News from October 10, 2025

Technology

Swinney set for independence showdown with SNP activists at party conference

John Swinney is set for a showdown with SNP activists over independence today in a turbulent start to his party’s annual conference in Aberdeen. The First Minister will demand backing for his plan to make an outright SNP majority at the Holyrood election the basis for seeking a second referendum. But with the SNP sagging in the polls and a survey this week showing trust in the Scottish Government at an all-time low, many of his own members want a much lower bar. A proposal backed by nine branches says the SNP should stick with its previous policy and fight next May’s election as a ‘de facto referendum’. If all the separatist parties combined then won the most list votes that would be read as a mandate for independence and the creation of a ‘provisional government’. Mr Swinney, who says only a repeat of the SNP majority seen in 2011 can jolt the UK Government into granting a referendum, will face fierce challenges from his critics. Mr Swinney told LBC last night that if he won a majority ‘Keir Starmer won’t be the Prime Minister, and I’ll be negotiating with somebody else’, and said of the rival independence proposal: ‘I don’t think it would work.’ The SNP leader also faces a moment of jeopardy tomorrow, the first anniversary of Alex Salmond’s death, when Nicola Sturgeon visits the conference on the eve of his keynote speech. The former First Minister, who overshadowed Humza Yousaf’s one and only conference as SNP leader in 2023, is due to speak at a fringe about The Promise, her flagship plan to help children in care which watchdogs this week exposed as shambolic. On Tuesday, Ms Sturgeon urged downhearted independence supporters to ‘keep the faith’ at a book event in Edinburgh, claiming the union would end sooner than they thought. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn will today accuse Keir Starmer of taking ‘broken Britain’ from ‘bad to worse’ and claimed Scotland needs a ‘fresh start’ with independence. Opening the conference, the Aberdeen South MP will say the UK Labour Government has ‘power but no purpose’ and the Westminster system ‘isn’t working for Scotland’. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the SNP was ‘desperately out of touch squabbling over independence while services across Scotland are at breaking point’. He added: ‘We can’t risk a third decade of this tired and incompetent government.’

Editor,Tom Gordon 9 hours ago

Technology

Newsom signs laws to stop flow from out-of-state puppy mills into California

Three new laws will implement more stringent health and transparency rules in the sale of cats, dogs and rabbits — including prohibiting pet sales by brokers — in an effort to stop the flow of animals coming from out-of-state breeding operations into California, according to a news release from the California State Legislature. The three bills — collectively known as the “Stop The Puppy Mill Pipeline” legislative package, titled for the infamous dog-breeding operations — were signed into law Thursday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The package implements health certification requirements, voids contracts between brokers and consumers that require deposits and bans brokers from selling animals in the state. They will go into effect Jan. 1. The laws were prompted by an investigation by the Los Angeles Times into California’s puppy market that uncovered “misleading marketing tactics, predatory financial behaviors, and a gap in regulations (which) allowed online brokers to take advantage of consumers and allowed puppy mills to continue to reach Californians when searching for a new companion,” officials said. “Californians who want to welcome a pet into their home will no longer have to wonder if their dog or cat came from a cruel out-of-state breeding operation,” the author of AB519, Assemblymember Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park, said in the release. “Bringing a pet into your home is a big decision, and many of us love and treat our pets like they’re a part of the family. So it is heartbreaking when our pets quickly develop health and behavioral problems – and thousands of dollars in vet bills — due to being the product of poor genetics, unsanitary environments, and significant stress.” Another new law, SB312, implements a requirement that dogs imported into the state for the purpose of selling or transferring ownership have a health certification completed by a veterinarian dated no more than ten days prior to arrival in California. That health certification should be submitted to the Department of Food and Agriculture, where it will be publicly accessible. “This law will help shut down deceptive puppy sales and expose the cruelty that still exists in far too many places,” the author of SB312, State Sen. Thomas J. Umberg, D-Santa Ana, said in the press release. “I’m grateful to the advocates, journalists, and responsible pet owners who helped shine a light on this issue—and proud that California is once again leading the way.” Other bills in the package require the disclosure of medical information to buyers, bar contracts with nonrefundable deposits, and bans the sale of cats, rabbits and dogs under the age of one year by brokers. “Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and it’s time to shine a light on puppy mills,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “Greater transparency in pet purchases will bring to light abusive practices that take advantage of pets in order to exploit hopeful pet owners. Today’s legislation protects both animals and Californians by addressing fraudulent pet breeding and selling practices.” The bills received “overwhelming bipartisan support” in both houses of the state legislature, officials added. The bills were also praised by animal rights organizations. “California has again strengthened its commitment to animal welfare and consumer transparency,” Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of San Diego Humane Society, said in the release. “This package of laws … builds on existing safeguards and sends the clear message that puppy mill cruelty has no place in our state.” Brittany Benesi, senior legislative director for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’s Western division, said in the release that the laws mean that California has “officially put a stop to the puppy mill pipeline from using its most deceptive techniques to ship sick, cruelly bred puppies into the state to profit off of unknowing consumers.”

Caelyn Pender 10 hours ago

Technology

A 10-year-old girl lied about bullies chopping her hair off. Now her mother has been engulfed by an explosive sex and deceit scandal

It was a shocking claim of Dickensian cruelty that shook the city of San Antonio to its core. Outraged mother Andie Rae Castillo said her adorable ten-year-old daughter Taylor had her thick brown locks chopped off by bullies as she slept on the bus home from Compass Rose Legacy public charter school earlier this month. Castillo, who has long railed about the anguish she says Taylor has suffered, took to TikTok and shamed bosses at the Texas school into launching an investigation. The post was captioned: 'She ain't letting no bullies stop her. 'First thing tomorrow morning is (sic) raising hell at that school.' But the truth, when it finally emerged, was even more disturbing: Taylor had cut her own hair off. There were no scissor-wielding bullies. Andie apologized, while insisting Taylor had been driven to tell a single lie by an extended period of torment. Now though, a close relative has come forward to brand Andie an attention-seeker more concerned with fame and freebies than her daughter's wellbeing. Andie has angrily denied those allegations. She says her relative has an ax to grind over an alleged sexual impropriety. The drama exploded hours after the Daily Mail published its story about Taylor's haircut on Thursday. An anonymous female relative phoned our reporter with what she insisted was the real story about Andie's antics. That relative - subsequently identified by Andie herself as her cousin Kimberly Almendarez - said: 'I know this mother. 'She has capitalized on her child many times. 'There have been incidents and she has verbally expressed to us, our family, about creating wish lists for her kids when she makes comments like this on her TikTok.' A wish list is an online page shared by someone on shopping websites like Amazon filled with items that can be bought as presents for the page owner. Andie's public Amazon wish list lists an assortment of makeup and beauty products, room décor for kids, walkie-talkies or action figures - worth about $370 in total. Particularly notable is a selection of Stanley Cups Andie has suggested that her followers purchase. Andie first hit the headlines in February after she posted about Taylor's anguish over being bullied for having a fake version of one of the sought-after drinks containers. Well-wishers subsequently inundated the little girl with Stanley Cups and a post showed Taylor surrounded by 15 of them. The video was captioned: 'This is something bigger than a girl and her cup. Teach your kids kindness. 'Acceptance. Empathy. Compassion. Decency and most importantly how to be a friend to those who are being bullied.' Taylor was filmed thanking her 'TikTok tías' (aunts) and added: 'Oh yeah, my Amazon wishlist is in my mom's bio.' Comments under a TikTok video since deleted by Andie gushed over the happy ending to her 123,000 followers, many of whom appeared after the incident. 'Thank you to everyone. Her Amazon wishlist is linked in my bio,' Andie captioned the post in another reminder of the gifting page. 'Not me crying about a girl and her Stanley's' Consuela Shania replied, in a post liked by Andie and 22,700 others. 'Waittttt is this the result of the video where the little mean girls was bullying her because of her bedazzled Stanley?' Another user called Niy asked. 'Yes,' replied Andie, before adding an emoji smiling face surrounded by love hearts. But Kimberly has suggested the incident was trumped up by Andie for social media glory. 'It was like, a couple girls that were making fun of her because she had a fake Stanley Cup,' she said. 'Her mom blew that out of the water. It's ridiculous, honestly. She is just trying to get free stuff and attention. 'I don't want to talk about the little girl,' Kimberly added. 'She is a family member of mine and she is a child. 'I'm more concerned about her mom and the way she approaches things. The only reason why she made a big deal is because she knows she can get stuff.' Kimberly has also questioned Andie's angry claims that school bosses requested a public apology from Taylor over the haircut lie. 'No one asked the little girl for any type of apology,' she said. 'My understanding is that [Andie] was going to have her apologize. That was her punishment, that she was gonna go on social media to apologize. 'No one to my understanding asked her to do that. That was actually her own mom that was gonna have her do that.' When asked about the claims, Andie said Kimberly's allegations all stemmed from an alleged sexual impropriety. 'This is all petty drama with [Kimberly],' Andie told us, before detailing claims the Daily Mail has not been able to substantiate. 'She's upset because once I found out (about those claims), I told my family what was happening, and ever since that, my family has stopped talking to her because it caused - obviously - a big rift.' The Daily Mail has contacted Kimberly for a response. Meanwhile, the war between the two women continued on Facebook Friday morning. Kimberly wrote: 'Sadly [Andie] continues to come to social media because she was caught' and 'now has to bring in family drama.' Andie added that Kimberly 'takes full advantage' of 'any chance she finds to bring me or my daughter down.' And while two grown women squabble, a little girl continues to suffer. The Compass Rose Legacy school told the Daily Mail: 'After a thorough investigation into a reported incident, we have confirmed that no bullying or misconduct took place. 'Unfortunately, misinformation was shared publicly. 'We assure our community that the safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority, and we are committed to responding with integrity, transparency, and care.' The school added that there had been 'no record of 'ongoing' bullying over the course of three years.' There was only one official record about a 'drinking cup' that was 'directly addressed' by the administration, the school told the Daily Mail. Andie continues to question the school, claiming bosses there had treated it as a problem involving one bully. She insists multiple children are behind the alleged abuse. The school told the Daily Mail that Andie 'misheard or misrepresented' the Texas anti-bullying policy, which defines bullying as 'a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student.' Despite the worsening scandal, Andie is standing firm on the bullying claims. She now plans to move Taylor to another school and says other parents at Compass Rose plan to do the same over abuse suffered by their children. Andie told the Daily Mail: 'My only comment is the school took way too long to do anything and it took my daughter to go to extreme measures for them to finally acknowledge that she was being bullied - like, to even have a meeting with the principal. 'There wasn't another child involved. It was my daughter who cut her who did it to herself - but honestly, I'm just over this whole thing already.

Editor,Wilko Martinez-Cachero 10 hours ago

White House announces federal worker layoffs as shutdown nears third week

AFL-CIO vows to take issue to court as AFSCME union leader warns of ‘devastating effects’ for Americans

Chris Stein in Washington and Michael Sainato 10 hours ago

Technology

Stephen Miller Accidentally Says “I” When Discussing Trump’s Powers

“There have been cases where the committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to people who have done nothing for peace,” Putin said, according to the AP’s translation. “A person comes, good or bad, and [gets it] in a month, in two months, boom. For what? He didn’t do anything at all. In my view, these decisions have done enormous damage to the prestige of this prize. “[Trump’s] really doing a lot to resolve such complex crises that have lasted for years and even decades,” Putin added. The Kremlin had announced earlier Friday that it would support Trump’s bid for a peace prize—but clearly Moscow’s efforts were too little, too late. “Thank you to president Putin!” Trump wrote when resharing the video.

Malcolm Ferguson 10 hours ago

Technology

Aldi Cookware Recalled Due to Multiple Reports of Severe Burn Injuries

Aldi customers may want to exercise caution with the grocery store’s pressure cookers after two have been recalled due to several injury reports from expelled hot foods. According to a Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSP) notice, published on Thursday, Oct. 9, Tempo International (USA) Inc. a Florida distributor of Aldi’s, has received 11 reports of severe burn injuries from the appliance’s top popping off from steam pressure. The recalled products, about 46,660 units, are the Ambiano Electric Pressure Cookers under the model numbers, 98527 (6L-PC), (KY-318B) and 96775 (KY-318A) in six-quart and eight-quart sizes. The cookers were sold nationwide from Aldi retail stores “between January 2016 and December 2019 for about $40,” the notice reads. Consumers can return defective products to the retailer of purchase for a full refund. Aldi did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. The pressure cookers are one of Aldi’s recalled products from this year. Earlier this year, grocers in Nevada, Arizona and California pulled a seafood product from shelves due to undeclared soy. At the time, the announcement noted, “People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy risk a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.” The contaminated product came from Santa Monica Seafood, a well-known nationwide grocer. The recall included its 16-ounce Atlantic Salmon Portions with Seafood Stuffing with a use-by/freeze-by date of June 2. The notice has not been updated with any reported illnesses as of Oct. 10. As with all contaminated products, consumers were encouraged to discard of any recalled products, which could be returned to the location of purchase for a full refund.

Moná Thomas 10 hours ago

Nën masa të rrepta sigurie, Kombëtarja shqiptare arrin në hotel në Nish

Shqipëria luan “finalen” e saj të madhe përballë Serbisë, ku një fitore historike e kuqezinjve, do t’i jepte një shtysë më të madhe të besuarve të Sylvinhos për të siguruar vendin e dytë që të çon në Play Off”-et e Botërorit 2026. Mbrëmjen e sotme, nënë forca të shumta sigurie, ekipi shqiptar është shoqëruar drejt hotelit ku do të akomodohet. Në orën 16:30, trajneri Sylvinho dhe mbrojtësi Elseid Hysaj dolën në konferencë për mediat, të cilët shprehën të njëjtin qëllim, fitoren kundër serbëve.

M C 10 hours ago

Technology

Potukli se: Uhapšeni Damir Lekić i arhivar u Osnovnom sudu u Podgorici

Iz Uprave policije saopštili su da je policija u Podgorici uhapsila advokata Damira Lekića i arhivara u Osnovnom sudu Željka Radulovića zbog narušavanja javnog reda i mira u prostorijama suda i omalovažavanja službenog lica. “Naime, D.L. i Ž.R. se sumjiče da su se danas oko 12 časova, u holu Osnovnog suda u Podgorici verbalno i fizički obračunali. Napadu je svjedočio prisutni policijski službenik angažovan na poslovima obezbeđenja Osnovnog suda koji je lica više puta upozorio, a zatim izdao naređenje da prestanu sa takvim ponašanjem na sta su se isti oglušili i nastavili sa vrijeđanjem i guranjem”, navodi se u saopštenju. Policijski službenik je potom, kako navode, aktere događaja doveo u prostorije Odjeljenja bezbjednosti Podgorica radi daljeg postupanja. Ističu da je državni tužilac u Osnovnom državnom tužilaštvu upoznat sa događajem i cijenio da nema elemenata krivičnog djela. “Službenici Odjeljenja bezbjednosti Podgorica su ocijenili da se u radnjama D.L. i Ž.R. stiču elementi bića prekršaja zbog čega su ova lica lišena slobode zbog počinjenih prekšaja iz člana 10. i 11. Zakona o javnom redu i miru”, zaključuje se u saopštenju.

Aktuelno 10 hours ago

Technology

Republican Rep Claims Everyone at “No Kings” Protest Is a Terrorist

In February, Musk ordered federal employees across the government to email his office weekly summaries of their achievements. Failure to do so, under Musk’s rule, would be grounds for immediate firing. The mandate was remarkably unpopular and scantily enforced by agency heads—some of whom butted up against Musk for making demands outside of his purview as a special government employee. The program met its quiet demise in August, when the Trump administration officially axed it—months after Musk was forced out. Weiss’s version will have her inundated in paperwork. CBS News on its own employs thousands of individuals. A memo from each person on staff would lend itself to a tremendous amount of work.

Robert McCoy 10 hours ago

Man in serious condition after being shot by police in London

IOPC investigating incident at property in Walthamstow where man reportedly had firearm and made threats to kill

Donna Ferguson 10 hours ago

Technology

Cony names Alex Bessey girls basketball coach

AUGUSTA — Almost a decade after emerging as one of Maine high school basketball’s biggest names while at Spruce Mountain, Alex Bessey is set to lead one of the state’s most storied programs. After two years as the girls basketball coach at Mt. Blue, Bessey has accepted the same position at Cony High School, she and Cony athletic director T.J. Maines confirmed Friday. The former Spruce Mountain, Central Maine Community College and UMaine-Farmington standout replaces John Dennett, who resigned in August. Maines said he was impressed by Bessey’s “strong background” and called the 2017 Spruce Mountain graduate’s “firm but approachable” demeanor ideal for Cony’s program. He also saw in Bessey a promising vision for the future of the program. “I’ve known her since she was a player, and always kind of admired her in terms of the way she goes about doing things,” Maines said. “She was very articulate about what she wanted to do with the talented group we have coming back this year, but also what she wants to do at the youth level.” Bessey takes over a Cony program steeped in history. The Rams won seven state championships under legendary coach Paul Vachon from 1985-2008. The program experienced some ups and downs following Vachon’s retirement but returned to prominence under Dennett, winning the Class A North title in 2023-24 and going 16-4 last season. At Spruce Mountain, Bessey was a 1,000-point scorer and a two-time Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B first-team selection. She won an USCAA Division II national title with CMCC in 2018-19 before transferring to UMaine-Farmington, where she became a three-year starter. In addition to her success on the basketball court, Bessey was a standout field hockey player at Spruce Mountain and UMaine-Farmington. She’s the field hockey head coach at Spruce Mountain, which is 8-3 and in third place in the Class C South Heal point standings. This story will be updated.

Mike Mandell 10 hours ago

Technology

Trump Is Firing Federal Workers. The Shutdown Means They May Not Know.

“We’re so angry about it. I’m a very patient guy, but I have had it with these people. They’re playing games with real people’s lives,” Johnson said Friday morning on Fox News, in his usual monotone voice. “The theory we have right now: They have a ‘Hate America’ rally that’s scheduled for October 18 on the National Mall. It’s all the pro-Hamas wing and the antifa people, they’re all coming out. Some of the House Democrats are selling T-shirts for the event. It’s being told to us that they won’t be able to reopen the government until after that rally, ’cuz they can’t face their rabid base. This is serious business hurting real people.… I’m beyond words.”

Edith Olmsted 10 hours ago

Trump officials cancel major solar project in latest hit to renewable energy

Esmeralda 7 in Nevada would have produced enough energy to power 2m homes

Dharna Noor 10 hours ago

Technology

Stocks fall as US-China trade war reignites after Trump threatens tariff hike

A trade spat between the U.S. and China erupted Friday, sending U.S. stocks spiraling, with all three of the major averages closing sharply lower, registering the worst session since April. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 900 points, while the Nasdaq fell 3.5% and the S&P 500 2.7%. Still, all three of the major benchmarks touched fresh record highs earlier this week. The NYSE and Nasdaq will operate normal hours on Monday, the Columbus Day holiday, while the bond market will be closed. Sources tell FOX Business' Edward Lawrence that President Donald Trump is "pissed off" after a briefing about China's new announcement of export controls. Now, a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping due to take place in South Korea in two weeks, is likely to be scrapped. "I was to meet President Xi in two weeks, at APEC, in South Korea, but now there seems to be no reason to do so," he posted on Truth Social. TRUMP THREATENS CHINA WITH TARIFF CLAPBACK Trump also said he will be forced to financially counter the Chinese move. The source said large tariffs could be on the table. A majority of the large sectors in the S&P fell, led by technology, energy and consumer discretionary, while utilities and consumer staples bucked the selling. The Magnificent Seven stocks saw hefty declines, led by Amazon, Meta, Nvidia and Tesla. "This is all a game of high stakes poker going on between the US and China in this AI Revolution as we are also seeing more scrutiny in Beijing around Nvidia's golden chips," Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said in a research note to clients. "These moments we view as buying opportunities to own the winners in semis, software, Big Tech, and the AI future as in our view these tensions will not bubble up into a much more tense time vs. the nervous period of time we saw in April." Investors did use the selloff to snap up more defensive names, including McDonald's, Coke and Pepsi. THE ETF REPORT: NEWS & ANALYSIS Gold, a flight to safety, climbed above $4,000, hitting a fresh record. The yellow metal has gained about 50% this year and is among the top performing assets classes. Silver also hit a new high of $50 on Thursday and is sitting just below that level as of midday on Friday. Investors were buying exchange-traded funds that track the precious metals on Friday, including the SPDR Gold Trust, the largest backed by physical gold, and ProShares Ultra Silver. WEALTHY INVESTORS TAP ETFS FOR THREE HOT ASSETS Trade war woes also hit oil prices, which fell below $60 per barrel. The U.S. Brent Oil ETF and the U.S. Oil Fund were sharply lower. Energy giants Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Conoco Phillips all fell in tandem. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Suzanne O'halloran 10 hours ago

Technology

Drivers in Spain warned: this everyday habit could now cost you €200

It’s one of those things we’ve all done – you’re in the car at night, you drop something, or you just need a bit of light to find something quickly. So you flick on the interior light for a few seconds and carry on. Seems harmless, right? Not quite. According to Spain’s Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), that simple gesture could now land you with a fine of up to €200. The reason? It’s considered a potential distraction and a road safety risk. Why that little light could get you into trouble The rule isn’t new, but few drivers are aware of it. Spain’s General Traffic Regulations don’t specifically mention the interior courtesy light, yet it falls under the same law that regulates the improper use of a vehicle’s lighting systems. In simple terms, that means turning on your car’s cabin light while driving – especially at night – can be penalised if police officers believe it poses a risk to visibility or concentration. “The interior light is meant for short use, such as when you’re stopped or parked,” the DGT explained. “When switched on while driving, it can dazzle the driver or other road users, increasing the risk of accidents.” And while the fine can go up to €200, the decision is left to the officer’s discretion – meaning they decide whether the light truly created a distraction or danger. So yes, next time you think of turning it on while driving, it might be better to wait until you’re safely parked. Other everyday habits that could cost you too The DGT’s warning doesn’t stop there. The agency has also reminded drivers that several other common, everyday habits – ones that many motorists don’t even think twice about – can also lead to fines. For instance, driving barefoot, in flip-flops, or without a shirt isn’t allowed. While it might seem comfortable on a hot day, it’s actually considered unsafe. Without proper footwear or clothing, your control of the pedals can be compromised, and in case of an accident, you’re more likely to suffer burns or injuries from seatbelts or airbags. Then there’s eating or snacking while driving – even something as small as grabbing a bite at a red light. It might sound harmless, but it’s classed as distracted driving. The reason? Taking one hand off the wheel and diverting your attention, even for a few seconds, reduces your ability to react and limits your field of vision. That particular offence can lead to a €100 fine, even if you think you were “just nibbling for a moment”. Tailgating and safety distance – another costly mistake One of the DGT’s biggest reminders this year is about keeping a safe distance between vehicles. Tailgating — driving too close to the car in front — remains one of the most common and dangerous driving habits in Spain. The law treats it seriously: failing to maintain a proper distance can result in a €200 fine and a loss of four points from your licence. It’s not just about courtesy – following too closely drastically reduces your ability to stop in time if the car ahead brakes suddenly, and it’s one of the leading causes of rear-end collisions across the country. Safety first, fines second At the end of the day, the DGT says the message isn’t about collecting fines – it’s about reminding drivers that small distractions can have big consequences. Spain’s traffic authority continues to tighten its focus on risky driving behaviours, encouraging motorists to prioritise caution and attention behind the wheel. So next time you’re tempted to flick on that light to check something, or take a bite of your sandwich in traffic, think twice. Those few seconds might cost you more than just money – they could cost your safety too. Stay tuned with Euro Weekly News for more news about Motoring

Farah Mokrani 10 hours ago

Akcija čišćenja rijeke Rikavac: Volonteri NVO Kompas prikupili gotovo 80 džakova otpada

Zbog nagomilanog otpada i opasnosti od izlivanja tokom kišnog perioda, juče je organizovana akcija čišćenja korita rijeke Rikavac u Baru, saopšteno je iz Nevladine organizacije Kompas. Kako su pojasnili, u akciji je učestvovalo pedesetak volontera NVO Kompas, koji su od 11 do 14 sati prikupili gotovo 80 džakova otpada. Ova aktivnost realizovana je u sklopu prijekta “Nijesam turista” koju Kompas realizuje u partnerstvu sa Juventasom i Programom Ujedinjenih nacija za razvoj (UNDP), kroz program „Zajedno za opšte dobro“, finansiran od strane Fonda Ujedinjenih nacija za izgradnju mira. Volonteri ukazuju da rijeka Rikavac često služi kao improvizovani kontejner. “Rijeka Rikavac je u velikoj mjeri zatrpana otpadom i obrasla gustom vegetacijom, koja dodatno oštećuje kameno-betonsku podlogu”, naglasili su. Poseban problem, kako pojašnjavaju, predstavlja činjenica da pojedinci koriste korito rijeke za ispuštanje otpadnih voda i kanalizacije. “Tokom čišćenja primijetili smo provučene cijevi iz septičkih jama. Osim toga, našli smo i mrtve životinje. Ovakvi nalazi ne samo da ugrožavaju prirodu, već i potencijalno predstavljaju rizik za zdravlje ljudi koji dolaze u kontakt sa vodom ili okolišem rijeke”, navode iz NVO Kompas. Najšokantniji dio, kako kažu volonteri, jeste činjenica da se otpad nalazi doslovno ispred kuća onih koji ga bacaju, što olakšava identifikaciju odgovornih. “Naš cilj je da skrenemo pažnju na stanje parka prirode Ratac. Ono u šta ga svake godine pretvore je poražavajuće. Čišćenje samo po sebi ne može donijeti dugoročno rješenje. Potrebne su mjere kao što su zabrana ulaska automobilima, postavljanje kamera i proglašenje Ratca kulturnim i istorijskim dobrom Crne Gore”, izjavila je Ivana Đoković iz NVO Kompas. Dodala je da uskoro planiraju prvu akciju u tom parku, a tokom godine će nastaviti da održavaju čistoću. “Već imamo podršku Komunalne policije i radićemo zajedno. Ova akcija na rijeci neće biti jedina – želimo da skrenemo pažnju na stanje rijeke. Istraživanje pokazuje da čak 80 odsto otpada u morima i okeanima dolazi sa kopna, a Rikavac je jasan primjer toga. Nastavljamo da istražujemo Bar, a gotovo svake sedmice dobijamo alarmantne fotografije iz Šušanja, Tuđemila i Polja”, istakla je Đoković. Učesnici ove akcije ističu da je ključ rješenja u zajedničkom angažmanu svih nas, kako bismo sačuvali našu prirodu za buduće generacije. Smatraju da samo zajedničkim naporima, kroz edukaciju i odgovorno ponašanje, možemo stvoriti održivu i zdravu okolinu. Pozivaju sve građane da se uključe u očuvanje životne sredine i da, umjesto nesvjesnog uništavanja, doprinesu njenom zaštiti. “Zaustavljanje širenja divljih deponija i promjena odnosa prema prirodi mogu se postići samo ako svi zajedno preuzmemo odgovornost i djelujemo u interesu opšteg dobra”, zaključili su.

Aktuelno 10 hours ago

Technology

Gov. Janet Mills urges Maine voters to reject Question 1

Gov. Janet Mills on Friday urged Maine voters to oppose Question 1 on the statewide ballot this November, saying if the referendum passes it will only make it harder to vote. Question 1 would require a photo ID to cast a ballot, while adding restrictions to absentee voting, including eliminating two days of early voting. It was placed on the ballot by conservative activists, despite a lack of evidence that voter fraud is a problem. “Maine is proud to lead the nation in voter participation because of our long history of safe and secure elections,” Mills said in her radio address Friday. “Whether you vote in person or by absentee ballot, you can trust that your vote will be counted fairly. But that fundamental right to vote is under attack from Question 1.” Opposition from the state’s top Democrat is not surprising. The measure is also opposed by the Democratic Governors Association, as well as the official campaign arms of the House and Senate Democrats. In addition to requiring a photo ID when voting and eliminating two days of early voting, the proposal would prohibit requests by phone and from family members for absentee ballots, prevent people from receiving absentee ballots annually without requesting them and limit the number of ballot drop boxes, among other changes. Last month, Mills’ came out in opposition to referendum Question 2, which seeks to establish an extreme risk protection order, or red flag, law in Maine. This story will be updated.

Randy Billings 10 hours ago

Technology

Vrasja e pronarit grek të kampingut dhe mikut shqiptar, zbardhet testamenti i pasurisë: Po e shkruaj në rast vdekje të papritur

Të tjera detaje kanë dalë në dritë nga vrasja e dyfishtë e ndodhur mbrëmjen e 5 tetorit në fshatin Finikoundë të Kalamatas në Greqi në një qendër kampingu. Të vrarë mbetën pronari grek i kampingut dhe miku i tij shqiptar, i cili gjithashtu i punësuar po aty. Mediat greke kanë zbuluar një testament të shkruar nga greku, i cili është shkruar 3 ditë përpara se të ndodhte vrasja. Ajo çfarë ka bërë më tepër përshtypje është shkrimi në testamet: Unë shkruan testamentin tim në rast vdekjeje të papritur”, duke treguar pasiguri për atë çfarë mund të ndodhte në çdo çast. Pjesa më e madhe e pasurisë greku ia kishte lënë nipit të tij, i cili gjithashtu ka qenë dëshmitar në vrasje. Në testament, pronari i kampingut shkruan me shumë ndjenja për nipin e tij, të cilin e konsideronte si fëmijën e tij dhe për të cilin kishte shprehur dashuri dhe respekt të jashtëzakonshëm. Ai gjithashtu i la gjysmën e pasurisë kujdestarit të kampingut, punonjësit shqiptar, mikut i tij i ngushtë, i cili u vra gjithashtu në ngjarjen tragjike. Në fund të testamentit, ai u ka lënë gjithashtu shuma të konsiderueshme parash motrës dhe djalit të saj, si dhe mikut të tij shqiptar, nëse nipi i tij do të vendoste të shiste pronën. Për më tepër, autoritetet kanë gjetur një testament të mëparshëm të 68-vjeçarit, i cili dyshohet të jetë hartuar rreth një vit më parë dhe i vulosur. Autoritetet janë duke e krahasuar këtë testament me dokumentin e fundit për të nxjerrë më shumë informacione për ngjarjen. Ngjarja në fjalë ka ndodhur mbrëmjen e 5 tetorit rreth orës 20:30 kur një recepsionin e kampingut erdhi një person me armë në dorë duke qëlluar mbi pronarin. Shqiptari është qëlluar nga pas në tentativë për tu arratisur. Nipi i pronarit grek, fatmirësisht ka shpëtuar pa lëndime. Ashtu siç u raportua më parë nga mediat greke, viktima dhe autori, që është arratisur drejt Athikës, kanë pasur konfliktë të mëparshme.

M C 10 hours ago

Technology

‘Academic stress, lifestyle pressure cause of students’ mental health issues’

Clinical psychologists have identified lifestyle pressures, academic stress and social media influence as key contributors to emotional instability among Nigerian university students. This was stated on Friday during Caleb University’s campus mental health awareness seminar organised in partnership with the department of Psychology to commemorate World Mental Health Day. Themed, ‘Demystifying Mental Health issues among University students’, the 2-day seminar was aimed at educating young people on the importance of recognising, addressing and managing mental health challenges common in academic environments. Ayodeji Ajayi, a clinical psychologist from Yaba Neuropsychiatric Hospital, identified several common mental health issues affecting modern-day youth, emphasising how lifestyle pressures, academic stress and social media influence contribute to emotional instability. Ajayi, in a presentation entitled, ‘The Most Common Mental Health Issues Among 21st Century Youth,’ categorised mental health conditions into distinct types. He also highlighted the importance of self-awareness and self-care practices, encouraging students to prioritise rest, build healthy social connections and seek professional help whenever necessary. Olalekan Asikhia, Vice-Chancellor, Caleb University, represented by Adesola Ajayi, Deputy Vice Chancellor, research, innovation, strategy and administration (RISA), noted that the programme couldn’t have come at a better time as it was seriously needed now more than ever before especially among young Nigerians. The second speaker, Gbenusola Akinwale, from the Department of Psychology, University of Lagos, explained that while mental health awareness had gained more attention among youths, misconceptions and stigma still exist. She discussed both the positive outcomes of open mental health discussions such as improved empathy, self-expression and access to therapy and the downsides, including the casual misuse of mental health terms and self-diagnosis trends on social media.

Seyi John Salau 10 hours ago

Sports

Prioriteti MZ Seljanovo uređenje plaže Ponta, nastavak sanacije potoka, opremanje dječjih i sportskih igrališta

Savjet Mjesne zajednice Seljanovo izložio je danas predstavnicima lokalne uprave Tivta svoje zahtjeve, kada su u pitanju projekti od značaja za stanovnike ovog dijela grada, među kojima su uređenje plaže Ponta, nastavak sanacije potoka, opremanje dječjih i sportskih igrališta, kultivisanje zelenih površina i dalje uređenje saobraćajnica, te unapređenje saobraćajne signalizacije dio su zahtjeva upućenih Opštini Tivat, pred donošenje gradskog Budžeta za 2026. godinu. “Možemo biti jako zadovoljni dosadašnjim sistemom rada. Svi građani primjećuju pomake. Seljanovo lagano, ali sigurno napreduje i time možemo biti zadovoljni. Ostaje da nastavimo ovim tempom”, rekao je predsjednik Mjesne zajednice Seljanovo Ranko Samardžić uoči sastanka sa gradskom upravom. On se zahvalio Opštini, svim preduzećima i institucijama na tome što na brz i efikasan način izlaze u susret zahtjevima građana. “Nadamo se ispunjenju i ovogodišnjih zahtjeva, koje smatramo realnim i ostvarivim”, naglasio je Samardžić. “Ovi sastanci, osim što nam daju konkretne podatke za planiranje budžeta, sjajna su prilika da imamo direktnu komunikaciju sa građanima i dobijemo povratnu informaciju o sprovedenim ulaganjima. Na taj način imamo dobre inpute za planiranje. Nije dobro razvoj grada planirati iz kancelarije” – poručila je menadžerka Opštine Ivona Petrović. Ona je naglasila kako je Opština Tivat u prethodnom periodu imala značajna ulaganja u Seljanovo. “Potrebno je da jezgra gradskih naselja imaju sve servise koji život građana čine kvalitetnijim. Ovim rasterećujemo uži centar grada, što u konačnom utiče i na smanjenje saobraćajnih gužvi”, navodi se. Kako se ističe u proteklom periodu na Seljanovu je izgrađen dječji park sa sportskim i dječjim igralištem, šetnim stazama i parking prostorima, vrijednosti 235.000 eura. “Potpuno je obnovljen prostor Šoping centra u kojem je otvorena područna jedinica vrtića “Bambi” i omogućen rad područne jedinice OŠ “Drago Milović” iz Donje Lastve, do završetka izgradnje novog objekta škole (Ministarstvo i Opština uložile su 740.000 eura)”, kazali su. U planu je dalje investiranje u saobraćajnice, povezivanje Risanske ulice sa Pod Kukom, rekonstrukcija ulice Pijavica koja gravitira ovom dijelu grada. Iz Direkcije za investicije najavljuju rekonstrukciju rasvjete kod Šoping centra, adaptaciju bunkera u Bokeljskoj ulici, uređenje sportskih terena i dječjih igrališta, asfaltiranje ulica… “Mi smo prepoznati kao organ koji se odgovorno odnosi prema mjesnim zajednicama. U prilog ove moje tvrdnje govori činjenica da smo prije par mjeseci od strane Zajednice opština dobili nagradu za najbolju praksu u lokalnoj upravi, baš za primjer razdvajanja jedne mjesne zajednice Lastva-Seljanovo i formiranje dvije nove”, istakla je sekretarka za lokalnu upravu Jelena Šćekić.Sastanku su prisustvovali predstavnici organa lokalne uprave (Direkcije za investicije, Direkcije za imovinu i pravno zastupanje, Službe komunalne policije, Sekretarijata za saobraćaj i stambeno-komunalne djelatnosti), lokalnih preduzeća Vodovoda i kalanizacije, Komunalnog Tivat i Parking servisa Tivat. Naredne sedmice slijede konsultativni sastanci u Krašićima, Lastvi i Lepetanima.

Aktuelno 10 hours ago