Georgian opposition calls for more protests as exit pollster says official result 'impossible' — 31 October 2024 (LINK)

Argentina's president fires his foreign minister after vote in favor of ending US embargo on Cuba. — 31 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 85 media reports (LINK)

Germany orders 3 Iranian consulates to shut after an Iranian German prisoner is executed. — 31 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 102 media reports (LINK)

Switzerland returns three offenders to Ukraine, the first since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. It is possible that these individuals may now be called up for military service. — 31 October 2024 (LINK)

EU Commission fines Teva $500 million for trying to stop rival's multiple sclerosis drug. — 31 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 26 media reports (LINK)

Temu to be investigated by EU tech regulators over sale of illegal products. — 31 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 98 media reports (LINK)

8 of 11 members of Mexico's Supreme Court to resign in protest of controversial judicial overhaul. — 31 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 81 media reports (LINK)

North Korea launches a new intercontinental ballistic missile designed to threaten U.S. — 31 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 353 media reports (LINK)

Heather Cox Richardson: Republicans HAVE stated they will abolish Obamacare despite denials. — 31 October 2024 (LINK)

DJT stock extends double-digit plunge after worst day yet for Donald Trump's company: the stock is still up roughly 130% from its September lows. — 31 October 2024 (LINK)

U.S. CDC says onions were likely source of McDonald's e coli outbreak as number of cases grows to 90. — 31 October 2024 (LINK)

Stephen Mollah, a British-Asian macroeconomist, claims to be Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto — should we believe him? — 31 October 2024 (LINK)

Experts pessimistic about the Swiss economic outlook: The UBS CFA indicator, which summarises the expectations of financial analysts and economists regarding the economy over the next six months, rose by 1.1 points to -7.7 points in October compared to the previous month. However, it remains in negative territory for the fifth month in a row. — 31 October 2024 (LINK)

Zurich food — 30 best restaurants in Zurich — 31 October 2024 (LINK)

Israeli strike killed more than 90 people, including 20 children, in Beit Lahia, marking the deadliest attack in months, according to local officials. — 30 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 133 media reports (LINK)

AlJazeera: Israeli strikes kill 143 across Gaza, more than 77 in Lebanon. — (LINK)

Truthout: * US's UN Ambassador slammed for 'unfounded attack' on UN Palestine Expert Francesca Albanese.* — 30 October 2024 (LINK)

— U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the U.S. believes Albanese is "unfit for her role." Truthout: "She baselessly accused Albanese, who has been outspoken against Israel's genocide and occupation of Palestine, of being antisemitic — an accusation that has been leveled countless times against Albanese as Israel has carried out its slaughter in Gaza and beyond."

— "Your attack on UN special Rapporteur Albanese is so clearly intended to hide your criminal complicity in an ongoing genocide that you truly should be embarrassed. Is there any trick from the genocidaire's playbook that you will refuse to carry out?" said the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention. "By attacking a person who is courageously speaking truth, you obviously hope to draw attention away from the criminal conspiracy that is the Biden White House, State Department, Department of Defense, and your office, all of which have materially aided Israel in committing genocide," the group continued.

Taliban's latest ban: prohibiting women from praying aloud in the presence of each other. — 30 October 2024 (LINK)

Russia fines Google $2.5 decillion — and is doubling it every day for suspending hundreds of YouTube accounts. — 30 October 2024 (LINK)

— Numerically, a decillion is a one followed by 33 zeros. It's also a value greater than all the money that currently exists in the world (about $80 trillion or $662 in global assets, according to World Population Review estimates).

ITC, Ukraine step up partnership for Ukraine's economic recovery, host ambassadors roundtable — 30 October 2024 (LINK)

— According to the Ukrainian government, 60% of MSMEs have been affected by the war, with over a third forced to cease or significantly limit their operations. As of January 2024, the war has caused over $155 billion in damage to infrastructure and resulted in GDP shrinking by a quarter compared to pre-2022 levels. Such challenges make it increasingly difficult for MSMEs not only to engage in exports but to sustain basic operations. ITC has been supporting MSMEs in Ukraine since 2016, working across sectors such as fruits and vegetables, textiles, berries, nuts and apparel.

US Treasury sanctions two Swiss lawyers for aiding Russian clients — 30 October 2024 (LINK)

The EU will impose duties on electric vehicle imports from China by 31 October: China has filed a complaint with the WTO. — 30 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 137 media reports (LINK)

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin endorses Trump for president — 30 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 31 media reports (LINK)

Ex-FTX executive Nishad Singh spared prison sentence after cooperating against Sam Bankman-Fried — 30 October 2024 (LINK)

Snopes: SpaceX Founder Elon Musk was once an 'illegal immigrant' in US? Unproven — 30 October 2024 (LINK)

Pointer Institute PolitiFact: Fact-checking Kamala Harris' 'closing argument' speech at the White House Ellipse: something true, some things half-true — 30 October 2024 (LINK)

Joe Biden thanks Nigerian President for help in releasing Binance official. — 30 October 2024 (LINK)

IKEA U.S. used trauma-informed design to create a comfortable, welcoming space for formerly homeless seniors in San Antonio. — 30 October 2024 (LINK)

— The team met with some of the residents of the new community, a neighborhood under construction that will eventually include around 200 tiny houses, RVs, and apartments on the site of a former drive-in movie theater. The neighborhood is designed for seniors who have been homeless for at least a year, have disabilities such as chronic illnesses, and who have typically been living in encampments.

— In addition to housing, the community includes on-site counseling, health clinics, meals and a food pantry, recreation space, and other services. Ikea's donated 365-square-foot home is only a single house in the community — but the company is hoping it can inspire similar work.

— Their prototype of a one-bedroom home sat in an Ikea store so that residents could visit in person and give more feedback. A key theme was making the home feel safe, something that went beyond having secure windows and doors. "What someone who has been housed their entire life feels is safe, it turns out, isn't necessarily the same for someone who hasn't always had a door to lock or windows to close," says Susannah Munson, an interior designer at Ikea.

— It was important to have clear sight lines. If someone is relaxing in their living room, for example, they want to be able to see if someone is approaching their home. At the same time, they don't want to feel exposed. The original design called for large windows to bring in as much light as possible, but residents wanted more privacy. In the final design, the windows are smaller—tall but narrow—with multiple layers of curtains so residents can choose how much they want to screen the view.

— Inside the bedroom, layers of drapery give an adjustable level of privacy from the living room. (Other than the bathroom, which has a door, the home uses curtains to separate spaces visually.) "You can essentially add layers of cocooning around yourself as you get closer to the back part of the house, which is where the bedroom portion is located," Munson says. "You can add to that sort of feeling of being protected and a little bit of privacy, but also just as important was that was how you could transform the space over time as you potentially become more comfortable seeing a little more of what's around you, maybe allowing others to see a little bit more of your life. So you can really conceal or reveal as it suits your comfort at any given time."

— Giving residents a sense of control is another principle of trauma-informed design. While tiny houses or RVs often include built-in furniture to maximize the use of space, "that doesn't allow for that element of choice and sort of self-determination," Munson explains. "So we actually took the approach of making the layout as flexible as possible." The furniture is lightweight and easy to move around, but durable. The living room can be arranged for relaxing, with an armchair in front of the TV, or entertaining, with an extendable dinner table that can fit six people.

— The bathroom has a tub, something that was a request from residents. "For a lot of these folks who have experienced homelessness, most of the time what they are able to access is maybe a stall shower at a shelter or day center," Eisenman says. "It's something that they have to be quick about, not necessarily feel that sense of safety or luxury. For them to say, 'I want a bathtub in my home where I can sit and I can relax and I can feel the sense of calm and peace,' was powerful for us. So the home has a bathtub in it — we made sure that was on our must-have list."

Another AI bot became a millionaire turning $1.5K into $1.88M in just 5hrs: After Truth Terminal, another AI bot became a millionaire after adopting crypto trading and investing in a Solana coin called $TEE. — 30 October 2024 (LINK)

Explore.com: Climbing Mount Everest can cost upwards of $60,000: anywhere between $33,000 and $200,000 — with the average trip sitting around $59,000. 6,664 have done it so far. — 30 October 2024 (LINK)

— Most local Nepali companies will typically charge around $39,500 for all-inclusive guided expeditions — which means you won't have to deal with any of the paperwork. Alternatively, there's also the option of booking with a Western tour company — which can set you back around $48,000 for a Sherpa-guided expedition, or anywhere up to $65,000 for a premium experience that's led by a Western guide. Along with an experienced guide, most of these all-inclusive options generally take into account other costs, except for any personal gear (though, many include group gear for camping and climbing).

— Running upwards of $20,000, other added expenses include a climbing permit ($11,000), an organization fee ($2,500), a non-refundable trash deposit ($4,000), and payment to a liaison officer ($3,000). From there, mandatory insurance also varies significantly price-wise, and can come up anywhere between $70 to $5,000. You'll want to budget around $6,000 for food and a personal cook during a six-week trek — although some travelers cut down on this fee by not hiring a cook and simply doing it themselves.

— Supplemental oxygen is also vital. Cost-wise, the recommended five bottles — plus a mask and regulator — can set you back roughly $4,000 total. Most Everest hopefuls should expect to spend upwards of $7,000 on new mountain-safe gear.

WHO and partners activate Global Health Emergency Corps for the first time in response to mpox outbreak — 29 October 2024 (LINK)

COP16 aims to halt nature decline by 2030, but funding remains a challenge: Colombia launches coalition with 20 countries to make 'peace with nature': Leaders warn that humanity's own survival in on the line: Countries struggle to agree on financing for biodiversity conservation. — 29 October 2024 (LINK)

South Africa submits its nearly 5,000-page claim to the top UN court accusing Israel of genocide — 29 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 63 media reports (LINK)

Five leading human rights experts have called on Azerbaijan to commit to protecting human rights defenders seeking to attend the UN's Climat Change Congress (COP29) taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 11–22 November, after moves against activists — 29 October 2024 (LINK)

— The statement, signed by Mary Lawlor, United Nations, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, and four other senior specialists, says: "As a Party to the Aarhus Convention, Azerbaijan has a binding obligation to protect environmental defenders and to promote their participation in international forums like the COP."

— "Despite this, while Azerbaijan has been preparing to host COP29 in Baku, recent months have been marked by an alarming wave of arrests and criminal cases against human rights defenders in the country, including journalists and independent media, and several of us have received complaints concerning threats and reprisals against environmental defenders specifically."

Hezbollah elects deputy Naim Qassem to succeed slain head Nasrallah. — 29 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 189 media reports (LINK)

WHO: Tuberculosis resurges as top infectious disease killer — 29 October 2024 (LINK)

—AP: tuberculosis infected 8 million people last year, the most WHO has ever tracked — (LINK)

Russia: Torture now 'a tool for repression at home and aggression abroad' — UN expert — 29 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 14 media reports (LINK)

Switzerland among the world's top 3 financial centres for assets under management (AuM) in private asset impact funds (PAIFs). Their volume now amounts to over 10 per cent of the entire universe for sustainable investments. — 29 October 2024 (LINK to PDF)

— Of the declared CHF 180 million managed using an impact investing approach, only 4.9% falls in the private debt and private equity asset classes. Major sectors include environment, health, microfinance, and agriculture. Most investments are in developed countries.

— "Foundations, which are not for profit by nature, can be incentivized to engage in impact investing through tax incentives. In February 2024, the Canton of Zurich adapted its tax exemption to cover charitable institutions with activities abroad22. This change makes it possible for entrepreneurial funding models used in impact investments to be tax exempt in certain cases."

Sarco suicide pod's first user was 'found with strangulation marks' — 29 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 21 media reports (LINK)

— The 64-year-old American woman is understood to have died inside the pod that was set up in a woodland area in Merishausen, Switzerland, on September 23. She was found after pushing a button inside the pod that releases nitrogen gas into the sealed chamber, resulting in fatal hypoxia. Dr. Florian Willet, the head of Swiss Sarcho operator The Last Resort, was taken into custody along with other individuals at the location. Almost five weeks after the woman's death, he is still held by the police. Willet's presence was limited to the moment when the woman activated the button on the Sarco.

"Bob's Burgers" actor sentenced for role in 6 January U.S. Capitol riot. — 29 October 2024 (LINK)

— U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols also sentenced Johnston to 24 months of supesrvised release and ordered that he pay $2,000 in restitution. The Washington Post reports that Johnston took responsibility for his actions and was remorseful and that Defense attorney Stanley Woodward prosecutors said prosecutors had "overstated" Johnston's actions on Jan. 6, 2021, due to the "blacklisted" actor's "notoriety."

Executive Secretary of UNFCCC urges more ambitious, credible climate action plans.— 28 October 2024 (LINK)

Scientists warn of possible collapse "in the next few decades" of Atlantic currents which could have catastrophic consequences for the Nordic countries. — 28 October 2024 (LINK)

— There is no consensus on when this is likely to happen. The sixth assessment report by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), expressed "medium confidence that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation will not collapse abruptly before 2100". However, the signatories of the open letter to the Nordic Council argued that new research indicated that the risk had so far been "greatly underestimated", and the "passing of this tipping point is a serious possibility already in the next few decades."

No new limits on Ukraine's use of US weapons if N.Korea enters fight, Pentagon says. — 28 October 2024 (LINK)

Israeli parliament votes to ban UNRWA from Israel within 90 days. — 28 October 2024 (LINK)

— Lawmakers also voted to declare UN relief agency a terror group, banning any direct interaction with Israeli state.

German-Iranian national and longtime US resident Jamshid Sharmahd, 69, executed in Iran for "planning and orchestrating a series of terrorist acts" : Sharmahd's daughter Gazelle has repeatedly said her father is innocent and that he faced a sham trial due to his political activism and criticism of the Islamic Republic. — 29 October 2024 (LINK)

British Foreign secretary David Lammy has warned Vladimir Putin that the UK is "coming after" Russia after its "clumsy, ineffective" means to stoke unrest among Brits. The government unveiled a new raft of sanctions on Monday against three Russian agencies and three senior figures whom, it alleges, have been trying to "undermine democracy" and support for Ukraine. — 28 October 2024 (LINK)

Google exempted from Canada's Online News Act for 5 years, must pay news outlets $100M: CRTC — 28 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 45 media reports (LINK)

Jeff Bezos defends Washington Post decision to not endorse in 2024 Presidential race, says "No quid pro quo of any kind is at work here." — 28 October 2024 (LINK)

— He acknowledged that "inadequate planning" and not some "intentional strategy" was to blame for creating a backlash. "I would also like to be clear that no quid pro quo of any kind is at work here," Bezos wrote in an op ed in the Post. "Neither campaign nor candidate was consulted or informed at any level or in any way about this decision." Bezos instead said that the decision was motivated by a desire to "increase our credibility," pointing to low trust in the media in a recent Gallup poll. "What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it's the right one."

Right-wing media defend racist anti-Puerto Rico remarks at Trump rally — 28 October 2024 (LINK)

Volkswagen warns mass layoffs, historic plant closures are coming in Germany. — 28 October 2024 (LINK)

Google expands AI Overviews to over 100 more countries. — 28 October 2024 (LINK)

Polish radio station abandons use of AI 'presenters' following outcry.. — 28 October 2024 (LINK)

North Carolina failed to evacuate prisoners during Hurricane Helene: North Carolina prisoners were abandoned in their cells for a week as authorities fled to safety. — 28 October 2024 (LINK)

— "At one institution called Mountain View in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, from late [Friday] until Wednesday, October 2nd, nearly a week, [inmates] didn't think anybody was going to come back for them. They had no running water, no potable water. There was a shipment of potable drinking water that came several days in. But before that, they were drinking from the sinks is what family members told me, not knowing that what they were essentially drinking was sewer water, because it was non-potable water after the hurricane hit." — reporter Schuyler Mitchell.