of every item found to be included in the Ocean Conservancys yearly snapshot of marine debris. Locally, in 2021, 9,840 pounds, or 4.92 tons of debris was collected by 523 volunteers who donated 1,076 hours of their time. The value of that volunteer time amounted to $30,709.04, based on hourly volunteer estimates by Independent Sector.

[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Click here for more about the organization and on how to join.

Site locations and times are as follows:

Oceanfront locations: 7-9 a.m.

8th Avenue North at the ocean

16th Avenue South at the ocean

Atlantic Boulevard at the ocean

Beach Boulevard at the ocean

Seagate/20th Avenue at the ocean

All other locations: 9-11 a.m.

All Wet Sports/Pottsburg Creek (10-11 a.m.): 8550 Beach Blvd.

Blue Cypress Park (8-10 a.m.): 4012 University Blvd. N.

Boone Park North: 3700 Park St.

Boone Park South: 3725 St. Johns Avenue

Burnett Park: 3740 Burnett Park Rd.

Castaway Island Preserve: 2921 San Pablo Rd. S.

Charles Reese Park: 1200 Ken Knight Dr.

Fishweir Park: 3925 Valencia Rd.

Five Points: 1028 Park St.

Ft. Caroline Memorial: 12713 Ft. Caroline Rd.

Hollybrooke Park: 319 Cherokee St.

Kathryn Abbey Hannah Park (8-10 a.m.): 500 Wonderwood Dr., Atlantic Beach

Klutho Park: 204 W. 3rd St.

Lonnie Wurn Boat Ramp (8-10 a.m.): 4131 Ferber Rd.

McCue Park and Boat Ramp: 2510 Second Ave.

Mandarin Park: 14780 Mandarin Rd.

Murray Hill Parks: 4208 Kingsbury St.

Reddie Point Preserve: 4499 Yachtsman Way

Riverside Arts Market: 753 Park St.

Riverview Community Center: 9620 W. Water St.

T.K. Stokes Boat Ramp: 2120 Riverview St.

Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park: 7000 Roosevelt Blvd.

Walter Jones Historical Park: 11964 Mandarin Rd.

Willow Branch Park: 2870 Sydney St.

Story continues

NOTE: Locations and times are subject to change.

Action News Jax will continue to follow the story and update you as events unfold.





Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
(Bloomberg) -- Wall Street watchdogs already concerned about the risks of single-stock ETFs wont like whats coming next: funds offering exposure to individual foreign shares unbound by US listing standards.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Issuers have filed plans for at least 129 ETFs targeting non-US companies in the past month, most of which dont have depository receipts trading on American exchanges. That generally means the underlying firms dont have to meet the same financial reporting standards as a US-listed business.

It raises the prospect of American investors gaining easy access to foreign companies whose finances may not be fully transparent -- putting people at risk of making ill-informed trades.

It seems problematic to allow exchange trading on products that contain nothing but unvarnished exposure to companies that cant normally be traded on those exchanges, said Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers. The US tends to have more stringent rules than other countries, and those standards are designed to ensure that companies offer adequate disclosure of a companys profits, losses and risks, he said.

The proposed funds are still under review, meaning the US Securities and Exchange Commission could yet block them. However, its unclear whether that will happen. Regulators were vocally unhappy with the very idea of single-stock exchange-traded funds, but didnt prevent the launch of the first products in July. Since then, about two-dozen have debuted.

The SEC declined to comment.

Big Names

The planned funds come from three issuers -- Roundhill Investments, Kelly Intelligence and Tema Global Ltd. -- and mostly target well-known large-cap names like Samsung Electronics Co., Saudi Aramco and Tencent Holdings Ltd.

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Will Hershey, CEO of Roundhill, said the proposed ETFs make sense for investors since such large companies have robust investor relations and are already held by many thematic or country-specific funds. He noted that institutional investors with prime brokerage relationships are already able to invest in them -- the ETFs would simply expand access to retail investors.

Kevin Kelly, CEO of Kelly Intelligence, said the new products can be helpful capital market tools for US investors.

At this stage, only Tema has filed plans that go beyond large-cap names. It has proposed products that track several smaller-cap companies based in India and Indonesia like Zomato Ltd., Marico Ltd. and Bank Jago. The firm is also focusing on some Chinese companies that already have receipts listed in the US, such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Baidu Inc.

Those names are among the roughly 200 Chinese companies that currently face the prospect of being delisted if they dont allow American regulators to fully review their audits. Tema may be planning the funds in anticipation that the companies receipts will be removed from exchanges, said Athanasios Psarofagis, Bloomberg Intelligence ETF analyst.

Maurits Pot, portfolio manager of the Tema products, declined to comment.

Particular Risk

Facing an increasingly saturated ETF market, issuers have been rushing to launch single-stock products since the first breakthrough funds arrived in July. That batch delivered leveraged or inverse exposure on the daily performance of several major US companies.

They were greeted with warnings from SEC officials. Chair Gary Gensler said the ETFs present particular risk, while Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw cautioned investment advisors against recommending them to retail traders. Yet -- presumably because the funds didnt break any rules -- they were able to list.

Its unclear if the outcome will be the same for the proposed ETFs, which provide one-to-one exposure to foreign companies through swaps.

Regulators would be concerned about whether there was sufficient disclosure about the underlying company to US investors, said Chris Schell, a capital markets lawyer and partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell. The SEC would review any ETF like that quite carefully.

Sosnick of Interactive Brokers said even though the risks of ETFs that track well-known, large-cap companies arent likely to be high, his concern is that allowing the products would pave the way for funds tracking smaller, more opaque companies.

It will be interesting to see how the SEC staff responds to the volume of filings, said Aisha Hunt, a lawyer specializing in ETFs and principal of Kelley Hunt. I would think that the staff would contemplate to what extent other floodgates might be opened with certain other types of exposure.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
The Lubbock County Courthouse.

A warrant was issued for a convicted felon who never returned to his trial in Lubbock after it broke for lunch on Tuesday.

Manuel Hernandez Jr. was found guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and will be sentenced to four years in prison once he is brought before District Judge Douglas Freitag in the 140th District Court.

Hernandez's trial began Monday with jurors being selected and hearing testimony.

On Tuesday morning, jurors deliberated for about 20 minutes before finding him guilty as charged. The punishment phase began immediately after and lasted until the court broke for lunch after which attorneys would make their closing arguments.

Hernandez, who was out on bond, never returned.

The court waited about 20 minutes for Hernandez and deputies called out his name three times before the trial continued without him.

Hernandez was initially arrested by Lubbock County Sheriff's Office deputies on Oct. 24, 2019.

Prosecutor Karl Meyer said Hernandez called 911 to report he had fired a gun to scare off trespassers at his home.

"He fired a gun in the air and called 911 and made that admission," he said.

However, deputies learned that Hernandez was not allowed to possess a gun after he pleaded guilty in 2012 to felony DWI charge filed against him in 2011. He was placed on probation until 2016. Texas law prohibits convicted felons from possessing a firearm until five years after they complete their probation.

"During those five years you cannot possess a firearm at all," Meyer said.

Jurors deliberated for about an hour before returning with a four-year prison sentence for Hernandez.

However, without a defendant to sentence, the trial ended and jurors were dismissed. Freitag issued a bond forfeiture warrant to bring Hernandez to the court to be sentenced.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock man wanted after fleeing mid trial
Madison County Detention Center

A one-time reality TV personality who gained fame on a show about his mothers Missouri soul food restaurant has been found guilty of ordering a hit on his own nephew to cash in on a life insurance policy he had taken out on the young man.

James Tim Norman, 43, was convicted Friday by a St. Louis jury after 17 hours of deliberation on three federal counts of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit mail or wire fraud, according to court filings. Norman was arrested in the Jackson, Mississippi area in August 2020, nearly 4.5 years after 21-year-old Andre Montgomery was found shot to death.

Montgomery, an aspiring rapper, was recording a new track in the studio when he got a phone call from someone asking him to come outside. When he emerged, Montgomery was killed, according to his grandmother and Normans mother, restaurateur Robbie Miss Robbie Montgomery.

Miss Robbie, founder of popular chainlet Sweetie Pies, which has counted Beyonces father Mathew among its investors, said at the time she thought Montgomerys death had been a setup. What she couldnt have known then was that Norman, who starred alongside her and Montgomery on the Oprah Winfrey Network show Welcome to Sweetie Pies, had taken out a mid-six-figure life insurance policy on Montgomery 18 months earlierand that he was worth more to Norman dead than alive.

The case gained significant notoriety, both local and national. Defense attorney Gloria Rodriguez said she knew straight away that this trial was going to be very different from most others she has taken on.

Im not from St. Louis, I had never been there, had not heard of the Sweetie Pie show, and yet I kind of realized after I had been retained that this was a story that had captured a lot of peoples attention, Rodriguez told The Daily Beast on Friday.

The manager at Sweeties Upper Crust, the business flagship location, said she had no comment when reached by The Daily Beast on Friday evening.

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Miss Robbie Montgomery. Tara Ziemba/Getty Images

Normans scheme began at the end of October 2014, when he secretly took out a $450,000 life insurance policy on Montgomery, according to an indictment charging him with his nephews murder. Montgomery was then 20; Norman was the sole beneficiary. He conspired with his insurance agent, who pleaded guilty in July to participating in the plot, to fraudulently obtain the policy, as there was no financial dependence or relationship between him and Montgomery, prosecutors argued.

After withdrawing his first application, Norman succeeded in obtaining a $200,000 policy on Montgomerys life, as well as a $200,000 accidental death rider that would be triggered if Montgomery were to die of something other than natural causes. The policy also included a $50,000 payout if Montgomery died within 10 years of the policys inception.

You should have by next Friday, the insurance agent told Norman in a text message obtained by investigators. Theyll call u on Monday. Act like youre Andre.

Norman continued to apply for additional life insurance policies on Montgomery, but was repeatedly denied. In September 2015, Norman began to express concern about the plan.

Man Im worried about that thing bro he texted the insurance agent. ... Shit has changed.

Oh ok, the agent replied.

He aint gonna be around much longer, Norman wrote back.

Norman had been involved for a few years at that point with Terica Ellis, an exotic dancer in East St. Louis, according to the feds. On March 13, 2016, Norman flew from Los Angeles, where he lived, to St. Louis, where he met up with Ellis at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel.

After they had sex, Norman showed Ellis, 33, a picture of his nephew and asked her if she knew him, prosecutors said. Ellis said she had met him at Bottoms Up, the club where she worked. Montgomery had introduced himself as a rapper from New Orleans, and the two of them had exchanged phone numbers, Ellis told Norman.

Norman had been looking for Montgomery but had been unable to track him down, he said, explaining that he was upset with his relative and needed Ellis help finding him. Ellis, who also pleaded guilty in July for her role in Montgomerys death, agreed, according to prosecutors.

Tim Norman (center). Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for OWN

During the trial, Norman testified that he had taken Montgomery under his wing about 18 months prior to the killing. He said he agreed to pay his rent, and enrolled him in a local music school. But he claimed he stopped paying when Montgomery eventually stopped showing up for work or class.

On March 14, Ellis and Norman purchased pre-paid Tracfone cellular devices at a Walgreens located in the Central West End neighborhood of the City of St. Louis, the indictment states. Ellis then texted Montgomery, writing, Whats up trying to see you before I leave, court filings state.

Im here at da studio across from da fairground, Montgomery texted back. Several days earlier, Norman had informed Travell Hill, a local drug user, that he wanted Montgomery dead. Hill, who testified against Norman and pleaded guilty in June to murder-for-hire, agreed to do the job. Norman told Hill that Ellis would be in touch with further details.

Shortly after 7 p.m. on March 14, Montgomery texted the address to Ellis, who then passed it to Norman and Hill.

Ellis called Hill and told him where Montgomery could be found. In a phone call, she lured Montgomery out of the home studio where he was recording. Montgomery walked to a car outside, chatted with someone in the vehicle Hill assumed was Ellis, then began heading back into the studio. Thats when Hill yelled over to Montgomery, who began walking towards him as Hill fired multiple shots from a .380 handgun.

Immediately after Montgomery was shot and killed, Ellis called Norman and began driving home to Memphis. Norman flew back to L.A. early the next morning, and arranged for a mutual acquaintance to give Hill a bag with $5,000 in it as payment and to keep your mouth quiet.

Norman paid Ellis $10,000 in cash, which she broke up into multiple deposits at numerous banks around Memphis, according to the feds.

On March 18, 2016, four days after Montgomerys murder, Norman tried to cash in the life insurance policy he had taken out on his nephew. He was denied again and again, finally hiring a lawyer in 2018 to try and force the insurance company to pay up. Norman never got anything.

Not a penny, co-counsel Michael Leonard told The Daily Beast on Friday evening.

In court filings, prosecutors called it a crime that involved substantial calculation and planning. Normans checkered past also emerged in court, with prosecutors pointing to a past conviction for armed robbery. Taking the stand in his own defense, Norman said he suspected Montgomery had robbed his mothers home before skipping town for New Orleans. However, he claimed he never hired anyone to harm him.

The defendant saw his opportunity to cash in and he tried, Assistant U.S. Attorney Angie Danis said during closing arguments Friday. He had his own nephew executed.

After it was all over, Leonard told The Daily Beast that he doubted the veracity of Ellis and Hills claims, describing them both as not credible. Leonard also noted he put Norman on the stand in his own defense, which I normally dont do, and that he did really well.

The fear is that you put your guy on and expose him to a deluge, Leonard said. But he didnt really take any water on. So, we felt pretty darn good going into closing arguments.

In deliberations, the jury asked to review various pieces of evidence again, including Normans flight records, phone data, and text messages. After lengthy deliberations, Norman was found guilty, which shook him to the core, according to Leonard.

This is a tragic tale, Rodriguez added, noting that she had just gotten off a jailhouse call with Norman a few minutes earlier. There are really no winners here.

U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming said she was very, very pleased with the outcome, according to the Associated Press.

Norman faces a maximum of life in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for December 15. Leonard and Rodriguez say they plan to appeal.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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By Kate Holton and Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) -Princes William and Harry stood vigil at either end of the coffin of their grandmother Queen Elizabeth on Saturday, heads bowed as a line of mourners streamed past the late monarch's lying-in-state.

The two sons of King Charles, attired in military uniforms, stood in silence at a 15-minute vigil in the vast Westminster Hall where the coffin has been lying since Wednesday, draped in the Royal Standard and with the bejewelled Imperial State Crown on top.

William and Harry were joined by their six cousins, including Princess Beatrice and Eugenie who earlier paid tribute to Britain's longest-reigning monarch. The queen died on Sept. 8 at her summer estate in the Scottish highlands, aged 96.

"You were our matriarch, our guide, our loving hand on our backs leading us through this world," said the sisters, daughters of Prince Andrew. "You taught us so much and we will cherish those lessons and memories forever. For now dear grannie, all we want to say is thank you."

Hundreds of thousands of people have lined up for long hours in a queue stretching along the River Thames, waiting to file past the coffin and honour the queen - a testimony to the affection in which she was held.

The other cousins at Saturday's vigil were Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, the children of Princess Anne, and Louise and James, the children of Prince Edward.

Earlier on Saturday, Charles and his heir William shook hands and greeted well-wishers in the queue, asking people how long they had been there and whether they were warm enough.

To cheers of "hip, hip, hurrah" and shouts of "God save the King", Charles and William spoke to mourners near Lambeth Bridge, as they neared the end of the massive line to see the lying-in-state in the historic Westminster Hall.

On Friday night, Charles joined his three siblings - Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward - in a silent vigil at the coffin.

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"She wouldn't believe all this, she really wouldn't," William was heard telling one man of the late queen, who came to the throne in 1952."It's amazing."

One woman told Charles it had been "worth the wait" and others wished him well and cheered as he moved down the line.

Ahead of the state funeral https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/plans-queen-elizabeths-state-funeral-2022-09-15 at Westminster Abbey on Monday, world leaders also starting arriving in the British capital.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were among the dignitaries to pay their respects on Saturday while New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was seen curtsying to the coffin on Friday.

U.S. President Joe Biden was expected to go to the lying-in-state on Sunday.

On Saturday, Charles met leaders of the 14 countries where he is head of state such as Canada, Australia, and Jamaica after meeting the governors-general - the people who represent the monarch in overseas realms - at Buckingham Palace.

SECURITY OPERATION

London's police force has described the funeral as the biggest security operation it has ever undertaken as prime ministers, presidents and royals come together and huge crowds throng the streets. The king visited police headquarters on Saturday to thank emergency services workers involved in the planning.

Underscoring the risks, police said one man had been detained and arrested after a witness told Sky News he "ran up to the queen's coffin". Footage showed a man being pinned to the ground by police officers and taken away.

By 5 p.m. (1600 GMT), Britain's culture ministry said the waiting time to reach the lying-in-state was up to 11 hours.

Inside the silent hall, some mourners wept, many were tearful while current soldiers and veterans saluted their former commander-in-chief. Others in the line fell to their knees.

New friendships, acts of kindness and the struggles of standing in line for hours, sometimes in the cold overnight, have come to define what has become known as just "the queue".

Film-maker Matthew West described how a military man was offered the chance to get to the front but declined. "That was the highlight. The lowlight was when we stood still for two hours and I lost the will to live."

There has been an outpouring of emotion across the country and 10 days of choreographed events since the queen died at Balmoral in Scotland. Her coffin was at first laid at rest in Edinburgh before being flown south to London.

The queen's children have described being overwhelmed by the reaction to their mother's death.

The state funeral, to be attended https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/world-leaders-come-london-queen-elizabeths-funeral-2022-09-12/https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/world-leaders-come-london-queen-elizabeths-funeral-2022-09-12 by nearly 100 presidents and heads of government, is likely to be one of the biggest ceremonial events ever held in Britain.

Soldiers took part in early morning rehearsals in Windsor, where the queen's coffin will be taken after the funeral at Westminster Abbey. Marching bands playing music and Grenadier Guards, who wear a tall bearskin hat on ceremonial duties, were seen marching down the High Street in preparation.

Liz Kelshall from Leatherhead, southern England, said she had brought her two children to Windsor so they would never forget the queen. "It's really important for them to grow up and remember this and it's important for us as a family to come and show some respect for an amazing woman," she said.

(Additional reporting by Sachin Ravikumar and Elizabeth PiperEditing by Rosalba O'Brien, Alison Williams and Frances Kerry)
The podcast Tracking the Tropics with Bryan Norcross is now available to stream.

Updated at 8:25 a.m. Eastern

Tropical Storm Fiona is still a ragged-looking system but shows signs of slow intensification. It will track well to the south of the Virgin Islands today, but slowly begin a bend to the north. The consensus of the best computer forecast models, which is reflected in the National Hurricane Center forecast, is that the center of the storm will track near the Mona Passage, the gap between Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic to the west and Puerto Rico to the east on Monday.

Fionas disorganization has been caused by the dry atmosphere ahead of the storm being blown into the circulation by moderately hostile upper winds. Those dry winds have tilted the circulation and dried out half the storm. On its trek across the Caribbean south of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Fiona is forecast to slow down. The high pressure thats been pushing it along is losing its influence. That slowdown and slightly less hostile upper winds should allow continued slow strengthening for the next couple of days.

As Fiona approaches the southwest coast of Puerto Rico or the eastern part of the Dominican Republic, it is forecast to be at or near hurricane strength. Hurricane Watches have been issued for Puerto Rico and the eastern D.R. because of this possibility.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER ON TV

Tropical Storm Fiona is still a ragged-looking system but shows signs of slow intensification.

The worst weather in Fionas circulation is on the back side of the storm  the right side. While it is likely to wrap up to some degree, with more strong winds close to the center, the storm will likely still be east-side loaded when it approaches Puerto Rico and the eastern Dominican Republic. This means, if the forecast track is correct, more moisture will be flung against the mountains of Puerto Rico, which would result in very heavy rainfall.

The National Hurricane Center is forecasting 5 to 10 inches of rain on Puerto Rico with some areas receiving up to 16 inches. If anything like these numbers hold up, mudslides and flooding will be a significant threat.

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Since its very likely that Fiona will track south of the island, the biggest impact on Puerto Rico will be in the eastern and especially the southern sections. If Fiona tracks through or near the Mona Passage, Mayaguez on the island's western end would also feel very strong winds and heavy rain. The mountains will somewhat protect San Juan on the northern coast if Fiona stays on or near the projected track.

Fionas disorganization has been caused by the dry atmosphere ahead of the storm being blown into the circulation by moderately hostile upper winds.

On the west side of the Mona Passage, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and nearby mountainous areas must also prepare for a direct hurricane hit, including significant rainfall and high winds.

The longer-range computer forecast models have come into good agreement on the forecast track, so there is reasonably high confidence in the general idea of Fiona crossing into the Atlantic near the Mona Passage, plus or minus. The Turks and Caicos and the southeastern Bahamas will need to stay in close touch with the latest information because they could feel the direct effects of Fiona once it moves into the Atlantic.

The rest of the Bahamas and the U.S. East Coast appears to be in the clear. A strong dip in the jet stream should scoop up Fiona and push it out to sea. Bermuda appears to be the only land area that might be affected farther north.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic, the National Hurricane Center is noting two disorganized disturbances. Each has a slight chance of developing, but neither would threaten land.

Otherwise, nothing appears to be pending.
Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty

A new pro-Trump dating app backed by right-wing tech billionaire Peter Thiel has not even launched yet, but its already facing lots of rejection.

The Right Stuff, scheduled to debut this month, was co-founded by former Trump body man and aspiring matchmaker Johnny McEntee, who recruited the sister of former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany to help launch the app.

Kayleighs sister, Ryann McEnany, is particularly suited for the job. She has 146,000 Instagram followersmostly young conservativesand has been assigned a particularly tough task: convincing attractive, conservative women to sign up.

Her basic pitch, according to Instagram messages reviewed by The Daily Beast, is a mix of flattery and exclusivity: Hi, Im working with John McEntees team on an exclusive conservative dating app called The Right Stuff thats expected to launch this summer! We would love to get you on our list for early access to the app.

How a Trumpy Billionaire Is Single-Handedly Reshaping Campaigns

But despite the aim of enlisting female Capitol Hill staffers and right-wing politicos, the startup is already facing some problems.

For one, theres an emerging legal dispute with another dating service, also called The Right Stuff.

That The Right Stuff has existed for more than two decades, but it has nothing to do with conservative politics.

The company is planning to send a cease-and-desist letter to the Thiel-backed operation, according to Michael Feigin, an attorney working on the case. The existing dating service is for people that have higher levels of education, and many of them are left-wing, so they dont like the confusion, he said.

The founder of the original The Right Stuff dating app, Dawne Touchings, claimed to The Daily Beast she holds the trademark to the same name the conservative dating app has poached. There are a lot of other really good right-wing names that they could choose, she said. They are very smart, I am sure they could come up with something!

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I have a lawyer, and he is contacting them, Touchings continued. That is my incorporated name.

The Daily Beast independently verified there was a trademark application for the name, but couldnt verify that the application had been approved.

Still, another issue is actually getting users. Instead of drawing singles, the app has thus far largely drawn mockery, according to female Republican operatives who spoke to The Daily Beast.

Florida Wife Scrolled Dating App After Fatally Stabbing Hubby, Prosecutors Allege

Two Republican staffers in Washington, D.C., said many young conservative women have ignored McEnanys outreach and have instead jeeringly passed around screenshots of her messages to group chats.

Other Republican staffers in D.C.the sort who boast about downing drinks at the Navy Yard watering hole Mission and claim their pronouns are Yee and Haw on their Instagram profilestold The Daily Beast the app has an array of possible problems, like liberals masquerading as right-wingers and the awkward potential of matching them with conservative staffers they already know.

Its all of Mitch McConnells staffers, a female Republican operative said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because she still works in pro-Trump politics.

But that same conservative operative, who was invited to the app by McEnany, said launching in the swampthe MAGA nickname for Washingtonis a mistake.

If theyre just going to start in D.C., like, good luck, she said. I think they would be better off starting out in other parts of the country, she added, suggesting deeper red states like Florida and Texas.

McEnany and McEntee did not return requests for comment, nor did a Thiel representative or lawyers that have represented him and other Thiel ventures in the past.

Even before its launch, The Right Stuffnot to be confused with the white nationalist-affiliated site of the same namehas already generated other controversy. Upon release of a McEnany-led promotional video in August, the venture was derided on Twitter over its fixation on making a right-wing dating safe space free from pronouns.

The invite-only app reportedly will only permit heterosexual matches at the outset. As the LGBTQ+ website called Them pointed out, Thielwho is gayis therefore funding a product he wouldnt be able to use. It remains to be seen whether the app catches on; other right-leaning startups, like Truth Social, Righter, and AlignPay, have not been able to fully compete with their mainstream counterparts.

Peter Thiel Invests Big in Firms His Favorite Candidates Love to Hate

There have been other causes of skepticism. I feel like it could be vulnerable to people trolling, a female Republican staffer told The Daily Beast.

She also questioned why The Right Stuff was even necessary. You can meet other conservatives on normal dating apps. Its something you can filter for, she noted. More established applications, including Bumble, have long offered the ability to their users to filter out potential matches based on political leanings.

Others have said they are worried about limiting their prospective dating pool, particularly in the politically incestuous D.C. area.

I dont exactly want the world I work in knowing my dating status, a D.C. reporter for a conservative publication told The Daily Beast.

That same reporter in The Right Stuffs target demographic lamented that dating apps feel antithetical to traditional conservatism. The internet seems to interfere with biological tendencies, like men courting women, she said. This isnt like Alexa telling you the weather. You cant upend the natural mating process and call it traditional.

Meanwhile, a pre-launch, unpaid app ambassador that lives in Tampa, Florida, Savannah Dudzik, who met the startups representatives at a Turning Point USA gathering, added that she has historically disliked dating apps (such as Catholic Match), partly because men on the platform were just looking to hook up. She is hopeful for a more positive experience with The Right Stuffserious romance onlyand is excited to see it get off the ground. I think its going to be a hit! Dudzik said.

Except there is one catch: Dudzik hopes the app will ban right-wing males on the platform looking for hookups.

McEnany, for her part, has been busy promoting other right-wing causes as well. In recent days, she has championed a Google alternative that highlights censored stories, posted a beaming image of MyPillow guy Mike Lindell, and shared a movie scene featuring a Mexican mariachi bandin mocking reference to the Venezuelan migrants who were flown to Marthas Vineyard by Florida officials, allegedly under false pretenses.

Evidently, The Right Stuff thinks its users will be attracted to that kind of ideologyor at least not alienated by it.

In one of its video advertisements harkening back to the values of the 1950s, three actresses ridicule the crazy world of modern dating, including fictional men who dont want children for environmental reasons, ask a date to pay for a meal after forgetting their gift card in a fanny pack, and show up to a date on a bicycle.

Download The Right Stuff today, the advertisement concludes, and start going out with normal guys.

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WORCESTER  A city man was sentenced to 16 years in federal court for drug trafficking and unlawful firearm possession.

Daniel Donald, 41, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman. In addition to the 16 years, Donald was sentenced to eight years of supervised release.

In October, Donald was convicted of one count of possession with intent to distribute over 100 grams of heroin, over 500 grams of cocaine, over 28 grams of crack cocaine and fentanyl.

In addition, he was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Based on his criminal history, Donald was deemed a career offender by the court.

In April 2017, law enforcement began investigating drug sales by Donald and his co-defendant Robert Young on Groton Street in Worcester.

A Nov. 30, 2017, search of two apartments leased by Donald at the property yielded a spot located between the exterior and interior walls of the detached apartment on the rear of the property.

Multiple drugs were seized at the spot: one kilogram of cocaine, 345 grams of heroin, over 80 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 200 pills containing fentanyl and a loaded 9 mm firearm.

In November 2021, Young was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester man sentenced 16 years for drug trafficking, illegal gun possession
NEW YORK (AP)  Yeshiva University has abruptly suspended student club activity in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier this week that ordered the school to recognize  for now  an LGBTQ student group.

In an email to students, university officials on Friday said that it hold off on all undergraduate club activities while it immediately takes steps to follow the roadmap provided by the U.S. Supreme Court to protect YU's religious freedom.

On Wednesday, the high court cleared the way for the LGBTQ group, YU Pride Alliance, to gain official recognition from the Jewish university in New York.

The undergraduate group describes itself as a supportive space for all students, of all sexual orientations and gender identities, to feel respected, visible, and represented.

Spokespeople for the university did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on Saturday.

By a 5-4 vote Wednesday, the justices lifted a temporary hold on a court order that requires Yeshiva University to recognize the group, even as a legal fight continues in New York courts. Two conservatives, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, sided with the courts three liberal justices to form a majority.

The disagreement among the justices appears to be mostly about procedure, with the majority writing in a brief unsigned order that Yeshiva should return to state court to seek quick review and temporary relief while the case continues. If it gets neither from state courts, the school can return to the Supreme Court, the majority wrote.

The case was being closely watched by other faith-based institutions.

Following the ruling, the president of the university, Rabbi Ari Berman, said that faith-based universities have the right to establish clubs within its understanding of the Torah.

Yeshiva University simply seeks that same right of self-determination, he said. The Supreme Court has laid out the roadmap for us to find expedited relief and we will follow their instructions.

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Berman also said the university's commitment and love for our LGBTQ students are unshakeable.

Nevertheless, a lawyer for the students said the university's action Friday was divisive and shameful.

The Pride Alliance seeks a safe space on campus, nothing more. By shutting down all club activities, the YU administration attempts to divide the student body, and pit students against their LGBT peers, said the lawyer, Katie Rosenfeld.

The university's tactic, she said, is a throwback to 50 years ago when the city of Jackson, Mississippi closed all public swimming pools rather than comply with court orders to desegregate.

The university, an Orthodox Jewish institution in New York, argued that granting recognition to the Pride Alliance, would violate its sincere religious beliefs.

The club argued that Yeshivas plea to the Supreme Court was premature, also noting the university already has recognized a gay pride club at its law school.

A New York state court sided with the student group and ordered the university to recognize the club immediately. The matter remains on appeal in the state court system, but judges there refused to put the order on hold in the meantime.
A 57-year-old man who went on trial at the Osaka District Court on Friday for killing a 25-year-old woman at the karaoke parlor she owned last year, requested the death penalty when asked if he pleaded guilty or not.

Hiroshi Miyamoto, a company employee from Nishinomiya in Hyogo Prefecture, is accused of killing Mayuko Inada whose body was found at around 10:45 a.m. on June 14, 2021, at her Gomachan karaoke parlor on the fifth floor of a commercial building in Tenjinbashi, Kita Ward, Osaka, Fuji TV reported. Police said Miyamoto, who was a regular customer at the karaoke parlor, has admitted going to the parlor on the night of June 11 and killing Inada by stabbing her at least 10 times in the chest and neck.

A male friend of Inada, worried at not having heard from her, went to the building on June 14 and spoke to a woman who runs a coffee shop on the first floor. The woman, who was also a close friend of the Inada, has a master key to the karaoke parlor. She and the man went up to the fifth floor and let themselves into the locked karaoke parlor where they found Inadas body.

In the opening session of Miyamotos trial, prosecutors said that building surveillance camera footage showed Inada going into the building at around 5 p.m. on June 11 but there was no footage showing her leaving the building. ...continue reading
Honda Motor will join the development of a lunar rover by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Nikkei has learned.

Toyota Motor has also been cooperating with JAXA on this project. The agency hopes to boost the development of the vehicle by utilizing Honda's fuel cell technology.

The vehicle will be launched in 2029 under the U.S.-led manned lunar exploration project, dubbed the Artemis Program. The U.S. has been successful in the development of space technology by utilizing private companies. Japan will also work with companies to raise the international competitiveness of its space development.

JAXA has selected Honda as a new partner to develop a fuel cell system for a manned lunar exploration vehicle by Friday. Toyota will be responsible for the overall design of the vehicle.

The vehicle will be 6 meters long, about the size of two microbuses, and is expected to carry two passengers. The vehicle will be able to travel 1,000 kilometers on a full tank of hydrogen and oxygen. It will be used not only by Japan, but also by the U.S., Canada and other countries participating in the Artemis Program. ...continue reading
THURSDAY, Sept. 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- People with autoimmune disorders like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis who suffer a heart attack are more likely to die or develop severe heart-related complications in the aftermath, a new study shows.

A heart attack creates more serious health consequences in those patients than in those who arent battling an autoimmune disorder, according to an analysis of data from more than 1.6 million older Americans.

The study found that heart attack patients with autoimmune disease were:

15% more likely to die from any cause during about two years of follow-up.

12% more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure.

8% more likely to have another heart attack.

6% more likely to need another artery-opening procedure (if they had one at the time of their heart attack).

Autoimmune patients who survive a heart attack need to stay on top of risk factors that could harm their heart health, the researchers concluded.

They also found that people with an autoimmune disorder were less likely to receive common procedures that restore blood flow after a heart attack, such as bypass surgery or balloon catheter re-opening of clogged arteries.

It is possible that the people with an autoimmune disease were not healthy enough to undergo those procedures, or their coronary anatomy was less amenable to interventions to reopen narrowed or clogged vessels, said senior researcher Dr. Amgad Mentias, an assistant professor at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine.

Autoimmune diseases had already been known to increase risk of heart disease, due to a combination of factors that include chronic inflammation and long-term use of steroids, the study authors noted in a news release from the American Heart Association.

In the study, researchers identified Medicare patients admitted to the hospital with a heart attack between 2014 and 2019.

Of those, nearly 4% had an autoimmune disease previously noted in their charts. The most common condition was rheumatoid arthritis, followed by lupus, psoriasis and sclerosis.

The new study was published Sept. 14 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

More information

The Cleveland Clinic has more about autoimmune diseases.

SOURCE: American Heart Association, news release, Sept. 14, 2022

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Former Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) recently visited Council Bluffs to throw his support  and 40 years of congressional experience  behind Iowa House candidate Josh Turek.

Turek has long considered Harkin to be a personal hero, in part due to Harkin authoring the Americans with Disabilities Act, which Turek referred to as the emancipation proclamation of the disabled community.

If it wasnt for the work that Sen. Harkin did with the Americans with Disabilities Act, I would not be here today running for office, Turek said. I would have never had the opportunities, both educationally or occupationally, to ever reach for anything like this.

Turek was born with spina bifida, a condition caused when an area of the spinal column doesnt form properly, leaving a section of spinal cord and spinal nerves exposed through an opening in the back. It can cause, among other things, leg weakness and paralysis.

Ive had 23 surgeries, said Turek, who has used a wheelchair since he was a child. Had my first surgery at one day old, essentially.

Harkins support for the disabled community has been fueled from growing up in a household with a person with a disability  his older brother, Frank, who was deaf.

I saw in those days how he was discriminated against, and I said, if I could ever do something about that, I would, Harkin said.

Harkins experiences with his brother led him to sponsoring the Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990, which mandated that every television sold in the United States had to have a closed captioning decoder chip installed, and, later that same year, the ADA, expanding civil rights protections to the disabled community by prohibiting discrimination based on disability. The ADA also required employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, and imposed accessibility requirements on public accommodations.

Yet, despite all the progress that has been made for the disabled community, Turek pointed out that there is still a long way to go.

(People with disabilities) are 15% of the population, yet when I look around I see essentially no representation of our group in government, Turek said. I look at congressmen, senators, governors, mayors. Almost no representation of the disabled community.

A lack of representation in government is unduly affecting the disabled community, Turek said.

In the state of Iowa we have 20,000 disabled individuals that are on waiting lists for very simple things like wheelchairs. Its immoral and its unjust, Turek said. Along with that, since weve switched our Medicaid over to the for profit system in 2016, the denial rate of this equipment is up over 1,000%.

Turek was able to connect with his hero with the help of former Iowa Democratic Party chairman Mark Smith, who contacted Harkin and told him, Hey, you gotta meet this guy, Harkin said.

They spoke on the phone, but the early September campaign event was the first time they had met in person.

We talked on the phone for a long time, we had a great conversation and he asked me if I would come out and do something, Harkin said. I said, wait a minute, I dont know this guy at all, but I know hes running for Charlie (McConkey)s seat, and I know we need more people who have had disabilities, who know what its like, to be involved in politics.

After meeting in person, Harkin noted that Turek has got what I call true grit, dating himself with a reference to the 1969 John Wayne film instead of the 2010 Coen Bros. adaptation.

Hes got true grit not only physically by what hes done with his life, but after listening to him, hes also got moral true grit, intellectual true grit, Harkin said. To stand and listen, what he believes so deeply, its really what we need more of in our public offices today.

Also in attendance were Pottawattamie County supervisor candidate and Western Iowa Labor Federation president Jeff Shudak, and J.D. Scholten, political director for U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken. Scholten is also running  unopposed  for the Iowa House seat in District 1, which is how he has time to work for a Senate campaign at the same time.

Turek is running against Republican Sarah Abdouch in the newly-created House District 20, which includes northwest Council Bluffs and all of Carter Lake.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
JOHNSTON  Paul Pate, the Republican incumbent in the 2022 campaign to be Iowas statewide elections official, defended some of Iowas recently approved changes to state elections laws, while offering more of a shrug to others.

Joel Miller, the Democratic challenger in the campaign, argued that some of the recent changes are unfair to voters even though recent state elections have resulted in high, sometimes record turnout.

Pate and Miller discussed those and myriad other elections and voting issues during their appearance Friday on this weekends episode of Iowa Press on Iowa PBS.

The discussion between the candidates grew heated at times.

Miller criticized Pate for recent changes to state elections laws that, among other things, limited the states early voting period by cutting it by more than half from 40 days to 19 and requiring that all early ballots be received by local elections officials by the time polls close on Election Day.

Those changes  and others that also placed restrictions on the states early voting options  were passed by Republican state lawmakers and Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. Pate as Secretary of State is not involved in passing legislation, although he can advocate for policies if he chooses.

We need to make voting easier. It became harder after the 2021 election laws were passed, and that was an attack upon vote by mail and early voting, Miller said on the show. Things changed and people are just thinking the government doesnt care and doesnt really want them to vote, and they didnt vote.

Iowa had record turnout in the 2020 elections. During those elections, absentee voting rules were relaxed to accommodate voters during the early peaks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the changes to state elections laws that reduced early voting opportunities, this years primary election in June had the second-highest early voting numbers in state history, and the second-highest overall turnout for a primary election since 1994.

Miller also criticized Pate for not disavowing former President Donald Trump and others in Trumps circle who have repeated the false and widely debunked claim that the 2020 presidential election results were fraudulent.

Pate said his office has been producing statements and other information that pushes back on lies and distorted facts about elections in Iowa.

I think Mr. Miller needs to focus a little more on the message I put out every day. As I visit with groups and individuals, Im very clear that these are the facts about Iowas elections and these folks out there passing around disinformation, misinformation are wrong, Pate said.

When asked, Pate said he most certainly commits to certifying the results of the 2024 presidential election in Iowa.

And thats the way it should be: States run elections and as they certify their state, that should be the official results, Pate said. I would remind people as the Secretary of State you dont get to wear a team jersey; youre the referee. So you follow the laws and the rules that you have on the books. And when you look at the last presidential election, if we follow the laws on the books like we did here in Iowa then we have a legitimate winner and we need to recognize that.

Iowa Press can be seen at noon on Sunday, or online at iowapbs.org.
September is National Preparedness Month, so its a good time to make sure you and your family or household are ready in case of an emergency.

Each week has a theme that corresponds to one of the four main steps of being prepared:

1. Make a plan.

2. Build a kit.

3. Stay informed and be aware.

4. Prepare your children and pets for emergencies.

The Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency will hold a special event from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the Agencys offices on the lower level of the Council Bluffs Fire Department Headquarters at 205 S. Main St.

Its a place they can come and learn about emergency/disaster preparedness, as well as different resources we have in our area, said Michell Bose, emergency management specialist at the agency.

A variety of human service agencies will have representatives there to distribute information, she said. In addition, free Hy-Vee hotdogs will be available, along with lemonade from The Salvation Army.

There are various ways to stay informed and aware, such as watching weather forecasts and news bulletins, having a weather radio in your home and signing up for emergency notification systems like Alert Iowa. Through Alert Iowa, the states official emergency notification system, state and local officials disseminate emergency and public safety messages to residents. Severe weather alerts are also sent through the system.

Although it can be used to send messages statewide, the system is usually used to reach local areas like Pottawattamie County. Officials can also target a certain part of the county with an alert. The Emergency Management Agency might use it to warn residents of a certain community to boil their water before they drink it, take shelter from an approaching storm, lock their doors to keep out a fugitive, etc., Bose said.

Anything that might be a threat to the community, we could use it for that, she said.

Those interested can sign up for Alert Iowa on the Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agencys website at pcema-ia.org. You can indicate whether you want to be contact by land line, cell phone or email, Bose said.

Its going to ask you for your email, but if you dont have one, you can bypass that, she said. You dont necessarily have to have a cell phone. You can register your land line.

When an area needs to be evacuated, officials can use the system to email maps showing evacuation routes, Bose said.

The Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency recommends you prepare for the following situations:

Natural disasters, such as a tornado, windstorm, snowstorm, drought, flood and possible levee or dam failure

Human disease/infection outbreak

Animal disease/infection outbreak

Fire (structure or brush)

Transportation crash

Power, communication or fuel disruption

Chemical or hazardous gas or materials release

Violence in a workplace, school or public area

Bomb threat

Act of terrorism or war

We want you to consider all these hazards when youre preparing, said Michell Bose, emergency management specialist at Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency.

The Department of Homeland Security recommends keeping the following emergency supplies:

Water  one gallon per person per day for at least three days.

Food  at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food (with can opener, if needed)

Battery-powered radio and weather radio with tone alert and extra or rechargeable batteries for both

Flashlight and extra/rechargeable batteries

First aid kit

Dust mask to filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in place

Wet wipes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

Local maps

Whistle to signal for help

People who have pets should also prepare to take care of them during an emergency or disaster, the Agency advises. The Department of Homeland Security suggests having two kits  one for home and one to take with you. Basic ingredients would be as follows:

Food  Keep at least three days of food in an airtight, waterproof container.

Water  Store at least three days of water specifically for your pets, in addition to the water you need for yourself and your family.

Medicine  Keep an extra supply of medicines your pet takes on a regular basis in a waterproof container.

First aid kit  Ask your veterinarian what is most appropriate for your pets emergency medical needs. Most kits should include cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape and scissors; antibiotic ointment; flea and tick prevention; latex gloves, isopropyl alcohol and saline solution. Include a pet first aid reference book.

Sanitation  Include litter and a litter box, if needed; newspapers, papertowels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach to provide for your pets sanitation needs. You can use bleach as a disinfectant (dilute nine parts water to one part bleach) or, in an emergency, to purify water (use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water). Do not use scented or color-safe bleaches or those with added cleaners.

The pet should wear a collar with ID tag, and you should have a harness or leash and pet carrier in case you need to evacuate. Take favorite toys, bedding and treats. In case you and your pet are separated, keep a photo of you with your pet. Plan how you will transport your pets, if needed, and where you will go. Public shelters may not allow pets.

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agencys mission is to help protect communities by coordinating and integrating all activities necessary to build, sustain and improve the capability to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to and recover from threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism or other manmade disasters.
A first green hydrogen production system at the micro-pilot scale has been installed in Benguerir, the Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies (French acronym IRESEN) announced, explaining that the system is part of its Power-to-X Pilot project.

The hydrogen production system is an electrolyzer with a capacity of 20 kilowatts (kW) coupled with solar photovoltaic panels (PV). It will be tested under variable loads of renewable electricity, according to a statement from IRESEN.

The project Power-to-X Pilot project is incubated in the heart of the Green Energy Park of Benguerir in collaboration with the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P).

The fruit of a joint initiative by IRESEN and UM6P, the project is set to advance sustainable mobility and renewable electricity storage in Morocco.

In its next phases, this project will be equipped with additional technological bricks from the value chain of the green hydrogen sector and its applications, commonly known as Power-To-X..

The main focus is on the production of green ammonia, green methanol, green fuels, but also aspects such as sustainable mobility and renewable electricity storage, using hydrogen and fuel cells, IRESEN said.

In addition to being a tool for research and innovation, this Micro-Pilot will play a key role in training and increasing the competence of the staff of IRESEN and UM6P and their partners in the hydrogen ecosystem in Morocco, namely the members of the National Hydrogen Commission and the Cluster Green H2 Morocco, the statement said.

Besides producing green hydrogen that will be used to generate green ammonia, green methanol, and green fuels, the micro-pilot will train and upskill students, researchers, engineers, technicians, and managers from IRESEN, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), the National Hydrogen Commission and the Green H2 Morocco Cluster.

As Morocco continues to invest in upgrading its already largely advanced renewable energy infrastructure, numerous recent reports have confirmed the countrys potential to produce green hydrogen at a low cost to meet domestic demands and even support energy security in Europe.

In June, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reported that Morocco is expected to have the third lowest green hydrogen production cost in 2050, ranging between roughly $0.7/ kgH2 and $1.4/kgH2.

The kingdom ranked third behind China and Chile, placing it ahead of well-established players in the global energy sector such as Australia, Mexico, India, and the United States.

In recent months, IRENA forecasts have been buttressed by Moroccos plans to increase its installed renewable energy capacity in the energy mix as well as its efforts to secure water supply for drinking and electrolysis through seawater desalination plants.

The initial objective of Moroccos energy strategy was to ensure 42% of electricity production in 2020 from renewable sources. This energy mix from renewable energies objective was revised to 52% by 2030, and to 80% by 2050.
Three Chinese astronauts, known as taikonauts, recently spoke to students from eight African countries via video link during an event hosted by the China Mission to the African Union (AU), highlighting the increasing collaboration in space between China and African nations who aspire to develop their own ambitions in the next frontier.

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is facilitating the growing China-Africa cooperation in space science and technology, said Mohamed Belhocine, AU Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation. He added that FOCAC is helping realize Africas aspiration in space science and technology. With our friends in China, we have a framework of cooperation through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. It is in the framework of this forum that we are organizing meetings, which I hope will help the extension of knowledge about space science into our youth in different parts of Africa, the senior AU official said.

And taikonauts have been playing a role in space diplomacy while on a six-month mission on the Tiangong space station currently under construction. This event is a reflection of the ongoing collaboration between China and African countries, says Temidayo Oniosun, a Nigerian space scientist and managing director of the website Space in Africa. The space industry in Africa is growing at an incredible rate, hence countries and regions like China, Europe, Russia and the US are beginning to compete for a stake in the industry. Experts note that this latest event was not only a show of soft power on Beijings part, but also indicates the importance China is placing on the role Africa can help it play in the global space race.

These engagements are not necessarily because China and the rest are engaging to help Africa, theyre doing so because they get economic, social and cultural capital in return, Oniosun told the media. For example, China is second only to the United States in terms of the number of satellites in the world it controls. The construction of remote sensing satellite networks in Africa by China allows Beijing to support logistical integration of Belt and Road (BRI) partner states as one of the applications for cooperation in space, according to a 2020 Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies working paper. To that end, Oniosun adds that the African space economy, valued at $19.49 billion in 2021, is forecast to grow by some 16% in the next four years. However, its telling that, as of 2022, 13 African countries have a total of 48 satellites, out of which six were built by China and only one by the US.
The American delegation to the ongoing 51st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva and several participating NGOs have pilloried Algeria for the extremely worrying situation of human rights in the country, the massive violations of the rights of the populations sequestered in the Tindouf camps and the refusal of the Algerian regime to assume its legal responsibilities and put an end to heinous crimes committed in the country, despite the findings and repeated calls from the mechanisms of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In her capacity as Chair of the United States Delegation, Ambassador Bathsheba Nell Crocker, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, reiterated the United States concerns over the serious human rights violations committed against civilians and pro-democracy activists in Algeria.

She also denounced the widespread use of new laws to prosecute and crackdown on activists, protesters and journalists, restricting unduly freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly and association and arresting militants.

The US diplomat also hailed as courageous the civil society activists, human rights defenders, media workers and others who dare to tell the truth to the power and advocate respect for human rights.

Speaking on behalf of IL CENACOLO NGO, El Fadel Brika recounted his own experience, as a victim of the atrocities of the Polisario separatists, and detailed the kidnappings, arbitrary detentions and the worst types of psychological and physical torture practiced in secret prisons managed by the Polisario militia on Algerian soil.

He also drew the attention of the Human Rights Council to the systematic violations committed by the Polisario separatists and the Algerian forces against the sequestered populations in the Tindouf camps, where they resort to the most horrible means to punish any voice that opposes them or denounces their serious abuses and the embezzlement of humanitarian aid. Mr. Brika spoke of extrajudicial execution, noting that the latest such execution was the burning alive of the two young Sahrawis, Maha Ould Hamdi Ould Souilem and Alien Idrissi.

Mr. Brika informed the Council of the killing in November 2021, by the Algerian army, in a hole on the outskirts of the so-called Dakhla camp, of three young Sahrawis, Lakbir Ould Sidi Ahmed Al Markhi, Obeidat Ould El Bilal and Flea Ould Baraka.

Taking the floor on behalf of the Geneva-based NGO Promotion du Developpement Economique et Social, Ms. Aicha Duihi focused her address on the growing tensions in the Tindouf camps in southwestern Algeria, where, she said, the deteriorating living conditions and the explosive situation in the Tindouf camps are fueling mounting tensions and protests which are suppressed with use of unnecessary excessive military force. These unprecedented events have also been repeatedly mentioned by the UN Secretary-General of the United Nations since his report S/2019/282.

She denounced the violations of the rights of the sequestered in the Tindouf camps, through the maintenance of the state of emergency under the pretext of fight against terrorism; repression of all forms of opposition; reprisals, violence, threats, discrimination, pressure and arrests of human rights defenders and activists; and selective discrimination against freedom of movement. She also decried the Algerian authorities refusal to allow a census of the sequestered populations or to grant them international protection, as well as the relentless diversion of humanitarian aid destined to the Sahrawi refugees who live on food assistance.

The corrupt and feckless polisario leaders and militiamen continue their abuses in total impunity, she deplored

During the same session, the representative of the Unitary Network for the Development of Mauritania recalled the communication of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of migrants challenging Algerian authorities on the extrajudicial executions of two Sahrawis by the Algerian security forces in a mining site south of Auinat Balakraa, in a bid to urge the Office of the High Commissioner to open an investigation into this horrific crime and to apply basic international standards to protect the populations of the Tindouf camps.

The representative of the NGO The National Movement of Young Patriots, for his part, castigated the persistence of impunity in the Tindouf camps, which serves as a security for the Polisario leaders and encourages them to persist in their repression against the populations of the camps, deprived of any recourse mechanism, and denied any access to justice, despite repeated calls from the UN human rights system, including the Human Rights Committee.
Photo: gregobagel/Getty Images

A U.S. woman who repeatedly snuck across the Canada-U.S. border illegally to get to the Yukon, which she believed would be safe from terrorists, has been jailed for two weeks after pleading guilty to a charge under Canadas Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

The 39-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested Aug. 18 in West Vancouver after making repeated attempts to enter the country illegally from Washington State and being repeatedly escorted back to the U.S., according to federal Crown prosecutor Xiaoshan Zheng, who outlined the unusual case in North Vancouver provincial court on Sept. 15.

Judge Joanne Challenger noted that the woman had attempted to enter Canada at one of the border crossings south of Vancouver four times in April and May 2022, but was turned away each time, as being "inadmissible" to Canada. But on May 22 she walked around a fence to get into Canada. She was later picked up and held in hospital under the Mental Health Act.

The woman returned to the U.S. but in July was found again by RCMP just inside Canada on Zero Avenue  a road that runs parallel to the border. She was escorted back over the border to the U.S. but the next day was found on Zero Avenue again, said Challenger, and was issued a deportation order.

Despite the order, the woman was found back in Canada a few days later, given a second deportation order and physically removed.

On Aug. 10, she was arrested again inside Canada, this time at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel, where she was causing a disturbance. A third deportation order was issued.

The U.S. woman was arrested for a final time, Aug. 18 in West Vancouver, after police received calls about a woman who appeared to be in distress.

The woman gave police a fake name, then told them she was trying to catch a bus to get to the Yukon, where she would be safe from terrorists, according to the Crown.

She has been held in custody since then.

The woman's defence lawyer described her repeated attempts to come to Canada for no apparent reason as obviously misguided.

The woman previously lived in various states including Florida, the Carolinas, Texas and Washington State, said her lawyer. She was previously ruled inadmissible to Canada because of a criminal record in the U.S.

In sentencing the woman, Challenger told her she had already been given many chances by police and border officials before she was charged under the Immigration Act, noting it was unclear just how the woman continued to be able to cross the border.

You cannot ignore any deportation order, said the judge.

She handed the woman a 60-day jail sentence, with credit for time already spent in custody, leaving a further 16 days in jail.

Challenger said the woman could have been given a longer sentence but noted her significant mental health issues as a factor in the case.
Raila Odinga, leader of the Azimio La Umoja Coalition and main challenger of William Ruto in the latest Kenyan presidential election, denied reports alleging that he had attacked the Kenyan presidents decision to revoke recognition of the so-called SADR.

The reports that I attacked Rutos decision to review Kenyas policy on the polisario are erroneous, wrote the former Kenyan Prime Minister on his official twitter account.

Odinga, who won 48.85% of the votes in the latest presidential election, added that he never mentioned polisario, stressing that he knows the importance of relations between Kenya and Morocco, which he described as beneficial.

Following the congratulations message King Mohammed VI sent to the new President of Kenya, William Ruto, Kenya decided to rescind the recognition of the pseudo-SADR and initiate steps to close down its representation in Nairobi.

A joint statement, parts of which were posted on the website of the State House of Kenya, following the delivery, last Wednesday, of the royal message to the Kenyan head of state, said out of respect for the principle of territorial integrity and non-interference, Kenya fully supports the serious and credible autonomy plan proposed by the Kingdom of Morocco, as the only solution based on the territorial integrity of Morocco, to resolve the Sahara dispute.

Kenya supports the United Nations framework as the exclusive mechanism to achieve a lasting and permanent political solution to the dispute over the Sahara issue, the joint statement said.

In his message, King Mohammed VI congratulated Mr. William Samoei Ruto on his election as the 5th President of Kenya and welcomed the successful unfolding of democratic elections in the country in August 2022, stressing that these deadlines consolidate the position of Kenya as a beacon country in terms of democracy at the continental level.

The Sovereign also welcomed the promise made by the Kenyan President to strengthen and deepen the current bilateral relations between his country and various states in Africa and elsewhere.

President Ruto, for his part, hailed the leadership of King Mohammed VI in promoting policies of tolerance at the level of the Maghreb region, as well as its contribution to world peace and security.

He also expressed his willingness and commitment to work with the Sovereign to strengthen relations between the two countries, which are both committed to raising their bilateral diplomatic relations to the level of strategic partnership in the coming six months, the statement said, adding that the Republic of Kenya is committed to opening its Embassy in Rabat.

Similarly, it was agreed to immediately accelerate economic, trade and social relations between the two countries, particularly in the areas of fishing, agriculture and food security (import of fertilizers).

Cooperation will also cover the areas of health, tourism, renewable energy, security collaboration, as well as cultural, religious and people-to-people exchanges.

Being one of the greatest African powers, particularly in East Africa, Kenya, is currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, which is preparing to vote on October 27 on a resolution on the Sahara issue.

The decision made by Kenya, which had been among the supporters of the Polisario, is therefore important in more than one way. It corroborates the momentum of breakthroughs scored by Moroccan diplomacy and deals a hard blow to the separatists and their sponsors.

This new setback replaces the separatist front in its true dimension, that of an agent in the service of the Algerian junta.
Ocean Wise

Special events in Vancouver, Toronto and Halifax to mark the occasion on September 17

CANADA, Sept. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Ocean Wise, a leading global ocean conservation organization, marks an impactful milestone by welcoming the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanups one millionth volunteer.

To help Ocean Wise honour the Shoreline Cleanups achievements, local leaders will join in hosting public events across Canada, including:

The celebration is occurring on International Coastal Cleanup Day, an important awareness moment and opportunity to take direct action to address issues impacting ocean health.

In addition, anyone over the age of 18 registered for an Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup in Canada on September 17 will be entered in a contest for a chance to win a pair of roundtrip Air Canada tickets valid for travel between Canada and any destination Air Canada flies worldwide, courtesy of Air Canada (excludes registrations in Quebec. Conditions and restricted travel periods apply).

Since 1994, the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup (previously known as the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup) has hosted 30,542 cleanups, collecting more than 2.1 million kilograms of trash across Canadas shorelines. The initiatives presenting sponsor is Loblaw Companies Limited, partnering with Ocean Wise to drive environmental action and fight climate change.

As a direct action program, the Shoreline Cleanup addresses the serious issue of litter and plastic pollution. According to the UN Environmental Programme, 400 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced globally each year, and production of primary plastic is forecast to reach 1,100 million tonnes by 2050. An alarming portion of this ends up as litter, polluting the environment.

Story continues

Ocean Wise is also announcing a new call-to-action via a joint statement with Loblaw, Tru Earth and other partners including ONeill, Corona, Wheaton and Air Canada. The statement calls for Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup volunteers to recover over two million kilograms of trash by the end of 2025.

Speaking on the importance and impact of the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup, Ocean Wise President, Lasse Gustavsson, said:

International Coastal Cleanup Day is an important moment that Ocean Wise honours each year by inspiring direct action via shoreline cleanups across North America. Over 13 million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean each year, and much of this litter enters the environment far upstream. Our efforts today and in the future will help protect shorelines and waterways in our communities, places vitally important to the health of the worlds oceans.

Learn more about the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup at shorelinecleanup.org, and about the special events at ocean.org/action/iccd2022.

###

About the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup

The Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup is a conservation program that provides families, businesses and community groups the opportunity to take action to help protect waterways in their community, one bit of trash at a time.

About Ocean Wise

Ocean Wise is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower communities and individuals to take action to protect and restore our worlds oceans.

About Loblaw Companies Limited

Loblaw is a longtime presenting sponsor of the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup, Canada's food and pharmacy leader, and the nation's largest retailer. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, financial services and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,400 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees and Associate-owners employ more than 190,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.

Media contact

Yulu PR

oceanwise@yulupr.com

604.558.1656

CONTACT: Yulu PR oceanwise@yulupr.com 604.558.1656




Two suspects, one of them a juvenile, have been arrested in connection to a shooting in Opelika on Thursday in which a 17-year-old boy was critically wounded, according to a release from the Opelika Police Department.

Police arrested Eric Stenson Jr., 20, of Auburn and a 16-year-old in Columbus on Friday. Both are charged with attempted murder and will be extradited back to Opelika and placed in the Lee County Jail.

In the release, Opelika police thanked citizens who helped with the investigation and the Columbus Police Department and Muscogee County Sheriffs Office, which helped locate the two suspects.

At approximately 3 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to a report of a juvenile who had been shot in the area of Chester Avenue and Easy Street, according to the police report.

Police arrived on the scene and found a 17-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound. The suspects fled the scene before officers arrived.

The teen was transported to Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital in Columbus, where police said he remains in critical condition.

This case remains under investigation and additional charges are pending, police said.

Anyone with information on this incident or the identity of the suspect is asked to contact the Opelika Police Department at 334-705-5200 or the Secret Witness Hotline at 334-745-8665. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Opelika Police Mobile App.
Four historical properties in Opelika and one in Auburn have been added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage this year through the Alabama Historical Commission.

The include Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Ferguson Chapel CME Church, G.W. Carver Hall and St. Luke AME Church, all in Opelika, plus Auburn AME Zion Church.

The African American Heritage Coordinator for the commission, Theo M. Moore II, of Opelika, said adding properties to the registry is an important way of preserving history.

A lot of these properties help tell the story of our local history, especially for African Americans, said Moore, 33. Many of these buildings have been vacant for a while, but it helps tell the story of the community that once was there.

Four of the five buildings added to the registry are churches, which Moore said played a major role in fighting for human and civil rights.

The registry keeps a list of buildings, structures, sites, objects and districts of historical, architectural and archaeological significance in the state.

The Alabama Historical Commission looks at applications four times a year. To be selected, properties must be at least 40 years old, maintain the authenticity of its location and construction, and show what time period it was built.

Just like preserving documents and books and those types of things, it helps us tell how things once were, Moore said. A lot of properties serve that same purpose.

Moore said that architectural style also tells a story. For example, many older buildings in Alabama had tall ceilings so heat would rise to the top and keep people cool during hot weather.

Heres a look at each historic building:

Antioch Missionary Baptist Church

This church, at 605 W.E. Morton Ave. in Opelika, was added to the Alabama Register in August. The congregation still meets at this location for church services.

It was constructed in 1967, and in 1988 the steeple was replaced after the original steeple was destroyed by a lightning strike.

Moore said this church supported surrounding neighborhoods with various events such as food drives, clothes drives and community meetings.

Antioch Baptist Church was first known as the West End Baptist Church in 1888. By 1920, the name changed, and by 1967 the building that still stands today was built.

Auburn AME Zion Church

This church, at 576 Martin Luther King Drive in Auburn, was added to the Alabama Register in August. The congregation still meets at this location for church services.

It was built in 1946 and had some alterations made in 1980.

Auburn AME Zion is the second-oldest African-American congregation in Auburn. The original congregation was organized in 1903 and met at a small building on Cox Street where apartments for college students are now located.

Ferguson Chapel CME Church

This church, at 317 South Fourth Street in Opelika, was added to the Alabama Register in the spring of 2022.

It was constructed in 1899, with a few updates in 1917 and 1957. Its currently vacant.

Ferguson Chapel CME was established under Square Pruitt and his wife, Martha Pruitt. They started with weekly prayer meetings, which transformed into a school for African-American ministers.

Moore said the city had talked about demolishing the building for safety reasons, so the community really wanted this building to be documented. Many locals have fond memories of gospel concerts and meals at the church.

G.W. Carver Hall

This building, at 505 Martin Luther King Blvd. in Opelika, and was added to the Alabama Register in the spring of 2022.

Construction was completed in 1939.

It was known as the East Street School, the annex to the first school in Opelika that served African Americans from 1902 to 1956.

The school consisted of a two-story building with four classrooms on each level. By 1939, the enrollment had grown to 1,000 students, and the school received a grant to add facilities to accommodate this increase in students.

The annex was built on the west side of the existing school building. Inside is an auditorium with 600 seats and three classrooms. This portion of the school is the only building still standing today.

In 1967, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Corporation, a nonprofit veterans service organization, purchased the building and used it as a post. Currently, the building is vacant.

St. Luke AME Church

This church, at 1308 Auburn Street in Opelika, was added to the Alabama Register in the spring of 2022. The congregation still meets at this location for church services.

The building was constructed in 1873, with modifications made in 1960 and 2004.

The first congregation consisted of former slaves, and the first building was made of wooden slabs located between Fitzpatrick Avenue and the Central of Georgia Railroad.
Uzbekistan has embraced the project to improve transport and trade links from Central Asia to Turkey and onward to Europe, on a route that bypasses internationally isolated Russia.

Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and China signed the agreement on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.

China has signed a deal to construct a railroad through Krygyzstan and Uzbekistan that would bypass sanctions-hit Russia.

China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have signed a long-anticipated agreement to push ahead with the construction of a railroad linking their countries that will, if completed, establish a shorter route to Europe, bypassing sanctions-hit Russia. The three governments signed the agreement on September 14 on the sidelines of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Uzbekistan.

The document does not set out a roadmap for construction of the CKU link, which was first mooted a quarter of a century ago but had struggled to get off the ground until Russias invasion of Ukraine breathed new impetus into it.

But it does move the project one step closer to reality, by laying out terms for a feasibility study for the Kyrgyz leg, which is the missing link to connect existing railroads in China and Uzbekistan, to be completed by the first half of 2023.

The news was announced by the transport ministries of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, which signed the agreement with Chinas National Development and Reform Commission.

The costs of the study will be shared equally, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Transport and Communications said.

The ministrys statement appeared to confirm earlier reports that a route has finally been agreed, after years of wrangling.

Kyrgyzstan had pushed for a route that would serve more populated areas further north but appears to have settled on a route restricted to the south, from which it will reap benefits  from job creation for construction of the line and transit fees.

The railroad will begin at Torugart, where there is an existing road crossing from China, and continue north through the settlements of Arpa and Makmal to Jalal-Abad, where it will link up with Uzbekistans rail network.

Makmal is the site of a goldmine operated by a Sino-Kyrgyz joint venture with majority Chinese ownership.

It is here that the gauge will switch from the 1.435-meter track used in China and Europe to the 1.520-meter track used in the former Soviet Union, The Economist reported recently.

The 280-kilometer route will cost $4.1 billion, to be funded either via direct investment or public-private partnership, the newspaper quoted Kyrgyz Transport Minister Erkinbek Osoyev as saying.

Related: Europe Sees Wave Of Multi-Billion-Euro Renewable Energy Investments

The cost estimate is conservative compared to previous estimates of double that for a railroad that will pass through challenging mountainous terrain requiring a series of tunnels  reportedly 90 of them  to be built.

China will also need to build 160 kilometers of track to feed into the new line, according to The Economist.

If ever completed, the new link could continue south through Turkmenistan into Iran and onward to Turkey, the gateway to Europe.

That would shorten the route from China to Europe by 900 kilometers and cut eight days off the travel time, The Economist calculated.

China has cautiously agreed on the need to advance plans to build the railroad, while warning that it will not foot the whole bill.

Uzbekistan has in recent times embraced with zeal a project it sees as part of a grand scheme to improve transport and trade links westward from Central Asia to Turkey and onward to Europe, on a route that bypasses internationally isolated Russia.

By Eurasianet.org

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The meeting underlined how keen Putin and Xi are to forge a new world, though the dynamics of Russia and China's relationship are certainly undergoing a transformation.

During the meeting, Putin made a rare admission that his war has put his ally in a precarious position.

Reeling from a series of defeats in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare admission that there might be some international concerns about his countrys invasion of a neighboring state. He was deferring not to Western concerns but to those that might be harbored by his ally China, whose support he needs to refute claims that Russia is internationally isolated.

Putin made the concession at a face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Uzbekistan. The two are in Samarkand to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on September 16.

We highly value the balanced position of our Chinese friends in connection with the Ukraine crisis, Putin told Xi, according to a readout of the September 15 meeting published by the Kremlin.

We understand your questions and concerns on this account. During today's meeting we will, of course, also explain our position on this matter, although we have previously talked about this.

China has not condemned Moscows aggression in Ukraine, but has blamed the West for stoking tensions. However, it has not provided any sanctions relief to Russia, either.

Putin also railed against provocations by the U.S. and their satellites in the Taiwan Strait, in remarks guaranteed to please his Chinese counterpart.

By contrast, the previous day Xi had appeared to deliver a shot across the bow to Moscow during a visit to Kazakhstan, where he warned that China would not tolerate any encroachment on that countrys sovereignty or territorial integrity.

Putin went on to express confidence in Moscows strategic all-encompassing partnership with Beijing, which the two declared had no limits when they last met in Beijing in February shortly before Putin ordered Russian troops to invade Ukraine.

Undeterred by international criticism over his war, Putin cast their foreign policy tandem, as he put it, as a force for good on the global stage.

We jointly speak out for the formation of a fair, democratic and multipolar world order, based on international law and the central role of the UN, and not on some rules that someone has invented and tries to impose on others, without even explaining what that is, he said in a thinly veiled reference to the U.S.

Related: Putin's Meeting With Xi Highlights Russia's Waning Status On The World Stage

Attempts to create a unipolar world  shorthand for one where Washington calls the shots  had acquired an absolutely monstrous configuration and are absolutely unacceptable to the overwhelming majority of states on the planet.

Xi was more laconic, according to the Kremlin readout, which quoted his remarks in Russian.

In a world undergoing colossal changes, China was ready with our Russian colleagues to show the example of a responsible world power and play a leading role to bring such a fast-changing world onto a trajectory of sustainable and positive development.

The meeting underlined how keen Putin and Xi are to forge a new world order pivoting away from what they consider Western hegemony.

But it also demonstrated how Putins war in Ukraine might test their no-limits partnership. It is no longer a partnership of equals.

By Eurasianet.org

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A 21-year-old man shot a teen in the back twice, killing him, after the teen attempted to steal a bag of marijuana in August, an Omaha police detective testified Friday.

Jordan Humphrey, of Omaha, will stand trial on charges of second-degree murder, use of a firearm, possession of a defaced firearm and tampering with physical evidence.

Prosecutors dismissed a possession with intent to deliver Xanax charge. Two other teens charged with being accessories to a felony had waived their preliminary hearings and will stand trial: Schuyler Buckingham-Yeoman, 18, and Alicia Granneman, 19.

Dayton Wenz, 18, a recent graduate of Omaha Central High School, was fatally shot near 35th and Davenport Streets about 11 p.m. Aug. 6.

Detective Chad Frodyma testified that Wenz and Humphrey had chatted on Instagram about meeting up so that Wenz could purchase marijuana from Humphrey. Frodyma said Humphrey had shared a photo of the marijuana.

The meetup was to be at 35th and Davenport Streets, not far from Wenzs family home, Frodyma said.

Two of Wenzs friends later told police that Wenz told them that he planned to do a rip, which meant grabbing the drugs and running away without paying. The friends said Wenz had successfully done this to someone else once before, Frodyma said.

Despite his friends objections, Wenz told them that he was going to steal the drugs with them or without them, Frodyma said.

Wenz went alone to meet up with Humphrey, who was with his girlfriend Granneman and Buckingham-Yeoman. The three were in a red Honda Accord. Wenz went up to Humphrey on the drivers side while holding a glass bottle of clear liquid. Wenzs friends later said that Wenz planned to offer the liquor as a gift in order to distract Humphrey so he could grab the bag of marijuana.

Humphrey told police that the exchange of the liquor and Wenz grabbing the bag occurred simultaneously.

The marijuana bag ripped, causing it to scatter on the floorboards. Wenz ran away and Buckingham-Yeoman chased after him, while Granneman left the car to provide directions, Frodyma said.

Minutes later, Humphrey fired seven shots at Wenz, Frodyma said. One bullet pierced both of Wenzs lungs, his heart and his liver.

Humphrey told police that he fired shots at Wenz aiming low to the ground.

Detectives tracked down the gun, which had the serial number removed, inside a safe near Buckingham-Yeomans bedroom.

Humphrey remains in the Douglas County Jail, where he is being held without bail.
Photo: BCWS. Flood Falls Wildfire on Sept 10 2022 looking south along Highway 1.

A wildfire burning southwest of Hope is "being held" as of Friday, but crews are continuing to keep a close eye on the hillside over fears parts of it could collapse.

On Sept. 11, the eastbound lanes of Highway 1 were closed through the area of Hope due to a rockfall caused by the out-of-control wildfire.

"The fire had caused some slope instability, resulting in a minor rockfall on the eastbound lane of the highway," the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure told Glacier Media.

In an email to the District of Hope and Fraser Valley Regional District, Glacier Media asked what protocols were being put in place should more rock fall on the highway.

John Fortoloczky, Chief Administrative Officer for the District of Hope, says the regional district will work with all its partners in addressing the situation.

"In regards to rockfall," said Fortoloczky. "We are coordinating with the BC Wildfire Service and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure in assessing the risks.

"Debris and rockfall are current risks and that is why [the Trans Canada Highway] has the southernmost eastbound lane closed to traffic.

All of the evacuations and alerts for the Flood Falls Trail wildfire have been downgraded and fire had burned 545 hectares the last time it was measured.

Once classified as "held," a wildfire is not likely to spread and crews may finish establishing control lines, manage the availability of fuels in the area, and extinguish the fire.

In 2021, an atmospheric river dumped large volumes of water in the region surrounding Hope, triggering flooding and landslides, and destroying homes and parts of the highway.

Fortoloczky said if the risk to landslides changes, road restrictions will be adjusted.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said highway maintenance contractors are required to monitor the conditions of B.C. highways and respond to conditions that are unsafe or have the potential to become unsafe.

Patrols are carried out daily on numbered highways within the Fraser Valley and Hope area.

"The frequency is increased during periods of heavy rainfall, high water flow or rapid snow melt, the ministry spokesperson said in an email.

Alyssa Charbonneau, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, says there has only been minimal rain in the area of Hope.

For Hope, they've only recorded point two millimetres of rain over the past couple of days. Some stations have seen a little bit more, she said.

Rain is expected by tomorrow for the area, followed by mainly cloudy conditions and then a return to sunshine.

Travellers travelling along Highway 1 near Hope are reminded to check DriveBC for the latest conditions.
A Nathan Hale Middle School student has been cited in connection with her role in an altercation on a school bus last month.

The 14-year-old female student was cited Thursday with misdemeanor assault for allegedly punching 11-year-old Shaaban Koussa on an Omaha Public Schools bus on Aug. 26.

The incident took place while the bus was still parked at Nathan Hale around 3 p.m., according to a police report.

Mounia Rhodes, Shaabans aunt, said the female student asked him and another student to move from the bus seat they were in. When he didnt move, Rhodes said the student punched him in the head while pulling his hair, leaving him with a concussion.

Rhodes said the female student started the assault, and even if Shaaban instigated the incident he didnt deserve a concussion, she added.

Now he is scared, she said shortly after the incident. While he is walking he faints because of his concussion and he has bruises and marks on his back.

Chris Humphries, Nathan Hales principal, sent an email following the altercation to the families who had children on the bus at the time.

We take these issues very seriously. The safety of our students and staff is our number one priority, Humphries wrote. We are working with Student Transportation to review the incident. We have also communicated with the families of students involved, and our code of conduct will be applied accordingly.

Shaaban is transferring from Nathan Hale to Beveridge Middle School, Rhodes said. He emigrated from Syria with his parents three years ago.

They are frustrated about the situation because they didnt come to America for this, she said.
Theres only one thing wrong with the tax information on about 230,000 postcards that Douglas County sent this week to property owners  but its a big thing.

The information is about somebody elses property.

A printing company made the mistake that is leaving people all over Omaha feeling dazed and confused. They were calling Douglas County administration and Clerks Office nonstop Friday.

Now the printer and county officials are scrambling to get new, corrected postcards in the mail. The Douglas County Clerks Office created an online worksheet Friday for people who want to try to figure it out themselves sooner.

The green postcards, emblazoned with NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE, went out Wednesday to people in Omaha and the rest of Douglas County. Counties across the Nebraska are required by a new state law to send them out.

The cards must detail how the proposed budgets of major local taxing entities, such as cities and school districts, could affect the specific owners pocketbook in the coming year. The notices also inform people of public hearings, new this year, that are designed to give people more information about the proposed budgets and an extra opportunity to have their say about property taxes.

The information on the postcards about the hearing in Douglas County is correct. It is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Wednesday in the legislative chamber on the second floor of the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center, 1819 Farnam St.

The (meeting) notice is correct, said Patrick Bloomingdale, Douglas Countys chief administrative officer. But when you look at your own information, thats all for somebody elses property.

It might be somebodys house down the street, or somebodys real estate across town, he said. The card might say you own a house in Elkhorn, even though your home is on 50th Street in central Omaha.

Were hurrying to get new cards out by Monday so theyll get out to peoples houses by Wednesday, Bloomingdale said.

The error was made by the printer, FAC Print & Promo Co. of La Vista. A test run looked good, but when the actual cards were printed, they were wrong. The county, which paid $84,000 for the cards, wont have to pay anything for the corrected mailers.

Matthew Tarr, president and owner of FAC, said the error was caused by a computer glitch and was not caught before the cards were printed and sent.

Its very unfortunate, he said. Were embarrassed it happened. Were fixing it.

Meanwhile, Douglas County Clerk Dan Esch said people with internet access can use the Douglas County Joint Public Hearing/Postcard Information link on his offices website to research their own property before the new postcards arrive.

Michael LaCroix was frustrated and mystified by the card that came to his home, near Omahas Memorial Park.

The card listed his assessed value for tax year 2021, and his assessed value for 2022. Both were way off.

How can they get these numbers so wrong? LaCroix wondered.

He didnt even notice initially that the card also listed a real estate parcel number, address and a legal description that arent his, along with the name of a corporation under the heading taxpayer information. When it sunk in that it was somebody elses property information, LaCroix said, What a mess. Theyre trying to do the right thing and follow the letter of the law, and then have this mess.
Before Friday, Omahans Shirley Haase and Jose Puentes had never met. But they have long shared a common and painful bond.

Both lost brothers in combat during the Vietnam War. For decades, neither soldiers remains could be found.

Haases brother, Spc. 5 Don Grella, was killed in a helicopter crash Dec. 28, 1965. Puentes brother, Staff Sgt. Manuel Puentes, died when his patrol was ambushed March 25, 1971.

No body to bury. No coffin to cry over.

Haase and Puentes both worked tirelessly for decades to recover their brothers bodies and see that they were not forgotten.

On Friday, both were among a small crowd of about 50 people who attended a POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at Omahas Memorial Park.

I cant imagine how hard it is for families who dont know the fate of their loved ones, retired Lt. Col. Michael DeBolt, director of Army instruction for the Omaha Public Schools, said during an invocation prayer. We share the pain of our brothers and sisters, and pledge that we will never forget.

The day of remembrance was established by presidential proclamation in 1979, at the urging of families of Vietnam War POW/MIAs, in memory of still-missing service members like Grella and Puentes.

Representatives of several local veterans groups laid wreaths around the Korean/Vietnam War Peace Memorial as a giant American flag fluttered in the stiff breeze between the extended ladder of two Omaha firetrucks.

They were arrayed near a traditional table and empty chair, left for the missing service member.

We do not forget anybody. Nobodys left out, said Fred Tisdale, of Omahas American Legion Post No. 1, who served as master of ceremonies.

The Omaha area is at the center of the effort to identify missing service members, through the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base.

Carrie Brown, the labs manager, spoke to the crowd about its work, which she said, takes us from the mountaintops of the Himalayas to the underwater sites off the coast of Vietnam.

She said more than 81,000 service members are still missing from the years since World War II, including 786 from Nebraska and 1,608 from Iowa. About 39,000 are thought to be recoverable.

About 500 have been identified by the Offutt lab, which opened in June 2013. (The other Defense Department lab is in Hawaii.) So far this year, Offutt has been responsible for 95 of the DPAAs 157 identifications  mostly from the European theater of World War II.

All the cases in our laboratory represent tireless work by our staff to give names back to the unnamed, and to return a loved one home even after decades have passed, Brown said.

The stories of Don Grella and Manuel Puentes have different endings.

Grella was identified in 2009, three years after a local villager led a joint U.S.-Vietnamese investigative team to a helicopter crash site.

Haases family was able to bury him next to his mother in Grellas hometown of Laurel, Nebraska.

Those years when he was missing were really hard. Having him found was a great thing, as good as it was going to get, Haase said.

There has been no closure for the Puentes family. Manuel had 16 siblings, including a twin brother, Richard, who is now 72.

Jose Puentes was 17 when his brother went missing.

It didnt hit me right away. But maybe a year later, I was crying a lot. It really hit me hard, Puentes said.

With no grave to visit, his family planted a tree in Manuels memory at Pawnee Elementary School in Bellevue. It still stands.

Puentes is grateful that veterans still gather here to remember his brother and other MIAs.

I see them as my family. I see them as my brother, he said. These are my heroes.

Haase, too, said ceremonies like this one are meaningful to the families of those who never came home.

Its good to know people are still thinking about him, she said. Just because hes here, and buried, hes not forgotten.
WASHINGTON (AP)  A long-delayed plan to dismantle Interstate 375, a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) depressed freeway in Detroit that was built by demolishing Black neighborhoods 60 years ago, was a big winner of federal money Thursday, the first Biden administration grant awarded to tear down a racially divisive roadway.

The $104.6 million is among $1.5 billion in transportation grants handed out to 26 projects nationwide thanks to increased funding from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law.

It allows Michigan to move forward on its $270 million effort to transform the stretch in Detroit into a street-level boulevard, reconnecting surrounding neighborhoods and adding amenities, such as bike lanes. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has said he would make racial justice a priority in his department's funding awards, pledging wide-ranging help to communities. Black Bottom and Paradise Valley, two of the city's predominantly African American neighborhoods, were razed as part of the 1950s creation of an interstate highway system, displacing 100,000 Black residents and erecting a decades-long barrier between the downtown and communities to the east.

Hailed by city and state leaders as helping rectify a past racial wrong, the federal money represents a key first step that advocacy groups say will inspire dozens of citizen-led efforts underway in other cities to dismantle highways.

Still, advocates cautioned that Michigan's plan to build a six-lane city boulevard risks simply replacing one busy roadway with another. Some long-time Black residents, meanwhile, worry they could be priced out of the city by new business development and shiny condo buildings that promise direct links to downtown.

After years of planning dating back to 2013, the highway removal is now estimated to begin as soon as 2025, two years earlier than expected, with construction finished by 2028.

This stretch of I-375 cuts like a gash through the neighborhood, one of many examples I have seen in communities across the country where a piece of infrastructure has become a barrier, Buttigieg told The Associated Press. He joined Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan later Thursday in Detroit along with several Black residents to highlight the grant.

With these funds, we're now partnering with the state and the community to transform it into a road that will connect rather than divide," Buttigieg said.

Other winners Thursday of the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America, or INFRA, grants include $32.5 million for Flagstaff, Arizona, to build pedestrian underpasses to reconnect lower-income neighborhoods isolated by a 1-mile segment of railroad to downtown; $100 million to Clear Creek County, Colorado, for upgrades to 8 miles of the I-70 Mountain Corridor, including electric vehicle charging stations; $110 million to New York to expand refrigerated warehouse space at its Hunts Point food distribution center; and $70 million to improve rail track in Chicago.

Detroit's project would create a slower-speed boulevard that aims to improve safety by removing a steep curve and adding LED lighting, while removing 15 old bridges and two stormwater runoff pump stations and building out wider sidewalks, protected bike lanes and pedestrian crossings.

Whitmer had originally sought as much as $180 million in federal money for the project. Because that would have been a tall order under the Biden administration's Reconnecting Communities pilot program, which was funded by Congress at just $1 billion over five years, Buttigieg's Department of Transportation opted to award $104 million to Michigan under the federal INFRA discretionary grant program, which has a bigger total pot of $8 billion over five years.

Christopher Coes, assistant secretary for transportation policy, said the Detroit grant reflected Buttigieg's pledge to make Reconnecting Communities a broad principle of his department  not just a single program  with many efforts underway. Money under that specific $1 billion pilot will be awarded late this year or early next.

Ben Crowther, advocacy manager for America Walks and coordinator for the Freeway Fighters Network, praised the new federal grant. While there are over 50 grassroots efforts around the country aimed at removing or repurposing highways, only three cities  Detroit, Syracuse, New York and Somerville, Massachusetts  have demolition plans that are shovel-ready, making them prime candidates for federal funding.

"The fact the Detroit project is now moving forward really speaks to the priorities that U.S. DOT has set for reconnecting communities that are trickling down to the state level," Crowther said. While community debate will likely continue over the best design and whether a six-lane boulevard is a good approach, he said, the new federal focus on equity is a lot of inspiration for local groups for that reason alone.

Still, some Black residents worry the new boulevard could only create more problems.

Sam Riddle, political director of the Michigan National Action Network and a longtime resident of the area, says to truly address racial inequity, city officials need to take a more holistic approach to improving Black livelihood, such as building affordable housing.
A former Headmistress of Mpohor Senior High School in the Western Region, Mrs Alberta Crossie Quayson, on Tuesday, challenged the Auditor-Generals report which prescribed she is sanctioned for the payment of GH38,492.00, representing sale of school materials.



She claimed the said amount, was used for emergencies and other expenses and could provide honourary receipts for verification.



Mrs Quayson, now headmistress of Axim Girls Catholic Senior High School, made the claims on Tuesday, at the second day of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sitting in Takoradi to consider the AGs report on pre-university educational institutions for the financial year which ended December 31, 2019.



The report noted that the storekeeper, Mrs Georgina Van-Ess sold school vests, tracksuits, lacoste T-shirts and khaki trousers worth GH38,492 to students of Mpohor Senior High and gave the proceeds to Mrs Quayson.



However, she could not account for the amount in violation of section 46 of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act, 2016, Act 921.



It, therefore, recommended that Mrs Quayson should be made to refund the said amount to the school and be sanctioned as required under the law.



The AGs report mentioned that Mrs Quayson collected unapproved sanitation fees of GH15.00 per semester from 1,085 students amounting to GH32,550, which were not accounted for, adding that, the said money was directly paid to the former headmistress and did not keep any records in school books of accounts.



The headmistress disregard to policies and directives from the Ministry of Education on fee paying caused the irregularities. She, therefore, misappropriated school funds of GH32,550 and should be sanctioned as required by the PFM Act.



Testifying, Mrs Quayson told the PAC I didnt collect any money, Mr Chairman, I dont know what is happening. Its terrible. The bursar concocted and engineered all the allegations.



She argued that, when she got to the school there were huge debts and so the GH38,492 became an Internal Generated Fund (IGF) used for emergencies including purchase of gas and transportation of students to Takoradi for medical care.



That money, she explained, was sent to the bank for use by the school.



Asked by PAC Chairman, Dr James Klutse Avedzi, about the legal basis of the transactions, Mrs Quayson, however, could not justify it.



Dr Avedzi replied that Mrs Quayson could have written a letter to the Regional Director or the Regional Accountant for an advice on the transactions.



You presented the documents after auditing, then you are telling lies and not speaking the truth. Did you give the document on the day of auditing, you are changing the answers, he noted,



He stressed This is enough to show you infringed upon the law. How did the auditor know the money was given to you? Well flag this side of the story and wait for the District Auditor, so clerk takes note.



Continuing, Mrs Quayson said, she wrote to the Regional Director of Education that the bursar should be changed, saying that it was the parents association which used the GH32,550.



She stressed This was a parents association levy. I did not collect the amount, and there is evidence that the PTA collected the money.



Contributing to the enquiry, Deputy Minister of Education, Gifty Twum Ampofo, told the Committee that, with the introduction of Free SHS policy, Parents-Teacher Associations (PTAs)were replaced with parents association which exacted and collected fees during their meetings.



She said, The parents themselves agree on what they want to do for the school, and what money they collect and what to use for. The school authorities do not play any role inthe collection of the fees.



So as of now, theres no guideline on how the parent association collect money from the parent and how to spend it.We just assume that this is a private business and has nothing to do with government or the ministry, Dr Avedzi replied.



A member of the committee submitted I believe there is relations issue, partners were not on good term, and the bursar must come so that we get both sides of the matter.

Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh









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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Ghana has declared that the recent outbreak of the Marburg virus is now over after 42 days without anybody testing positive.



The authorities first alerted the public to the outbreak of the highly infectious disease, which is related to Ebola, in July after two deaths were recorded. One of those later turned out to have been incorrectly diagnosed.



In all, three people contracted the virus and there were two fatalities: a father and his 14-month-old child. The third person - the mother - recovered and last tested positive in August.



Almost 200 contacts of the three infected people had been followed up but none had any symptoms.



"Ghana is safe," Ghana Health Service Director General Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye told journalists in Accra on Friday.



He went on to thank the World Health Organization and other partners who helped the country deal with the outbreak.



"Despite having no previous experience with the disease, Ghana's response has been rapid and robust," the AFP news agency quotes WHO Africa head Dr Matshidiso Moeti as saying.



This was the second time that Marburg has been identified in West Africa.



There was one confirmed case in Guinea last year, but that outbreak was declared over in September, five weeks after the case was discovered.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Wa Regional Police Command has beefed up security in the municipality to ensure the safety of all persons.



On September 16, 2022, some residents of Wa in the Upper West Region demonstrated to express their displeasure over the recent alleged killings and kidnapping of some residents in the region.



The information available to DGN Online indicates that from 2021 to 2022, a total of 9 persons have been allegedly murdered /kidnapped in the region under some strange circumstances.



The youth marched to the Wa Naas palace to seek his intervention.



They burnt tyres at vantage locations in the Wa Municipality to demand justice from the Regional Security Council and leaders in the region to apprehend the suspects engaged in the murders/kidnapping.



The youth were however dispersed with tear gas from the police to prevent any unforeseen circumstances.



A statement signed by Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Chief Superintendent of Police Director, Public Affairs, stated that a special purpose investigation and intelligence teams as well as additional police visibility and crime teams have been deployed to Wa under the leadership of the Director-General of Operations.



The Ghana Police Service assured the public that they will continue to work towards ensuring the safety and security of all persons across the country.



Abduction in Wa



The first issue occurred on April 17. 2022 at High Ranking International School, he was killed with parts missing.



A man was also found buried with parts missing at T.I Ahmadiyya JHS on Bamahu Stretch.



A security man who was employed to oversee two-story buildings was also found dead with parts missing including his heart according to the Police Commander.



Another security man was declared missing by the police along the Nakore Road on August 23, 2022. Name Yahaya Alhassan, aged 68.



On Friday September 9 2022 another victim at Child Support Ghana Orphanage Home, escaped death narrowly after a woman shouted.



On Sunday, September 11, 2022 at Star Standards International School within Napogebakoleea victim was kidnapped and has not been found.



Incidents In 2021



In February 2021, a man by name Kojo Kunta AKA Ogyam was killed in front of Info Radio.



Another man was also killed between Loho and Kaleo on 31st August 2022.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.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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Morocco and Nigeria have signed an agreement to build a major pipeline transporting gas from southeast Nigeria and across the Sahara - going through 13 African countries.



The 7,000km (4,300-mile) link - originating from Brass Island - will connect with the Maghreb European Pipeline in northern Morocco.



Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) boss Mele Kyari told the signing ceremony in Rabat that the project will improve living standards and mitigate desertification in West Africa.



Last November, Algeria stopped using a pipeline that goes through Morocco to Spain, depriving the Moroccans of both gas and transit fees.



In a statement, the NNPC said the project will also supply gas to West African countries and provide a new export route to Europe.



Its expected to supply about three billion cubic feet of gas per day. But its not yet clear when the project will be completed.



The signing of the agreement comes at a time of a worsening global energy crisis, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. European countries have been seeking ways to reduce their dependence on Russian gas.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Communications Director of the Ghana Water Company (GWCL), Stanley Martey says Ghana may have to import large quantities of water soon if the countrys major water bodies are continuously polluted through illegal mining activities.



According to him, the impact of illegal mining on the countrys major water bodies has increased GWCLs operational cost, as it has to increase the quantity of chemicals used in the treatment of water for production, due largely to high turbidity levels.



In an interview with the DAILY GUIDE, he said the companys assessment has revealed that none of the water bodies in the country has been spared with illegal mining activities, popularly called galamsey.



He stated that if the situation persists without a pragmatic approach by all Ghanaians to support the campaign against illegal mining, Ghanaians would have no option than to import water for consumption.



I have mentioned it several times that we cant say we wont have water in the future, what we are saying is that if the rate at which our river bodies is been polluted continue as it is now, our water bodies will go extinct and there will be no water for treatment, our equipment will be there and we wouldnt have water to consume, and when it so happens what do we do, we have to import.



For instance, when we shut down our Daboase treatment plant and the people of Sekondi-Takoradi were not getting water, they were importing water from Accra and other regions, he said.



Mr. Martey also gave a vivid account of some of the water bodies which have been polluted without any recourse to the implications.



Galamsey is going on in the Black Volta in Upper West Region and in the Northern Region, sand winning is going on in Dallon in the Nawuni River where we extract water for treatment.



The Odaso River in Obuasi is also seriously polluted due to galamsey, to the extent that it is affecting the volumes of water we were producing for Obuasi. In the Western Region, Bonsa, Pra which serves Sekondi-Takoradi is seriously polluted due to these galamsey. The levels of water went down and the little left was so turbid so we couldnt extract and treat the water, and so we had to shut down.



Hemang in the Central Region and others had the same challenge. Others include Birim and Osino, among others, he disclosed.



He explained that though the Volta River is the least polluted water body in the country, it has also been polluted in recent times as result of fish farming and severe acquatic weeds which are affecting the companys treatment plant at Kpong in the Greater Accra Region.



Barekese is not seriously polluted but tributaries to Barekese are polluted as a result of galamsey, so almost all major river bodies are being polluted.



Weija is being polluted by industrial affluent, refuse and farming activities along the river banks, and its affecting all our production process, he added.



He said his outfit engages communities located around the river bodies on how illegal mining was threatening the human and environmental well-being of Ghanaians, but all these appear to be falling on deaf ears.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Deputy Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Adumua-Bossman, has asked the police to arrest and impound any vehicle embossed with Office of the President stickers.



This follows the arrest of a foreign national identified as Ghaadour Hishan-Hassaan. Hassaan was detained by the police at Accra Airport for driving a vehicle with an unauthorized sticker of the Office of the President on it.



In a text sent during Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' Mr Bossman wrote: "Jubilee House and for that matter, the presidency does not give stickers to any official. We have a way of coding our vehicles which I shall not disclose for security reasons. Please in the name of the constitution's letter, the police should arrest and impound any vehicle which bears any sticker purporting to be from the office of the President; no matter the status or office of the occupants of such vehicles"



Kwami Sefa Kayi, host of the programme, read the text:





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Founder and Leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Kofi Akpaloo has agreed with Lawyer for embattled Galamsey kingpin Aisha Huang that "the issue is being overhyped"



According to Nkrabea Effah Dartey, my worry is that the media has overhyped this small matter of mining without a license and doing mineral sales without license. It's a small matter, it happens every day in Ghana. So I don't see why the media should even write an editorial on this matter. And it is that which is creating the problem and giving all manner of insecurity to the issue



Kofi Akpaloo, speaking on Kumasi-based Hello FM, said the media is dwelling too much on Aisha Haung.



"This is being blown out of proportion, this is a minor case...we are spending too much time on minor issues. why are we dwelling so much on Aisha Haung" he indicated.





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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UCSC researchers analyzed two rock samples collected in Eastern Antarctica in which alternating layers of calcite and opal reflect cyclic changes in the subglacial environment. Sample MA113 is 9 centimeters thick and comes from Mount Achernar Moraine on the side of Law Glacier. Credit: Gavin Piccione

By analyzing unusual rock samples collected years ago in Antarctica, scientists at the University of California, Santa Cruz, have discovered a remarkable record of how the East Antarctic Ice Sheet has responded to changes in climate over a period of 100,000 years during the Late Pleistocene.

The East Antarctic Ice Sheet is the world's largest ice mass. Understanding its sensitivity to climate change is crucial for efforts to project how much sea level will rise as global temperatures increase. Recent studies suggest it may be more vulnerable to ice loss than previously thought.

The new study, published September 15 in Nature Communications, provides evidence of changes at the base of the ice sheet over a broad area in response to cyclic changes in climate during the Pleistocene. The changes are reflected in the types of minerals deposited at the base of the ice sheet.

"One of the key findings is that the ice sheet was responding to temperature changes in the Southern Ocean," said coauthor Terrence Blackburn, associate professor of Earth and planetary sciences at UC Santa Cruz. "The warm water eats at the edges of the ice sheet and causes the ice to flow faster, and that response reaches deep into the heart of the ice sheet."

The rock samples analyzed in the study consist of alternating layers of opal and calcite that formed as mineral deposits at the base of the ice sheet, recording cyclic changes in the composition of subglacial fluids.

"Each layer in these samples is a manifestation of a change at the base of the ice sheet driven by changes in the motion of the ice streams," said first author Gavin Piccione, a Ph.D. candidate working with Blackburn at UCSC.

By dating the layers, the researchers found a striking correlation between the layers of mineral deposits and the record of polar sea surface temperatures derived from ice cores. The opal was deposited during cold periods, and the calcite during warm periods.

"These climate oscillations are causing changes in ice sheet behavior such that the chemistry and hydrology beneath the ice is changing," said coauthor Slawek Tulaczyk, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences at UCSC who has been studying the behavior of ice sheets and glaciers for decades.

The climate cycles that match the mineral layers are relatively small fluctuations that occur every few thousand years within the more pronounced glacial-interglacial cycles that occurred every 100,000 years or so throughout the Pleistocene. The glacial-interglacial cycles are driven primarily by changes in Earth's orbit around the sun. The smaller millennial-scale climate cycles involve oscillations in polar temperatures driven by weakening and strengthening of a major ocean current (the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC) which transports large amounts of heat northward through the Atlantic Ocean.

Tulaczyk said the new findings reveal the Antarctic Ice Sheet's sensitivity to small, short-term climate fluctuations.

"As important as the Antarctic Ice Sheet isit's responsible for close to 17 meters of sea level rise since the last glacial maximumwe really know very little about how it has responded to climate variability," he said. "We know the last 20,000 years pretty well, but beyond that we've been almost blind. That's why these results are so mind-blowing. People have been banging their heads against the wall over this for decades."

Sample PRR50489 is 3 centimeters thick and was found at Elephant Moraine in the Transantarctic Mountains. Credit: Gavin Piccione

The two rock samples analyzed for this study were collected from glacial moraines separated by more than 900 kilometers (560 miles), and they formed over different periods covering a total of more than 100,000 years. In other words, they record similar cycles of mineral deposition beneath the ice occurring over a broad area and over long periods of time.

"The chemistry of the two samples matched, even though they came from so far apart, which gave us confidence that some large-scale, systematic process was going on," Piccione said.

The mechanism behind the formation of layers of opal and calcite is a bit complicated and requires an understanding of not only mineral chemistry but also the unusual hydrology beneath the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Heat from Earth's interior ("geothermal heating") causes melting at the base of the ice sheet, which is insulated from frigid polar temperatures by the thickness of the ice. Where the ice gets thinner toward the margins of the ice sheet, subglacial meltwater begins to refreeze, concentrating dissolved minerals and eventually forming hypersaline brines.

Mineral deposits form as the water becomes concentrated by refreezing, and the first thing to precipitate is calcite, the most common form of calcium carbonate. Opal (amorphous silica) will eventually precipitate from older, supersaturated brines that don't have any carbon left in them.

"Antarctica has these interesting brines with no carbon in them, because it all precipitated out earlier, so when those brines are isolated from other sources of water they form opal," Piccione explained.

To get a layer of calcite on top of the opal requires an influx of carbon-containing glacial meltwater, which occurs during warm intervals in the climate cycles, when the AMOC slows down. That leads to warming in the Southern Hemisphere and brings warm water into contact with the floating ice shelves at the edges of the ice sheet. As the warm water eats away at the bottom of the ice shelves, the "grounding line" where the ice contacts land begins to retreat and ice flows more rapidly from the interior out to the edges.

Tulaczyk explained that the motion of the ice over the bedrock generates heat, increasing the amount of meltwater at the base of the ice sheet. "If you imagine a map of where there is meltwater under the ice sheet, that area expands in warm periods and contracts in cold periods, like a heartbeat," he said.

The resulting "freeze-flush cycles" at the base of the ice account for the alternating layers of opal and calcite in the rocks.

The findings point to water temperatures in the Southern Ocean as the main mechanism driving the response of the Antarctic Ice Sheet to changes in the global climate. Temperatures in Antarctica are so cold that a few degrees of warming won't cause surface melting of the ice, yet scientists know the ice sheet has melted in the past and parts of it have collapsed, Blackburn said. "It's been hard to understand, but this shows clearly that ocean warming is the driving mechanism," he said.

"If you look at the places that are losing ice today, they are concentrated along the edges of the ice sheet where it is in contact with the warming ocean," Tulaczyk added. "The primary driver of ocean warming now is atmospheric carbon dioxide, not the AMOC, but I don't think the ice sheet cares what causes the warming."

Tulaczyk said the findings do show that the ice sheet can retreat during warm periods and then recover during subsequent cooling. "In the context of the threshold questionis the ice sheet sitting on a threshold beyond which there would be runaway melting and it will all gothat's not what I see here," he said. "The ice is sensitive to these short-term fluctuations, but the magnitude of ice loss is small enough that it can recover with cooling."

Explore further New study shows retreat of East Antarctic ice sheet during previous warm periods

More information: Gavin Piccione et al, Subglacial precipitates record Antarctic ice sheet response to late Pleistocene millennial climate cycles, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications Gavin Piccione et al, Subglacial precipitates record Antarctic ice sheet response to late Pleistocene millennial climate cycles,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33009-1
A sulphur-crested cockatoo navigates a block on a bin lid. Credit: Barbara Klump

Australia's crafty, sulphur-crested cockatoos appear to have entered an "innovation arms race" with humans, scientists say, as the two species spar over the rubbish in roadside bins.

The white birds, which can grow nearly as long as a human arm, initially surprised researchers by devising an ingenious technique to prise open household bin lids in Sydney and other areas.

Now, a new study says they have gone a step further by thwarting the escalating defences of fed-up humans.

The birds' and humans' behaviour may reveal a hitherto unexplored "interspecies innovation arms race", said a study published Monday in Current Biology.

Nestled between a forest and a surf-swept beach and bordered by cliffs, the picturesque town of Stanwell Park near Sydney is on the front line of the battle of the bins.

"If we don't close the bin right after throwing out the rubbish they'll be in there," said Ana Culic, 21, manager of the town's Loaf Cafe.

"Cockatoos everywhere. Like, just rubbish all over the front area."

Her own family had tried scaring cockatoos away with owl statues to no avail. Then they tried placing bricks on the bin lids, but the cockatoos learned to remove them. Finally, they drilled a lock into the bin.

"They're evolving. Yeah, like if you go back like five-ten years ago, they didn't know how to open bins so they're figuring stuff out," said the cafe's chef, 42-year-old Matt Hoddo.

Sulphur-crested cockatoo successfully pushes off a brick to open the lid of a household waste bin. Credit: Barbara Klump/Current Biology

Flipping the lid

Nearby, 40-year-old resident Skie Jones said he had resorted to an elastic cord to hold down the lid of his household bin after the birds worked out how to remove a brick and then a larger rock.

"I have got a feeling I am going to be going for an actual lock," he said. "That's only a matter of time."

Frequent sightings reveal that a single cockatoo can open a bin by holding the lid aloft with its beak while standing near the front edge.

Then, with the bin lid still in its beak, it shuffles backward toward the hinge, forcing the lid ever higher until it flips open.

The scientists found in an earlier study that knowledge of this technique spread as other birds looked on, creating local "traditions".

Their new research shows that humans, frustrated at having their garbage spread across the street, learned to adapt. But then so did the cockatoos.

"When we first started looking at this behaviour, we were already amazed because actually the cockatoos learned how to open the bins," said the study's lead author Barbara Klump, a behavioural scientist at the Max Plank Institute in Germany.

As humans responded, though, "I was really astonished by how many different methods people have invented," she said.

As the cockatoos learned to defeat some of the humans' protections, the two species appeared to be engaged in a "stepwise progression and reiteration", said the postdoctoral research fellow.

"That was the most interesting part for me."

In a census of 3,283 bins, the latest study found that some cockatoos could defeat low-level protections such as rubber snakes, which could be ignored, or bricks, which could be pushed off.

So far, though, the cockatoos had not managed to overcome stronger methods such as a weight actually attached to the lid or an object stuck into the hinge to prevent the bin fully opening.

"Bricks seemed to work for a while but cockies got too clever," one resident told the researchers in an online survey that attracted more than 1,000 participants.

'Rats of the sky'

Who is winning the arms race?

"I think ultimately it will be the humans," said Klump.

"But we need to see how it develops," she added, explaining that it was easy to underestimate the work involved for humans in protecting their bins every week, with some people already relaxing their guard when cockatoo activity decreased.

The interspecies bin struggle is unlikely to lead to a new breed of even cleverer cockatoo, however.

"They have a certain capacity to problem solve, and we know they are super curious and they like to explore," Klump said. "But I don't think that protecting the bins will in itself then make the cockatoos smarter."

Despite the annoyance, many residents in Stanwell Park say they have a soft spot for the birds.

"We call them the rats of the sky because they just love food," said Katherine Erskine, 48, owner of the town's Uluwatu Blue cafe.

"They are beautiful and they're really noisybut I do love them."

Explore further In Australia, cockatoos and humans are in an arms race over garbage access

More information: Is bin-opening in cockatoos leading to an innovation arms race with humans?, Current Biology (2022). www.cell.com/current-biology/f  0960-9822(22)01285-4 Journal information: Current Biology Is bin-opening in cockatoos leading to an innovation arms race with humans?,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.08.008

 2022 AFP
SARATOGA SPRINGS  A Ballston Spa man was sentenced on Friday to 8 to 16 years in prison for a robbery spree in Saratoga Springs.

Justin P. Rock, 37, robbed three businesses in a single day  two of them less than 10 minutes. The incident started on Feb. 19 in Saratoga Springs, when Rock robbed the XtraMart at 154 South Broadway at 1:45 a.m.; the I Love NY Pizza at 26 Congress St. at 4:22 p.m.; and Post Time Wine & Spirits at 170 South Broadway at 4:30 p.m.

Police said Rock walked into each business, implied he had a gun and demanded cash. He did not display any weapon. No force was used.

He also robbed Midtown Wine & Spirits in Ballston Spa on Feb. 21.

Rock pleaded guilty in Saratoga County Court in July to four felony counts of third-degree robbery. He received a sentence of 2 to 4 years in prison on each count, which are to be served consequently. He also must pay full restitution to the victims.

Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen thanked police for the quick, diligent and thorough work gathering evidence for the case.

Because of the experience of law enforcement involved, they were able to apprehend Justin Rock before he could harm anyone else. Given the wealth of evidence they obtained, we were able to bring about a resolution we deemed just for someone with Rocks significant history, she said in a news release.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joseph Frandino together with District Attorney Investigator Jack Barney.
QUEENSBURY  A Queensbury man was sentenced in Warren County Court on Friday to 20 years in state prison for sexually abusing a child over the course of at least three years.

Zachary A. Mead, 31, had pleaded guilty in May to one felony count of first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child.

Mead was arrested in May 2020, after the Warren County Sheriffs Office received a report of a sexual assault. Police had brought in Child Protective Services to assist in the investigation. The victim was transported to Glens Falls Hospital for an evaluation and was later interviewed at the Glens Falls-based Warren-Washington County Care Center, which provides support services for victims of child abuse or neglect. The victim provided information about the sexual assault.

The relationship between Mead and the victim was not disclosed.

Mead had pleaded guilty as jury selection was under way for his trial. He later attempted to withdraw his plea, but Judge Robert Smith denied his request.

Warren County District Attorney Jason Carusone praised the work of Assistant District Attorney Benjamin Smith and First Assistant District Matthew Burin, who prosecuted the case. Carusone also complimented the Warren and Washington Counties CARE Center for working with the victim and the investigative efforts of the Warren County Sheriffs Office.

This case was protracted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and yet the victim and her family remained strong throughout the process. This sentence holds the defendant accountable and serves to protect the community from this sexual predator, Carusone said in a news release.

Mead will be required to register as a sex offender and a sample of his DNA will be entered into the New York State DNA database.
ATHENS, Greece  Irene Papas, the Greek actress and recording artist renowned for her dramatic performances and austere beauty that earned her prominent roles in Hollywood movies as well as in French and Italian cinema over six decades has died. She was 93.

The Greek Culture Ministry confirmed her death Wednesday.

Magnificent, majestic, dynamic, Irene Papas was the personification of Greek beauty on the cinema screen and on the theater stage, an international leading lady who radiated Greekness, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said in a statement. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described her as a source of admiration and inspiration to generations of Greeks.

Papas became known internationally following performances in The Guns of Navarone in 1961 and Zorba the Greek in 1964, acting alongside Hollywood stars Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn. In all, she starred in more than 50 movies.

Born Irene Lelekou in the mountainous village of Chiliomodi, Papas was the daughter of two schoolteachers. Her father also taught drama.

She left home at 18 to marry Greek film director Alkis Papas despite her familys disapproval. They divorced four years later. After the death of American Actor Marlon Brando in 2004, Papas revealed in an Italian newspaper interview that the two had been romantically involved.

A supporter of the Greek Communist Party, Papas was a vocal opponent of the military dictatorship that governed the country between 1967 and 1974 and lived much for life outside Greece, including in Rome and New York.

Papas was also known for her appearance in ancient Greek tragedies. Many of her iconic international movie roles were earned portraying Greek characters. But she also starred with Kirk Douglas in the 1968 crime drama Brotherhood and with James Cagney in the 1956 Western Tribute to a Bad Man.

Greek arts institutions thanked Papas for her support for younger actors. The Athens-based Greek Film Center described her as The greatest Greek international film star, adding: Her image is a timeless imprint of Greek female beauty.

Papas publicly joked that she was often quoted as being three years older than her actual age. She started a 2004 interview with Greek state television by saying, I was born on Sept. 3, 1929. All the papers are there in Chiliomodi, which is located near the southern Greek city of Corinth.
Five former Paterson, New Jersey police officers have been sentenced in federal court as part of a long-running corruption investigation. The five had all pleaded guilty and received sentences ranging from probation to 24 months in prison. The probe focused on officers who allegedly used excessive force, filed false reports and stole thousands of dollars in cash from people after illegally stopping and searching their vehicles. In May, former Paterson police sergeant Michael Cheff was convicted of a civil rights violation and filing a false report at a trial in which several officers testified against him. His sentencing is scheduled for Monday.
A former teacher for the Rock Island-Milan School District was sentenced Friday to three years on probation after a Rock Island County jury convicted him in June for sexually abusing a student.

During a sentencing hearing Friday in Rock Island County Circuit Court, Patrick J. Noya, 46, also was ordered by Rock Island County Circuit Associate Judge Norma Kauzlarich to have the remaining portion of his fine and court costs of $2,464 paid by Oct. 28.

In the charging documents, Rock Island County authorities alleged that on Nov. 5, 2018, Noya, a high school teacher at the time, fondled a girl student who was at least 13 but younger than 18, and prevented her from leaving a classroom and showed her videos of sexual conduct.

Authorities charged Noya with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a person between the ages of 13 and 18. Both of those charges are a Class 2 felony under Illinois law that carry a prison sentence of 3-7 years or a term on probation.

Noya also was charged with unlawful restraint, a Class 4 felony that carries a prison sentence of 1-3 years or a term on probation, and distributing harmful material to a minor, a Class A misdemeanor that carries a jail sentence of up to one year.

After a five-day trial in circuit court, a Rock Island County jury on June 10 convicted Noya on all counts.

Officials learned about the allegations on Nov. 6, 2018, a day after the acts occurred. Noya was put on leave, and the Rock Island Police and Illinois Department of Children and Family Services were notified. Noya was banned from the property and fired Nov. 26, 2018.

Noya had been with the district since at least 2016.

Rock Island County prosecutors filed the charges against Noya in November 2019.

During Fridays sentencing hearing, Noyas attorney made a motion for a new trial, or, alternatively, for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. After listening to the arguments from both the defense and prosecutors, Kauzlarich denied the motion and the case proceeded to sentencing.
CHICAGO  Two Chicago police officers face felony charges for allegedly shooting and seriously wounding an unarmed man during a July shootout on the city's southwest side that also wounded a second man, authorities said Friday.

Sgt. Christopher Liakopoulos, 43, and Officer Ruben Reynoso, 42, have been charged with one count each of aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm and official misconduct, said Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx.

Foxx said the officers were relieved of their police powers on Thursday before they turned themselves in to authorities. Both were slated to appear for a Friday afternoon bond court hearing, she said.

It wasn't immediately clear if the officers have attorneys who could speak on their behalf.

Foxx said both officers "are being charged with having fired their shots" that wounded an unarmed 23-year-old man on July 22 in the city's Pilsen neighborhood. That man has since recovered and is cooperating with the investigation, she said.

"The victim who was shot and injured in this incident was not in possession of a weapon, nor did he fire a weapon at these two officers," Foxx said during a news conference.

After the shooting, police said in a statement that two officers who had observed four people loitering in front of a closed store stopped to investigate and identified themselves as police.

Police said one of the four in the group then displayed a handgun and an exchange of gunfire ensued in which the 23-year-old man suffered gunshot wounds and was transported to a hospital in serious condition. A 36-year-old man who was passing by suffered a graze wound to the leg and was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.

Foxx said that based on a review of the evidence, including video surveillance footage, prosecutors believe "the officers involved in this incident did not have provocation or justification to shoot the unarmed" 23-year-old man.

Foxx did not provide some of the details about what transpired, including whether the person who allegedly showed the officers a handgun actually fired on them, whether that person was arrested afterward and whether the wounded 23-year-old man was among the group police approached in front of the store. She said further details would read out during or after the bond hearing.

"The evidence does not support the use of deadly force related to the shooting of the unarmed victim, and was not lawful," Foxx said.

After the shooting, Foxx said, the two officers "made representations to legal authorities, including the Cook County state's attorney's office, that was directly contradicted by the videotaped evidence."

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the shooting and has a deadline of Sept. 22 to release materials related to the shooting, including videos, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
CHICAGO  Democratic Will County States Attorney James Glasgow filed a lawsuit Friday against Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other top state Democrats alleging that they violated the states constitution when they pushed through sweeping criminal justice reforms last year.

The lawsuit from Glasgow, an outspoken critic of the 764-page Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today law, or SAFE-T Act, comes less than four months before several provisions of the year-and-a-half-old law, including a controversial measure to abolish cash bail, go into effect on Jan. 1.

The suit was filed as Pritzker, who signed the legislation into law February 2021, faces a contentious reelection bid on Nov. 8 against Republican challenger Darren Bailey, a state senator from downstate Xenia who is seeking to repeal the SAFE-T Act.

The other defendants include Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch and Senate President Don Harmon. Kankakee County Democratic States Attorney Jim Rowe filed a separate lawsuit Friday against top Democrats, also alleging the passage of the law violates the state constitution.

The SAFE-T Act was meant to create a more fair court system and promote police accountability. Proponents say the elimination of cash bail addresses a long-standing problem that keeps poor defendants, mostly people of color, locked up while awaiting trial because they dont have the means to make bail.

Starting Jan. 1, judges will weigh several factors, including the threat a defendant poses to the public, in deciding what defendants must remain in custody.

But Glasgow and the laws other opponents worry the no-cash bail provision will weaken police and embolden criminals. On Friday, Glasgow said in a statement that his suit is not about politics; it is about public safety.

Glasgow has been accused of spreading misinformation about the SAFE-T Act, particularly by claiming that murder suspects currently in custody will automatically be released when the no-cash bail policy goes into effect.

Sadly, I have received veiled threats over my opposition to this legislation, but I must put the safety of my constituents first, Glasgow said in his statement Friday. On this issue, Ill grab a line from (the late rock star) Tom Petty  You can stand me up at the gates of Hell, and I wont back down.

Glasgows 25-page lawsuit alleges Democrats violated several sections of the state constitution, including its separation of powers clause, according to his office. The suit also alleges that the SAFE-T Act violates other laws, including one pertaining to the right to have the safety of the victim and the victims family considered in denying or fixing the amount of bail.

Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh on Friday called the lawsuit a weak attempt to protect an outdated system that lets murder suspects and others accused of violence pay their way out of jail.

The SAFE-T Act not only prevents that from happening, but also provides law enforcement officers the tools they need to fight crime, like body cameras, additional training and access to mental health care, she said.

Spokespersons for Welch and Raoul said the lawsuit was being reviewed.
Sometimes we read books differently. Sometimes its for escapist purposes, other times its for knowledge we seek and still other times, we pore over a storytellers words to taste them, much like a fine chocolate or wine where first glimpses of turns of phrases automatically force us to dog ear pages because more truth is shared in those phrases than could be said in paragraphs.

The latter was true for me in reading Erika Sanchez latest book, a series of essays released in July titled Crying in the Bathroom: A Memoir.

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Theres a line that ends Sanchezs Difficult Sun essay that rang truer that most. Words for me are a form of prayer, a kind of reverence. They say thank you, thank you, thank you.

Words that Sanchez fans will be saying after reading her third published work. If you were looking for a sequel to I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, (Sanchezs second book) this is not it. Instead this is a series of musings, misfortunes, triumphs, disappointments, delights, and resurrections Sanchez has pieced together; Sanchez who is herself in a world that pressures her to be otherwise, a world that doesnt love her, wasnt built for her. Within the pages of Crying, readers learn about Sanchezs medical struggles  physically (the first essay is titled The Year my Vagina Broke) and mentally (coping with depression). We travel with her around the globe, relive past loves, learn more about her familial relationships, and get a look into her career aspirations.

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Ive been told I hate memoirs, but I love this one for some reason and thats really interesting to me, Sanchez, the Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz chair at DePaul University, said.

We talked with Sanchez, two years after Mexican Daughter's adaptation into a Steppenwolf play, about Crying in the Bathroom, the gems therein, and the ongoing conversation about how stories by people of color matter despite what the rest of society would like us to believe. The interview has been condensed and edited.

Q: You said you and Julia Reyes are very similar in Mexican Daughter, what was the impetus for the memoir?

A: Right after Mexican Daughter  and what I mean by after is that it was accepted for publication ... I started writing these essays. The first essay was Crying in the Bathroom. And it was because I was asked to be included in an anthology about women and ambition. That got my juices flowing, writing the actual truth. I wasnt planning necessarily on writing nonfiction. Once I wrote that one, it felt really freeing to reckon with my past. So, I started writing essays on various topics that were important to me. I wanted to expand upon a lot of the topics in Mexican Daughter because theres so much there. I wanted to write a book that was a continuation, but not a sequel. I didnt want to write a sequel to Mexican Daughter, it just doesnt feel right to me. So I had to go about it another way. I write a lot about being the daughter of immigrants because thats an identity that is really important to me. And something I cant change. So Im always going to write with not necessarily that perspective but with that sensibility.

Q: Who is the audience for this book, since Mexican Daughter is a YA novel?

A: My audience is young women of color and not just young, but women of my generation as well. I think a lot about my students and the stuff that I want them to know. I talk about a lot of the things that I talked about in the book in class: Im always discussing mental health. Im discussing racism, all the isms. I just want them to have information and to have choices because I felt like I didnt have a lot of choices myself.

Q: Do you have a favorite essay in the memoir?

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A: Theyre all equally important, but I felt like the essay, Difficult Sun, I wouldnt say its my favorite. Its hard to call it that. But its the one that was the most intense, the most work and the most satisfying because it was a trauma that I never imagined I would write about and so to have it complete, I felt like I had performed an exorcism on myself.

Q: The vagina story ...

A: A lot of people asked: Why did you start with your vagina? Because I dont think its nasty.

Q: What avenue havent you touched when it comes to writing? Is there something else that we need to know about Erika?

A: Im taking a break from myself in this next project that Im working on because I want to move in another direction. I feel like Ive given so much of myself in all three of my books, and I do plan to return to poetry, and I have been. Poetry is kind of a constant in my life and so thats something that just wont ever change because poetry is what allows me to write the prose that I do. In terms of other forms of writing, Ive never done any screenwriting. I dont plan to become a screenwriter, but Id like to be involved in the process of a possible series or be a creative consultant on the show.

Q: Youve lived a vivid life. What will you say to your toddler daughter when shes 15 years old?

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A: At 15, she can read Mexican Daughter. Now, she is very curious about my books. I know that sounds strange. But she plays with them constantly. She stacks them, she opens them, she looks at my picture and says mama. Its like the sweetest thing. She knows that I have created books but I dont know how much she really understands. And so its been really interesting to see her discover them. I just want her to love herself and I hope that my books can help her do so. She also has the best dad in the world. So I feel like shes going to just have a very strong sense of self, she already does. Im not that worried about her because I feel like she has an army of people around her, who adore her.

Q: Mexican Daughter has been banned in a few places. Do you feel if your book has been banned, youve actually done something right?

A: I think a lot of people who are upset about these books havent read any of them. Theyve just been fed all of these lies that they just perpetuate. I would really like to know, what was it that was so offensive? The mention of abortion, the mention of drugs? I guess people have a problem with that. But I think what people really have a problem with is the title. Because were not supposed to take up space. And our stories havent been allowed into the mainstream until now and so people are mad that their kids are going to be reading about some hood, Mexican chick in Chicago, Its so silly to me.

Q: How would you introduce your books to someone who has never read your work?

A: These books are about very rebellious women who are very much alive and who are upset with their circumstances. In a sense its kind of cool its a banned book because it raises awareness of the book. But on the other hand, theres these books that a lot of children would just happen upon in a bookstore, or in a library, that are just not available to them. That sucks. Theres one place where they have my book on reserve. Its not in circulation, they have to ask specifically for it along with The Bluest Eye  and books like that. Its very upsetting that theyre so afraid of new ideas and the truth that they hide these texts, hide information to keep this lie going of what the world is.

Erika Sanchez will be at Exile in Bookville (410 S. Michigan Ave., 2nd floor) Nov. 17.

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drockett@chicagotribune.com
SEPTEMBER 18

West Davenport artist Mona Ritemon will exhibit her latest paintings an art reception and sale from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the West Davenport Arts Council gallery wall of the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities. Mona, who is both a visual and performing artist, is well-known for her dejembe drumming for events around the Quad Cities. She has also long been a painter and previously had her work displayed at the Arts Gallery in Rock Island. For more information about the artist or this exhibit, please contact artist Mona Ritemon at 719-229-8752. For more information about the West Davenport Arts Council, please contact Rev. Rich Hendricks at 563.940.9630 or by email at richdhendricks@msn.com.

SEPTEMBER 28

Walking with God alongside immigrants, refugees

Learn about the Iowa City Catholic Worker with Emily Sinnwell and Kim Novak from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sept. 28, Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, 2664 145th Ave., Wheatland, Iowa. Come learn about the work being done to welcome immigrants and refuges in Iowa and how Catholic Social Teaching influences our walk with others. Consider how you may be called to incorporate the idea of "radical hospitality" in your life. Fee: $35 includes lunch. To register visit www.theprairieretreat.org or call 563-374-1092.

OCTOBER 1

Compassion retreat

Grace Lutheran Church of Davenport is having a compassion retreat to explore a kinder way to live and engage with others. The pandemic, political divisions, climate change and other world events have notched up our feelings of fear, judgment and distrust to an almost fever pitch. What are the essential actions needed for individuals and communities to live with compassionate hearts? How did Christ model a life of compassion? These are questions to be explored when the Spiritual Growth Mission at Grace Lutheran Church presents Living Compassion for the Sake of the World, a free retreat, featuring Pastor Elaine K. Olson, from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 1, in the Pat Bell Hall at the church, 1140 E. High St., Davenport. To register for this free retreat, go online to bit.ly/Aug20Retreat or call the Grace Lutheran Church office at 563-322-0769.

Community Guest Day

Join Calvary online or in person beginning 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 1 for Community Guest Day. Services will be held at Calvary Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1518 Fillmore St., Davenport. Pastor Elijah Johnson from the Cornerstone and the Emmanuel SDA Churches in Missouri will lead in worship and share a powerful message from God. You dont want to miss it! Stream services at Youtube: @Davenportcalvary and Facebook: @CalvaryChurchDavenport.

OCTOBER 3

Dreams

Dreams  Learn to remember, interpret and program your dreams with Marcia Flory from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. 3, Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, 2664 145th Ave., Wheatland, Iowa. The focus will be on sharing and learning to interpret individual dreams. Participants are encouraged to bring their own dreams to analyze as a group. A dream incubation meditation will be offered as well as a dream retrieval exercise. Fee: $25 includes lunch. To register visit www.theprairieretreat.org or call 563-374-1092.
CAMBRIDGE, Ill.  A Henry County jury on Thursday found John C. Rumley Jr., 49, to continue to be sexually dangerous from an initial 1997 incident.

Rumley, who has an IQ of between 48 and 57, was first declared sexually dangerous in 1997 and turned over to the Illinois Department of Corrections after being charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse. His alleged victim was 4 years old at the time, and he was 24 and under the supervision of his aunt while his parents were out of town.

Clinical psychologist Melissa Weldon-Padera testified about her three interviews with Rumley in 2014, 2017 and last February, as well as a report that month that considered his records and sex-offending history. The history included both criminally charged and non-charged incidents. She said out of 101 sexually dangerous people she's evaluated in her career, she didn't believe anyone had had an IQ as low as Rumley. She said she believed he was still sexually dangerous.

Rumley's attorney, Bill Breedlove, said he would file a motion to find the statute on sexually dangerous persons unconstitutional specifically for his client, based on his severe lack of mental function. A hearing on that motion was set for Nov. 16.

We should have better places than prisons for people with mental disabilities, Breedlove said after court was adjourned.
A Davenport man on probation for selling drugs out of his home is facing charges in connection with the overdose death of his 22-month-old son.

Tyler Allen Michael Akright, 25, is charged with one count of child endangerment resulting in death. The charge is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years.

Akright also is charged with child endangerment-bodily injury, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years, and child endangerment, an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of two years.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Davenport Police Detective Sean Johnson, at 5 p.m. on Oct. 11, 2021, officers were sent to 1334 W. 13th St., to investigate a child not breathing.

A 22-month-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death was determined to be acute drug intoxication as the child had somehow ingested fentanyl.

Drug tests were done on the deceased child and the boys 2-year-old brother. Both tested positive for cocaine, methamphetamine and THC.

A warrant was issued Friday for Akrights, arrest and he was taken into custody.

During a first-appearance hearing Saturday morning in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Christine Frederick schedule a preliminary hearing in the case for Sept. 20.

Frederick also ordered Akright to be held in the Scott County Jail without bond.

Akright was caught in August of 2021 selling drugs out of his home, two months before the overdose death of his son.

Akright was arrested on the drug charges on Aug. 7, 2021, after Davenport Police were sent to the man's home at 1334 W. 13th St., at 2:22 a.m. to investigate a 2-year-old boy walking by himself in the alley.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Davenport Police Officer Cory Hughes, officers noticed the back door of the residence was open. Officers tried to make contact with the residents in the home, but no one responded. Officers did a safety clear for any residents inside the house. As officers checked the living room area they noticed a large amount of cash, a pistol and drugs in plain view.

Offices made contact with Akright on the second floor of the home and asked for permission to search the residence.

Akright gave officers written consent and officers seized 789.85 grams of marijuana in nine packages, 1 pound of marijuana wax packaged in several jars, 74.7 grams of psilocybin, or mushrooms, 2.4 grams of cocaine, packaging materials with drug residue, four cell phones, $2,110 in cash, and two digital scales with drug residue.

During a post-Miranda interview Akright admitted to police the drugs and cash were his and that he sold drugs to various friends.

During a search of one of the cell phones seized there was a message found stating that Akright was in the process of obtaining 30mg percs, or Percocet pills. According to Detective Johnsons affidavit, these pills are known to be mixed or cut with fentanyl.

Akright pleaded guilty Dec. 20, 2021, to a charge of possession with the intent to deliver psilocybin. The charge is a Class C felony for which he could have received a prison sentence of 10 years.

During a sentencing hearing held March 24 in district court, District Court Judge Tom Reidel sentenced Akright to two years on supervised probation.

According to Scott County District Court and Iowa Department of Corrections electronic records, Akright is on probation until March 4, 2024.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections could move to revoke Akrights probation and have him re-sentenced on the drug conviction.
WHAT WE KNOW: Geneseo's committee of the whole last month supported recommending to the City Council a resolution of support for a pedestrian bridge and historical landing area for the intersection of Oakwood Avenue and State Street.

WHAT'S NEW: The Geneseo council on Tuesday voted 7-0 to approve spending $150,000 or more on the project, if 50% matching grant money is obtained through the Illinois Transportation Enhancemnent Program (ITEP). The city will attempt to recover the $150,000 through local grant funding.

In addition to the bridge, the project will include a historical designation of the first log cabin in Geneseo. They have already been informed of a grant from the Miller Foundation. The council also approved spending $1,000 on an IMEG design for phase one renderings of the project.

WHAT'S NEXT: Detective Jamie Shoemaker of the Geneseo police department gave a presentation about a new program to address mental health, substance abuse and crisis intervention needs. She gave as an example how the department was able to help a woman addicted to methamphetamine and abused by her boyfriend, saying she herself had spent eight hours on the phone to get the woman into treatment. Shoemaker said she believed she had an advantage in identifying herself as a police detective.

"Could you imagine calling as a civilian?" she asked. She said the woman went from a three- to five-day detox program into a 21-day program and had now been sober for 60 days. Shoemaker said the department's new program had worked with a total of eight clients in the community as well as parents who have struggled with not knowing what to do.

"We're trying to make a difference in the community as far as long term," she said.

Mayor Sean Johnson said he wanted to thank every member of the police department.

"Their level of commitment is second to none," he said, adding the "progressive, professional police department" is a "difference that sets Geneseo aside."

Shoemaker said the Geneseo department was sharing its work with the program Sept. 28 at an expo at Augustana College.
The day before filing for bankruptcy for its company-owned restaurants earlier this month, Happy Joe's quietly vacated its longtime company headquarters in Bettendorf.

Justin Sloan, who is an investor in the 12,000 square-foot building at 2705 Happy Joe Drive and serves as its landlord, said Happy Joe's was just five years into a 15-year lease when the company moved out of the property without notice.

The headquarters was part of the company sale in 2018.

"This past September 1, instead of receiving our rent check, we received their keys as they had vacated the building and ran in the middle of the night," Sloan said. "(They gave) no notice, attempt to work things out, partial rent, anything.

"They just up and bailed."

Happy Joe's president and CEO Thomas Sacco submitted Chapter 11 filings on Sept. 2 for reorganization of five company-owned restaurants, including two in Davenport and one in Bettendorf. Two other company-owned restaurants were permanently closed this summer.

The 50-or-so Happy Joe's franchise restaurants are not part of the bankruptcy filing, Sacco said.

Sloan said the property owners were not notified of the tenant's intent to walk away from the lease, calling the move "a true embarrassment to anyone who knew the original Happy Joe and the way he did business."

Sacco disputed Sloan's account, saying his chief financial officer tried "for months" to negotiate the lease. The response, Sacco said: "Pay the rent."

He said the building had simply become too big for Happy Joe's. At one time, he said, 40 people worked there. Today the company employs just five or six people. Rent was $10,000 a month, he said.

Regarding his failure to notify the landlord of his intent to break the lease, Sacco said, "Nobody tells people they're filing for bankruptcy in advance.

"It's not our place to share what we're doing. It's our company's decision. It's not his company's decision."

In an interview Thursday related to the bankruptcy filing, Sacco said he has made sure that suppliers are paid, oftentimes upfront and prior to billing. He said he intended to continue to operate in the same financially responsible manner in which founder Lawrence Joseph "Happy Joe" Whitty ran the company.

Whitty died in 2019  about a year after selling his nearly 50-year-old pizza and ice cream business.

"This isn't the way he did business," Sloan said. "We would have made every attempt to work it out. Joe's personal office is still in there."

The building was designed specifically for Happy Joe's, he said, including a lower-level test kitchen.

Sacco said the relocated headquarters at 5239 Grand Ave., Davenport, is a more appropriate size for the company's purposes.

The five remaining company-owned Happy Joe's were in such bad financial condition, he said, they could not afford to update the properties. He now hopes to do so, using the company stores as the blueprint for franchise growth.

"My goal for Happy Joe's is to be successful in the long-term," Sacco said. "I'm not going to contest what (Sloan) is saying. Everybody's entitled to their opinion. We have done nothing wrong."
It is not the first time the new span over the Mississippi River between Bettendorf and Moline has been recognized, but the latest nomination is a big one.

I-74 bridge construction wins important awards The Quad-Cities' Interstate 74 bridge is again being recognized in the transportation indust

The Interstate 74 bridge, which fully opened nearly a year ago, is a top-12 finalist in America's Transportation Awards.

It is the top honor for state departments of transportation from the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, AAA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The two-state project now competes for the national Grand Prize, which is chosen by an independent panel as well as the People's Choice Award, which is determined by an online vote.

Those wishing to vote for I-74 may do so online at americastransportationawards.org until the contest wraps up Oct. 21. Click the Vote Now button and select The Memorial Bridge (Interstate 74 Mississippi River Crossing) to cast your vote.

The bridge has spanned nearly 30 years of planning, more than $1 billion invested and several years of construction, which included a polar vortex, record-breaking Mississippi River flooding, a derecho and a global pandemic.

The I-74 Mississippi River Bridge has become an icon in the Quad-Cities and the Midwest, Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman said. Those who have seen the positive impact it brings to the region would agree that the bridge is absolutely deserving of national recognition. Cast your votes to bring home this prestigious award.

Iowa Department of Transportation Director Scott Marler also urged the public to participate in the voting process to show enthusiasm for the hometown nominee.

We ask for your support to help bring home this award and show the rest of the country, once again, that our states, industry partners and labor force know how to build world-class infrastructure, Marler said.

Both the Grand Prize and Peoples Choice Award come with $10,000 to provide to a charity, not-for-profit or transportation-related scholarship by the winning states.

Built by the Iowa and Illinois departments of transportation, the I-74 Mississippi River Bridge was recognized as a contest finalist for improving safety and mobility, enhancing quality of life and positioning the Quad-Cities for future economic opportunity.

The bridge has four lanes in each direction, a 14-foot-wide bike and pedestrian path with a scenic overlook, and connections to existing paths in Bettendorf and Moline. The approximately $1 billion project includes twin river bridges, new interchanges, ramps and local road reconfigurations.
A White House spokesperson criticized Gov. Kim Reynolds for opposition to the American Rescue Plan in 2021, noting that the state has devoted millions of dollars to projects using federal money from the act.

In a statement to the Lee Des Moines Bureau, White House regional spokesperson Haris Talwar said Reynolds, a Republican, called the $1.9 trillion federal relief package an unconstitutional stimulus bill that does nothing but bail out blue states.

Now that the people of Iowa are benefiting through tens of thousands of jobs created and historic investments supporting child care, expanding broadband, and improving school safety  we are grateful the Governor has come around to recognizing the positive impacts of President Bidens American Rescue Plan on Iowa and the country," he said.

Reynolds spokesperson Alex Murphy did not provide a comment, but pointed to previous statements Reynolds has made on the issue.

Last year, Reynolds told reporters the state would be very strategic on how were using those funds, according to The Des Moines Register, and she reiterated that she opposed the high spending from the federal government.

Democrats have been critical of Reynolds opposition to the plan for close to a year, first making note after she announced a $200 million investment in rural broadband made using the federal dollars.

The American Rescue Plan Act, passed by Democrats on a party-line vote in 2021, delivered hundreds of billions of dollars to state and local governments to make up for COVID-19 related revenue loss. Rep. Cindy Axne, a Democrat from Des Moines, was the only one of Iowas congressional delegation to vote for the bill.

The state received approximately $1.48 billion from the act, according to a database from the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Speaking with the Sioux City Journal in 2021, Reynolds said the price tag of the American Rescue Plan was far too high and included funding in areas that should not have been included.

Theres a cost to that, somebody's got to pay for that at some point, and it punishes states that I think have been very targeted in their mitigation efforts and have tried to do the right thing, she said.

But, she said then, the state would look at areas where relief was needed to spend the money in a targeted way. She mentioned business relief, mental health, and broadband funding as potential targets.

We still have small businesses that are hurting, people that have lost their jobs or lost their businesses and put their entire life savings into it, she said.

Reynolds also joined 21 other governors in signing a letter opposing the funding formula of the American Rescue Plan. They said the formula, which gave aid to states based on unemployment rates, punished states that kept businesses open during the pandemic.

This week, Reynolds announced the recipients of $20 million in funding to nonprofits through the federal act. A portion of $26.6 million in grants announced earlier in the week to help businesses address child care shortages also came from the American Rescue Plan.

We received overwhelming interest in this unique grant program which highlights the passion of Iowas nonprofits and their positive impact on our state, Reynolds said in a press release announcing the nonprofit grants. These grants will invest in innovative projects that will put Iowas nonprofits in a better position to serve those in need.

Other funding made available with the money includes $200 million for rural broadband, a $100 million fund to generate tourism and new residents, $30 million for workforce innovation grants, and $100 million to bolster school safety, and $100 million to address water quality.

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Zach Wahls said in May when the child care grants were announced that Reynolds was trying to take credit for actions taken by Democrats.

The truth is that President Biden and Congresswoman Axne are trying to solve a problem that Kim Reynolds is responsible for: Iowa's worst-in-the-nation childcare crisis, he said in a statement. Iowa Senate Democrats have a plan that would lower costs and make childcare more accessible. We're just waiting on Reynolds and Iowa legislative Republicans to work with us."
A few years ago, I was visiting Stockholm, Sweden, when a sign above a door caught my eye. Chiropractic, it read. And underneath that: Palmer trained.

That chiropractors office might not be a typical stop on Stockholms sightseeing circuit, but I had to pause and take a photo. What a delight to see those two words  Palmer trained  and know that the value of one of our Quad-Cities institutions is recognized halfway around the world!

We should recognize that value right here at home, too  and now is the perfect time to do so. Chiropractic was founded in Davenport. And as of this month, Palmer College of Chiropractic has been a mainstay of the Quad-Cities for 125 years. Its ties to and impact on our community are stronger than ever.

Palmers reputation doesnt just reach patients far and wide. It also draws students from across the country and all over the world to our region, enhancing our diversity and growing our local economy. In a recent tally, Palmers Davenport campus was host to 44 international students and 800 students from outside the Quad-Cities area. When they come here, those students and their families bring many of the skills, experiences and perspectives we need to tackle our communitys ambitious goals. On the economic front, they spend approximately $20 million each year, not including tuition. And when they graduate after just over three years of study, many stick around to build a life in the Quad-Cities because theyve experienced all our community has to recommend itself.

At Quad-City Bank & Trust, we believe so strongly in the value that diverse student talent brings to our region that we created a scholarship to help make a Palmer College education more accessible to anyone, no matter their circumstances.

For many students, Palmers history as the very first chiropractic college is a major selling point. For even more, its the colleges investment in staying on the cutting edge of chiropractic education that makes Palmer their top choice. Pass by or walk through campus and youll marvel at the new David D. Palmer Learning Commons, the Experiential Learning Center and enhancements made to the Palmer clinic. These brick-and-mortar investments, along with investments in new scholarships like our bank made, are all part of the Colleges strategy to keep the Palmer student experience ahead of the curve  and to keep students coming here to learn, live and play.

Palmer benefits our communitys well-being in an even more fundamental way by promoting our actual physical health. No, Im not writing to convince you to visit one of our many local chiropractors. Im writing to celebrate the great wealth of healthcare options, including chiropractic, we have at our fingertips here in the Quad-Cities. Were fortunate to have a holistic spectrum of wellness approaches because it means that whatever is right for each person is available to them. We have access to chiropractic care through the Palmer clinic  which, you might not know, provides millions of dollars of free care in our community each year  and through the many Palmer alumni who continue to call the Quad-Cities home. We also have our pick of fantastic hospitals, medical doctors, mental health professionals and more. The important thing is that because of our options, we can receive the type of care thats right for us at any given time.

Thats why chiropractic is part of the holistic health benefits Quad City Bank & Trust offers our employees. As an employer, we want to be able to provide our team with the benefits that are important to them. Its about their satisfaction and, more importantly, their health. Its about them knowing that we truly care about their well-being. We hope to give our employees all the tools they need to lead full, healthy lives. Otherwise, how can they take advantage of everything our community has to offer  and contribute to making it even better still?

I believe Palmer College is one of those things we have to offer and a contributor to our communitys bright future. At 125, Palmer is committed to building on its foundation right here in the Quad Cities, and I hope youll join me in celebrating this momentous anniversary, a milestone for us all.
On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth of England passed. In the hours before her death was announced, the media was on a death watch, speculating about her declining health and paying tribute to her 70 years of service on the throne.

With all due respect, however, it is incumbent upon us to take a closer look at what transpired on that day.

As a scholar of rhetoric, I was truly appalled by CNNs  and for that matter, all the cable news networks  coverage Thursday morning of the queens health and impending death. This coverage lasted for almost four hours prior to the official announcement of her passing.

Why was I appalled? All other news stories were buried, including the enormous political and economic problems facing the United Kingdom and negatively impacting the daily lives of its citizens. With so many people in the UK living in poverty and trying desperately to cope with rising prices, the medias coverage of the predicted death of the queen was unfitting and shameful.

As someone who taught communication and studied political rhetoric for more than 40 years, I was especially struck by the fact that the discourse and language of network news reporters and commentators was morbid, ghoulish and inappropriate. It is fair to ask: Why did the media eulogize and memorialize Queen Elizabeth many hours in advance of her death?

In addition, the networks endless loop of photos and videos showing the arrival of the queens family, accompanied with their pedantic and soap opera-like discussion of the significance about who was in which auto, as well as the family members somber expressions, was journalistically unjustified.

Like so many other current media practices, it seemed little more than a melodramatic appeal to gain a wider audience and a larger market share.

Even more important and noteworthy, the cable news networks coverage of the death watch constituted a clear violation of the royal familys desire for privacy and decorum. Put simply, awaiting the queens death should not receive this kind and amount of attention. In my opinion, this was journalism at its worst and morally reprehensible.

To be clear: I am not a royalist but fully understand and truly appreciate how important the queen of England is to so many people and countries across the globe.

Nevertheless, the media coverage was excessive. It constituted the wrong genre of rhetoric and sounded the wrong tone.
South Dakota mystery writer Christine Wevik is hoping her readers have clues that can solve devastating real-life crimes. Weviks latest nonfiction book, Someone Knows: Highlighting South Dakotas Cold Cases, focuses new attention on 52 cold cases throughout the state.

Wevik wrote Someone Knows to generate public awareness of cases of unsolved missing persons and unsolved or disputed deaths in South Dakota. The book includes a story with Rapid City ties  the 1975 murder of Joleen Hass.

Unbeknownst to most of her family, Hass was an undercover narcotics agent and Wevik tells of helping Hass sisters find closure after years of not knowing what had happened to Hass.

Wevik is not out to solve cold cases herself. Since Someone Knows was released in June, Wevik has been traveling statewide to promote her book and the fact that many families are still without answers about what happened to their missing or murdered loves ones.

Somebody out there knows what happened  not just the perpetrator and not just the victim. Im thinking there are people who are either complicit or have a loyalty to the perpetrator, and maybe they have a conscience thats bothering them, Wevik said.

Wevik will be a guest speaker at the 20th annual Festival of Books Sept. 23 and 24 in Brookings. Go to sdhumanities.org/christine-mager-wevik/ for a schedule and more information.

Wevik, who lives near Beresford, will be in the Black Hills for a book signing at 2 p.m. Oct. 22 at Piedmont Valley Library and she would like to schedule other guest appearances or book signings while shes in the region.

Sales of Someone Knows will help Wevik support the work of the Red Ribbon Skirt Society  which advocates, supports, gives voice to and stands with families whose lives have been affected by missing and murdered relatives  and the nonprofit South Dakota Network Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault.

Wevik said she hopes Someone Knows will urge people who might have information to contact law enforcement or leave anonymous tips that could lead to solved cases and closure for families. Throughout the book, Wevik lists contact information for local law enforcement authorities and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which handles cases on reservations.

Crime Stoppers and several law enforcement agencies have an anonymous tip line you can call if you know something about a crime and dont want to be targeted, Wevik said. They dont track your phone calls, they dont keep any personal information at all.  Even anonymous tips are eligible for rewards.

People who werent directly involved in the crimes may have witnessed something that could be offer useful clues, she said.

The mention of a name, a distinct scent unearthing a memory long buried, a shared reminiscence with someone who reveals that tiny detail youd forgotten  these are the things that spark our recollections. The sharing of a seemingly insignificant detail locked in our episodic memory could trigger a landslide of leads for investigators, Wevik wrote on her website about Someone Knows.

A lifelong South Dakotan, Wevik grew up in Sioux Falls. In eastern South Dakota, the real-life 1971 disappearances of Pamela Jackson and Cheryl Sherri Miller had become like local lore, Wevik said.

That cold case was finally solved in 2014 when the 1960 Studebaker Lark the girls had been traveling in was found in a creek. Forty-three years after the 17-year-old Vermillion High School students vanished, evidence indicated theyd died in a tragic accident, and their families and friends finally had closure.

Wevik herself knows two other families who lost loved ones, and those deaths remain unsolved. Wevik began to wonder how many other cold cases exist in South Dakota.

Look at all these cases that could be highlighted and brought to peoples attention, Wevik said. I started researching this about four years ago.

She first contacted the South Dakota Attorney Generals Office. They advised her to contact each county individually for information about cold cases. Wevik wrote and called each county sheriffs office but got few results. The only counties that responded to her inquiries didnt have cold cases. Others were dismissive of her efforts, she said.

Wevik turned to newspaper articles about missing persons and unsolved or disputed deaths. She learned creative ways to use keywords to search online and find the information she wanted. By last summer, Wevik said she'd found 83 cold cases in South Dakota.

Angela Kennecke, an investigative reporter and news anchor for KELO-TV, shared links and tips that assisted Wevik in her search. Kennecke also wrote the forward for Someone Knows.

By last winter, Wevik had found 155 cold cases. In total now, shes found 193 cold cases and the victims in 74% of the cases are Native American.

Someone Knows highlights 52 cases for which Wevik had the most information. She contacted the victims families, and many provided written tributes and photos about their loved ones that are included in the book.

What I thought would be an interesting book became an important book, Wevik said. Its about getting these peoples cases out there. I have received so many emails and hugs from people. Theyre so grateful to have these cases out there. Theyre desperate. They feel forgotten. I have become good friends with so many victims family members. It feels really good to know that Im helping in some way.

Writing fiction is my passion but what good can I do with my writing? This is something I can do, she said.

She would like to write a second book about cold cases. Families who would like their loved ones cold case included in a future book can contact Wevik through her website, christinemagerwevik.com/.

Wevik also is the author of a humorous self-help book, Its Only Hair, about living with baldness. She is the author of two award-winning mystery novels set in South Dakota, Vacant Eyes and Borrowed Memories, and she plans to begin working on the third book in her mystery series later this year.
South Africa: President Ramaphosa concludes positive US visit

A joint task force on trade and investment is to be established to expand bilateral economic ties between South Africa and the United States.

The formation of the task force follows on the conclusion of President Cyril Ramaphosas official working visit to the US. The visit was at the invitation of President Joseph Biden.

This comes as there was an agreement on the need to create a more attractive environment for American companies to invest in South Africa, where an estimated 600 US companies are already doing business in a range of sectors.

A joint task force on trade and investment will be established to expand bilateral economic ties, said the Presidency in a statement on Saturday.

In addition, South Africa will host the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in 2023, which will map the next phase of Africa-US trade.

President Ramaphosa welcomed the United States further commitment to improve bilateral trade and investment volumes, which will create much needed jobs and economic growth in South Africa, said the Presidency adding that the President has expressed concerns about tariffs levied by the US on South African steel and aluminium products, which South Africa views as unfair and punitive.

President Ramaphosa departed the country for the US on Wednesday and met with President Biden at the White House on Friday to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Energy

The Just Energy Transition also formed part deliberations.

The leaders affirmed their commitment to the Just Energy Transition and agreed that South Africa will require more funding to achieve an effective and just transition that leaves no one behind and that protects workers and communities that would be affected by the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.

The work on the investment plan for the Just Energy Transition Partnership between South Africa and the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and the European Union is expected to be completed by the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 27) in November 2022 in Egypt.

Stability and global security

Discussions on global security and stability focused on the insurgent attacks in Mozambique. President Ramaphosa acknowledged the assistance currently being provided by the US in responding to the insurgent threat in Mozambique.

President Ramaphosa called for more US support in the provision of skills and resources to counter the terrorist activities that are causing great suffering in Mozambique and threaten the stability of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

Food security

Africas food security also featured prominently in the meeting with both Heads of State.

Following on from the discussions at the G7 meeting held in Germany this year, there is consensus on supporting Africas efforts towards fertiliser manufacturing, which will bolster Africas independence in ensuring the continents food security, said President Ramaphosa.

Malign Russian Activities Bill

President Ramaphosa raised concern about the Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Bill, which is currently before the US Congress.

If it becomes law said President Ramaphosa, the Act would unfairly marginalise and punish African countries for exercising their sovereignty in their pursuit of development and economic growth.

The President also emphasised the need for an urgent end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and and emphasised the leadership role of the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres can provide in leading a peace process.

Health systems

Meanwhile, President Ramaphosa expressed appreciation for US support on health services capacitation and future pandemic preparedness. This includes the continued support for the PEPFAR [Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief] programmes to combat HIV/Aids and Tuberculosis, and the support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Ramaphosa applauded the leadership role played by President Biden in assisting developing economies to strengthen their health systems and for support on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver on vaccine manufacturing.

UN reforms



Africas representation in key multilateral institutions was highlighted by President Ramaphosa. This includes the proposal for Africas admission through the African Union (AU) into the Group of 20 countries (G20).

The absence of representation of 1.3 billion people from Africa in the United Nations Security Council remains a blight in the global democratic order, said President Ramaphosa. Both leaders agreed on the need for broader reforms of the United Nations.

Building capacity of the state



President Ramaphosa tabled a proposal for a partnership with the US in supporting South Africas efforts to develop public servants, especially women.

In this regard, South Africas National School of Government will work closely with leading American institutions in designing training programmes for South African public servants.

Ahead of the meeting with President Biden, President Ramaphosa met with the United States Vice President Kamala Harris at her official residence, where they discussed womens empowerment, health and security, partnership on technology and space exploration. SAnews.gov.za



This story has been published on: 2022-09-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
"We've been capturing those," Hanson said. "But I'm also interested in what drives the man. He's still taking pictures. He'll have done six exhibitions in recent memory. He works harder than you or I. And he's 92. What drives a person to do that? I've been trying to get the story behind the story. He isn't real complicated about his work. He's really very direct. And I've been trying to sort of peel the onion to see if there isn't something more there."
Color is emerging in Spearfish Canyon. As of Thursday, color change was at 25%, with birch and aspen trees transitioning to a lighter green color. Expect to see shades of yellows from these trees by the end of next week.

Earlier this week, the woodbine, a vibrant red climbing vine, was a star of Spearfish Canyon. You will see woodbine twisting around trees and climbing over rocks around the Canyons waterways. Another creeper which could not be ignored today is poison ivy. Poison ivy is giving us a full range of color right now to admire from afar with reds, yellows and oranges often found all in one plant.

The bowl at Savoy is still the place to see the early signs of a season in transition. The dark greens of the conifers (spruce and pine) make a nice contrast with the actively lightening deciduous trees (birch and aspen).

As you enter Spearfish Canyon this weekend, be sure to look up and down the Canyons cliffs. Watch for those subtler, muted greens after the Bridal Veil Falls and Devils Bathtub parking areas, and directly above the Kissing Rocks.

I am still hoping to see a mountain goat crossing this fall. In the meantime, I am listening for bees buzzing as the summer flowers still bloom. I am watching grasshoppers flutter from leaf to leaf. And if you look closely, you will see small gray and brown chipmunks that blend in with the Canyons rocks until their fast movements give them away.

Enjoy this video cruise through the Canyon: https://youtu.be/Q83JjEMky3A.

Read the full Fall Color Report at spearfishchamber.org/fall-color-report-2022.
enCore Energy Corp. (enCore) wishes to provide clarification in response to an August 22, 2022 Rapid City Journal article Uranium Mining Nuisance.

American production of uranium is vital to national security and a critical domestic energy source. This is especially important at a time we find ourselves in an energy crisis and reliant on foreign supplies. Nuclear power is essential to transition to a carbon free economy and uranium is the only fuel that will get us there.

Currently nearly 60% of the uranium America uses for nuclear energy generation is imported through Russia, which threatens national security and reliable energy. The Dewey-Burdock Uranium Project is part of a national solution.

enCore, which owns the Dewey-Burdock Uranium project, is headquartered in Corpus Christi, Texas. enCore is managed by a Board of Directors and management team that are 100% American citizens who live in the United States and possess necessary skills to develop and operate an in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium operation. enCore is not affiliated with Russia, China or the other companies referenced in the article, which can be easily discovered through the ownership reports required to be filed with U.S. regulators.

ISR is a highly regulated and proven extraction process which removes uranium with minimal environmental impacts (no tailings, heavy equipment or open pits). It has been utilized for over 50 years and there are zero incidents in the United States of ISR impacting groundwater used for drinking water. We are proud to have one of the co-founders of ISR technology as our Chief Technical Officer and note that over 50% of all uranium mines in the world are now using this proven technology.

At the Dewey Burdock Uranium Project, the operation will use ISR to draw water unsuitable for drinking from an aquifer located 700 feet below the surface and surrounded by clay layers. ISR operations recycle 99% of all water utilized and are required, by regulation, to return the land and water to their original state after production has been completed.

enCore is committed to engaging and working with local communities to ensure we create a positive impact from our projects and is committed to using the best environmental practices. We respect the fact that people seek to ensure their quality of life and natural resources, especially water, are maintained. For more information on enCore Energy and the Dewey Burdock Uranium Project please visit: www.encoreuranium.com and www.deweyburdock.info.

Paul Goranson is the enCore Energy Corp.s Chief Executive Officer, and he has over 35 years experience in the uranium production industry.
Wilhelm Keil, a young Prussian, arrived in New York in 1831. He dabbled in hypnotism and had very strange views for communicating with the dead. But by 1838, he had abandoned the dead and was producing concoctions that promised everlasting life. At some point, Keil became an adherent of the teachings of fellow German, Johann Rapp, who had emigrated to the United States in 1803 and established communities in Pennsylvania and Indiana. When Wilhelm suggested establishing a new community in the West, his proposal was well received by many of his followers. When Wilhelm left the Rappist community in 1844 to cross the Mississippi and establish his own colony of Bethel in Missouri, some 200 people accompanied him. But after spending some time in Missouri, Wilhelm decided there were just too many temptations there. His followers eagerly endorsed his goal of establishing a new colony in far off Oregon.

Two hundred and fifty of the Bethelites decided to join the exodus and began planning for the long journey. Members were organized into their respective wagons with Dr. Keils eldest son, Willie chosen to the drive the lead wagon. Unfortunately, two days before the anticipated departure, Willie died. Undaunted, Keil vowed that regardless of what happened, Willie would not be left behind. He directed his followers to construct a hearse with a lead-lined coffin into which he laid the body of his deceased son. To prevent decomposition of Willie's corpse during the long trek, Keil utilized a traditional German method of preserving food  Golden Rule Whiskey  which effectively kept young Willie in nearly perfect condition.

This would turn out to be a most fortuitous action.

After crossing the Missouri River, the group was alerted to trouble ahead. There they met returning members of wagon trains who told of the horrors that lie ahead. The Sioux had chosen this time to launch sustained attacks to stop the flow of pioneers that was disrupting hunting grounds and infringing on their traditional home lands. They were on the warpath to annihilate any wagon trains they came across. But Dr. Keil was unperturbed  "God will watch over us", he assured his followers. However, this belief would soon be tested. Two days out from Fort Laramie, Indians approached the convoy from several angles. Was an attack imminent? Using sign language and sketchy English, the Sioux conveyed what they wanted: to see what was in the "special" box in the lead wagon. Keil willingly obliged by opening the lid to reveal the perfectly preserved body of his beloved son. Riding silently past the open coffin, they gazed at the corpse of Willie and were awe-struck by the whiskey-soaked, seemingly supernatural being that clearly possessed potent magic. They soon gathered on a hillside to listen in silence to the haunting sounds of Keils German-themed band and his singing disciples. Along the trail, Keil's resolute pioneers repeatedly encountered large groups (sometimes numbering thousands of warriors) who came to see their special "cargo" and listen to the haunting sounds of these mystifying travelers.

Even after crossing the Rockies into the territories of the Nez Perce and other tribes, word of their "special nature" had preceded them; consequently, they were welcomed in peace.

By November, Keil's wagons had reached their destination on Willapa Bay. They had miraculously escaped the carnage that had befallen many a wagon train.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  The leaders of South Korea and Japan will meet next week on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Seoul officials said Thursday, in what would be the countries first summit in nearly three years amid tensions over history.

But in an indication of the continuing delicate nature of bilateral ties, Japan denied later Thursday that any agreement on talks had been reached.

An official in South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's office said the two sides had agreed on a meeting between Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and were discussing the exact timing.

Kim Tae-hyo, a deputy national security director for Yoon, told reporters that the meeting is one of a series that Yoon is pushing to hold with world leaders attending the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday and Wednesday. He said South Korea and the U.S. have also agreed on a meeting between Yoon and President Joe Biden.

However, in response to a question from The Associated Press about the South Korean announcement, the Japanese Prime Ministers Office said there is no such fact.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said details of Kishidas schedule in New York have not been determined. He added, however, that Japan wants to cooperate closely with South Korea to restore healthy relations.

South Koreas presidential office said it needed to study the Japanese comments before responding.

Japanese officials may have been unhappy over South Korea's unilateral announcement of a meeting, with details likely still under discussion. It remained unclear whether Yoon and Kishida would meet next week.

Ties between South Korea and Japan, both key U.S. allies, are at their lowest point in decades after South Korean courts ruled in 2018 that two Japanese companies  Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries  must compensate former Korean employees for forced labor during Japans 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The companies and the Japanese government have refused to comply with the rulings, arguing that all compensation issues were resolved under a 1965 treaty that normalized ties between the countries and included a payment of $500 million from Japan to South Korea.

The history disputes have spilled over to other areas, with the two countries downgrading each other's trade status and Seoul threatening to scrap an intelligence-sharing agreement. The wrangling has complicated a U.S.-led attempt to solidify its alliances with its regional partners amid growing Chinese influence and North Korean nuclear threats.

Seoul and Tokyo have been looking to mend their strained ties since the May inauguration of Yoon, a conservative who wants to improve relations with Japan and bolster trilateral Seoul-Tokyo-Washington security cooperation to better cope with the increasing North Korean threats.

It's unclear if the Yoon-Kishida meeting would produce any immediate breakthrough because its unlikely that some former Korean forced laborers and their support groups will accept a deal to settle their legal battles unless the Japanese companies consent to the court decisions.

Given that the Japanese companies are dismissing the 2018 court rulings, I think it would be too unrealistic and naive to think there are some other resolutions that can win the consent of the victims, said Lee Kook Un, head of a support group for some former laborers involved in lawsuits with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The last talks between the leaders of South Korea and Japan occurred in December 2019, when then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met in China.

Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report.
A missing Danville woman was located after a more than five-hour search Thursday thanks to the help of a specially trained dog named Cynder and his handler.

It all started when the family of 62-year-old Naomi Willis reported her missing Thursday morning. Willis, who police also said may have early stages of dementia, was last seen on the Danville Riverwalk Trail near Dan Daniel Park.

A search quickly launched and enlisted the help of regional and state rescue agencies. At around 2:45 p.m., Willis was found by Cynder, a K9 with the Blue and Gray Search and Rescue Dogs, and his handler.

The female was located at the waters edge in the wood line after slipping down a sloped area near the walking trail behind Dan Daniel Park and was in a very dangerous position in the water, unable to get up, Danville Police Department Capt. Steve Richardson told the Register & Bee on Friday morning.

Located in serious condition, she was taken to Sovah Health-Danville. Police have not received updates on her medical condition.

Police credit the K9 and handler  Jeff Setzer  for finding Willis.

The search and rescue group was not looking for headlines, but we wanted to highlight the officer and K9 so we asked for permission to release the photo and names, all we got permission to release was the first names and the search groups name, Richardson told the Register & Bee.

The Harrisonburg-based group is a nonprofit search and rescue organization. Cynder is certified in wilderness live find, according to the groups website.

Debbie Thompson, with Blue and Gray Search and Rescue Dogs, confirmed the handlers full name with the Register & Bee on Friday.

She also explained that Cynder is a 6-year-old German shepherd.
Virginias new Chief Transformation Officers work so far has focused at speeding up unemployment insurance benefits and cutting waiting times at the DMV  and now hes looking at a redesign of the states mental health services.

In a report to Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the chairs of the General Assembly money committees, Chief Transformation Officer Eric Moeller said he will direct $1.3 million to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for that redesign effort.

He is looking for proposals about the structure and operation of Virginias mental hospitals  the department operates eight for adults and one for children and teenagers.

For decades, advocates, state legislators and even some state officials complained that Virginia spends too much of a limited mental health budget on hospitals and not enough on community services.

But the political challenge of closing large institutions each with hundreds of employees has limited the states options.

More recently, Virginias bed of last resort law and sharp rises in patients after courts send people charged with crimes to state hospitals, have filled some of the facilities to capacity, and in some cases beyond.

Moeller also wants a look at how the behavioral health department delivers regional services, as well as at the work of the 40 Community Services Boards, which state and local governments jointly fund.

The boards are responsible for providing services in communities  everything from responding when individuals threaten suicide and offering outpatient services to running group homes and having teams of doctors, nurses and social workers who make daily or even more frequent visits to individuals with illnesses so severe that they would otherwise have to be in a hospital.

Virginias underfunded mental health system has been a challenge for legislators and governors for decades.

A General Assembly joint commission has been digging into the mental health systems challenges and pushing reforms through the legislature for eight years.

Its efforts so far include laws aimed at stopping streeting of people with mental illness  that is, giving up on finding hospital beds for people in crisis.

Another law pushed by the commission tries to make sure access to critical care doesnt depend on where an individual lives.

This law requires all CSBs to offer nine essential services, including same-day assessment for people with significant mental health issues, crisis services, primary care screening and outpatient services.

Pressing the legislature to fully fund this effort and to tackle the chronic and worsening shortage of direct care staff has been another major effort of the commission.

Afraid there has not been much discussion of the Administrations plan, said state Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, who launched the legislatures commission after his sons suicide in 2013 when he was unable to find a place for care in a crisis.

Earlier this year, the Commissioner advised me they were thinking about a decentralization plan, but I have not been privy to the details, added Deeds, referring to the commissioner of the Behavioral Health department.

State Sen. Monty Mason, D-Williamsburg, another member of the commission, said it has been working hard to shift Virginias mental health spending split, now at 70% for institutions and 30% for community, to look more like the rest of the nation, where the split is more like 30% for hospitals and 70% in the community.

Its always good when a governor is interested, he said. I just hope they look at the reviews and work weve been doing, and dont just try to start from scratch.

Moellers redesign proposal, meanwhile, will also focus on the departments services for people with developmental disabilities.

Virginia has closed all but one of its institutions for these individuals and has stepped up funding for community supports.

It did so to settle U.S. Department of Justice findings of civil rights violations by keeping people in more restrictive situations than were necessary.

Moellers report also details plans to direct nearly $2 million to a two-phase effort to improve the way the state buys goods and services, with an eye to securing quick win savings.

The plan calls for $1 million for a consultant to help describe a strategy for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and $300,000 for a pilot program to develop common tools and language for state employee performance improvement plans.

Hes also looking to direct a total of $870,000 for follow-up work to improve customer service and reduce the amount of manual processing of paperwork at the Virginia Employment Commission.

There will also be follow-up work at the Department of Motor Vehicles to enhance customer service, improve management tools and reduce operating costs.

In addition, he wants to use $1.3 million to create a pool of project management experts who can be dispatched to help agencies with high-priority programs.

Youngkin created the chief transformation officer post in a January executive order to drive changes improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our government through tracking key performance metrics. The officer serves in the governors Cabinet.
When the American Psychiatric Association celebrated its 175th anniversary three years ago in San Francisco, it featured photographs of two Virginia mental institutions that contributed to its birth  what are now Eastern State and Western State hospitals.

The exhibition also featured two Virginia psychiatrists who led what were then called lunatic asylums  Dr. John Galt at Eastern in Williamsburg and Dr. Francis Stribling at Western in Staunton  and co-founded the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane, the forerunner of the national association.

Former Virginia Mental Health Commissioner King Davis, a featured speaker, was struck by the absence of another state mental institution, now known as Central State Hospital near Petersburg.

The hospital was founded in Richmond in 1870 as the worlds first mental institution for Black people in a state that had also established the first state mental hospital in the nation at Eastern in 1773.

They had no idea, said Davis, even though the association awarded him its coveted Benjamin Rush Award for his work to preserve and digitize more than 800,000 records and 36,000 photographs documenting a century of the hospitals past.

You have to ask the question, why Virginia? he said at a reception hosted by the American Psychiatric Association Foundation at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

During the reception, the foundation saluted the archives project by showing a new documentary film, Central Lunatic Asylum for the Colored Insane and giving tours of an exhibition of documents from the archives that has been on display since early February.

The film  written, directed and produced by Virginia Commonwealth University professor Shawn Utsey  will be featured in the seventh annual Afrikana Film Festival, with a screening on Saturday at noon at Ada Art Gallery at 228 W. Broad St. in Richmond.

Utsey, a professor of counseling psychology and chair of African American studies at VCU, began work on the documentary in 2019 as a study of a hospital founded on racial separation during federal Reconstruction after the Civil War and maintained as a segregated institution for Black people until 1968.

I ran into King Davis and discovered all the work he had done, he said. It made my work a lot easier.

Davis, now professor emeritus at the University of Texas at Austin and a resident of Hanover County, makes an emphatic case for the importance of Central State in American history, not just as a psychiatric institution but as a critical condition for Virginias readmission to the union in January 1870.

The month before, Maj. Gen. Edward Canby issued an order as military governor of Virginia that required the state to establish a temporary lunatic asylum for Black people, both those freed before the war and those emancipated through the Union victory.

Gov. Gilbert Walker, whom Canby had appointed, accepted the requirement and established the Central Lunatic Asylum for the Colored Insane at Howards Grove, a former Confederate hospital just outside of Richmond in Henrico County that the Freedmans Bureau had run as a general hospital for Black people after the war.

Why did it happen in Virginia and not anywhere else? Virginia didnt have a choice, Davis said in an interview on Friday.

The military order chose to require the establishment as a separate asylum for Black people at the recommendation of Stribling, who had strongly opposed allowing racial integration at Western, as Galt had done on a limited basis for freed Black people at Eastern since 1840. Galt had died in 1862, and Stribling became chairman of the Virginia Asylum Commission under the federal military government.

Part of what [Canby] sought was a balance between the interests of the white population and the interests and needs of the Black population, Davis said.

Central operated at Howards Grove as an asylum for mentally ill Black people, including those transferred from Eastern, until the state opened a new hospital in 1885 on the former Mayfield Plantation outside of Petersburg in Dinwiddie County.

The new hospital, renamed Central State in 1894, operated as the only mental institution for Black people in Virginia until the end of racial segregation after passage of the Civil Rights Act 70 years later. (Piedmont Geriatric Hospital, based at Burkeville in Nottoway County, originally operated as a tuberculosis sanitarium for Black people until it became a state hospital in 1967.)

For most of its history, Central State labored with fewer financial resources and less support than other state institutions.

Somehow the facility was still characterized as the Black hospital, said Olivia Garland, who became the first Black director of Central State in 1985 under Gov. Gerald Baliles.

Garland, a former state prison warden and administrator, recalled how soon after she arrived, three Black employees peeped at her from the doorway, afraid to enter the directors office without being summoned.

We just wanted to see youre really who you are,  she recalled them saying.

When Dr. Ronald Forbes arrived in 2001 as the state hospitals first Black medical director, he said some separation remained between the mostly Black staff and mostly white administration, housed in a building employees nicknamed the White House.

I was kind of an ambassador between the wards and the White House, Forbes said during an online town hall held by the psychiatric association in February in conjunction with the exhibition.

However, he said, the employees, most of them Black residents of Petersburg and the surrounding area, made the hospital poor with resources but rich in caring.

It was the Petersburg community coming over the walls at Central State, said Forbes, who retired in 2017 and now serves as vice chairman of the Friends of Central State, a nonprofit organization led by Davis.

Utsey said the role of the employees he featured in the documentary  including Florence Farley, a former Petersburg mayor and psychologist at the hospital who died last month  was transformative in how they turned a bad situation into the illumination of the humanity of the patients.Davis had first encountered the history of Central State after moving from Massachusetts to Virginia in 1972 to become state director of mental health for 40 programs across Virginia that became community services boards.

He set out to document the history after receiving a call in 2008 from Charles Davis, then director at Central State, who was concerned that the institutions historical records were in jeopardy of being lost.

The records were in jeopardy in part because of deterioration, said King Davis, who served as state commissioner for behavioral health services from 1990 to 1994 under Gov. Doug Wilder, the first elected Black governor in the country.

Davis arranged with Central State and the Library of Virginia to digitize them, using about $150,000 he had raised from benefactors, including the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors and the University of Texas, where he was a professor of public policy research.

The dilemma now is how and where to preserve the physical records. The collection is too large for the Library of Virginia, which has its own collection of Central State records, spanning 1874 to 1961.

There also wont be room at the new Central State hospital that is expected to open on the Dinwiddie campus in 2025. The new hospital will feature a Legacy Wall in the lobby of its administration building to honor the institutions history.

Davis hopes to create a repository for the archives, potentially using one of the older hospital buildings scheduled to be demolished. Having space at Central would be fantastic if we can pull it off, he said.
RICHMOND  Acknowledging its grave injustice against Black patients, Virginia Commonwealth University apologized Friday for the grave robbing and discarding of bodies in the 1800s and the 1968 transplant of a mans heart taken without consent.

The universitys board of visitors approved the resolution in an effort to center the voices that too often have been silenced, VCU said.

In the 1800s, the Medical College of Virginia procured cadavers for dissection by illegally digging up bodies in Black cemeteries in Richmond. When the bodies were no longer of use, they were cast into a nearby well.

The skeletons of at least 44 adults and nine children were recovered in 1994. But VCU did not allow archaeologists time for a full investigation, and some human remains were left in the well, which is now buried somewhere beneath the Kontos Medical Sciences Building.

VCU humbly recognizes and deeply regrets the historic inequity and systemic marginalization of individuals as they do not reflect the society VCU works to advance  one in which people of diverse backgrounds and experiences are given the dignity and respect their humanity deserves, the university said in a statement.

In 1968, a team at the Medical College of Virginia led by Dr. Richard Lower performed the first human-to-human heart transplant in the American South.

A Black laborer, Bruce Tucker, arrived at the hospital with a severe head injury. The doctors deemed his condition too grave for him to survive.

The transplant team removed his heart and gave it to Joseph Klett, a white businessman. It was later determined that neither Bruce Tucker nor his family consented to the transplant.

The story became the focus of the 2020 book The Organ Thieves by former Richmond Times-Dispatch journalist Chip Jones. VCU assigned the book to its freshmen this year.

When the book published, Jones asked VCU to publicly apologize to Tuckers family.

Im glad that VCU and its leadership have made this acknowledgement of such pain and really injustice to this Black man and his family, Jones said Friday. Theres no way to justify from an ethical or moral point of view how he was treated and how his family was mistreated by never being told.

Tuckers family didnt know the heart had been removed until they were told by a funeral director, Jones said.

VCU sent a letter to Tuckers family on Friday notifying them of the apology and inviting them to help create an on-campus memorial, a university spokesperson said.

VCU plans to commission a plaque, funded by VCU School of Medicine faculty members, to honor Tuckers role in the history of heart transplantation and to be placed at VCU Medical Center.

The universitys apology wont bring back Bruce Tucker, and it wont assuage the hurt and trauma that is still felt by his son and some of his family members, Jones said.

Tuckers son, Abraham Tucker, could not be reached for comment on Friday.
RICHMOND  Virginia Commonwealth University will pay the family of Adam Oakes nearly $1 million, the school announced Friday, as part of a settlement in response to Oakes death in a 2021 fraternity hazing incident.

The agreement, which includes a payment of $995,000, was approved Friday in Fairfax County Circuit Court and includes a number of commitments from VCU to reform its approach to overseeing fraternities and sororities.

An outside investigation conducted in 2021 concluded there are concerns about hazing and binge drinking at VCU that the university has struggled to address.

Oakes died of alcohol poisoning in February 2021 after a big-little party for the VCU chapter of the Delta Chi fraternity. Five former members of the fraternity pleaded guilty or were found guilty of misdemeanor hazing or misdemeanor serving alcohol to a minor.

None of the five received jail time.

VCU permanently banned the fraternity, which faced numerous claims of rule breaking.

The light in all of this is that Virginia Commonwealth University is now making changes to prevent what happened to Adam from happening to anyone else in the future, Oakes family said in a statement.

As part of the settlement, VCU announced a number of changes it will make to fraternity and sorority life, including delaying when students can join student groups and restricting how alcohol is served at parties.

VCU also must follow Adams Law, signed this year by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, which requires colleges to provide in-person hazing prevention training and to publicly report hazing violations.

Now, students have to complete 12 credit hours at VCU before they can join a fraternity or sorority. A student who joins must complete 28 days of new-member education. Fraternities and sororities will be prohibited from serving alcohol at events attended by new members.

Some VCU students oppose making students wait until their second semester to rush a fraternity or sorority. In July, a student group called the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression urged VCU to rescind the policy.

VCU says it will designate Feb. 27, the anniversary of Oakes death, as an annual hazing prevention day and day of remembrance.

The school will restrict how alcohol is served at Greek events, restricting students from buying alcohol from stores. Oakes was instructed to drink a bottle of Jack Daniels. If students provide alcohol, theyll be required to do so through a licensed third-party vendor and notify VCU in advance.

The external investigation determined VCU needs to better control alcohol at big-brother activities. Too often, alcohol is served at recruitment events, which was already against the rules. One chapter adviser told investigators we need to take a more serious look at traditions and the role of alcohol and unsafe behavior in the new member process.

On VCUs fraternity and sorority life web page, the school will add a link to the Love Like Adam Foundation, which celebrates Adams life and contains information about the Oakes familys work to prevent hazing.

As a part of hazing-prevention training, VCU will encourage bystanders to intervene and assist others who may be subjected to hazing, are intoxicated or are at risk of sexual violence, bodily injury or other dangers. Adams Law includes a provision for this type of training.

The law also requires universities to publish a report each semester of any organizations found responsible of violating the student code of conduct. Delta Chi faced discipline each of its last seven years on campus, a Times-Dispatch investigation determined. Had Oakes known the fraternitys reputation, he may not have joined, his family has said.

VCU also plans to build a physical memorial to Oakes on campus.

VCU has agreed to make monumental changes to their Greek system that will hopefully set a precedent for other universities to follow, the Oakes family said.

Oakes family has visited several colleges this semester to provide hazing prevention treatment. But other colleges dont want them on their campuses and are concerned their presence will draw attention, the family said.

Those schools that have allowed our foundation to present see that change is needed and know they want to be a part of the solution, the family said. They see that the system is broken.

Thankfully, VCU sees that and is willing to engage and work with us to make positive change.
Virginia school divisions are on track to save millions by using solar energy.

Over the past two years, the solar capacity of Virginias K-12 schools has more than doubled, according to data from Charlottesville-based advocacy organization Generation180.

Two large solar arrays will soon be installed in Southwest Virginia, in two localities that have historically been coal mining communities: Wise County and Lee County.

In Wise County, the five schools that will go solar will cover almost half of the energy needs at the divisions schools. According to the solar developer, the school division is expected to save $7.5 million over the 35-year lifetime of the solar array.

The progress was largely spurred by a policy change in Virginia allowing tax-exempt entities like schools and localities to use third-party power purchase agreements.

With these agreements, solar developers own and maintain the system for the life of the agreement, or typically around 25 years. In return, the school district purchases the solar energy produced. The contracts allow schools to go solar with no upfront capital costs.

School divisions save millions by paying for solar power, which is much cheaper than standard electricity.

Thats important for school districts around Virginia because its typically the second-highest cost for schools after staffing, said Tish Tablan, program director for Generation180. Instead of paying that money to the utility, thats money they can now reinvest into students, into teacher pay and to learning.

About 94% of the solar capacity installed by K-12 schools was funded through third-party ownership.

Virginia ranks ninth in the U.S. for cumulative solar capacity in K-12 schools and ranks 13th in the nation for the total number of schools with solar. There are now 154 schools powered by solar  an increase of 65 schools over the past two years.

Hanover County Public Schools has four of its schools powered by solar through a contract with Sun Tribe Solar, a Charlottesville solar energy company.

The four projects have saved the school division more than $100,000 each year, and the savings should increase as host utility rates rise.

Historically, host utility rates have increased at a predictable level, but in recent years, they have risen dramatically. Hanover Public Schools was expected to save $183,000 between 2020 and 2022, but actually saved about $202,000 due to the rising cost of standard electricity.

In Henrico County, three schools  Highland Springs High School, J.R. Tucker High School and Holladay Elementary  are in the final stages of solar installation and will begin operating later this fall.

The Henrico school division executed power purchase agreements last year with five schools: Glen Allen High, Harvie Elementary, Holman Middle, Kaechele Elementary and Colonial Trail Elementary. Solar will be installed at those schools in the future, but the exact timeline is unknown, according to Carrie Webster, the countys energy manager.

Henrico, which has active solar installations in other county facilities, projects it will save $4 million over 25 years with its installed or planned solar projects.
Fields and woods at Cherry Hill Woods on Sept. 13, 2022, in Palos Township. The bodies of water inside the forest preserve were recently renamed Cherry Hill Woods Sloughs by the Department of Interior to remove a derogatory term for an indigenous woman from the name. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

A body of water near Palos Park in suburban Cook County has been renamed by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to remove a slur for Indigenous women, a change members of the Native American community welcome with the hope that future generations are spared harm from the word.

The shallow body of waternow dubbed Cherry Hill Woods Sloughs, is one of nearly 650 geographic features across the country to receive a new name after U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who is the first Native American to lead a cabinet agency, issued a secretarial order in November that declared the word squaw derogatory and created a process for reviewing and replacing geographic names that use the term.

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Formerly known as Laughing Squaw Sloughs, the water feature is one of two sites renamed in Illinois on Sept. 8. The other is an island in Calhoun County formerly known as Squaw Island. It will now be named Calhoun Island.

Dorene Wiese, a 73-year-old member of the White Earth Ojibwe Nationand president of the American Indian Association of Illinois, remembers being called the word starting in kindergarten in Minneapolis.

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As a child, you know that its not good, people are calling you a name, Wiese said. And then when you get older, you realize it was really worse than we had thought.

Dating back to the 1800s, cartoon drawings depicted Indigenous women and used the term in an offensive way, Wiese said. She hopes that removing references to the word in place names will be a step to ensure the next generation wont be subjected to its offense, or even know of the word at all.

Thats our hope, that in the future that will be erased, she said.

[ Field Museums new Native Truths exhibit shifts the narrative where it belongs: straight to Indigenous people ]

Removing references to the word started in Illinois more than a year ago.

In 2019, Jim Denomie began raising awareness that a creek in Lake County, named Squaw Creekat the time, contained a slur. Denomie is a citizen of the Bad River Chippewa Indians of Lake Superior and a member of the creeks drainage district, an agency that is largely responsible for ensuring the health of farm fields and reducing environmental contamination, Chairperson Patrick Duby said.

But then Im like, We can take on more than one project,  Duby said. So I started looking into how can we correct a wrong.

[ Column: Welcome the new year and the new Manitou Creek ]

The group worked with local historians, tribes, school district, state senators and more to gather public support and submit a proposal to the Board on Geographic Names to change the name of the waterway to Manitou Creek. Manitou refers to a spirit, Denomie said.

The water itself is the lifeblood of our mother Earth, he added.

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With more than 30 letters of recommendation from levels of government, businesses, tribes and citizens, they submitted a proposal for renaming the creek in September, Duby said, expecting it to be some time before they heard back.

The entrance to Cherry Hill Woods Sept. 13, 2022, in Palos Township. The bodies of water in the forest preserve were recently renamed Cherry Hill Woods Sloughs by the Department of Interior to remove a derogatory term for an indigenous woman from the name. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

The renaming process, as outlined on the Board on Geographic Names website, takes at least six months and requires a compelling reason and evidence of support for the change. In this instance, the board approved the new name of Manitou Creek in early December, and the Manitou Creek Drainage Districts efforts were soon part of a national movement.

Under Haalands order, the Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force received more than 1,000 recommendations for name removal and consulted nearly 70 tribal nations, according to the Department of the Interior. Since February, the word has been referred to as sq___ in all official communications from the department.

In 2021, sq___ became the third term declared derogatory in all uses by the Board on Geographic Names, following pejorative terms for Black people and Japanese people in the 60s and 70s.

Haaland issued an additional order creating the advisory committee on reconciliation in place names tasked with soliciting feedback for additional derogatory terms used on federal land.

I feel a deep obligation to use my platform to ensure that our public lands and waters are accessible and welcoming. That starts with removing racist and derogatory names that have graced federal locations for far too long, Haaland said in a news release.

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While Illinois does not have any federally-recognized tribes within the state, Chicago has one of the largest urban Native American populations in the country. Many members of the Native American community still feel cultural ties to natural places and their names signify honor, said Jasmine Gurneau, president of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative.

They are more than just recreation spaces, they are culturally significant, spiritually significant to us, she said.

The former name of Cherry Hill Woods Sloughs was identified as problematic a few years ago by the Forest Preserves, said Carl Vogel, a spokesman for the Cook County Forest Preseve District in an emailed statement. It was likely coined in the 1940s when the area was used as a landmark for camping.

Today, the area is not accessible by trailand no signage or amenities greet visitors at the site and is not one of the five campsites designated by the Forest Preserve District.

The forest district submitted the name to the task force in April, recommending that it be renamed Muskrat Sloughs, a name selected with input from the Native American community, Vogel said. Gurneau said the muskrat is an animal that plays an important role in many of the creation stories of the Great Lakes tribes.

Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. >

According to a February news release from the Department of the Interior, the task force would prioritize names received from the public and Tribal nations. Both Vogel and Gurneau said its unclear why the name Muskrat Sloughs wasnt selected.

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Regardless, the main issue is that the derogatory name will no longer appear in any capacity, Vogel said in the statement.

The Forest Preserve District will continue to review names to ensure they are respectful, he said. Gurneau said these reviews involve not only looking for potentially derogatory names but also for opportunities to educate communities on what current names represent and honor. For example, she said she is currently working the Skokie Park District, which has several parks named after tribal nations.

Maybe the tribe doesnt want that name to be changed, but what a great opportunity it is to uplift that community, she said.

Wiese said before that Thursdays announcement, she didnt know there were places in Illinois that still used the word. Currently based in Chicago, Wieses current goals as president of the American Indian Association of Illinois are raising awareness of the references to Native Americans in public school mascots across the state and working toward the inclusion of American Indian history in public school curricula.

I think anything that draws attention to Native history in Illinois is important because we have so little information about American Indians here and around the country. Wiese said. Its really been a huge lift to try to get an interest in anything about Native Americans in Chicago and Illinois.

mellis@chicagotribune.com
I expected the Irish schadendfruede.

Although I generally identify as Italian (primarily because of the food, family and temper) my father had red hair, freckles and some relatives in County Somewhere.

My ties to the old country are pretty attenuated, but Ive been around Irish Americans most of my life, so I knew that theyd be a bit gleeful about the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

Mostly, I thought thered be bad jokes and a few tasteless toasts to her Hell-th. But I didnt anticipate the level of vitriol triggered by the passing of the worlds longest-reigning monarch.

It never occurred to me that people I knew, and liked, would be posting memes about dancing jigs and the potato famine (which occurred, um, almost two centuries ago and in which Elizabeth Windsor, old as she was, didnt have a hand.) I was surprised to see some otherwise sensible friends post diatribes about the colonization of their wee bit of earth by this vandal queen.

Worse, though, was the thinly-veiled defense of the Irish Republican Army.

When I mentioned that the IRA had murdered Lord Mountbatten and his innocent 12-year-old grandson in a bombing back in the 1970s, the ones who chose to engage with me tried to do that whataboutism that I myself have fallen into on some regrettable occasions.

Lets be clear: the British have been brutal in Northern Ireland, but that does not excuse the murder of an innocent child (or other innocent children that the terror group targeted.)

And when I say terror group, I mean terror group.

To call the IRA freedom fighters is to fall into the same trap set by Rashida Tlaib, who refers to the PLO with that same sort of terminology, or Ilhan Omar who has a very hard time condemning the folks who kidnap and behead Christians. Terror has no passport, no nationality.

But to be honest, the worst comments werent from what theyve called Irish Twitter, but rather from people who like to appropriate the misery of ancestors they never met, and grievances they never suffered.

You have the typical comments like this one from a professor at Carnegie Mellon, someone named Uju Anya, who tweeted, I heard the chief monarch of a thieving, raping genocidal empire is finally dying. May her pain be excruciating.

The university issued a statement condemning the comments, but she wont lose her job. Imagine if a white professor deliberately used the wrong pronouns of a prominent trans activist. Theyd be suspended. They actually have (Google it.)

But a Black woman can make despicable comments about a (then) dying monarch who never harmed her, who never even met her and who likely had nothing to do with whatever phantom terrors Anyas great-great-great grandmother suffered, and she earns the applause of thousands.

This is the world in which we live.

After my mother died, I received some lovely expressions of sympathy from my political adversaries.

The vast majority of the people were kind, because in the moments of our deepest sorrow most human beings follow their better angels. There were, however, some people who emailed to gloat.

I can only imagine what the British royal family is feeling just now, if they make the mistake of actually checking social media and reading the things from mediocre creatures like the Carnegie Mellon professor, people so insensate and narcissistic that they have no room in their hearts for grace.

There has been such a hardening of discourse, fueled by the aggravating factor of social media anonymity, that its rare to find true, pure, kind sentiment when a public figure dies.

Even someone as universally beloved and uncontroversial as Elizabeth triggers anger and resentment in those who live to find fault, who mine grievance like the Molly Maguires mined coal, who abandon any pretense of decency to feed the gods of their cult of victimization.

Frankly, at this moment, Im as interested in the evils of the British Empire as I am of those perpetrated by the Roman Empire.

The recent nature of the alleged atrocities doesnt distinguish them, for me, from the massacre of Christians by Diocletian, and the bones of the persecuted in Africa bear the same weight as the bones sealed into the walls of the Roman Catacombs. History is replete with evil, and some of it was committed in the name of the empire headed by Elizabeths ancestors.

But she did none of this.

Her legacy is one of service, duty, obligation, decency and honor.

She deserves recognition for what she did, and not for what she bears on her shoulders through some historical proxy.

Shame on those who dont get it.
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TORONTO, Sept. 16, 2022 /CNW/ - RBC Global Asset Management Inc. ("RBC GAM Inc.") today announced August mutual fund net redemptions of $924 million. Long-term funds had net redemptions of $643 million and money market funds had net redemptions of $281 million. Mutual fund assets under management decreased by 2.2 per cent.

RBC (CNW Group/RBC Global Asset Management Inc.)

"Our teams remain committed to maintaining a client-first focus, and providing investment solutions to support them while navigating this challenging market," said Doug Coulter, President of RBC Global Asset Management Inc.

Mutual fund sales results information is based on preliminary data from the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) and only include Canadian prospectus qualified mutual funds.

Please consult your advisor and read the prospectus or Fund Facts document before investing. There may be commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses associated with mutual fund investments. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. RBC Funds, BlueBay Funds and PH&N Funds are offered by RBC GAM Inc. and distributed through authorized dealers in Canada. RBC GAM Inc. is a member of the RBC GAM group of companies and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada.

About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 92,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.

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About RBC Global Asset Management

RBC Global Asset Management (RBC GAM) is the asset management division of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and includes money managers BlueBay Asset Management and Phillips, Hager & North Investment Management. RBC GAM is a provider of global investment management services and solutions to institutional, high-net-worth and individual investors through separate accounts, pooled funds, mutual funds, hedge funds, exchange-traded funds and specialty investment strategies. The RBC GAM group of companies manage approximately $540 billion in assets and have approximately 1,500 employees located across Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.

SOURCE RBC Global Asset Management Inc.

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View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2022/16/c1216.html
 Wetland 3 1.47 ONE INNOVALE3031  ONE INNOVALE2800  600 MIAMI QUAY 5     8.5%1.5       80.1%  91.5  116.46% 4  12 2008   -B 2022    SEC1.56 650   3 13357% 110.8% Wetland 31033 ONE INNOVALE2750    1.058   33% 1610
SOUTH SIOUX CITY  The South Sioux City Public Library may have the look of a crime scene this coming week but there's nothing criminal going on.

South Sioux City Public Library is participating in "Banned Books Week" and to recognize the 40-year-old awareness campaign it's putting up caution and danger tape to block its collections of books, movies and music, according to a press release.

"By having all the materials cordoned off by caution, and danger tape we have the experience of having our materials censored, or made hard to get. We invite readers to reach beyond the caution tape and make their selection," Assistant Director of the South Sioux City Public Library Dan Nieman said.

He then added "When we look at the titles of books that have been challenged. Its easy to yeah that book should be challenged, but when we think about challenging a book, we need to remember that someone else may want to challenge your favorite book or author."

History

This year's theme is "Books Unite Us, Censorship Divides Us," according to the release.

The website for Banned Books Week, bannedbooksweek.org, explains the tradition began in 1982 "in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries."

At the time, some of the most-challenged books included "The Catcher in the Rye", "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century" (a women's health reference).

In the subsequent decade, according to the American Library Association, the three most-challenged books were Alvin Schwartz's "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" (an anthology of horror tales aimed at kids), Michael Willhoite's "Daddy's Roommate" (a children's book about a young boy's divorced father finding a male partner) and "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou (an autobiography in part focused on childhood trauma and racism).

For 2021, the three most-challenged books all dealt with LGBTQIA+ themes and content about sexuality: "Gender Queer" by Maia Kobabe, "Lawn Boy" by Jonathan Evison and "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson. The oldest book on the 2021 Top-10 list is Toni Morrison's 1970 work "The Bluest Eye" which includes depictions of child sexual abuse.

Community

The South Sioux City Public Library's release said "Banned Books Week" is typically held during the last week of September and "brings together the entire book community  librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types  in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular."
Big & Rich still have the energy they displayed at the Tyson Events Center nearly two decades ago. But the duos perspective Friday night wasnt as genre-breaking as it once was.

The party, in fact, didnt get started until DJ Sinister introduced them with a country sampler and let them tell their own story with Rollin.

Aided by Cowboy Troy (a favorite when they last appeared here in 2005), they got the fans standing and ready for a string of hits.

Wild West Show and Look at You preceded Lost in This Moment and then  in probably the biggest shift since that last performance  John Rich and Big Kenny introduced two veterans, let them tell their stories, then launched into 8th of November their story/song about a South Dakota veteran.

The segment was moving  particularly when the two talked. Audience members started chanting U.S.A and the concert became something other than a recitation of hits. Rich, in fact, offered up his own stump speech before paying tribute to other veterans in the audience. He asked them to let themselves be known and, in an arena filled with cellphone lights, encouraged them to sing God Bless America. The audience complied and also joined the two in Tom Pettys I Wont Back Down.

The move was interesting, particularly since Big & Rich once served as mentors to budding country talent. Newcomer CJ Solar was given an opening spot but it was so early in the evening the headliners biggest fans hadnt arrived yet.

Ditto, when Craig Campbell came on. He got to introduce a new truck song and offered up hits like Family Man while still managing to pay tribute to others with a greatest hits medley that included Brand New Man and Heres a Quarter.

Campbell had a more traditional sound than we associate with B&R (he might have been a better fit for Brad Paisley), but he still had Fish which, if you know the song, is a bit rebellious, too.

Cowboy Troy joined the duo (who launched Gretchen Wilson and countless others) and got into the groove we recognized. (Save a Horse? Oh yeah.)

While the stage wasnt stuffed with ramps and screens (which might have been nice), it did boast a heroes bar and a sound system that could have used some work. Many vocals were overridden by the instruments which made them difficult to understand if you werent a hardcore fan.

To bring back the old days, a medley of rock songs brought out the best in the instrumentalists and reminded the crowd of concerts gone by.

Because Big and Rich have written so many hits for others, it could have been another surprise to let the faithful know just how broad their background is. A few remember this one offerings would have added to the night and filled in the years between 2005 and now.

Cowboy Troy, though, made sure no stone was unturned. He did a shake it for me and helped lead the audience in I Like Big Butts. He also brought Uptown Funk.

Eclectic, right? Fridays concert was certainly that and more.
A Maddock, North Dakota woman accused of causing a rabies scare by bringing a wild raccoon into a local bar says her family is "traumatized" by her arrest and the euthanizing of the animal the family was nursing back to health.

Erin Christensen, 38, said she is hoping to pay for an attorney through a GoFundMe "Justice for Rocky" page that has been set up to help her. She did not specify to the Tribune what she would consider justice.

It's illegal under North Dakota Board of Animal Health laws to keep a wild raccoon. Law officers allege Christensen brought one into the Maddock Bar on Sept. 6. Authorities don't believe it came in close contact with any bar patrons, but the incident prompted the state Health and Human Services Department to issue a warning about potential rabies exposure.

Christensen was arrested on Wednesday after officials with the Benson County Sheriff's Office and the state Game and Fish Department executed search warrants at three residences in and near Maddock, one of which was hers. Game and Fish Enforcement Division Chief Scott Winkelman has said it appeared that Christensen tried to evade authorities who were searching for her and the raccoon. The animal was killed so it could be tested for disease.

Christensen said "Police brought a battering ram to break down the front door of the house," and that "The amount of manpower used to find and kill Rocky ... is impressive. A shock-and-awe campaign."

Christensen said her family found the raccoon on the side of a road about three months ago, and initially did not disturb it because they thought its mother might still be nearby. She said that the next day it was apparent the animal had been abandoned, so her family decided to save it from certain death and rehabilitate it to the wild.

"He was still being bottle fed, and he was learning how to forage food that we would place around trees and obstacles," she said.

Christensen believes authorities could have observed the raccoon rather than immediately killed it.

"My children are devastated and inconsolable," she said. "They cried for hours, yesterday. No good deed goes unpunished; clearly that is a harsh lesson for young people to learn."

Health and Human Services has stressed that rabies "is such a serious disease with a nearly 100% fatality rate." The agency stressed that anyone in the bar who might have had contact with the animal should talk to a doctor "as soon as possible." Deputy State Veterinarian Beth Carlson said the raccoon was delivered to the North Dakota State University veterinary diagnostic laboratory, and testing began Thursday.

Christensen said the raccoon showed no signs of illness, and that her family was only "trying to be good stewards of nature by caring for Rocky."

"He was only starving, lonely, and afraid," she said. "He had three good months with my family. Were sad that he will no longer grow into his raccoonness."

Christensen was arrested on charges of giving false information to law enforcement and tampering with evidence, and for a Game and Fish violation of unlawfully possessing a furbearer. Formal charges still were not filed late Friday afternoon. The arresting charges are misdemeanors that together would carry a maximum punishment of a couple of years in jail and fines totaling $7,500. Christensen is free on $1,500 bond.

Maddock is a town of about 500 people in Benson County, about halfway between Carrington and Rugby.
Four people, two of them Chicago police officers, were injured when a Cadillac plowed into a police squad car on its way to a call in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood Friday afternoon.

Around 4:45 p.m., a Cadillac heading north on St. Lawrence Avenue and when it tried to turn east onto 75th Street, it rammed a Chicago Police squad car that was responding to a call for service in the area, according to Anthony Spicuzza, a spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department.

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The police car veered into a light post and crashed into the side of a building while the Cadillac hit a parked, unoccupied car, Spicuzza said.

Paramedics took two male officers to University of Chicago Medical Center, one of them in serious to critical condition and the other in fair condition, said Larry Merritt, spokesperson for the Chicago Fire Department.

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A woman in serious to critical condition was also taken to U. of C. and a man was taken to St. Bernard Hospital in good condition, Merritt said.

None of their injuries were life threatening, Spicuzza added.

A woman driving the Cadillac was cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, Spicuzza said.
SIOUX CITY -- The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center opened in 2002 on the Missouri riverfront in celebration of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial and, 20 years later, the nonprofit cultural complex is thriving.

Massive metal dinosaur sculptures dot the landscape around the sprawling center; York, the first person of color to be represented in animatronic form at the center is on display inside; and the construction of a replica keelboat, which will be used as an outdoor amphitheater, is in the planning stages.

"We're going to have a summer series of theatrical events and music events that will go on in that theater," Executive Director Tracy Bennett said as she she stood next to a much smaller 10-foot replica that commemorates the Corps of Discovery's keelboat. "Within the next two years, we hope to get that up."

But first, Bennett and other staff members have plans to mark the center's big anniversary with two days of family-friendly events on Sept. 24 and 25. Bennett said everyone is welcome to join in the celebration, which features bingo with Seaman the Newfoundland dog, a performance by Many Moccasins Dance Troupe and a membership reception with Native American food tasting.

"On the 24th, we have a dog that looks like the Seaman dog that traveled with Lewis & Clark. Her name is Murphy. She's going to come and play bingo with the kids," Bennett said. "And, then, we're going to have some big yard games that we're going to play. We will have in our gallery all kinds of posters and scrapbooks and a video."

Growing interest

When Bennett took the reins as director roughly a year and a half ago, she said she had some big shoes to fill.

"Marcia (Poole) and Mike (McCormick) lived and breathed everything about this place," she said. "It was so important to them. It truly is a 24-7 kind of position, because we have all kinds of things going on here. But, it's not just what's going on here, it's the actual keeping up of the building."

This past year, Bennett said the center's HVAC system was replaced, roofing work was needed and the entire exterior was painted. She said a pergola was also put up outside.

"Some big things that have cost a lot of money to get done," she said. "We have started to write for some grants, which we have never done before to help facilitate some of the big expenses."

Bennett said the center's staff has also grown, as has its programming and activities for kids. Some 30,000 people visit the center each year. The "Scraposaurs" exhibit, created by Minnesota Artist Dale Lewis, even draws anywhere from 50 to 200 people during the evening, when the center is closed, according to Bennett.

"Because of the interest and because our membership is growing, we have just started to be able to offer more options for people and more reasons for them to come down," she said.

What Bennett said hasn't changed is the commitment and enthusiasm of volunteers.

"The people that were involved 20 years ago, some of them are still involved today," she said. "Anytime I go to that list of people and need a little help for this or that, they are great volunteers."
SIOUX CITY  Responding to the removal of over 50 snakes in a Sioux City home in July, the city is proposing new household limits on such pets.

City staff is recommending that the Council adopt an ordinance that would treat other domestic animals the same as dogs and cats. The city currently allows no more than 3 dogs or cats, with a limit on no more than two of the same species. For example, residents can own two dogs and one cat or two cats and one dog.

The proposed ordinance would expand the definition of domestic animals to any species that "normally is bred, raised, and is accustomed to live in or about human habitation." The list of domesticated animals would include, but not be limited to, dogs, cats, snakes, lizards, rodents, rabbits, ferrets, and birds, according to the ordinance.

Hamsters, guinea pigs and fish would be excluded from the per household limits. The ordinance also would exclude K-9 dogs and other animals owned by the Police Department, animals in a zoo and livestock at a farm.

The ordinance, which the council will consider at its weekly meeting at 4 p.m. Monday at City Hall, follows the city's removal of 58 snakes from a townhouse at 4624 Harrison St. on July 11. Animal control officers removed them after one of the 50 ball pythons escaped from an enclosure in Parker Moos' home and the owner of the adjoining townhouse found it in her garage and called police.

Authorities on July 26 returned 50 ball pythons to Moos, who found a temporary home for them at a rural residence near Lawton, Iowa.

Ball pythons are among the species classified under city code as dangerous animals, and are not permitted within city limits.

Moos said Friday he still has three king snakes and about a dozen corn snakes at his townhouse. Such non-venomous snakes are both permitted under city code.

The ordinance the council is scheduled to consider Monday, though, would likely force him to find new homes for many of his remaining snakes.

"We weren't looking for it to go this way at all," he said Friday. "I don't know what purpose they're serving, pushing to get rid of my snakes."

Moos, a Sioux City Realtor, had originally hoped to see the city change its ordinance to allow ball pythons and certain other types of non-venomous snakes -- as Iowa law does -- within city limits. He launched an online petition drive on Change.org to gain support for the change. He said the particular type of ball pythons he owns don't grow nearly as long or get as heavy as other pythons and are not dangerous, he said.

Moss, who plans to makes his case to the Council at Monday's meeting, said he has consulted with the leader of a U.S. reptile organization.

He noted the non-venomous king and corn snakes take up little space in his townhouse and don't pose a threat to the public.

"They stay in their cages. They don't roam. It's not like they can cause any damage," he said.
A judge on Friday slashed nearly four years off the prison sentence of a star witness who pleaded guilty in the plot to kidnap Michigan's governor and helped federal prosecutors.

Ty Garbin's sentence of 6 1/4 years was reduced to 2 1/2 years, a reward even greater than prosecutors had sought.

U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker cited Garbin's substantial assistance to the government and his own assessment of the 26-year-old airplane mechanic, who cooperated soon after his arrest, pleaded guilty and testified at two trials.

Prosecutors had requested a 36-month reduction while Garbin's attorneys asked for 51 months. Jonker settled on a 45-month break.

Garbin has been in custody since he and five other men were arrested in October 2020. Even after his guilty plea, he's been locked up in local jails instead of the federal system in order to be nearby to assist authorities.

"This puts him in a really great position to transition to home detention or a halfway house pretty quickly, attorney Gary Springstead said of the shorter sentence.

The first trial, last spring, ended with acquittals for Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta and no verdicts for Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr.

Fox and Croft were convicted at a second trial in August in Grand Rapids, Michigan, following Garbin's testimony.

He said the goal was to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from her vacation home and spark a civil war, known among right-wing extremists as the boogaloo. The FBI, which had agents and informants inside the group, stopped the plot.

Garbin will likely testify for prosecutors in separate but related cases filed against others in state court.

Kaleb Franks, 28, also pleaded guilty and assisted the government. He has not been sentenced yet.

White reported from Detroit. Follow him at http://twitter.com/edwritez
A Baltimore judge has ordered the release of Adnan Syed after overturning Syeds conviction for a 1999 murder that was chronicled in the hit podcast Serial. Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn on Monday ordered that Syeds conviction be vacated and she approved the release of the now-41-year-old who has spent more than two decades behind bars. Syed has always maintained that he never killed his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. The case received widespread attention in 2014 when Serial focused on Lees killing and raised doubts about some of the evidence prosecutors had used. Last week, prosecutors filed a motion saying a lengthy investigation had uncovered new evidence that could undermine Syed's conviction.
The Woman King, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and written by Maria Bello and Dana Stevens, portrays the ancient West African Kingdom of Dahomey (todays Republic of Benin) and its legendary all-women regiment, the Agodjie. The film, which opens this weekend, is a vision of Black female power, starring Viola Davis, Sheila Atim, Thuso Mbedu, and Lashana Lynch; its promotional material blurbs a review from Variety that calls the movie the Gladiator of our time. But how does The Woman King handle another part of Dahomeys historythe kingdoms involvement in the slave trade? At a time when the participation of African rulers and middlemen in the Atlantic slave trade gets described by Americans who want to divert attention from their own responsibility for the history of slavery as African complicity, this films task is delicate, indeed.

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Its not the first time that Dahomey and its female military company have appeared in the big screen. In 1987, the movie Cobra Verde, by German filmmaker Werner Herzog, based on the novel The Viceroy of Ouidah (1980) by Bruce Chatwin, represented the powerful West African kingdom and briefly depicted its women warriors. The new movie is also set in Dahomey, in 1823. But the central character is not a white slave trader, as in Herzogs film, but rather Nanisca, a West African woman. Played by Davis, this woman warrior is the head of the Agodjie. These fighters were mainly recruited among the many dozens of royal wives of the king of Dahomey. European traders and travelers who visited the region as early as the 18th century referred to them as the Amazons, evoking the female fighters of Greek myth.

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Although the Agodjie may have emerged in the 18th century, they probably started fighting in military campaigns in the 19th century, especially during the reign of King Gezo (played in the film by John Boyega). As part of Dahomeys army, they fought wars that (by that time in history) were waged with the main intent of producing prisoners to be sold into slavery in the Americas, especially to Brazil and Cuba.

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With its focus on the all-women regiment, The Woman King gets one thing right, by representing Dahomey as a centralized and militarized kingdom, and not a tribe, as popular movies tend to depict historical African states. The kingdom of Dahomeys origins can be traced to the 17th century. But its expansion started in the 18th century, during the most intense period of the Atlantic slave trade. In 1727, Dahomey conquered the Kingdom of Hueda, who lived along the coast, and took control of the port city of Ouidah, inaugurating its active participation in the Atlantic slave trade. Historians estimated that nearly one million enslaved Africans were put on ships to the Americas in Ouidah between 1659 and 1863. The port was the second largest supplier of African captives to the trade, behind only Luanda, in todays Angola.

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King Gezo came to power in 1818, following a coup detat against his half-brother King Adandozan. In 1823, when the films action takes place, the British had already abolished their slave trade, and were putting pressure on West African states and European and American countries such as Portugal, Spain, and Brazil to end their own. Brazil had declared independence from Portugal in 1822, but continued actively importing enslaved Africans, including from Ouidah. Meanwhile, Dahomey had been paying tributes to the Kingdom of Oyo (a state located in todays southwestern Nigeria) since 1748.* In 1823, under Gezos rule, Dahomey fought a war against Oyo and eventually succeeded in ridding itself of the tributes. This is the action thats portrayed in the film.

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The first scene of the movie shows one of the raids led by the Dahomean army. The Agodjie attack a village. In the movie, the women soldiers kill the men and spare the women. In reality, more probably, the soldiers of the Dahomean army (both women and men) would take the healthy, younger villagers as prisoners and walk them to Dahomeys capital, Abomey. The film quickly suggests the various possible fates of these prisoners, by showing that some could be kept in slavery locally, others could be offered in human sacrifices to honor Dahomean deities, and most would be transported to the coast, where they would be sold, and board slave ships sailing to the Americas, especially Brazil.

In more than one scene in The Woman King, Nanisca attempts to convince Gezo that the Europeans are trying to conquer them, and that they would not stop until the whole of Africa is theirs. But at the time the film is set, both the French and the English forts in Ouidah had already been abandoned. The citys modest Portuguese fort Sao Joao Batista was neither like the sumptuous yellowish building represented in the movie, nor was it as big as any of the existing Gold Coast fortresses of Elmina and Cape Coast, which survive in present-day Ghana. This is an important difference because, although Europeans were allowed to build fortresses on Ouidahs shores, Dahomey and its agents always controlled the slave trade in the region.

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The Woman King portrays the Agojie as liberators. In the film, the Mahi, a people established north of Abomey and allied with the Kingdom of Oyo, are seeking to capture Dahomeys subjects, to sell them into slavery. But the reality was quite different. The more powerful Dahomean army was often the one that attacked the Mahi. King Gezo and his predecessors led several incursions against the Mahi during the 18th and 19th centuries. King Adandozan, Gezos half-brother, who preceded him as the king of Dahomey from 1797 to 1818, narrated one of these wars in 1810, in correspondence addressed to the ruler of Portugal. In the missive, he tells in detail how his army killed the Mahi king and his subjects, including women. Most prisoners who escaped alive from these bloody battles were sold and sent into slavery to the Americas, especially Brazil.

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In theory, individuals born in Dahomey were protected against being sold into slavery. But as shown in The Woman King, as the Atlantic slave trade intensified, this rule was often broken, especially during the periods of succession to the throne. Take the example of Gezos father, King Agonglo, who was killed following a palace plot in 1797. When his son, Adandozan (Gezos half-brother) was enthroned, he punished several members of the royal family who participated in the conspiracy against his father by selling them into slavery. One of these family members was one of Agonglos wives, Na Agontime, Gezos mother, who very probably was sent into slavery in Brazil. In the film, Gezo quickly mentions the true story of his mother, sold by his brother into slavery in Brazil, saying that he would not do the same. Yet, in reality, when Gezo came to power through a coup detat against Adandozan in 1818, he punished his half-brothers family members by selling them into slavery outside the kingdoms borders.

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In the movie, Nanisca seems to convince Gezo to stop Dahomean participation in the Atlantic slave trade. As she seeks her daughter, taken as a captive by the Oyos soldiers and transported to Ouidah to be sold into slavery, a dozen Agodjie free their mates, who are chained in a slave pen on the beach. But, like their forerunners, the historical Gezo and his son and successor King Glele continued selling enslaved Africans to Brazilian and Cuban slave traders during the 1850s and 1860s.

Some of these captives were sold into slavery in the United States, as well. Take the example of Oluale Kossola (alias Cudjo Kazoola Lewis), whose village Bante (north of Abomey) was raided by the Dahomean army in 1859. With 109 other captives, Kossola was sent into slavery to Alabama on board the slave ship Clotilda, considered to be the last slave ship to land in the United States. The Woman King depicts Dahomey as the good guys, while the Kingdom of Oyo, the Mahi, and the Portuguese and the Brazilians are portrayed as the bad guys. But in reality, both Oyo and Dahomey sold into slavery the captives they made in the wars they waged during the 19th century.

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Any historical fiction is going to have its inaccuracies. The Woman King, a movie that is, in many ways, a pleasure to watch, depicts the Dahomean female fighters as powerful warriors, a (historically correct!) image that, in the era of Black Lives Matter, speaks positively to Black women who, all over the globe, have been fighting racism and white supremacy. But portraying Dahomeys rulers and soldiers as pioneers of Pan-Africanism, who fought to end the inhumane slave trade, misleads audiences who might know little of African history and sells short the descendants of enslaved Africans who remained in West African soil or who were forcibly sent to the Americas. As one Agodjie from the Mahi country says in the film, she chose to be hunter, not prey. But, unlike their rulers, most African men and women were left with no choice, during the era of the Atlantic slave trade.
What would it be like if, in the Middle Ages, there was a peasant who made influencer-style videos about feast days, Lent, the bones of saints, and his coping mechanism for surviving the plague (buying hats)? Well, he exists on TikTok as @greedypeasant, the quarantine creation of costume designer Tyler Gunther, and he is delightful.

In Gunthers videos, the wholesome and people-pleasing Peasant presents the miseries of medieval life with the chipper narration of modern-day content creator.

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I talked to the king today, he tells the camera in one video as he nibbles on a chicken wing. Now he wants everything purple. Purple! Ive seen purple like once in my life. From a distance. But yeah, OK, everything can be purple. No problem. Ill go buy purple at the market. Excuse me, do you have any purple? Im all out.

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In creating this character, Gunther ignores the romantic, chivalric tropes of the Middle Ages; his Peasant instead lives in the muddy, grubby, disease-ridden version of the time period, but subverts our ideas of the Dark Ages by reveling in dramatic, colorful clothing and the occasional donut, among other simple pleasures.

If you watch every one of his TikToks, as I do, you will get to know some biographical details about the Peasants personal life. He makes a living as a junior pageant planner. His twin brother is a monk who has taken a vow of silence. His gruff father wants him to grow up and get a good honest job as an executioner. He tries too hard to relate to his friends. He dreams of one day designing his villages Christmas pageant. He is gleefully queer and goes on dates, one of which completely flops when the incorruptible body of a saint he and his date have gone to see turns out to be, disappointingly, headless.

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But mostly, what we know about the Peasant is that he lives for pageantry. He adores theatricality in every form, whether it comes from a particularly bold hat or from the macabre obsessions of the medieval church. And he lives, mostly peaceably, during an era of human existencemedieval timesthat has become, in many ways, a modern shorthand for a more barbaric age, marked by mass death and persecution.

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Something about this dichotomy makes for a deep and delightful experience. The Peasant approaches the Middle Ages as camp. But even in subverting ideas of medieval life, Gunther is getting to a more complex understanding of human history.

Medieval Europe was incredibly weird, and incredibly queer, said Sara McDougall, who teaches and researches medieval history at the City University of New York. It played with gender and played with color and shapes and fashion. And there was an obsession with mens fashion, and how men look.

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She said that history shows plenty of Middle Ages men obsessed with hair, and men obsessed with wearing pointy shoes. Men criticizing other men for wearing pointy shoes as a way to be effeminateor as a way of provoking male desire. (The sight of male ankles, in particular, was supposed to have provoked that desire, she said.)

And who could deny that there are drag-like elements of the medieval church? Not the Peasant, who, at one point, begins a story by talking about a High Mass concept that was introduced where everything was, like, a little bit fancier. Theres something inherently fun about such blatant queerness in a religion-drenched period.

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Kevin Uhalde, who studies late antiquity and the early Middle Ages at Ohio University, argued that the Greedy Peasants matter-of-fact sexuality was an interesting and useful way to challenge rigid conceptions of history.

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It is worthwhile to try to shake up peoples ideas about the past, because they tend to be so deeply entrenched, he said. While the political and legal history of the Middle Ages are very important, focusing just on those topics leaves out the vast majority of the human populations that werent directly involved in any of that.

Fiction, he said, such as the medieval world created by Gunther, challenges us to try to be more open and empathetic to people who have never been written into history.

Historians know that men in that period were punished for sodomy, and there are records of men writing of intense love for one another. But the Peasant, with his cheerful and mundane musings, does not live in terror. (He jokes occasionally about the prospect of eternal damnation, but signs indicate the peasants guilt has more to do with sins of omission or just not being nice enough to his mom.) Nor is he consumed by a great passionate love. He just gossips with his coworkers, practices his ditch-digging yoga pose, and shares his astrological signs during confession. The Peasants whole world is queerhis two nun friends are canonically lesbiansand Gunthers trick is that he refuses to let the bigotries of the past (or present) step into this fever-dream medieval fantasy.

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On his website, Gunther acknowledges this, writing: Greedy Peasant seeks to broaden our understanding of the queer imagination during the middle ages. Its an exercise in getting people to use their imagination a little bit with the past. (Gunther declined to talk to Slate on the record about the Peasant in an effort to keep him and his world as medieval & mysterious as possible.)

Other characters that inhabit the world of the Peasant, and are voiced or acted by Gunther, include a lady-in-waiting who isnt sure what she is waiting for, gossipy medieval reliquaries (one competes in RuPauls Drag Race), and a medieval doctor who relies just a little too heavily on bloodletting. All revel in a contrast of anachronistic fiction that somehow celebrates the strangeness of that ageand the strangeness of today. The petty and the gothic, the upbeat and the comically dark. In my favorite of Gunthers videos, a nun receives a relic donation and has to sort out which bones belong to which saints. She knows these bones origins are dubious, but it doesnt dampen her cheerfulness. Theres no sign of religious piety herejust the morbid thrill of participating in something deeply weird. Amazing, she says, with glee. This is why I became a nun.
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When Tim Cook was recently asked by a reporter whose mom uses an Android phone whether he was doing anything to improve texting with non-iPhone users, Cook responded: Buy your mom an iPhone.

When I first read this, my mind turned to a subject that has been on my mind a lot: borders. Specifically, the ways in which they still matter.

The realms of Android and iMessage arent separate territories on a map in a literal sense, but borders pop up in all sorts of unexpected places, even in the world of technology, where engineers fetishize the concept of interoperability. Closer to home, where I work for a university that prides itself on being innovative and transdisciplinary, borders between academic units and disciplines retain a stubborn resilience.

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The fact that actual borders between actual American states are becoming more rather than less meaningful feels like a reversal of times normal progression. The Supreme Courts unprincipled stab in the back to our most intimate rights, and to the concept of the Union as their primary guarantor, now means we are all at the mercy of our individual states. Hop on to one of our wondrous interstate highwaysmonuments to that fading yearning to transcend bordersand the extent to which you can assert some fundamental human rights will vary depending on the most recent dopey Welcome to the XX State sign you drove by.

I have been feasting over the past year on Rick Perlsteins engaging histories of the tumultuous voyage from the Goldwater movement to the Reagan revolutionthe saga encompassed in his four masterpieces Before the Storm, Nixonland, The Invisible Bridge, and Reaganlandwhich are a reminder that anxieties about borders are a constant in our history. Within the more isolationist and populist base, the term globaloney was often used to describe the partys elites internationalism. But what constitutes globaloney can shift over time: At one point in The Invisible Bridge, Perlstein recounts how as a candidate leading up to the 1980 Republican primaries, Reagan asked his advisers to prepare an open border proposal to allow Mexican workers to come and go freely.

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In The Lawless Roads, a book about his travels through Mexico in the 1930s, the English novelist Graham Greene wrote: The border means more than a customs house, a passport officer, a man with a gun. Over there everything is going to be different; life is never going to be quite the same again after your passport has been stamped.

That 2,000-mile-long border to the south remains a particularly nettlesome riddle. I cant turn on the television in Arizona without seeing campaign commercials featuring a candidate standing by the border, promising to finish the wall, mobilize the military, dig ditches, unspool barbed wire, or do whatever else is necessary to secure the porous line in the sand and protect us from its unspeakable dangers and from their opponents espousing a Reaganesque open border. In the real world, meanwhile, beyond elections, Mexico and the United States are so intertwined that the recent legislation passed in Congress providing subsidies for electrical vehicles produced domestically counts Mexico and Canada as being on this side of the customs house, the passport officer, and the man with the gun.

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And yet, Greene wasnt wrong, things are different down there, once your passport has been stamped. On the day my colleague Mia Armstrong published this piece on the persistence of mask-wearing in Mexico, I was flying down to Mexico City from Houston. Our flight attendant announced before takeoff in Houston that while we no longer needed to wear masks during the flight, wed all better have one as we would need to put it on upon landing in Mexico, or we wouldnt be able to go through the airport, which still has a mask mandate in place. Groans ensued. Borders still matter.

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Mia got married last weekend, by the way, to a Mexican she first met while spending a college semester on an exchange program in Mexico City. The wedding was a moving tribute to globaloneys highest ideals, the fusion of two cultures and nations, at the familial level. Mia and Ricardo proved love can transcend distance and borders, and that made their celebration all the more meaningful.

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I also discovered they have transcended the border between iPhone and Android, because she has an iPhone and Ricardo has an Android. What about texting interoperability, I ask.

Well, we only use Whatsapp! Mia answers, because Mexico.

But it has been difficult between him and her family, Mia conceded.

We had to get my parents on WhatsApp.

Take that, Tim Cook.

Here are some stories from the recent past of Future Tense.

Nitish Pahwa and Emma Wallenbrock Could the Internet Archive Go Out Like Napster?

Aki Peritz A Fun, Easy New Way for Students to Cheat

Jason Kelley If Caring About Your Digital Privacy Makes Me a Cult Member, Sign Me Up

Danielle Keats Citron and Alison Gocke Nancy Pelosi Is Blocking Landmark Data Privacy Legislationfor a Good Reason

Wish Wed Published This

Amazon Wanted a Lord of the Rings Show. It Turned to Frodo and Sam, by Ben Cohen, the Wall Street Journal

What Next: TBD

On Fridays episode of Slates technology podcast, host Lizzie OLeary talks to Protocols Issie Lapowsky and organizer Wanda Manning about the fight for broadband in Louisianaand in rural communities across the U.S. Last week, Lizzie dug in to YouTube with writer and former Google employee Claire Stapleton and Mark Bergen, author of Like, Comment, Subscribe: Inside YouTubes Chaotic Rise to World Domination. She also chatted with the Washington Posts Drew Harwell on how A.I. is changing art. Tomorrow, Lizzie will talk to ProPublicas Cezary Podkul about how human traffickers are forcing their victims into cybercrime.

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On Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 12 p.m. ET, join Annual Reviews, Knowable Magazine, and Future Tense for a conversation about the challenges that the climate crisis poses for insuranceand why some experts think that new forms of insurance, built on technological advances in data collection and machine learning, could be one of the most effective ways to make communities more resilient. RSVP now for a conversation between Alice Hill, senior fellow for climate change policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, and Carolyn Kousky, associate vice president for economics and policy at the Environmental Defense Fund.

Then, on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m., join the New America Fellows program for a conversation with Rachel Aviv about Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us. In the deeply reported book, Aviv writes about people who have come up against the limits of psychiatric explanations for who they are, and explores how the stories we tell about mental illness shape its course in our lives.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
https://sputniknews.com/20220916/draft-us-russia-sanctions-bill-risks-punishing-african-continent---south-african-president-1100884671.html

Draft US Russia Sanctions Bill Risks Punishing African Continent - South African President

Draft US Russia Sanctions Bill Risks Punishing African Continent - South African President

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - A new draft bill in the US Congress that would impose new anti-Russia sanctions related to Moscow's activity in Africa risks punishing... 16.09.2022, Sputnik International

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"If the Countering Malign Russia Activities [in Africa] bill were to become a US law, the law could have the unintended consequence of punishing the African continent for efforts to advance development and growth," Ramaphosa said on Friday.The Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act would punish African governments that support Russia's so-called "malign activities" on the continent. The bill passed the House of Representatives in April and is now in the Senate for consideration.South Africa's president further said it is disappointing that US lawmakers crafted the anti-Russia legislation at a time when President Joe Biden has sought to engage African countries on the basis of respect for their independence and sovereignty.The United States and Russia are strategic partners for South Africa, a sovereign country that pursues an independent foreign policy, Ramaphosa said.Ramaphosa visited Washington on Friday for a bilateral meeting with Biden at the White House.Both leaders were expected to discuss trade investment, infrastructure, climate and energy, health, as well as discuss several pressing regional and global challenges, such as the situation in Ukraine, according to a senior Biden administration official.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220916/egyptologist-close-to-identifying-nefertiti-who-may-have-ruled-egypt-1300-years-before-cleopatra-1100885400.html

Egyptologist Close to Identifying Nefertiti, Who May Have Ruled Egypt 1300 Years Before Cleopatra

Egyptologist Close to Identifying Nefertiti, Who May Have Ruled Egypt 1300 Years Before Cleopatra

While ancient Egypt has been studied by modern archaeologists since the 1800s, it is estimated that only about 30% of artifacts present underground have been... 16.09.2022, Sputnik International

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Egyptologist Zahi Hawass believes he is close to proving that the body of a mummy first discovered in the 1800s is Queen Nefertiti, the wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten and mother of Tutankhamun, better known as King Tut. Nefertiti lived between roughly 1370 and 1330 BC.Hawass also believes that another mummy found in the same tomb is Ankhesenamun, the wife of Tutankhamun. He says he will be able to confirm his theory in October. Hawass is preparing an exhibition called Daughters of the Nile that will focus on the women of ancient Egypt during the pharaonic period.In addition to being the wife of Akhenaten and mother of Tutankhamun, many Egyptologists believe that Nefertiti ruled Egypt for a short time after the death of Akhenaten, though others disagree. If true, she would have taken the throne roughly 1300 years before Cleopatra.Hawass believes a mummy of a ten-year-old boy found in a different tomb (KV35) could be the brother of Tutankhamun and the son of Akhenaten. If that can be determined, then Hawass believes the mystery of Nefertiti will be solved.Both female mummies were found in a tomb named KV21. It was discovered in 1817 by prolific Italian explorer and early Egyptian archaeologist Giovanni Belzoni. It was later mapped by another famous early Egyptologist James Burton in 1825, who noted that it was well preserved and suffered no water damage.However, by the time the tomb was reinvestigated in 1989 during the Valley of the Kings project by Pacific Lutheran University, it had suffered significant damage. Water damage could be seen on the walls, indicating flooding. Bat guano was also present in the tombs, graffiti adorned the walls, and pieces of the mummies, which had been intact, were damaged and some parts were strewn across the room.In 1990, the tomb was secured with a steel gate, the mummies were reassembled as much as possible, and the valuables inside were put into protective coverings. In 1994, water entered the tomb again, but none of the objects inside were damaged.In the 2010s, Hawass started performing CT scanning and DNA analysis on the mummies, though initially they were not intact enough to determine their identities, only that they were from the 18th dynasty. Both mummies were found with their left arm over the chest, a pose reserved for queens.Akhenaten and Nefertiti sat on the Egyptian throne during a wealthy period in Egypts history that also saw a religious revolution spearheaded by Akhenaten and Nefertiti. Under Akhenatens rule, Egypt switched from being a polytheistic religion to a monotheistic religion that worshiped only the son god Aten. He also moved the capital city from Thebes to Amarna, possibly to weaken the power of the old priests. Those reforms were reversed shortly after Akhenatens death, either during Nefertitis theorized reign or early on in Tutankhamuns reign as a child king.

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People dance in celebration of Mexican Independence Day on South Michigan Avenue in Chicago on Sept. 16, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Tens of thousands of revelers and cars donning Mexican flags and colors took over downtown into the early hours of Saturday in celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

Among the excited crowds enjoying themselves, at least two men were shot and others were robbed and carjacked downtown, officials said, adding that most of the festivities were not violent.

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Additionally, car caravans and drag racing created total gridlock in some places, causing some people fright and others delays in getting to work, said Mayor Lori Lightfoot at an afternoon news conference at the Harrison Park Field House, 1824 S. Wood St., located next to the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen.

Stop sticks, or tire deflation devices, and street closures were planned for the rest of the weekend to diminish the problems the racing and drifting created, officials said at the conference, which also included Chicago police Superintendent David Brown and other officers.

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Last night our cultural pride was on display, Lightfoot said. Chicago is home to one of the largest Mexican communities in the United States and proudly so.

Public safety was an issue Friday night, Brown said, as well as attacks on officers including one brawl that involved someone throwing a frozen water bottle in the face of an officer, who had to be hospitalized.

Reporters asked about the two shootings and carjacking.

We do believe that both incidents were directly related to the caravans, said Police Chief Brian McDermott when asked about the shootings.

Brown downplayed the attacks.

We dont have information as of now, that the carjacking was related to car caravaning at all, Brown said.

Overall, said Brown, there was no violence.

I wouldnt want to conflate any single kind of one-off incidents with this whole thing has been violent ... that would be inaccurate.

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Lightoot partially echoed Browns statement, saying the celebrations were largely peaceful. But unfortunately some were engaged in unsafe and reckless behavior, Lightfoot said, adding those behaviors diminished the event.

Lightfoot said she was here to encourage everyone across our city to use common sense in celebrating Mexican Independence Day.

Caravans and drag racing triggered traffic snarls that made it hard for some to get to work. Some are just plain scared, to be driving near the festivities, Lightfoot said.

Brown, who spoke of the plan for Saturday night, said we are going to make adjustments, based on the incidents that happened Friday night.

Brown, who urged safe celebrations, said this should be a time for everyone to have a great time.

Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendivil, consul general of Mexico in Chicago, called for people to celebrate their culture like us Mexicans know how, respectfully.

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We dont want to, because of a few, hear people talk negatively about our community, Torres Mendivil said. Our community gives plenty of reasons for people to talk about us with pride of who our community members are, how hardworking they are and how we celebrate with enthusiasm and joy.

McDermott addressed road closures for the rest of the weekend to avoid the total gridlock which happened in the city, especially in the Central District. Stop sticks, tire deflation devices were planned for use, he said.

There will not be a total closure of downtown, but they will occur intermittently, McDermott said.

McDermott, when asked by a reporter which de-escalation methods police would be using, said that he witnessed those methods every minute the officers were out there as people were in their face yelling and screaming, dancing on buses or flipping them the bird.

We dont rush in there with a heavy hand and start kicking people off the bus, McDermott said.

Citing preliminary data, McDermott said there were at least seven arrests, six cars impounded, 176 parking tickets issued and four guns recovered in the last two days.

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Brown said the Police Department will be towing more vehicles and will tow cars retroactively if they are found illegally parked or drag racing.

We will relentlessly follow up on these people that are drag racing in the streets, Brown said. We have hundreds of cameras across the city. Were already identifying those vehicles.

Those who are identified can be arrested and face fines of up to $10,000, Brown said.

Illinois State Police will be assisting with ramp closures, beginning at 5 p.m., they said. The closures will be set up at various locations into the city, ISP said. The closures are expected to remain in effect throughout the evening.

Torres Mendivil invited people to visit Pilsen fest Saturday night to hear El Grito de Independencia, a cry that marked the fight for independence and is commemorated in Mexican Independence Day celebrations.

She told people to go display their flags and decorated cars with pride and respect and while following the law and instructions of city officials.

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I want to tell our community to feel proud to celebrate Mexico, Torres Mendivil said. Its beautiful, truly beautiful, to see the city painted in green, white and red during these festivities.

Both shootings happened on Wacker Drive.

At 1:08 a.m., a 29-year-old Rockford man was a passenger in a pickup truck that was stopped in gridlock traffic in the 100 block of South Wacker Drive, a Chicago police report said. When he stepped out of the pickup waving the Mexican flag he exchanged words with people in another stopped car and someone inside that car opened fire and shot the man in his buttocks and back, the report said. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was in good condition.

In the first block of East Wacker Drive around 1:10 a.m., a 27-year-old man was walking on the sidewalk when a group of people started beating him and one assailant shot him in the head, police said.

That man was also taken to Northwestern Hospital in good condition.

The carjacking and robbery happened during continuing celebrations around 3:15 a.m. when a group of five people were in a stopped car on the 1400 block of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive, police said.

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An armed person approached them and demanded that they get out of the car, police said. The robber took several necklaces from two of the people in the group and then took the SUV they were in, a 2011 Nissan Rogue with an Illinois license plate, DD47882. No one was physically injured.

Vehicle traffic is stopped on Monroe Street as people celebrate Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16, 2022, in Chicago's Loop. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Later on Saturday, after the news conference wrapped, sisters Jacqueline Montoya, 33, and Michelle Montoya, 28, sat under a canopy eating at Pilsen Fest nearby and shared their reactions about celebrating the holiday.

Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. >

I think its good for us to show our pride and our culture and be proud of it because Im first-generation Mexican, Jacqueline Montoya said.

However I think it is very inconvenient because Ive worked in the industry in restaurants and bars and I think its inconvenient for them when people are trying to go home and all the streets are closed down because people are acting reckless, Jacqueline Montoya said of the traffic backups in the downtown area.

The sisters of Chicagos Northwest Side, left a concert Friday night in the Pilsen area and they saw people dancing on cars in the streets.

It makes it unsafe to drive, Michelle Montoya said.

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The sisters said they would love for there to be a safe space downtown for people to celebrate, like blocking off an area in the citys center.

Jacqueline Montoya said the crime that does happen during celebrations can create a negative perception of the community. When its not like that at all, she added.

Were mostly loving people that just want to celebrate and express our culture and our values.
https://sputniknews.com/20220916/floods-in-cantiano-italy-kill-10-people-and-leave-several-missing-1100885834.html

Floods in Cantiano, Italy Kill 10 People and Leave Several Missing

Floods in Cantiano, Italy Kill 10 People and Leave Several Missing

Hours of rainfall triggered the flooding in Italys central region of Marche, which rests on the Adriatic Sea. Sixteen inches of rain poured throughout the... 16.09.2022, Sputnik International

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2022-09-16T22:22+0000

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Ten people have been killed and another four have been reported missing after a catastrophic flood broke out in the central Italian region of Marche on Friday. Local authorities reportedly said they did not anticipate the torrential downpours. Around 15.75 inches (400 millimeters) of rain fell onto the city of Cantiano.Some survivors had to be flown by helicopter to remote towns in the Apennine Mountains, and about 40 people were treated at hospitals for their injuries in the wake of the catastrophe, according to Italian officials.Dozens of survivors were forced to seek refuge from the powerful floods by holding onto branches or climbing on top of roofs while awaiting rescue. The extreme weather event is one of several Italy has experienced this year. The country has also been hit by summer wildfires, melting Alpine glaciers and rising sea levels that have had an adverse effect on the boot-shaped peninsula, which is surrounded by four different seas.Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi visited the region after the catastrophe and voiced his concern that climate change was turning flood risks into emergencies,'' adding that an infrastructure investment would be needed to help prevent future floods and that tackling climate change is also necessary to prevent the natural catastrophes. Draghi announced 5 million euros in aid for the region following the flood.Fridays deadly flood stretched across the region of Marche from its inland hills to the Adriatic coast. It hit the town of Sassoferrato, whose mayor called the flood unpredictable.Massimiliano Fazzini told Italian state TV that the event was an extreme event more than an exceptional one, as the amount of rain falling on the region over a four-hour period was the most it has seen in hundreds of years, equivalent to the average level of precipitation over a six-month period. The hillsides were also unnaturally hard and brittle following a drought-like summer of little to no rain, accelerating the flow of runoff.The floods swept through residents garages and basements, burst through doors, crushed cars and destroyed farm fields, and in one instance, a car was pushed onto a second-story balcony by the incredible rain.It wasnt a water bomb, it was a tsunami, said Riccardo Pasqualini, the mayor of Barbara, who said the flood left his towns 1,300 residents without drinking water and that a mother and her daughter went missing while trying to survive the flood.You could see cars in the middle of the road that drifted away in the flood, debris everywhere, screams. It was chaos, said Mirco Santarelli, a Cantiano resident, to The Associated Press.

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floods, italy
https://sputniknews.com/20220916/israel-palestinian-tensions-getting-worse-by-the-day---jordanian-foreign-minister-1100885290.html

Israel-Palestinian Tensions 'Getting Worse by the Day' - Jordanian Foreign Minister

Israel-Palestinian Tensions 'Getting Worse by the Day' - Jordanian Foreign Minister

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The conflicts between Israel and the Palestinians are getting worse by the day as settlement building and other encroachments continue... 16.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-16T21:58+0000

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"The situation is alarming," Safadi, who also serves as his country's deputy prime minister, told a meeting at the Wilson Center on Friday. "It is getting worse by the day."Safadi said the Jordanian government was urging Israel to stop all unilateral measures that undermined the two-state solution in terms of settlements, confiscation of land, or encroachment on the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.Israel's continuing unilateral actions on the West Bank and in Gaza continued to undermine prospects for a two state solution that remained the only possible way for a comprehensive, just and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace to finally end the long conflict, Safadi said.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220917/big-tech-views-most-conservatives-as-domestic-terrorists-1100886771.html

Big Tech Views Most Conservatives as Domestic Terrorists

Big Tech Views Most Conservatives as Domestic Terrorists

On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including President Putin's warning of a more serious response in Ukraine... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T08:32+0000

2022-09-17T08:32+0000

2022-09-17T08:32+0000

open borders

georgia

drones

midterms

the backstory

radio

radio sputnik

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Big Tech Views Most Conservatives as Domestic Terrorists On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including President Putin's warning of a more serious response in Ukraine, and Nancy Pelosi planning to visit Armenia.

Addy Adds - Former Teacher, Reporter, and Commentator| The Lack of Courage in Modern Journalism, Laziness in Journalism, and Stacey AbramsMark Krikorian - Executive Director of Center for Immigration Studies | Liberals Go Crazy in Martha's Vineyard, Democrats Don't Want Media Coverage on Immigration, and Title 42In the first hour, Lee spoke with Addy Adds about his experience in journalism, Addy's discussions with California Republicans, and Alan Dershowitz. Addy talked about his interview with New York Libertarian Larry Sharpe and Larry being excluded from the New York Governor race. Addy spoke about how the FBI seized the phone of Mike Lindell and Mike Lindell hired Alan Dershowitz to represent him against the FBI.In the second hour, Lee spoke with Mark Krikorian about the situation at the Southern border, the Biden policy on immigration, and Marco Rubio. Mark explained his recent attendance at a Conservative conference in Florida and Ron DeSantis's comments on both illegal immigration and legal immigration. Mark discussed the illegal immigrants sent to Martha's Vineyard and Barack Obama's silence on housing these illegal immigrants at his Martha's Vineyard mansion.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik

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open borders, georgia, drones, midterms, , radio, radio sputnik
https://sputniknews.com/20220917/dod-fears-sending-long-range-missiles-to-kiev-could-provoke-war-after-moscows-red-lines-warning-1100907274.html

DoD Fears Giving Kiev Long-Range Missiles May Provoke War After Moscows Red Lines Warning: Report

DoD Fears Giving Kiev Long-Range Missiles May Provoke War After Moscows Red Lines Warning: Report

Moscow has repeatedly called on the US and its NATO allies to stop arming Ukraine, warning that the weapons deliveries threaten to escalate the conflict. The... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T16:10+0000

2022-09-17T16:10+0000

2022-09-17T16:53+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

military aid

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pentagon

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Senior Pentagon officials petitioned the White House to scrap plans to deliver a long-range missile system to Ukraine over fears that sending it could provoke a major escalation with Russia, CNBC News has reported, citing two military officials said to be familiar with the matter.Officials at the Department of Defense reportedly expressed concerns that sending Ukraine the requested MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS)  which has an effective firing range of 300+ km, could be used against targets inside Russian territory.Moscow has repeatedly warned the US not to send the ATACMS, which can be fired using M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS mobile rocket launch systems already being used by the Ukrainian military, to Kiev.If Washington decides to supply Ukraine with longer-range missiles, it will cross a red line, becoming directly involved in the conflict. We reserve the right to defend our territory by any means available, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.Kievs request to obtain the long-range strike system was first reported on Monday.The White House announced a package of $600 million in new military assistance to Kiev on Thursday, including ammunition for HIMARS, 155mm artillery shells, mines, radar equipment, anti-drone systems, and cold weather gear. But ATACMS were not listed among the new aid.The US and its allies used ATACMS during the Persian Gulf War, and the US-led wars and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq in the 2000s and 2010s. Along with the US, the system is operated by Greece, Turkey, Romania, South Korea, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.The United States and its allies have delivered more than $34 billion in military equipment since January, equivalent to well over half of Russias $66 billion military budget in 2021.Last month, ex-Trump Pentagon advisor Douglas Macgregor warned that funneling more weapons systems to Kiev would escalate the conflict and cause irreparable damage to Ukraine itself, but wouldnt change the strategic outcome of the conflict.Even if NATOs European members, together with Washington, DC, provided Ukrainian troops with a new avalanche of weapons, and it arrived at the front instead of disappearing into the black hole of Ukrainian corruption, the training and tactical leadership required to conduct complex offensive operations does not exist inside Ukraines 700,000-man army, Macgregor wrote.

https://sputniknews.com/20220914/us-to-be-dragged-into-conflict-with-russia-if-kiev-gets-long-range-missiles--antonov-1100785569.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220823/us-may-be-providing-ukraine-with-more-weapons-than-publicly-announced---reports-1099881490.html

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Ilya Tsukanov

military aid, army tactical missile system (atacms), pentagon
https://sputniknews.com/20220917/dunkin-dosantis-1100887494.html

Dunkin' DoSantis

Dunkin' DoSantis

Floridas governor Ron DeSantis is the latest Republican to jump on the political bandwagon of sending migrants seeking asylum to Democratic states as a sort... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T01:04+0000

2022-09-17T01:04+0000

2022-09-17T01:04+0000

americas

immigration

ron desantis

asylum seeker

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"States like Massachusetts, New York and California will better facilitate the care of these individuals who they have invited into our country by incentivizing illegal immigration, said a spokesperson for DeSantis. It is the latest move by Republican politicians, including the governors of Texas and Arizona, to try and stretch Democratic states social safety-nets thin in an effort to antagonize the Biden administration and the Democratic party over immigration policies.About 50 asylum seekers from Venezuela were packed into a small parish house near St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Edgartown, where resources to assist them were sparse, including limited housing options. The asylum seekers were also given false information on where they were going. Some believed they were being taken to New York City, while others were told they were being taken to Boston.The asylum seekers have since been moved to Joint Base Cape Cod, where they will be provided shelter, food and other assistance, according to an announcement made by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker on Friday.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220917/germanys-scholz-says-talks-with-putin-always-friendly-in-tone-1100905780.html

Germany's Scholz Says Talks With Putin Always Friendly in Tone

Germany's Scholz Says Talks With Putin Always Friendly in Tone

BERLIN (Sputnik) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shared a rare glimpse into his phone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that these... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T14:29+0000

2022-09-17T14:29+0000

2022-09-17T14:29+0000

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vladimir putin

olaf scholz

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"If I summarize all the conversations I have had with him [President Putin] recently, there has certainly been some progress," Scholz told the Deutschlandfunk broadcaster, adding that "the tone always remains friendly" even though their views on the Ukraine crisis are "very different."The German leader also noted the importance of dialogue with Russia, naming some of the topics addressed in talks. According to Scholz, he discussed humanitarian matters, such as grain exports and access to the captured soldiers, besides "the demands to withdraw troops."Putin and Scholz held a 90-minute phone conversation on Tuesday, discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and other related issues.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220917/ill-bring-gel-you-bring-hairspray-newsom---desantis-feud-gets-hairy-over-border-crisis-1100891168.html

'Ill Bring Gel, You Bring Hairspray': Newsom/DeSantis Feud Gets Hairy Over Border Crisis

'Ill Bring Gel, You Bring Hairspray': Newsom/DeSantis Feud Gets Hairy Over Border Crisis

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have been trading verbal jabs for some time now. Newsom, a Democrat, has taken swipes at one... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T07:10+0000

2022-09-17T07:10+0000

2022-09-17T08:05+0000

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us

gavin newsom

ron desantis

us-mexico border

migrants

joe biden

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The long-running spat between California Governor Gavin Newsom and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reached unprecedented levels on Friday, with the Democrat challenging his Republican counterpart to a debate on CNN.Newsom went on Twitter to call out DeSantis for playing politics with peoples lives, and suggested they take this up.Ill bring my hair gel. You bring your hairspray. Name the time before Election Day," Newsom tweeted.The escalation in their war of words, raging for months now, came after DeSantis boasted about flying two plane-loads of migrants to the affluent Massachusetts resort of Martha's Vineyard in frustration over the unmitigated US border crisis, saying that, "every community in America should be sharing in the burdens. It shouldn't all fall on a handful of red [Republican] states."Newsom penned a letter to the United States Attorney General Merrick Garland, calling on the Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation into the incident. He called DeSantis actions morally reprehensible and suggested that they might even be illegal. During a press conference on Friday, the Democrat governor continued to up the ante, branding DeSantis a disgrace".DeSantis used his own Friday press conference to retaliate.Newsom and DeSantis have been taking swipes at each other for months. The California governor has torched the policies and laws enacted by his Florida colleague and has unleashed a barrage of criticism on other GOP targets. Migrant policies have been just one of the topics.DeSantis has been sending migrants to different states, as has Texas Governor Greg Abbott who on Thursday sent two buses containing more than 100 migrants to a location near the residence of Vice-President Kamala Harris in Washington, DC.DeSantis said that Florida isn't a sanctuary state.The Republican governors have been lambasting the Biden administration for continuing to turn a blind eye to the continuing crisis at the US southern border.Fellow Republican, Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona, has also adopted the approach started by Abbott in April, sending busloads of immigrants to the nation's capital, and saying in a news release that the trips, which are voluntary, are the result of little action or assistance from the federal government.Since Biden took office, more than a million migrants have entered the country, according to figures cited by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).Republicans have blamed the border crisis on President Joe Bidens determination to undo everything former President Donald Trump did by implementing open border policies and scrapping a number of restrictive measures against illegal migrants that had been set in place by the former president.

https://sputniknews.com/20220916/texas-gov-abbott-slams-hypocrite-in-chief-biden-after-wh-calls-migrant-bussing-illegal-stunt--1100838329.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220721/biden-administration-is-deaf-to-dangers-presented-by-border-crisis-immigration-expert-says-1097655198.html

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us, gavin newsom, ron desantis, us-mexico border, migrants, joe biden
https://sputniknews.com/20220917/it-wont-be-a-quiet-period-jan-6-committee-plans-to-push-out-info-before-november-midterms-1100889684.html

It Wont be a Quiet Period: Jan 6 Committee Plans to Push Out Info Before November Mid-terms

It Wont be a Quiet Period: Jan 6 Committee Plans to Push Out Info Before November Mid-terms

In July, members of the House select committee investigating the breach of the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, suggested that a preliminary report would be... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T05:37+0000

2022-09-17T05:37+0000

2022-09-17T06:57+0000

americas

donald trump

us

us capitol

investigation

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The US House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol intends to hold at least one more public hearing and release its preliminary report just before the November mid-term elections, Axios reported.With that scheduling, October "wont be a quiet period", Bennie Thompson, a Democrat representative from Mississippi, conceded.Thompson, chairman of the nine-member cross-party panel which is keen to avoid any suggestion of partisanship or politicization, insisted their work had been fairly free of those kind of complaints.Though saying the committee would not want to interfere with the [mid-term] election", Thompson admitted that the time sandwiched between a hearing planned for 28 September and the mid-term elections on 8 November would probably result in some information being pushed out.The panel may also release its interim report in that period. Thompson told journalists on 13 September that the committee's mandate expires at the end of the year, unlike the Justice Department investigation and the inquiry by a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia. Separate investigations into the businesses and tax returns of former President Donald Trump are also continuing."We sunset Dec 31", Thompson said.Other members of the panel told Axios the mid-term elections were not a big factor in their scheduling.Representative Jamie Raskin - a Maryland Democrat and a member of the committee - insisted that the panel had "a good reputation with the American people for sticking to the facts". However, expecting criticism over the timing of the inquiry's schedule, Raskin said:Representative Stephanie Murphy - a Democrat from Florida - added that, this effort is not political, so I am indifferent to when the election is.Representative Zoe Lofgren - a California Democrat - said that the committee was just working at our own pace and was set to release the report when were ready.Recent revelations could possibly sway voters' minds ahead of the mid-terms, when all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats are up for grabs.Democrats at present have narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, and have been attempting to boost their chances to retain control of at least one.Democrats prospects for the mid-terms have somewhat improved  theyre now up to a 71 percent chance of keeping the Senate and a 29 percent chance of retaining the House, according to the 2022 FiveThirtyEight mid-term election forecast.Witch Hunt ProbeFormer President Donald Trump and the Republicans have repeatedly slammed the inquiry - commonly known as the January 6th Committee. On that day, protesters breached the US Capitol building after a rally held by Trump outside the White House at which he alleged that Democrat Joe Biden had only won the November 2020 election fraudulently.The riot disrupted a joint session of Congress that was counting electoral votes to formalize Bidens victory. Five people, including a Capitol police officer, died as a result of the events.Trump, who had repeatedly claimed the rigged 2020 presidential election had been stolen from him, was accused of inciting an insurrection, and impeached by the US House of Representatives. However, he was later acquitted by the US Senate in a trial weeks after he left office.The 45th POTUS has called the committee's inquiry a witch hunt, and his GOP allies have branded it an illicit criminal investigation into American citizens.

https://sputniknews.com/20220916/trump-says-that-if-he-is-indicted-it-will-cause-problems-for-the-country-1100835670.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220916/some-january-6-defendants-arrested-again-for-other-crimes---reports-1100884536.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220910/trumps-former-attorney-theres-very-high-chance-of-indictment-against-ex-president-amid-probes-1100643925.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220831/democrats-avoid-biden-as-he-attempts-to-rally-midterm-support-1100192961.html

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Svetlana Ekimenko

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Svetlana Ekimenko

donald trump, us, us capitol, investigation
https://sputniknews.com/20220917/japan-reportedly-instructs-800000-people-to-evacuate-due-to-approaching-typhoon-nanmadol-1100901822.html

Japan Reportedly Instructs 800,000 People to Evacuate Due to Approaching Typhoon Nanmadol

Japan Reportedly Instructs 800,000 People to Evacuate Due to Approaching Typhoon Nanmadol

TOKYO (Sputnik) - Japanese authorities have instructed over 800,000 people in the southwest of country to evacuate ahead of the landing of the extremely... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T13:09+0000

2022-09-17T13:09+0000

2022-09-17T13:10+0000

world

japan

typhoon

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The evacuation order was issued for 388,000 residents of Kagoshima Prefecture, 76,000 residents of Asakusa city of Kumamoto Prefecture and for almost 400,000 residents of the capital of the Miyazaki prefecture in the southeast of Kyushu Island, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.The instructions to evacuate constitute the fourth of the five possible threat levels. The authorities are calling for the evacuation to be completed while it is still possible, before the announcement of the fifth threat level, when there will be a direct risk to human life. The citizens are reminded about the necessary measures to take in case of a power outage and water supply shortage.The Nanmadol typhoon, named after the monument of Micronesian culture  the Nan Madol archaeological site, is slowly moving northwest toward Japan's southern islands. Officials expect it will come near the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture and the southwestern island of Kyushu on Sunday through Monday, according to NHK.The pressure in the center of the typhoon is 910 hectopascal (0.8 atm), and the wind speed in the center is 123 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 167 miles per hour. Experts also warn that the waves height could reach 39 feet. Officials say that southern Kyushu Island could get as much as 500 millimeters of precipitation in the 24-hour period on Sunday.More than 450 flights connecting Japan's southwestern regions with the rest of the country and ferry services have been canceled due to the approaching typhoon. There are also delays in the movement of trains.By Sunday evening, the powerful cyclone is expected to reach the main Japanese island of Honshu and continue moving northeast. In particular, from Sunday night through to Monday, the typhoon should come close to Kansai region, the metropolitan region of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.

https://sputniknews.com/20220912/powerful-typhoon-muifa-reaches-ishigaki-island-in-japans-okinawa-meteorological-agency-says-1100676152.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220917/king-charles-iiis-net-worth-how-rich-is-he-1100888849.html

King Charles IIIs Net Worth, How Rich is He?

King Charles IIIs Net Worth, How Rich is He?

Following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III inherited $500 million from his mum, as well as large amounts of land, castles and... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T03:48+0000

2022-09-17T03:48+0000

2022-09-17T03:48+0000

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The King is also responsible for overseeing the Queens $42 billion portfolio that is held in a trust for the nation as well as for royal family successors, but which will never actually belong to the King. A majority of the portfolio comprises real estate including the $17.5 billion Crown Estate, which owns the Ascot Racecourse located in Berkshire and Londons Regent Street shopping area, which is a main shopping street in Londons West End made up of flagship stores.The Queens will, on the other hand, will be locked away for 90 years away from the prying eyes of the public, who can only guess what kind of wealth the late monarch amassed. The practice of sealing the wills of royals began in 1910. Currently there are more than 30 wills being kept in a safe in a secret location in London. The King, however, has inherited the Queens private estates including her castle in Balmoral, Scotland, as well as her Sandringham estate in eastern England.The King will also inherit her private collection of jewelry, art, rare stamps and any other personal property belonging to the Queen. Her collection of crowns, tiaras, and priceless jewels, however, were stolen from countries that the United Kingdom had colonized. Among the stolen jewels is the Kohinoor diamond, a massive 105-carat diamond worth $592 million, which has been worn on the crowns of queens for generations since it was first brought to Queen Victoria after what is now known as modern-day Punjab was colonized by the British in 1849.Queen Victoria first wore it as a brooch, and then demanded that only her female descendants would be allowed to adorn the most expensive diamond in the world. Some Indians took to Twitter following news of the Queens passing to demand that the diamond be returned to their country. In 2000, Indian parliamentarians also penned a letter to Britain calling for the return of the Kohinoor.The diamond is held in a trust belonging to the state, however, and will not go to the new King.The King's new inheritance, according to Forbes, is estimated to be about $500 million altogether. But he wont have to pay any inheritance tax due to a 1993 agreement with the British government that makes it so the Sovereign is not legally liable to pay income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax because the relevant enactments do not apply to the Crown. These taxes can, however, be paid voluntarily.The 73-year-old monarch also has his own wealth which he has received annually through the Duchy of Cornwall, a private estate that originated in 1337 when King Edward III wished for his son to have financial independence. A charter at the time established that the eldest surviving son of the monarch and heir to the throne would be the Duke of Cornwall. Prince William will inherit the $1.2 billion estate through the Duchy of Cornwall, and this year alone, the King earned $27 million through that same estate.The King, as Prince of Wales, was a steadfast environmentalist who used his wealth to launch ventures which produce organic farms. He owned the largest organic food brand in the U.K., as well as a nature retreat and crafts center in Transylvania that will also be passed to the heir apparent.

https://sputniknews.com/20220915/prince-william-says-queens-funeral-was-challenging-reminding-him-of-princess-dianas-death-1100832880.html

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Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, from left, Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. J.B. Pritzker raise their hands in a show of unity after speaking to Democratic supporters during a rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago on Sept. 16, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

Less than two months before the midterm elections, Vice President Kamala Harris rallied a welcoming crowd of abortion-rights supporters in Chicago on Friday where she heralded Illinois Democrats for playing key roles in pushing for reproductive rights and pushed voters to make their voices heard on Nov. 8.

Harris appearance in Chicago  her second in a little more than two months  came as two national political issues took on local importance. On Thursday in neighboring Indiana, a near-total ban on abortions took effect, and, in just the past two weeks, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas has had migrants who crossed the border into Texas bused to Chicago and other cities to the north, including near Harris residence in the nations capital.

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Elections matter, Harris said prior to the rally during a roundtable meeting on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she was joined by abortion providers and advocates. Others who joined Harris were Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul, two Democrats seeking their second terms in office in November, as well as Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who is seeking reelection in the municipal election early next year.

We have a midterm coming up in 53 days, Harris said. Who your governor is matters. Whether theyre going to protect these rights, and support these rights, to freedom and liberty, it matters. Whos your attorney general matters, whether they are going to protect and defend the principles ingrained in the Constitution of the United States. That matters.

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Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to Democratic supporters during a rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago on Sept. 16, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

Democrats in Illinois are hoping a voter backlash against the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade will buttress their prospects up and down the ballot this fall as Republicans continue to try to make headway by hammering the states dominant party over issues of crime, a precarious economy and political corruption.

Before the courts abortion ruling, many nationally viewed it as almost automatic that the GOP would take make inroads with the midterm elections. But following the ruling, Democrats have tried to seize on the abortion rights issue as a way to build support.

Heres the good news, Harris said told a crowd of about 600 gathered at the UIC Forum for a campaign rally that followed the roundtable. We have momentum on our side.

Harris noted the recent overwhelming rejection by voters in Kansas of a proposed amendment to that states constitution that would have allowed lawmakers to place new restrictions on abortion.

The people there joined together and protected reproductive rights in their state. They said, Were not having that. We know that we stand with the majority of Americans in saying that we need to stand up for that basic, fundamental right, Harris said, also touting Democratic victories in special elections for congressional seats in Alaska and New York.

From now until Nov. 8 it is up to all of us to build on the momentum, and over these next 53 days, let us say, If you believe in the promise of America, if you believe in freedom, equality, justice, then vote for Democrats.

During the rally, Harris called Pritzkers opponent, Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia, one of the most extreme anti-choice candidates in the country, and Pritzker said those in attendance must help elect candidates who support reproductive rights, union rights, civil rights and other core Democratic principles.

To all the right-wing officeholders who have been cheering on the Jan. 6 insurrectionists, making it harder to vote, lauding the Supreme Court for taking away reproductive rights and rallying behind a national abortion ban, we are coming for you, Pritzker said. Anti-choice, MAGA Republicans, you will lose in November.

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Left largely unaddressed, at least publicly, was the recent arrival of migrants sent without warning to Chicago and elsewhere around the nation, including to near the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, home to the vice presidents official residence. Abbott and other Republican governors have gotten migrants to travel north as they blame the Biden administration for lax immigration policies they say have encouraged migrants to cross the nations border.

Pritzker on Wednesday issued a disaster proclamation to help access federal resources to aid the asylum-seeking arrivals and announced hed activated 75 Illinois National Guard members to provide logistical support. But the governor and Lightfoot also have called on federal officials to act because local resources will eventually run out.

Illinois Republicans werent ignoring the issue, however. The Illinois Republican Party sent out a fundraising email during Harris visit that criticized the vice president for coming to Illinois for a political rally rather than visiting the southern border.

Kamala Harris would rather campaign for her Democratic friends than protect our nation from an overflowing border, the state GOP said, before asking supporters to pitch in to reject Kamala Harris and hold her accountable.

Lightfoot made a passing reference to immigration issues during the abortion discussion. She compared the citys policy of not cooperating with federal immigration authorities to her executive order and proposed ordinance barring Chicago police and city agencies from cooperating with out-of-state authorities investigating people who travel to the city for an abortion.

I believe in concrete, tangible actions, and thats what weve done, Lightfoot said.

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On abortion, Harris praised Pritzker and Lightfoot for protecting the status of Illinois and Chicago as a safe haven for people seeking reproductive health care as surrounding states restrict access.

I look at whats happening in Illinois, governor, and you all are, without any question, being stretched thin, in terms of your health care resources going directly to your constituents, but to neighboring states as well, Harris said.

Pritzker, who has made his support for abortion rights a central theme of his reelection campaign and has tried to position himself as a national leader on the issue, vowed that Illinois will continue to protect access to abortion for its residents and those from other states.

Indiana recently decided that women are not to be trusted to make decisions about their own health care, Pritzker said. Its despicable. Its misogynistic, and theres no doubt that our nation is headed down a dangerous spiral where a radical few dictate who does and doesnt have rights. But here in Illinois, we will not go backwards.

Abortion is already protected as a fundamental right under state law through legislation Pritzker signed in 2019, but aside from increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates, the state has yet to take any major action since the Supreme Court decision came down this summer.

After immediately saying he would call a special legislative session on abortion, Pritzker has tried to tamp down expectations for swift action. Late last month, he said lawmakers were hard at work on a proposal to address issues such as allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to perform abortions and expanding legal protections for patients and health care workers.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220917/libyan-army-detains-hundreds-of-chadians-after-four-poachers-from-libya-arrested-reports-say-1100897516.html

Libyan Army Detains Hundreds of Chadians After Four Poachers From Libya Arrested, Reports Say

Libyan Army Detains Hundreds of Chadians After Four Poachers From Libya Arrested, Reports Say

According to the African Wildlife Foundation, an Africa-based global conservation organization protecting wildlife, poachers kill thousands of endangered... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T14:19+0000

2022-09-17T14:19+0000

2022-09-17T14:19+0000

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400 hundred Chadians have been detained on the streets of the Libyan city Ajdabiya in response to the Chadian government's arrest of four Libyan men suspected of poaching endangered animals, according to The Guardian. The arrest was reportedly conducted by a militia linked to warlord Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army.Some of the detained Chadians are thought to be illegal migrants, the newspaper states, citing an unnamed security source in Libya.Previously, Chadian authorities arrested four Libyans accused of poaching in the country and entering Chad illegally, The Libya Observer reported, citing a statement by the Chadian government, on September 13. It was also stated that hunting rifles and some ammunition were seized during the arrest.Chads Environment Minister,Mahamat Ahmat Lazina told reporters from The Guardian that five vehicles had entered Chad from Libya and were pursued by Chadian security forces. Three of the vehicles managed to get away. He also added that the four men could face up to five years in prison if they are found guilty.Chad has been struggling with the issue of poaching for a long time. In 2013, poachers slaughtered 89 elephants, including 33 pregnant females and 15 calves, the WWF and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said, citing local officials.

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Tajikistan Accuses Kyrgyz Border Guards of Breaching Ceasefire

Kyrgyz border troops are violating the ceasefire requirements after another incident of confrontation on the poorly marked border, the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan (SCNS) said on Saturday.



The committee claims that at 11:10 a.m. local time (05:10 GMT), the commander of the 707th military unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, stationed in the former school building of the village of Koktosh of the Batken district, contrary to the requirements of the ceasefire agreement, voluntarily gave the order to fire from all types of weapons at the territory of Tajikistan.



"This situation indicates that individual commanders do not obey the central headquarters of the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan," the press service of the SCNS noted.



On Friday night, a mosque, located near a school, was destroyed in the village Ovchiqalacha on northwestern Tajikistan by a combat unmanned aerial vehicle, the SCNS said, adding that dozens of residential houses of citizens, service points, public and personal transport vehicles were also shelled in this area.



"There is also deployment of additional military forces and equipment of Kyrgyzstan on the border and the strengthening of combat positions, which indicates readiness for the next provocative actions of the Kyrgyz military to destabilize the situation," the SCNS press service said.



Large-scale clashes on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan began on Friday morning. The sides accused each other of shelling. Serious fighting between the military of the two countries lasted all day almost along the entire perimeter of the border. The ceasefire was achieved only by nightfall. However, on Saturday morning, the parties reported shelling from both sides.



At 07.30 a.m. local time on Saturday, the commanders of the border troops of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan held a meeting on the fulfillment of the conditions of the declared ceasefire. The parties discussed the stabilization of the situation, the return of additional forces and equipment to their original positions.



The Kyrgyz-Tajik state border often becomes a conflict zone between local residents and border guards due to the non-delimited areas.
IAEA Says Zaporozhye NPP Re-Connected to Ukrainian Power Grid

Zaporozhye nuclear power plant has been reconnected to the Ukrainian national grid after relying on generators and backup lines for energy supply for nearly a week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Saturday.

"Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is once again receiving electricity directly from the national grid after engineers repaired one of the four main external power lines that have all been damaged during the conflict," the IAEA said in a statement.

Although the situation around the plant remains precarious, there has been no recent shelling at or near the ZNPP, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi was quoted as saying in the statement.
https://sputniknews.com/20220917/nato-began-planning-expanded-presence-near-russia-years-ago-top-commander-admits-1100911445.html

NATO Began Planning Expanded Presence Near Russia Years Ago, Top Commander Admits

NATO Began Planning Expanded Presence Near Russia Years Ago, Top Commander Admits

The North Atlantic Alliance began its decades-long creep toward Russias borders in the late 1990s after walking out on commitments made to Soviet leader... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T18:56+0000

2022-09-17T18:56+0000

2022-09-17T19:10+0000

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NATO began planning to increase its presence along its eastern flank years before Russia kicked off its special military operation in Ukraine, NATO Military Committee chairman Rob Bauer has revealed.NATO defense chiefs discussed the need to sustain and increase allied support to Ukraine, at Saturdays meeting, Bauer said.The ammunition, equipment and training that allies and other nations are delivering are all making a real difference on the battlefield. With its successes on the ground and online, Ukraine has fundamentally changed modern warfare, the officer said. NATO will support Ukraine for as long as it takes, he added.Speaking alongside Bauer, Estonian Defense Forces chief Martin Herem said that NATOs collective priority was to deny Russia the possibility to change todays rule-based international order, including by stationing more troops along its border.Echoing Bauers comments on the need to support Kiev, Herem stressed that it is critical to ensure cohesion and unity of allies. The winter will be difficult but [we] must stick together and stay committed in the coming months.Defense chiefs from Finland and Sweden joined Saturdays discussions, and Bauer called their expected entry into the alliance at some point in the future good news for the bloc.The officer said the implementation of the agreements reached at the summit in Madrid in June on bulking up the blocs eastern border was ongoing, and that there are no problems to report on that front.At the Madrid summit, NATO agreed to stand up four new battlegroups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, and to deploy robust and combat-ready forces on the Alliances eastern flank. For its part, the United States moved to establish a new ground base in Poland, about 280 km southwest of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, and beefed up its presence in Romania by 3,000 troops. Earlier, Washington also surged its military footprint in Europe by 20,000 troops, bringing the total number to 100,000. The US also deployed two additional squadrons of F-35 fighter jets to Britain, and sent two more destroyers to Naval Station Rota in Spain, bringing the total to six.Ramping Up Tensions With RussiaNATO has undergone several waves of expansion between 1999 and 2020, swallowing up every former member of the defunct Soviet-led Warsaw Pact, three ex-Soviet republics and four republics from the former Yugoslavia. The expansion took place despite former US Secretary of State James Baker's verbal promise to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990 not to expand the alliance one inch east of the territory of the former East Germany following that countrys annexation by the Federal Republic.In 2008, NATO recognized the aspirations of the pro-Western governments of Ukraine and Georgia to see their countries join the alliance, sparking serious security concerns from Moscow. Tensions between Russia and the West were exacerbated in 2014, after the Ukrainian government was overthrown in a coup detat orchestrated by Washington, and the post-coup government in Kiev reiterated its ambitions join the European Union and NATO.In late 2021, Russia presented NATO and the US a twin set of proposed security agreements designed to dramatically ease tensions and improve relations between Moscow and the Western bloc. The draft treaties included the proposal of legally binding, written guarantees by Russia on one side and the US and NATO on the other not to deploy troops, aircraft, warships and missile systems in areas where they might be seen as a threat to other sides national security. NATO was asked to pledge not to continue its eastward expansion, and to scrap plans to incorporate Ukraine and any other former Soviet republic into the bloc. The Western alliance was also asked not to deploy additional troops or weapons systems on the territory of those NATO members which joined the bloc after the end of the Cold War.The US and NATO balked at Russias security guarantee proposals, with officials emphasizing that the Western blocs open door policy for membership would remain unchanged.

https://sputniknews.com/20220912/its-going-to-hurt-us-fears-europes-anti-russia-resolve-will-waver-over-soaring-energy-prices-1100696093.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220913/nato-reportedly-mulls-giving-ukraine-fighter-jets-air-defense-in-medium-to-longer-term-1100720892.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220126/us-reportedly-delivers-written-response-to-russias-security-guarantees-proposal-1092534911.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220917/pelosi-to-armenia-berlin-seizes-russian-assets-modi-and-putin-meet-1100881749.html

Pelosi to Armenia? Berlin Seizes Russian Assets, Modi and Putin Meet

Pelosi to Armenia? Berlin Seizes Russian Assets, Modi and Putin Meet

Did the White House broker a deal between rail companies and unions, or is it a set up? Workers across industries are striking to recover wages being eroded by... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T08:33+0000

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Pelosi to Armenia? Berlin Seizes Russian Assets, Modi and Putin Meet Did the White House broker a deal between rail companies and unions, or is it a set up? Workers across industries are striking to recover wages being eroded by inflation.

Veteran war journalist Elijah Magnier tells Misfit hosts John Kiriakou and Michelle Witte what exactly House Speaker Nancy Pelosi can do for Armenia. He also asks whether state seizures of foreign assets in Europe will remain confined to the energy industry, discusses the banking crisis in Lebanon, and breaks down the significance of the relationship between India and Russia.Dr Yolandra Hancock, board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine specialist, discusses how Americans understand and treat obesity, why insurance companies balk at paying for preventative medicine, and how seriously the US needs to take the threat of polio.Author and political scientist Dr. Wilmer Leon, who hosts The Critical Hour on Radio Sputnik, discusses the meeting between US President Joe Biden and the families of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, and Biden's track record on domestic marijuana reform.Sputnik News analyst and producer Rae Valencia joins to break down the latest Harvard Harris Poll tracking competitive House and Senate midterm races.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik

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https://sputniknews.com/20220917/russia-may-supply-wheat-to-pakistan-says-minister-as-food-crisis-deepens-because-of-floods-1100896674.html

Russia May Supply Wheat to Pakistan, Says Minister, as Food Crisis Deepens Because Of Floods

Russia May Supply Wheat to Pakistan, Says Minister, as Food Crisis Deepens Because Of Floods

More than 30 million people have been displaced across Pakistan because of devastating floods triggered by torrential rains since August. The floods ravaged... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T12:33+0000

2022-09-17T12:33+0000

2022-09-17T12:33+0000

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Russia has offered to supply wheat to Pakistan, the country's defense minister Khawaja Asif claimed on Saturday while briefing about the talks held between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Vladimir Putin.The minister said that Sharif had been invited by President Putin to visit Moscow. However, he did not reveal when the visit would take place. Russia has said that it can provide us with wheat because in the coming days we may have shortages, Asif said.The ministers statements come a day after the Sharif and Putin held their first talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan.They have said that they can give us gas. Russia said they have gas pipelines in Central Asian countries and the pipelines could be extended to Pakistan via Afghanistan. These talks have taken place, the minister confirmed.Pakistan is facing a food and fuel shortage, triggered by the foreign exchange crisis and exacerbated by catastrophic floods.The floods damaged crops in Sindh, eastern Punjab and Balochistan provinces, putting the nation's food security under threat. Wheat is a staple food of Pakistan, as it is used to make roti and naan - flat unleavened bread. Pakistan's annual wheat consumption is estimated to be approximately 31 metric tons.A preliminary estimate carried out by the Pakistan government suggests economic losses from the floods amount to around $30Bln.

https://sputniknews.com/20220914/flood-wreaks-havoc-as-default-risks-loom-large-in-pakistan-despite-international-support---report-1100749606.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220917/russian-envoy-to-canada-calls-discovery-of-graves-in-izyum-monstrous-provocation-1100890429.html

Alleged Discovery of Izyum Mass Graves a 'Monstrous Provocation', Russian Envoy to Canada Says

Alleged Discovery of Izyum Mass Graves a 'Monstrous Provocation', Russian Envoy to Canada Says

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The reports of mass graves being discovered in Izyum, Ukraine is another "monstrous provocation" by Kiev which is trying to stage a... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T06:08+0000

2022-09-17T06:08+0000

2022-09-17T08:34+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

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"The Kiev regime supplies the media with lies about crimes against humanity allegedly committed by Russian troops in Izyum," Stepanov told Sputnik on Friday. That western media and officials immediately pick up "fabrications of Kiev" about the alleged crimes against humanity in Izyum without double-checking is simply an indicator of how aggressive the information war against Russia is, Stepanov added.He also said that he is optimistic that the truth about Izyum will come out, just as it did with the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria.On Friday, Ukrainian authorities alleged that mass burial sites were found in Izyum after Russian troops withdrew from the Kharkov region in early September, and that more than 400 bodies had been found so far.Russia's Defense Ministry has warned several times that the Kiev regime supported by the collective West has been preparing Bucha-style provocations to accuse Russia of war crimes.On 24 February, Russia began a military operation in Ukraine, responding to calls for help from the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. Moscow has said that the aim of its operation is the "demilitarization and de-Nazification" of Ukraine. Western countries have responded by imposing comprehensive sanctions against Russia, while accusing Moscow of crimes against humanity, including alleged atrocities in the city of Bucha. The Kremlin has denied the allegations, and has accused Kiev of employing typical terrorist methods, such as hiding behind civilians and deploying weapons in civilian areas.

https://sputniknews.com/20220801/french-volunteer-i-witnessed-bucha-frame-up-1098000423.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220818/russian-mod-kiev-preparing-provocation-at-zaporozhye-npp-during-un-secretary-generals-visit-1099717943.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220917/russian-red-cross-says-italian-journalist-injured-in-kherson-received-treatment-in-russia-1100905255.html

Russian Red Cross Says Italian Journalist Injured in Kherson Received Treatment in Russia

Russian Red Cross Says Italian Journalist Injured in Kherson Received Treatment in Russia

MOSCOW/ROME (Sputnik) - An Italian journalist, Mattia Sorbi, who received an injury from a Ukrainian mine in the Kherson region, has been treated in Russia and... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T14:18+0000

2022-09-17T14:18+0000

2022-09-17T14:25+0000

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The Russian defense ministry stated on September 8 that officers rescued an Italian journalist who was covering the fighting from the side of the Ukrainian troops. Sorbi was admitted to the intensive care unit with multiple shrapnel wounds and received the necessary medical care.The President of the Russian Red Cross, Pavel Savchuk, noted that the Italian Red Cross appealed to the Russian side to help with Sorbi's situation."The President of the Italian Red Cross, Francesco Rocca, asked us to help return the journalist to Italy. And we quickly responded to the request... We got in touch with Mattia, found out that he was well cared for, and that his condition was stable. The Kherson hospital, where the journalist was staying, ensured his transportation to Crimea, where the Russian Red Cross took him in and provided for his further logistics," Savchuk explained.Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera published a photo of Sorbi on stretchers being carried up on board a plane. The newspaper noted that the plane, which was provided by the crisis center of the Italian foreign ministry, will head to Istanbul and then fly to Milan.

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https://sputniknews.com/20220917/russias-fsb-declassifies-docs-on-polish-guerrillas-war-crimes-against-own-countrymen-during-wwii-1100900941.html

Russias FSB Declassifies Docs on Polish Guerrillas War Crimes Against Own Countrymen During WWII

Russias FSB Declassifies Docs on Polish Guerrillas War Crimes Against Own Countrymen During WWII

The document dump comes amid fresh threats by Warsaw this week to demand reparations from Moscow for the Soviet Unions actions during World War II. Russian... 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T14:33+0000

2022-09-17T14:33+0000

2022-09-17T15:03+0000

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The Federal Security Service (Russian acronym FSB), Russias main domestic security agency, has declassified a pair of Soviet intelligence reports by senior officials from SMERSH, the Red Armys umbrella counterintelligence and counterterrorism organization, documenting crimes carried out by the Polish Home Army against their own countrymen, and against Soviet troops and civilian administrators during the Second World War.Sputnik was able to familiarize itself with the documents.The Home Army (Armia Krajowa, or AK) was a massive underground resistance forced formed in Nazi-occupied Poland in early 1942, and consisted of between 350,000-380,000 partisans and their supporters. Along with the Polish Peoples Army, the Soviet-backed force created in the spring of 1943, the Home Army was one of the two major domestic forces that fought to free the country from the Nazis.However, unlike the Peoples Army, the Home Armys goals werent limited to fighting Germany. The declassified reports document how elements of the nationalist guerrilla movement also spent a considerable portion of its focus and energy fighting Soviet partisans and Red Army formations in western Ukraine and Belarus, terrorizing Polish civilians who expressed sympathy for the USSR, Peoples Army troops, as well as Lithuanian and Ukrainian nationalist formations.Goal: Creating Great PolandThe first of the documents is a classified report on the Home Army dated September 14, 1944 by Lieutenant General Pavel Zelenin, head of the SMERSH detachment attached to the 3rd Belarusian Front, addressed to SMERSH chief Viktor Abakumov and front commander General Ivan Chernyakhovsky.The primer explained that the Armia Krajowa was not an army in the traditional sense, but an association of underground armed detachments controlled from London by the Polish government in exile which included sabotage-terrorist and reconnaissance structures.After the entry of the Red Army on the territory of Lithuania and western Belarus, Home Army units were given the task of concentrating in the area of Vilnius and Avgustow, conserving their manpower, arming themselves and then striking into the rear of the Red Army, the report said.The document features the testimony of several captured Home Army fighters who explain the guerrilla force's main operational and strategic goals.Heinrich Kivnick, a local Home Army fighter questioned by SMERSH, confirmed to Soviet counterintelligence during his interrogation that the guerrilla groups goal was to fight for the creation of an independent Polish government  Great Poland.Those interviewed were also asked about specifics of the London-based Polish governments instructions to the Home Army, with captured Home Army lieutenant Georgiy Ruschits saying the only instruction was to prepare to restore Great Poland, including with the aid of an ideological campaign of sowing hatred for the USSR among partisans and civilians.Campaign of TerrorThrough the testimonies of captured Home Army fighters and civilian eye witnesses, Zelenin established that the guerrillas waged an armed struggle against Soviet partisans, killed all Soviet citizens who arrived in western Belarus after its reunification with the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic, and also killed Orthodox Poles among the local population who expressed pro-Soviet inclinations.In June 1944in the village of Raubishki, ethnic Pole Trusevich was killed because his daughter was a member of the Komsomol [a Soviet political youth organization], a captured Home Army fighter told SMERSH.The report indicated that the Home Armys command barred fighters from joining the ranks of Polish Peoples Army forces commander General Zygmunt Berling, smearing him as a turncoat and a traitor. Berling's actions on the front disprove these allegations. In the fall of 1944 during the Warsaw Uprising, he commanded pro-Soviet forces in a desperate bid to establish a bridgehead on the west bank of the Vistula River to meet up with resistance fighters who had risen up in the city, including elements of the Home Army.In a separate report from late November 1944, Belarusian Internal Affairs chief Sergei Belchenko and NKVD chief Lavrenty Tsanava reported to Minsk that a total of 266 Polish Home Army formations had been liquidated in western Belarus, and several thousand arrests made after a campaign of terror against the civilian population left about 80 locals dead following the region's liberation by the Red Army.735 fighters were killed during armed clashes with NKVD units, and about 1,200 rifles, 500 machine guns, 15 mortars, 500 mines and 35.5 kilograms of explosives were seized, according to the report.Saturday marks the 83rd anniversary of the September 17, 1939 entry of Soviet forces into areas of western Ukraine and western Belarus (at that time part of Poland), with the operation kicking off after the Polish government fled to Romania following the Nazi invasion from the west. The USSR characterized the operation as the liberation of Ukrainian and Belarusian lands lost during the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1921, and troops were forbidden from shelling local settlements or conducting military operations against local Polish formations unless the latter showed resistance.During the Red Armys counteroffensive operations of 1944 and 1945, over 600,000 soldiers laid down their lives to liberate Poland. During the campaign, 200,000 Poles joined the ranks of the Polish Peoples Army, and tens of thousands perished in fierce fighting for their home country and in eastern Germany during the closing months of the war. The Red Army and the Polish Peoples Army jointly fought the Nazis to Berlin, and Polish forces hoisted a Polish flag over the ruins of the Reichstag in May 1945 alongside their Soviet counterparts.Since the collapse of communism in Poland, veterans of the Polish Peoples Army have faced various forms of discrimination, including low pensions, the rewriting of history books to downplay their role in freeing the country from the Nazis, and the demolition of monuments showing Peoples Army servicemen alongside Red Army troops.

https://sputniknews.com/20220916/polish-media-accuses-berlin-of-seeking-to-revise-border-amid-warsaws-wwii-reparations-demands-1100861555.html

https://sputniknews.com/20200213/soviet-intelligence-officer-who-helped-save-polands-krakow-during-wwii-dead-at-103-1078307756.html

https://sputniknews.com/20201207/general-andrei-vlasov-how-highest-ranking-soviet-defector-collaborated-with-the-nazis-1081376111.html

https://sputniknews.com/20200522/revealed-why-churchill-considered-operation-unthinkable-surprise-attack-on-moscow-in-1945-1079391874.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20220917/weekly-news-wrap-up-iran-joins-sco-protests-in-haiti-russiachina-alliance-1100886263.html

Weekly News Wrap-up; Iran Joins SCO; Protests in Haiti; Russia/China Alliance

Weekly News Wrap-up; Iran Joins SCO; Protests in Haiti; Russia/China Alliance

The presidents of China and Russia met at the Shanghai Cooperation Meeting to discuss the future of the Eurasian strategic alliance. 17.09.2022, Sputnik International

2022-09-17T08:40+0000

2022-09-17T08:40+0000

2022-09-17T08:40+0000

rail

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the critical hour

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Weekly News Wrap-up; Iran Joins SCO; Protests in Haiti; Russia/China Alliance The presidents of China and Russia met at the Shanghai Cooperation Meeting to discuss the future of the Eurasian strategic alliance.

Dr. Colin Campbell, DC senior news correspondent, joins us to discuss this week's important news stories. Florida has flown a plane load of immigrants to a posh New England resort town. Also, Europe is fracturing over the Ukraine conflict due to increasing economic pain from sanctions.Dr. Jack Rasmus, professor in Economics and Politics at St. Mary's College in California, joins us to discuss the economy. President Biden announces that he has a deal to avoid a railway strike. Also, many poor Americans are sacrificed as the US government has moved all priorities to its neocon foreign policy.Netfa Freeman, Host of Voices With Vision on WPFW 89.3 FM Pan-Africanist and internationalist organizer, joins us to discuss the Global South. The Black Alliance for Peace is holding a month-long protest against Africom. Also, we discuss the imperialist oppression of Cuba and Haiti.Jim Kavanagh, writer at thepolemicist.net and CounterPunch, and author of "Let Roe Go: Winning Abortion Rights," and Steve Poikonen, national organizer for Action4Assange, join us to discuss this week's important news stories. The Lancet has announced that the US held up important research into the origins of COVID. Also, the EU is about to face reality on sanctions and congress looks to up the ante in the Pacific region.Ajamu Baraka, 2016 US vice presidential candidate for the Green Party, and Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of Economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, join us for the weekly wrap-up panel. 10,000+ sign a letter urging President Biden to reverse the "Terrorism" designation for Cuba and violent protests flare up in Haiti over fuel price hikes and rampant crime.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comThe views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik

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Aurora Police Det. Benjamin Grabowski looks through the file of 14-year-old Nanette Hartman, who was stabbed 62 times on June 2, 1965, a cold case killing that has suddenly heated up and he hopes can be solved with the help of DNA technology. (Denise Crosby / The Beacon-News)

As cold cases go, this Aurora killing had all but become frozen in time.

June 2, 1965, to be exact.

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Thats when a 14-year-old girl named Nanette Hartman, finishing up her final days at Simmons Junior High School, was stabbed to death in the living room of the Aurora duplex she shared with her mother and sister.

It was a brutal killing. Senseless. Unsolved. And nearly forgotten in her hometown.

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Except by her family, including Nanettes now 94-year-old mother Shirley Fitzgerald, who have remained convinced all these decades they know who was behind a crime so unthinkable it made national headlines and immediately created a blanket of fear that rolled across this tranquil Pigeon Hill neighborhood like an ominous Stephen King fog.

Nanette Hartman, shown here in a newspaper article about her still-unsolved killing, was only 14 years old when she was stabbed 62 times after returning home from school in Aurora on June 2, 1965. (Denise Crosby / The Beacon-News)

Suddenly parents began locking down their children. There were no more long summer days running freely until dark, recalls Rick Dickens, only 10 at the time and living just two blocks from the duplex in the 600 block of Pine Avenue where Nanette was stabbed 62 times with two butcher knives taken from the kitchen, police said.

It was her 15-year-old sister, Joyce, arriving home from her sophomore classes at East Aurora High School about a half hour later, who discovered Nanettes mutilated body  the shirt nearly in shreds from the repeated thrusts of the blades  lying on the braided living room rug.

Although 57 years have passed, those who were kids in the neighborhood back then remember the impact, including Dickens wife Patti, a fifth-grader at St. Joseph, who recalls that months later shed become physically sick with fear if her parents were not home and night was advancing.

Gradually, over time, the terror of that afternoon dissipated. As did memories.

And police leads.

The brutal killing of 14-year-old Nanette Hartman in June of 1965 led to plenty of headlines and fear throughout Aurora but remains unsolved 57 years later. (Denise Crosby / The Beacon-News)

What did advance over the decades, however, is DNA technology, which weve seen time and again adding new life to these coldest of cases.

Could that again be true in the killing of Nanette Hartman, the citys fourth oldest cold case?

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Absolutely, insists Aurora Police Det. Benjamin Grabowski, who recently pulled Nanettes folder out of the APDs Cold Case Room, which is dedicated to storing the files of these dusty crime mysteries.

Unfortunately, because of staffing issues, there are no officers dedicated to tackling only them. That job, instead, falls to a pair of detectives, who work plenty of active cases and can look into these long-ago killings only as they find some time.

Or whenever a curious reporter comes calling.

Grabowski counted 19 current cases hes got on his plate, including sex crimes and a shooting in broad daylight on Aug. 26. But this one cold case piqued his interest, especially after he found that in the few times the file was reopened since the initial killing, no DNA testing was ever done on the items that have been under lock and key in the APDs evidence room.

An old picture of an Aurora Police Department evidence audit shows items taken from the scene after Nanette Hartman's killing in 1965. (Aurora Police Department / HANDOUT)

Those include Nanettes bloody clothing, along with the two knives used in the attack - one bent and found under her body, the second, according to family, still buried in her heart.

She was butchered, says Grabowski, referring to the autopsy report that revealed stab wounds to Nanettes heart, neck, lungs, liver and colon.

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Even all these years later, its hard to imagine who could possibly do something so vicious to a child described by her cousin Dwight King as sweet and quiet, who had plenty of friends and loved animals, especially the little Chihuahua she used to carry around all the time.

The victims loved ones are convinced they know that answer. And after Grabowski met with King and Nanettes mother recently, the detective confirmed that the person the family has long suspected, and has since died, is the person who is also our main focus.

That means plenty of work and a lot of luck will have to go into this resurrected investigation, which started a couple weeks ago with the Aurora detective diving into the horrific details contained in the old APD file.

After walking a classmate home from school that early June afternoon in 1965, Nanette cut through a friends yard on Jungles Avenue, as she did every day, and entered her duplex through the back door that had been left unlocked because the young girl had lost her key.

Normally she and her friend would stop by Fenskes Food Shop on Church Road for a snack. But the store was closed on Wednesdays. Which could be why Nanette grabbed a tuna sandwich from the fridge and ate it, a fact confirmed by the autopsy.

It wasnt much later, around 3:45 p.m., when a neighbor, two houses away, heard a scream.

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Plenty of people were interviewed at the time of Nanettes killing, including three witnesses who said they saw a man running from the duplex with blood on his hands around that same time, which was not long before Joyce arrived home from school and discovered her sisters body.

As far as Grabowski could tell from the sometimes awkwardly written police report, a male suspect was interviewed but nothing came of those leads, or from the many other theories people offered as the investigation quickly narrowed.

Some pieces, including two knives and a blouse, from the evidence collected in the 1965 killing of Nanette Hartman have been sent to the Illinois State Police crime lab with the hope that advanced technology will help Aurora police solve this 57-year-old cold case. (Aurora Police Department / The Beacon-News)

According to news accounts, a criminologist was brought in to examine evidence taken under the fingernails of the victim. But Grabowski told me the files indicate Nanettes nails were too short to get a good sample.

As far as the detective knows, no DNA testing has been done on anything taken from the crime scene. The last time something was sent to the lab in 2001, he adds, it was just tested for fingerprints.

After making contact with the Illinois State Police, where a forensics specialist assured him so much more can be done, Grabowski a few days ago sent five items to the lab - two drinking glasses, both knives and Nanettes blood-soaked blouse.

Grabowski and the family agree that from the very beginning this investigation suffered from shoddy police work. King, who was home from college for the summer, got a frantic call from his aunt, who was at her job as the Hermes School secretary, about the stabbing in her home.

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King rushed to the duplex, arriving as neighbors began congregating on the front lawn, his cousins body now in an ambulance and with 15 or 20 police officers walking all over the unsecured crime scene.

Entering the duplex through the back door, he was surprised at how he was allowed to walk around the living room, where the bloody attack took place, for three to four minutes.

Noting other major missteps with this investigation, Grabowski was appalled at how many details were released to the press at the time of the killing, including the contents of the victims stomach and the number of times Nanette was stabbed.

And he showed me an old Beacon-News story immediately after the killing that featured a large illustration mapping out the young girls walk home from Simmons on that fateful day, as well as a large black and white photograph of the crime scene, with the teens body shaded so only the outline remained.

Who would do that now? Grabowski asks, shaking his head at the many changes in police procedures over nearly six decades.

Nanette Hartman would be 71 today, a fact not lost on Grabowski, whose own mom is just a year older. Still, the detective sees only a petite, dark-haired child as he delves into what he describes as a fascinating story. He sees a young girl who never got a chance to even go to high school, much less become a mother or a grandma, who might be retired these days, likely posting pictures of family and friends on Facebook or Instagram.

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This killing rocked Aurora at a time when the town was far smaller and more innocent. And it devastated those who loved Nanette, especially her mother and late father Frank, who lived in Crystal Lake at the time, as well as the sister, who discovered the body, now living out of state.

Not only did they have to go on with life in the aftermath of such horror, King tells me, the family would run into the person they insist was the killer, who remained in Aurora.

So is this a case of justice delayed/justice denied, I ask King.

Absolutely, 100%, he quickly replies.

Although expectations that the crime lab can pull viable DNA is tempered by how old the blood is, Grabowski insists its still worth a shot.

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Any case that gets solved, no matter how cold, is worth getting excited about, he adds, especially where the victim was a child and so brutally killed  in daytime and in such a quiet neighborhood.

And now that the family has been brought on board, the detective is more motivated than ever to get to the bottom of this killing, a mystery hes certain has far more to reveal.

Meeting Nanettes mother and cousin in person, putting names to faces ... I told them I am the guy who will hopefully bring resolution to this, Grabowski says.

It has gotten a lot more personal.

dcrosby@tribpub.com
A record price of $170,000 for a trotting yearling sold in the state of Ohio was set on Friday at the Ohio Selected Jug Sale at the Pickaway Ag Center in Circleville , Ohio .

The sale topper was hip # 103, Idas First Dance, who was a Volstead filly, first foal from a full sister to 2017 Ohio three-year-year-old Trotting Filly of the Year, Rose Run Sydney 4,1:54.1 ($597,703). Purchased by Thomas Svensen, Agent for Swedish interests, she was consigned and sold by Dublin Valley Farms, Agent, Fredericksburg , OH . She will be trained by Ohio-based trotting master Chris Beaver.

Robert Hershberger, owner of Dublin Valley Farms and one of a dozen breeders that own the sale, was not surprised by the high price.

We had every confidence in Volstead, and clearly the astute buyers were willing to take a shot on a European champion son of Cantab Hall. We had a lot of interest in him as a sire earlier in the year, as well as his yearlings this fall.

Swedish Cup winner and European Champion Volstead 1:51.3f ($773,903), whose record is not indicated on the USTA pedigree pages, was able to overcome the missing data and top the sale in both highest priced yearling, as well as overall average.

We are very proud that Volsteads yearlings averaged $67,333, noted Mr. Hershberger. His yearlings looked the part and were well received by the trainers and the buyers.

The gross sales for 266 yearlings sold was $7,478,500, with this years Ohio Selected Jug Yearling Sale enjoying an 2% increase in overall average ($28,115) and a relatively flat gross for seven less horses sold over last year. The sale was conducted by the Lexington Selected Yearling Sales Co., on behalf of the Ohio Harness Horse Breeders Association, a consortium of Buckeye State nurseries that collectively own the enterprise.

Sons and daughters of What The Hill (33) and Uncle Peter (16) averaged $35,152 and $32,438 respectively, with each sire having a six figure yearling to their credit. Spring Haven Farm sold (hip # 98) a What The Hill half-sister to A Fancy Face 4,1:53.1 ($359,820) for $110,000 to Greg Luther, Blacklick , OH .

Hickory Lane Horse Farm sold (hip # 195) an Uncle Peter full sister to World Champion, A Real Legend 2,1:55h-22 ($81,300) for $105,000 to Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills of Zanesville.

On the pacing side, it was another banner year by Diamond Creek/Sugar Valley Farms pacing sire Downbytheseaside, who continued to lead the way with 41 sold for a gross of $1.8 million and an average of $45,780.

The highest priced pacer sold was hip # 102 Cowboy By The Sea, a Downbytheseaside half-brother to Captain Cowgirl p,3,1:49.3f-22 ($542,038), who brought $127,000 from TheStable.ca's Anthony MacDonald. Owned and consigned by Jeff and Senena Estys Spring Haven Farm, the colt was one of four yearlings by Downbytheseaside that fetched six figure prices.

The Burke brigade was out in force at the Ohio Select Sale, and captured the first six figure yearling of the day, (hip # 87) from the LMN Bred consignment. Bringing $120,000, the son of Downbytheseaside was the highest priced yearling Mitch and Laura Nault had ever bred and sold. We bred and sold this colts dam, Graceful Vision, noted Laura Nault. So this was a very special day for us. We are thrilled he is going to the Burke Stable.

Ryan Miller, Greenville , OH , signed the $115,000 ticket for the highest priced pacing filly sold. Also by Downbytheseaside, (hip # 275) she from a multiple stakes-winning half-sister to Sectionline Bigry p,1:48-22 ($896,337). Consigned by Cool Winds Farm, it was the first six figure yearling ever sold by Randy and Kim Haines.

Racing Hill had the second highest average of pacing sires with 10 or more sold, getting $28,182 each. Of the first-crop pacing sires, Dancin Yankee led the way with an average of $24,167.

For complete sales results, click here.
Redlandbethanyjean added her named to the history books at Truro Raceway thanks to her track record-setting score in a division of the Phil Pinkney Memorial for two-year-old pacing fillies.

With Brodie MacPhee at the lines, Redlandbethanyjean took command from Post 1 and never looked back. She rolled the field through fractions of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:26 before scooting home in :28.4 to win by 6-1/4 lengths over Marina Del Ray in 1:54.4. Woodmere Jade was third.

The clocking erased the former record of 1:55.3 established by JJ Scarlett on October 17, 2021.

The daughter of Artspeak-Machnbyrd Princess now boasts a 2-1-0 record from six assignments. Tom Weatherbie trains the speedy lass for Redland Farms of Bible Hill, NS.

Saulsbrook Mabel took her $6,845 division in 1:59 for the driver Mark Bradley.

Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, the daughter of Malicious-Southwind Oasis marched the field through fractions of :29.4, 1:00.2 and 1:30.2 before using a :28.3 kicker to win by 5-3/4 lengths over Itsuptoyou. Third prize went to Cant Be Touched.

The homebred is undefeated in two career starts for trainer John Baxter and partner Saulsbrook Stables Inc.

Batterup Hanover laid off a hot, early pace en route to posting a going away victory in the $2,500 winners over pace for trainer/driver Paul Langille. The four-year-old son of Betting Line-Beachbunny Hanover got away fourth and watched American Risk roll the field through fractions of :27 and :56.3. He was still on the lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:26.1, but Privilege was first-over and driving with Batterup Hanover positioned on his cover. Batterup Hanover rocketed home in :27.1 to win by 6-3/4 lengths over Frontier Cruise in 1:54. American Risk faded to finish third.

Debbie Francis, Rosanne Langille, Douglas Lowthers and Chantel Langille share ownership on the gelding who improved his 2022 record to 2-1-2 from 11 starts with the win. The 10-time winner recently surpassed $50,000 in lifetime earnings.

To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results  Truro Raceway.
Voelz Delight failed to make the cut to Saturdays Milton Stakes Final after finishing sixth in last weeks elimination round, but she dropped in class and cruised to a handy win in Fridays $32,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred at Woodbine Mohawk Park .

Sylvain Filion hustled Voelz Delight to the lead from Post 6 and they charged past the quarter pole in :26.4 before yielding to Western Wish in the backstretch. Western Wish supplied the field with middle panels of :55.2 and 1:23.2, but she couldnt seal the deal.

Filion angled out the pocket in the lane with Voelz Delight and the four-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight-Voelz Hanover stormed home in :26 to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Western Wish in 1:49.3. Shes Got It All was third.

It was a new lifetime mark for the homebred who now hangs her harness bag in the barn of trainer Jean Tourigny. Sent off as the even-money favourite, Voelz Delight posted the win for owner/breeder Richard Berthiaume of Pointe-aux-trembles , Que .

The Ontario Sires Stakes graduate now owns a 3-2-2 record this season from nine trips to the track. The 10-time winner has banked $590,737 to date.
A small plane made an emergency landing Saturday morning on I-66 in Warren County.

Virginia State Police responded at 10:43 a.m. Sept. 17 to a report of a private aircraft landing along I-66 west bound at the six-mile-marker, according to a release from VSP spokesman Sgt. Brent Coffey.

A preliminary investigation revealed the aircraft suffered engine failure. The pilot and only occupant were uninjured.

The FAA and NTSB were notified of the emergency landing. The incident remains under investigation, Coffey say.
The second gun in two days was seized at the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport Wednesday after an owner attempted to carry it through a passenger security checkpoint.

The catch brought the number of guns detected by Transportation Security Administrators at the airport during 2022 to seven, the highest number of guns caught at the airport in a single calendar year, the TSA said Thursday.

A Vinton man had a loaded 9 mm handgun in his carry-on bag that passed through a checkpoint X-ray monitor. A TSA officer staffing the monitor saw the weapon and alerted police.

Police confiscated the gun and charged the man, who was detained, with carrying the weapon. He also faces a stiff federal financial civil citation for bringing a loaded gun to a security checkpoint, the TSA news release said.

The man told officials, the release continued, that he had forgotten that he had the loaded gun with him.

On Tuesday, a Pulaski County woman was caught with a loaded gun in her carry-on at the same airport. That catch tied the old annual record of guns detected by TSA at the Roanoke airport at six.

That record was reached in 2016 and 2018. In 2021, five guns were detected.

Wednesdays catch broke the old record with more than three full months of the year left.

Last year, TSA officers detected 5,972 guns at security checkpoints nationwide, and 86% of them were loaded.

Firearms are not allowed at a security checkpoint at any airport, said Robin Chuck Burke, TSAs Federal Security Director for the airport. We are proud of our officers for ensuring prohibited items are not making it through checkpoints. We much prefer that travelers adhere to checkpoint protocols and either pack their firearms properly and declare them or leave them at home.

TSA has details on how to properly travel with a firearm posted on its website, tsa.gov.

Civil penalties for bringing a handgun into a checkpoint can stretch into thousands of dollars, depending on the circumstances.

That applies to travelers with or without concealed gun carry permits.

However, the TSA does not disclose the names of persons who have been charged or fined for illegally carrying firearms through airport security. So its difficult to track them through the courts system to determine their legal or financial penalties.

The complete list of civil penalties is posted on the TSAs website.

Travelers should also contact their airline, as they may have additional requirements for traveling with firearms and ammunition, the TSA said.
Virginia school divisions, including in Culpeper County, are on track to save millions by using solar energy.

Over the past two years, the solar capacity of Virginias K-12 schools has more than doubled, according to data from Charlottesville-based advocacy organization Generation180.

This includes at newly opened Culpeper Technical Education Center, where the roof received more than 1,200 solar panels this past spring. Students at the public vocational school next to Germanna Community College helped with the install.

The progress was largely spurred by a policy change in Virginia allowing tax-exempt entities like schools and localities to use third-party power purchase agreements.

With these agreements, solar developers own and maintain the system for the life of the agreement, or typically around 25 years. In return, the school district purchases the solar energy produced. The contracts allow schools to go solar with no upfront capital costs.

School divisions save millions by paying for solar power, which is much cheaper than standard electricity.

Thats important for school districts around Virginia because its typically the second-highest cost for schools after staffing, said Tish Tablan, program director for Generation180. Instead of paying that money to the utility, thats money they can now reinvest into students, into teacher pay and to learning.

About 94% of the solar capacity installed by K-12 schools was funded through third-party ownership.

Virginia ranks ninth in the U.S. for cumulative solar capacity in K-12 schools and ranks 13th in the nation for the total number of schools with solar. There are now 154 schools powered by solaran increase of 65 schools over the past two years.

Hanover County Public Schools has four of its schools powered by solar through a contract with Sun Tribe Solar, a Charlottesville solar energy company.

The four projects have saved the school division more than $100,000 each year, and the savings should increase as host utility rates rise.

Historically, host utility rates have increased at a predictable level, but in recent years, they have risen dramatically. Hanover Public Schools was expected to save $183,000 between 2020 and 2022, but actually saved about $202,000 due to the rising cost of standard electricity.

In Henrico County, three schoolsHighland Springs High School, J.R. Tucker High School and Holladay Elementaryare in the final stages of solar installation and will begin operating later this fall.

The Henrico school division executed power purchase agreements last year with five schools: Glen Allen High, Harvie Elementary, Holman Middle, Kaechele Elementary and Colonial Trail Elementary. Solar will be installed at those schools in the future, but the exact timeline is unknown, according to Carrie Webster, the countys energy manager.

Henrico, which has active solar installations in other county facilities, projects it will save $4 million over 25 years with its installed or planned solar projects.

Two large solar arrays will soon be installed in Southwest Virginia, in two localities that have historically been coal mining communities: Wise County and Lee County.

In Wise County, the five schools that will go solar will cover almost half of the energy needs at the divisions schools. According to the solar developer, the school division is expected to save $7.5 million over the 35-year lifetime of the solar array.

Star-Exponent reporter Allison Brophy Champion added to this story.
The Smokey Fire in Banner County is now mostly contained, aided in part by high humidity and rainfall on Thursday night and Friday afternoon.

We did get some rain through the night that did help things, but it didnt solve the problem, said Tim Grubbs, incident commander and Banner County fire chief. We still have crews and trucks out in the field.

The rain extinguished some areas of the blaze and moistened vegetation so it is less likely to catch on fire. However, the northern and southwestern frontiers of the fire have yet to be fully contained.

Grubbs estimated the Smokey Fire at 70% containment. The single-engine air tankers that had been helping to fight it have been demobilized, according to a press release from the Nebraska Joint Information Center. However, two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the Nebraska National Guard will remain to help with hot spots.

Drone teams continue to help incident command staff to direct resources to areas still burning.

The acreage scorched Friday grew to 4,318 acres, but when the fire is near 100% contained, flames will have nowhere to advance and will slowly die out. With the fire close to containment, state firefighting assets such as the Wildland Incident Response Assistance Team are scheduled for demobilization on Sunday.

The fire began Tuesday 15 miles southeast of Gering, just east of Wrights Gap Road in Banner County. Firefighters from close to 30 departments fought to limit its spread to east of the road and south of the county line.

Firefighter Ministry and 11.13 Ministries have aided firefighters by providing them with food and water as they labor to put out the blaze.

No injuries or structure damage have been reported. The fire spread primarily through uninhabited ridges and valleys of the Wildcat Hills.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Two Virginia Tech students worked with Floyd Countys Information Technology Director during the summer to draft policies and plans for a variety of the countys cyber security needs.

Zoe Lyons and Brian Kim presented some of their findings to the Floyd County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 13 after 10 weeks of working alongside IT Director Christopher McNabb.

McNabb said the interns spent about 300 hours each on the project throughout the summer, and he put in between 800 and 900 hours.

County Administrator Dr. Linda Millsaps noted the Sept. 13 presentation was just a taste of all the work that had been done, with the final report totaling more than 400 pages.

McNabb said the project was originally focused on bringing the Floyd County Electoral Board into compliance with Locality Election Security Standards, but it quickly grew into policies that could be implemented on the county-level, as well.

Lyons and Kim said some of the policies are still in progress because they require legal consultation; however, McNabb said, some of them could be implemented tomorrow.

Some of the drafted plans include Data Management and Classification, Disaster Recovery, Personnel Security Management Standards and Physical Environment Security.

Lyons and Kim said they attended an Electoral Board meeting during their internship, took voter equipment inventory, assessed county buildings security measures and more, under the direction of McNabb and Floyd County Voter Registrar Amy Ingram.

The base policies developed by Lyons and Kim, McNabb said, establish a base that can be implemented across county departments, where cyber security policies havent existed before.

Main challenges facing the county now, in regard to finishing and implementing the drafted plans, center on time and resources, McNabb said. There will also need to be someone to monitor and maintain the policies and measures put in place.

Chris definitely needs an assistant, Lyons and Kim agreed, and the Board mentioned discussing the matter next budget season.

Chairman Joe Turman said the Board has been blessed to add McNabb to the team, and hes sure Lyons and Kim have been, too.

Theyve done an incredible amount of work for us, McNabb said.

Both Lyons and Kim are VT seniors, set to graduate in December and this spring, respectively. They are both Business Information Technology majors with a concentration in Cyber Security.

Kim hails from Northern Virginia and a family of IT workers. He said working in rural Floyd County was an eye-opening experience.

Lyons was born in California, and her family also lives in NoVa.
China's work to combat endemic diseases over the past decade has yielded historic results in such areas as prevention, control, monitoring and testing, according to a press conference on Friday.

China has delivered on its time-phased goal for endemic disease prevention and control, its key endemic disease monitoring network has achieved full coverage, and the testing and diagnostic capabilities of various types of endemic disease research laboratories have been substantially raised, according to the press conference held by the National Health Commission (NHC).

By the end of 2021, the counties and districts registering the highest rates of endemic diseases such as iodine deficiency, Kashin-Beck disease, Keshan disease and fluorosis caused by coal burning had reached the country's standard for endemic disease control or elimination, according to statistics by the NHC.

China was once one of countries most impacted by endemic diseases globally, said Xiong Huang, an official from the disease control bureau under the NHC. Over the past 10 years, China has adhered to a comprehensive and goal-oriented principle that puts endemic disease prevention first, and combines this prevention with control, providing useful experience for other developing countries.
Adults who saw a local student being allegedly followed by a truck on their way to school intervened, resulting in no need for lockdowns at Olympic Elementary School in Longview.

Rick Parrish, spokesman for the Longview School District, said he believes the incident happened around 8 a.m. Thursday on Hemlock Street between 30th and 32nd avenues.

Witnesses saw a gold-colored 1990s model truck following the student and told the students mother, according to a letter that went out to Olympic Elementary families Thursday. They also called 911, and Longview officers arrived to handle the situation.

The Longview Police Department did not return a phone call to The Daily News by print deadline to discuss the incident.

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There was no need for a lockdown or anything like that, Parrish said.

The district in its letter to families encouraged students to walk to school in groups or pairs. They also praised the districts mantra of See something, say something that they said helped make this situation have a positive outcome.

The safety and security of our students is of the utmost importance, Parrish said.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to clarify the location of the incident.
Crime scene tape, blood spatter and a shattered beaker surrounded the disjointed body sprawled on the floor of a laboratory at R.A. Long High School.

Of course, none of it was real. But to the students taking a STEM course at the high school, it represented a chance for them to learn about forensic science for the first time in one of the most interactive ways possible: by solving a fake crime.

Its in this classroom where R.A. Long junior Audrey Zdunich developed her passion for nursing and medical science.

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This year, Zdunich, with the help of her teacher Hanna Burleson, earned the title of a Washington STEM Rising Star from the regional educational service district.

To think someone thought of me for that, it just made me feel really proud of myself, Zdunich said.

Burleson, who has been with R.A. Long since 2013, recently took the mantle as teacher in the two-story STEM lab at the school that houses drones, forensic science practice kits, microscopes and a $75,000 virtual interactive dissection table.

The classroom was once a woodworking shop that often went unused, Superintendent Dan Zorn said. Around four years ago, the Longview School District got a state grant to help them turn it into a lab that could serve students interested in career and technical education.

It was a direct response to the need out there to expand whats available to our kids, Zorn said.

Burleson started as the teacher in the lab last year and splits her classes between R.A. Long and Mark Morris high school students so both could have a chance at being in the interactive classroom, she said.

When Zdunich was a sophomore last year, Burleson said Zdunich showed valuable organization skills that she used to help her and her peers during one of the several hands-on exercises.

The result was a ceremony in Vancouver, where Zdunich was the recipient of a $500 stipend from Career Connect Southwest, which hosts a number of internships and opportunities for students to get more involved in career and technical education.

Local STEM teachers, business leaders and other community members nominated 13 students across Southwest Washington due to their achievements in engineering, science and mathematics.

Three regional students were chosen as Rising Stars, including Zdunich: Alexis Manning from Pacific Crest Innovation Academy and Kaylee Kirkelie from Ridgefield High School.

Zdunichs mother Micah Zdunich said her daughter showed an interest as a child in veterinary medicine, but that her passion for medical science grew as a result of Burlesons class.

I would say I dont think she was really fully interested until she took this class, Micah Zdunich said. She would come home and tell us all about it.

Audrey Zdunich said her favorite project last year involved planning how to set up a mobile medical facility, spurring an interest to eventually possibly pursue a career as a trauma nurse.

For most kids, what makes the class great is the teacher, Audrey Zdunich said. Mrs. Burleson always has such a good attitude and you can tell she really cares.
A fire displaced 77 residents from Montesano Health and Rehabilitation Center in Grays Harbor County this week, and now advocates are asking for donations to help those residents.

The Washington State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is seeking donations for those displaced by the fire who are now spread across other care facilities in the region. A news release from the long-term care nonprofit said theyre looking for new socks, pajamas and comfort blankets for residents who have lost many of their belongings.

Crews responded to the blaze at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday after receiving calls from the Montesano Health and Rehabilitation and its neighbors. Twenty-nine staff and some neighbors evacuated all patients from the facility, according to the Montesano Police Department.

A Montesano Fire Department engine arrived on scene at 5:36 p.m. to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof at the north end of the building, according to the fire department. About 50 firefighters from throughout the region fought the fire for three hours.

No one was injured in the blaze, but the patients at the facility are recovering from injuries or surgery or receiving end-of-life care.

Our priority is ensuring residents have support during this scary event, the long-term care group said in its news release. Residents have been dislocated from their familiar surroundings, lost personal possessions in the fire, and are disconnected from familiar care teams, friends and neighbors.

Donations can be dropped off or mailed to the Grays Harbor Regional Long Term Care Ombudsman located at the Olympic Agency on Aging, 2700 Simpson Ave, Suite 205, Aberdeen, WA, 98520.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and challenger Tiffany Smiley have been invited to two debates scheduled for late October, the Washington State Debate Coalition announced Friday.

The first event, billed as a candidate forum, will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, at Gonzaga University in Spokane. The second event is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Seattle University.

Smiley, a Pasco veterans advocate, had been pressing Murray to agree to debates for weeks, expressing frustration at a delay in getting dates set. Murray had pledged to debate but was negotiating details with organizers in recent days.

On Tuesday, Oct. 18, Secretary of State incumbent Steve Hobbs and Julie Anderson, the Pierce County auditor who is running as a nonpartisan candidate, are invited to debate at 7 p.m. at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma.

Details about debate moderators, media panelists and how to submit questions for candidates will be announced in the coming weeks. The debates will be broadcast by multiple media outlets and will be produced by TVW, the states public-affairs network.

The Washington State Debate Coalition, founded in 2016, includes civic, media and educational groups across the state, led by Seattle City Club.
Poco M5 looks like a decent 4G phone on paper. But is it really convincing enough to go for a 4G phone in the 5G era? Find out in our review.

With 5G services all set to roll out in India soon, the focus is now to make 5G enabled phones more affordable. From Vivo T1 to iQOO Z6 Lite and a few others, we have seen some impressive 5G phones with decent features over the years. While most of the companies are racing to bring feature packed 5G phones in the affordable segment, Poco has recently launched the Poco M5 4G. Though the on-paper features look decent, the question is would you go for a 4G phone when India is all set to get 5G services in October? Since we all want to be future ready, a 5G phone would be our first choice. But we can compromise if the handset offers some exciting features, right?. Priced at Rs. 14,499, can the Poco M5 convince us to go for a 4G phone in the 5G era? Read here

Poco M5: Design and display

The Poco M5 has an eye candy design with leather-like textured finish on the back panel that gives it a premium look and feel. We have the Poco M5 in Cool Blue colour variant and it looks attractive, especially with a nicely complimented black camera island. Given how glass and polycarbonate are taken preference in this price category, this leather-like finish is quite refreshing and the device will surely grab some eyeballs.

On the front, the handset has a 6.58-inches Full HD+ display that offers decent brightness but harsh sunlight made me shade it for better viewing. Further, the display has a tear-drop notch housing the selfie camera, and noticeably slim bezels with a slightly thicker chin. The Poco M5 measures 163.99 x 76.09 x 8.9 mm and weighs 201 g, but you can manage it single handedly. The 90Hz refresh rate and 240 Hz touch sampling rate does offer smooth social media and gaming experience. The device also produces accurate and vibrant colors with crisp visuals but an AMOLED display could've enhanced the experience (especially on a 4G phone).

Apart from these, the display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and comes with Widevine L1 certification, which means you can consume content in 1080p resolution on Netflix. The fingerprint sensor works fine, audio jack and speakers too offer decent performance.

Poco M5: Performance and software

The Poco M5 has the new MediaTek Helio G99 SoC chipset paired with up to 6GB RAM and 128 GB UFS 2.2 storage, offering smooth day-to-day performance like social media scrolling, watching content and others without any slouch. The device also comes with a virtual RAM that bumps it up by 2GB RAM. There is also a microSD slot for storage expansion.

I am not a fan of gaming, but I have played Temple Run 2, Subway Surfers and Candy Crush, and the experience was smooth. I didn't feel any lag or heating problems. But while juggling between apps, it takes a little longer for them to react.

Coming to software, the Poco M5 runs on MIUI 13.0.4 based on Android 12. However, a bunch of pre-installed bloatware leaves me disappointed. You can delete them, but the handset could've got a cleaner UI. Having said that, for similar prices, Motorola with its budget G series phone has really impressed me with the cleanest UI and no bloatware apps among others. Overall, the Poco M5 offers a decent performance for the price range it is being offered.

In terms of sound and audio performance, the Poco M5 features a single speaker that offers a decent sound in low to medium volume but gets distorted at high volume levels. The device comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is great.

Poco M5: Camera

The Poco M5 packs a triple rear camera comprising a 50MP main sensor, along with a 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro shooter. For selfies and video calls, the Poco M5 packs an 8MP front-facing shooter. Images shot in daylight conditions with the primary 50MP rear camera come out clean displaying decent amounts of detail, however, it struggles with its HDR performance in some instances as it over exposed the light sources. Further, it does smoothen the skin tones, but there's not too much artificial beautification happening. Typical of Poco/Xiaomi devices, the saturation is bumped as well. On the whole, it looks good.

If you are shooting at night or in a low-lighting condition, the quality does degrade. The portrait mode and bokeh mode works fine. The macro mode is rarely usable while the lack of an ultra-wide sensor is quite disappointing.

Now coming to selfies, you will get clean and pleasant-looking images from its front-facing camera when there is ample light, but in low light the quality degrades. Check out the camera sample here

Poco M5: Battery

The device is backed by a 5000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. The phone runs for more than a day and half even with heavy usage that involves gaming for a few hours, scrolling through social media sites and listening to music. But it took me more than 2 hours to charge the phone from 0-100 percent and it's a major bummer. The company should have at least given its faster 33W charging here.

Poco M5: Verdict

The Poco M5 is a good looking phone with great battery life, decent cameras and good enough performance. The phone also features a headphone jack and a MicroSD slot for storage expansion. But there are a few things that could have been better, like lack of an AMOLED display and night time photography as well as 5G support. But given its price point, it's a decent choice if you seek a standout design as well as good performance. On the whole, if you are in the market looking for a 4G smartphone under Rs. 13,000 that is both fast and looks different, the Poco M5 is worth considering.
390-foot asteroid is moving close to Earth tomorrow! Should we worry about it crashing? Check what NASA asteroid watch says.

While US space agency NASA is getting set to smash its DART mission spacecraft into an asteroid on September 26 to study how it affects the motion of an asteroid in space, a humongous space rock is headed toward Earth. This asteroid will make a terrifyingly close approach to our planet tomorrow. As per NASA Asteroid Watch Dashboard, this asteroid named 2005 RX3 measures 390-foot in size and will pass horrifically close to the Earth. In fact, it will come as close to Earth as 2.95 million miles. Does this asteroid pose a danger to Earth?

NASA keeps an active eye on all the near-Earth objects that will make relatively close approaches to Earth. According to a predetermined criteria, NASA's JPL says that any asteroid that approach within 4.6 million miles to Earth and has a size larger than about 150 meters is termed potentially hazardous objects. Hence, this asteroid also falls under the category of potentially hazardous objects.

While this asteroid tomorrow will pass close to Earth, there is always a danger that something may nudge it off course at he last moment that may make it head straight for Earth. However, the chances of that happening are negligible.

Tech behind Asteroid tracking

We do get to her about the warnings issued by NASA in regard to these potentially dangerous asteroids. But how does NASA keep constant track of all the asteroids, comets, and other near-Earth objects? The space agency explains, NEOs are characterized by using optical and radio telescopes to determine their size, shape, rotation, and physical composition. Some of the most detailed characterization data is obtained for NEOs that approach Earth close enough to be observed with planetary radar, performed by radio telescopes at NASA's Deep Space Network and the National Science Foundation's Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.

In short, some of the bet technologies have been deployed at huge expense to ensure that a constant watch is kept on as many asteroids as possible.

Did you know?

We are in constant danger of asteroids! NASA says that every day, 80 to 100 tons of material falls upon Earth from space in the form of dust and small meteorites, which are basically the small fragments of asteroids. In the last 20 years, around 600 very small asteroids have been detected, that were a few meters in size and entered Earth's atmosphere and created spectacular fireballs. Impacts of larger objects are expected to be far less frequent (on the scale of centuries to millennia). However, given the current incompleteness of the NEO catalogue, an unpredicted impact  such as the Chelyabinsk event  could occur at any time.
NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover has spotted an awesome Sun Halo in skies over Mars. The phenomenon was thought to be impossible by the scientists. Check details here.

Have you heard of Sun Halo? Several instances of Sun Halo have been seen and captured by people living in different parts of the Earth. Now, amazingly, NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover has done the impossible and captured a Sun Halo on Mars. It is being said to be a never-seen-before phenomenon spotted on planet Mars. This is a truly historic achievement as even scientists had lost hope of seeing any such incident ever happening on Mars, but only until December 15, 2021. It can be known that the Sun Halo as seen on Earth is a natural phenomenon in which ice crystals surround the Sun in a ring pattern.

The information of Sun Halo being spotted on Mars by Perseverance Rover has been informed by a planetary scientist at the Space Science Institute to Space.com. "Perseverance really surprised us with some of the images that we got back in December," the scientist named Mark Lemmon said, as quoted by Space.com.

"I've been involved with this for a long time, and we've looked for halos everywhere and in lots of images," he added. "I looked at that and I thought, 'I'm gonna have a hard time finding an explanation for this.' Because everything has been a false alarm, and that just looks so much like a halo that I thought it was going to be a lot of work to figure out what was really going on."

Know what is Sun Halo

A Sun Halo is created by randomly oriented ice crystals in thin high cirrus clouds, according to NASA. These ice crystals refract, disperse, and reflect the light to give an impression of a circular rainbow ring. According to the University of Illinois, "The halo is a ring of light 22 degrees from the Sun or Moon and is the most common type of halo observed and formed by hexagonal ice crystals with diameters less than 20.5 micrometers." Also, the hexagonal structure of water-ice crystals dictates the size of the halo, at 22 degrees away from the sun, or about the width of two fists held at arms' length, Space.com informed.

But is the Sun Halo same on earth and Mars? There is a huge difference in the Earth's and Mars's atmosphere. The Martian atmosphere contains more carbon dioxide than that in Earth's atmosphere. The carbon dioxide is even more than the amount of water present in Mars atmosphere. Because of this atmospheric difference Lemmon and his colleagues checked if the image was actually a Sun halo or was it the Perseverance camera that created the bright ring.

"We've got a lot of pictures that show you what kind of features you get from dust in the sky, and we know for sure that you never get a halo from that," Lemmon told space.com. "There were really no other candidates," he added.

About NASA's Tech Marvel, the Perseverance Rover

The Mars Perseverance Rover which was launched on July 30, 2020 searches for signs of ancient microbial life, which will advance NASA's quest to explore the past habitability of Mars. Perseverance will also test technologies to help pave the way for future human exploration of Mars, NASA informed. Strapped to the rover's belly for the journey to Mars is a technology demonstration  the Mars Helicopter.
The coffee chain -- a licensed Starbucks franchise owned by Hong Kong-based Maxim's Caterers -- said in an email to customers that it had "discovered... some unauthorized access" to details such as names, gender, dates of birth, phone numbers and home addresses.

Starbucks Singapore said Friday its customer database was breached online, with local media reporting that 200,000 people's information was stolen.

The coffee chain -- a licensed Starbucks franchise owned by Hong Kong-based Maxim's Caterers -- said in an email to customers that it had "discovered... some unauthorized access" to details such as names, gender, dates of birth, phone numbers and home addresses.

"Relevant authorities have been informed and Starbucks Singapore is assisting them on this matter," said the email seen by AFP.

The company said it was made aware of the breach on September 13, and that no credit card details were taken as it does not store them.

It urged customers to reset their passwords.

A public relations agency representing Starbucks Singapore told AFP it was "unable to disclose the number of affected customers".

The Straits Times said 200,000 customers' data was stolen and put on sale in an online forum on September 10.

One copy of the database had already been sold for Sg$3,500 ($2,500), the newspaper added.

The city-state's Personal Data Protection Commission told AFP it had been notified about the incident and has reached out to Starbucks Singapore for more information.
Environmental activists have denounced the practice of transporting highly radioactive materials.

Two ships carrying reprocessed nuclear fuel destined for Japan set sail Saturday morning from northern France, an AFP photographer said, despite criticism from environmental campaigners.

The fuel was due to leave the northern French port city of Cherbourg earlier this month but was delayed by the breakdown of loading equipment.

Environmental activists have denounced the practice of transporting such highly radioactive materials, calling it irresponsible.

The previous transport of MOX fuel to Japan in September 2021 drew protests from environmental group Greenpeace.

MOX fuel is a mixture of reprocessed plutonium and uranium.

"The Pacific Heron and Pacific Egret, the specialised ships belonging to British company PNTL, left Cherbourg harbour on September 17. They will ensure the shipment of MOX nuclear fuel to Japan," French nuclear technology group Orano said in a statement Saturday.

They are bound for Japan for use in a power plant and Orano said it expected the shipment to arrive in November.

Japan lacks facilities to process waste from its own nuclear reactors and sends most of it overseas, particularly to France.

The operation was carried out "successfully", Orano said, and it is the second shipment that arrived in Cherbourg from a plant in La Hague, located 20 kilometres (12 miles) away, after the first came on September 7.

Mox fuel is a mixture of reprocessed plutonium and uranium.

Yannick Rousselet of Greenpeace France previously denounced the shipment.

"Transporting such dangerous materials from a nuclear proliferation point of view is completely irresponsible," he said last month.

MOX is composed of 92 percent uranium oxide and eight percent plutonium oxide, according to Orano.

The plutonium "is not the same as that used by the military," it said.

Explore further Sixth MOX nuclear shipment leaves France for Japan

 2022 AFP
Dr. Thomas Bridgeman, professor of ecology and director of the UToledo Lake Erie Center, right, and Dr. Kuo-Pei Tsai, a post-doctoral research associate, read data coming from the online algae monitoring system being tested in the city's raw water pump station to protect the public drinking water supply during harmful algal bloom season. Credit: Daniel Miller, The University of Toledo

As danger looms in bodies of water globally where toxic algae blooms, a small plastic storage tub in Toledo sealed to protect against splashes, spiders and bird stool may contain a game-changing technology in the fight against the growing environmental problem.

Algae scientists at The University of Toledo are testing a real-time optical sensor at the Toledo Water Treatment Plant as part of its source water monitoring to protect the public drinking water supply during harmful algal bloom season.

Every 15 minutes the device takes a sip of Lake Erie water coming into the plant, reads the sample and puts the measurement data online for researchers and water utility managers to remotely access.

Its biggest value is the ability to tell whether tiny single-celled organisms known as cyanobacteria that compose harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie are fragile and starting to break open. If the cells break open, they release toxin. Dissolved toxin is more challenging for water treatment plants to remove because it can pass through filters and must be removed by chemical means before water leaves the plant for our faucets.

Since July, UToledo scientists have checked on the device's wires and tubing to make sure it's operating properly. They're also doing laboratory experiments at the UToledo Lake Erie Center that are showing the technology is working the way it's expected.

"Our work this summer with the PhycoSens device is the first test of this online algae monitoring system at a drinking water plant in the U.S.," said Dr. Thomas Bridgeman, professor of ecology and director of the UToledo Lake Erie Center. "If we show success at the Toledo Water Treatment Plant and throughout the region to immediately detect and notify of toxin release, then it can be scaled up nationwide. So far it's showing great promise."

The test deployment of the advanced monitoring sensor system is part of a $1.4 million UToledo project funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that began more than a year ago and focuses on early detection and management of harmful algal blooms.

Since the 2014 Toledo water crisis left half a million residents without safe tap water for three days, researchers have greater clarity that it's not just the size and appearance of the algal bloom that matters, but what is happening in the cells.

Bridgeman's devices made by the German company bbe Moldaenke use optical sensors to measure in real time how much and what kind of algae are coming into the water treatment plant, including cyanobacteria. More importantly, the sensors can provide a warning of the cyanobacteria cells breaking open and leaking their contents, including any toxins that they may contain, into the water.

"A large release of toxin can happen in a matter of hours, and it is critical for water plant operators to have this information so they can adjust their treatment levels quickly, before dissolved toxin can get through the plant," Bridgeman said. "The data are produced every few minutes, which makes it a useful early warning tool for a potentially rapidly changing algal situation."

Notable for researchers is data collected in late July showing the peak of the bloom and its decline.

"So far we have not detected any of that cell breakage at the water treatment plant or near the water intake out in the lake using the automated sensor, which is good news," Bridgeman said. "However, UToledo crews on our research vessel taking water samples out in the lake throughout Lake Erie's western basinnot near the water intakehave detected cell breakage using the manual version of the same device this season."

Bridgeman said that cell breakage events leading to large releases of dissolved toxin don't happen every year in Lake Erie.

Dr. Kuo-Pei Tsai, a post-doctoral research associate at the UToledo Lake Erie Center, works at the city's raw water pump station with the plastic storage tub containing a game-changing technology in the fight against toxic algae. Credit: Daniel Miller, The University of Toledo

"It happened in 2019 and possibly in 2014 but not to a large extent this summer, at least not near the water treatment plant's water intake out in the lake," Bridgeman said.

The Toledo Water Treatment Plant's laboratory makes the most use of the data.

"The experimental optical sensors being tested at the raw water pump station are a useful source for both the changes and the severity of algae levels coming from the lake," said Jeff Martin, chief chemist at the Toledo Water Treatment Plant. "We didn't have remote access to the data until part of the way through the bloom season due to computer issues, but since then it has been a welcome tool in treatment decisions."

Bridgeman has studied harmful algal blooms for two decades. His laboratory is one of the key locations for tracking and providing early warning of harmful algal blooms in the western basin of Lake Erie.

He said while the new instruments can detect the health, or physiological condition, of the cyanobacteria, they do not provide actual toxin readings, making them a supplemental weapon in a water utility manager's arsenal to efficiently and economically adjust treatment to maintain drinking water safety.

"Measuring toxin still requires a separate, fairly time-consuming test," Bridgeman said. "Therefore, the fast optical measurements will be coordinated with slower chemical toxin measurements to provide a complete picture of what is happening in the lake water that is entering the water plant."

The device will be removed from the water treatment plant for analysis in October and then his team will study the results and potentially put it back in the plant next summer.

Bridgeman's device monitoring tests are one part of a larger, wide-ranging project funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that also includes faculty in the UToledo College of Engineering.

Dr. Youngwoo Seo, professor of civil and environmental engineering and chemical engineering, leads the three-year project to improve water quality from the source to the tap.

Some of the technology and techniques being tested by UToledo are new to water treatment plants in the western hemisphere.

The project features two different parts working together:

Advanced monitoring sensors and molecular genetic analyses to enhance early harmful algal bloom detection and real-time condition diagnostic capability; and

Nature-inspired biological treatment methods coupled with algaecides to attack cyanobacteria and degrade toxins it produces.

Dr. Dae-Wook Kang, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, leads a molecular approach to develop a robust detection method, and his analysis will help better understand what triggers the toxin gene production of cyanobacteria.

Seo is focused on mitigation and the treatment method for toxin removal. His laboratory is working on the biological degradation of cyanobacteria and their toxins using the naturally occurring bacteria and viruses from the lake and NSF-approved chemical treatments.

Explore further Harmful algal bloom becomes detectable along western Lake Erie
The remains of 88 Chinese soldiers killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Friday from the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Escorted by two Chinese J-20 stealth fighter jets, a Y-20 military transport aircraft carrying the remains and belongings of the fallen soldiers landed at the Taoxian international airport in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, at around 11 a.m.

This is the ninth such repatriation since 2014.

Around 400 representatives from central and local authorities, the military, veterans of the war, family members of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs and students attended a ceremony at the airport to welcome the remains of the soldiers.

Following the event, the remains were escorted to the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, where a burial ceremony will be held on Saturday.

The remains of 825 soldiers returned from the ROK and were laid to rest in the cemetery between 2014 and 2021.
One hundred years after opening its doors as Sunrise Baptist Church, love remains at the core of New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Marie Nutall said.

Its truly amazing to be the ones that God would use to lead the congregation into the centennial celebration, she said. We have learned and are yet still learning from our past generations because past generations is our history.

To celebrate the landmark anniversary, the church will host a gala this weekend for the congregation to fellowship with each other before a special Sunday service with Bishop Maurice Green Jr. from Lily of the Valley Church of God in Christ joining Nutall to celebrate.

Nutall is just the third pastor at the church and has served in the position for 17 years. Rev. Garfield F. Alexander served for 56 years and Rev. S. E. Taplin led the church for 27 years. It was Taplin who ordained Nutall and gave her the tools to lead the church, which is also known by its congregants as the Powerhouse of Deliverance because it is a place for those who desire to be delivered, Nutall said.

She said she did not expect to become pastor when she joined the church in 1987 after moving to the area from East Texas to attend Texas A&M. She served as an assistant pastor for five years before stepping into the role of lead pastor.

Its been a life of service, a life of sacrifice, a life of challenges, a life of hurt, a life of joy, pain; but in all of it, God has never failed me, nor has he failed us, she said. Im excited about where this ministry is going and what it will be beyond me.

Taplin always believed in Nutall's ministerial abilities, she said, and she remains committed to her responsibility.

When she was first named pastor, she described it as a divine assignment and still considers it that.

This is a divine assignment, an assignment of sacrifice, an assignment of love, an assignment of service thats rooted in, grounded in love, Nutall said.

Nutalls husband, Lorenza, a deacon in the church, said it is that love that keeps him charged week after week. Looking ahead to the churchs future, he hopes it continues to grow with love and spread that love to others.

Jenita Rayford, an administrator in the church said she believes the best is yet to come for the church. She said the churchs location on a hill alongside W. 28th Street in Bryan  across N. Harvey Mitchell Parkway from where the church first opened its doors  holds both physical and spiritual significance.

Much of the leadership used the word sustaining to describe the role the church community had for them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I think that for 100 years, in the midst of the pandemic that we face, so many churches have closed or are non-existent anymore, Rayford said. I just think that his favor, his love, resides here. Thats truly what speaks to me in every way when I think about this church; I think about the blessing.

Nutall said through the challenges and obstacles the COVID-19 pandemic presented, it also brought some positive changes to the church, including moving into an age of technology and livestreaming Sunday services on social media.

Its the goal of every pastor to make sure that were teaching, explaining, proclaiming; that we can never forsake the assemblage of coming together, she said. The pandemic taught us how much we may have taken for granted, how much that connection meant to us.

Pastors never anticipated preaching to pews, she said, but she will never forget Sunday, March 15, 2020, as they thought a shutdown was looming.

Jenita looked at me, and she said, You just be ready. Just come in here and be you and be ready, Nutall said. Ill never forget that. Id never been in front of a camera before. She said, Ill take care of everything else. You just be ready. So what we had to become for each other is priceless. And for me, Ill remember it for the rest of my life because I could not have done it without each of them.

John T. Washington, one of the churchs deacons, said that time was anything but normal as he watched Nutall preach to an empty church.

The Lord sustained us, he said. He took us through a lot of things that we thought we would never have to see, especially in church.

Nutall said the continued use of livestreaming has helped grow the churchs reach, although attendance in the sanctuary has not yet rebounded back to pre-pandemic levels.

The church averaged 330 to 400 people each Sunday with Easter growing to 500 or more before the pandemic, she said. However, the average since the church reopened to congregants has been about 185 with 239 at Easter this year.

We are finding that as much as you may love numbers, numbers dont always necessarily mean growth when youre doing the Lords work, Nutall said, describing the church leaders as walking epistles. You can have tons of people, but its really about are they spiritually mature and are we really disciples?

David Rayford, one of the deacons, said he is glad to see people, regardless of gender or race, coming in to hear what Nutall has to share each Sunday.

We believe that God is allowing us to cross every line, so were seeing different denominations are crossing over to us, as well as different races of people, Nutall said, adding the congregation represents the beauty of the community. And thats God. Hes love. We all dont eat the same things. We all have different opinions. We all have different lifestyles. But we believe in the word.

Washington said he has thought about how strong the foundation has been to hold the church for 100 years.

All we have to do is just keep holding on, keep prayed up, he said. Whatever he has in store for us, its still better yet to come.

Nutall said she believes the future of the church is bright, built upon the foundation her two predecessors established.

I believe that we have growth coming in every aspect of our ministry, and hes bringing people to us from the north, south and the east and the west, she said.

This article was edited to reflect clarification the Rev. S.E. Taplin's support of Marie Nutall as a pastor.
DALLAS  Complications for the Biden administration over immigration intensified as migrants were transported by Republican governors to cities governed by Democrats and rising migration along the southern border remains on pace to exceed a record 2 million.

On Friday, Venezuelan migrants flown to Marthas Vineyard were moved yet again to a military base on nearby Cape Cod on the Massachusetts mainland, as immigration advocates criticized what they said were fraudulent claims about destinations and which federal agency migrants should report to in the future. Gustavo Garcia-Siller, Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Antonio, tweeted migrants were used as pawns.

New numbers on Border Patrol arrests, through August, are expected to show a record number of arrivals at the Southwest border topping 2 million for the fiscal year that ends in September, with a sharp shift in demographics. That shift, with more Cubans, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans, creates new challenges for federal, state and local officials because migrants from those nations are largely granted entry into the U.S.

Tangled diplomatic relations among multiple nations mean migrants from those three countries arent easily returned to their homelands under a pandemic-related health order. Moreover, the migration from communist or authoritarian countries places a spotlight on Republicans who have traditionally championed those fleeing such governments.

Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre accused Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, both Republicans, of misleading asylum-seekers fleeing communism.

Abbott has sent more than 11,000 migrants on state-funded buses this year, accusing the Biden administration of taking little action to secure the border against rising migration that endangered communities. Abbott, who is up for re-election, said the state of Texas will continue to send migrants north until President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris step up and do their jobs to secure the border.

DeSantis, following Abbotts lead, sent about 50 Venezuelans on a plane to Marthas Vineyard this week. The planes came from San Antonio, Texas, to Florida.

Jean-Pierre said DeSantis abandoned migrants on the side of a busy road in Marthas Vineyard. The Florida governor had time to hire a videographer to capture footage of that flight, but not to alert state officials that migrants were en route, she said.

On Thursday, Biden said, Republicans are playing politics with human beings, using them as props. What theyre doing is simply wrong. Its un-American.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and most other Republicans are standing solidly behind the governor, saying his actions are warranted and that the impact on the state from the migrant surge is much more severe than the communities where buses and flights have been sent.

Immigrant advocates have protested the treatment of the migrants, and called for a U.S. Department of Justice investigation. Some have said they were misled into taking the plane trip to Massachusetts, or that migrants have been told to report to the wrong federal agency. The latter move could mean the migrants wont get crucial notices of upcoming federal immigration court hearings, triggering their removal from the U.S. in absentia, or without appearing in court to defend themselves. Yet others claimed they were happy to receive a free trip.

The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment.

You can treat these people as political pawns, but what were trying to do is make sure that theyre treated like human beings, who by the way, all have legal permission to be in the country, said Naomi Steinberg, vice president of U.S. policy and advocacy at HIAS, a global nonprofit with Jewish origins that provides assistance to immigrants at the border and within the U.S.

Steinberg said migrants are cleared by federal immigration officials for passage into the U.S., and many will launch asylum petitions, which they have a legal right to do under U.S. and international law. Migrant transfers, by buses or planes, is certainly not the answer for responding to a real challenge at the border.

In Del Rio, the busiest region for the Border Patrol during the last few months, state buses continue to arrive six times a week to take migrants north, said Tiffany Burrow, who leads the faith-based Val Verde Humanitarian Border Coalition. The coalition operates a day shelter in south Del Rio, helping migrants prepare for journeys with directions, free meals and new clothing.

Migrants volunteer to take free bus rides north, offered by the Abbott administration, Burrow said. All migrants had been processed by federal immigration authorities with instructions about pending federal immigration court dates before boarding the bus. Burrow has taken one of the free bus trips north with migrants to Washington, D.C.

Not to be simplistic, but I mean, there are a lot of people coming across and theyre going to their final destinations wherever that may be, Burrow said. If a free bus trip gets the migrant closer to their final destination, they take it, Burrow said.

The U.S. Border Patrol continues dropping off migrants at the day shelter, including new arrivals who crossed in Eagle Pass, a busier point of entry about an hour down the Rio Grande from Del Rio. In the last couple of weeks, the Border Patrol has released migrants in downtown El Paso, with its processing center and area shelter at capacity.

Border arrests of Venezuelans have risen quickly at the border to nearly 130,000, through July. Thats nearly triple their numbers the previous year. Since 2015 more than 6 million Venezuelans have left that country to scattered places on the globe, according to R4V, a digital site for refugees and migrants connected to the U.N. refugee agency.

This makes clear when this happens that youre going to have to put all of your diplomatic might at the very highest levels to really work to find a solution to the crisis in Venezuela, said Adam Isacson, a security and migration analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America.

More and more border arrests look like defacto immigration policy by country. This fiscal year, nearly 180,000 Cubans have been arrested at the southwest border, a figure that exceeds the 125,000 in the Mariel exodus in 1980 from the island nation.

Nearly 134,000 Nicaraguans have been arrested by the Border Patrol, through July of this fiscal year.

Very few have faced a swift exit under Title 42. Instead, they are processed by federal immigration authorities for later hearings in the clogged U.S. immigration courts.

Immigration officials note at least a fifth of arrests, or encounters, are by migrants who make repeat tries under Title 42, which doesnt carry legal consequences. Therefore, each arrest doesnt equal an individual migrant.

About 60% of immigrants caught by the U.S. Border Patrol come from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, according to data through July from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In July, that figure for those four countries sunk to about 50%.

Reuters reported earlier this week  and The Dallas Morning News confirmed  that the administration of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has been pressed to accept more migrants from Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua under Title 42 policies. This happened even as the Biden administration defended in federal court its attempt to end the pandemic measure last May.

If you come from a country where theres a strong likelihood of a strong asylum case, like one of these dictatorships, and its a country thats hard to expel to, its pretty much like Ellis Island now, Isacson said.
You are here: China

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for resolute efforts to prevent major forest and grassland fires.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in an instruction on the country's fire prevention and control work.

Noting severe and complex fire prevention and control situation during the autumn and winter, the premier stressed efforts to consolidate the responsibilities of all relevant parties on fire prevention and control, beef up infrastructure facilities and improve firefighting capacity.

He called for enhancing monitoring and early warning, with close attention paid to key areas and targets, as well as crucial periods of time.

Efforts should also be made to improve contingency plans and emergency response, and to forestall major fire accidents, Li said.

Attending a national teleconference on forest and grassland fire prevention and control on Friday, State Councilor Wang Yong called for solid preparations against major fires to guarantee the safety of people's lives and property, as well as ecological security.

Wang, also head of the national headquarters of forest and grassland fire prevention and control, underlined the need for greater efforts to identify and defuse risks and hidden dangers.
Uber, in an update, said there is "no evidence" that users' private information was compromised in a breach of its internal computer systems that was discovered late Thursday.

"We have no evidence that the incident involved access to sensitive user data (like trip history)," the company said. "All of our services including Uber, Uber Eats, Uber Freight, and the Uber Driver app are operational."

The ride-hailing company also said it's brought back online all the internal software tools it took down previously as a precaution, reiterating it's notified law enforcement of the matter.

It's not immediately clear if the incident resulted in the theft of any other information or how long the intruder was inside Uber's network.

Uber has not provided more specifics of how the incident played out beyond saying its investigation and response efforts are ongoing. But independent security researcher Bill Demirkapi characterized the company's "no evidence" stance as "sketchy."

"'No evidence' could mean the attacker did have access, Uber just hasn't found evidence that the attacker *used* that access for 'sensitive' user data," Demirkapi said. "Explicitly saying 'sensitive' user data rather than user data overall is also weird."

The breach allegedly involved a lone hacker, an 18-year-old teenager, tricking an Uber employee into providing account access by social engineering the victim into accepting a multi-factor authentication (MFA) prompt that allowed the attacker to register their own device.

Upon gaining an initial foothold, the attacker found an internal network share that contained PowerShell scripts with privileged admin credentials, granting carte blanche access to other critical systems, including AWS, Google Cloud Platform, OneLogin, SentinelOne incident response portal, and Slack.

Singapore-based Group-IB's follow-up analysis of downloaded artifacts as captured in some of the screenshots shared by the threat actor has revealed them to be logs gathered from info-stealing malware that were put up for sale just days before on the cybercriminal underground.

"These logs were put up for sale on September 12 and 14, which means that this was very fresh data, because the hack that utilized them was revealed from 15 to 16 September," the cybersecurity firm said, adding the logs contained authorization information for OneLogin.

"These logs indicate that at least two Uber employees (from Indonesia and Brazil) have been infected by stealer malware: Raccoon and Vidar stealers," Group-IB said, suggesting the hacker may also have attempted to use the purchased stolen data to advance through Uber's network.

Worryingly, as revealed by security researcher Sam Curry, the teen hacker is also said to have gotten hold of privately disclosed vulnerability reports submitted via HackerOne as part of Uber's bug bounty program.

HackerOne has since moved to disable Uber's account, but the unauthorized access to unpatched security flaws in the platform could pose a huge security risk to the San Francisco-based firm should the hacker opt to sell the information to other threat actors for a quick profit.

So far, the attacker's motivations behind the breach are unclear, although a message posted by the hacker announcing the breach on Slack included a call for higher pay for Uber's drivers.

A separate report from The Washington Post noted that the attacker broke into the company's networks for fun and might leak the company's source code in a matter of months, while describing Uber's security as "awful."

"Many times we only talk about APTs, like nation states, and we forget about other threat actors including disgruntled employees, insiders, and like in this case, hacktivists," Ismael Valenzuela Espejo, vice president of threat research and intelligence at BlackBerry, said.

"Organizations should include these as part of their threat modeling exercises to determine who may have a motivation to attack the company, their skill level and capabilities, and what the impact could be according to that analysis."

The attack targeting Uber, as well as the recent string of incidents against Twilio, Cloudflare, Cisco, and LastPass, illustrates how social engineering continues to be a persistent thorn in the flesh for organizations.

It also shows that all it takes for a breach to take place is an employee to share their login credentials, proving that password-based authentication is a weak link in account security.

"Once again, we see that a company's security is only as good as their most vulnerable employees," Masha Sedova, co-founder and president of Elevate Security, said in a statement.

"We need to think beyond generic training, instead let's pair our riskiest employees with more specific protective controls. As long as we continue to address cybersecurity as solely a technical challenge, we will continue to lose this battle," Sedova added.

Episodes like these are also proof that Time-based One Time Password (TOTP) codes  typically generated via authenticator apps or sent as SMS messages  are inadequate at securing 2FA roadblocks.

One way to counter such threats is the use of phishing-resistant FIDO2-compliant physical security keys, which drops passwords in favor of an external hardware device that handles the authentication.

"MFA providers should *by default* automatically lock accounts out temporarily when too many prompts are sent in a short period of time," Demirkapi alternatively suggested, urging organizations to limit privileged access.
CENTRAL CITY  On his suit, Michael Reimers wears a few lapel pins that signify his patriotism, his military career and his involvement in the American Legion.

The Central City man was in the Nebraska Air National Guard for 26 years. He also served as State American Legion commander.

Reimers, 63, is now seeking a seat in the Nebraska Legislature. He and Loren Lippincott are seeking to succeed Curt Friesen of Henderson in representing District 34. Lippincott lives halfway between Central City and Fullerton.

A registered Republican, Reimers is a nonpartisan candidate for the Legislature.

Reimers was a member of the 155th Air Refueling Wing and 155th Reconnaissance Wing, both based in Lincoln. As a logistics specialist, he moved people and equipment. I was usually first in and last out when our unit went in, he said.

Reimers was deployed six or eight times. He spent half a year in Kuwait, and also served in Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Guam and at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C. At some of his postings, he worked with active Air Force members.

Reimers is proud of his military service saying his time in the Air National Guard gave him a different perspective of the world, because he got to see so much of it.

Although hes retired from the military hes still busy. I still work full-time, said Reimers, whos employed by Hamilton Sales and Service in Aurora.

Reimers became active in the American Legion to help veterans. He realized that in the Nebraska Legislature, he could help non-veterans as well.

Thats where it really fell into my heart  that I could help a lot of people, not just a handful of people.

He feels as though hes been a good help already. In a campaign brochure, he says, I have volunteered extensively in our communities, through the American Legion, the Boy Scouts and my church.

Before moving to Central City five years ago, Reimers spent 26 years just outside of Aurora.

As a youngster, he lived on a farm between Phillips and Aurora for five years. He attended Engleman Elementary School in Grand Island for two years and school in Phillips for three years. In the fourth grade, he joined the Centura school district, going to school in Boelus for two years. He graduated from Centura High School in 1977.

Over the years, Reimers has given speeches on both Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Those talks had to do with family and being proud that were Americans, he said.

Reimers says hes very open-minded and not afraid to combat the odds. He wants to make use of other peoples ideas, not just his own.

In the Air National Guard, where he was a master sergeant, he had good rapport with those below him and above him, he said.

Doing technical support and sales for Hamilton takes him to a wide area. Just in the last few days, he traveled to Grover, Colorado, as well as such Nebraska towns as Grant, Imperial and Oshkosh.

Some communities have grown, and some are losing population.

If we dont start supporting our little cities, theyre going to dry up, he said.

He also wants to support small businesses.

If elected, his brochure says, he will secure our voting process, defend the Second Amendment, lower property taxes and support agriculture with exports.

He and his wife, Lori, have been married for 12 years. Reimers has five stepchildren and 11 grandchildren.

In addition to serving as State American Legion commander, he was District 6 commander for two years.

In his experiences, he said, he doesnt look for the negative. He looks for ways he can better himself. Not only does that make him better, but he then can help more people, he said.

Reimers said also has a good understanding of family issues.

His parents divorced when he was 13. Hes raised two sets of stepchildren. His 18-year-old stepson committed suicide, and Reimers found his body.

Hes also had a lot of experiences. Raised on a farm, he also worked as a rancher. He sold seed corn and satellite dishes.

He feels hes a middle-class person, not a member of the upper class.

In the primary, Lippincott captured 69.7% of the vote, while Reimers had 30.3%. In Nebraska legislative races, the top two finishers run off against each other in the general election.

Reimers feels that he has a shot in November. He has gone out and done a lot more campaigning than he did earlier, he said.

Lippincott started campaigning a lot earlier than Reimers did, he said.

Legislators have to work across party lines, Reimers said. They must also realize that their district isnt their only concern. If legislators arent working for the state of Nebraska and its people, then we shouldnt probably be there, he said.
DENMARK -- Friends, family, faculty, staff and community partners gathered at the James W. Bowden Sr. Electrical Lineworker Range on the campus of Denmark Technical College for the inaugural Lineworker Showcase celebrating the completion of the alpha cohort of South Carolina's first HBCU Electrical Lineworker Program.

The showcase, which took place on the college's newly minted lineworker range, sponsored by Santee Cooper, kicked off with a welcome from the Denmark Tech Student Government Association president, Jauron Pruitt, followed by an introduction from Kyle Gawloski, DTC lineworker program instructor and Santee Cooper technical trainer.

The five students who have completed the 16-week course each participated in events designed to give supporters an inside look at the new skills the students have acquired. The students rotated through three stations.

The dead-end simulator demonstrated the lineworkers' skills in de-energizing a line and replacing a dead-end insulator. The obstacle climb showed off climbing skills, work positioning and efficient obstacle crossing. The fuse change-out displayed working skills, utilizing a 40-foot fiberglass extension stick to change out a fuse atop an electrical pole.

The students all worked quickly and effectively, illustrating the depth of knowledge they have gained over the course of the training program.

I am incredibly proud of these individuals. They have pushed themselves beyond their physical limits and never had an ounce of quit in them. I have watched them learn how to adapt and to overcome obstacles while in the face of adversity. Linework is an incredibly demanding job that is both physically difficult and cognitively demanding. It is a job that requires certain skills and abilities that most people don't have. In the last 16 weeks, they have proven to me, but more importantly to themselves, that they have what it takes to become proficient in this trade, Gawloski said.

Over the course of the program, students built a skill set through both academic and hands-on training, focusing on a wide range of curricula including OSHA construction, DOT heavy equipment and machinery operations, commercial driver training and Arc Flash safety for utilities.

"This is a life-changing program. With the help of Denmark Technical College, I have learned the importance of teamwork, the safety protocol necessary to minimize danger and an in-demand skill that has quickly helped me to secure a position with Santee Cooper," said Diontra Wiggins, one of the alpha cohort lineworkers.

After the students participated in each of the three events, they were presented with certificates of completion, followed with words of encouragement by DTC leadership.

"We know that there is a deficit of opportunity for lineworker training in rural South Carolina. Additionally, women only make up 5.3% of the workers in the energy industry and African Americans only represent 6.5% of energy industry employees. So, to know that, today, Denmark Technical College is working diligently to help improve equity and to provide opportunities to residents in our service area, so they can build careers in this lucrative line of work, is amazing, "said Dr. Willie L. Todd Jr., president and CEO of DTC.

The alpha cohort of the electrical lineworker program includes Jarvonta Brooker, Naquan Johnson, Kevon Mack, Marquis Taylor and Diontra Wiggins.

The beta cohort in now underway and the college is enrolling for subsequent cohorts. Interested parties can learn more and apply at https://www.denmarktech.edu/academic_catalog_div/lineworker/
Minister of Health Paulette Lenert explained that as long as no new, more dangerous variants appear, the current measures should suffice.

"For the time being, all is well as far as Covid-19 is concerned," the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) politician said in an interview with the newspaper Tageblatt on Saturday.

"We cannot predict what will happen in the next few weeks or whether we need to reintroduce certain stricter measures," Lenert said, adding that if a new, more contagious variant appears, the effectiveness of the vaccines could be reduced, and residents would have to be more vigilant again.

"An emergency plan with tougher restrictions is already in place in case of need, but it is clear that we don't need it for the time being", the minister added. The latest Covid-19 law is in force until the end of October.
Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama expressed concern Saturday that his son faces multiple domestic violence charges in Australia.

Ratu Meli Bainimarama, 36, appeared in court on Thursday to face 17 counts, including assault, choking and distributing intimate images without consent.

"My son is not a member of the Fijian government and this is not a political or diplomatic matter," the Fijian prime minister said in a statement, but added that he and his wife were "deeply concerned and disturbed about the charges".

"During my service as prime minister I have openly and routinely condemned violence perpetrated against women and children, and that commitment is unwavering," he added.

Bainimarama said it was "not appropriate" to comment further on "any matter before the Australian courts".

Ratu Meli Bainimarama was arrested on September 8 in the state of Queensland and extradited to New South Wales.

An Australian judge initially issued a suppression order on his name, restricting the media from identifying him.

But a court in Sydney lifted the order on Friday national broadcaster ABC contested it.

The prime minister's son faces five charges of assault causing bodily harm, four of common assault, four of choking without consent, two of stalking or intimidating, and one each of intentionally distributing intimate images and destroying property.

Bainimarama was granted bail and the case adjourned to October 13 at Windsor Court in northwestern Sydney.
John Jays jaw must have dropped to the floor. The British representative negotiating the Treaty of Paris had just offered to make the Mississippi River the western boundary of the United States.

It was 1782 and Jay had been selected to negotiate a treaty to end the Revolutionary War along with Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Henry Laurens. Jefferson couldnt attend because his wife was ill, and Laurens was captured at sea by the British while on his way to the negotiations. John Adams, who was already in Europe, agreed to fill in for Jefferson and Laurens. Records indicate Jay played the leading role.

Jay, a former president of the Continental Congress and soon to be the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was a good choice for the negotiating team. But he hadnt been given much guidance other than he should insist on navigation rights to the Mississippi River. When he conveyed this demand to the British negotiator, the response was: Well then, we may as well make the Mississippi River the western boundary of the United States.

When news reached home, there was much excitement. At the stroke of a pen, the size of the nation had more than doubled. The intense interest in the newly acquired land was understandable. The country had just emerged from the Revolutionary War and the states were deep in debt, as was the Continental Congress. There was a real possibility the nation would not survive. But now, millions of acres of valuable property had been added to the financial ledger. There was new hope. The Treaty of Paris had likely saved the country from economic ruin.

Controversy immediately erupted over what to do with the windfall. Because the United States was still ruled by the Articles of Confederation, there was no strong federal government. Many citizens viewed the country as a collection of independent states. So, not surprisingly, there were many proposals to simply divide the newly acquired territory among the 13 states. Some of the states intended to immediately open the area for settlement.

George Washington disagreed. He pointed out that the new land had not been surveyed, so it would be impossible to divide it among the states or among settlers. Furthermore, the area was populated by Native Americans who knew nothing of the Treaty of Paris and surely would object. He advocated for a more contemplative management approach coordinated by the federal government.

There was considerable resistance to Washingtons suggestion. If the federal government took charge, how could the states benefit? Would the federal government be the sole beneficiary of the new wealth? Alexander Hamilton proposed a compromise: The federal government would manage the new territory and utilize some of the wealth to absorb the states war debt. Ultimately, the Funding Act of 1790 did exactly that.

Interestingly the newly acquired property not only put our fledgling nation on a path to prosperity, the new asset helped shaped the Constitutions balance of power between national and state governments. Attendees at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 were very aware of the value of the new land and the strong possibility that some of the wealth would be used to absorb state war debt. As a result, they were likely more receptive to the efforts of some attendees (including Washington and Hamilton) to create a stronger federal government than had existed under the Articles of Confederation.

So what happened to these lands and subsequent acquisitions such as the Louisiana Purchase of 1803? Much of it was eventually sold or given away. For decades Congress provided land grants to railroads, passed several Homestead Acts and gave land to states to fund education. It wasnt until 1976, with the passage of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), that the official policy of the United States changed from disposing of federal lands to retaining those lands.

Fortunately, 640 million acres remain in federal ownership today. Much of it is in the Western United States, including spectacular country such as Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon. It also includes millions of acres of multiple use land where citizens are free to hunt, fish, hike, camp and pursue other activities. In addition, our federal lands provide a multitude of natural resources that bolster our economy and contribute tax revenue to fund government services.

We are truly blessed to have retained this much public land. Please show your appreciation by celebrating Wyoming Public Lands Day on September 24th.
Even as Wyoming stands on the verge of electing someone who questions the integrity of the states elections process to lead it, we think its time to shift the conversation.

After all, here in the Equality State, former President Donald Trump easily won our three electoral votes by the widest margin of victory in the country. He received more than 68% of the votes cast in 2016, and nearly 70% in 2020.

So how is it possible that state Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, and others still question the integrity of Wyomings elections process? If stuffing the absentee ballot drop boxes was a legitimate concern here, wouldnt Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden have made more of a dent in those numbers?

And why are some residents wasting the time of staff at the Laramie County Clerks Office by asking for voter rolls that contain private information and clearly arent public records?

Of course, those are rhetorical questions, because we already know the answer: certain media talking heads continue to stir the pot called The Big Lie, and many Americans  including many in Wyoming  continue to believe it, despite all evidence to the contrary.

But we have to wonder whether Mr. Gray and some of his fellow elected officials question the legitimacy of their own victories. Do they believe the process is so corrupt at this point that none of the results can be trusted?

Of course not. If they or the people they support win, the election was fair. If they lose, there must be something wrong with the process, right? It cant be because the majority of voters had grown tired of their political posturing and were seeking someone who might actually get something done that would make their lives better.

The question we have to answer in 2022 is how much longer we want to live in the past. Are we going to continue to let the 2020 election divide us to the point of complete stagnation or, worse yet, our democracy collapses entirely?

We think its time to move on, and were pretty sure most Wyoming residents feel the same way. So, lets turn our attention to addressing a bigger concern related to our elections, and thats voter participation. Its true that last months primary saw more than 63% of the states 287,014 registered voters cast ballots. The related good news is that voter registration is the highest its ever been.

Yet, we still have a long way to go in order to be satisfied. According to the Wyoming Election Division of the Secretary of States Office, the states voting age population this year is 446,379, which means the turnout among that group was 40.8% for this years primary. Thats higher than its been since 1994, but we dont think anyone should be happy with significantly less than half of those eligible to vote deciding who should represent all of us.

The percentages do increase when we shift our attention to November. In 2020, 62.6% of the voting age population cast ballots. Still, just 60% of those old enough to vote were registered to do so. Only two years  2012 and 2016  saw a lower percentage signed up to participate.

Which is why we support some fundamental changes to our election process that  unlike the unnecessary meddling proposed by Rep. Gray  might actually encourage more people to make their voices heard at the polls.

The first is an open primary. As Wyoming residents clearly showed on Aug. 16, they are willing to cross party lines to vote for a particular candidate. With the hotly contested U.S. House race between incumbent Liz Cheney and challenger Harriet Hageman on the Republican ballot, 172,047 of the 182,232 who cast ballots  94.4%  voted GOP. Only 8,201 cast a Democratic Party ballot (4.5%), while 1,984 (less than 1.1%) voted nonpartisan, which means many Democrats changed their party affiliation to vote for Ms. Cheney.

In an open primary, this would have been unnecessary. According to the nonpartisan group FairVote, in an open primary, voters of any affiliation may vote in the primary of any party. ... In many open primary states, voters do not indicate partisan affiliation when they register to vote.

This possibility was discussed briefly at an Aug. 25 meeting of the Wyoming Legislatures Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee in Casper. Also on the agenda that day was ranked-choice voting.

Again, according to FairVote: RCV ... allows voters the option to rank candidates in order of preference: one, two, three, and so forth. If your vote cannot help your top choice win, your vote counts for your next choice.

If a candidate receives more than half of the first choices in races where voters elect one winner, that candidate wins, just like in a single-choice election. However, if there is no majority winner after counting first choices, the race is decided by an instant runoff. The candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and voters who picked that candidate as Number 1 will have their votes count for their next choice. This process continues until theres a majority winner or a candidate won with more than half of the vote.

On the surface, this system seems more complex and harder to understand, but it actually means your vote counts even more than it does currently (which is quite a lot in a state as sparsely populated as Wyoming).

Other things that could be done to increase voter participation include:

Implementing automatic voter registration, either based on birthdate or when someone obtains a drivers license;

Allowing online voter registration, along with a verification process;

Making more absentee ballot drop boxes available, not fewer;

Making Election Day a national holiday or moving it to Saturday; and

Strengthening civic education in public schools.

We all know theres no single way to get more people to vote. But if those who say theyre concerned about election integrity are really interested in making sure qualified residents cast ballots, its time for them to prove it by supporting some of the recommendations above.