Andy アンディ

Artist: Central Cee Real Name: Oakley Neil H T Caesar-Su Birth Date /Place: 4 June 1998 [1][2]Shepherd's Bush, London, England Age: (age 24) Social status (Single / Married): Single Artist Picture: Musical Genres: hip hop trap, rapp Awards: Organization Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.AIM Independent Music Awards 2021 PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist Himself Nominated [57]Brit Awards 2022 Best New Artist Nominated [58]Best British Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act NominatedBritish Single of the Year "Obsessed with You" NominatedMOBO Awards 2021 Best Newcomer Himself Won [59]Best Male Act NominatedBest Drill Act WonSong of the Year "Commitment Issues" Nominated Top 3 Songs (Names): Loading.Obsessed With You.Day in the Life. Other Information:

Music Title: Central Cee - One Up (Lyrics) Signer: Central Cee Release Date: 15 Oct 2022 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer: famous rapper Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video):10/10

The never-ending legal problems swirling around former President Donald Trump are already taking center stage in his freshly announced 2024 presidential campaign. Trump himself, in his speech declaring his candidacy on Tuesday, ranted about how he was a “victim” of the “weaponization of the justice system,” as he railed against the search the FBI executed of his Florida home as part of a criminal investigation into the mishandling of documents from his White House. Regardless of whether Trump’s criminal exposure politically undermines his campaign or rallies his supporters, the investigations that could implicate him – which also include federal and state-level probes into 2020 election subversion gambits – won’t likely pose any legal barrier to his candidacy. 20221115 trump web card image updated november 15 The notable legal clouds that continue to hang over Donald Trump It is unlikely that even a conviction would disqualify him from the ballot, according to legal experts. “It might be a practical barrier, it might be a fundraising barrier, but those are political questions, not legal ones,” said Derek Muller, an election law professor at University of Iowa College of Law. On the flip side, Trump’s candidacy for president doesn’t, by itself, give him any additional legal protections in the probes. But it does create a more complicated political and practical environment for investigators to navigate. Can Trump stay on the ballot if he is convicted of a crime? This question has not been fully settled by the courts, but the general consensus is that neither an indictment nor a conviction would legally prevent Trump from being elected. Not only have convicted felons run for federal office in the past, but at least one ran for president successfully from prison: Eugene Debs, a perennial socialist candidate for the White House in the early 20th century, won more than 900,000 votes in a 1920 presidential campaign he ran while incarcerated on an espionage conviction. The reason why it is widely believed a conviction wouldn’t preclude Trump’s return to the White House is because of a mainstream legal argument that only the Constitution sets the standards candidates must meet to be president. Eugene Debs addresses a crowd of people, circa 1910. (Photo by Fotosearch/Getty Images). Eugene Debs addresses a crowd of people, circa 1910. (Photo by Fotosearch/Getty Images). “It’s pretty widely accepted that the qualifications to serve as president are enumerated in the Constitution,” Muller said. “And just being convicted of a felony is not one of them, and states and Congress cannot add to those qualifications.” That is why many legal experts believe that courts would not uphold proposals by states to bar from their ballots presidential candidates who refuse to release their tax returns, as Trump has refused to do. Yet if Trump is charged with one of the statutes federal investigators are examining in the Mar-a-Lago documents probe, it might pose the most serious test yet to the constitutional question. One of the laws implicated in that Justice Department’s Mar-a-Lago investigation, a federal statute that criminalizes the concealment or removal of government records, said that those found guilty “shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States.” “It would present the strongest case for the lawfulness of statutory disqualification that one could make, because of, both, its subject matter – national security – and because Congress spoke so explicitly and expressly,” said Paul Rosenzweig, a former official at the US Department of Homeland Security who also worked on the Whitewater investigation into President Bill Clinton. “My guess is that it would still not stand.” Do the legal protections he got as a president apply now that he is a candidate? While Trump was in the White House, he put forward arguments in several cases – sometimes successfully, sometimes not – that his status as president gave him certain legal protections. But those protections do not now apply to him just because he has announced his bid to reclaim the White House. The residual fights over conduct he engaged in while president will continue, but he doesn’t have any special legal tools to shield things he does or says while he is just a candidate. “There’s no executive privilege or anything that attaches right now as a candidate,” Muller said. The main advantage being a presidential candidate gives Trump is the promise of delay: that if he can drag out the legal processes long enough that they are not resolved if and when he is reelected, he can then try to use the presidency as a shield then. What does his presidential run mean for the criminal investigations surrounding him? Trump’s announcement that he was running for president did not create any formal, legal obstacles for criminal investigators examining potential wrongdoing by him or his allies. But Trump’s candidacy could inject other political and practical considerations. As CNN previously reported, the Justice Department was weighing in the weeks leading up to Trump’s announcement whether to appoint a special counsel. DOJ officials have debated whether doing so could insulate the department from allegations that the investigations are politically motivated attacks on President Joe Biden’s 2024 rival. Former U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a campaign rally at Minden-Tahoe Airport on October 08, 2022 in Minden, Nevada. Former U.S. President Donald Trump held a campaign style rally for Nevada GOP candidates ahead of the state's midterm election on November 8th. Trump appears for deposition in E. Jean Carroll lawsuit Attorney General Merrick Garland avoided answering a CNN question about the possibility in March, while insisting that the department does “not shy away from cases that are controversial or sensitive or political.” As of earlier this month, no decision had been made public. No matter where Garland lands on the special counsel question, Trump’s candidacy undoubtedly raises the stakes of the investigation. DOJ will likely be especially cautious and only bring charges if the department is extremely confident it could secure a conviction, former prosecutors said. Trump’s announcement could even speed things up. “I think that the Department of Justice will, with reason, understand that it needs to move like in the first quarter of next year, before the campaign truly gets underway,” Rosenzweig said. “So it can’t wait … to bring an indictment until January 2024.” What does it mean for the civil litigation Trump is facing? Trump faces legal exposure from the myriad civil lawsuits that have been filed against him, which range from a civil fraud case brought by the New York attorney general, to lawsuits seeking damages for his conduct ahead of the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack to the defamation complaint brought by a woman who has accused him of rape. In the cases concerning his conduct while he was in the White House, Trump has sought to raise arguments about legal protections he said his status as president gave him. But he doesn’t get any additional protections by just announcing a presidential campaign. Mary Trump on CNN in November 2020 Judge throws out Mary Trump's lawsuit against Donald Trump, saying her claim was barred by prior agreements “The United States Supreme Court actually approved of civil litigation against President Clinton in the ’90s, while he was sitting as president. So surely, merely being a candidate for office doesn’t prevent these kinds of cases from going forward,” Muller said. What does the presidential run mean for Trump’s defense? At least in the immediate aftermath of the announcement, perhaps the most tangible effect of Trump declaring his candidacy, where his legal troubles are concerned, is that the Republican National Committee won’t foot the bill for the attorneys representing him in New York investigations scrutinizing his business practices. “We cannot pay legal bills for any candidate that’s announced,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told CNN’s Dana Bash earlier this month. Former U.S. President Donald Trump looks on during a campaign rally at Minden-Tahoe Airport on October 08, 2022 in Minden, Nevada. Former U.S. President Donald Trump held a campaign style rally for Nevada GOP candidates ahead of the state's midterm election on November 8th. Trump appears for deposition in E. Jean Carroll lawsuit She said the committee was willing to finance his legal defense in the civil fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James because the RNC sees that lawsuit as “a politically motivated investigation” that started when he was president. Trump has also used money he’s raised post presidency for his leadership PAC – a fundraising organ usually used to support other candidates – to pay for firms representing him in the James case and other matters. “We cannot do in-kind contributions to any candidate,” McDaniel said at the time. “Right now, he’s the former president who’s being attacked from every which way with lawsuits. And he’s certainly raised more into the RNC than we have spent on these bills.” SURSA

Talk about your ugly duckling becoming a swan. The 2023 Toyota Prius hybrid has undergone the kind of transformation automakers often promise but rarely deliver when slapping an "all-new" label on a long-running model. But, dang! The Prius became a household name over two decades ago because of its efficiency and affordability—never, never, ever because of its looks—so consider us stunned it is now a stunner. While the original Prius made headlines 22 years ago when it first went on sale and celebrities hoping to make an environmental statement pulled them up to red carpets, fashionability largely eluded the hybrid's first four generations. The fifth-generation Prius, by contrast, is sleek and modern, its windswept shape managing to look fast and efficient; it also sits atop the newest-generation TNGA modular platform. Toyota also has found a way to increase the hybrid system's power and fuel economy. If Toyota were to say the Prius also costs less than before, we might dismiss the whole thing as a fever dream. But pricing won't be announced until later this year, and a price drop is unlikely. 2023 Toyota Prius debut 19 filterSEE ALL 34 PHOTOS Coming up with a new Prius is no easy task, especially given the awkward business position Toyota's found itself in as competitors continue to beat it—badly—to the rapidly po[CENSORED]rizing fully electric vehicle segment. "The weight of the Prius name is heavy. It carries with it the identity of an entire category of vehicle powertrain," said Toyota general manager Dave Christ of an approach to efficiency fast falling out of fashion among cost- and environmentally conscious buyers. "We're confident the all-new 2023 Prius and Prius Prime will continue this important legacy." Let's unpack what Toyota has done to the hybrid that's found over 5 million buyers here in America and 20 million globally since its introduction, and hopes to find yet more in a world going nuts for EVs. 2023 Toyota Prius debut 13 filterSEE ALL 34 PHOTOS The 2023 Toyota Prius' New Look Forgettable as it is, we should remind you the 2001 Prius was bland and frumpy. Over the years designers overcorrected, with lines and creases the eye could barely follow. The 2023 Prius bears only the faintest hints of the Prii before it. The piercing silhouette came from the design studios in Japan, and the front bears the same hammerhead nose as the Toyota Crown and Toyota bZ4X. The roofline is 2 inches lower, the car is an inch longer, and the rear of the vehicle is almost 1 inch wider than the front which further enhances the wedge shape. Larger 19-inch wheels on the XLE and Limited trims add further substance to the look. The entry-level LE, which is the most efficient trim, has 17-inch wheels. This is the first Prius with a fixed panoramic roof; it is an option on the XLE and standard on the Limited. The top trim also has a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, and optional heated rear seats. And check out the integrated door handles for rear passengers, which are on every Prius. cancel mute CLICK TO UNMUTE play action volume toggle fullscreen video crop free Left Arrow 2023 Toyota bZ4X AWD Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2023 Toyota bZ4X AWD Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Highlander AWD Platinum Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Highlander AWD Platinum Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Sienna Woodlands Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Sienna Woodlands Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota GR Supra 2.0 Video Review : MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota GR Supra 2.0 Video Review : MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Tundra First Look 2022 Toyota Tundra First Look 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid XSE Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid XSE Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD PRO Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota 4Runner TRD PRO Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota Mirai Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota Mirai Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota Tundra TRD Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2021 Toyota Tundra TRD Video Review: MotorTrend Buyer's Guide 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross First Look: The Corolla of SUVs 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross First Look: The Corolla of SUVs 2022 Toyota GR86 First Look: Toyota's Sporty Car Gets A Makeover 2022 Toyota GR86 First Look: Toyota's Sporty Car Gets A Makeover Right Arrow Among the three grades, the LE has a smaller 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen set into the more streamlined dash, but there is an optional tombstone-style 12.3-inch screen on the XLE, which is standard on the top-of-the-line Limited grade. There are six USB-C ports, and the higher trims come with a wireless charger. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is included, and you can upgrade to a JBL Premium Audio system with eight speakers. The new electrical architecture improves the Toyota's overall connectivity and makes it easier to send over-the-air software updates that enhance the vehicle. Just say "Hey Toyota" to give the car voice commands for navigation, climate, and audio control. 2023 Toyota Prius debut 12 filterSEE ALL 34 PHOTOS 2023 Toyota Prius Has New Platform, Hybrid Powertrain The new Prius moves to the second generation of the already good TNGA-C platform, which lowers the center of gravity, removes weight, and increases rigidity. With the car's wider stance and lower driving position—the hip point is an inch lower—it should feel far less dorky to be behind the wheel of a Prius. From the appearance of the interior, it is apparent that Toyota is moving the Prius upmarket; it has room to do so, what with the po[CENSORED]r and cheaper Corolla Hybrid family expanding for 2023. The new hybrid system enjoys increased engine and battery output—hence more power and efficiency at the same time. The fifth-gen hybrid system is paired with a larger 2.0-liter I-4 engine (the current Prius uses a 1.8-liter) and a new lithium-ion battery that has 15 percent more output than the outgoing nickel metal battery. Toyota was slower than most to switch to lithium-ion chemistry, which results in a smaller and lighter battery. It is again located under the rear seats, but it doesn't impinge on interior and cargo space as much as the outgoing car's pack, which was also located primarily under the rear seat. The resulting power boost is huge, with the Prius's output going from 121 horsepower to 194 horsepower. Toyota claims this plummets the zero-to-60-mph acceleration time to 7.2 seconds in the front-drive model and seven seconds flat for the 2-hp-more-powerful all-wheel-drive version. As before, the AWD Prius adds an electric motor to the rear axle to spin the rear tires when starting off and at lower speeds in slippery conditions. Buyers can add e-AWD to every Prius trim level, too. The efficiency play is equally compelling. The current Prius has an EPA rating of 52 mpg combined—the next-generation gets up to 57 mpg combined. "Our design and engineering teams really delivered," Christ said. The latest version of Toyota Safety Sense is standard and there are "convenience" features to detect vehicles in your blind spot, behind you, or help when parking. 2023 Toyota Prius debut 28 filterSEE ALL 34 PHOTOS New 'Beyond Zero' Badging The Prius is the first vehicle to sport Toyota's new "Beyond Zero" badging, a blue circle that is a reference to the automaker's electric bZ sub-brand in support of Toyota's commitment to zero emission solutions that fit customer lifestyles. It is a dance around the fact that Toyota is behind most of the competition when it comes to EVs, relying more heavily on hybrids combining an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. Going forward all electrified vehicles will have the circle logo with HEV (for hybrid electric vehicle); BEV (battery electric); FCEV (fuel cell electric); and, in many countries, PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric). However, in the U.S. the plug-in version will say "Prime," in keeping with the outgoing Prius PHEV's naming scheme. Toyota's only battery-electric vehicle, the bZ4X, will adopt the new badging next model year. Toyota also used an event on the eve of the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show to debut the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime, the identically styled plug-in hybrid Prius, also with more power and electric range that increases to about 38 miles. And the automaker showed another pure electric concept: the Toyota bZ Compact SUV Concept which could be a precursor to a Toyota Crown EV in the future. Toyota's lineup consists of 10 hybrids, two plug-in hybrids, one battery electric vehicle and the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. The automaker has announced it will invest more than $70 billion in electrified vehicles over the next nine years, with $35 billion committed to BEVs. Plans are to expand to about 70 electrified models globally by 2025. By 2030 Toyota will have 30 EVs with the goal of selling 3.5 million EVs annually. In the meantime, expect the Prius to bridge that period more stylishly than we could have possibly imagined. SURSA

Bengali actor Aindrila Sharma is currently on ventilator support after suffering multiple cardiac arrests on Tuesday, following a brain stroke on November 1. According to Anandabazar.com, the cancer survivor had an intracranial haemorrhage or bleeding within the skull, and had to undergo left frontotemporoparietal de-compressive craniotomy surgery. The actor’s new CT scan reports showed blood clots in her brain, which are on the opposite side of where she was operated on. While doctors have put her on new medicines to subdue the clot, the infection continues to be rather dangerous, the report read. What is an intracranial haemorrhage? According to Dr Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist, intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is an “acute event, and happens all of a sudden”. “The most common underlying cause of ICH is hypertension (high blood pressure) and accounts for about 30-35 per cent of all cases of brain stroke. Symptoms of ICH depend on the location of bleeding in the brain,” Dr Kumar toldAgreed Dr Girish B. Navasundi, director of interventional cardiology, Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru, and said that intracranial haemorrhage, “if associated with increased pressure on the brain or irritability”, can cause sudden cardiac death due to variation in cardiac electrical function. “It happens mostly due to changes in ventricular repolarisation. This means that there is abnormal autonomic control of the heart which, in turn, leads to varying degrees of arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythm of the heart),” said Dr Navasundi.Common symptoms include headache, vomiting, weakness, numbness or tingling of arm or leg on one side, imbalance while walking, and difficulty in speaking or swallowing. “In severe cases of ICH, a patient may become unconscious and require a mechanical ventilator for breathing support. Some cases of ICH can lead to cardiac arrests also,” noted Dr Kumar. Can intracranial haemorrhage lead to cardiac arrests? It can happen in two situations, which Dr Kumar described in detail: First, if the bleeding occurs in the brainstem (medulla oblongata to be more specific), the breathing and the cardiovascular centre can get affected. This can result in respiratory or cardiac arrest. Second, if the patient has a large bleed in the cerebral hemispheres, it can cause a mass effect (due to brain swelling) and the cardiovascular centre in the medulla gets compressed, which also results in cardiac arrest. “If prompt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is done, the patient may get revived. However, in the above two situations, repeated cardiac arrests may also occur,” said Dr Kumar.Dr Kumar further noted that other causes of ICH are blood thinner medications (such as aspirin, clopidogrel, heparin, etc), bleeding disorders (such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura), severe liver disease, rupture of a cerebral aneurysm (a balloon-like dilatation arising from a brain artery), severe infections and trauma. Treatment Dr Madhukar Trivedi, consultant, neurology, Narayana Multispecility Hospital, Jaipur said that the “goal of treatment is to stop the bleeding, remove the clot, and relieve pressure on the brain”. “If left alone, the clot will eventually be absorbed by the brain. The long-term effects of elevated cerebral pressure may be irreversible. To relieve the strain on the skull, decompressive surgery may be required. Drilling a small hole in the skull causes blood to flow. A wider opening or removing a section of the skull may be needed to remove a blood clot,” Dr Trivedi told SURSA

A former British ambassador, an Australian economist and a Japanese journalist are reportedly set to be released by Myanmar’s ruling military junta under an amnesty – along with more than 6,000 other prisoners. Vicky Bowman, Sean Turnell and Toru Kubota are among 5,774 male and 676 female prisoners being freed to mark Myanmar’s national day, state media reported Thursday. Pardons were granted on “humanitarian grounds,” according to the media reports, and follow criticism of the junta at a recent summit of Southeast Asian leaders. Myanmar has been in political turmoil since the military staged a coup in February 2021 by arresting civilian leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi – who remains in prison amid a slew of charges which critics say are politically motivated. Since then the junta has arrested thousands of people for protesting against military rule as well as a handful of foreigners. Bowman, who served as the United Kingdom’s top diplomat in Myanmar between 2002 and 2006, was arrested and charged with immigration offenses along with her Burmese husband in August and sent to Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison. Reuters reported that her husband, artist Htein Lin, would also be released in the amnesty.Australian Turnell, who served as an economic adviser to Suu Kyi’s cabinet, was detained shortly after the coup and sentenced to three years in prison in September for violating the country’s Official State Secrets Act in a ruling that was condemned by the Australian government. Japanese documentary filmmaker Kubota had been sentenced to 10 years in prison in October on charges which included violating immigration laws for entering the country on a tourist visa to film protests. The Japanese Embassy in Myanmar said on Thursday it had been notified by authorities that Kubota would be released later in the day. This isn’t the first time Myanmar’s military has released political prisoners. In October 2021, the military freed more than 5,600 people arrested for protesting against military rule. The news comes after Southeast Asian leaders gathered in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh for the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, where the Myanmar conflict was among topics discussed. The junta has faced increasing criticism within the region after failing to implement a peace plan negotiated in April of last year. Myanmar remains part of the ASEAN bloc despite objections from global rights groups. But junta officials have been barred from sending political-level representatives to key events. SURSA

President Joe Biden held a three-hour talk Monday with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, their first in-person encounter since Biden took office and an opportunity that both sides appeared to hope would lead to an improvement in rapidly deteriorating relations. Emerging afterward, Biden told reporters he was “open and candid” with Xi about the range of matters where Beijing and Washington disagree. He cast doubt on an imminent invasion of self-governing Taiwan, and seemed hopeful his message about avoiding all-out conflict was received. Still, the US president was frank that he and Xi came nowhere near resolving the litany of issues that have helped drive the US-China relationship to its lowest point in decades. “I’m not suggesting this is kumbaya,” Biden said at a news conference, “but I do not believe there’s a need for concern, as one of you raised a legitimate question, a new Cold War.” Biden entered Monday’s talks hoping for an opportunity to take stock with Xi of the world’s most important bilateral relationship. He described Xi as not overly confrontational but instead “the way he’s always been: direct and straightforward.” US President Joe Biden is seen on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on November 13, 2022. Biden's past promises for US to defend Taiwan under microscope in meeting with China's Xi “He was clear, and I was clear that we will defend American interests and values, promote universal human rights and stand up for the international order and work in lockstep with our allies and partners,” Biden said. “We’re going to compete vigorously but I’m not looking for conflict.” In a sign both men arrived to meeting hoping to improve the souring relationship, Biden announced his Secretary of State Antony Blinken would visit China and said officials from each country would begin working together through issues. Formal talks on climate cooperation between the US and China are expected to resume as well as part of a broader set of agreements between Biden and Xi, two US officials tell CNN. China previously halted talks – viewed by the Biden administration as a key area where the two nations must work together – as part of retaliation for the visit to Taiwan by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. The US and Chinese envoys for climate change are talking, but the Biden administration will see what China is prepared to do to make concrete progress, one of the US officials said. US Climate Envoy John Kerry’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on whether formal climate talks between the two countries were back on. The White House said in a statement after the meeting that Biden raised concerns about human rights and China’s provocations around Taiwan. But they found at least one area of apparent agreement – that nuclear weapons cannot be used in Ukraine, where that nation is trying to fight off a Russian invasion. “President Biden and President Xi reiterated their agreement that a nuclear war should never be fought and can never be won,” a White House readout said, referring to the threat of nuclear weapons use in Ukraine. Biden did underscore areas of potential cooperation with Xi, including on climate change, in talks that stretched past their expected time at a luxury hotel in Bali. And he sought to convince Xi that a nuclear armed North Korea was not in China’s interests – particularly because further nuclear or long-range missile tests by Pyongyang could prompt Biden to scale up American military presence in the region. “It’s difficult to determine whether or not China has the capacity” to convince Kim Jong Un to back off his tests, Biden said. “I’m confident China is not looking for North Korea to engage in further escalatory means.” ‘Good to see you’ The meeting began in the later afternoon with Biden and Xi walking toward each other from opposite sides of a hotel lobby, shaking hands in front of a row of US and Chinese flags. They smiled for cameras and Xi – through a translator – appeared to say, “Good to see you.” President Joe Biden, left, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. What's at stake for the world's top two economies as Biden and Xi meet “As leaders of our two nations, we share responsibility, in my view, to show that China and the United States can manage our differences, prevent competition from becoming anything ever nearing conflict and to find ways to work together on urgent global issues that require our mutual cooperation,” Biden said as the talks got underway. “The world expects, I believe, China and the United States to play key roles in addressing global challenges,” he said. Speaking second, Xi seemed to offer what could be interpreted as a pointed message to his counterpart, who has spent more than half-a-century on the world stage. “A statesman should think about and know where to lead his country,” Xi said through a translator. “He should also think about and know how to get along with other countries and the wider world.” The two leaders’ talks Monday could have consequences stretching months or even years as the world’s largest economies veer toward increasingly hostile relations. The moments spent together on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit here will amount to only a fraction of the time the two men have been in each other’s company since 2011. Biden has claimed that as vice president, he spent north of 70 hours with Xi and traveled 17,000 miles with him across China and the United States – both exaggerations, but still reflective of a relationship that is now perhaps the most important on the planet. U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia, November 14, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia, November 14, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Kevin Lamarque/Reuters China warns US not to cross ‘red line’ over Taiwan Xi stated that Taiwan is the “first red line” that “must not be crossed” in China-US relations, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout. Referring to the “Taiwan question” as the “very core of China’s core interests” and “the bedrock of the political foundation” of China-US relations, Xi stated that peace and stability across the Taiwan strait and “Taiwan independence” is “as irreconcilable as water and fire.” China’s ruling Communist Party has long claimed the self-ruled democracy of 24 million as an inseparable part of its territory, despite having never ruled over it, and has pledged to take it back – by force if necessary. Video Ad Feedback CNN reporters explain one of the most contentious issues of US-China relations 05:25 - Source: CNN In the meeting, Xi stated that basic norms of international relations and the three Sino-US joint communiques – which touches on the Taiwan issue – are the “most important guardrail and safety net” for bilateral relations and are “vitally important” for the two sides to “manage differences and disagreements and prevent confrontation and conflict.” “We hope that the US side will match its words with action and abide by the one-China policy and the three joint communiques. President Biden has said on many occasions that the US does not support ‘Taiwan independence’ and has no intention to use Taiwan as a tool to seek advantages in competition with China or to contain China. We hope that the US side will act on this assurance to real effect,” according to the readout. Xi also defended China’s human rights records and governance system, saying that China has “Chinese-style democracy” that fits its national conditions, according to the readout. He acknowledged the differences between China and the US, but stressed that they should not become “an obstacle to growing China-US relations.” “The Chinese nation has the proud tradition of standing up for itself. Suppression and containment will only strengthen the will and boost the morale of the Chinese people,” the readout said. A meeting long in the making The meeting Monday took place at a remarkably low moment in US-China ties. Biden hoped coming face-to-face again after nearly two years communicating only by phone and video-conference can yield a more strategically valuable result, even if he entered the talks with little expectation they would produce anything concrete. Relations have deteriorated rapidly amid economic disputes and an increasingly militarized standoff over Taiwan. The tensions have led to a decline in cooperation on areas where the two countries once shared common interests, like combating climate change and containing North Korea’s nuclear program. US Vice President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping toast during a State Luncheon for China hosted by US Secretary of State John Kerry on September 25, 2015 at the Department of State in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/PAUL J. RICHARDS (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images) Biden and Xi return to the table with high stakes -- and low expectations In a national security strategy document released last month, Biden for the first time identified China as posing “America’s most consequential geopolitical challenge,” and wrote the country was the “only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to advance that objective.” There was almost no expectation among American officials that any of those issues could be resolved simply by getting Biden and Xi in the same room. Just arranging the meeting itself required US and Chinese officials to establish lines of communication after Beijing furiously cut off most channels following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan over the summer. “Every matter associated with this meeting, from phone calls to logistics, has been very carefully considered, negotiated, and engaged between the two sides,” a senior US administration official said. Planning for Monday’s meeting predated Pelosi’s trip, and discussions continued between US and Chinese officials despite Beijing’s furor. The process was “serious, very sustained and professional in the best traditions of US-China diplomacy,” the official said. A second official acknowledged the talks setting up the meeting were not always friendly. “I won’t say that the conversations weren’t contentious because obviously there’s lots of areas where we have differences and challenges,” the official said. “The dozens of hours we have spent talking to our Chinese counterparts has definitely surfaced many of those issues.” For his part, Biden takes meetings like this “incredibly seriously” and reads extensively beforehand. In meetings with advisers, he runs through various scenarios for how the meeting might go. “He goes through ‘if this happens, then should we handle it this way,’” the first official said. “He understands that this is, in many respects, the most important bilateral relationship. And it’s his responsibility to manage it well and he takes that very, very seriously.” Officials said in Monday’s meeting they expected Biden’s senior-most advisers to accompany him as part of his official delegation. And they said they expected Xi to similarly surround himself with top aides, though the US team entered the meeting expecting to see some new faces on the Chinese side amid an ongoing transition inside Xi’s inner circle. Chinese President Xi Jinping waves after his speech as the new Politburo Standing Committee members meet the media following the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China October 23, 2022. China's Xi is more powerful than ever. What does it mean for the world? Biden and Xi entered the meeting with momentum For Xi, the trip to Bali also marked one of his first journeys abroad since the onset of the Covid pandemic, which prompted the Chinese government to impose strict lock downs and draconian restrictions. Xi’s reemergence on the physical world stage also comes on the heels of China’s Communist Party Congress in Beijing, during which he secured a norm-breaking third term as its leader. Even a week ago, most inside the White House were expecting Biden to enter the talks comparatively weakened by Democratic losses in the midterm elections. But better-than-expected results for Democrats left the president feeling as if he was entering his meetings this week with the wind at his back, according to top aides. “I know I’m coming in stronger, but I don’t need that,” Biden said of his own improved political fortunes on Saturday. US officials previewing the meeting have stressed the Biden administration is not looking to come out of it with specific “deliverables,” including a joint statement listing areas of potential cooperation. Rather, the setting is aimed at offering both Biden and Xi a significant opportunity to better share their respective countries’ goals and perspectives. “Xi is not an enigma to President Biden,” a senior administration official told CNN. “He knows him. And he is mindful of where Xi is trying to take China. He sees China as a competitor, and he feels confident the US can win that competition.” China’s pandemic-era isolation, US officials say, had made it relatively harder in recent years to get a read on Beijing’s intentions abroad as Xi declined to travel outside of China – but they believe that is all about to change. “We can expect them to be more assertive on the world stage,” the senior administration said. But, they added: “What that looks like is difficult to know right now.” Sullivan said this week that finally substituting the pandemic-era video calls with a face-to-face meeting for the first time since Biden took office “takes the conversation to a different level strategically and allows the leaders to explore in deeper detail what each of them see in terms of their intentions and priorities.” SURSA

A strange, alien-like blob of flesh recently left beach-goers "baffled" after it washed up on the U.K. shoreline. Experts believe that the unusual object is actually a pile of whale guts that floated ashore. Local resident Helen Marlow discovered the bizarre remains on Oct. 27 at around 12 p.m. local time while walking her dog on Marazion Beach, near Penzance in Cornwall, England, Cornwall Live(opens in new tab) reported. "It appeared to be a white, fleshy-looking substance," Marlow told Live Science in an email. "It had no definite features, such as limbs, but appeared to be one mass." Marlow stumbled across the fleshy, seaweed-covered lump around halfway up the beach shortly after the tide had receded, which suggests that it had washed ashore. It didn't have any "noticeable tears" or give off any "pungent, nasty or rotting smells," Marlow said. "I couldn't bring myself to touch it, but I did try to move it with my boot and, as I did, it wobbled a bit like a big, fat jelly." Related: 11 strange things that washed ashore in 2021 CLOSE Marlow's dog reacted with excitement and attempted to rub its body all over the mysterious lump, suggesting that the object was organic, Marlow said. But other than that, she had "no idea" what it could be. "I just couldn't recognize it or compare it to anything I had seen before," she added. Marlow uploaded photos of the fleshy lump to the British Marine Life Study Society Facebook group and received mixed guesses on what it could be. Suggestions included a whale placenta, sandbags and a deflated weather balloon. The Facebook post soon caught the attention of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust's (CWT) Marine Strandings Network, which records all dead organic material that washes ashore in the area. Initially, the network's researchers suspected that the alien-looking material could indeed be a whale placenta. That would have been "really exciting," Abby Crosby, a marine conservation officer at CWT, told Live Science, because it would have meant that a baby whale had been born nearby recently, she added. Marlow puts her foot next to the white fleshly lump for scale. Marlow puts her foot next to the white fleshly lump for scale. (Image credit: Helen Marlow) (opens in new tab) However, after consulting with experts at the U.K.'s Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP), it became clear that the gelatinous mass was actually a whale's stomach. It is unclear exactly which species of whale the stomach may have come from, but its size offers some clues. "It's big," Crosby said, which means it must have come from a sizable whale species. A number of large whales regularly pass through U.K. waters, including fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Less frequent visitors include species such as sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) and bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), Crosby said. Related: A blue whale's daily intake of microplastics weighs as much as a small person The stomach likely came from a dead whale decomposing on the ocean surface far from the coast, she added Small marine scavengers like seabirds typically focus on a dead cetacean's genital area because it is soft and already has an opening that they can tear even wider to reach the whale's flesh and blubber, Crosby said. As a result, "it's not unusual to see the underside of a dead cetacean get opened up," which could explain how the whale's internal organs spilled out, she added. It is unclear how often whale stomachs may wash ashore like this, as people typically report sightings of complete carcasses but tend to ignore the "bits and bobs" that turn up on their own, she added. However, other whale body parts, including bones and blubber, do turn up on nearby beaches, she said. RELATED STORIES —Whale sighting in Australia hints at 'extremely unusual' interspecies adoption —Extremely rare white humpback whale washes up dead on Australian beach —Newfound whale species that lives exclusively in US waters may already be on the brink of extinction Unfortunately, any opportunity to study the whale's stomach and learn more about it has now likely been lost. "I'm guessing it would have washed away with the next tide perhaps, or been eaten by sea birds or fish," Marlow said. But for Crosby, the sighting is nonetheless very important. "It demonstrates that we have some of the ocean's giants living just off our coastline," which is something a lot of people in the U.K. simply don't realize, she said. SURSA

Few things bring people together today like our collective hatred of high gasoline prices. Regardless of who you blame for it, prices are high right now and aren't coming down quickly. It's enough to drive some folks into an electric car, but for those not yet ready to make the leap, the humble hybrid gets another turn in the spotlight. This time, though, we're not only talking about egg-shaped cars like the Prius and others. Instead, we're looking at heart-of-the-market vehicles like the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid and the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. 2023 Honda CR V Hybrid vs. 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Comparison lead 01 filterSEE ALL 93 PHOTOS Participation Trophies? Here at MotorTrend, we don't do ties. We put our noses to the grindstone until one vehicle wins our latest comparison test. Sometimes this makes our lives a lot harder; this is one of those times. Both the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid and 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid are excellent buys, and you'll be happy with either one. They have far more in common than they have differences, and in the end, our decision came down to critical numbers: price and fuel economy. Only one could win, though, so follow along to see how we got there. 2023 Honda CR V Hybrid vs. 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Comparison 58 filterSEE ALL 93 PHOTOS Different Styles, Same Results Be it how they look or how they drive, the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid and 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid have different styles and different swagger, but the end result is effectively the same. Indeed, they may have been developed by different companies, but they're two sides of the same coin. When we look at these compact SUVs, we see distinct personalities doing the same job. To our eye, the Honda's design language inside and out is a bit more sophisticated and premium, and it drives that way, too. The Toyota looks a bit more rugged and adventure ready, and that's how it drives. Neither is prettier or better-driving than the other. From the driver's seat, the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid is a bit quieter inside than the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, but both are excellent. The Honda handles slightly better, but each is pleasantly sporty for a workaday family SUV. The Honda's drivetrain is quieter than the Toyota's under hard acceleration, but they're both equally smooth and refined. Each likewise has good brake-pedal feel that completely masks the transition between regenerative braking and mechanical braking. We do appreciate the Honda's "B" drive mode, which amps up the regenerative braking and comes in handy when going down hills. 2023 Honda CR V Hybrid vs. 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Comparison 63 filterSEE ALL 93 PHOTOS Offsetting Technical Advantages Unsurprisingly for direct competitors, the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 Hybrids offer most of the same tech features. Each, though, has at least one distinct feature, and each does something better than the other. Both, for example, have adaptive cruise control and lane keeping systems. Honda's is the more sophisticated package, able to hold the vehicle centered in the lane, whereas Toyota's only prevents the SUV from drifting over the lines. Law requires backup cameras these days, but they aren't all created equal. Honda has a simple rearview camera for reversing, and it works well enough. Toyota, meanwhile, offers a 360-degree view by stitching four camera images together, making the vehicle itself invisible on the screen. If you run over something while the Toyota's cameras are on, it's because you aren't paying attention. Each SUV also carries its maker's latest infotainment software, and it's another case of give and take. Toyota's new system looks far more contemporary and is pretty straightforward to use. Honda's offers a lot more customization, but the learning curve is steeper and the look isn't as up-to-the-minute. The CR-V and RAV4 both also come with power tailgates at this price point, but where the Honda requires you to reach for a specific button to close it, the Toyota requires only a gentle tug anywhere on the gate to bring it down. It's a minor convenience, but one we'd like to see on more vehicles. 2023 Honda CR V Hybrid vs. 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Comparison 11 filterSEE ALL 93 PHOTOS What's Inside? Although Honda's interior design language is more sophisticated and premium, it's less of an advantage than a differentiator. Toyota went for a more rugged and functional look, and that's no bad thing. In fact, we found the Toyota's materials to be a bit richer, and we appreciated the contrast stitching and trim plus the striped seat inserts that give the interior a bit more personality than the Honda. The latter depends on orange stitching to break up all the black surfaces. Similarly, we preferred the feel of the Toyota's controls. The various buttons, and especially the knobs, have a heft and feedback commonly associated with luxury cars. There's nothing wrong with the Honda's controls, but when you get Lexus-quality parts at a Toyota price, it feels special. Honda claws back points for better ergonomics, as some of the Toyota's buttons are rather small and difficult to differentiate at a glance, while others are hidden down by the driver's left knee. On the other hand, it's difficult not to appreciate all the Toyota RAV4's storage spaces. The Honda CR-V has a nice big bin right up front under the climate controls, complete with wireless phone charger, but Toyota ups the ante with a built-in shelf in the dash that swallows all manner of everyday carry items without interfering with the wireless phone charger in the bin. Distinctions are tougher to draw in the rear seat. Both have air vents, multiple USB charging ports, multiple cup- and bottle holders, and reclining seat backs. The Honda's second row feels slightly more spacious, but the Toyota's back-seat passengers are treated to more natural light from the panoramic sunroof (Honda's only covers the front seats) and the same level of materials quality and trim work as the front seats. 2023 Honda CR V Hybrid vs. 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Comparison 84 filterSEE ALL 93 PHOTOS Stuff Your Stuff Both offerings deliver about the same amount of cargo space, but there's more to it than that. Honda unfortunately took several steps backward in this department. There's no storage under the CR-V's cargo floor, while the RAV4 not only has storage down there but also a temporary spare tire down (the Honda gets a can of fix-a-flat). The CR-V also lost its handy release handles for the rear seats, which previously let you lower the seats from the back instead of walking around to the sides to do so. Lucky for Honda, Toyota still hasn't adopted that feature, so it's a wash in this case. With the seats down, Honda claims more total cargo space, but for day-to-day hauling, the Toyota has more space with the seats up. 2023 Honda CR V Hybrid vs. 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Comparison 54 filterSEE ALL 93 PHOTOS Speaking Of Statistics If these compact SUVs are too similar to rank based on subjective evaluations, you might hope their spec sheets would provide some grounds for choosing one over the other, but no such luck. Starting with static measurements, the CR-V and RAV4 are effectively the same size; they have basically the same interior space and similar cargo space. The numbers are so close across the board as to be immaterial. Our dynamic test results don't offer much help in picking a winner, either. The Toyota is ever so slightly quicker to accelerate, but the Honda stops shorter. They pull the same lateral g in a corner, and their figure-eight lap times would probably be the same were the sporty-feeling Honda not hampered by a more intrusive stability control system. 2023 Honda CR V Hybrid vs. 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Comparison 55 filterSEE ALL 93 PHOTOS Numbers That Really Matter With nowhere else to turn, all we had left were the two numbers that will matter most to most consumers: price and fuel economy. Folks buying these hybrids are looking to save a buck at the pump and certainly won't mind paying less up front, either. Here, again, the numbers are nearly the same. Both of these Hybrid SUVs are so new, their makers had to give us estimated prices. But they're right on top of each other as tested. Take a look at their base prices, though, and things change. The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is about $2,600 cheaper to start than the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid, and it comes with standard all-wheel drive. If you want an all-wheel-drive CR-V Hybrid, the gap grows to roughly $4,000. The price difference pretty much stays the same as you climb up the trim levels, with this top-shelf RAV4 Hybrid starting about $2,000 less than this top-line CR-V Hybrid. Then there's the matter of fuel economy. The Honda's isn't expected to improve over the model it replaces, still returning an estimated 40/34/37 mpg city/highway/combined. The Toyota beats it across the board, but especially on the highway and in the combined rating, at 41/38/40. It's not an enormous difference, but it will add up during the course of these vehicles' lives. 2023 Honda CR V Hybrid vs. 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Comparison 65 filterSEE ALL 93 PHOTOS Picking A Winner For the average buyer, choosing one of these over the other is simply a matter of preference and priorities. Would you rather have the giant sunroof or the better lane keeping system? Given this scenario, we chose with our wallets and not our hearts: The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is cheaper to buy and is thriftier on gas than the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid, and it's therefore our winner.2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid (Sport) Touring AWD Specifications 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE Specifications DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Front-engine/motor, AWD Front-engine, AWD ENGINE TYPE Direct-injected Atkinson-cycle DOHC 16-valve I-4, plus permanent-magnet elec motors Direct-injected DOHC 16-valve I-4, alum block/head, plus 2 permanent-magnet elec motors DISPLACEMENT 1,993 cc/121.6 cu in 2,478 cc/151.2 cu in COMPRESSION RATIO 13.9:1 14.0:1 POWER (SAE NET) 145 hp @ 6,100 rpm (gas), 181 hp (elec); 204 hp (comb) 176 hp @ 5,700 rpm (gas), 54 + 118 hp (elec); 219 (comb) TORQUE (SAE NET) 138 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm (gas), 247 lb-ft (elec) 163 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm, 89 + 149 lb-ft (elec) REDLINE 6,100 rpm NA WEIGHT TO POWER 19.1 lb/hp 17.5 TRANSMISSION 1-sp auto (elec), 2-sp auto (gas) Cont variable auto AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO 4.44:1/3.14:1 3.61:1/2.99:1 SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, coild springs, anti-roll bar Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar STEERING RATIO 12.3:1 14.3:1 TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK 2.4 2.7 BRAKES, F; R 12.6-in vented disc; 12.2-in disc 12.0-in vented disc; 11.1-in disc WHEELS 7.5 x 19-in cast aluminum 7.0 x 18-in cast aluminum TIRES 235/55R19 101H (M+S) Continental CrossContact LX Sport 225/60R18 100H Dunlop GrandTrek PT20 (M+S) DIMENSIONS WHEELBASE 106.3 in 105.9 in TRACK, F/R 63.3/63.9 in 63.0/63.7 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 184.8 x 73.5 x 66.5 in 180.9 x 73.0 x 67.0 in GROUND CLEARANCE 8.2 in 8.1 in APPRCH/DEPART ANGLE 16.1/16.0 deg 19.0/21.0 deg TURNING CIRCLE 37.3 ft 36.0 ft CURB WEIGHT (DIST F/R) 3,904 lb (59/41%) 3,824 lb (56/44%) SEATING CAPACITY 5 5 HEADROOM, F/R 38.2/38.2 in 37.7/39.5 in LEGROOM, F/R 41.3/41.0 in 41.0/37.8 in SHOULDER ROOM, F/R 57.9/55.9 in 57.8/56.4 in CARGO VOLUME BEH F/R 76.5/36.3 cu ft 69.8/37.5 cu ft TOWING CAPACITY 1,000 lb 1,750 lb TEST DATA ACCELERATION TO MPH 0-30 2.7 2.3 0-40 3.97981025 3.66512585 0-50 5.60338542 5.3456105 0-60 7.59547423 7.27178566 0-70 10.3664217 9.49329927 0-80 15.3157665 12.1437202 0-90 — 15.3012337 PASSING, 45-65 MPH 4.03274001 3.83216593 QUARTER MILE 16.2 sec @ 81.5 mph 15.5 sec @ 90.6 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 123.35 133.46 LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.79 g (avg) 0.78 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 29.3 sec @ 0.57 g (avg) 28.2 sec @ 0.62 g (avg) TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH 2,250 rpm (gas) 7,100 (elec) NA CONSUMER INFO BASE PRICE $39,000 (est) $37,000 (est) PRICE AS TESTED $39,000 (est) $40,000 (est) AIRBAGS 10: Dual front, f/r side, f/r curtain, front knee 8: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain, driver knee, passenger thigh BASIC WARRANTY 3 yrs/36,000 miles 3 yrs/36,000 miles POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 10 yrs/100,000 miles 5 yrs/60,000 miles ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 3 yrs/36,000 miles 2 yrs/25,000 miles FUEL CAPACITY 14.0 gal 14.5 gal, 1.59 kWh EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON 40/34/37 (est) mpg 41/38/40 mpg EPA RANGE, COMB 518 miles (est) 580 miles RECOMMENDED FUEL Unleaded regular Unleaded regular ON SALE Fall 2022 Now SURSA

Gul Panag wears many hats; but whether it is being an actor, entrepreneur, or a mother, she believes in giving her 100 per cent to everything on hand. With a renewed vigour, the Good Bad Girl actor is busy advocating the need to use clean energy sources for the betterment of the environment with her latest initiative — Sunfuel Electric, an electric car charging infrastructure company, of which she is a co-founder.“Sustainability starts with the air we breathe, and the quickest way to clean up this air is to switch to zero emission vehicles. We are already on track to produce most of our power from renewable clean sources of energy. So the argument that electric vehicles are powered by dirty power won’t hold much longer. Each one of us needs to take little steps in the day-to-day course of our lives for it to collectively impact the big picture,” she told indianexpress.com. In an exclusive chat, Gul, 43, spoke about her likes, everyday life, and her aspirations. Excerpts: What is keeping you busy at the moment? Promoting my films Ghost and Good Bad Girl. And producing films. And working on building partnerships and communities at Sun Fuel. How do you describe your pandemic experiences? It was an opportunity to reset and adapt to the new normal. It was also an opportunity to re-evaluate and re-prioritise life in general. Grateful for the time we got together as a family. You love to travel; your social media is proof. What drives your passion? Seeking out new experiences and widening my horizon and perspective. In between work, travel, and family, how do you ensure to workout? I wake up at 5 am most days, and get the workout done first thing in the morning. Planning it for the end of the day doesn’t work for me.What does your typical workout routine includes? A mix of strength, flexibility, and endurance. But I always start Monday with a run. What does your diet look like? I eat a balanced diet that’s achievable wherever I am. I try and avoid processed food, refined flour, and sugar. How important is it for women to be active in entrepreneurial roles? Women must be active in all walks of life including but not limited to entrepreneurship. In a patriarchal society like ours, it’s imperative that women empower themselves financially because that is the only real route to freedom and empowerment. What’s your idea of perfection? There is no perfection. Seeking perfection in my opinion is setting one self up for disappointment. The ability to adapt and thrive in all circumstances is more important. Your opinion on the changing perceptions of beauty, if any and how it helps shape the society? Perception of beauty has always been a function of conditioning. As conditioning changes, perception of beauty changes. It’s highly subjective and what is considered duty today will probably not be considered beauty tomorrow. One only has to see the perception of what is considered to be an ideal physique and how much that itself has changed in the last two decades to come to that conclusion! Take 5 Favourite cheat meal Nirula’s Big Boy Burger Favourite family outing Movie at the theatre How do you fight boredom? I have no time for it. How do you fight laziness? By being disciplined. Your go-to mantra for health Fit for life Sursa

The Taliban has ordered judges in Afghanistan to fully impose their interpretation of Sharia Law, including potential public executions, amputations and flogging, a move experts fear will lead to a further deterioration of human rights in the impoverished country. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan’s Supreme Leader Alaiqadar Amirul Momineen made the “obligatory” command after meeting with judges to “investigate the cases of thieves, kidnappers, and seditionists.” “Those cases that have met all the Shariah conditions of limitation and retribution, you are obliged to issue the limitation and retribution, because this is the order of the Sharia… and it is obligatory to act,” Mujahid tweeted Sunday. Kaheld Abou El Fadl, a professor of Islamic Law at UCLA and one of the world’s leading authorities on Sharia law, told CNN there’s a rich history of debate on the laws of Sharia and various interpretations of their meaning. “Every point of law you’ll find 10 different opinions … Sharia is very open-ended,” he said. Sharia law within Islamic jurisprudence means the “search for the divine will,” El Fadl told CNN. “Although, both in Western and native discourses, it is common to use Sharia interchangeably with Islamic law, Sharia is a much broader and all encompassing concept, according to a statement from El Fadl’s website. 02 taliban amusement park ban 110922 Women stopped from entering amusement parks in Kabul The Taliban’s hardline implementation of the doctrine when the group was last in power from 1996 to 2001 included violent punishments, such as public executions, stoning, floggings and amputations. El Fadl said that within the 1400-year tradition of Sharia, those punishments were rarely implemented because the majority of Islamic jurists throughout history didn’t interpret the law the way the Taliban currently does. “The Taliban have a particular approach to Sharia that one cannot ignore,” El Fadl said. “Anyone who doesn’t fit their definition can be possibly put to death.” After seizing power last August, the Taliban attempted to project a more moderate image to gain international support, but in the months since, the group has clamped down on rights and freedoms. Women in Afghanistan can no longer work in most sectors and require a male guardian for long-distance travel, while girls have been barred from returning to secondary school. Last week, women were stopped from entering amusement parks in the capital Kabul after the Taliban’s morality ministry said women’s access to public parks would be restricted. A reclusive leader, Akhundzada was identified in this undated photograph by several Taliban officials, who declined be named. Taliban supreme leader warns foreigners not to interfere in Afghanistan During the group’s first stint in power, the Taliban banned most forms of music as un-Islamic, and this August, in echoes of the policy, Afghan folk singer Fawad Andarabi was dragged from his home and killed. Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General, told CNN the Taliban’s recent announcement regarding Sharia law was “worrying.” “Since they took over as de facto authority, we expect them to abide by their promise to uphold existing human rights commitments made in Afghanistan,” Haq said. “They have not been living up to the commitments. We will continue to press them on this. We are opposed to death penalty in all its forms.” The security situation in the country has also deteriorated since the group’s takeover last year, with the nation growing increasingly isolated and impoverished. Nearly half of the country faces acute hunger, according to the United Nations. An estimated 43% of Afghanistan’s po[CENSORED]tion is living on less than one meal a day, with 90% of Afghans surveyed reporting food as their primary need, according to a May report by the International Rescue Committee. SURSA

Musician Name:Roy Orbison Birthday / Location: April 23, 1936 Vernon, Texas, U.S. Main instrument: Vocals guitar harmonica Musician Picture: Musician Awards & Nominations: Orbison's honors include inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989, and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2014. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and five other Grammy Awards. Rolling Stone placed him at number 37 on its list of the "Greatest Artists of All Time" and number 13 on its list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". In 2002, Billboard magazine listed him at number 74 on its list of the Top 600 recording artists. Best Performance: Orbison often excused his motionless performances by saying that his songs did not allow instrumental sections so he could move or dance on stage, although songs like "Mean Woman Blues" did offer that.[154] He was aware of his unique performance style even in the early 1960s when he commented, "I'm not a super personality—on stage or off. I mean, you could put workers like Chubby Checker or Bobby Rydell in second-rate shows and they'd still shine through, but not me. I'd have to be prepared. People come to hear my music, my songs. That's what I have to give them."[155] k.d. lang compared Orbison to a tree, with passive but solid beauty.[156] This image of Orbison as immovable was so associated with him it was parodied by John Belushi on Saturday Night Live, as Belushi dressed as Orbison falls over while singing "Oh, Pretty Woman", and continues to play as his bandmates set him upright again.[152] However, Lang quantified this style by saying, "It's so hard to explain what Roy's energy was like because he would fill a room with his energy and presence, but not say a word. Being that he was so grounded and so strong and so gentle and quiet. He was just there."[141] Orbison attributed his own passion during his performances to the period when he grew up in Fort Worth while the US was mobilising for World War II. His parents worked in a defence plant; his father brought out a guitar in the evenings, and their friends and relatives who had just joined the military gathered to drink and sing heartily. Orbison later reflected, "I guess that level of intensity made a big impression on me, because it's still there. That sense of 'do it for all it's worth and do it now and do it good.' Not to analyse it too much, but I think the verve and gusto that everybody felt and portrayed around me has stayed with me all this time."[157] Other Information: -

Artist: Ghostface Killah Real Name: Dennis Coles Birth Date /Place: May 9, 197 Age: (age 52 Social status (Single / Married): Married Artist Picture: Musical Genres: hip hop Awards:"The Source Awards" is the sixteenth episode of the first season of the American television comedy series 30 Rock. It was written by Robert Carlock and Daisy Gardner, and directed by one of the season's supervising producers, Don Scardino. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on March 1, 2007. "The Source Awards" featured appearances by Wayne Brady, Kevin Brown, Grizz Chapman, Ghostface Killah, LL Cool J, and Jason Sudeikis. In the episode, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) enlists a rap producer, Ridikolous, to unload his line of inferior champagne while Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) reluctantly hosts the Source Awards. At the same time, Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) tries to sever ties with a black man she dislikes without looking racist. Top 3 Songs (Names): All That I Got Is You ft Mary J Blige / Tekitha (1996),Apollo Kids ft Raekwon (2000),Daytona 500 ft Raekwon & Cappadonna (1996) Other Information:-

Music Title: Urbanist Sessions (Live @PORC TV) Signer: MARKO GLASS Release Date: 1 nov. 2022 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer: MARKO GLASS famous romanian rapper Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video): 10/10

As White House officials prepared for the last jobs report before the midterm elections set to be released Friday morning, the last thing they wanted to see is a blowout hiring number. It’s the political paradox that loomed over the last major piece of economic data before Election Day – one that comes at a moment that finds Democrats desperately trying to make up ground on the economy. The US economy added 261,000 jobs in October – more than the 200,000 jobs economists had predicted but still landing in the upper part of the range that White House officials were hoping to see heading into Friday, which was about 150,000-300,000. It was a “Goldilocks” outcome for the White House – a number that’s not too low, but not too high. Biden heralded Friday’s jobs report, saying the new data “shows that our jobs recovery remains strong.” He dismissed criticism from Republicans that the economy is headed toward a recession as he continues to receive low marks from voters on his handling of inflation. “One thing is clear: While comments by Republican leadership sure seem to indicate they are rooting for a recession, the US economy continues to grow and add jobs even as gas prices continue to come down,” Biden said in a statement, reiterating that inflation remains “our top economic challenge.” It’s a far cry from just one year ago, when the US economy was adding jobs each month at an eye-popping clip: More 650,000 jobs in October and November, close to 600,000 in December, followed two months later by a whopping 714,000 new jobs in February. President Joe Biden and his economic team have known for months that a cooling of the economy is a necessity to crack the pervasive price increases that have handed a significant advantage to Republicans on the issue which voters consistently cite as most important. Biden and his top advisers have taken pains since the summer to underscore their rationale for the transition from major job gains to an economic picture defined by “steady and stable” growth. It’s a message intended to temper expectations after more than a year defined by the rapid pace of hiring, but also a goal viewed by officials as a necessity in order to protect many of the gains they regularly tout. At its heart is Biden’s most significant economic success: A dramatic jobs recovery from the pandemic-driven economic crisis he walked into on his first day in office. More than 10 million jobs have been added since Biden’s inauguration and the unemployment ticked up from 3.5% to 3.7% on Friday. The combination of continued job gains and a return to quarterly growth sit at the center of the Biden’s contention that, despite the dour national mood, the US economy is not in or on the precipice of a recession. “Our economy is strong as hell,” Biden told reporters last month. The tight labor market, however, has exacerbated the soaring price increases that have imperiled Democrats’ hold on their majorities in the House and Senate. That, in turn, has driven the Federal Reserve to trigger four consecutive jumbo rate increases, including the most recent three-quarters-of-a-point move this week. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, in his news conference after the policy announcement, pointed to a labor market that “is just very, very strong” as a central reason the rapid rate increases haven’t tangibly dented soaring prices. “So it may take time. It may take resolve. It may take patience. It’s likely to get inflation down,” Powell said of the effect of the Fed’s actions. “I think you see from our forecasts and others that it will take some time for inflation to come down.” Biden has made clear publicly – and to his team privately – that the Fed is an independent entity and won’t face any political pushback from his administration as it attempts to intentionally cool down the US economy. But White House officials are also keenly aware that the stated goal of a “soft landing” where the central bank manages to significantly tighten economic conditions in order to drive inflation down, but not enough to tip the economy into a painful recession, is a difficult needle to thread. They do see indications that it’s a possible outcome, however. “I believe there’s a path to accomplishing that while maintaining a very healthy labor market,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told CNN in an interview. “And I believe we’re on that path.” But that path includes officials rooting for more modest jobs gains, or clear signs of the “steady and stable” environment that would create more room for the Fed’s difficult task. SURSA

North American migratory birds are becoming smaller as the planet warms due to climate change, a new study finds. Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) examined more than 30 years of data for adult male birds across 105 avian species that migrate through North America. They found that between 1989 and 2018 the birds' body masses declined by about 0.6% on average, according to an Oct. 27 study in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution(opens in new tab). The species that "experienced the greatest change over time" was the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), said study lead author Casey Youngflesh(opens in new tab), a quantitative ecologist from UCLA and a presidential postdoctoral fellow in the Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior (EEB) Program at Michigan State University. In this songbird, known for its striking iridescent blue feathers, body mass dropped by nearly 3%. Data used in this study came from the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship program (MAPS), part of the Institute for Bird Po[CENSORED]tions(opens in new tab), a California-based nonprofit that studies bird po[CENSORED]tion decline and has 1,200 bird banding stations throughout North America. So, what's causing birds to shrink, especially over such a relatively short time period? Scientists suspect that climate change is the most likely culprit, and birds are adapting accordingly. "If you're a larger person and you're in a cold environment and let's say you have a very small friend, you will probably be able to withstand the cold a little bit better than a smaller person would," Youngflesh told Live Science. "This really comes down to surface area and volume. As a larger person, you'll be losing less heat than a smaller person. The same thing applies to birds." Related: 10 of the biggest birds on Earth In other words, smaller-bodied birds have a larger body-surface-area-to-volume ratio, so they need to expend less energy to keep cool. By comparison, birds with larger bodies are better equipped for conserving heat, according to the study. Scientists also found that the size of a North American bird is largely dependent on where it resides — even for birds of the same species. "We see that birds are getting smaller over time in response to temperature [change] and we're seeing the same thing over space," he said. "For example, a cardinal living in a really warm area of the United States is going to be generally smaller than a cardinal in a very cold climate, so there's a spatial effect [that's occurring]." Conversely, while some bird species are decreasing in size, their wings aren't keeping pace, resulting in them having larger wings relative to their bodies. This is especially true for birds living at higher elevations. "If you've ever spent time at [high] elevation, it's harder to breathe since there are literally fewer air particles, making the air thinner," Youngflesh said. For birds, thinner air at a higher elevation results in less lift. He pointed to helicopters as an example. “[There are] pilots who won't fly at very high altitudes because of this lack of reduced lift," he added. Youngflesh is quick to note that this change in body size isn't happening across all North American migratory bird species. "In some species, they aren't getting much smaller and the effect isn't as large as some other species," he said. "And that could be due to a number of factors that are important for the size and shape of birds," such as the elevation of their habitat. "As you go up in elevation, say on a mountain, it's generally colder," Youngflesh said. "But birds are actually smaller there, and that has to do with the importance of flight." SURSA

With its Ford F-150 Raptor, Bronco Raptor, and Super Duty Tremor, for example, Ford is no stranger when it comes to getting factory-backed off-road adventure trucks and SUVs into the hands of its eager thrill-seeking, nature-loving adrenaline junkies, who also likely use Fords to get work done during the week. However, Ford hadn't dressed up its venerable Transit van, the proverbial second fiddle in the adventure van market to the 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter (partly because of the Transit's former rear-wheel drive only setup)—until now. With the Transit getting an all-wheel drive option a few years ago and the insatiable po[CENSORED]rity of the off-grid adventure van market, there couldn't be a better time for the 2023 Ford Transit Trail van to hit the scene. It's no Transit Raptor (can you imagine?), but it offers a ton more than the 2022 Transit Adventure Prep Package. A step in the right direction, undoubtedly van builders have their eyes on this machine. 2023 Ford Transit Trail Van 12 filterSEE ALL 23 PHOTOS There's not much need to defend its existence, so we'll keep the why behind the 2023 Ford Transit Trail pretty brief. Because #vanlife. The Class B van segment, where the Trail fits, is reportedly up 30 percent in 2022. There's simply a lot of interest, especially amongst Millennials, with 26 percent intending to make a purchase in the segment. Naturally, the Trail was a missing link for Ford, who partnered with an upfitter for the interior of its debut display Trail. It's a turnkey canvas for do-it-yourselfers, RV manufacturers, and van conversion companies looking to create custom Class B camper vans that can head off-road or get groceries, all while being stored in driveways instead of expensive off-site storage. Whereas most vans need lots of prep to get them nature-ready—a factor that could jeopardize Ford's 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty—the Transit Trail is an upfit-ready adventure van straight from the factory. Ford does the hard stuff, so adventurers can focus on the fun home-away-from-home part on the inside. It can be serviced at 3,000 dealers, 600 commercial service centers, and 800 mobile service vans. We'll talk about the various upgrades (over the base Transit commercial van) that make it advantageous for the van-life community. But first, we need to talk about the elephant in the room for those who have been following the Transit Trail's timeline. Although the Trail is new to the United States market, it was previously introduced in the U.K. market. That Transit Trail has a cool Raptor-inspired F-O-R-D grille that we were hoping the stateside Trail would get, too. But it didn't. At least not yet. We refuse to lose hope. These are pre-production pictures, after all. 2023 Ford Transit Trail Van 15 filterSEE ALL 23 PHOTOS Regardless, our Transit Trail does have a pretty aggressive front fascia compared to the base Transit, ready to take on rocks and off-road trails. (Not deer, though. No front end can handle deer.) It has a unique black Transit Trail Blue Oval grille with integrated marker lamps (that's Raptor-esque, at least), cool black HID headlights, and fog lights. It has a massive skidplate-style black front bumper that flows into aggressive black wheel arch cladding that ends in unique splash guards. No chipped paint for that front end. Slider-style driver- and passenger-side steps are also included for easy ingress and egress (and protection)—another Raptor-esque feature. Short-arm, power adjusting, power-folding heated side mirrors with turn signals cap the front end. 2023 Ford Transit Trail Van 4 filterSEE ALL 23 PHOTOS In addition to its beefed-up front end, the 2023 Ford Transit Trail van's rolling attire and stance is further designed for adventure straight from the factory. The 245/75R16 Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse all-terrain tires are mounted on spokey 16-inch Transit Trail black aluminum alloy wheels. The 30.5-inch tires are 2.5 inches taller (more sidewall) than those on the standard Transit and contribute to a 2.75-inch wider track over the base Transit. It does have a spare tire and wheel, which is an off-grid must-have. The Transit Trail has a 2.25-inch body lift. Overall, there's a 3.5-inch ride height increase for improved ground clearance, approach angle, and departure angle. 2023 Ford Transit Trail Van 9 filterSEE ALL 23 PHOTOS The 2023 Transit Trail has some cool tidbits to make the conversion or DIY process cheaper and more streamlined. There's an optional roof vent fan (for those who feel queasy at the thought of cutting a hole in their new van's roof) and drillable areas for cabinetry, shelving, bed, and more. There's also rear-door and passenger-side door privacy windows, illuminated sun visors, built-in 400W AC inverter, and various outlets (110-volt, 12-volt, and USB). A front overhead cab shelf and standard four-way manual swivel driver and passenger Dark Palazzo gray cloth seats help utilize interior space. There's an available 31-gallon extended range fuel tank (up from 25), optional dual alternators, and an available upfitter package to add accessory switches. Most importantly, there's a standard dual-note horn, an aggressive beeper to match the aggressive looks. 2023 Ford Transit Trail Van 14 filterSEE ALL 23 PHOTOS Ford's new Trail van can be configured in several 148-inch wheelbase options: medium- or high-roof in long length, and high-roof extended length. The high roof allows a six-foot five-inch person to stand. It's offered in nine exterior color options that'll allegedly help hide dirt. It's powered by the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 (310 hp, 400 lb-ft of torque) backed by Ford's 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. The Trail comes with Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with five selectable drive modes (Normal, Eco, Mud/Ruts, Tow/Haul, and Slippery). It comes standard with the Heavy-Duty Trailer Package for 6,500 pounds of max towing capacity. Max payload is just over 3,700 pounds; GVWR is 9,500 pounds. It comes with a 3.73 limited-slip rear, heavy-duty front axle, and standard dual AGM batteries. Inside, there's standard SYNC 4, a 12-inch touchscreen, adaptive cruise control, Blind Spot Assist 1.0, Reverse Sensing System, keyless entry pad, high-resolution digital camera, and more.The 2023 Ford Transit Trail van, assembled at the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Mo., will be available fall 2022 (that's now, right?) through dealer order banks and eventually upfitters, and starts at $65,975. We can't wait to see how people outfit this red-hot trim, assuming they can even get ahold of one. SURSA

Selena Gomez has always been candid about her personal life and health, especially her struggles with mental health issues. The singer recently made another confession during an interview with Rolling Stone, stating that while she would like to become a parent in the future, it looks difficult for her because of the medications she is taking for bipolar disorder. The 30-year-old opened up for the publication’s latest cover story, admitting that she once visited a friend who was “trying to get pregnant”, later getting into the car and crying realising that the two medications she is on for her bipolar disorder may most likely make it difficult for her to carry children of her own. “That’s a very big, big, present thing in my life,” Gomez shared with the outlet, adding that she hopes to become a mother through other means in the future: “However I’m meant to have them, I will.”What is the connection between pregnancy and bipolar disorder? Dr Gunjan Bhola, associate director and HOD, obstetrics and gynaecology, Marengo QRG Hospital, Faridabad told indianexpress.com that treating women with bipolar disorders during pregnancy is one of the “greatest challenges”, because there are “high recurrence rates in pregnancy and the postpartum period is also known as heightened bipolar episode relapse risk”.“Studies point to significantly higher rates of major congenital malformations, adverse neonatal events and neuro-developmental difficulties with in-utero exposure (especially valproate medicine). Malformations can be mural tubal defects, cardiac anomalies. Adverse outcomes such as gestational hypertension and antepartum haemorrhage occur in pregnant women with bipolar disorder,” she cautioned.The doctor added that the medicines can also increase the rate of induction of labour and caesarean section, and increase the risk of mood disorders in the postnatal period. “Clinical decisions about use of mood stabilisers and antipsychotics by pregnant women should be balanced with the risk of maternal/fetal/neonatal harm from untreated illnesses or acute relapse against pharmacotherapy during pregnancy,” Dr Bhola said. Dr Suhasini Inamdar, consultant – obstetrician and gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Indiranagar, Bangalore explained that bipolar disorder is a mental health condition where the patient suffers from extreme mood swings; it can impact their energy and ability to function. “The person can experience intense emotional states ranging from extremely happy to irritated or even depressed.”She added that with proper treatment and medications, people suffering from bipolar disorder can lead “full and productive lives”. On the connection between bipolar disorder and reproductive health, Dr Inamdar said one’s sexual and reproductive health can be impacted by bipolar disorder and its treatment. “The condition in itself and the psychiatric medications used to treat it, can impact your sexual health and alter your behaviour and experience.”What should women planning to conceive keep in mind? “If you suffer from this condition and are pregnant or planning to conceive, it is possible to do so, but with complete guidance of doctors regarding managing the condition during pregnancy. Sometimes, women with bipolar disorder stop taking their medications when they find out they are pregnant. This can harm both you and your unborn child. You must consult your doctors first,” Dr Inamdar advised.Pregnancy and bipolar disorder meds Dr Inamdar further explained that pregnancy already leads to a lot of mood swings. In addition to this, if the mother suffers from bipolar disorder, her symptoms will be more prominent. “Bipolar disorder is generally treated with mood stabilisers or antipsychotic medications. Some of them can pose a risk for the fetus. Though this is rare, certain contents in these medications may lead to birth defects or other congenital abnormalities,” she warned. “As stopping the medications is not advisable, with proper guidance from a certified health professional, you can continue your medication while being pregnant and even breastfeed post-delivery. Your doctor will be able to tell you which medications can be continued,” she concluded. SURSA

South Korea scrambled about 80 fighter jets after detecting a large number of North Korean warplanes during a four-hour period Friday, the country’s military said, in a further escalation of regional tensions. In a statement, the South Korean military said it spotted about 180 North Korean military aircraft between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. local time, a day after Pyongyang is believed to have conducted the failed test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Tensions in the Korean Peninsula began rising Monday, when the “Vigilant Storm” joint military drills began between the United States and South Korea, involving hundreds of aircraft and thousands of service members from both countries, according to the US. North Korea accused the allies of provocative action and on Wednesday launched 23 missiles from its east and west coasts – the most missiles it’s fired in a single day – into waters either side of the peninsula, prompting Seoul to respond with three surface-to-air missiles. Soldiers hold weapons while seated on a vehicle carrying rockets as it drives past the stand with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a military parade marking the 105th birth anniversary of country's founding father Kim Il Sung, in Pyongyang April 15, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj North Korea's suspected ICBM test fails, South Korean government source says Friday’s South Korean deployment included an unspecified number of F-35A stealth fighter jets, the statement said, and the South Korean warplanes participating in the ongoing joint maneuvers had also “maintained a readiness posture,” the South Korean military said. After Thursday’s suspected ICBM test, the US and South Korea announced they’d extend the drills for an extra day until November 5, a move denounced by a North Korean official as a “very dangerous and false choice,” according to state media. Later, after meeting with his South Korean counterpart at the Pentagon, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin accused North Korea of “irresponsible and reckless activities.” “We’ve said before these kinds of activities are destabilizing to the region potentially. So we call on them to cease that type of activity and to begin to engage in serious dialogue,” Austin said. A United Nations Security Council meeting is expected to take place on Friday to discuss Pyongyang’s recent missile launches. According to a spokesperson for the US Mission to the UN, the US, UK, France, Albania, Ireland and Norway had called for an open meeting. In an interview on CNN on Wednesday, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield condemned North Korea’s actions, saying Pyongyang had broken multiple Security Council resolutions. Thomas-Greenfield said the UN would be “putting pressure” on China and Russia to improve and enhance such sanctions. She declined to say whether US President Joe Biden would raise sanctions with China’s President Xi at the G20 but said it was “on the President’s mind.” SURSA

President Joe Biden is set to deliver a speech Wednesday on protecting democracy, just six days before the midterm elections as the nation deals with a tense political climate following the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband. “On Wednesday, November 2, President Joe Biden will deliver remarks on preserving and protecting our democracy as Election Day approaches. The President will address the threat of election deniers and those who seek to undermine faith in voting and democracy; and the stakes for our democracy in next week’s election,” a Democratic official tells CNN. The speech – a political event hosted by the Democratic National Committee, not the White House – will underscore the points Biden has been making for weeks since a prime time speech in Philadelphia. That address, which covered many of the same topics that the president is expected to touch on Wednesday night, was criticized by Republicans and others for being too political for an official White House event. “Biden has been speaking about democracy for the entire time he’s been in office,” said Jen O’Malley Dillon, the president’s deputy chief of staff, in a conversation with Axios. “You can expect to hear from him this evening, similar to what he’s been saying over the course of the last several months, that there is a lot at stake, including democracy, and that everyone has a role in that.” She said Biden would emphasize that results may take time to tally, but that it shouldn’t undermine confidence in the results. “That’s how democracy works, to make sure every vote is counted, so he’ll highlight that, as well,” O’Malley Dillon added. The setting of the speech near Capitol Hill is meant to reference the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol building intended to interrupt the certification of Biden’s win. “On January 6, we saw violence geared toward subverting democratic processes there. So it is, you know, an appropriate place to make these remarks tonight,” Biden adviser Anita Dunn said. Advisers to the president tell CNN that Biden and his team have been contemplating giving a speech on this very topic for some time – but that their decision-making and thinking in recent days have been shaped by what they’ve viewed as a surge in anti-democratic rhetoric and threats of violence. One recent headline in particular that has deeply alarmed Biden and his top advisers: the violent attack against Paul Pelosi last week that authorities say was politically motivated. The shocking home intrusion and attack on Pelosi landed the 82-year-old in the hospital for surgery, and he has since been recovering from a skull fracture, among other injuries. Advisers say that Biden felt that it would be important for him to directly condemn these kinds of threats and acts of violence. He will also want to speak directly to election deniers, they said, in an effort to counter, in part, Republican elected officials and candidates who have openly said they may refuse to accept the results of the upcoming election next week. The theme of protecting the soul of the nation – and the pillars of the country’s democratic system – were central to Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. The President has since spoken about these topics throughout his presidency, but Wednesday’s speech will mark an effort to emphatically underscore what is at stake heading into the midterms. Defense of democracy has been an animating feature of Biden’s thinking this political season and has emerged more abundantly in his off-camera conversations with Democrats. The day before his speech in Washington, Biden warned a group of Democratic donors in Florida that “democracy is on the ballot” this year – and offered something of a preview of his message for a day later. “How can you say that you in fact care about democracy when you deny the existence of a win? The only way you could win is either you win or the other guy cheated,” he said at the event, held in an oceanfront backyard of a mansion in Golden Beach, Florida. “This has not happened since the Civil War. It sounds like hyperbole, but it hadn’t happened since then, as bad as it is now,” he said. Biden’s Civil War reference hardly appeared coincidental; he was seen this week carrying a copy of historian Jon Meacham’s new book, “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle,” which explores how America’s 16th president confronted secession and threats to democracy. Meacham is an informal adviser to Biden and has helped write some of his most high-profile speeches. In his remarks at the Florida fundraiser, Biden noted the attack on Paul Pelosi and said it was hardly surprising given Republicans’ rhetoric. The attack on the husband of the House speaker is one of the reasons Biden decided to deliver Wednesday’s speech, officials said, though plans had been in the works for a while. “Look at the response – the so-called response — from Republicans, making jokes about it and/or saying, ‘Well, you know, it’s not because of what’s being said and not said,’” Biden said of the assault. “The reason why people are doing what they’re doing – there’s a lot of unstable people in a po[CENSORED]tion as large as ours. When they hear every single day these outrageous lies – these outrageous lies across the board about everything,” Biden said. “How can you be surprised?” he asked. “The guy purchases a hammer to kneecap the No. 3 in line to be President of the United States of America – No. 2 in line, I should say, to be the … president of the United States of America. And nobody on that party condemns it for exactly what it is.” Biden previously laid out the stakes two months ago, traveling to Philadelphia, where he delivered an urgent rebuke of former President Donald Trump and those aligned with his attempts to undermine democracy. “As I stand here tonight, equality and democracy are under assault,” Biden said at the time. “We do ourselves no favor to pretend otherwise.” Biden starkly warned at the time about what he called “an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.” SURSA