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jili 178 bunos World News | Turkey to Reopen Its Embassy in Syria for First Time Since 2012 in Wake of Assad's Fall

announced the introduction of 3D Secure, a “feature designed to provide HSBC customers with extra protection for their online debit card transactions.” A spokesperson said, “This new online shopping protection will be available for all HSBC debit card holders at no additional cost.” Head of Wealth and Personal Banking and Marketing, Tanya Bule shared: “As part of our ongoing efforts to prevent debit card fraud, the 3D Secure feature will help the Bank validate that it’s really our customer who is making a particular online purchase. This enhancement will not only help to safeguard customer accounts but as importantly, our aim is to provide customers with more control over their accounts and peace of mind when shopping online.” The spokesperson said, “This added protection is automatically available to all HSBC debit card holders with no additional set up required. The only prerequisite is that customers ensure their cell phone and email details on record at the Bank are current, as 3D Secure relies on the accuracy of this information in order to function effectively. To update your information, you can send the Contact Centre a secure message through . “To start using this new security feature, customers simply need to make their next online purchase as usual and when prompted, follow the additional verification steps to complete their transaction securely. They will be provided with a one-time- passcode sent via short message system [SMS] to their cell phone or an email. From the time the passcode is generated it will be valid for a limited amount of time. An error message will be received by the customer if they don’t enter the passcode within the specified time frame. “Protecting our customers continues to be one of HSBC’s top priorities. For further information on this latest security feature, please don’t hesitate to contact the Call Centre at 299 5959, or 299 5252 [Premier] or 299 5555 [Business Banking].” : , ,BUCHAREST -- In Romania, at least, Bogdan Peschir was known as the "king of TikTok," a mystery man involved in cryptocurrency operations and noted for his generous donations to the platform’s users. But now Peschir, a 36-year-old programmer reportedly leading a lavish lifestyle, has emerged as a central figure in the claims that far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu benefitted from secretive influence campaigns, including from Russia. Georgescu was the surprise winner of the first round of Romania's presidential election on November 24, where from relative obscurity he won 23 percent of the vote. His win had set up a second-round contest against pro-Western centrist Elena Lasconi, but Romania’s Constitutional Court on December 6 annulled the election , leaving the government to set a new date for the presidential ballot. Political analysts were scratching their heads at the runaway success of Georgescu, 62, an agricultural engineer who has campaigned on a pro-Russian and anti-NATO platform. Many attributed his surprise result in large part to his TikTok campaign, which attracted the votes of many young people and members of Romania's diaspora. As suspicions about the TikTok campaign mounted, Romania's Supreme Council of National Defense on December 4 -- four days before the now-cancelled December 8 runoff -- declassified intelligence records alleging that Georgescu had benefited from a coordinated social media campaign most likely orchestrated by a "state actor." Some 25,000 TikTok accounts were used to boost Georgescu's popularity, with influencers on the platform enlisted to publicly support him and indirectly promote him with posts that included hashtags linked to the candidate, the declassified records state. Georgescu has said that he spent "zero" on election campaigning. Peschir was a notable facilitator of that campaign, according to the intelligence records. Using his TikTok handle "bogpr," the records allege, he "made payments worth $381,000 between October 24 and November 24, 2024, to users of some TikTok accounts involved in promoting the candidate Calin Georgescu, including after the end of the electoral campaign," a violation of Romanian legislation. Peschir has since denied financing Georgescu’s campaign , saying that while some of his donations went to the candidate’s supporters, others went to charity, apolitical TikTok accounts, and accounts supporting other candidates. He told RFE/RL on December 6 that he has no connection whatsoever with Georgescu. “I do not have any material or personal interest, I simply supported him through posts and comments voluntarily,” he said in written comments. “That document only mentions [Georgescu] supporters, which seems absurd to me. I made no agreement with any people that I would donate to support one candidate or another,” Peschir added. In a Facebook post on December 6, shortly before the election was annulled, Peschir accused the media of harassment and threatened legal action. Responding to a question in the comments section about where the money came from, Peschir wrote that it’s “none of your business.” “I am not a person who works for the state, or with the state, to declare my income publicly,” he wrote. Peschir’s post was one of a handful on his sparse Facebook page, among them posts about Georgescu as early as 2020, in which the then-obscure future presidential candidate railed against government measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, which he called "the pandemic of fear and stupidity.” Allegedly Incongruous 'Standard Of Living' In recent months, the "bogpr" account became platform-famous for lavishing significant donations on TikTok creators, amassing more than 191,000 followers and 1.1 million likes. In March, he donated tens of thousands of euros to singers of manele, a genre of pop folk originating in Romania, prompting speculation about his identity and motives. Some TikTok users posited that he could be the famous son of a wealthy business tycoon or a member of a criminal clan. In November, "bogpr" began donating money to Romanian influencers in support of Georgescu. More than 100 influencers with a combined total of over 8 million followers took part, according to a declassified document originating from the Interior Ministry. The promotional posts were not marked as part of a paid political campaign. Despite trying to keep his identity a secret, his cover was recently blown by the Romanian tabloid Gandul, which identified "bogpr" as Peschir. According to his online profile, Peschir has spent the bulk of his career in cryptocurrencies, mostly with companies involving the same associates, including Gabriel Prodanescu, a Romanian who obtained South African citizenship in 1995. One of these companies, the Romanian firm BitXATM Technology, was founded 12 years ago and has been involved in the operation of crypto ATMs – devices that allow one to buy cryptocurrency with cash or, in some cases, receive cash in exchange for cryptocurrency. Company filings show that BitXATM Technology reported no employees, no turnover, and no profit last year while reporting around $300,000 in debt. Stolen Cryptocurrency In 2016, BitXATM found itself at the center of a scandal when several of its crypto ATMs were compromised and clients’ cryptocurrency was stolen. Gabriel Prodanescu accused a former employee of the theft. The following year, Romania authorities arrested a man from the Transylvanian city of Brasov who was subsequently convicted after a trial in which Bogdan Peschir testified. Posts on Bitcoin-related online forums claimed that at least some BitXATM clients were unable to recover their funds. After the scandal, BitXATM’s website ceased updating, and Prodanescu opened a cryptocurrency company of the same name – as well as another called Globaya LTD – in Britain. Peschir’s LinkedIn page lists him as a Globaya employee. A jobs-listing site features a profile of a man with the username Bogdan Peschir who lists BitXATM and another crypto-related brand, mTicket, as places where he has worked. RFE/RL located social-media posts for both of these brands featuring photographs of a man who resembles the man in the job listing. RFE/RL sent one of these images to Peschir and asked him about the person and the company shown in the photograph, but he did not reply. The declassified intelligence records said Peschir "displays a standard of living that does not correspond to the activities carried out through the company he owns." He lives, according to Romanian media reports , in a swanky villa in an exclusive part of Brasov, with a BMW and a Porsche in the garage. RFE/RL was able to geolocate photos of this villa and confirm that they were taken in Brasov. In written comments to RFE/RL, Peschir rejected the thrust of the intelligence records’ statement about his standard of living. “I have income from other sources, completely legal, that are declared and taxed,” Peschir said. The Romanian intelligence documents mention both Prodanescu and a South African company called FA Agency, which the records allege was offering 1,000 euros ($1,047) to influencers to distribute a video clip in support of Georgescu's candidacy. RFE/RL contacted a self-described "influencer agency" of that name that says it operates in South Africa, asking about the company's alleged role in the operation and its links to Peschir and Prodanescu, but did not receive a response in time for publication. Attempts to reach Prodanescu for comment were unsuccessful. Asked by RFE/RL for an interview, Peschir responded only with a link to his previously published comments. 'I Don't Even Know Georgescu' The December 6 Constitutional Court ruling annulling the presidential election was followed by an announcement from Romanian prosecutors that a probe into alleged computer-related crimes has been launched amid allegations of Russian influence. Russia's exact role in the alleged TikTok influence operation is unclear. According to the intelligence documents, TikTok notified the Romanian authorities that it had identified a network of accounts affiliated with the Russian state news agency Sputnik that targeted users from Romania and Moldova. The documents also claimed that user access data for electoral websites was stolen and posted online on "cyber-crime platforms that originated from Russia." The Kremlin has denied any interference in Romania's elections. Neither Peschir nor his associates were linked to Russia in the intelligence reports. After his identity was made public, Peschir posted on TikTok that he was a "Romanian entrepreneur and investor" and had not been promised or paid anything for his support for Georgescu. "I don't even know [Georgescu] personally, and I don't feel that endorsing a cause that I support is unethical," he wrote. He also compared it to how Elon Musk helped U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's campaign with massive financial backing and by endorsing him on X and in his speeches. Peschir also doubled down on his support for the presidential candidate, saying, "The attacks on the system...motivate me even more to support Calin Georgescu," and describing the far-right politician as "the right choice for the people."

ASHA workers promoting hygiene in rural Kashmir

One of the main viruses responsible for seasonal flu may remain infectious in raw milk days after it has left a warm body, according to new experiments at Stanford University, raising concerns about the potential spread of avian influenza or 'bird flu'. When researchers infected a batch of raw milk with the H1N1 virus – a subtype of the influenza A virus – and kept it at a relatively standard domestic refrigeration temperature of 4 °C (about 39 °F), they found it took the pathogen 2.3 days to reach a 99 percent reduction in infectivity. Alarmingly, a small fraction of the virus particles remained in a transmissable state for up to five days. The recommended shelf life of refrigerated raw milk is between five and seven days, meaning even under ideal circumstances milk containing the virus could transmit the flu to a consumer. Thankfully, pasteurization resolved the threat. When researchers heated infected milk to 63 °C for 30 minutes, they successfully inactivated the infectious influenza A virus. "This work highlights the potential risk of avian influenza transmission through consumption of raw milk and the importance of milk pasteurization," says environmental engineer Alexandria Boehm from Stanford. Boehm and her colleagues say they could find no other study that has investigated how long viruses can remain infective in raw milk. Theirs is the first, and it comes at a critical time. In a world first, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the US has officially made the jump from birds to cows, infecting hundreds of dairy farms across the nation with the H5N1 virus. The H1N1 virus is often used as a surrogate for the H5N1 virus in research, so these results from Stanford confirm the idea that pasteurization protects the public against flu-infected milk. While this particular strain of bird flu has yet to be observed spreading from human to human, it can jump from animal to human, and initial research suggests cow milk is a possible vector for human infection. Just a few weeks ago, public health officials in California detected the H5N1 virus in raw milk that was being sold. All of the products were recalled for fear they would infect consumers. At this point, it seems the H5N1 virus can infiltrate a cow's mammary glands and infect dairy farm workers who handle raw milk or milking machines. Some domesticated cats on dairy farms have even died from drinking raw, infected milk. "The persistence of influenza viruses in raw milk is concerning, as the consumption of raw milk remains high in the United States due to cultural factors and several popular misconceptions," the authors write . "Some of these misconceptions include beliefs that raw milk could cure lactose intolerance or asthma, enhance the immune system, and have greater nutritional value compared to pasteurized milk." None of these arguments are ultimately backed up by evidence, and the risks from drinking raw milk can be extremely dangerous, even fatal. About 4 percent of Americans drink raw milk at least once each year, but even with such a small population directly exposed to the risk, there is a threat to public health. The more time the HPAI virus spends in a human body, the more chances it has to get to know the terrain, possibly mutating to better infect our species down the road. So far, US dairy farm workers that have fallen ill have experienced only mild symptoms , but historically, H5N1 outbreaks among humans have high fatality rates , sitting somewhere around 50 percent. Even without bird flu on the scene, health officials warn that drinking unpasteurized milk can expose consumers to pathogens, s uch as Listeria , Salmonella , Campylobacter , and E. coli. Today, this health advice is more important than ever. The study was published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters .ITV I’m A Celebrity viewers ask ‘how’ as they spot Tulisa detail after two weeks in jungleDoughty scores 17 in Indiana State's 83-80 win against IonaOTTAWA — The RCMP will create a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of Canada's border using helicopters, drones and surveillance towers. The move is part of the federal government's $1.3-billion upgrade to border security and monitoring to appease concerns of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump about the flow of migrants and illegal drugs. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian and Mexican exports to the U.S. as soon as he is inaugurated next month unless both countries move to improve border security. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he has discussed parts of the plan with American officials and that he is optimistic about its reception. Canada will also propose to the United States to create a North American "joint strike force" to target organized crime groups that work across borders. The government also intends to provide new technology, tools and resources to the Canada Border Services Agency to seek out fentanyl using chemical detection, artificial intelligence and canine teams. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2024. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press

Rakovina Announces Debentureholder Election To Receive Shares In Partial Satisfaction Of Debenture Interest Payment Obligations

Rising Kraken take show on the road, battle Kings

One of the main viruses responsible for seasonal flu may remain infectious in raw milk days after it has left a warm body, according to new experiments at Stanford University, raising concerns about the potential spread of avian influenza or 'bird flu'. When researchers infected a batch of raw milk with the H1N1 virus – a subtype of the influenza A virus – and kept it at a relatively standard domestic refrigeration temperature of 4 °C (about 39 °F), they found it took the pathogen 2.3 days to reach a 99 percent reduction in infectivity. Alarmingly, a small fraction of the virus particles remained in a transmissable state for up to five days. The recommended shelf life of refrigerated raw milk is between five and seven days, meaning even under ideal circumstances milk containing the virus could transmit the flu to a consumer. Thankfully, pasteurization resolved the threat. When researchers heated infected milk to 63 °C for 30 minutes, they successfully inactivated the infectious influenza A virus. "This work highlights the potential risk of avian influenza transmission through consumption of raw milk and the importance of milk pasteurization," says environmental engineer Alexandria Boehm from Stanford. Boehm and her colleagues say they could find no other study that has investigated how long viruses can remain infective in raw milk. Theirs is the first, and it comes at a critical time. In a world first, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the US has officially made the jump from birds to cows, infecting hundreds of dairy farms across the nation with the H5N1 virus. The H1N1 virus is often used as a surrogate for the H5N1 virus in research, so these results from Stanford confirm the idea that pasteurization protects the public against flu-infected milk. While this particular strain of bird flu has yet to be observed spreading from human to human, it can jump from animal to human, and initial research suggests cow milk is a possible vector for human infection. Just a few weeks ago, public health officials in California detected the H5N1 virus in raw milk that was being sold. All of the products were recalled for fear they would infect consumers. At this point, it seems the H5N1 virus can infiltrate a cow's mammary glands and infect dairy farm workers who handle raw milk or milking machines. Some domesticated cats on dairy farms have even died from drinking raw, infected milk. "The persistence of influenza viruses in raw milk is concerning, as the consumption of raw milk remains high in the United States due to cultural factors and several popular misconceptions," the authors write . "Some of these misconceptions include beliefs that raw milk could cure lactose intolerance or asthma, enhance the immune system, and have greater nutritional value compared to pasteurized milk." None of these arguments are ultimately backed up by evidence, and the risks from drinking raw milk can be extremely dangerous, even fatal. About 4 percent of Americans drink raw milk at least once each year, but even with such a small population directly exposed to the risk, there is a threat to public health. The more time the HPAI virus spends in a human body, the more chances it has to get to know the terrain, possibly mutating to better infect our species down the road. So far, US dairy farm workers that have fallen ill have experienced only mild symptoms , but historically, H5N1 outbreaks among humans have high fatality rates , sitting somewhere around 50 percent. Even without bird flu on the scene, health officials warn that drinking unpasteurized milk can expose consumers to pathogens, s uch as Listeria , Salmonella , Campylobacter , and E. coli. Today, this health advice is more important than ever. The study was published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters .

The Los Angeles Galaxy will aim to complete one of the most remarkable transformations in Major League Soccer history on Saturday when they host the New York Red Bulls chasing a record-extending sixth MLS Cup crown. A year ago, the California franchise had hit rock bottom, plummeting to their worst ever regular season record to finish one place off the bottom of the Western Conference. The team that had once been a home to the likes of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were engulfed in crisis, with fans boycotting fixtures after nearly a decade of failure on the field. Moreover, the Galaxy's status as one of MLS's glamour clubs had been diminished by the arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, as well as the emergence of city rivals Los Angeles FC, winners of the MLS Cup in 2022. The febrile atmosphere at the Galaxy prompted team ownership to shake up their front office, with Will Kuntz appointed general manager to replace long-time predecessor Chris Klein, who was fired in May 2023. The turnaround since those changes has been dramatic. After winning just eight fixtures in the 2023 season, the Galaxy under head coach Greg Vanney won a record-equalling 19 games this season to finish joint top of the table, second only to leaders LAFC on goal difference. The Galaxy kept up their winning ways in the postseason, swatting aside Colorado 9-1 on aggregate to wrap up their first round series, before thrashing Minnesota United 6-2 and then squeezing past Seattle 1-0 last weekend. Those results have left the club on the threshold of a first MLS Cup title since 2014 and a record sixth championship overall. Victory in Saturday's showpiece in Carson would be especially sweet for Vanney, who appeared in three MLS Cup finals with the Galaxy as a player in 1996, 1999 and 2001 -- and lost all three. Reflecting on his team's journey to this year's final, Vanney said this week his team had thrived under the pressure of being expected to challenge for silverware. "The expectation is to be in games like this, to win trophies and win championships," Vanney said. "This group has come out and attacked it from day one and hasn't been afraid of it or in awe of it -- and that's one of the beauties of this group. "I'm excited for this group and this opportunity and now the objective is to win it and put the stamp on it, rewriting a new group of players and new legacy for this organisation." Vanney's task has become more complicated by an injury to star midfielder Riqui Puig, who suffered torn knee ligaments in last week's Western Conference final win over Seattle and will miss Saturday's game. "He's the ultimate competitor," Vanney said. "He wants to win, compete, and take responsibility on the field. He drives the team in so many ways. "We're going to have to adapt, and we're going to have to adapt in a collective way." The Galaxy meanwhile will be wary of a New York Red Bulls line-up that have ripped up the form book en route to the final. After finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference -- 27 points behind leaders Inter Miami -- the Red Bulls stunned reigning champions Columbus in the first round of the playoffs before wins on the road over rivals New York City FC and Orlando to book their place in their first MLS Cup since 2008. New York's Scotland international midfielder Lewis Morgan says the team is unfazed by Saturday's assignment in Los Angeles. "For me, it doesn't really matter where it is: it's playoff football," Morgan said this week. "It's not the regular season. These games are more cagey. You go 1-0 up, we defend a little bit deeper and we're relying on guys at the back. There have been massive performances." rcw/bbSAN FRANCISCO — A former OpenAI researcher known for whistleblowing the blockbuster artificial intelligence company facing a swell of lawsuits over its business model has died, authorities confirmed this week. Suchir Balaji, 26, was found dead inside his Buchanan Street apartment on Nov. 26, San Francisco police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said. Police had been called to the Lower Haight residence at about 1 p.m. that day, after receiving a call asking officers to check on his well-being, a police spokesperson said. The medical examiner’s office has not released his cause of death, but police officials this week said there is “currently, no evidence of foul play.” Information he held was expected to play a key part in lawsuits against the San Francisco-based company. Balaji’s death comes three months after he publicly accused OpenAI of violating U.S. copyright law while developing ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence program that has become a moneymaking sensation used by hundreds of millions of people across the world. Its public release in late 2022 spurred a torrent of lawsuits against OpenAI from authors, computer programmers and journalists, who say the company illegally stole their copyrighted material to train its program and elevate its value past $150 billion. The Mercury News and seven sister news outlets are among several newspapers, including the New York Times, to sue OpenAI in the past year. In an interview with the New York Times published Oct. 23, Balaji argued OpenAI was harming businesses and entrepreneurs whose data were used to train ChatGPT. “If you believe what I believe, you have to just leave the company,” he told the outlet, adding that “this is not a sustainable model for the internet ecosystem as a whole.” Balaji grew up in Cupertino before attending UC Berkeley to study computer science. It was then he became a believer in the potential benefits that artificial intelligence could offer society, including its ability to cure diseases and stop aging, the Times reported. “I thought we could invent some kind of scientist that could help solve them,” he told the newspaper. But his outlook began to sour in 2022, two years after joining OpenAI as a researcher. He grew particularly concerned about his assignment of gathering data from the internet for the company’s GPT-4 program, which analyzed text from nearly the entire internet to train its artificial intelligence program, the news outlet reported. The practice, he told the Times, ran afoul of the country’s “fair use” laws governing how people can use previously published work. In late October, he posted an analysis on his personal website arguing that point. No known factors “seem to weigh in favor of ChatGPT being a fair use of its training data,” Balaji wrote. “That being said, none of the arguments here are fundamentally specific to ChatGPT either, and similar arguments could be made for many generative AI products in a wide variety of domains.” Reached by this news agency, Balaji’s mother requested privacy while grieving the death of her son. In a Nov. 18 letter filed in federal court, attorneys for The New York Times named Balaji as someone who had “unique and relevant documents” that would support their case against OpenAI. He was among at least 12 people — many of them past or present OpenAI employees — the newspaper had named in court filings as having material helpful to their case, ahead of depositions. Generative artificial intelligence programs work by analyzing an immense amount of data from the internet and using it to answer prompts submitted by users, or to create text, images or videos. When OpenAI released its ChatGPT program in late 2022, it turbocharged an industry of companies seeking to write essays, make art and create computer code. Many of the most valuable companies in the world now work in the field of artificial intelligence, or manufacture the computer chips needed to run those programs. OpenAI’s own value nearly doubled in the past year. News outlets have argued that OpenAI and Microsoft — which is in business with OpenAI also also has been sued by The Mercury News — have plagiarized and stole its articles, undermining their business models. “Microsoft and OpenAI simply take the work product of reporters, journalists, editorial writers, editors and others who contribute to the work of local newspapers — all without any regard for the efforts, much less the legal rights, of those who create and publish the news on which local communities rely,” the newspapers’ lawsuit said. OpenAI has staunchly refuted those claims, stressing that all of its work remains legal under “fair use” laws. “We see immense potential for AI tools like ChatGPT to deepen publishers’ relationships with readers and enhance the news experience,” the company said when the lawsuit was filed. Jakob Rodgers is a senior breaking news reporter. Call, text or send him an encrypted message via Signal at 510-390-2351, or email him at jrodgers@bayareanewsgroup.com.Pooches in pullovers strut their stuff at London's canine Christmas sweater parade

This 1080p projector is on sale for a very affordable $50ANAHEIM, Calif. -- For over two years, Ebonie Vazquez searched to find a mentor of color for her son, Giovanni, now 11 and passionate about playing the violin. She has now found that space at a local church. New Hope Presbyterian Church, a multiethnic congregation led by a Black female pastor in Anaheim, California, started a string orchestra in April, welcoming students, including those who may have trouble getting into and paying for music programs. It's located in Orange County, which is largely affluent. The Rev. Chineta Goodjoin said her church had a smaller strings program for several years. When Goodjoin's daughter Nyla started playing violin with the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, founded in June 2009 by renowned conductor Charles Dickerson, the pastor grew determined to replicate the concept in Orange County with Dickerson taking the lead. The church's orchestra now has about 18 members ranging in age from 9 to 20, playing violin, viola, bass and cello. The orchestra accepts all students without auditions, and it's free. Like the Los Angeles group, the orchestra is also powered by mentors who look like the young musicians they help guide. Ebonie Vazquez says it is empowering for students "to see themselves reflected in their mentors and teachers." "It's important they don't feel like outsiders, but are supported and feel like they belong," she said. "It has definitely helped my son connect more to the music and the craft." During rehearsal, when Giovanni started talking about music, the boy's eyes turned dreamy and his arms became animated. Even as his words gushed out in child-like excitement, they reflected the aura of an old soul. "I just want to be able to express myself in my music and show that I not only have talent, but I also take my time, and I practice," he said. "You can change one little thing, one note, and the music will be totally different. You make your own thing." Giovanni said that in the church orchestra, he could play classical music or he could chill with Imagine Dragons. He also plays violin in his school orchestra and with Dickerson's Los Angeles group. He values being part of the church orchestra because "it's a piece of our community." "They encourage young musicians of color and everyone gets a chance to play and maybe use it as a stepping stone to get better or even turn this into a career," he said. Giovanni thinks it could be cool to play in Carnegie Hall. He pauses, then adds: "But honestly, I just want to play around people who listen to and value music. My favorite part is really to see people enjoy music." Melissa Bausley, a cellist who works in finance and volunteers as a mentor, said she often found herself alone as a Black woman in this realm. "I never had a teacher that was African American growing up and I didn't think it mattered or made a difference," she said. "But now, as an adult, I'd say there is absolutely value in being able to learn from someone who looks like you." Dickerson said he started the Los Angeles orchestra when he was approached by a group of students who yearned to play in their city and neighborhood. "They would have to drive long distances to be in these orchestras where they didn't know the other kids and felt like the odd ones," he said. "The young kids from our communities were always put in the back row and the back row was right next to the door." "It's easy to walk out that door," he added, "when you don't really feel accepted and when you know you're probably not as skilled as the others who have a smattering of connections and have been playing since they were three." Goodjoin said she and her husband, Reggie Goodjoin, a jazz musician and the church's music director, envision an orchestra where "African American kids play classical music and play it well." "Not modified or watered down abridgements, but the real deal," she said. "I like to say they play everything from Bach to Beyonce. We want them exposed to all genres." The children will play sacred and secular music as well as the work of Black composers, and the orchestra is open to children of all faith backgrounds, Goodjoin said. "They learn the music of Count Basie and Duke Ellington and so many others who have forged the path - an experience they might not get in a mainstream school setting," she said. She believes the church is a great place to start talking about equity in music. "We value social justice and equity and we believe we are called to help the marginalized, to set the captives free," Goodjoin said. "And music is freedom." The pastor is already getting positive feedback from parents. One boy who plays the upright bass was about to quit playing because no one in his school orchestra looked like him. "His mom said that when he came here, the pressure to play and compete was taken off and that it's a delight to now watch her son light up feeling a sense of worthiness," she said. Carol Nealy, whose 9-year-old son Johnathan plays the violin, said the church has the ability to nourish the community - be it with food, spirituality or music. "Because of this program, my kids are exposed to the violin. It's no longer something untouchable or foreign," she said. "It'll have an impact for generations because their children will see their parents pick up and play the violin." Elizabeth Moulthrop, executive director of El Sistema, an international network of music education programs that was founded in Venezuela, said she has seen similar programs run out of churches. "Music and art have always been such an important part of the church," she said. "It's a natural place for expression of faith." For those who aspire to advance in the field, such programs also offer access to life-changing summer music camps, college scholarships and connections to jobs, Moulthrop said. Dickerson says the orchestras are an attempt "to add to the value of what we need in our community." "The goal is to uplift young people and give them the opportunity for a better life," he said. "A lot of young people feel like it's not cool to carry a violin down the street," he added. "But, when you play the violin well with other kids who are like you, social acceptance begins to emerge. You feel pride as opposed to shame because you're not out there shooting hoops." The Black Church has always served as a place where the community could come together, Dickerson said. "It's the one place in history where we've been able to assemble without interference from other cultures, so to speak," he said. "The church started banks when Blacks could not put money in banks. They started newspapers when no one was prepared to cover our communities. We even started baseball leagues when we were barred from playing. "If we can come together in the church and create a symphonic orchestra, all I can say is all praise to God."Solaralm Partners With Solarix Energy And Solarhive To Accelerate Solar Sales In TexasAdopted Ballarat local and new Giant Ollie Hannaford felt the regional city’s pain this year during a devastating two-month period when three women were killed. The deaths of Samantha Murphy, Rebecca Young and Hannah McGuire sparked grief and anger, but also unity against gender-based violence within the close-knit Ballarat community. The three women died violently , allegedly at the hands of men. Bendigo-raised Hannaford – who the Giants used a top-20 pick on at last week’s AFL draft – was boarding at St Patrick’s College in Ballarat, and wanted to make a stand, too. Giants draftee Ollie Hannaford. Credit: Nick Moir The horrific Bondi Junction stabbings in NSW were also around this time, with five women among the victims. Hannaford’s conversation with the school’s boarding master, Tam Westwood, led to the creation of the “Break the cycle” event, designed to raise funds and awareness about violence against women. Students and staff took turns riding four exercise bikes non-stop for 24 hours, helping raise more than $8000 for the cause. Hannaford hopes it will become an annual event on the St Pat’s calendar. “It was so awful, and some people [at school] knew the victims and even knew the people who were a part of it,” Hannaford told this masthead. “It was very eye-opening, especially when you have such important women in your life, like mothers, sisters, girlfriends – everything. It was very confronting, almost, just thinking how hard it would be if it happened to your family, so it was a no-brainer for us to try and do something. “Being an all-boys school, I think it was very significant for our school to show that we are respectful young men, and we were trying to get rid of the stigma of toxic masculinity.” This was not an isolated case of Hannaford’s leadership, with the 18-year-old captaining the school’s football side and his boarding house. He plans to use his new status as an AFL footballer, alongside close friend and fellow St Pat’s graduate-turned-Giant Jack Ough, to continue making a difference beyond sport. Hannaford is making his mark on and off the football field. Credit: AFL Photos “Being on an AFL list now, it’s really important to be able to use that platform for a good cause, so doing more things like this is something that I can work towards in the future,” Hannaford said. “I’ve built my leadership and definitely benefited from going to [St Patrick’s College] as well, so it’s something I’m trying to display when I can.” “It was very eye-opening, especially when you have such important women in your life, like mothers, sisters, girlfriends – everything. It was very confronting, almost, just thinking how hard it would be if it happened to your family, so it was a no-brainer for us to try and do something.” However, the Giants did not select Hannaford just because he is a model citizen. His surprise mid-season switch to the forward line – after starting the season as a midfielder, then shifting to defence – saw him transform from a fringe draftee into a certain first-round selection, with GWS swooping with their No.18 pick. Hannaford’s blistering second half of the season for GWV Rebels was integral in the David Loader-coached team reaching the Talent League under-18 grand final, as well as his own stocks rising. Recruiters became enamoured with his goalkicking nous, speed, agility, power, aggression and ultra-competitiveness, all of which should fit in wonderfully in Giants coach Adam Kingsley’s system. “It was a bit of a rollercoaster for me. I came into the year expecting to be a midfielder who gets 30 touches a game,” Hannaford said. “That’s what every kid dreams of, but I couldn’t live up to that, and I wasn’t playing good footy, so I went to the backline, went back to what I was good at, and what I was used to, but it wasn’t really giving me the exposure I needed and wanted. “I was lucky enough to make the Vic Country team, and I got told I was playing forward in the first champs games – and I had barely played there at all my whole career.” Hannaford (left) with fellow Giants draftee Harry Oliver. Credit: AFL Photos Even then, it was not all smooth sailing. Hannaford was dropped for Country’s championships finale against Metro, which lit a fire within him that remained throughout the rest of the season. Now, he could be about to share a forward line with the likes of Toby Greene and Jesse Hogan. “I’m over the moon, and can’t wait to get stuck into it,” Hannaford said. “It’s obviously a very competitive team, so it’s going to take a lot of work to try and get a game, but if I do, it will be unbelievable.” If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636. Or, in Ballarat, call Orange Door on 1800 219 819

On September 25, coaches with the Gabriola Soccer Association made a presentation to the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District Board, requesting an increase in access to the sports field at Gabriola Elementary school Field. On Oct. 9, the Nanaimo Ladysmith School Board received a report from NLPS staff that was discussed at the meeting. The report does not recommend an increase in usage, and states the field will be closed again this year to community groups for the winter. The report - prepared by Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer - states that the district’s main focus with the sports field is to provide an outdoor learning space for its students, as well as working collaboratively with the public and community for extra curricular activities. Walsh says the District has implemented a strategy with limitations to meet both focuses that will - in their eyes - allow the field to have optimal use and not have to be closed as it was last year. The district has agreed to the field being rented and used by the soccer association three days a week, this allows for two practice days and a game day on Sundays for the Gabriola rep team. The other three Gabriola teams, who play games on Saturdays, are still playing their ‘home’ games on fields in Nanaimo. The report cites the limits in the strategy were put in place to allow for the field to have an opportunity to ‘recover’ from use and to provide time for staff to maintain and mow. According to Walsh, in the past, over-use has made the field condition nonoptimal, to the point of closure, and has led to an increase in maintenance and operating costs. The sports field is expected to be closed to recreational activities outside of school hours during winter months, as the weather is not conducive to grass growing/repair, causing significant damage to the field and major maintenance budget and labor requirements in spring. The report states that with previous closure the field was brought up to excellent condition - but is already showing sighs of wear and tear into September. This was referenced during the Oct. 9 meeting by Kelsey Bakewell, Maintenance Manager, and Walsh. Both were questioned by board members about the option of allowing more usage by Gabriola residents. The response from Bakewell and Walsh was that it comes down to the fact that the field has a use capacity threshold that will not meet the demand being asked for, and that the field will need the time to regenerate. When posed the question of extra funding being made available to facilitate usage Mark Walsh responded with, “if the board did have additional funding, I would suggest that our first priority would not necessarily be increasing the usability for user groups on Gabriola.” He said there are a number of serious maintenance deficits in a variety of the District sites has. “We have dangerous trees we need to find funding for to be able to take down. I want to put that into context.”

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Quick Links The Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program Various sizes and configurations within the FVL plan Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Light JMR Medium-Light JMR Medium JMR Heavy JMR Ultra The Future Attack Reconnaissance aircraft The Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft The Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) The United States Army is exploring various new designs to replace its aging, older-generation helicopters. While Boeing has made several improvements to the Chinook platform in recent years, the Army is eyeing futuristic designs that can prove to be a workforce for the US military for multiple decades. Whether it is an attack helicopter or a highly advanced reconnaissance one, the development will take place under the newly established Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program. The US Army helicopter fleet includes, AH-6 Little Bird: Attack helicopter from the 1980s AH-64 Apache: Attack helicopter from the mid-1980s, utilized in two variants: AH-64D and AH-64E CH-47 Chinook: Cargo helicopter from the 1960s, utilized in two variants: CH-47F Block I and CH-47F Block II EH-60 Black Hawk: Electronic warfare helicopter from the late 1970s MH-47 Chinook: Multi-mission helicopter from the 1960s UH-60 Black Hawk: Utility helicopter from the late 1970s, utilized in two variants, UH-60V and UH-60M UH-72 Lakota: Utility helicopter from the mid-2000s The Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program The FVL program is a US military initiative to develop a family of advanced military helicopters that can share common hardware, including sensors, systems, avionics, engines, and countermeasures. With different sizes and capabilities, the family of military helicopters will serve various existing roles, replacing several aging helicopter types. The FVL primarily aims to develop advanced alternatives for the Army's UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-64 Apache, CH-47 Chinook, and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters. As a result of multiple operations in the last decade, the United States Department of Defence (DoD) established that the US Army fleet of helicopters is wearing out and multiple military agencies are in need of new-generation rotorcraft. Notably, continuous combat operations allow the use of helicopters significantly more than during peace times, thereby increasing the wearability of the platforms. The FVL program was established in 2009 to offer a more modern futuristic helicopter platform. The FVL platform will have a range of helicopters with different sizes, capabilities, and roles, and will utilize modern designs, materials, and technologies. The family of systems will work in coordination to allow smooth transfer of communication and data. Various phases and configurations of the program will ensure all “bases” are covered, particularly from the Army’s mission-readiness standpoint. The Army has begun studies on replacing the venerable Chinook, but its replacement is still many years away. Various sizes and configurations within the FVL plan Various configurations and sizes of the Joint Multi-Role (JMR) program are expected to offer advanced-technology aircraft that will replace several existing rotorcraft within various divisions of the US military. The US Army plans to acquire as many as 4,000 aircraft from the FVL program, making it one of the most extensive programs for the agency. Multiple sizes were planned between 2009 and 2012, envisioned to offer a range of capabilities. Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Light This is the scout helicopter to replace the OH-58 Kiowa Implemented the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program in 2018. Termination of the FARA program was announced In February 2024 due to the advanced developments in modern warfare. JMR Medium-Light A medium-sized helicopter with advanced capabilities and a communications platform. It can be configured for various applications, including transport, utility, or special operations. JMR Medium A utility version to replace the UH-60 Black Hawk. The introduction of the Medium helicopter is planned for 2030. In December 2022, the Bell V-280 Valor was awarded a contract for the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program. JMR Heavy A cargo version of the advanced helicopter to replace the CH-47 Chinook The introduction of the Heavy helicopter is planned for 2035. JMR Ultra The ultra-sized version of the vertical lift aircraft. The variant will perform similarly to advanced tactical transport aircraft, such as the C-130J Super Hercules and the Airbus A400M Atlas. The introduction of the Ultra JMR is planned for 2028. The US Army’s hunt for the successor to the UH-60 Black Hawk pits its proven legacy against next-gen tiltrotor technology, like the Bell V-280 Valor. The upcoming contender(s) of the older-generation C-47 Chinook have been in talks among Army authorities and colonels for some time now. The director of the FVL program, General Cain Baker, commented, “We’ve done some initial studies on what a Cape Set Four looks like. Those studies are still ongoing, very, very cognizant of the size of it, the type of lift capabilities we want from it, but also the affordability of that.” From the above timeline, it looks like the FLRAA program is becoming an urgent need for the Army, who is trying to utilize its cash flow on newer designs rather than investing in the block 2 upgrades (offered by Boeing) of the C-47 Chinook. The Army is keen to begin demonstration exercises in the coming months and years and eyes a low-rate production in 2028. General James McConville, former Army Vice Chief of Staff, states, “I think in two to three years, we will have a better idea about where we are, as far as developing the helicopters we talked about, and that will drive the decision.” The Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) The FARA was intended to serve as a dedicated and armed aerial reconnaissance system operated from conventional and unconventional spaces. The type would have offered flexibility in missions with its payload and ordnance-carrying capabilities. Following the retirement of the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter in 2014, the US Army has relied on the more expensive AH-64E Apache attack helicopter. The AH-64E has performed the intended missions tremendously and is generally paired with an unmanned aircraft system. The US Army is exploring the replacement of the CH-47 Chinook helicopter. The Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) The FLRAA is intended for long-range assault missions that serve as a multi-role aircraft. The FLRAA project will transport military personnel, equipment, and essential cargo. Major General Wally Rugen, then director of AFC’s Future Vertical Lift cross-functional team, stated that the efforts are “not a ‘want to have,’ it’s an imperative.” “Modernization is an imperative, so as long as that remains the Army priority, which I believe it will, then we’re going to continue to find ways to execute these programs. I don’t see it as a choice.” “We remain confident in X2 aircraft for U.S. and international mission needs now and in the future. We are disappointed in this decision and will await a U.S. Army debrief to better understand its choice.” While helicopters had flown since the 1920s, the US Army finally made them militarily useful in World War II. The Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) The first phase of increment 2: Vendor-built prototypes were evaluated for performance, cost, schedule, risk, and modular open systems. The US Army requested $28.2 million in fiscal 2024 for research and development of the FTUAS program. The newly added funds for testing and evaluation are worth $14.6 million. The procurement of four systems is $46.2 million. The FTUAS is designed in an effort to acquire uncrewed vehicles in multiple phases. In the first phase, urgent battlefield needs for unmanned vehicles will be met in the next two years. The next phase is to develop a new unmanned vehicle for specialized reconnaissance missions. According to the US Army , “Specifically, for the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) ecosystem the Army is leveraging rapid technology growth and innovation across its formations for emerging capability development of the Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) and Launched Effects (LE). Given the ever-changing strategic environment with the rapidly evolving, sensor-rich, contested battlefield, the Army must develop, acquire, and integrate continuously updated capability to warfighting formations to deliver lethal and survivable land power capabilities to the joint force.”Trump’s tariffs could bring higher prices for groceries, cars, clothing

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 PC Specs And Console Details Revealed, Including PS5 Pro SettingsThe Supportive Cabins Initiative was presented to Gananoque council on Tuesday for information purposes. The initiative will consist of 25 individual cabins in Brockville, each equipped with essential amenities to provide residents with a comfortable and secure place to live. The point is to combat homelessness in Leeds and Grenville and serve as a stable, structured, and supervised independent living environment as they reintegrate back into the community, town council heard. Tuesday’s presentation was provided by United Counties of Leeds and Grenville’s Alison Tutak, the director of community and social services. The service provider is the John Howard Society of Kingston and District. The initiative mirrors similar initiatives in Ontario, like in Peterborough and Waterloo. Each cabin will provide a private space for residents, including basic living amenities. The site will be managed by the John Howard Society, with round-the-clock supervision and support for residents. Examples of supports and programming offered by on-site staff includes life skills training, educational workshops, employment support, health and wellness programming, peer support groups, recreation activities, cultural and community engagement, and housing stability support. Residents of the cabins will be required to engage in a participation agreement with the John Howard Society. Resident rules will be inclusive of topics such as violence and harassment, resident restrictions, curfew, substance use, and contraband. Emergency services, like the Brockville Police Service, Brockville Fire Department and Leeds Grenville Paramedic Service have been part of ongoing discussions to ensure the site is safe for residents and the community. Officially, this initiative is located at 1805 County Road 2 East, in Brockville, with a long-term lease arrangement with the City of Brockville for the site. A physical design has been established with consideration of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles and will feature fully-fenced controlled access, Tutak’s presentation noted. Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.Dean Walsh says the High-Performance Unit saved his life but still managed to break his heart. The Wexford boxer, who officially ditches the vest when he punches for pay in Waterford on Saturday, completed one of the greatest comebacks when he fought his way back from life’s basement to the top of the domestic amateur pile. However, he didn’t get the fairytale ending in the form of Olympic qualification and was disappointed not to get selected to represent Ireland at the final Olympic qualifier. It means his recent amateur history has a bitter-sweet feel and while his Paris disappointment wasn’t the sole reason he turned over it played it’s part. “I wouldn’t say it was my sole decision maker,” he tells Wexford Weekly . “Everyone knows I’ve toyed around with the pro idea for a while, but that Olympic selection process – it definitely affected it. “Everyone was telling me to go to the Elites this November and prove this and that. I’ve proved all I can in amateur boxing; it’s just a pity the selection process is so covert, being the best fighter and national champion just isn’t enough so what’s the point going up, winning it out again and still not get picked? It’s mental torture,” “I have nothing left to offer amateur boxing. I gave all I had to offer and I hung up the vest bittersweetly. I’m grateful for all my years with the Irish Team, I got back on the team when just a short time before I didn’t see myself making it to tomorrow let alone back on an Olympic squad. The last few years back in HP saved my life really and that’s being honest. What I went through is a story for another day. I’m 30 years old, in the best shape of my life both physically and mentally so now’s my time to turn over,” he adds. The Michael Conlan managed Jimmy Payne coached, Byrne has a new challenge ahead of him as he embarks on a pro fight. He begins over six against Tamas Horvath on the War in Waterford card and is hoping to progress quickly. “Everyone has seen what I have to offer, I’m a fighter, I don’t back down from anyone. I want the big fights and I want them fast, as I said I’m 30 now and my teams plan is to get me fast tracked, jump straight into 6 rounds and get the ball rolling. I have an adaptable style so I think I’ll adjust into the pro game nicely and with the addition of my trainer Jimmy Payne together we will see a whole new level.”Stock market today: Wall Street edges back from its records as bitcoin briefly pops above $100,000