Iraq to impose two-day curfew for first census in decades
Iraq has postponed censuses several times in almost three decades because of the security situation in the country. Iraq will impose a two-day curfew in November for the country’s first census in 27 years, officials said. “[The] curfew will be imposed in all provinces of Iraq on November 20 and 21 to conduct a population census,” Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement on Sunday. Local media reports said various measures have been approved for the process, including finalising coordination with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for the training of statistical staff. Also, the process will receive support from multiple ministries in providing classrooms and youth centres for staff training, reports added. Ravaged by decades of conflict and violence, Iraq has postponed a census several times, most notably in 2010 because of tensions over disputed territories. The last general census was held in 1997 in 15 Iraqi provinces – excluding the three northern provinces that make up the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Iraq has regained some semblance of stability in recent years, despite sporadic violence and political turmoil. Current estimates put the country’s population at about 43 million. Iraqi authorities have partnered with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for the upcoming census. The initiative “plays a crucial role in equipping Iraq with accurate demographic information, facilitating effective policymaking, and promoting inclusive growth,” the agency has said. In the past, Iraq held a census every 10 years. A count could not be organised in 2007, when the country was embroiled in sectarian violence. Adblock test (Why?)
Is Brazil’s ban of social media platform X legal or political?
Site failed to comply with court order to block accounts linked to disinformation. Social media giant X has been banned in Brazil. It is the latest development in a months-long dispute between a Supreme Court judge and tech billionaire Elon Musk over censorship and disinformation. Brazil isn’t the first country to restrict access to the platform. The ban is reigniting a debate about the role social media plays in politics, freedom of speech and the spread of misinformation. How should social media giants be regulated? And is censorship being used as a political tool? Presenter: Dareen Abughaida Guests: Flora Rebello Arduini – Senior adviser on technology and human rights who focuses on disinformation and social media regulation Chris Stokel-Walker – Technology and digital culture journalist who hosts a podcast called Techtonic examining freedom of expression online Vinicius de Carvalho – Reader in Brazilian Studies at King’s College London and founder of the Observatory of Democracy in Latin America Adblock test (Why?)
Israel’s largest labor union plans massive strike after six hostages’ bodies recovered
Israel’s largest labor union is planning a massive strike for Monday to demand a cease-fire deal between the nation and Hamas after six Israeli hostages were found dead in a Hamas tunnel. “We are getting body bags instead of a deal,” Histadrut Labor Federation chief Arnon Bar-David said Sunday to reporters, according to Reuters. “We must reach a deal. A deal is more important than anything else,” he said. The Histadrut Labor Federation is Israel’s main labor union that represents hundreds of thousands of workers. Bar-David’s call for a one-day strike was supported by manufacturers and tech entrepreneurs in the country, according to Reuters. AMERICAN HOSTAGE HERSH GOLDBERG-POLIN, 5 OTHERS ‘BRUTALLY MURDERED’ BY HAMAS RIGHT BEFORE RESCUE: IDF “Without the return of the hostages, we will not be able to end the war, we will not be able to rehabilitate ourselves as a society, and we will not be able to begin to rehabilitate the Israeli economy,” Israel’s Manufacturers’ Association leader Ron Tomer said in support of Bar-David’s call for a strike. “The government must ensure that it does everything for the return of the hostages as soon as possible, even under the limitations of a limited cease-fire, and I call on all businesses in Israel to act to make it happen,” he added. ISRAEL RECOVERS 6 DEAD HOSTAGES IN ‘COMPLEX RESCUE OPERATION,’ SAYS BODIES HELD UNDER HUMANITARIAN AREA Israeli municipalities such as Tel Aviv, Kfar Saba, and Givatayim agreed to join the strike on Monday, the New York Post reported. Hamas terrorists killed six hostages Saturday as Israel Defense Forces launched a rescue operation in the tunnels below Gaza’s Rafah. Among the bodies recovered was Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who had been held by the Hamas terrorists since Oct. 7, when war first broke out between Hamas and Israel. Those confirmed dead include: Goldberg-Polin, 23, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Ori Danino, 25, Alex Lobanov, 32, Carmel Gat, 40, and Almog Sarusi, 27. “According to our initial assessment, they were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them,” IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a statement. NETANYAHU MOURNS DEATHS OF SIX HOSTAGES RECOVERED IN GAZA, VOWS TO ‘SETTLE ACCOUNTS’ WITH HAMAS War has been raging in the Middle East since Oct. 7, when Hamas launched a series of attacks on Israel, sparking Israel to declare war soon afterward. An estimated 257 Israeli hostages were trapped in Gaza when the war first began, and 101 hostages are still in Gaza. Of the 101 remaining hostages, 66 are believed to be alive, four of whom are American citizens. Bar-David said that a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas had failed due to “political considerations,” in a jab at Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. After the hostages’ bodies were recovered, Netanyahu said in a statement that he was “shocked to the core” by the murders. DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS ISRAEL MUST ‘WIDEN THE GOALS’ OF WAR TO RETURN RESIDENTS TO THE NORTH “He who murders abductees – does not want a deal. We are in a difficult day. The heart of the entire nation was torn,” Netanyahu said. “Along with all the citizens of Israel, I was shocked to the core by the terrible cold-blooded murder of six of our abductees.” Protesters on Sunday flooded the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and outside Netayhu’s residence to demand a cease-fire, Reuters reported. The strike will begin at 6 a.m. and will include disruptions such as causing Israel’s main airport, the Ben Gurion Airport, to shut down. Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.
Oregon reverses course and recriminalizes drug possession
People caught in possession of hard drugs will once again be at risk of state criminal penalties after the state of Oregon opted to recriminalize possession of drugs such as fentanyl, heroin and meth. Oregon became the first state in the country to decriminalize possession of small amounts of hard drugs in response to a 2020 ballot measure, but it will now recriminalize those offenses under a new law that takes effect Sunday. The new law, HB4002, will give those caught with small amounts of hard drugs such as fentanyl, heroin, and meth the ability to choose between a charge of possession or treatment programs that would include being mandated to complete a behavior health program to avoid fines. CASEY TIED TO CHINESE FIRM HE CLAIMED MCCORMICK-LED COMPANY INVESTED IN TO ‘PROFIT’ OFF FENTANYL CRISIS A personal-use possession will be a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, while the law encourages, but does not mandate, counties in the state to set up treatment alternatives to divert offenders away from the criminal justice system. According to the report, the new law will now make it easier for police to crack down on drug use in public, a problem that has become widespread in some parts of the state over the last few years. The law also introduces stiffer penalties for selling drugs in public places, such as near parks. Offenders who choose treatment programs will have to meet strict eligibility criteria to avoid charges, Portland police chief Bob Day told the Guardian, mandating that those caught in possession have “no other charges, no warrants, no violent behavior, medically stable.” OVER 2,000 POUNDS OF METH SMUGGLED IN CELERY AT ATLANTA FARMERS’ MARKET If someone caught in possession of hard drugs chooses and is eligible to participate in a deflection program, officers will call their county’s deflection dispatch line and connect to a mobile behavioral health outreach team. “If the behavioral health people cannot be there within 30 minutes, we’re going to go to jail. We’re not able to just wait around,” Day said. “There is certainly a lack of equity in that. But I would argue that it’s not necessarily common. I’m not saying it’s right.” Nevertheless, detractors of the new law have argued that it is too complicated, noting that every county will have different resources and rules that could confuse drug users who face possible criminal penalties. The report notes that 28 of the state’s 36 counties have so far applied for grants to fund deflection programs, with more than $20 million in grants set to be released by the state’s criminal justice commission in the next year. “It’s going to be this very complicated system, where essentially people who use drugs won’t know their rights and what to expect, because it’s different in every single county,” Kellen Russoniello, the director of public health at the Drug Policy Alliance, told the Guardian. “Whether or not you are connected to services or you are just churned through the system will depend very heavily on where you happen to be in the state.” Others, such as Democratic state representative Jason Kropf, a supporter of the law, expressed optimism about the new direction for the state. “I have optimism, and I have hope,” Kropf told the Guardian. “I’m also realistic that we have a lot of work ahead of us.”
Graham urges Biden, Israel to take on Iran after hostages killed, calls Harris foreign policy ‘wrecking ball’
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. urged President Biden and Israel to take action against Iran after six more hostages were killed, calling Vice President Harris a “wrecking ball on foreign policy.” Appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” Graham reacted to the news that Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin was among the six hostages whom the Israel Defense Forces reported finding brutally murdered by Hamas as Israeli forces were close to rescuing them. “Heartbroken. Yeah. Devastated. Mad. John and Rachel have done everything in their power to help their son be released from captivity after 11 months of captivity,” Graham said, referencing Goldberg-Polin’s parents. “He was murdered by Hamas. Hamas [couldn’t] care less about the hostages or the Palestinians. And if you want the hostages home, which we all do, you have to increase the cost to Iran.” “Iran is the Great Satan here. Hamas is the junior partner. They’re barbaric, religious Nazis, Hamas,” Graham continued. “They [couldn’t] care less about the Palestinian people. I would urge the Biden administration and Israel to hold Iran accountable for the fate of remaining hostages, and put on the target list oil refineries in Iran if the hostages are not released.” The IDF said all six hostages had been killed shortly before the arrival of Israeli forces. Hamas terrorists seized Goldberg-Polin, 23, and four of the other hostages at a music festival in southern Israel during the Oct. 7 attack. The native of Berkeley, California, lost part of his left arm to a grenade in the attack. In April, a Hamas-issued video showed him alive but with his left hand missing, sparking new protests in Israel. GOLD STAR FAMILIES SLAM KAMALA HARRIS FOR ‘PLAYING POLITICS’ OVER TRUMP’S VISIT TO ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY The Israeli army identified the other dead hostages as Ori Danino, 25; Eden Yerushalmi, 24; Almog Sarusi, 27; and Alexander Lobanov, 33; who were also taken from the music festival. The sixth, Carmel Gat, 40, was abducted from the nearby farming community of Be’eri. The IDF said the bodies were recovered from a tunnel in Rafah, around a half a mile from where another hostage, Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, was rescued alive last week. Graham accused Harris of “sending a signal” to terrorists in the Middle East that the United States doesn’t have Israel’s back when she boycotted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address before a joint session of Congress. “She’s been a senator. She’s attorney general. She’s now vice president. Obviously, she has some talent. But here’s what I would say. On foreign policy, she’s been a wrecking ball,” Graham said. “On Israel, she sat there and listened to somebody call the Israeli government and people engaging in genocide and did nothing about it. She boycotted Bibi’s speech to the Congress, sending a signal to Hamas and Iran that America really doesn’t have Israel’s back. She was cheerleading the withdrawal from Afghanistan. She’s bragged about being the last person in the room, the dumbest decision maybe in modern history by American administration.” “I was in Munich when she warned the Russians not to invade Ukraine. Four days later, they did. She’s been in charge of the border,” he continued. “I don’t know what the hell she’s been doing on the border, but we’ve got more terrorists in our country than any time in history. And fentanyl poisoning is the leading cause of death among young people in America.” “She’s been a wrecking ball on foreign policy,” Graham stated. “It’s been the most incompetent administration I can remember on things that matter to the American people, your safety and your prosperity.” HARRIS SLAMS TRUMP OVER ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY ALTERCATION, PROMPTING FIERY RESPONSE FROM JD VANCE Graham was asked about a reported altercation at Arlington National Cemetery, where former President Trump was invited by the families of the 13 U.S. service members killed at Abbey Gate to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony on the three-year anniversary of the Aug. 26, 2021, ISIS-K bombing that happened during the Biden administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal. “I’m all for looking at what happened. But you know what really is unfortunate? That these families had to go visit their fallen loved ones at Arlington due to incompetence by the Biden administration,” Graham told ABC. “You know, I’ve tried to work with President Biden to get Saudi Arabia and Israel to reconcile. I’ve supported a lot of their … nominees. I’ve known President Biden for a long time, but Vice President Harris bragged about being the last person in the room, cheerleading the withdrawal of all forces that led to the death of these13. Rising terrorism, combine that with a broken border – another 9/11 coming our way. So what I take away from this whole debate about Arlington is why they died, how they died, and the incompetency that led to their death to the American people.” “We’ve lost deterrence. Nobody in the world is afraid of Kamala Harris. She has become, in my view, ineffective, in terms of a voice for America. So if you want to avoid more dead Americans, vote for Trump,” he added. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Abandon Biden campaign relaunches, targets Harris in key swing states
The Abandon Biden campaign is relaunching and “intensifying” its campaign, this time focusing its efforts against Vice President Kamala Harris in key swing states. The campaign released a statement on X last week, announcing that it is “ramping up efforts in key swing states to rally Muslim-Americans and their allies against the Harris-Walz ticket.” “This action is a direct response to Kamala Harris’ support for the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” the Abandon Harris campaign said in the release. The movement, which originated in the heavily-Muslim populated city of Dearborn, Michigan, first targeted the re-election campaign of President Biden during primary season, arguing that the president’s continued support for Israel made it necessary for the community to send a message to the Democratic Party. HARRIS CLAIMS SHE ‘MADE CLEAR’ HER POSITION ON FRACKING IN 2020 – TRANSCRIPT SHOWS ANOTHER STORY Along with movements such as the “Vote Uncommitted” movement that bubbled up in Dearborn around the same time, the campaigns were able to get over 100,000 voters to cast uncommitted ballots during the Michigan primary earlier this year. Biden’s decision to drop out of the race in July and the subsequent elevation of Harris to the top of the ticket seemingly cracked the door open that members of the movement may be able to rally support for the Democratic ticket, but tensions between Harris and the campaign’s leaders have continued as the vice president has failed to fully commit to their demands. “We are not interested in hollow rhetoric, empty platitudes, or shallow calls for a ceasefire while the Biden-Harris administration continues to send weapons to Israel, enabling the indiscriminate slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza and fueling a wider regional conflict,” the campaign said in the release. “Words without meaningful action are meaningless, and the continued complicity in these atrocities will not be tolerated.” During the primary season, the group was able to spread its influence from Michigan to Wisconsin, two critical swing states in November’s election. Both states have been decided by razor-thin margins in the previous two presidential elections, making the lack of support from a demographic that has leaned heavily Democratic for much of the last 20 years a potentially decisive factor in the states. HUCKABEE SANDERS BLASTS HARRIS FOR DOING JOINT INTERVIEW WITH WALZ: CAN’T DO IT ‘BY HERSELF’ As of Sunday, the Real Clear Politics Polling average shows Harris with slim leads in both states, coming in with a 1.1 point lead in Michigan and a 1.4 point lead in Wisconsin. The campaign has also looked to expand to other swing states, having had success pivoting to states such as Minnesota during the primary season. While the group did not offer support for the campaign of former President Donald Trump, it urged supporters “to avoid falling into the complacent trap of abstaining from the 2024 election” and “to vote against genocide and to support third-party candidates as a clear message that we reject any party that participates in or supports genocide.” “At this time, we have not issued an endorsement of any specific third-party candidate. If and when that changes, we will announce it,” the release said. “Abandon Biden, now Abandon Harris, will not cede a single inch,” the release continued. “We remain firm and steadfast in our convictions and our mission to ensure that the party currently supporting, funding and enabling the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza is defeated at the polls.” Reached for comment by Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Abandon Harris said that the campaign had “extended an olive branch to Kamala Harris and expressed our openness to dialogue” after Biden’s decision to drop out of the race. “After nearly a month of waiting, during which she had a disastrous rally in Michigan where she inadvertently revealed her stance on those protesting the genocide in Gaza, we launched Abandon Harris on August 19,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that the organization believes there is nothing Harris can do to regain their support, but noted that they do not encourage anyone to vote for Trump. “We remember Trump’s decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, as well as his stance during Gaza’s Great March of Return,” the spokesperson said. “We have consistently urged voters not to support either the Democratic or Republican parties, while also making it clear that sitting out the election is not an acceptable option.” The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
Tulsi Gabbard defends Trump campaign, says camera at Arlington was ‘approved’
Former Democrat congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard weighed in on former President Trump’s appearance at the Arlington National Cemetery, defending his campaign against recent criticism. Gabbard, who attended the ceremony alongside Trump, said she did not witness the alleged altercation between campaign staff and a cemetery official at the event. The Army released a statement last week saying a cemetery official had been “pushed aside” while attempting to enforce a ban on photography. Gabbard said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” that she was told the Trump campaign had received permission to bring a camera for the occasion. “I checked with the campaign on this question, and they have exchanges with the officials at Arlington Cemetery. They were approved to bring a camera there to document this historic and momentous day that should not be forgotten by any American,” Gabbard told host Dana Bash. TRUMP IMPERSONATES ELON MUSK TALKING ABOUT ROCKETS: ‘I’M DOING A NEW STAINLESS STEEL HUB’ “Do you think that the campaign will release that communication that you’re talking about?” Bash pressed. “I thought they already had. I was informed that they had come to an agreement they could bring a camera there. And as far as I know, in the public statements I have seen from the Army is that the matter is closed,” Gabbard responded. HARRIS SLAMS TRUMP OVER ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY ALTERCATION, PROMPTING FIERY RESPONSE FROM JD VANCE The Army, however, said in a statement last week that the Trump campaign had been warned about existing bans on photography at the event. “Participants in the August 26th ceremony and the subsequent Section 60 visit were made aware of federal laws, Army regulations and DoD policies, which clearly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds. An ANC employee who attempted to ensure adherence to these rules was abruptly pushed aside,” the Army said. “Consistent with the decorum expected at ANC, this employee acted with professionalism and avoided further disruption. The incident was reported to the JBM-HH police department, but the employee subsequently decided not to press charges. Therefore, the Army considers this matter closed,” the statement continued. Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Canada moves to limit immigration amid strained relations with US
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is rolling back the country’s migrant worker program amid backlash at home and strained relations with the United States. The Canadian government has come under increasing pressure from the U.S. to stem the flow of worker migrants coming across the border by rolling back one of the most permissive immigration policies in the world, according to a report from the Financial Times. “U.S. lawmakers are calling to harden the northern border with Canada because of the fears of illegal migration from Canada,” Glenn Cowan, the founder and chief executive of the security company One9, told the Financial Times. “Stemming the flow of these visas will bolster U.S. relations.” FORMER COLORADO APARTMENT RESIDENT SAYS GOV. POLIS ‘WOULDN’T LAST FIVE MINUTES’ AGAINST ARMED GANGS The comments come as Trudeau has faced increased domestic backlash over Canada’s foreign worker program, a reversal of the prime minister’s previous boasting about the openness of his country’s migration system. But facing a deficit in the polls ahead of next year’s election in the country, Trudeau told reporters last week that he was “looking at the various [migration] streams to make sure, as we move forward, Canada remains a place that is positive in its support for immigration but also responsible in the way we integrate and make pathways for success.” Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre has accused Trudeau of destroying the country’s immigration system, arguing that Canada had to aim for “smaller population growth” going forward. COLORADO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FIRES BACK AFTER GOVERNOR’S OFFICE DISMISSES ARMED GANG TAKEOVER AS ‘IMAGINATION’ Under the new rules, Trudeau said the amount of low-wage workers Canadian companies could hire would be slashed by 10%-20% while also hinting at broader immigration reform later this year, the report notes. But some business leaders worry that rolling back the program could stunt the supply of cheap labor for Canadian companies, while others have credited the program with helping Canada recover from pandemic-era economic woes. Others, however, argue that the flow of migrants into the country has contributed to rising youth unemployment, skyrocketing housing costs, and pressure on the country’s health care system. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Meanwhile, President Biden and Vice President Harris have come under increased pressure in the U.S. to stem the flow of migrants coming into the country after record-setting border crossings between 2021 and 2023. The issue has proven to be an important one for voters, who have consistently ranked it near the top of their concerns and have forced Harris to attempt to carve out a tougher stance on immigration ahead of November’s election. The prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
Who was Rupin Katyal, man who got murdered by terrorists on hijacked IC 814?
According to the movie, Rupin Katyal and a few other passengers were upgraded to business class. He was one of the ten passengers instructed to transfer to the business class
Manipur: Two dead, 9 injured in firing by suspected militants in Imphal West
The sudden assault on the unsuspecting village caused widespread panic, forcing many residents, including women, children, and the elderly, to flee to safer areas, police said.