🔸The Treasury Department's internal watchdog is investigating whether Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis improperly used federal pandemic aid to fly migrants to Martha's Vineyard as part of his effort to "transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations."

At issue is whether millions of dollars in interest earned on State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, disbursed through the American Rescue Plan, was used to facilitate the transport of about 50 Venezuelans from Texas to Massachusetts in mid-September, with a stopover in Florida on the way.

The recovery funds program has strict requirements on how the money can be spent. Documents indicate Florida officials paid Destin, Fla.-based Vertol Systems Co. $1.56 million for the Martha's Vineyard flight and possibly for a flight to Delaware, the home state of President Joe Biden, that ultimately didn't happen.

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🇪🇨Ecuador reported 43 new confirmed cases of monkeypox on Wednesday, bringing the country's total confirmed cases to 185. Of the 185 patients, 67 have been discharged from the hospital, while the epidemiological fence for 308 contacts is maintained, the Ministry of Public Health said in a statement.

Sixteen Ecuadorian provinces have been affected by monkeypox, with Pichincha, Guayas, and Azuay ranking top with 63, 61, and 19 cases, respectively.

The health ministry has maintained surveillance throughout the South American country and taken prevention and control actions, calling on Ecuadorians to use masks in certain places and go to the nearest health centers in case of symptoms. Ecuador confirmed its first monkeypox case on July 6 in the city of Guayaquil, the capital of the southwestern province of Guayas.

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💉The US authorized updated COVID-19 boosters for children as young as 5, seeking to expand protection ahead of an expected winter wave.

Tweaked boosters rolled out for Americans 12 and older last month, doses modified to target today’s most common and contagious omicron relative. While there wasn’t a big rush, federal health officials urge that people seek extra protection ahead of holiday gatherings.

Now the Food and Drug Administration has given the green light for elementary school-age kids to get the updated booster doses, too -- one made by Pfizer for 5- to 11-year-olds and a version from rival Moderna for those as young as 6.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends how vaccines are used, also signed off.

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❗️Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Astana to attend CICA, Russia-Central Asia Summits

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Astana at night to attend three international events: the sixth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) on October 13, the meeting of the Council of CIS Heads of State and the Russia-Central Asia Summit on October 14.

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📹Footage of the beginning of the Sixth CICA Summit in Astana.

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⚡️Zelensky's office has reported explosions at "critical infrastructure" facilities in the Kiev region, an air alert has been announced.

⚡️Russia does everything to establish equal and indivisible security system, Russian President Vladimir Putin says

⚡️Serious changes are taking place in global politics, the world is becoming multipolar; Asia is beginning to play a key role, Russian President Vladimir Putin says

⚡️There is a threat of famine and large-scale social upheavals, especially in poorest countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin says

⚡️Russia calls for elimination of all artificial barriers to restore supply chains of goods, Russian President Vladimir Putin stresses

⚡️Russian President Vladimir Putin calls for unfreezing of Afghan money, compensation for harm done during years of occupation

⚡️Global security system architecture must be redesigned, the World is more than five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says

❗️Major points from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech at the beginning of the Sixth CICA Summit in Astana:

▪️Russia is doing everything to establish an equal and indivisible security system;

▪️Serious changes are taking place in global politics, the world is becoming multipolar; Asia is beginning to play a key role;

▪️There is a threat of famine and large-scale social upheavals, especially in the poorest countries;

▪️Russia calls for the elimination of all artificial barriers to restoring the supply chains of goods;

▪️Russia calls for the unfreezing of Afghan money, compensation for harm done during the years of occupation.

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📈Annual inflation in Germany reached a record 10% in September, DESTATIS (Federal Statistical Office of Germany) financial estimates show

📹Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks about the forming of an equal and indivisible security system during the Sixth CICA Summit in Astana.

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📹WATCH: King Charles let out ‘dear, oh dear’ during a meeting with PM Liz Truss, who is facing an avalanche of criticism over her tax policies.

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It is not for Europeans to decide whether or not to recognize the entry of new regions into Russia, if big brother (the US) allows it, they will recognize it, Russian Ambassador in Paris, Alexey Meshkov told Sputnik.

In addition, the Ambassador recalled how Mayotte became part of France following the results of a referendum, contrary to the position of the UN General Assembly.

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👊Violent riots took place in the Arab quarters of Jerusalem and small towns around the city.

▪️Rioters threw Molotov cocktails and stones at police and passing civilian cars, set off fireworks and burned garbage cans and tires. Nine suspects were detained and two police were injured.

▪️Clashes in east Jerusalem have been ongoing as Israel searches for a Palestinian gunman who killed an Israeli soldier earlier this week. Israel's army has imposed a lockdown on the northern West Bank city of Nablus following a surge in violence.

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❗️Russian Foreign Ministry statements on the investigation of the Nord Stream pipelines terrorist attacks:

▪️Russia will not recognize any “pseudo-results” of investigations into the Nord Stream pipeline emergency if Russian specialists may not participate;

▪️If Russia is denied access to the investigation into the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines, it means that Germany, Denmark and Sweden are covering for the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks;

▪️Information appears about the participation of other countries, including the US, in the investigation of sabotage on the Nord Stream pipelines.

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❗️Russia supplied more than 20% of the EU oil market and 40-50% of the gas market - and where Europe will find these volumes is unknown, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said.